thanks for your reviews. i like getting reviews because it lets me know that people are actually reading my stories. in the famous words of my fellow invader zim fan stephanie, i feel special. (right, so they're not famous. and now you know why).

well, here you go. i have to apologize for the long wait but i've been grounded this whole time. so i didn't stop writing because i want to torture you--it's because my dad wants to torture me.

R&R and have a nice life. :)

Regretting Every Minute

Chapter Two

Zim's POV

And I won't die, either. Not after what he said to me.

I know why he tried to kill me. I could see the fear in his eyes. For once in all the time I've known him, he was actually afraid of me.

And the truth is, I was afraid myself.

Seeing him in my base--again--I expected to feel the same twinge of annoyance that it always gives me. But instead, I got a very strange feeling. Almost as if I was glad to see him.

My first impulse was to sic Gir on him. But my basically useless robot quickly reminded me of how futile that would have been by greeting Dib enthusiastically. "We have company!" he'd exclaimed cheerfully.

I saw immediately that I'd have to take care of it myelf.

What Dib didn't know was that while I'd been gone, I'd been gathering supplies from the "hardware store", as the humans call it, to try and put it together to make something to fend off this sort of intrusion while I worked on my security system. I was taken by the irony of the situation, still holding the things I'd bought to fashion the weapon.

But it was catching him in the act that gave me pause. I'd come back to this scene many a time, but this was the first time I hadn't hesitated to attack.

And I don't know why.

"I'm alive," I reassure the human. The fear is gone, but it's been replaced by concern. Remorse. He feels sorry for what he's done.

I never thought he could feel sorry for doing anything to me. All he's ever shown toward me was the deepest animosty.

"Your primitive Earth-weapon only caused minor damage," I explain. "I'll be fine."

Dib continues to kneel by my side, staring into my eyes, as if he were waiting for some actual proof that I'm telling him the truth. That I will indeed be fine.

We stay this way for a few moments. I notice that for once in his pathetic existence he has an advantage. The "gun", as it's called, did very little damage, but I'm still in no condition to defend myself. He could attack now. Why doesn't he?

"Er... Dib?" It's the first time I can remember ever saying his name without a thread of malice and contempt.

"What?" He suddenly becomes anxious, alert, wondering what I'm trying to say. For once, I can't even tell him that if he'd just shut up I could say it. "Are you all right? What's wrong?"

"You... you can let go of my hand, now."

"Oh." He looks almost stunned, as if he didn't even realize he'd been holding it. He pulls me to my feet and puts his own hands behind his back. He seems kind of ashamed.

Humans, I think to myself. I don't understand them or their stupid "emotions" at all.

I'd like to.

I quickly remind myself that understanding my enemy is the only way to destory it, but I know I'm lying to myself. It's a very uneasy feeling within me.

Is this what Dib is feeling?

"Are you sure you're all right?" Dib asks. "Listen, I could probably help you. I've got a first-aid kit at home. You're wounded, and I can fix it for you..."

Without warning the human seizes my arm and tugs me toward the elevator to the surface. He's... helping me? Why?

I don't need his help, really. But he seems so hell-bent on making it up to me, and...

He isn't really giving me a choice.

ahem... define "making it up to you".

well, you know the drill. what are you waiting for? why aren't you reviewing?

um... it might have something to do with the fact that you're still reading this. okay, stop reading this and review already!

i TOLD you to stop reading and start reviewing! (yes, this was lame of me. but i just wanted to see how many people i could trick by doing this. i see it worked.)

FOOLISH HUMANS:)