Invader Zim and any other characters (besides the Fishmen) belong to Jhonen Vasquez and Nickelodeon. Even though it is a spooty channel.
The next day the band met up in another of Zim's labs.
Dib couldn't help but look at Zim, and every time he did Zim turned away. Dib had no idea what he was going to do with his feelings, he couldn't control himself. But after all, as long as he didn't act upon this feeling nobody would have to know. So Dib pretended not to notice the way Zim swung his hands when he walked, or the way he smelled so tantalizing, or the way he strode across the room, or…
Dib was cut short when Zim started to speak.
"Attention," Zim said, once again marching in front of the boys (with the exception of Gir, who was upstairs making waffles). He was trying his best to avoid eye contact with Dib. "I have secured us a 'Gig' at the mall tonight."
"TONIGHT?" Dib burst. "We haven't practiced or anything, I mean we don't even know how to play instruments…"
"But THEY do." Zim pointed at the seemingly lifeless bodies of the FishMen. "And their talent is inside of you." Zim tapped Dib with his finger. The two's eyes met and Dib blushed and Zim pulled away and started walking quickly towards the other side of the room.
"Something weird is going on…" Skoodge whispered to Keef, who shook his head up and down. "Its like touching Dib is unsettling to Zim, but in a different way."
"And they haven't argued or wrestled or anything today." Keef added, "Now that I think about it, have you seen them look at each other before now?"
Across the room Zim was muttering to himself, "Got to control, he's the same Dib, just dressed differently. He's not attacking me so he's no longer a threat. That's why I don't feel the need to attack him at all. I can't let this get in the way of my mission."
Dib was staring at the floor and running his hand through his hair when Zim came back. "I just need one of you to write a song." Zim said. "Dib," Dib looked up when Zim mentioned his name. "Dib, eh, pig." 'Smooth,' Zim thought to himself, "I am requiring you to write a closing song. We're doing a small set so make it good."
Zim turned to Skoodge and Keef. "We shall go up for waffles!" Zim gestured dramatically at the ceiling and the other boys followed him into an elevator. Seconds later Dib was all alone.
"AARGH!" Dib cried out and flung himself into a chair, laying his face on his arms.
"What is your problem?" The computer asked.
"I have no idea what you're talking about." muttered Dib.
"What the hell, come on!" The computer demanded. "Just tell me so you can quit acting like a little 13 year old."
Dib looked up. "I AM 13." He glared at the ceiling.
"Oh wah-wah. Cry me a river." The computer said sarcastically, causing Dib to glare harder and sit back in the chair. "You and Zim are acting strangely and I wanna know what's up, as do Skoodge and Keef."
Dib leaned back and began running his hand in his hair. "I really don't know. Now that Zim's not trying to attack me I've just begun to feel differently about him that's all."
The computer sighed. "He has too." Dib's head perked up. "He made a transmission last night. You might want to listen to this."
The computer started to play a video of Zim talking to the Tallest. Zim was standing before the screen looking very nervous. His eyes were softer and he looked as if he was about to cry.
"I feel attraction…" began Zim.
"To whom do you feel this…" Red began to say, when Zim interrupted.
"THE HUMAN!" Zim screamed out. "I don't know whats wrong with me, he is stinky, revolting, disgusting, but still…" Zim looked almost angry at himself. "Tell me what to do. I feel a longing, a wanting, so strong…"
The computer stopped the video on these last words. Zim's face was saddened and scared. Dib reached out and touched the screen.
"Is this a joke?" He asked quietly, his eyes wide and focused on the Irken's face. Seeing Zim like that made Dib want to hold him.
"No joke," said the computer. "I hope that clears some things up."
The screen turned dark again, but Zim's face was imprinted on Dib's mind. "Why hasn't he said anything?" tears started to build up in Dib's eyes. "It would be so much easier if he just said something. I hate feeling like this, like I'm a bad person because of my feelings. I hate thinking that I'm horrible because no one ever told me it was ok." Dib's face was turned to his lap, tears flowing down his face. "Why didn't he just tell me?"
"Zim is afraid of weakness, any weakness. And he sees any emotion besides pride as just that, a weakness." The computer said. Dib was still crying silently. "But maybe if you let him know you feel the same…"
"But how? If I even let out that I feel this way my dad will kick me out! I have no choice!" Dib screamed defiantly at the blank screen.
The computer sighed. "Write a song, duh. You have to anyways. Just don't use Zim's name. As thick as he is I think he'll get the hint."
Dib sat up straighter, wiped his tears away, and began to pour his soul out into song.
An hour later Zim came down with a plate of waffles. The computer was busy composing music and Dib lay asleep. Zim walked up to the keyboard and put the plate down. Dib's face looked slightly red and a bit of his hair hung in front of his eyes. Zim stared at the boy for some time.
"This is crazy." Zim said out loud to himself, "I'm at least 400 years older than him, and I'm not even middle aged." Zim reached down and stroked Dib's hair. He sighed, "and yet in all my life I have never met anyone like him." Zim sighed and turned to look at the screen. He saw the lyrics, entitled, ZaD, and began to read. As he read more and more his heart started to beat faster.
They say its not right,
But what do they know?
They say that its wrong,
And so we don't show.
But feelings inside Are about to explode.
You keep me alive,
So say you won't go.
I keep sitting here, crying out loud I am not ashamed nor am I proud Of the things that I feel, I feel about you For once can my dreams start to come true?
They say that its awful,
A mockery of god.
They say that its sick,
An unwritten law.
But I know how I feel,
No more sense to deny.
If you'd just hold my hand,
There'd be no tears to cry.
I keep sitting here, crying out loud I am not ashamed nor am I proud Of the things that I feel, I feel about you For once can my dreams start to come true?
Can you feel me?
Can I feel you?
Finally our dreams Will start to come true.
Zim was still staring at the screen when Dib woke up.
"Oh, waffles." Dib rubbed his eyes, yawned, and stretched. When he noticed Zim Dib stood up, startled, and started stuttering. "The song is done… its, uh, about other people, somewhere, not here, no definitely not." Zim turned around and looked at him in the eyes.
"Of course it is." Zim said, looking slightly down hearted. "Why would it be about anyone else?" Zim was trying desperately to subdue his feelings. A torrent of emotion was threatening to explode out of him if he did not leave soon. "Eat your waffles Dib." Zim said and went to leave the room again.
"No wait!" Dib said, rushing forward and grabbing Zim's shirt. Zim brushed his hand off and turned around.
"What? You got your waffles, now leave me alone pigboy."
"Zim I just wanted to say… well I don't know how… I mean I wasn't sure of it myself till recently." Dib was moving his hands around frantically. Zim remained still, trying to look into Dib's eyes.
"What do you want?" Zim shouted. His inner voice was demanding he do something drastic.
"The song!" Dib shouted back, "It was about me, from my perspective! It was about me and you okay?" Dib threw his hands in the air then slumped his shoulders down. "I don't know what to do. The title means 'Zim and Dib?' because I just don't know."
Zim smircked. "But I think you do." Dib said staring right into Zim's eyes. Zim started to feel the battle inside of him again.
"What do you mean? Zim needs nobody." Zim said crossing his arms.
"I heard the transmission." Zim's arms fell to his sides and he stared at the human. "I know how you feel." Dib said. "But I just don't know what to do."
Zim couldn't control himself any longer, he reached out and grabbed Dib pulling him close in a tight hug. Zim closed his eyes and Dib started crying again. Dib clutched Zim as tightly as he could.
"I don't know what to do either." Zim said back. He gave Dib another squeeze and pulled apart. "You didn't hear the whole transmission did you?" Zim said, staring deeply into Dib's face. Zim walked over to the computer, sat down, and played the rest of the message. When it was finished he looked at Dib.
"But that's why I wrote the song, Zim." Dib said clutching Zim's hand. "My dad said I would be kicked out of the house if I acted on what I was feeling. But I can't lie anymore, not when I know you feel the same way." Zim shifted his gaze to the ground and let go of Dib's hand. Zim placed his hands on his head and grunted.
"Emotions suck!" he shouted, "I liked before better, it was easier. YOU changed me." He looked up and pointed at Dib. "Maybe I've just been on this planet too long." he stood up. "I'm more determined than ever to rule over these filth-bags."
Dib went to grab Zim's hand again but Zim swatted his hand away. "We have a job to do. Come on." Zim headed toward the elevator with Dib following close behind. Dib looked at him again.
"What did I do?" he asked Zim.
"Nothing." Zim said staring straight ahead. "Nothing that can't be fixed."
And that's the end of this chapter, nifty huh. It got all skeeshy near the end. I think this is the longest chappy I've ever written. Emotions are flying wild, what happens next? Tune in soon to find out!