Sorry for the long wait, college and my new job have been taking up most of my time. However, I am taking advantage of the fact that I am ill to update for all my fellow ZADR fans. Grr… fanfiction is lumping words together again I keep having tore-upload this chapter :(
Katca Mcadar: Thank you :)
Princess of Despair: Glad you like it, sorry for the wait!
.Serenade. of. Prayer.: NO! Not the protractor! Have mercy! DON'T HURT ME! I'll update sooner, I promise! O.O
WyattTheEd: Thank you :)
Chickens: Here is more (hopefully) for your enjoyment :)
Aseret Kitsune: Thank you :)
Bee Bop: ZADR FOREVER indeed! Long may the slashy ficyness bring pleasure to all :D
Andalitebandit-6: It is an honour to be reviewed by one of my favourite authors! Thank you, I always try to be as vivid in my descriptions as possible so it's good to know I am successful!
Mystery Reviewer: Mwhahahahahaaa! Cliffhangers of evilness are my speciality! Thank you for reviewing :)
Now, onto the angsty romance stuff!
CHAPTER 3- DOGS OF WAR
Dib seemed to have suddenly lost his nerve. He hovered in Zim's street pacing, wondering if the alien would read too much into this. Surely he would know that Dib was simply playing him at his own game, that there was nothing else in it. The last thing Dib wanted was Zim pushing him out of his base in anger thinking that Dib was uncontrollably in love with him. Dib twitched a little at the thought. That would simply turn the whole situation around and he would be humiliated not triumphant. He wanted to make Zim feel small and intimidated, lost and confused, not angry and homophobic. Dib was seriously having second thoughts but just as he turned to leave he found himself flat on his face as he was glomped by GIR.
"You have a big head!" the robot cried affectionately.
"I do not," Dib said grumpily, trying and failing to stand up. after a short struggle he managed to surge to his feet and begin walking away. GIR looked sadly after him, then an insane grin slid across his disguised face.
"Where're you goin'?" he called out.
"Home," Dib replied. "It was a stupid idea anyway," he muttered to himself.
"You can come and watch TV with me!" GIR yelled enthusiastically. Dib was about to politely decline the invitation when GIR said sadly, "Master's gone out and I'm looonely."
Dib stopped in his tracks. If Zim had gone out then he would arrive back tired and unprepared for a surprise attack on his senses. Dib would have the upper hand and if things went horribly wrong he could always say GIR had insisted he did it or else he'd sing the whole of the Doom song. Dib had once heard GIR insist that Zim let him dress his master in a pink flowery dress or else he'd sing the Doom song. Much to Dib's surprise and amusement Zim had given in immediately. With this in mind Dib took GIR's proffered hand and let the puppy disguised robot lead him to the weirdly shaped base that Zim called his house. Once there GIR shut the door, threw off his disguise, dropped onto the sofa, switched on the TV and instantly became absorbed in a thrilling advert for loo roll.
"I love this show," he said with a sigh to Dib and promptly forgot him. Dib shrugged and took advantage of this to explore Zim's house. He wished he could see Zim's real base but he needed to be here, hidden in the dark when Zim came home. He moved into the shelter of the kitchen and waited. The minutes dragged on and Dib began to feel nervous. He was on the verge of giving up when he heard the door open and Zim stood framed in the doorway. GIR jumped up to greet his master with a hug but Zim pushed him away.
"Not now GIR." He sounded tired. The alien looked drained as he heavily pulled off his disguise. Dib wasn't sure if Irkens could cry but he thought that if they could then Zim was on the verge of doing so. What was wrong with him? Dib watched the alien shuffle towards the kitchen and realised he had failed. He couldn't attack Zim when he was tired like this, it didn't seem fair. Then a sudden fleeting memory of the feelings Zim's attack had evoked in him surfaced and he crouched down, ready to attack. Zim flicked on the light and there was a moment of confusion. He blinked in surprise and stared at the human in his kitchen for a while before the anger kicked in.
Dib should have attacked then but something made him hesitate and, quite suddenly, all the fire went out of him. He felt like the child he was, suddenly afraid. This was Zim's domain, here he was master. Zim's eyes narrowed in anger as he took in the sight of the boy crouched on the floor. His pale complexion flushed back to its normal green colour and those startlingly red eyes burned in a way that made Dib wish he was any where but here.
"What. Are. You, Doing here?" he asked, voice tight with controlled rage at finding Dib intruding on his privacy when he was so tired.
"I…" Dib struggled to think of a reply but suddenly found his voice had become high-pitched and fell silent. Zim advanced on him and he stood up hurriedly. He backed away from the angry alien until he could go no further.
"What are you doing in my house Dib?" he was too angry to insult him and that was when Dib knew he had crossed the line; whatever game Zim was playing before he wasn't playing now. Now he was tired and angry and filled with a burning hate that only Dib and the skool dinners could evoke in him. Dib scrambled backwards, up onto a chair, then the table, anything, anything to escape those smouldering eyes. Zim leapt up after him and stood over him. They stayed like that for a while, eyes locked in combat. Dib knew that Zim could see his fear and he didn't like it. He had pride too, for God's sake. Zim stared at the human, body tense with anger and then he sighed and the fire faded from his eyes and his body relaxed. His shoulders sagged and he turned away and dropped wearily off the table.
"Go home, Dib."
Dib slid off the table after him but Zim headed to the toilet and flushed himself down it without a further glance at the human. Dib began to shake and the anger that had left Zim seemed to have infected him. Zim couldn't do this to him! To make him tremble with fear and then walk away without further interest was just beyond insult. He marched over to the toilet and followed Zim down ready to do what he came to do.
Zim was busy on his computer, typing away madly, trying to drive his sadness away. Dib felt no compassion now, Zim had damaged his pride and he was going to make him pay. He crept up behind him and grinned when his presence went unnoticed. He inched closer, Zim was too preoccupied to pay attention, and his grin grew wider as he thought of what he was going to do. He leaned forwards, ever so slowly and then, extending his tongue, trailed it up the back of Zim's neck. The effect was immediate. Zim yelled in shock and leapt four feet into the air. When he landed he rounded on Dib and began pummelling him to the ground. Dib defended himself as best he could but he was no match for an angry Irken Invader, regardless of whether that Invader was defective or not.
"Zim," he choked, "Get off!"
Zim stopped trying to strangle his nemesis and glared down at him instead.
"What do you want human-filth?" he asked.
"Revenge," Dib replied and pushed Zim off. "But I've got it now so I'll just be on my way…"
Zim pushed him down again, all sadness driven away by anger. Dib could feel him shaking with rage.
"Revenge for what?" he hissed, his eyes like dark ruby slits.
"Come on!" Dib cried, "You can't deny that you've been messing with my mind. Well it won't work Zim! I'm not attracted to you so you can stop your sick games now!"
Zim blinked at him.
"Eh?"
"You can't deny it!" Dib pointed up at him accusingly.
"Eh?"
"You can't deny it!"
"Eh?"
"For God's sake, Zim, either say something intelligent or let me go."
Zim thought for a moment, opened his mouth, thought the better of it, closed it again and decided to let the human go instead.
"Well?" Dib said, feeling increasingly stupid by the second.
"Well what?" Zim snapped, "I have no idea what you're talking about so either you explain or get out. Now."
"You…! I…! And then you….!" He stopped when he saw the complete lack of comprehension on Zim's face. "Oh… nothing," Dib sighed and turned to go, leaving a thoughtful and still somewhat angry alien behind him.
Dib arrived, feeling defeated, in the kitchen only to be met by a crimson-eyed GIR.
"Intruder!" he stated and then chased Dib all the way home.
Dib flopped into bed and closing his eyes tried to ignore the acute embarrassment telling him that he'd misinterpreted the whole situation and had just made a complete fool of himself in front of his worst enemy and this war between them was getting stranger and stranger. Meanwhile, back in his base, Zim was left in utter confusion as to what Dib was raving about. Messing with his mind? Attracted to Zim? Well who wouldn't be? Zim was wonderful! He allowed himself a smug smile at that thought but it faded as he thought back to Dib's "revenge." The truth was, the real reason he had been angry was because he had rather enjoyed the sensation of Dib's tongue against his skin… Zim mentally slapped himself and then a slow, insane grin slid across his face. Mind games… what an ingenious idea… Zim congratulated himself on his brilliancy as he began to laugh.
Now, review or doom shall fall upon you! Yes, doom, doom, DOOM!