Behind The Tube Glass
By alien freak And Xmimi89eR
story may contain gore/blood/violence/strong language
rating: T
ZaDr/ZaDf
English is my second language, my apologies if there are any mistakes.
disclaimer: I do not own Invader Zim.
LOADING MEMORY FILE NUMBER: IMD-556399-9622...
FILE IS CORRUPTED.
SCANNING FOR ISSUES...
ERROR: IDS-3404
999999
"What are those?"
Both Zim and Dib sat on the main chair, with Zim half sitting in the other's lap, it was the first time he saw the human without his coat. Dib's arms were around the other as they watched, or at less, pretending to watch the TV.
"Huh?" Dib looked at where Zim was pointing, right on his wrist, "they're uh-... reckless wounds i've got years ago," he said as he gazed at them; they were deep, every cut had its own unique shape. Some looked like cuts, normal cuts; something that's made by a sharp object. Some looked like dog bites or claws scratches. Some weren't too deep but yet visible. And some were randomly shaped, he usually got them when he falls off a tree or on sharp edges.
Everyone thought they were self-harm,
They weren't.
He held into himself not to do such a thing.
"Like battle scars?" Zim asked as he drew his sharp claw on them,
"Well, no, i got them because i was uh-... obsessed with the paranormal..." he laughed awkwardly, maybe using the word 'obsessed' wasn't the best...
"Does all paranormal investigators have scars?" He asked like a child learning something new for the first time- it was kind of cute...
"I'm not sure, maybe."
Zim went quiet for a second.
"I thought humans were too sensitive for such injuries," his finger drew higher as he traced a deep cut,
"Not too sensitive, but actually, some of these got me to stay in the hospital..." some bad memories flashed in his head, ruining his body with such scars was not the best idea, especially the fact that it's all was for nothing, nobody believed him, so all this was worthless.
Zim's antennae rose slightly as he kept tracing a scar, it was a long one, it started from his forearm to... "where does this lead to?-" his finger stopped at the clothes sleeve edge,
Dib followed his gaze, "oh- um..." he looked around then pointed at his chest, just beneath his heart, "here..."
Zim rose an invisible eyebrow, he shifted both hands to lift the boy's shirt to reveal what was heading.
With the sudden move, Dib jerked slightly, his hands drew to his shirt, "hey!" He yelled in annoyance and embarrassment.
Zim's eyes went wide as he saw more scars everywhere, but of course, one scar caught his attention.
A deep and long scar that started from his forearm and ended at his side, right beside his stomach, it crossed his heart.
Without hesitation, the irken drew his finger on it, it felt as deep as it looked, with a darker color than the pale skin, making it so visible, it send shivers in the alien's system, his hand jerked from the scar, his wide eyes traveled to his own chest, his thin finger drew at his long scar, the scar he got and never healed probably, the scar the lab man made, the one thing that reminded him of when he was almost cut open...
His eyes narrowed with sadness, what an ugly cut...
From being awkwardly quiet and embarrassed, he was now confused as he looked at the other, his hands slowly lowered the blue shirt. When his eyes focused, he saw it, the scar the alien was tracing. Zim's eyes finally closed as he tiredly sighed, his hands fell from his chest and then laid down on his lap.
The boy blinked, frowned, and sighed as well, he was about to say something to comfort the alien but he spoke first, "how did it happen?"
"Huh?"
"The scar, how did you get it?" Zim asked, his eyes slowly blinking as he gazed at nothing,
Dib became quiet for a moment, "i fell..." he answered, but with the silence, as the alien kept staring at nothing, he decided to put more details into the story, "i was climbing a bridge, running from, um- the bullies, the bridge had sharp pointy edges," playing with his hands, he looked at the ceiling as he continued, "one bully followed me, he held my leg and tried to snatch me down, so they can get me, and all that..." sweat ran down his forehead, "my hands got slippy with sweat and- and i slipped..." his words became like a whisper,
"One sharp edge greeted me, it cut me as i fell, from my chest-" he slowly pointed at his shirt, "-to my arm..." he pointed at his wrist, "i fell hard on my back, on my head... i only remembered me bleeding, a lot... then I guess i lost consciousness because when i woke up, i was in the hospital, i had to stay there for weeks..." the memory of no one visiting him instead of his sister (who rarely showed or ignored him while playing her game) really hurt him. It also hurt him that his father only got there once, signed some papers, said how he needed to get better, then left... he did call sometimes, but that wasn't enough...
"So it is a battle scar..." Zim murmured, his gaze went again to the boy's wrist, tracing more scars here and there.
Dib knew the alien would never listen if he says it was not battle scars; he still thinks he was the heir after all.
They went quiet as Dib remembered more of his childhood, his gaze went again to the damaged antenna, holding an awkward urge to touch it, he asked, "um— h- what happened to your... antenna?" It was a question he wanted to know a while ago.
"Eh-?" Zim's eyes opened again and stared at the human, his hand slowly moved to stork his own damaged antenna, he blinked and narrowed his gaze with a frown, leaning down more into the other's lap, "from the meekrob attacker..." he said with a heavy sigh, "-when i got into the fight with them..." he really wanted his precious antenna back to normal.
It was too precious for him, now it's an ugly mess, something to remind him of what happened, just like the cut on his chest...
Curious, he insisted on knowing what happened, "how?..."
Zim went quiet for a long while, wondering if he should share what happened to him, he felt ashamed to tell anybody, loosening in a battle was a shame, something irkens feared, but yet, The boy was not an irken, he even said his own story, maybe he should tell his story as well, what worse could happen?
He sighed.
Looked at the human's amber eyes then at his lap, hesitating slightly, he started telling what happened, from the beginning.
never realized that he kept ranting.
Leaving the massive, landing on the planet, being attacked, put down by the meekrob, what they did to his PAK and antenna, how he never expected them, how they should've never knew he was there, him barely escaping, fleeing with the damaged voot, being in space for months, crashing on earth...
He went from explaining how determined his plan was going to be the best, then to how unexpected turn of events and how he suspected someone to have told on him being an invader to the meekrob, his frustration at being the target, to at the end, he lost his voice when he came to the part where he was alone, all alone in space, his voice barely above a whisper.
Hands moving everywhere as he talked, his gaze at anything but the human, his chest became hot as some tears gathered in his eyes, but he refused to let them fall.
Dib watched and listen with shock.
Even though he expected something big, he never thought how much tragedy the irken had to go through, it made him feel sad but decided not to show much of it, Zim would think it's some kind of pity.
Zim kept ranting with details about what happened, not realizing that he was speaking to someone, these words were dancing in his head for a long time, and now he had the chance to say them out loud, when he noticed how long he was talking, his words died and he looked to the ground,
"Happy now...?" Zim huffed, voice cracking slightly, he managed not to let any pathetic tears run down from his eyes, though his eyes were still hot.
It felt... good... to tell someone, to get this weight off of his chest.
He hoped he was putting it, (this, what he claimed to be like a secret,) in the right person...
When the human didn't reply, he finally looked up, ruby eyes meeting with the human's amber ones.
Dib was speechless, his eyes were wide, mouth opening and closing without any words.
He frowned more at the look the alien was giving him,
The irken looked emotionless, numb.
Pretending it didn't hurt him, that he didn't care and all that happened to him was something... normal, or rather stupid and shouldn't be bothered to talk about; which only made Dib that much upset.
But he also knew Zim didn't like pity.
At all.
Remembering him talking to his therapist about the same thing, trying to figure out how to respond,he decided to use the same method, he took a breath, "Zim never gives up." He finally said, smiling, copying the same tech his therapist used.
"What?"
"You never give up. You're still alive, aren't you? Are you still breathing after what happened?" He changed it into a question, gazing with determination at the irken.
Zim looked around on his body, "y- yeah, i am alive." He answered, giving the boy a confused look,
"Zim is strong. Never gives up. Never let such a thing get to him. Are you Zim?" He hoped this would work with aliens psychology as well,
"Yes, i am." Said the irken without hesitation.
"Do you think your tallest would be proud of you? For surviving, for being alive and also strong?"
"Of course." He nodded, not giving the whole trick a second thought,
"You're making her proud with every passing second you try to get back home."
Zim went quiet.
"Getting over something as big as an attack from a race you told me were so very strong, you were alone but yet, you survived!"
"But it doesn't make sense, why didn't my plan work?? It was so perfect!" He snapped suddenly,
"It would have worked if no one sabotaged it." Dib answered, it was the only theory the irken had, his plan was good, and the meekrob seemed aware of his arrival before he even landed on their planet surface, someone told them he was coming...
"But who?? I was supposed to win! I never lose, the tallest put her trust in ME!" He pointed both hands at his chest,
"Zim, not everyone wins, and it wasn't your fault!" He replied holding a little tighter at the other back,
"Yes but also no! Why me??!"
"Because whoever did it, was jealous." He said simply.
"Why would they be jealous???-"
"Because you're better than them!"
This made the irken speechless, Dib spoke again, "they're jealous. And i think... that your plan was good, it was perfect."
He held to Zim's shoulder side tighter, pulling him into a small awkward hug, "i think you're very smart that they feared you may win the tallest's respect, even though she already respects you." He said close to the irken's antenna,
"You're not supposed to give up... Zim never gives up, right,"
The irken looked to the side for a while, a pink blush formed on his green face, making him turn his head completely down, a hot comforting feeling danced in his spooch...
But the voices would never let him have any time with this comfort.
They said- murmured and whispered... that an irken isn't supposed to blush, isn't supposed to feel this comforting warm feeling.
An irken isn't supposed to feel at all.
He couldn't take how hot they made his PAK go through, how they would never shut up-
Zim shifted suddenly, He tried to stand on his legs, "i'll work on my voot—" his words were cut off when pain hit him hard, he fell back at the chair, hands around his spooch, where the bullet's cut was,
Dib jerked slightly when he saw the other stand, and before he could say anything, the irken fell again on him, he sighed, "moron..." said Dib under his breath, slow arms wrapped around the other to keep him in place, "it's only been an hour since you've been literally shot, you idiot."
Zim huffed in frustration, just when he had his legs working again, he had to be SHOT! Like if the universe didn't want him to leave this dirtball.
"Whatever." He frowned and folded his arms.
Dib had to laugh at this slightly, it was too amusing.
Zim only rolled his eyes at the other.
"I'll fix Gir then, but not now..." he said, breaking the silence. Dib only gazed with surprise at the words,
"What? He almost killed you—!"
"I know. He won't do it again, i'll make sure his SIR unit side to be deleted." Said Zim with a slight determination,
"Why? He's only destroying things," even though Dib enjoyed talking to him from time to time, he still found him annoying.
"Because... he's my robot. And i take care of my stuff, no matter how bad or annoying they are." The irken said as he drew a circle on the boy's forearm, "i want him back. He won't do it again."
The words were weird and slightly shocking as well, he sighed again, "fine whatever, but i may not be there to save you next time."
Zim smiled sadly, "there won't be a second time, i'll fix him."
999999
After a while of just watching shows on TV, Zim asked the boy to get his bot to him, he wasn't in the shape to walk- Dib hesitated but agreed and went to the other room, he gazed around, the floor was already clean because of the small cleaning robots his father had. then at the corner, he saw the shining metal of the SIR unit, he huffed and walked to it.
The robot's head was almost broken out of his body, making him look even scarier, he had a slight blood on his cheek which Dib cleaned with his finger so Zim won't see it.
moving forward, picking up Gir, Dib made it back to the main room with the robot in his hands, still not okay with the whole idea.
He sat next to Zim in the chair and put the robot on his lap, the irken jumped slightly at the lifeless body on him, but slowly relaxed, he drew his hand on the SIR unit face, then at his neck; feeling the sharp edges of the broken metal, not really blaming Dib for it.
Sighing harshly, he held the tools from his side and begun his work in the small robot.
Dib was watching, he kept reminding Zim of how bad this idea was, but the irken only seemed to ignore him.
"Let's see..." Zim finally said as he closed the robot's head.
He made sure to crash the controller he made.
The boy slowly folded his arms and leaned back away, his eyes staring at the grey metallic body in the alien's lap. Zim put him slowly on the floor and waited, waiting for the SIR unit to work again, he also leaned his head, but rather forward, ignoring the gaze the boy was giving his SIR unit.
Gir all of the sudden jumped on his feet, eyes red as he saluted, "Gir, reporting for duty." He said, still looking blankly at Zim, not moving at all.
Dib flinched as well as Zim when they heard the robot's voice, they shared looks then stared down at bloody red eyes.
"Gir...?" Zim broke the silence, his voice slightly shaking, eyes wide as he studied what the unit might do, hand on his wound.
The robot stared more, it didn't blink or do anything, then eventually looked over at the TV, his head moving 180 degrees, the pose he was taken loosened and his eyes turned cyan, "oooh! I love this show!" He pointed out happily as he clapped his little hands.
Dib let out a breath he didn't he was holding, and relaxed against the chair, arms finally unfolding and hanged lazily on the side,
The irken sighed and smiled slowly, he moved his hands in a 'gimme' motion for the robot to come. Gir didn't hesitate and jumped up at his master's lap, he looked eye to eye with the other then his gaze went to his bandaged spooch, "you hurt??" He asked, not knowing what had happened, his eyes narrowed sadly as tears gathered in his blue eyes.
Zim eyed him then moved to look at his wound as well, he flipped the robot so he was watching TV instead of the bandages, "i'm okay, Gir, now be good and watch TV." forgetting what he was doing, Gir only clapped his hands and did what he was told, smiling at the characters on the screen.
Dib rose an eyebrow as he looked at Zim, who seemed all okay with this, he was about to open his mouth when Zim spoke first, "i told you, i can fix him." Even though it was only Gir, a stupid tiny robot, him being around meant a lot to the irken, and only now Dib realized it.
Zim cared. He cared for his robot, for Gir. He was happy when the other was happy, he'd yell at him but then lay him in his lap and watch cartoon with him, he'd chat with him, abandoning any stupid mistakes the robot would do or say, even when Git calls Zim a monkey, the irken would only laugh or swear that Gir won't have any donuts if he said that again; and of course, Gir would say that every time he watches the scary monkey show.
He could hear Gir giggle.
Zim laid back on the chair, arms around him, hugging himself. Now that Dib wasn't wearing his coat, he could feel how cold the room actually was, and Zim wasn't wearing anything on top, plus, he knew he had no fat in his body, so he was twice freezing than any human, irkens didn't seem to like the cold- though, it was the beginning of winter...
"I didn't notice how cold the room was..." he murmured, also hugging himself.
Zim looked at him, then kicked him on the shoulder almost playfully, "now you noticed?? I've been suffering here!" He huffed, though not angrily,
Dib rubbed his shoulder, "Hey, it's not my fault," he scoffed, "i need the temperature down so the chemicals won't change, i also don't want germs."
Zim shivered at the name of 'germs' "i'm the one freezing here, you know?" He snapped and kept watching the TV with Gir.
Dib rolled his eyes and looked at the TV as well, his trench coat was sucked in blood as well as his shirt, and maybe pants- he'll have to buy a new coat later.
He looked back at Zim, who was still hugging himself. How didn't he see that before, or maybe, Zim made it hard to see. He never said anything, or acted like something was bothering him. He liked to act strong, as if nothing would harm him, he was too stubborn, too full of himself- Dib didn't know if that was good or bad, but probably bad. Last time- a few hours ago actually,- Zim was about to die, yet he had to be so damn stubborn and fight with it. No matter how something might be hurting him, physically or mentally, he won't tell, and try to hide it as best as he could.
And he was too good with it. But Dib was much smarter.
"You want me to get you something?" He asked the irken. Maybe he could find a sweater, or a jacket, something Zim would wear when he wasn't plugged to the charging wire.
"Huh? Get me what?" Zim looked at him, straightening himself, acting like: no, I'm definitely not cold, i'm strong.
"Something to wear."
Zim blinked at him, "i'm not gonna wear those surgical gowns!" He hissed and leaned away in the chair,
Dib shook his head, "no, i mean- i'll get you a sweater if the place is that cold for you," he tried his best not to sound like he was pitying the irken, he knew how the other hated it, and hoped he won't get it wrong.
"I don't need filthy humans clothes, they'll do nothing to protect me from this-" he pointed at the air as if Dib could see the 'cold' in front of them, "-coldness!"
"So you prefer freezing?" He asked, raising an eyebrow at the alien, how angry he get, and how headstone he is.
"Yes." Zim folded his arms, pretending to be angry while he actually was trying to keep himself warm, a sweater didn't sound like a bad idea- but no, no one pity him!
"Suit yourself." Dib finally said, looking back at the TV. He'll probably get an extra sweater with him tomorrow, maybe he'll throw it in the other's face, yeah, that would do it.
He sighed, not liking how the other shivered, now that he remembered how cold the room is.
999999
When Dib got home that night, he Threw out his coat, took a long shower, made himself noodles, then went to his closet after his hair was dry.
He searched for a jacket for himself, that room was freezing, and he'll probably won't be wearing the lab coat since Zim seemed to jump whenever he saw Dib wearing it. Also, the sky outside was cloudy, the winter was finally making changes, in the next few days, it will rain, and maybe even snow.
Good times with Gaz and him, drinking hot chocolate and playing Minecraft.
He found a blue hoodie, it had a black fade at the end with some white dots like stars, the word 'NASA' was painted on the middle. It was a new jacket his sister bought not a long time ago; he got her a new makeup collection.
Those times were good. He felt like a family, even though their dad wasn't always there.
He hugged the jacket, it smelled like any new clothes would smell like. He tossed it aside on his chair, then went to look for something harder to find, something that would be warm and also fit a small body... something that would fit Zim.
He searched for a few minutes, but eventually found nothing. All his clothes were too big, even for him. He sighed and thought he'll search again in the morning, maybe his head would be clearer and finds something, or maybe he could go and buy something.
Yawning, and scratching his eyes, he got out his pajama, a sweater he had since high school-
His mind clicked.
The sweater was almost small on him, something he can't call a sweater anymore. It was a yellow oversized sweater with a purple line across the middle, it didn't have a high collar like his other sweaters, and medium-length sleeves. That was it, this would fit, well... maybe better than everything else.
He took it with him and put it in the washing machine, and boiled himself some milk till the machine finishes. Sitting in the kitchen while reading whatever messages he had, and something caught his attention, something strange...
An unknown Number texted him just this morning, around 6 AM, he was busy at that time and didn't have the time to check his phone. He clicked the message that read:
'Be careful, i don't think coffee is your best choice :('
He gazed at it, wondering who the hell would send him such a thing, why would they send such a thing?
He used to have hatred messages from his fellow classmates, most of them laughing at his beliefs, and calling him crazy... he was used to it even though it's been a long while since anyone he knew in college texted him- and to be honest, no one texted him at all, never bothering. He didn't care, and was actually glad no one annoyed him with stupid texts.
But still, he was wondering who in the world was this? Maybe he would block them when he's done. He clicked on the person's 'unknown' icon on his iPhone and then clicked on the number.
Slowly raising the phone to his ear as he heard the number ring...
It rang once.
Then twice.
He shifted in place and drank more from his milk- maybe he should have made chocolate milk instead...
He waited...
And waited...
But then the number went off and the other side hanged up.
He looked with annoyance at his phone screen, "stupid people..." he murmured and drank more of his now half-heated milk. Just in time when he heard the washing machine let out a click and a ding, it was done with the sweater.
He drank what was left of the milk and put his cup in the sink then went to the machine. He opened it and got out the warm clothing, it smelled like-... leaves...
Oh right- he used to go to the woods while wearing it years ago-...
Such memories.
He sighed and hanged it to dry close to the window, then made it upstairs. He gathered and cleaned his bedroom then jumped with a huff on the bed, without realizing it, he was in a deep sleep.
END OF CHAPTER THIRTEEN!
Alien freak: finally! Zim is gonna wear some clothes!! My little baby is freezing- oh how could i do this to him?
Hope you enjoyed this short chapter!
Mary: making those changes and adding to this whole 'by' was a big deal. I mean i don't do anything special to this story, but you're as stubborn as Zim- believe me. But yeah, thanks for this, and sorry if there are any mistakes in this chapter :)))
This was alien freak, signing off.
