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.


PAK ALERT!

MALEFACTION IN AREA B61.

HOLOGRAM-DISGUISE SHUT DOWN.

PLEASE HOLD STILL...

999999

Dib was panicking, to say the least...

He, Zim, and Gir were silently sitting in the car, being as awkward as the first time Dib has ever met the alien. The boy was dressed in his blue Nasa hoodie and his trench coat, while Zim was still wearing the yellow sweater, though Dib decided to give him an old black jeans jacket. Just making sure the weather isn't cold.

"God..." Dib rested his head on the steering wheel, sighing heavily at the problem he just got in. He was afraid of his sister's reaction if she knew that Zim is an alien, after all, she literally think he's a girl at some point. Well, Dib can't blame her, his own Dad was confused as well, but that's the problem too. She thinks that Zim is his damn girlfriend! Gaz really has her own way of humiliating him but now she seems serious about it.

Lucky to have a sister like that, huh?

"Why are you being s-s-so stressed out?" Asked Zim, raising an eyebrow. He huffed and sank down in the chair, his illusionary fake hair was covering his eyes.

"Zim, this is GAZ, you're playing with fire." He said, shooting a half pleading, half annoyed look towards the other. "Besides, she really thinks you're my girlfriend or whatever!"

"Eh?" The irken titled his head. "What does that suppose to mean?"

"Don't bother with it..."

"I'm not the one b-b-bothering with it, you are!" The irken exclaimed, his eyes narrowed. Those humans really have their own weird language.

"Alright, alright, listen..." He looked at the alien beside him, taking a deep breath. "How about you do pretend to be a girl, try to be as human as possible."

"But I'm not a girl." Zim said, shooting the human a hard glare. "I don't even know how a girl acts!" He folded his skinny arms around his chest, huffing in annoyance.

Dib hissed, he tapped his fingers on the steering wheel anxiously as he tried to think of something. "Oh, I know!" The boy turned towards the alien. A smile on his face. "How about you say you're a tomboy?" The human exclaimed.

"A what?"

"A tomboy! If my sister asks about you then just say you're a tomboy!" He nodded to himself, finally starting up the car. Dib fixed his mirror, glancing at Gir who was chewing on something- as usual...

"Right... sure..." The alien mumbled, shifting around in his seat. His bandaged claws poking and pulling at the edge of his sweater, actually unsure of what's going on. This was, after all, his first time actually going outside and MEETING someone that somehow might expose him. From the way this 'Gaz-human' was acting, then sure she was someone to fear. She seems to know a lot of things. Assuming correct explanations and theories. That's what Dib had once said.

Even the human is scared of her.

The car ride wasn't long. The houses passed by and Zim could see weird creatures called 'Cats' or 'Dogs' as Dib said. Sometimes he'd see a human outside of their house whether alone or with someone. That till he found himself in between multiple cars all waiting for... something.

The alien glanced at the human, confused. "Are we h-h-here?" He asked, looking around. There was no such 'restaurant' that Dib had talked about.

"No, we're stuck in a traffic, give it a minute." He said, also irritated. They were heading closer to the city and away from their quiet neighborhood. Away from their work on finding a damn cure for his sickness and for Zim to fix his base.

"Eh?" The irken titled his head, never interested in this human lecture.

The young adult rested his head on the steering wheel, feeling a wave of nausea burning his stomach. "When it's green it means we can move..." He mumbled, feeling a headache beginning to crawl closer. "Tell me when it turns green..."

Zim titled his head to the other side, his fake hair falling between his eyes stubbornly. "Please don't die here." He said in a whisper, unsure of what else to say in the silence. Thankfully the medicine for Dib's 'drunk' illness was with him, he kept it there safe and tidy. When he got no response, the alien glared back at the red light, still annoyingly stuck. Maybe there weren't so many cars around and behind them, but it was still irritating to wait among other filthy humans who can't even respect their next leader.

The alien huffed. How disrespectful.

It was only when a beeping sound woke his daze that he realized that the light is now green, meaning they finally can go. Zim glanced at the human to find him still in place like a dead doll.

"Dib?" He called, growing anxious as car horns exploded in his antennae. "Dib, it's green, let's go!" Even this didn't seem to work.

"Uh oh! That man's is angry!!" Gir squeaked in excitement, looking out of the open window and waving. "HI GUY!"

When Zim opened his own window to look behind them, he saw actually an angry guy storming towards their car. Zim's eyes widened.

What about his disguise? What if it vanished all of the sudden? What if they knew he was an alien?? They'll take him back to the labs and God only knows what they'll do to him then...

His skin went pale.

"Dib! DIB WAKE UP! There's no time for this now!" He began to shake the boy, glancing behind him to see no one... that weird mad man should be here by now-

That till he heard a few knocks on the driver seat window that he looked back only to grow small in the guy's glare.

"You!" He heard him yell, tapping the window again. The man's eyes settled on Dib for a while, tapping yet again on a way to wake the raven-haired boy with no luck. The only conclusion that came to him was: The boy is drunk and the other person is probably a slut from a nightclub.

Zim could almost see the words floating in the man's head. That's when he lost it! The alien shifted around and opened his passenger seat door, feeling a wave of anger take control over him.

"Yay! A FIGHT!" Gir exclaimed from behind, following his master with his eyes. His tiny hands clapping happily.

The irken stormed to the other side of the car and glared bloody murder at the stinky human before him.

"EXCUSE YOU." He said aloud, teeth gritted. He was trying his best to hold into his disguise, if anyone saw him without it- if it just vanished for a moment then he'll be screwed! "Could you step aside from our car?!"

The man's eyes were wide for a moment, rethinking his choices, before it was narrowed again. "EXCUSE ME?" He took a step towards the skinny teen before him. "You're the one causing this fucking traffic!"

"Bad word!" The little green dog said, seeming to enjoy the scene.

"GIR!"

"Yes sir!" He saluted. Holding a giggle.

"Wake the human!" The short alien ordered, turning back to his problem. His eyes are a bloody colored magenta, almost shining with rage. Teeth sharp like an animal as he arched his back. Zim had no idea why of all times he had to be this angry, but his emotions took over him. They begged for him to tear the man right here, right now.

"Move your car then!" The nosy man yelled, his saliva flying in the air disgustingly, some splattered at the pale face of the irken which made him hiss. Car horns played in the air for a moment before all the drivers took the easiest choice and just drove passed and to the other side before it's red again, not ready to be in a fight. Though the man still held his guard up even when everyone left.

Zim's claws shifted as his legs held him in place, ready to attack. His PAK screamed: ENEMY! DESTROY!

From behind the glass, a small hand was tapping the human's head. "Mary, wake up." The robot whispered. "Masstah has gone INSANE." The words left his mouth as if it was a secret. Gir seemed to know if his master heard him, then surely he's as dead as the mad man.

"Are you drunk??" The guy asked, eyes scanning the alien's body from head to toe. "I'm calling the police." His large hands went for his jacket pocket, looking for his stupid phone.

"Oh no, you wouldn't."

The words left his mouth in a low hiss before he lunched himself forwards, aiming at the annoying guy. His claws snatched the phone and half if the man's hand, his device fell to the ground, glass breaking as fast as it hit the asphalt.

"Maryyyy!" Gir began to pull the heavy human, sensing a bad fight coming.

"WHAT THE FUCK?!" Exclaimed the guy, he held his injured hand, now having three angry scratches that sure to leave a scar. Sweat began to fall on his forehead while breathing heavily, his eyes were wide when he saw the look the 'drunk person' was giving him. "ARE YOU S-SICK?!"

"More than you think I am." The alien said, eyes narrowed dangerously as he took a step forward, hissing like an animal starving to attack. "You don't w-w-want me to suppurate that ugly head of yours from y-y-your shoulders, right?" The words were glitchy, eyes unfocused. His PAK was giving him warnings, flashing red lights inside of his head for him to stop. "YOU WANT ME TO K-K-KILL YOU?!" With that, his real appearance flashed and glitched before the man. Ruby eyes and green pale skin were like a monster from a nightmare in the man's eyes.

"W-W-What... what are y-you??" The guy asked in a shaky whisper, trembling as he tried to escape. "S-Stay a-away!..."

Antennae high up and alert suddenly fell down when he saw his own reflection in the man's square-shaped glasses.

Oh no...

He tried to reactivate his disguise but with no use. Panic took over him as he stayed as still as the man. Both staring at each other with horror.

Time seemed too slow. The silence was too loud.

...

The driver door opened.

"Zim!" The voice came before the alien was snatched into the car. He let out a small gasp before he found himself in Dib's lap. Shock was still painted on his face as he felt the boy's foot press on the gas and the car jolted forward, the tires making a squeak and both boys were pressed against the seat as the car sped through the streets. Dib tried to take control over the car again, almost hitting a garbage can on the sidewalk.

When they both were a safe distance from that damned traffic and crazy guy, Dib let out a sigh.

"That was close..." He whispered, slowing down and shifting around in his chair. He glanced down at the alien, seeing him almost confused. "What happened in there?" Dib asked, focusing on the road again.

"I... I don't know." Answered the irken, finally getting back to his right mind. "I was way too angry i-i-is all..." he mumbled, glancing anywhere but the human.

The human swallowed and parked his car under the shadows to let the irken on his seat again. His amber eyes glanced at the people walking down the streets, most of them didn't even look at him or acknowledge his stare. But some annoying, nosy people gave him odd looks then somewhat fear before speeding up. When Dib looked behind, he saw Gir forcing his face against the glass, tongue pink and full of saliva as if he was starving to eat the children. The boy sighed again, looking at Zim as he settled back on the passenger seat, eyes closed while he took deep inhales. The disguise was finally back in place, black hair falling on his face as he exhaled. "You okay?"

That question will never leave me alone, huh?

The memories of the lab, their first meeting, their first 'hug', and all that happened afterward. Their chats, their comfort, their awkward whispers, and bad kisses flew like an odd vivid memory on his heavy brain. The first he realized he had a crush on the alien, the first he fainted when he knew he had an unknown sickness that may kill him at any moment, the fact he'll always keep it a secret.

But he guessed his sister may ruin this little crush-secret of his...

"I should ask you that." And here's the typical response since all this mess started. He chuckled, smiling at the annoyed alien in his car. Zim narrowed his eyes, his confusion and poker-face were more than a happy jump in Dib's heart.

Guess I'll never be able to tell you that.

This thought almost made him frown, maybe even break down where he was, but he tried to shake it off. He already had a dinner with his sister and he HAVE to act normal.

And with that, he put the car on drive and speed to Bloaty's pizza, it was already 8:12 PM anyway.

999999

"You're late."

What a lovely 'hello'...

"Hi to you too, Gaz." Dib said, a small smile on his pale lips. He took Zim by the hand as he sat down across from his sister. Gir followed behind, sitting on Zim's lap.

"OOooOooH!" He squeezed himself. "I want TACOS!"

"Shhh!" Zim hissed at him.

Gaz rose an eyebrow. "Is that a TALKING DOG?" She asked, shock obvious in her tone.

Zim didn't answer, his mouth opened but no excuse came out. So Dib had to act. "N-No, he's Zim's brother." He smiled nervously.

"Uh-huh." The girl shifted, hands tangled together like a therapist talking to their patient. Their order was already set and both were waiting for it. The silence was heavy that Dib swore he could cut it like cake. "So, Dib..." Her gaze settled on her brother, looking for the right question to ask. "How have you been lately?" Maybe That wasn't the way she usually acted, but it was obvious she was talking with hints.

"I-I'm completely fine!" He said, giving his sister a look that screamed: What are you hinting for??

"Hm." She glanced between the two. "Zim, right?"

The awkwardness was way too heavy it made Dib almost shake. "Yes?" The alien answered, staring at her. He tried to stay calm for the sake of his disguise but it proves to be harder than he thought. This human was looking at him as if she knew something he didn't...

"My brother here says he's 'completely fine'. Then why are you in his house to take care of him?" She asked, fingers slowly tapping each other. "I mean, I'm happy he found a friend but I'm just worried he's sick and hiding it from me." Her tone was almost a whisper, like two girls talking shit about someone.

Zim looked at the human, unsure of what to say.

"Th-That's not what I meant-"

"I'm asking them not you." Gaz interrupted her brother, giving a hard glare. "You promised to tell me if something was wrong." Her tone became soft somehow, almost sad. "So?"

The alien took a deep breath. "He d-drank a lot of coffee which resulted h-h-him to lose consciousness and I had to help him..." The irken said, his voice glitching with both anxiety and PAK malefaction.

"I see... so it's back to this whole coffee problem, huh?"

"B-Besides! We both were w-w-working on something since he decided to take some d-d-days off from work!" Zim added, smiling as he sensed Dib's nervousness going sky high.

The girl rested back against the soft restaurant seat, folding her arms. After the silence almost ate Dib alive. Gaz of course knew this. She spoke with a sigh. "Dib, look. You don't get it." Gaz started, eyes going soft as well as her tone. "I don't want what happened to Dad to happen to you too!" She said almost desperately. "You can't stay quiet about it, you have to go to a hospital."

Zim looked at the human, already knowing what she was talking about. He knew this was a sensitive subject for the boy, and he was sure his sister knows that too. But he glanced to see his reaction, not knowing how the human will react.

Dib looked at the ground, fingers anxiously drawing random shapes on the table surface as he bit his lips. "This doesn't have a cure." He finally answered. "The hospital won't help me, I have to find a cure myself." He looked at his sister for a second, their eyes locked in a knowing look before he closed them. "I know I don't have time but I can't go to the hospital nor the police."

Police? Zim wasn't sure but if he knew them, then he'd say they're similar to the government. And with the government searching for the killer then they'll surely go inside the boy's lab. This is where they'll find the alien's spaceship. Zim will be screwed and Dib seems to know this. The alien couldn't help but stare at him with shock. Dib knew he had to do something against Dale, but he didn't want to expose the irken.

He chose Zim over his own life.

Just like how Zim chose Dib over his freedom.

It was then when Dib sensed the odd look that he glanced up to find his eyes locked with magenta. The boy looked away immediately, face changing into a tint of red that he immediately hid with his hand.

They were so similar in a very, very different way...

"Your order, sir." Came the tired voice of the guy, holding their food. He put it on the table and went away as fast as possible, already feeling odd by the look all of them were giving him.

Gaz straightened herself and took the fries in her grip, either not bothering to wash her hands or she already did before they came. Dib was already feeling bad and nauseous so he stood up. "I'll go to the bathroom, be right back." He said, leaving them alone on the table.

The girl took a slice of pizza in her hand. Zim didn't bother to wash his hands because, first: he can't touch water. Second: he wasn't that hungry, they had already eaten this 'pizza' before this whole incident with Dib's sister. Gir, of course, didn't bother and grabbed a slice, shoving it from under his disguise, enjoying the taste.

"I don't want to lose him as well..." Came the sudden voice of the gothic girl, not looking at Zim.

"H-Huh?" Zim looked up, not really ready to be the center of attention right now, he felt so awkward and under the eyes of a camera.

"Dib talked about you, you're more than just a friend to him, I know he trusts you. I know he'll listen to you..." She paused, searching for the right words to use. "So please-" Gaz almost shocked at the word. "Please convince him to do something, he's way too risky with his life. I don't want him to end up like my dad."

Even though Zim didn't like the lab-man, he still felt a weird wave of uncomfortable emotions burn his 'spooch. "I-I..." The words never left his mouth.

Gaz looked up at him, her amber eyes as yellowish as her brother, sending a shiver down Zim's spine. "I will kill you if anything happens to him." She threatened, eyes narrowed.

The Irken swallowed, looking around. "I'll go wash my hands..." He mumbled, standing up. Dib already took too long in the bathrooms. Besides, he didn't want to be left alone with this human. Her gaze was harder than his PAK lasers. So, he walked where he saw Dib goes to, thankfully the place wasn't so big to get lost in.

Zim walked for a while, looking left to right as he looked for the restroom. Some human smeets pumping into him as they ran down the hallway. It only took more minutes before he opened the door he thought should be the bathroom. As fast as the door closed behind him, the noises died and he was met with silence. The bright room was dirty which made the alien scoff as he took a few steps closer.

"Dib?" He called, turning left till he saw three sinks and a broken mirror on the wall. And there stood the boy, washing his face. His eyes looked to be met with the alien's.

"Zim?" He asked, focusing his gaze. "Thank god you're here! Do you have the medicine?"

"O-oh, yes I do." He turned off his disguise, finally able to breathe if only for a while. Then his PAK opened to get the blue box out, handing it to the human. Dib got one bag out and opened it, inhaling the drug-like medicine to keep him awake. Coughing the odd feeling of it running down to his lungs. After a minute or so, he spoke. "Did something happen with my sister?" Dib asked, breathing slowly to calm his breath.

Zim hesitates before speaking. "N-Not really..." he answered, tagging at the uniform edge.

"Good." The boy didn't seem to notice Zim's behavior as he walked away from the sink, giving the blue medicine box to the alien. "Keep it with you." He walked to the door, about to open it before he glanced at the irken who hadn't moved an inch. "Zim?"

Said alien was frozen. "I think she knows something I don't." He said, antennae flat on his head. "What if she knows about me?"

Dib sighed, his sister must've said something, and at some point, he thinks he knew what it is. But at the end, he shrugged it off and walked to the hesitated alien. "I know my sister, she thinks your a girl or something but I'm sure she has no idea about your true identity." The boy said, trying to make his tone calm.

Zim flickered his disguise back on, his green skin replaced with a greenish pale human skin and black hair. Eyebrows frowning as he hid the medicine back in his PAK.

The human took Zim's hand and dragged him out, trying to calm the other. If Zim was way too anxious or angry then sure his disguise will vanish just like what happened earlier. The alien squeezed his hand, unsure of the human's intentions. They both walked back to their table, seeing Gir and Gaz almost finished all the pizza. It didn't matter, they weren't hungry after all.

Dib dragged himself after Zim in the seat, not meeting his sister's gaze.

Gaz sighed, taking another sip from her cola before standing. "I'll visit you tomorrow, Dib."

The boy went pale for a second. "I-I... sure!" He smiled, adjusting his glasses. "W-When?"

"Tomorrow." With this, she walked out of the restaurant, giving Zim a knowing glare before she closed the door behind her.

The human sighed heavily, resting his face in his hands. "She really wants to do that to me now?" He mumbled.

Zim wasn't the one to comfort anyone, but after the little chit-chat he had with that girl, he could tell she only wanted his safety. So with more hesitation than needed, he spoke. "She o-o-only cares about you, you know?"

"I know that." Dib said, still frozen in place. "I just don't want her to see me like this..."

Sensing the boy's heavy depression, Zim could only look away. He felt as if all of this was his fault. Everything was his fault.

If he wasn't there then surely Dib wouldn't have stayed in the science company nor would he have been poisoned. And even if that happened, then he'd have nothing stopping him from calling the 'police'. They'd have helped him at least to put Dale in prison for murder.

But Zim did give up his freedom for him, did that count?...

With more thoughtful silence, Zim stood up, taking the boy's hand in his. He wasn't sure what that implied but Dib did it before and it calmed him down, so he hoped this would do help the human as well. His other hand took Gir by his tiny arm and dragged both of them from the table. "C'mon, let's go back home." Home? He didn't know what that was supposed to mean, did he really see Dib's house as a 'home' for him?

Ugh, no time for this.

"Get up, meat-flesh." Zim said, tongue out like a pissed child, his eyes narrowed. Gir struggling in his arm.

Dib couldn't help the small chuckle that left his lips at the nickname, even though his thoughts were still as dark as night, he found a smile sneaking on his face. "Sure, space-boy." He looked at the alien who scowled at him. Leaning down and forcing the stubborn alien into a hug, placing a kiss on his soft cheek. "It'd be better to get back before it's too late." He mumbled, glancing at his watch.

It was almost 11 PM, after all.

Zim made a funny face at the sudden affection, maybe that medicine he keep shoving in the boy's lungs was making him even more crazier than usual.

His hand grip tightened as he walked side by side with the chuckling human, strangely finding a small smile on his pale lips.


END OF CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR!

Mary: Well, this is finally out! I was bored at the beginning before I found myself unable to let my phone charge and kept writing.

AF: First update in 2022! Hope this will be great!

This was Alien Freak, signing off.