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.


ACCESSING...

Granting access: The Control Brains.

PAK: Memory drive/ file desk: 9DH.

Play? Y/N.

Video log: Playing...

999999

Dib never thought he'd be able to do it, not at all. It was actually quite amusing to a small voice in his head, it kept screaming: "Wow, I did it? It wasn't that hard..." But yet again, with him sitting at the kitchen table with a very confused irken and a small robot who acts like a crazy child, Dib started to wonder if he could live without it now. The irken is close to leaving this planet, and Dib was close to finding a cure for his sickness. When all of this is over, then what will he do? He couldn't imagine a life without the alien now, especially after he told his feelings to him.

This thought kept the human more distant in thought than before, and Zim would have to yell to gain his attention back.

It was a few hours after the whole confession thing, his sister would arrive in less than an hour and while he was anxious about her, he was also anxious about the irken.

Maybe Gaz wouldn't tell about Zim if she found out he's an alien, maybe she'd take pity on her brother for finding someone he loves and finally be able to get out of the dark depression hole he was in months ago. Maybe, and only maybe.

"Dib!"

The boy flinched and looked up from his plate, a plate which contained waffles Gir had made. "Huh?" He looked up to meet the alien's ruby eyes.

"Why're you d-d-dozing off? Eh?" Zim asked, tilting his head. "I was-s-s saying that your brain results will be done in two h-h-hours, then I'll be able to either make a serum to cure it or a device to slow the process t-t-till we find a solution."

"Oh, that's impressive." He smiled, looking back down at his plate.

Zim narrowed his eyes at him. "...What's wrong with you all of a s-s-sudden? You've been acting weird."

"It's nothing, Zim. Just thinking." Dib tried to give a smile but it looked forced, he sighed and put the fork down. "I'm afraid my sister would notice you're not human. She's not stupid, she'd realize something is wrong sooner or later, especially since she'd spend the night. You can't stay in your disguise for so long." The human explained, eyebrows twitching. "I'm scared of what will happen if she knew."

Zim's jaw tightened. "She wouldn't. I can handle this." He said, studying the human's face. "Do not underestimate m-m-me."

The boy grinned. "Sure, space boy."

999999

A loud knock echoed in the house as both boys flinched up from where they were laying on the couch. "She's here." Dib announced, standing up. He saw as Zim turned on his disguise before he opened the door, finding the purple-haired girl standing there with her arms crossed.

"Finally." She huffed, walking inside.

Zim stood up from the couch and walked to her, remembering the human's gesture of welcoming others. So he extended his arm and smiled awkwardly at her. "Hi."

Gaz gave her brother a look before she smiled back at the alien, a smile that was a bit too evil for Dib's liking. "'Sup." She shook his hand before heading to the couch, making herself comfortable in the corner. "Get this idiot." She snatched something from her bag and handed it to the boy. Dib took it from her, realizing immediately what it was, and unconsciously reached a hand to his face. "Your glasses are broken and you're too lazy to get new ones, real smart Dib."

Dib felt his cheeks heat. "Uh... I didn't have time to..." He opened the little box to see new glasses inside. "Thanks." He wasted no time in replacing them with his askew ones, blinking a few times. Finally, better glasses that didn't feel odd on his face. Guess Gaz really pays attention to little things.

"You are, in fact, very welcomed brother." Gaz said in a very odd tone. A knowing glare in her eyes. "Now," She looked from Zim to Dib then back again. "How have you two been?"

Oh dear god, Dib knew she was up to something just by the way she was talking. And lord it didn't sound good. "I'm f-f-fine." Zim replied, biting his lips when the words came a little too glitchy earning him a look from Gaz.

"I'm doing great." Dib smiled anxiously, but when he saw the glare the girl shot him, that's when he knew he said something he shouldn't.

"If you're so great, then why's Zim here?" She looked up from where she sat, motioning for both boys to sit as well. Dib did first, sitting as far away which made Zim sit in the middle of the two siblings.

"Uh-"

"The project, we're almost finished with it." Zim said to save the human from spelling his secret out of panic.

"Oh? Interesting brother. How about we order some pizza?"

"Y-Yes. That's a good idea!" Dib stood up fast, heading to the kitchen for his phone, glad that he'd have a small time to himself to think.

In the meantime, Gaz and Zim sat there in silence that never lasted long. "For real. How is my brother? I know he's lying it's pretty much obvious." She waved her hand, showing her red pained nails that matched her jeans.

Zim knew he can't lie. "He's... he's d-d-doing better than last-t-t time..." Well, that was a lie... but can you blame him?

"I want the truth, Zim."

"I- that's the t-t-truth-"

"Zim." Gaz gave him a hard glare, eyes as amber as her brother.

The alien went quiet for a second, counting his stars. On one hand, Gaz would leave him alone, on the other hand, Gaz would be worried and god only knows what she'd do. "He's s-s-stopped fainting,"

"He was fainting?"

Oh shit. "Kinda..." Zim broke eye contact. "But he's f-f-fine now."

"Why do you always stutter? Do you have social anxiety or what?"

"No...? I... it's a b-b-birth defect." It wasn't a complete lie, but it still made him frown and look down.

"Aha." Gaz looked behind the couch. "Order cheese pizza Dib! And soda!"

"We have soda." Dib shouted back.

"We?" Gaz mumbled, giving the alien an odd look. "Right..."

999999

What did he get himself into? What in the world did he get himself into...?

Gaz had chosen to sleep in his bed, it's not like he'd been sleeping there. So Dib agreed with a shrug. But what made him anxious was the fact he was sneaking in his own house so his sister wouldn't wake up. "If Gaz saw us, she'd get the wrong idea, Zim!" Dib whispered, following the alien to the garage.

"It's not like she'd find us." Zim smirked. "And besides, aren't you excited for the results?" It was around four in the morning, Gaz just went to bed not an hour ago, dragging the two boys with her the whole night either to chit-chat, ask questions, or watch a movie while eating pizza. All the while the two had been anxiously staring at each other, one afraid his disguise would glitch, and the other afraid his sister would discover the alien if that happened.

"That's the problem!" They got to the 'closet' and the doors opened, both stepping inside. "It's enough that she's chosen romantic movies." He shuddered at the reminder.

"I didn't understand those..." Zim shrugged, feeling the elevator take them down.

Silence fell on them as the elevator sped down till it came to a soft halt and the door opened with a hiss towards the cold lab. Dib was glad he was wearing socks this time. They walked deeper into the metallic lab till Dib found himself in a familiar room, recognizing it as the medical lab.

"Computer," Zim called, looking upward at the big screen. "Show me the test results."

"Right away." The AL replied before the pictures flickered and an image of a brain came into view. Dib walked closer to the screen as the computer spoke. "The results shown here, sir, determine the cells in the human's brain to be creating force of power large enough that the cell dies immediately, spreading the disease around to the nerves in the brain; creating a drunken effect as the mind tries to repair the messing cells and damaged nerves. The virus is spreading to other cells faster the less the human stays asleep, resulting in unexpected shutdowns in the brain and the human falling unconscious. If the virus was left uncured then the mind would fall into a coma with death following soon after." Its voice flat echoing in the quiet room.

Zim's eyes went wide with every word the computer said as the human's mouth gaped open, his skin went pale and his legs felt weak. "Oh no..." Dib took a step back but immediately felt a hand grab his wrist. He looked down to see Zim's bandaged hand holding his, but the alien didn't look at him, instead, he focused on the two brain pictures: The one on the left showed red dots all around the brain in which Dib assumed where the virus was.

"Computer, determined a cure if possible."

"No cure possible yet."

"State a time where you can find one."

"Accessing... sir, the time to determine a cure would take too long for the human's sake." The computer's voice seemed a bit... odd, as if worried. But maybe Dib's mind was playing tricks on him because he'd actually faint if it weren't for Zim's hand holding him still.

The irken hummed in acknowledgment before he snapped his head up. "Find a cure and tell me when it's done, now take us both to the equipment room." The floor opened and a tube took them down, deeper into the base. "Dib,"

The human looked down at him, their eyes met and Zim spoke. "In the m-m-meantime, while the computer finds a cure for your s-s-sickness, I'll create a device to keep you alive till then." The determination in the alien's face made Dib smile despite his low mood. "It'll take me a f-f-few days, but I'll manage to make it. Now I just need a few more tests to-" Zim's words were cut when he found himself in an embrace. "Uh, what are you doing?"

"You can't question hugs." The taller boy said, smiling down at the other.

"Now can't I?" Zim tilted his head, narrowing his eyes.

"Nope."

Really, Dib was in so much confusion and emotions that overwhelmed him. He just got a punch in the face from what the computer said, meaning his inhaler medicine was keeping him from a coma but also speeding the process. Yet, Zim was here making it simple and trying his best to stay calm.

It just felt too good to be true, and it only made Dib remember so many bad thoughts and facts.

And then again, the same question danced back in his head: Can he live without Zim?

999999

The alien stayed in the lab while Dib went to the main household just in case his sister decided to wake up for a snack or to go to the bathroom, he said he can't give her more straws to hold on to about their relationship. So the alien was alone for the next few hours working on the device he'd designed just for the human, a device simply to keep the human alive and going for much more time

There was just no way he can let the human die this easily.

The device was simple. It charges with a battery that should last for days and if the battery happened to shut down, then it can rely on the human's heartbeat to keep going.

It will send electric shocks to the boy's brain to create more cells replacing the dying ones, all the while sending more blood to make the white cells to heal and recreate the damaged nerves, thus slowing down the process of the virus but never being able to kill it, unfortunately. This is why Zim is making sure that if he happened to not be able to find a cure at least the device could keep him up and away from a coma.

Good. But never enough.

Zim wanted the human to be alive, always alive. Even if he wouldn't be able to stay on Earth for long. If he couldn't find a cure, then he'll take the hard road in fixing the human. He'd make improvements to the device, but he'll need to ask for Dib's permission beforehand. That aside, Zim knew he can find a cure. He has to find a cure no matter what...

999999

It was now around ten in the morning, Zim could barely open his eyes as he stepped out of the garage and into the house, going through the kitchen before entering the living room. He saw the small robot asleep on the kitchen floor with his doggo disguise on which reminded Zim of the Gaz-beast in the house.

Zim had enough senses left in him just to turn the disguise on before he walked to the couch, finding the human asleep with his red blanket curled around his legs. The alien smiled and sat on the couch, taking the blanket in his hand as he lay beside the boy, covering both of them. Dib groaned and shifted around to face the alien, his nose almost touching the other's forehead and he opened his eyes, finding the alien's ruby eyes staring back at him. Dib's eyebrows twitched and he sneaked his arms around the smaller being, taking him closer. The boy's shoulders tensed up and he couldn't help the tears that fell down his cheeks, body shaking, trembling.

Zim's antennae curled and he looked up to glance at the crying human, his tears hot and burning against his face as the alien watched with a frown. Zim shifted to get his hand from under him, moving it and placing it against the other's cheek, thump stroking the underline of Dib's red bags under his eyes as he sobbed. The human flinched at the touch, hugging much tighter at the alien. His strong arms shaky under the blanket.

Dib didn't talk, he couldn't. And even if he could, he wouldn't. How can he tell the alien he wanted him to stay? To tell him he wanted him here. Zim still didn't understand a lot about their relationship and neither did he, but he sure wanted the irken close... His sobs became loud and Dib whimpered, tears hot staining his face as he felt Zim's hand caresses his skin. Lord did he love him... why did everything he loved always leave?

Zim didn't say anything, he let the other cry till he fell back asleep almost an hour after. And Zim could tell you he felt his 'spooch twist with every sob.

999999

The Massive.

Space.

Skoodge couldn't take it.

He couldn't take the damn chip inside of his PAK that kept his thinking limited, he knew he had to do something, he knew he can't keep the twins and that brat doings a secret. He needs to tell someone, if only for the worth of his lost friend...

The short irken picked a good time while the other invaders wouldn't annoy him as he made his way down the hallway, twisting from left to right till he found big doors greeting him. Skoodge pushed the doors open and walked into the throne room, ready to tell about the other irkens betrayal and the tragedy that happened to his friend. The elite found his queen at her throne, her cold gaze settled on the screen before her.

"M-My tallest." Skoodge bowed, catching the tallest's attention. "I came to inform you of something I should've said a long time ago," He swallowed, feeling the chip inside of his PAK click. "B-But I can't here."

The blue eyed leader narrowed her eyes. "Invader Skoodge, what is the meaning of this?" She demanded in her stern voice.

"I'll tell you in the control brains room, I can't here. Please it's very important." He pleaded, feeling his hands shake. Miyuki went quiet for a moment before nodding.

999999

The holy control brains took hold of the short invader's PAK, raising him off of the ground and into the air, it gave a small shock of electricity before they accessed his memory drive.

And there, the sinful act of the invaders played big on the screens before the queen's blue eyes as she felt her jaw tighten and her antennae lower. Skoodge saw the hateful look that slowly build its way in her cold eyes. Then he felt another shock that almost fried his brain but it sure fried the chip, deeming it useless now. He was lowered to the floor where he walked to his mad leader.

Not only Red, Purple, and Tinn were high ranked elite invaders, but the two first males were tall enough to be called a taller among the others. And now they've made more than one crime, broke more than one role.

Sabotaging another irken, two at that.

Harming another irken, kill him to be more specific.

Helping another enemy.

And hacking into classified information.

Well, those irkens are doomed now... as the control brains lights turned red, he knew they aren't getting out of this alive. Skoodge couldn't help but feel proud of redeeming his friend's name, but at the same time hoping that Zim was still out there, still alive somehow...

He doubted it.

999999

Earth.

Dib's apartment.

"You confessed?" Gaz asked, sounding surprised. "I didn't think you had the guts to."

"I did..." Dib shrugged. His tone made the girl look back at him.

"Wait what did they say?"

"He said..." Oh right, she doesn't know Zim's an alien. Shoot, he almost fucked up here. "He said he loves me too."

"So? Why so sad then?" Gaz tilted her head, taking a sip from her coffee.

Dib bit his lips, staring at his sister for a moment before speaking. "He's leaving." The words left his mouth in a hurtful breath as he broke eye contact with his sister.

"Leaving? Where?"

"To his pla- uh, country. I'm not sure where, I didn't ask," Dib shook his head to clear it, feeling his eyes sting from how much he cried yesterday night, if you could call it night. Zim was in the kitchen working on his new device and Dib could only watch for so long before he went upstairs to take a shower when he happened to bump into his sister, which started this whole conversation. "I don't know...I can't take this any further knowing he'd be gone forever."

Gaz hummed in acknowledgment, folding her arms. "Maybe talk to them, why do they want to move away?"

"Uh," Dib truly didn't want to have this conversation, not only did he hate lying to his sister, but because it also reminded him of his upcoming broken heart, he already feels broken. No wonder he'd have a breakdown if Zim left. "I don't know, he always wanted to go back to his home,"

He's been a good liar, but he could never lie to himself... the truth was settled in his mind and it made him sink into that dark hole of depression again. He just wanted to hold the irken and never let him go.

"You should talk to them about it, maybe you could go with them." She shrugged, but he could see some hesitation in her tone. Before he could speak, Gaz spoke again. "I want what's best for you, and I can visit you from now and then. I'm not gonna be a stopping point for you."

Oh, if only he could tell her it's an alien planet... the thought almost made him laugh. Dib didn't answer, he just gave a shrug before turning back and heading downstairs again. His feet dragged him to the kitchen where the alien was working, still in his pale disguise. Dib shifted a seat next to the alien and sat on it, being as close as he could to Zim to rest his cheek on the other's shoulder, a frown on his face. Zim stopped working and looked to the side, catching the human's pout. He wanted to say something about it but decided against, continuing to work while the human stared into nothing with heavy depression that seemed worst than the virus itself.

The alien saw how Gaz would look at her brother whenever she entered the kitchen but it goes unnoticed by the human, just dozing off at the wall. Gir had been strangely quiet, probably sitting with the human girl. Zim didn't know, he was too focused on the device he's making.

Two hours went by. Gaz was watching something on TV while Zim worked, Dib was still resting against the alien that till Zim had enough and dropped his tools. He moved a bit to catch the human's jaw in his claws, making Dib's hollow gaze settle on him. For a moment, Zim was afraid the virus might have damaged his brain more, but he saw Dib's eyes shine when they met his and the irken sighed in relief. "What's g-g-gotten into you?" He asked, tilting his head.

Dib felt his eyes blink slowly, heart flatter at the look of the alien's face. "I... what?" Zim tightened his hold on the boy's jaw as in a warning. Dib's hand sneaked behind the irken's head to move him closer as the boy placed a kiss at the top of his head, smiling faintly at Zim. "I'm tired. I haven't slept yesterday... as you know." His heavy head rested back against the other's shoulder when Zim's hand moved away from his jaw.

The irken blinked in surprise, then his expressions softened. "You'll be alright, Diblet." He reassured him, last night's memories started to flash in and Zim sighed. "You'll be okay."

I hope...


END OF CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX!

Mary: Whoah! A long time no see huh? I bet you forgot this story even existed anymore. Well, guess not because I'm still alive and back with some hope! AF wasn't responding for a while now and I had to take matter in my own hands till they get back. I really hope they are okay. (Yes, we own the same account.)

But that aside, this story shall be continued and updated more since I finally got out of heavy depression. I really liked writing depressed Dib because he reminds me of myself in the past months.

I made this in two days, so be ready for more!

This was Mary! (Not AF for the time being) signing off...