OKAY. So I'm done with the Irken biology, had my fun with it. :3 Now, I want to start on personal matters, hahahaha! :D I warn you now, there is violence in this chapter. But it's not bad. And let's be honest. I could make it BAD, but I won't xD

Dib sat in class as the last of the students left. After the awkward end to their conversation the day before, Dib didn't think Zim would appreciate anymore questions concerning Irk. As he left the classroom, he saw Zim slammed into one of the lockers as Chunk and his small rally of bullies sauntered off, laughing. Dib walked over and lifted Zim up.

"What was that?" he asked.

"What?"

"THAT. Chunk bullying you. Why don't you beat them like you used to beat me? You're a good fighter, Zim, you could get them to back off."

"That wouldn't be NORMAL. Someone as thin as me beating someone as grotesquely large as Chunk."

"But you could?" Dib asked. 'I can't seem to stop asking things,' he thought. Zim brushed off his shirt and shrugged.

"I could do damage, of course," he said. Zim started off to the back of the school, wanting to avoid the mass of kids that were inevitably still at the front. Dib took one last take of the locker Zim had been pushed into and saw a small dent made by his pak.

"Least your life support is sturdy," he commented. Zim gave him a grumbled response. "Hey, Zim."

"Yes, Earth monkey?"

"Can you promise me something?" Dib asked. Zim stopped at the doors and turned to give Dib a confused expression.

"What is it?" he asked. Dib shuffled his feet before answering.

"Actually defend yourself next time, okay?" he asked. Zim seemed to think it over. Dib knew it was mostly over whether it would risk his cover being blown or not; and gave Zim his full attention when the Irken seemed to come to a conclusion for his answer.

"No promise said human will end up un-harmed," Zim said. As Dib was about to object Zim continued. "I will give them a warning first."

"Fine, but try to not maim them, alright?" Dib negotiated. Zim gave him a muffled response, but he took it as an agreement.

"Do you have any inquiries today, Earth pig?" Zim asked. The constant insults were enough to tell Dib clearly that Zim was still sore about the day before. But he couldn't reason why he would be.

"Well, yeah. Do Irkens do other things, or are all of you invaders?" Dib asked. Zim's cackle as they made their way closer to the turn off where they'd separate made Dib feel as if he had just asked a question stupid even for him.

"All invaders! You make Zim laugh, Dib-stink! Of course we are all not invaders! For any other job that needs to be filled; technician, mechanic, weapons expert, food service, whatever the job may be an Irken is sent to fulfill it. Of course when their usefulness is completed for the job they are shipped to another so that productivity isn't wasted," Zim answered in an amused voice. Dib paused at the splitting intersection of sidewalk. Zim walked a few paces before turning to him. "Why have you stopped?"

"I go the other way to go home."

"No, you are following Zim home today. I know you have more to ask, and Zim would prefer you ask now instead of later and annoy Zim more than is needed," Zim spat. Dib smiled at the insult hidden invitation and jogged up to Zim, who started walking again when it was clear to him Dib was coming.

~(*)~

Dib yawned as he stretched that morning. He lazily got out of bed, slipping on his glasses. The afternoon before he had asked Zim about more history from his planet, but the stubborn Irken had refused each request and therefore Dib was stuck with asking about the technology in his labs. Which he didn't mind; it was a joy to learn as much as he was. Dib saw his computer sitting on his desk and debated sleepily if he should add his own thoughts to the informational Word document that so far contained only the information Zim had told them. When he had come back the night before, he had stayed up considerably late writing down everything to do with the Irken technology.

Dib yawned and stretched again, finally getting ready and heading down the staircase, laptop in back pack so he could simply type out what Zim told him that day at lunch instead of trying to remember or record it all for later.

"Why are you up so late?" Gaz asked, taking the ear bud out of her ear to hear his answer.

"Was up late last night," Dib said, grabbing some bread as Gaz headed for the door.

When at the school, Gaz broke away to go to the lower grades section and Dib kept walking to the other side of the school, where a door led straight into the hi skool section. As he was about to open the door, he heard shouts from inside. Dib raised an eyebrow and pushed the door open.

"Oh, hell," he mumbled. Chunk was calling Zim out as it seemed, and a small crowd of students were surrounding them. They parted to let Dib through, giving him faces as he pushed his way past.

"Watch it!" one girl spat. Dib ignored her and any others who shouted at him as he reached the edge of the ring and saw Zim glaring down Chunk.

"What's the matter, Green-skin?" Chunk asked. Dib inwardly sighed at the unimaginative insult. He was just as bad as Zim. Speaking of, Dib took a good look at Zim. Something few of the other students seemed to be doing. His glare could actually kill and his stance just screamed to Dib that his antennae were flat against his skull already. "C'mon! I'll even give you the first punch."

As Chunk leaned down to mock Zim more, Dib saw the glint in Zim's eyes and started forward to stop him. But started too late. Zim reached his hand back and grabbed Chunk by the throat. The big jock gasped in surprise; but the students kept shouting for a fight. Zim pulled him in close. Dib could barely hear the threat he uttered, now only a foot or so away.

"Push me anymore, filth monkey, and I will make you regret this day. If you live the next time you cross me," Zim hissed. He released Chunk's throat, almost cutting it through his gloves. As Chunk spluttered to breath correctly again, Zim pushed past the students who now parted to let him through.

Dib stood stock still, watching Zim stomp away. He took a step after him, knowing that he was fuming, and would likely attack the next person to rub him the wrong way. A hand grabbed his ankle and Dib looked down at Chunk. "W-what? Let go, Chunk."

"If I can't beat him up for embarrassing me, then I sure as hell will beat the snot out of you," Chunk said. He dragged Dib to the floor; the students shouting for a fight again. Dib heard the slight shake in their voices, but focused on the fist Chunk was hitting him with.

Zim halted in the hall. His antennae twitched under his wig. He heard Chunks threat and rage built up inside of him. He swiftly turned around and pinpointed Dib though the mass of bodies the students created a wall from. Through a short time opening, he saw Dib and made eye contact before marching back toward Chunk.

"No, Zim!" Dib shouted. It was too late. Zim walked up to Chunk, who was glaring at him while still holding Dib down. Just as Zim was lifting his fist, Chunk released Dib, letting him drop to the floor as he raised his own fist.

Zim's hit first. Chunk was sent flying down the hall, students barely able to get out of the way in time. Dib stared as Chunk landed with a thud on the floor. Out cold. "I-I-I didn't know you were…"

"Get up," Zim ordered. Dib scrambled to his feet as Chunks thugs ran down the hall, pulling Chunk behind them. Zim started walking the opposite direction and Dib wobbled after him.

"You went easy on me!" he shouted to him once they had left earshot of the students, who had seemed to freeze at Zim's punch.

"You never stop asking questions do you?" Zim asked. Though Dib couldn't see, he knew by Zim's face that his antennae were trying to move forward. He took several steps to the side, safely out of arms length. But knew Zim's agility was enough to render him still vulnerable. He prayed they had made up enough of a friendship that he'd simply turn and punch a locker instead of him.

"Zim, you can calm down, I'm fine," Dib assured.

"…I know," Zim said. Dib looked over and saw that Zim's stature was more relaxed and his wig had fallen back into place; meaning his antennae weren't up anymore, but possibly flat against his skull still.

Dib tried to think of a question to calm the alien down as they made their way to their first class. "Um…so did it feel good to finally hand it to Chunk?"

It had been the first question to pop into his head, and Dib thanked his brain as he saw the smirk on Zim's face and see his shoulders relax. "Hmph. Yes, it was."

Soooo not as many questions in this one xD Meant for there to be SOME concerning Zim and his patience with people, but it just sorta… got out of that xDD I can't stop when I start, oh geez. Reviews are always appreciated.