This has been in my head for too long and I wanted it so here it is, mateys. Bit of a short one, but, it was just a small idea I wanted to explore!

Part 28: Waves

Zim stared at the glass, unsure what the appeal was. About half the students around him shared a similar consensus; doing something else rather than stare into the glass. The blue lights were calming, yet kept Zim's brain active, a sensation he didn't quite understand but also didn't quite mind. Like many things he'd found on this dirt ball, it was confusing, yet captivating. The water sent undulating light over the students, something Zim hadn't seen outside his own labs. Dib popped up beside him, chewing on a piece of candy. He offered another to Zim, who took it without glancing at what it was.

"Do you like it?" Dib asked.

"The 'aquarium'?" Zim asked back. Dib swallowed and pressed his empty hand to the glass.

"Yeah. Seeing the fish?"

Zim hummed. He liked the fish. He had grabbed fish from water sources before. He'd seen the ocean, in the dead of night grabbing squids and octopus from its depths in his Voot Cruiser, but he'd never known the wide array of species that the planet's oceans held.

"Zim is…. Conflicted."

Dib finished off his candy, throwing the wrapper in a nearby bin. "Why? I always thought it was beautiful. Especially the tunnel."

One of Zim's antennae perked up at the mention of a tunnel under his wig. "Because of what it is."

"…Elaborate."

"Zim sees a lot of color, the dancing light, the movements, the water…. Zim is conflicted." Zim explained, pawing the candy. He unconsciously started to unwrap it. "Your planet has such diversity. Zim envies it."

"Because of Irk?"

"Partly." Zim confessed. "Irk had lost its oceans long before Zim was a smeet."

"Well… we're starting to get a better idea of how to keep from doing that for ours," Dib began. "Want to see it up close?"

"See what up close?"

"The fish. They swim overhead in the tunnel, come on." Dib grabbed Zim by the arm, guiding him along the throng of students until the herd had thinned to the point they could walk side by side.

Zim looked around at each tank and enclosure, where more and more fish were swimming by in the reefs. One had a scuba diver cleaning a portion of the tank. He waved at them as they passed by, Zim awkwardly returning the gesture while Dib did so eagerly. Dib suddenly motioned him to the right, where a large amount of blue light was shining around a corner. Dib led him into the hall. Zim halted at the corner, looking out at the tunnel.

On one side was a bench that was built into the wall, running the length of the tunnel. Seaweed and portions of reef were framing sections of the sand on either side, the top open and occasionally brushed by the seaweed as the current passed in another wave. Fish were swimming overhead, along the sides, and the bottom. A massive shark, one Dib had called a 'hammer head' passed over the entryway. Zim caught larger fish staying near the sand. He could see the water rippling overhead, a mantra ray coming into view, turning sharply at the sight of the shark as it meandered along the upper portion of the tank. Dib rejoined his side, pushing his chin up to close his mouth. Zim jerked and blinked himself back to reality. He wandered over to the bench, settling on his knees to peer into the glass.

"Like it?" Dib asked.

"This is… far better than in the Cruiser," Zim admitted. Dib had to think for a moment before remembering the various squids and octopi he'd seen in Zim's lab over the years. He hummed, an idea forming in his head.

"You know this isn't how most fish live?" Dib asked. Zim gave him an exasperated look. "Right. Well, do you want to see it a different way?"

"…How so?"

Zim stood, his clawed toes digging into the sand. Dib was tossing his shoes into the Voot Cruiser, beaming in his own pride, with his T-shirt still hanging off his shoulders. Zim looked around the beach; seeing no other soul save a hermit crab slowly crawling its way through the sand.

"You can relax, no one else will be here. It's deserted." Dib explained. It was the third reassurance he'd had to give to Zim. Zim regrettably took his attention off his surroundings. He watched Dib warily as he waded into the water up to his knees.

Dib motioned for him to follow.

"It won't hurt you. You took like four paste showers before we left."

"Zim is aware." Zim replies curtly.

Dib doesn't lessen his smile or lower his hand. Zim stiffened his resolve and walked to the edge of the water. It lapped at his toes, staying true to the paste baths, without burning his skin. He started to wade out more, feeling his skin prickle at the knowledge he was willingly surrounding himself in water. He reached Dib, his nerves firing on all cylinders despite knowing his skin was protected and despite knowing he could launch himself out of the water if necessary. Dib guided him next to him. The sand they'd kicked up already being settled by the waves.

"Ok, now we just wait."

Zim blinked at the water. "Wait for what?"

"For the fish. They should come back once the sand settles and we don't move our legs," Dib explained.

Zim figured he could do that. He had a wealth of patience to utilize. He still found himself thankful that it didn't take hours for the fish to return. Slowly, one by one and then in groups, the fish began to swim around them. Some would become daring, getting up close to their feet to inspect them. Others got close enough to realize something about what they saw and would swim away. Zim blamed that they could see their legs move past the water's surface. Regardless, he found himself mesmerized by the creatures. Their fluid drifting through the water, with their speed changing in an instant at the slightest spook. Gliding as if there was nothing in their way, as if they were in the air. He squatted down, sitting in the sand. The plume of sand scattered the fish. Dib made a laughing noise, sitting next to Zim in the water.

"Enjoy watching them?"

"This is much better than the Voot Cruiser AND the aquarium."

Dib smiled, leaning back to bask in the sun until Zim was satisfied. He wasn't expecting to remain in the water for the next seven hours until the sun was setting. The cold temperature of the water finally forcing Zim to retreat to the shore. Dib decided he'd have to bring Zim back again. It was still odd to see the Irken calm. It was interesting.