This took a while ( I was moving ). But I figured it's about time to start addressing a plot point (if this thing can be called having a plot lol) that's been sitting on the sidelines for a while now. Enjoy!

Part 32: Behavior

Dib's tattoo was still sore; but as far as he or Zim could tell it was healing normally. Not a bad first experience, if Dib was being honest. He was already thinking of what else he could get on his other arm. Or maybe he'd start working on a sleeve. He wasn't sure if he was looking forward to their classmates' seeing it. He'd be the first to get one in his whole class—both a personal achievement and a surprise—but he'd yet to take his jacket off except for gym. And even then, the sleeves of his uniform covered it. He shrugged; if anyone saw it, he was graduating, their teases were going to be for a few weeks at best. He paused that particular vein of thought to reassess his own judgement for how he and Zim were spending one of their last weekends being Seniors.

Fireworks were set up in a row in front of him. He'd gotten them… less than legitimately through one of Gaz's friends. Nevermind his surprise that she still managed to hold real relationships with people; he wasn't at all surprised one could gather half a show's worth of fireworks from seemingly air. He just prayed they didn't explode on the ground.

Dib scurried off to his prep table, quadruple checking everything was set and ready. He heard the, now comfortable, hum of the Voot Cruiser touch down in what remained of the clearing behind him. The glass door slid up and Zim jumped down, walking towards Dib in a similar manner he'd been doing for days. Dib tried not to squint his eyes at him.

When Zim reached the table it took him all but seconds to assess what Dib had set up.

"You bought explosives?" he asked. Dib ignored the slight glee in his voice.

"In a sense. I thought this would be… therapeutic for you. Us. If you want." Dib offered.

Zim looked over the line of fireworks Dib had stacked up in the field. He reached towards the detonator and flipped the first switch. The spark raced towards the line of fireworks, shooting up one canister and blasting the rocket into the sky. It burst in the air with a satisfying CRACK; the colors raining down in a spherical pattern. Dib watched Zim's face for any reaction.

Zim's face seemed to brighten up some and he hit the second switch. Then the third, the forth, until he'd hit half the switches on the board. Dib stood back and watched him grow more gleeful with each explosion. He'd been careful to put a different type of firework in each tube before setting them all. Each new display got more of a reaction out of Zim until he actually allowed a holler when the last firework went off.

"Fun?" Dib asked hopefully.

"Cathartic. Do you have more?" Zim asked. Dib lifted up the lid to a box by his feet. Zim smiled wide at seeing the dozens of fireworks laying inside.

"I have plenty."

Zim snatched the entire box up, jogging across the field to the tubes. Dib was content to walk briskly behind him. He shouldn't have been so surprised when Zim was already figuring out how to set them up. He wondered only idly if Zim had a background in explosives as well. Idly because he would bet money that he did.

"Help your mood any?" Dib asked, plopping down beside Zim.

"You can read Zim better than Zim expected, Dib-stink."

"Wanna talk about it?" Dib asked tentatively. Zim slowed down his preparation of one firework, taking his time to think before his actions sped up again.

"…No. Zim would rather blow up these."

Dib nodded, grabbing some more and setting up his side of the row.

He hadn't been prepared for how quickly Zim would burn through the fireworks. It took maybe two hours to set off every rocket he'd brought. Though, Dib would be happy to report that it seemed to be working. Zim was more energetic than he'd been in days by the time they'd finally exhausted the supply. Zim was sitting on the table by the time they'd finished, kicking his legs out as Dib gathered up the tubes in a box.

"Is Dib-stink still going to that club meeting tonight?" Zim called across the field.

"Yeah, it's the last one of the year! Abed is bring a cake, Daren was in charge of drinks, and Eric snagged the club room key so we could use it after hours." Dib called back. He heard the slightest noise of disappointment from Zim and looked back at him. Zim was actually pouting. Dib gathered up the tubes in their box and hauled it up to the table. By the time he'd reached it, Zim had wiped the pout off his face and returned to the stoic look he'd been adopting recently. "Do you want to come?"

"Zim would be subject to their childish requests again. No."

"If you say so. In that case, you're free tomorrow?" Dib asked.

"Zim is always free."

"Good, because I was thinking of going to the local goth shop on 6th. They got a new shipment of Mysterious Mysteries merch and I wanted to check it out."

"Hmm. Zim will accompany you."

Dib packed away the last of the equipment, taking one box while Zim grabbed the second and started to hike it back to his car. He was starting to regret parking so far away, but it was the best place to do the fireworks and it wasn't like there was a parking lot ten feet from them. He'd almost tripped over tree roots multiple times, Zim catching the back of his collar each time and hauling him back onto his feet.

"Dib, you're going to faceplant."

"I will not."

"You will when I'm not here to catch you. You've tripped every thirty yards." Zim teased. Dib doubted it was actually that accurate each time. He hoped.

"Well, you go on almost every hike I take anymore, so I'm not worried," Dib mused. Zim looked around them to the trees.

"How could Zim not?"

Dib looked him over a moment and let the matter rest. If Zim every moved his base, Dib would have to mention he could put it in a clearing. He wondered if waking up to trees outside the window every day would improve Zim's mood. On that note.

"Zim, you can move your base, right?" Dib asked.

"Zim could… feasibly do that, yes. It'd take time."

"Why's that? It appeared practically overnight when you first got here." Dib affirmed. They'd finally reached the car. Dib balanced the box on his shoulder and popped the trunk. Zim almost threw the box he'd had inside while Dib fumbled to set his down without spilling everything out.

"That is because that is how it was designed. Zim has added to it since then; it would take longer."

"Oh. Right. Well, if you ever do, you can move it out here. I'm sure you'd be able to forge something to make this land yours." Dib offered. Zim seemed to seriously consider that as he looked around at the woods again.

"Perhaps."

Dib stretched, slamming the trunk shut. He spun his keys, moving to the drivers seat. Before he got into the car he looked back at Zim.

"See you tomorrow?"

"Yes."

Zim left through the woods, his hand idly scratching against the tree trunks as he passed by. Dib watched him for a while before he finally resolved to drive himself home.