ZADR Orange Chapter 108

Warnings: Extreme OOCness

Rating: M for later chapters

Disclaimer: We do not own Invader Zim, nor any of the characters from it. We do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Zim: Notgonnadie

Dib: Me

Enjoy. =3

Closing the box, Zim smiled back and stored it safely in his PAK. "I'm going to go check up on him!" he cheered, rushing for the stairs.

"Oh! U-Umm...Wait, Zim! I-I think we should tell you something!" Rose called after him. But it was too late. He was already up the stairs and out of hearing range. Knowing that the encounter would be less than pleasant, Rose sighed.

Zim rushed excitedly into Dib's room. "Dib?" he whispered. "Dib, are you awake? Are you feeling any better?" he asked.

Shuddering at the wave of heat washing over him, signaling Zim's return back to the house, Dib hid even more underneath the covers. Not wanting to have to deal with anybody after what had happened earlier, he sank even further under the covers.

Going to the bed, Zim smiled and sat down to cuddle up next to Dib. "I guess you're still asleep." he said, unable to stop grinning no matter how hard he tried. He was just too happy. "I'll keep you warm." he nuzzled Dib and loosely wrapped his arms around him, closing his own eyes.

Curling in on himself under the covers, Dib flinched uncomfortably at the sudden closeness and touch before sobbing into his hands, wanting to be left alone.

Eyes snapping wide open, Zim looked at Dib confused. "What's wrong, Dib?" he asked.

Save for a wet whimper and shake of his head, Dib didn't respond, not wanting to talk about it. He didn't want to talk with Zim or anyone else about what Purple had said earlier in front of Rose.

Petting Dib's head gently, Zim pulled the covers back a little. "What's wrong? Please, tell me." he tried to coax an answer out of the other.

His antennae twitching before falling back to press against the back of his head uncomfortably, Dib pulled back at the small pet.

Meanwhile, Rose stood in the doorway with Purple next to her. "Umm...Zim, can we talk?" she asked.

Sighing, Zim glanced up at Rose and Pur then back at Dib before standing up. "Okay..." he sadly walked out of the room, letting Rose close the door behind him, "He hates me..." he said once they were alone.

"No! No, Zim...That's not it at all. He doesn't hate you. He's just...a little flustered at the moment...W-We think we found out what's wrong with him, b-but it was a little embarrassing for him..."

Not really believing her, Zim looked up sadly. "So, what is it?" he asked.

"W-Well...Umm..." Rose glanced at Purple for help.

"U-Ummm...Zim. D-Did you ever consider before making your mate part Irken whether he'd go through any times of heat like we do every few years?"

Confused, Zim paused. "...Nooo...I thought his human half would block that...It seemed to block every other weakness..."

"Well...He IS pregnant, so under normal circumstances, even if he were full Irken, he wouldn't have to worry about going into heat, unless...Unless you two mated recently..." Purple eyed Zim warily.

Blushing, Zim gulped and looked away. "W-Well... Yes, we did." he sighed heavily. "So, what are the effects?" he asked.

"Well, you've been in heat before. You should know the symptoms by now. The only difference is that there is something triggering his at the moment. And we think that the thing triggering it is a pheromone that YOU'RE giving off."

Zim's eyes widened. "I-I'm...No...But...Y-You mean...I can't be around him without hurting him..." he finally managed to get his words out.

"Not unless your computer can determine which pheromone it is you're giving off and administer a pheromone blocker to take care of it. Otherwise, it will be a few days until the effects wear off."

Wilting, Zim sighed and looked away. "...I-I should go home now then...Rose...C-Can Dib stay with you? U-Until this wears off or something?" he asked.

"O-Of course...B-But don't you think it would just be easier for you to find out which pheromone it is that's affecting Dib and find some way to block it? I-I don't think he'd be all too happy if you just left without saying anything."

"I know he won't, but I don't know how long it will take to find." Zim sighed. "So...Can he stay here till then?" he asked again.

Rose sighed also. "Yes. Of course he can. But I think you better tell him where you're going before leaving. Otherwise he'll think it was his fault that you left and probably seclude himself in that room for the rest of the night." she said.

"Given his current situation, it really shouldn't take Zim that long to find which pheromone it is though. Not if he narrows it down to the few pheromones that influence the need to mate."

Zim nodded at both suggestions. "Yeah...I'll tell him..." he sighed and peeked into the bedroom again, "...Dib?" he asked.

Hearing the other call out his name, Dib's antennae perked beneath the covers before falling back to press against the back of his head, still sniffling wetly from his spot as he sensed Zim approaching the bed before removing the blanket enough for the other to see his tear-stained face.

Flinching, Zim looked away. "I'm sorry...I didn't know I was doing this to you..." he said.

"But it's not your fault!" Dib cried, crawling into the other's lap before burying his face in the Irken's side, wiping his eyes on Zim's uniform top.

Unable to help but run a hand through Dib's hair, Zim sighed. "But it is...It's my entire fault...Every bit of it..." he said, feeling awful about all this.

A/N: And there you have it for Chapter 108. =3 Until next time~