Invader Zim belongs to Nickelodeon.
Requested by GoldGuardian2418. This was fun to write! Hope you like it!
Dib in the Dumps
It was just another typical day for Zim: go to Skool, deal with the other annoying humans, and watch and laugh at Dib's miserable attempts to try and prove that Zim was an evil alien.
But the next day, Zim was surprised and confused to see the words: This weekend, one thing I did for fun was...written on the chalkboard as soon as he walked into the classroom that morning.
It wasn't until Ms. Bitters reminded the class of their weekend homework that Zim remembered why those words were written there. Ms. Bitters instructed the class on Friday to write one pointless thing they did for fun that weekend so that they could share it on Monday as part of a class icebreaker to make the class more "interesting" and "fun", as it was now expected by every teacher.
Zim normally didn't care to do his assignments so he figured he could just make up something on the spotlight when he got called on.
He sat at his desk with a bored expression on his face as he had to hear the ridiculous useless things the other children did on their weekends. Went to an amusement park, to the movies, gotten food poisoning from Bloaty's...the ongoing list seemed to get more boring for Zim.
When it was finally Dib's turn to share, Zim perked up with a smirk. He had a good idea of what his human enemy was going to say he did over the weekend.
Look at him. All happy and cheery, Zim said to himself as he saw Dib smile and pull out some photos from his jacket pocket. It's making me sick.
"All right Dib," Ms. Bitters unenthusiastically said. "What ridiculous thing did you do over the weekend?"
Dib smiled and faced the entire class. "Well, one thing I did this weekend for fun was take pictures of suspicious paranormal and alien activity." He held up his photos to the class. "Usually, I find traces of paranormal or alien activity near my house but this time, I tracked down some suspicious extraterrestrial activity in the park." He glared at Zim when he said "extraterrestrial". The little alien in disguise just smirked back in response.
"Here's the pictures that I took." Dib held out his photographs for the uninterested class to see. "Some of them are kinda blurry, but you can still make out what I saw. And y'know, ghosts and aliens are both very fascinating creatures to research but when you actually see them in real life, it's—"
Dib didn't even get a chance to finish because the whole class began erupting with laughter. They were all laughing because they were making fun of him. Hearing Dib's crazy confession about actually seeing aliens and ghosts sounded so ridiculous it was laughable. Even Zim couldn't help but laugh along at his human enemy.
The young boy's face fell. "C'mon guys...it's not funny!"
The pupils continued to laugh and taunt at him. Then one kid called out, "What are you? Frickin' five?" The class laughed harder.
"All right that's enough, Dib," Ms. Bitters said. "Take your seat."
"But...it's a five minute presentation," Dib quietly responded.
"Well a minute and a half seems like enough. Sit down!"
Dib sighed and sadly plopped down at his desk. He had to struggle to fight back tears as the other students kept snickering and pointing at him.
When it was Zim's turn to go up, he quickly made up a lie about his weekend plans, saying that he was just out playing like a "normal kid" with his "normal dog", and definitely not up to plotting the downfall of his classmates and the planet.
Zim grinned confidently at the thought of easily fooling his classmates. He turned to look at Dib so he could rub it in his face, but was surprised when the boy didn't even look at him. He watched with curious eyes as Dib gazed sadly at his photographs while occasionally wiping the corner of one eye.
Zim just brushed it off, and convinced himself that Dib would snap out of his weird depressed state quickly. But that didn't happen. Throughout the rest of the skool day, Dib didn't even bother to annoy Zim or try to follow him around.
And when the skool day ended, Dib still didn't make no attempt to try and expose Zim. He was still upset about what happened at the beginning of class when he tried to show everyone his photos of paranormal activity. When the whole class laughed at him and teased him for acting like a five year-old, it really hurt Dib's feelings. It hurt more than the other times he normally got teased.
What's wrong with the child? Zim asked himself as he was walking down the crowded hallway to go home. He always gets teased and made fun of by his dumb classmates. How come he's all depressed all of a sudden?
The little alien suddenly snapped out of his thoughts when he heard Dib's panicked shrieks. He saw Dib being cornered by some older boys who were picking on him. They were taunting him as they held Dib's photographs up high, and laughed as Dib tried to grab them back but couldn't.
What are those morons doing to him? Zim asked himself. He was surprised to see Dib actually tearing up when one of the older boys started ripping the photographs into little pieces. Zim has never seen Dib actually cry before, but for some reason seeing this for the first time actually made the Irken feel some kind of remorse for the human.
The sudden fight commotion was making kids nearby stop and stare at what was going on. Nobody said or did anything except watch the drama unfold in front of them.
Dib's eyes widened in horror when his photos were being ripped in front of him. Before he could do anything, the second older boy snatched his glasses right off his face. "Gimme my glasses back!" Dib cried out. "I can't see without my glasses!"
"I know that, that's why I took them!" the older boy sneered.
Dib cried out in pain when he was suddenly shoved down to the ground. He couldn't hold back his tears anymore.
"Man, Teacher was right," the third boy said, towering over Dib. "You do act like a five year-old! What a loser!" The three boys began to laugh and mock him, which caused other kids around to laugh as well.
Something inside Zim snapped. He didn't know why, but he couldn't take seeing those boys hurt Dib like that. Without thinking, Zim snatched a heavy textbook out of a nearby kid's arm, and hurled it at one of the boy's head.
The book slammed against the back of the oldest boy's head, making him double over in pain. "Owww!" He suddenly turned around, glaring harshly at the crowd of kids. "Who threw that at me?!"
Zim pointed to the kid that he took the book from, and shouted, "He did it!"
The oldest boy glared darkly at the poor innocent kid who was stuttering that he didn't do anything. He tossed Dib's glasses aside, and motioned for his buddies to come along and deal with the kid who supposedly threw the book at him.
That's when Zim realized what he just did. He looked at his own gloves hands. "D...Did I just do that? Why did I do that?"
Three days later
Zim was started to feel surprisingly concerned for his human enemy. It wasn't like Dib to not try and expose him as an alien all week, or try to spy on him.
For three whole days, Dib wasn't even trying to get back at Zim. It was like if he had forgotten all about the fact that there was an alien in their class. And that's what bothered Zim the most. He felt like he had no purpose anymore without a mortal enemy. He needed a enemy to laugh and ridicule at, but now it seemed like he didn't have that anymore.
Zim came to the conclusion that Dib still felt hurt about the incident that took place on Monday. "What am I going to do, Gir?" he asked his little robot SIR as he paced back and forth in the living room area. "Without a mortal enemy to annoy me, I have no purpose! But then again, how can that enemy annoy me if they're suddenly all shmoopy?"
"Awww poor Mary is sad?" Gir asked.
Zim nodded. "Very. And it's making me sick. If there's one thing that's more annoying than the Dib himself, it's him in a shmoopy mood. It makes him look even more uglier than before. So how am I supposed to take over this mud ball planet when my only mortal enemy won't try to stop me anymore?"
Gir perked up. "Oooh! I know! I know! You should cheer him up!"
"Huh?"
"Cheer him up!"
Zim was confused. "What? Cheer...him...up? What is this...cheering up?"
"It's when you make someone all happy and not sad no more," Gir innocently explained.
Zim processed the thought in his mind for a minute, then stuck his tongue out in disgust. "Sounds gross. You know I hate being happy, Gir. Especially seeing happiness. It burns my eyes."
Gir just giggled in response. He thought Zim was joking. "Don't be silly, Master. I know you wuv being happy, too!"
"No I don't, Gir. I hate happiness. And I hate being happy! Now," Zim changed the conversation. "what am I going to do about the stink boy?"
"I know! I know!" Gir said excitedly. "Make all Dibby's sadness go bye-bye!"
Zim shot his little SIR a confused look. "Okay? And how am I supposed to do that?"
"Like I always do to you, Zimmy, when you get sad or mean! Like this!" Gir climbed off the couch, and stood in front of Zim. The little robot pretended to be concerned. "Oh no, Zimmy! I think I saw something crawl under your tummy!"
Zim suddenly panicked, and yanked his shirt up while glancing down. "What?! Where?!" In the next split second, he suddenly found himself on the floor, laughing hysterically, as Gir began tickling his exposed green belly with no mercy. "AHHHH! AHA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA! G-GIR! GI-HI-HI-HIR! HA-HA-HA-HA! S-STOP THIS A-HA-HA-HA-AT ONCE!"
But Gir didn't stop. Instead, he just sneakily moved his wiggling fingers upward so he could slip them under Zim's arms. He giggled at the adorable shriek his alien master let out.
"AAAAAHHH! GIR NO-HO-HO-HO! HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA! STOP IT! STA-HA-HA-HA-HAP! I-I COMMA-HA-HA-HA-HAND YOU!"
Gir passed for a quick second to say, "But you know what would really work, Zimmy? You wanna know what would make Dibby not so sad anymore?"
"Wha...What?" Zim asked through gasps and pants.
"Just press his wittle happy button, and then he'll be all happy and smiley really quick!"
Zim had no idea what that meant. "What? I literally have no clue what you're saying, Gir. The Dib is a human, not a machine. So he doesn't have any buttons to push!"
Gir giggled at Zim's misunderstanding. "Yes he does just like you, Zimmy! You both have a happy button riiiight here!" He rapidly wiggled his little finger against the soft spot of skin on Zim's mid-lower tummy, where a human bellybutton would be.
Zim screeched in surprise, and emitted squeaky chirps and snorting sounds through his screaming hysterics. He was very sensitive on that spot. "AAAAAAHA-HA-HA-HA-HA! N-NO GIR! NO-HO-HO-HO-HO! HA-HA-HA-HAAAAA! STOP I-HI-HI-HI-HIT! Y-YOU KNOW HA-HA-HA-HOW SENSITIVE I-I A-HA-HA-HA-HAM THERE!" He batted at Gir's hand, and tried to pull down his shirt multiple times to stop the torture.
"See Zimmy?" Gir asked as soon as he stopped. "Just give Dibby lots and lots of tickles, and press his little happy button so he's not shmoopy no more! 'Cause tickles always make you feel better!"
Zim glared at the little robot. "How does torturing someone like that, and forcing them to laugh supposed to cheer them up?"
"'Cause you can torture Dibby again!" Gir beamed.
Zim considered that thought, and it immediately convinced him. "All right then! If it means I get to torture the child once more, then I'll do it! C'mon, Gir! We've got planning to do!"
The next day
After skool the next day, Dib was walking by himself to his house when Gir suddenly jumped out from the nearby bushes. Dib flinched back with a startled yelp. "Gir? What are you doing?"
The little robot in disguise cheerily answered, "I just wanna give you a biiiig hug from me, the Hug Monster!" Gir latched himself onto Dib in a surprise glomp hug, and snuggled against his chest.
Dib was taken back by the sudden hug, but reluctantly hugged Gir back. "Um...thanks?" The boy yelped again when Gir suddenly tightened his grip, and lifted him off the ground. "I got 'im, Master!"
"Excellent, Gir!" Zim said as he poked his head out from the bushes. "Now take him back to our base! Hurry! Before somebody notices!"
Dib suddenly panicked. "What?! What's going on? Let me go, Zim! What are you plotting?"
Zim smirked a little at how panicked the little boy quickly became. "You see, Gir? Now he suddenly snapped out of it. Now he's back."
"What are you talking about?" Dib demanded as he tried squirming out of Gir's arms. He was surprised at how amazingly strong the tiny robot's grip was. "Put. Me. Down!"
"Don't worry, Dibby!" Gir cheerfully replied to the squirming boy in his arms. "We'll cheer you up so you're not sad no more!"
"Not sad? What do you mean?" Dib asked.
"You've been so sad lately, Mary. And my master's been so worried about you."
"I haven't been worried!" Zim immediately cut in. "I just realized that the human child is now more pathetic and hideous when he's not trying to expose me as his normal ugly self."
"Wow, that seems so nice to say," Dib said sarcastically.
"Just take him inside and restrain him, Gir," Zim instructed to his SIR. "I have to take my disguise off."
"Okey-dokey!" Gir answered cheerfully.
"W-What?! Restrain me?!" Dib asked with panic. "What do you mean restrain me? What's going to happen? Zim? Ziiiim!"
Zim just ignored the panicked human, and began taking off his wig and contacts while Gir carried Dib away to another room. Once his disguise was off, Zim was surprised that Gir didn't place the boy down on the nearby couch. "Gir, where are you?" he called out.
"I'm in heeere!" Gir screeched back.
Zim followed the sound to his own room. He cringed in disgust when he saw Gir and Dib sitting on his bed, Gir holding Dib tightly in a secure hug as Dib kept trying to squirm free. "Aw Gir, why did you bring him to my room? And put him on my bed?"
"You said to take him inside and hold him tight," Gir innocently answered.
"Aw forget it," said Zim. "I'll just burn and get rid of the bedsheets afterwards."
Dib shot an offended glare at Zim. "You know, you can whisper that."
"Yes, but I didn't," the small Irken answered. "Gir, release him for now. I'm sure you're terrified and wondering why I brought you here."
"Well, I am surprised but at the same time, not really because you do this all the time," said Dib. "But this time, it seems weird that you randomly brought me here. So...why did you kidnap me this time?"
"Because of your sudden hideous behavior. You haven't been acting like your usual annoying self."
Dib didn't quite understand. "What do you mean I haven't been acting like myself?"
Zim began to explain. "Ever since that incident took place Monday morning with your presentation, you've been acting different. You suddenly turned all shmoopy-like, and it's been making me sick. And you know, you should've thanked me after I got rid of those rude filthy pests that were trying to harm you."
Dib let out a soft gasp. "Wait...that was...you? You seriously...helped me?"
"W-Well I wouldn't say I helped you," Zim quickly corrected. "I just didn't want those no-good wazbags to have the honor of hurting you because that's my job. And besides, if I'm going to be stuck here on this filthy planet for a while before I plot its doom, I might as well have a weak mortal enemy I can destroy."
Dib rolled his eyes, and then softy replied, "Um...thanks for helping me out back there. I didn't know you actually helped me, but thanks." He suddenly turned his head away as his eyes got a bit teary. "But seriously, you don't have to pretend like you're concerned about me or anything. If you brought me here just to make fun of my presentation that day, then go ahead. I don't care. I get made fun of all the time so it's not like making fun of me this time will be any different than the many other times."
Zim didn't know why, but hearing the boy's sorrowful words actually sounded very sad to the alien. He didn't want to admit it, but Zim actually felt sorry for the young boy. It was actually sad sight to see Dib so down.
Curse my conflicting emotions! Zim scolded himself. I thought we Irkens weren't supposed to feel this way! Well think about it this way: if I get the child back on its feet, then I'll get the honor of humiliating him as my human enemy and everything will go back to normal.
Zim sighed and then tapped Dib's shoulder so he could turn around. "Look...obviously I can't brag about having a confident, yet weak, mortal enemy to my Tallest when you're a big fat pile of shmoop. And obviously, your human rituals of 'cheering someone up' are pathetic so I'd like to try something different with you."
"Whoa! W-What are you doing?" Dib yelped when Zim gently pushed on his shoulders to get him to lie down.
"Oh relax, human," said Zim. "Nothing bad's going to happen. Just lie down and close your eyes. I'm just going to try an Irken method of making you feel better. This always works, especially for the little Irkens."
Dib still felt suspicious, but nonetheless laid down on the bed and shut his eyes. Then he suddenly twitched his face and giggled in surprise when he felt something soft and thin brush over his cheeks and nose. "Ah! H-Hey! Ha-ha-ha-ha! What is tha-ha-ha-hat?!"
The culprit was Zim using the tips of both his antennae to stroke and flutter over the boy's face. Zim actually wasn't lying when he said that this was an Irken way of cheering up the younglings. Back on Irk, he had seen many female Irken caretakers do this with the smeets in order to cheer them up, or relieve them of any pain.
"I told you, this is an Irken way of cheering up the little ones," Zim calmly answered as he now fluttered his antennae against the side of Dib's neck.
Dib let out a little squeal, and tried scrunching up his shoulder. Zim's antennae were tickling him. "W-Well stop i-hi-hi-hit! Hee-hee-hee-hee! I don't need cheering u-hu-hu-hup!"
"Well that's too bad because right now, I don't care about your opinion!" Zim said with a smirk. "Gir, hold down his arms for me and cover his eyes."
Gir immediately perked up, and quickly did as he was told. "Yaaay! I'm helping!" He grabbed and pinned Dib's wrists securely over his head. Then, Gir grabbed Zim's nearby blanket and covered Dib's eyes so he couldn't see what Zim was going to do to him.
Finally, to thoroughly secure the little human, Zim sprouted two metal arm appendages from his Irken PAK so he could hold Dib's legs down by pinning down his thighs.
"Stop it, Zim! Let me go!" Dib cried out as he tried to tug his limbs free.
Zim ignored his protests, leaned his head close to the boy's stomach, and slipped his antennae under Dib's shirt so he could stroke the tips against the warm sensitive skin.
Dib squealed in surprise, and exploded with loud giggles. "Eeeeeehee-hee-hee-hee-hee!! N-No wait! Sto-ho-ho-ho-hop!! Hee-hee-hee-hee-hee!! T-That tickles, Zim!! Zi-hi-hi-hi-him!!" He tried twisting his trapped tummy away, but in a quick second he couldn't anymore because Zim held him still by his sides.
The fact that he had his eyes covered and couldn't see where he was going to get tickled was bad enough for Dib. But what made it even worse was the fact that he was restrained so well that he couldn't move no matter what. Dib was even still wondering what Zim was using to tickle his belly. He guessed it was probably little feathers because it really felt like it.
Dib suddenly shrieked loudly, and giggled even louder and squeakier when Zim softly fluttered his antennae over the boy's bellybutton. "AHHHH! HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA! N-NO STA-HA-HA-HA-HAP! HEE-HEE-HEE-HEE-HEE-HEE! AW W-WHAT ARE YOU USI-HI-HI-HING O-ON MY STOMA-HA-HA-HA-HACH?!"
Zim chuckled a little. "My antennae. What else?" He had remembered from a previous encounter that Dib's weird little stomach hole seemed to be very sensitive so he continued to flutter his soft antennae there to see the reaction.
The little alien was satisfied to see that this particular method that cheered up little Irkens was working most effectively with Dib. But things quickly went from bad to worse for Dib when his constant squirming from side to side accidentally made Zim's antennae slip inside his bellybutton.
The second he felt those soft feathery antennae stroke against the ticklish skin inside, Dib screeched so loudly and high-pitched that it startled Zim. "AAHHHHH! STOP I-HI-HI-HI-HIT, YOU STUPID ALIEN! HA-HA-HA-HA-HAAAA! TAKE YOUR STUPID A-ANTENNAE A-HA-HA-HA-OUT OF THE-HE-HE-HE-HERE!"
Zim felt a teeny bit offended, but pretended to be really offended. "Excuse you, Dib-filth, but my Irken antennae aren't stupid. Your stupid, weird stomach hole is stupid!" Just as Dib was about to say something, Zim cut him off by rapidly fluttering his antennae inside the little human's bellybutton.
Dib jolted and shrieked like a little girl. He frantically tried to shake Zim's antennae off, but he could hardly move since Zim held him securely by his sides. "AAAAAAAHA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HAAAA! NONONONO STAAAAAHA-HA-HA-HA-HAP! I-I'M SERIOUS! HA-HA-HA-HA-HA! AW I-IT FE-HEE-HEE-HEE-HEELS HORRIBLE! JUST S-STO-HO-HO-HO-HOP, Y-YOU WEIRDO!"
"Weirdo?" Zim repeated in an offended tone. "You're calling me the weirdo? You hear this disrespect, Gir?"
Gir nodded. "Uh-huh. And that wasn't nice, Dibby."
Before Dib could answer, he shrieked with laughter again when Zim suddenly began tickling his exposed underarms hard and fast while stroking his antennae up and down Dib's sides. "EEEEEEEEEHEE-HEE-HEE-HEE-HEE-HEE-HEE! N-NO PLEASE! STA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HAP! HEE-HEE-HEE-HEE-HEE! I HATE THI-HI-HI-HIS SO-HO-HO MUCH! AHA-HA-HA-HA-HA!"
"Look, Zimmy! It's working! He's all happy and smiley now!" Gir excitedly pointed out.
"Yes, but not quite smiling enough," Zim answered. "And how many times have I told you not to call me that, Gir?"
Dib's cheeks were already starting to turn red from laughing so much. "JUST STA-HA-HA-HA-HAP, ZIM! STA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HAP! HEE-HEE-HEE-HEE-HEE! T-THIS IS SO STUPI-HI-HI-HI-HID!"
"Fine. But only because this technique isn't quite working," Zim said as he pulled his hands and antennae away for a moment. "Once I see that you've recovered, I'd like to try something else to make you feel better."
"D-Don't even think about it!" Dib said through gasps. "Both of you, let me go right now! I already said I don't need cheering up!"
"Just ignore him, Gir," Zim said to the little SIR. "And keep holding him down. All this disrespect and sass this human is giving me will not go unpunished. And lucky for us, I know one more method that works well against the little ones."
"N-No! No, Zim! Get away from me!" Dib cried out, trying to squirm and twist free. "I won't let you tickle me again! And you better not 'cause I hate it!"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Relax, big head," said Zim. "I'm not going to tickle you. I said I was going to try a different Irken method that we use to cheer up little Irkens. And this technique works like a charm, and always makes the little ones feel better. Relax. This technique does not involve any tickling."
Dib relaxed a little, and relaxed a little more when he suddenly felt gentle fingers run through his black hair. Zim was actually petting and ruffling the boy's hair to lure him to a sense of false security so he wouldn't expect what was really coming next.
Then once he saw Dib all relaxed and actually enjoying the pets to his head, Zim quickly yanked the boy's shirt up and blew a huge raspberry against the center of his belly. "PFFFFFFFFFTTT!"
Dib obviously wasn't expecting that so he instantly screamed and shrieked hysterics while desperately trying to turn his trapped tummy away. "AAAAAAAHA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA! STOP IT, ZIM! STA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HAP! Y-YOU JUST SA-HA-HA-HA-SAID YOU WOULDN'T TICKLE ME-HEE-HEE-HEE!"
"Exactly," Zim answered calmly as he lifted his head up. "I'm not tickling you here. I'm simply using a different technique that we use on little Irkens that instantly cheers them up. And this particular method involves blowing air as hard as you can against the youngling's stomach. Like this!" Zim took a deep breath and blew another loud raspberry just above Dib's bellybutton. "PFFFFFFFFTTT!"
"AAAAHHHHH! HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HAAAA! STAAAAAHA-HA-HA-HA-HAP! T-THAT'S THE SA-HA-HA-HAME THI-HI-HI-HING! AHA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HAAAA! C'MON STO-HO-HO-HOP! I-I SERIOUSLY CAN'T STA-HA-HA-HA-HAND THAT!"
"Well too bad!" Zim taunted with an evil cackle. "Because right now, your opinion doesn't matter. Now...by the looks of it, I'd say you are not a hundred percent happy."
"W-What?!" Dib cried out as he tried to get his breath back. "What are you talking about? Of course I'm happy! I'm already smiling!"
"Silence!" Zim exclaimed. "I know disgusting happiness when I see it. The last time I succeeded in making you laugh against your will, I noticed you looked truly happy when you smiled so widely that some kind of indent popped up on your left cheek." Zim gently tapped a claw on the corner of the boy's cheek.
Dib didn't understand at first, and then it clicked. "Oh...you mean...when I smiled so much that you could see my dimple?"
"Yeah, that thing...whatever," said Zim. "And so far, I haven't seen that so-called 'dimple indent' on your cheek so that clearly means you must be still upset about Monday's incident."
"N-No! Of course not!" Dib quickly cried out. He tried pulling his trapped limbs free again, and tried shaking off the blanket covering his eyes. "I'm not sad anymore, I swear! Now let me go already! You're acting even weirder than usual, you hideous space bug!"
"Hideous? You dare insult me again, you filthy child?!" Zim exclaimed. "That's it! On Irk, we're allowed to torture the younger Irkens if they show any disrespect or sass to their older caretakers, and you...you just crossed the border into Hurtville!"
"W-Wait! No, Zim!"
Instead of going for his belly again, Zim instead scooted close to Dib's ankles so he could yank off his shoes. Doing this was kind of difficult since Dib kept trying to kick Zim in the face in order to protect his own ticklish little feet.
After a few more seconds of struggling, Zim finally was able to yank off the boy's black boots and restrain both ankles by tucking one foot under his arm while sitting on the other. Then Zim right away began wiggling and scratching his clawed fingers against Dib's little sock foot, making him shriek and scream hysterics once more. Zim even got him to scream louder by going from soft strokes to hard rapid scratches.
"AAAAAAAHA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA! NO ZIM! NO-HO-HO-HO-HO! STAAAAHA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HAP! AHA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA! T-THAT REALLY TICKLES SO-HO-HO BA-HA-HA-HA-HAD!"
"I told you things would get ugly if you insult me again," Zim said with a smirk over the boy's loud shrieks. He grinned with satisfaction as he saw the poor little, trapped sock foot frantically twist and wriggle as Zim kept scratching his claws against the sensitive surface. Then he cringed as Dib screamed loudly when Zim suddenly went for the other foot. "Gir, would you please shut him up already? I don't need to hear his surprisingly high-pitched screams."
"Oki!" Gir happily replied. He quickly switched to keep Dib's wrists over his head by using a pair of restraining cuffs that he "borrowed" from Zim's lab. Then he laid the boy's head in his lap, and used one hand to cover Dib's mouth.
Zim suddenly stopped the tickle torture when he noticed the restraining cuffs. "Gir, did you get those cuffs out of my lab?"
Gir nodded and beamed proudly. "Uh-huh! To keep Dibby still like you said!"
Zim sighed a little. "You know I hate it when you take things from my lab, but I will let it slide this time since they will be most useful in this situation." He gestured to Dib, who kept muffling whimpers and shrieks for help behind Gir's hand.
"You hear that, Gir? He's saying he wants me to continue," Zim said with a smirk.
Dib frantically shook his head, and let out muffled protests. He didn't want to admit it, but being tickled by Zim actually was cheering him up and making him feel better about Monday's incident. But at the same time, he was also losing it from the endless tickles.
Zim chuckled at the boy's reaction. "You know, Dib, on Irk, we communicate in an opposite manner compared to you humans. So for us, 'no' means 'yes'. So technically, by shaking your head 'no', you're actually saying 'yes', and are encouraging me to keep going."
Dib let out muffled squeals and whines, and frantically shook his head again.
"Aww look, Master!" said Gir. "Dibby wants more tickles!"
"Exactly, Gir," Zim said, now using his metal appendages to hold down both the boy's ankles. He teased the little human by sneakily stroking a claw over both sock feet just to stir up some panicky excitement. Then Zim began the real torture: using both sets of claws to rapidly scratch against the sensitive little sock feet.
Despite having his mouth covered by Gir's hand, Dib's muffled screams of laughter could still be heard. He desperately tried yanking his ankles free, but it was no use. He just had to lay there and endure those torturous tickles.
It wasn't until he suddenly began coughing through his laughs, that Zim completely released him and ceased tickling him.
Gir helped the boy sit up while patting and rubbing his back as he kept coughing. "Are you okay, Dibby?" he asked with worried shimmering optics.
Dib nodded and cleared his throat. "Yeah...I-I'm fine. Just choked on my own spit back there. But I'm okay."
"Yeah, yeah, whatever. Now lie back down again," Zim said impatiently as he wanted to get back to torturing the young human.
"No way!" Dib said as he hopped off the bed. "I'm not gonna let you torture me all over again. Your so-called 'cheering up' isn't working, Zim! So you might as well give up!"
Zim growled a little. "Don't you dare question my methods of dealing with pathetic human emotions! But if this whole thing has annoyed you enough, then you may leave."
Dib was surprised that Zim was actually going to let him leave, but didn't show it. "Fine! I will!" He adjusted his glasses, and was about to put on his shoes when he realized they weren't nearby. He glanced all around the room, but couldn't find his shoes anywhere.
Then he suddenly glanced up, and noticed that his black boots were being held high above his head by Zim's metal PAK arms. He sighed. "Zim, give me back my shoes."
"What? I don't know what you are talking about," Zim answered innocently. "I don't even have them."
"Yes you do. I can see you holding them right in front of me!"
"Well then if you want them so badly, then just grab them yourself! Geez!"
Dib tried reaching for his shoes, but couldn't grab them. He was too short to reach them from where Zim was holding them up. "Zim, I'm serious. Give me back my shoes!"
"Oh fine, you puny whiner," Zim said, rolling his eyes. He lowered his PAK arms so Dib could reach.
But as soon as Dib lifted his arms up to reach for his boots, he quickly slammed them down to his sides when he felt sneaky fingers tickle under his arms. "Ahhh! Zim, stop that!" Dib said between giggles as he hugged himself.
"I'm sorry, what's the problem?" Zim asked innocently.
"This isn't funny, Zim. Just gimme back my shoes!"
"What are you bugging about? They're right in front of you! Just grab them, you whiner!"
Dib huffed with a pout, and reached for his boots again. And again, as soon as he lifted his arms up, Zim sneakily tickled him there. "W-Will you cut that out?!" Dib cried out between giggles. "I'm serious, Zim! Give me back my shoes right now!"
"Fine," Zim said with a sigh. "This was getting kinda boring, anyway." He threw the black boots over to the farthest side of his room.
Dib rolled his eyes. "Really? Was that necessary?" He walked over to the corner to retrieve his shoes when he yelped as he was suddenly snatched and held upside down. "Put. Me. Down, Zim!" the boy cried out as he squirmed uncomfortably in midair. "This isn't funny! Just stop already!"
"You mean go?" Zim asked with a teasing smirk.
"No!"
"You mean yes?"
"I'm serious!"
"You're joking?"
"I hate you, you stupid space roach!"
Zim suddenly felt offended. He tossed the boy onto the bed, and quickly restrained his limbs again. "That's it, Dib! You've gone too far! And now, you force me to do something I really don't want to do."
The little boy grew nervous at the threatening tone Zim was using. He shut his eyes and expected the worst, but was surprised when he felt Zim running his claws through his hair again. "You force me to be miserable by being nice to you," he heard Zim say. "I hope you're happy."
Dib didn't respond since he was too busy enjoying the nice pets and strokes to his head. He didn't even react when Zim used his other hand to gently tug up his shirt to rub at his tummy.
It wasn't until Dib suddenly felt his whole belly vibrate with a raspberry that he shrieked in surprise. "AAAAHHHH! ZI-HI-HI-HI-HIM!"
"Before you complain once again, no, I will not stop," Zim replied with a smirk. "I can't have my hideous human enemy looking even more hideous now that he's depressed. And plus, I still haven't seen that dimple indent in your cheek so by all means, I will not stop until you are feeling better." Then Zim went back to his torture: holding the boy still by his sides, and continuing to blow long and hard raspberries against the sensitive soft surface. "PFFFFFFFFTTT! PFFFFFFFTTT!"
And poor Dib could not do a thing to save himself. He could only lay there and suffer the torturous raspberries that were making him scream laughter like a little child. And what was worse was when every time he tried turning on his sides to protect himself—out of reflex—Zim would blow another raspberry either on that exposed side, his ribs, or would simply turn him back on his back and target the boy's bellybutton with endless raspberries. "PFFFFFFFFFTTT! PFFFFFFFFFTTT! PFFFFFFFFFTTT!"
"AAAAAAAHA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HAAAA! N-NO ZIM! PLEASE DON'T—AAAHHHH! STAAAAAHA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HAP! AAAHHHH! Z-ZIM, PLEA-HEE-HEE-HEE-HEE-HEASE! T-THIS IS HORRIBLE! AAAHHHH! N-NO WAIT! N-NOT THERE! AAAAHHHHH!"
Zim simply ignored the protests, and continued to assault the sensitive little tummy in front of him with more ticklish raspberries until he made Dib laugh silently. When he couldn't hear the boy laughing anymore, he stopped to give him a break. Zim chuckled when he saw how red Dib's face had gotten, and heard him shuddering gasps and panting heavily.
"Is Dibby okay?" Gir asked with concern. He thought they accidentally killed the boy.
"Oh he's fine. Don't worry, Gir," Zim assured. "He's just being dramatic. However...he still looks sad so it looks like I'm going to have to take it up a notch."
"N-No don't!" Dib cried out when he found his voice. "I-I'm fine, really! Please just let me go, and leave me alone!"
"I would, but you still look terribly sad," Zim said, gesturing to the boy's tear-stained cheeks. "And I still haven't seen you smiled wide enough to see your dimple. But not to worry, I still have one more trick up my sleeve to help you."
"N-No, Zim! No!" Dib stammered. "I don't need any help!" He was suddenly silenced when Gir covered his mouth again with his hand.
"Thank you, Gir," said Zim. "Now, I've decided to take your advice. You said it yourself that you can make this little human instantly happy by pressing a specific button on him, right?"
Dib panicked when he heard those words. He knew what was going to happen to him. He frantically shook his head, and muffled shrieks and whines could be heard.
"Now forgive me, Gir. But I can be so forgettable sometimes," Zim said, ignoring the boy's muffled shrieks of protest and even insults. "Where exactly is this little button that instantly makes him happy?"
"Oooh! I'll show you!" Gir said excitedly as he scooted next to his alien master. "It's right here, see?" He pointed to Dib's bellybutton. "You just press his happy button, and then it makes him all smiley and giggly and happy! Like this!" The little robot slipped his tiny finger inside, which already tickled badly for Dib as he began squeaking muffled squeals and trying to twist his stomach away.
"I got it, Gir. Now move aside."
Dib's eyes widened in horror, and he squeaked out more nervous muffled shrieks and whines. He frantically shook his head, and muffled "no" over and over again as Zim slowly lowered his wiggling claws towards the boy's tummy.
Dib then let out a muffled loud squeal when Zim softly circled his belly with the tip of his claw. Zim slowly traced circles around Dib's tummy, slowly inching closer and closer to his bellybutton before dipping his finger inside. The second Zim rapidly wiggled his finger, he grinned evilly at the sound of Dib's frantic muffled shrieks and screams of laughter.
"You were right, Gir," Zim said over the muffled screams. "This instant happy button really works on little humans. You hear that, Dib? You can thank me later for this."
Dib shook his head again while shrieking muffled insults that Zim couldn't understand. All this tickling was driving him crazy! He already had tears streaming down his now bright red cheeks, and now his stomach and sides were beginning to cramp up. Dib was so relieved when Zim finally stopped for a moment to let him catch his breath.
"Zim...please..." the boy tiredly panted. "Just stop. I can't...I can't take this anymore."
The little Irken shrugged. "Hey, I was about to stop several minutes ago, but then you just had to get all emotional and start crying in front of me."
"I'm not...I'm not crying!"
"Do not disagree with me! You're still crying right now, see?" Zim pointed to Dib's blushing tear-stained cheeks. "Just fantastic, Dib. You're making this more difficult than it needs to be."
The little boy squeaked and whimpered nervously as he saw Zim lean down to his stomach. "N-No! Get away from me, Zim! I-I'm not crying, I swear! And I'm not sad anymore! C'mon, just let me go!"
"No!" Zim's sudden exclamation made Dib jump. "I said that I would not let you leave until you are cheered up, and that's what I'm going to do! That's the deal, child! Take it or take it!"
Dib squeaked loudly and giggled up a storm when he felt Zim's feathery soft antennae brush all over his tummy. "Eek! Zi-hi-hi-hi-him!! Hee-hee-hee-hee!! N-No please!! Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!! Y-Your antennae feels so-ho-ho we-hee-hee-hee-heird!!"
Zim playfully growled. "How dare you make fun of my Irken anatomy! You want something to laugh about? Fine!" He stroked the tips of his antennae around the edges of the little human's bellybutton before slipping them inside, and fluttering them furiously against the super ticklish skin.
Dib screeched so loudly and erupted with screaming hysterics again as those wiggling antennae were making his belly and sides tingle like crazy. "AAAAAAAHA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA! ZI-HI-HI-HI-HIM! AHA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HAAAAA! PLEASE ZIM! STA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HAP! HEE-HEE-HEE-HEE-HEE! I-IT FEELS SO HORRIBLE! HA-HA-HA-HA-HA!"
"Well then if you want me to stop, then you better stop your crying," Zim said over the loud shrieks.
"B-BUT I CA-HA-HA-HA-HAN'T! HEE-HEE-HEE-HEE-HEE! I SERIOUSLY CAN'T, ZI-HI-HI-HIM! I CA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HAN'T!"
"You can't?" Zim repeated. "Hmm...then allow me to help you!" He took his antennae out, grabbed Dib by his sides, took a deep breath, and blew the longest hardest raspberry he could against the boy's bellybutton. "PFFFFFFFFFFFFFTTTTT!!"
Dib nearly made Zim and Gir go deaf with the loud shrill scream he emitted. His scream was so loud and high-pitched, it nearly shattered the windows of the house. Poor Dib laughed his hardest, and was almost sure he would explode after his laughter went silent for a few seconds. When he was finally able to take a breath, he suddenly began snorting in between hysterics.
"S-STAAAAAHA-HA-HA-HA-HAP ZIM! JUST STA-HA-HA-HA-HAP! HA-HA-HA-HA! AW LOOK WHAT YOU MA-HA-HA-HA-HADE ME DO-HOO-HOO-HOO!"
"Awww how cuuute!" Gir squealed out. "Mary sounds just like a little piggy!"
Zim chuckled at that comment. "He sure does. However...I still see sad tears which indicates that the child is still sad." He obviously knew that Dib was shedding tears of happy laughter. Zim just wanted to use that as an excuse to tickle the boy a little longer. And besides, Zim still hadn't seen Dib's cute dimple smile which was what he really wanted to see.
"No! No please! N-No more! Please!" Dib cried out as he desperately tried to catch his breath. "Stop tickling me, Zim! I'm serious! I hate it!"
"Look, Dib. Just stop your crying. It's that simple."
"I hate you, you stupid ugly space roach!" Dib exclaimed, sticking his tongue out at the Irken.
Zim let out a low growl, and pinned his antennae flat against his head to indicate that he was angry. "Well...that tears it. Prepare for your demise!" Zim dove down and attacked Dib's tummy with endless raspberries while mercilessly tickling at his exposed underarms.
Gir just watched with amused optics at the sight of his alien master showing no mercy in tickling their human friend. And Dib was an absolute mess of squeals and hysterics as now both ticklish spots were being simultaneously tickled.
The poor trapped boy could not do a thing to protect himself, and couldn't even shriek for Zim to stop because every time he tried to speak or twist away, Zim would blow another hard raspberry against his way too ticklish bellybutton or his ribs.
Poor Dib kept laughing and screaming as rivers of tears leaked from his eyes down his cherry red cheeks. He felt like he was going to die of laughter if Zim didn't stop soon!
But luckily for him, Zim saw how tired and sweaty Dib had gotten from laughing so much so he decided to give the boy one last break before his finishing move.
Gir patted and ruffled Dib's messy black hair to help the boy calm down a bit while Dib struggled to catch his breath. "Don't worry, Dibby. Zimmy's almost done with the tickles."
"Almost?!" Dib shrieked in horror. "What do you mean almost? Oh no! No, no, no, no! Not happening!" He yanked and pulled on his trapped limbs. "Let me go, Zim! You've tortured me enough already!"
"Calm down, would ya?" Zim said a little impatiently. He patted Dib's head in an attempt to calm him down. "By the looks of it, all of my horrible, evil tickle torture has lifted your spirits. Buut...I still haven't seen that so-called 'adorable cute dimple smile' that your family always talks about."
"H-How do you know that my family says that?" Dib stuttered a bit nervously. "Have you been spying on me?"
Zim scoffed. "Of course not. I wouldn't waste my time trying to see what pathetic rituals you and your family do. I just so happened to hear that information from your father one night when I was walking by your house."
Dib rolled his eyes and blushed a little. "I can't believe you heard that. And I can't believe Dad actually said that..."
"Well then...time for my finishing move," Zim said in a teasing tone as he slowly leaned his head down to the boy's belly.
Dib's eyes widened in horror. He squeaked like a nervous little mouse as he desperately tried to turn his tummy away. "No don't! I won't let you!"
Zim rolled his eyes, grabbed the hem of Dib's blue shirt, and yanked it up over the boy's head so that it was covering his face. He smirked when he saw Dib shake his head and squeak nervously through the fabric of his own shirt.
Then Zim held the boy still by his sides, pressed his mouth over Dib's bellybutton, and blew endless raspberries while shaking his head. "PFFFFFFFFFTTT! PFFFFFFFFFFFTTTT! PFFFFFFFFTTT!"
Dib completely lost it a second time, and screamed laughter as his whole tummy and sides tingled like crazy. He was laughing so hard and carefree that he began snorting between laughs once more. "AAAAHHHHHH! AHA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HAAAAA! AAAAAAHHHH! ZIIII-HI-HI-HI-HI-HIM! AAAAHHHHH! HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA! STAAAAAHA-HA-HA-HA-HAP! AAAAHHHHH! STOP IT, PLEA-HEE-HEE-HEE-HEE-HEASE! AAAAHHHH! Y-YOU'RE GONNA MA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HAKE ME DIE!"
After a few more long seconds, Dib smiled so widely that Zim could finally see the little dimple on his left cheek. Zim's face softened with a warm smile as he saw how cute Dib's little dimple smile looked with his blushing cheeks.
Finally, Zim decided to stop tickling the boy before he accidentally killed him. As soon as he released Dib's limbs, Dib was too tired to move or tug his shirt down. It took him a few long minutes for him to catch his breath and regain the strength to sit up.
Once he did sit up and pull his shirt down, the poor tired boy began coughing a little. Gir immediately threw himself against Dib to give him a huge hug to make him feel better. "Are you okay, Dibby?"
Dib nodded. "Yeah...Just really tired and my throat feels kinda scratchy, so—"
Gir didn't even let Dib finish since he right away hopped off the bed, and raced to the kitchen to fetch Dib a cold drink.
"I hope you feel okay now after that whole incident on Monday with those jerks and everything," Zim said, breaking the awkward silence.
Dib smiled a little. "Actually...I do. Thanks, Zim. And, again, I really appreciate what you did back there with those other guys. Um...thanks, Zim."
"Yeah...no problem," Zim answered awkwardly. "And you're lucky I handled that in a more civilized manner since there are laws on this planet. If certain things were legalized here, I would have ripped their organs right out of their bodies, make the rivers run red with their blood, and then vaporize their lifeless carcasses so there would be no evidence left to find."
Dib eyed Zim nervously. The Irken's crazed ominous mindset was creeping Dib out. "Um...okay? Uhh, I'm not sure how to respond to that."
Gir rushed back into the room a second later, handing Dib a glass of cold chocolate milk. "Here, Dibby! I brought you choccy milk!"
"Aww, thanks, Gir," Dib said with a smile. After he finished his drink, he slipped his shoes back on and tried to smooth out his super messy hair. "Well I better get going. Um...thanks again...for everything."
"Sure. Just don't mention this to anyone else," said Zim. "I have a reputation to keep here, you know."
Dib rolled his eyes with a small smile. "Yeah, yeah, sure. Like people actually care what you think." He suddenly yelped a little when Gir suddenly clung to his leg.
Gir didn't want Dib to leave. "Awww don't go, Dibby! We was having so much fun!"
"I'm sorry, Gir, but I have to leave," Dib said with a grunt as he tried to shake the tiny robot off. "But hey, maybe Zim will kidnap me again, and we can get to play some other time. Okay?"
Gir perked up with hopeful optics. "Really? Yaaay!" He tightly hugged Dib around his stomach, making the boy wince a little.
"Yeah...okay...now...please let me go!"
But Gir didn't let go. He didn't want the hug to end, so he instead squeezed Dib a little tighter.
"C'mon, Gir, release him already," Zim ordered. "Stop hugging him. You don't know where he's been."
Dib shot an offensive glare at Zim. When he was finally released from the tight hug, Dib gave Gir a head pat to show his thanks, and then surprised Zim with an awkward one second hug before rushing out the door.
"Awww he hugged you!" Gir cooed a little to his frozen, in shock alien master.
"Yeah..." Zim said slowly when he found his voice. "I guess he did..." He snapped out of that awkward trance when he noticed Gir rolling around on his messy bed. "Gir! Get down from there! And stop rolling around on the bed sheets! The Dib-human was just there, and now you're swimming in his own filth and germs!"
"But I like it," Gir innocently replied. "'Cause Dibby smells just like a vanilla cupcake!"
Zim cringed. "Sounds gross. Now get off. I'm supposed to burn and dispose of those bed sheets now, like I originally planned, once the filthy child left."
Gir nodded and hopped off the bed. Once he left, Zim suddenly didn't want to get rid of the bed sheets. Instead, he actually laid back down on his bed, and rubbed his cheek and face all over the sheets while also fluttering his antennae against them.
Surprisingly, Gir was right about the scent. To Zim, Dib's scent actually did smell like the so-called vanilla cupcake. At first, when Zim first discovered the scent it made him sick. But now, the little alien actually enjoyed the natural sweet scent.
Perhaps the little human isn't as bad as I thought, Zim thought as he continued to rub against the bed sheets while emitting content purrs.
THE END