Dlbn: Hello, everyone! Been a busy few weeks so I haven't updated. But now I am proud to announce that I have Microsoft Office back on my laptop. Thank you, tax return!

Nbld: Dork. Finally have the time to update, too, since work cut my hours *grumble, grumble*

Dlbn: Concert tomorrow and work later in the day Sunday, so I figure its time to update while I have a moment to sit down and breathe.

Nbld: Review Corner! Thank you to Zim'sMostLoyalServant and Invader Johnny for reviewing! Candy I got from work for you both!

Zim'sMostLoyalServant: Thanks! It would be very satisfying if that kind of thing happens to Dib, yes. I know some people in my life that it will be satisfying if it ever happens to them, as well.

Invader Johnny: With all he's gone through, its definitely changed him. For better or worse, who knows?

Disclaimer: I own Lahna, Ense, and a few other miscellaneous characters that are not canon to Invader Zim. Everything canon to Invader Zim belongs to Jhonen C. Vasquez. I make no money off writing this. I'm just a poor fangirl who owns the DVDs, various plushies, a pop figure, the comics, and a few miscellaneous little knickknacks I got from blind bags at Hot Topic.

000

The rest of the week went by without much trouble. Ense had offered to stop by his siblings' house and take them out grocery shopping with Rya on Saturday, but he backed off after Zim explained the party idea and offered up Sunday instead. Rya said she didn't care as long as the trio spent some time together during the week outside of school. After so long apart, the newfound closeness felt both welcoming and uncomfortable. Zim was used to his big brother being over protective and chastising him for being an asshole, but this was honestly something new entirely. He caught Ense keeping a close eye on him and Lahna in gym class, particularly when they were stuck near Dib or a member of his crew. He knew his younger siblings could take care of themselves, but he was still more than willing to step in and pull them apart if anything happened. He'd done the same thing back home when Zim and Caleb fought. Even though it was obvious the two younger males were packing heat and wanted one another dead, it didn't stop him from getting in their faces and yanking them apart, quite literally, by the collars. He wondered if Ense would try that power move with him and Dib or Torque if one of them started on him. On Friday, Zim found out exactly what would happen if they came to blows; or at least close to it.

The Irken glared at the muscular teen as he made a show of nailing him right in the shoulder blade with the softball as hard as he could.

"You're out!" He laughed.

"Real funny, Torque. You should do some slapstick." Zim rolled his eyes. "You know, Three Stooges style."

"Excuse you?"

"Walk it off, Zim!" Ense called after him.

"You heard me."

Torque stepped towards him until their chests were practically touching.

"I don't know when you started to grow balls, but you have a lot of nerve, Zim."

Zim rolled his eyes. "I'm a little concerned that you're so interested in my balls all of a sudden, Torque."

The footballer reared back to hit him, but his fist was grabbed by Dib.

"Dude, he isn't worth it." Dib stated. "You know he's being an ass just to goad you into a fight."

Torque snorted, rolling his shoulders back. "You're lucky Dib's right…"

"I don't need him to defend me."

"Enough." Ense stated, grabbing each boy by the shoulder and forcing them apart. "Both of you, go walk it off. Zim, that way." He pointed. "Torque, the other way. Now."

Torque ignored him, glaring. Zim took a step back, shrugging one shoulder and rubbing at his other arm.

"You got it, coach." He stated.

"That's right, do what you're told." Torque smirked. "Like the good little boy that you are."

"Mr. Smackey, I said that's enough." Ense ordered him. "I don't want to have to tell your Head Coach."

That made Torque back off.

"There we go, all calm. Now get moving. Both of you."

Zim did as told, hearing Torque complain as he did the same thing. Lahna shook her head at Zim.

"Don't shake your head at me." Zim ordered her, smirking.

"You're unbelievable." Lahna complained.

"Zim, Torque could pound you into the pavement and make it look like an accident." Gretchen informed. "And everyone would look away because he's the quarterback…"

"No justice." Todd agreed with a nod.

"Like I care." Zim replied. "You know he hit me on purpose…"

"Of course." Lahna agreed. "And he's going to be an asshole like that all the time now that he knows he can get to you. Smart move."

"It's no big deal."

"You know damn well it is. I expect better out of you." Ense scolded, putting a hand on Zim's shoulder.

"Someone actually thinks highly of me? Who would've thought."

Ense lightly bopped him on the head. "Don't step to me, kid. You know damn well I'll put you in the ground faster than Torque could."

"You wouldn't risk your job."

Ense flushed. Their friends shared a look that Lahna played oblivious to.

"Just don't start trouble where there doesn't need to be any." Ense offered.

"You're telling me not to start trouble? You know that throw was on purpose."

"Yes, but I can't prove it. So as far as anyone is concerned, it was an accident." Ense shook his head. "You're almost eighteen. The 'he started it' argument is a little out of your age range." He sighed. "Just try and calm down, a'right? I don't need any trouble here."

"Yeah, you got it…"

He watched as Ense went over to talk to Torque, telling the kids to get back to their game.

"Coach is pretty familiar with you."

"It's weird." Screamy shouted.

Zim ignored him. "He just wants to get along with his students and have them think highly of him; that's all." He stated. "I wouldn't think anything of it."

"Maybe since he knows Zim is one of the oldest kids in our grade, he feels he can treat him more like an adult than the rest of us." Gretchen twirled her hair around her finger. "Um, Todd, I think you're up."

The small boy groaned before grabbing a bat and walking to home plate. Scott, a member of the basketball team, was pitching. Zim wasn't too worried about him compared to the others, only because he was a senior and didn't give a damn what the underclassmen did or didn't do to one another.

"They're going to go after us more now, you know. Now that they have Dib, they can feel our group weakening." Lahna commented. "I'd just watch your back. Goes for everyone in our group, but they have a huge vendetta against you."

"Torque is Dee's cousin." Zim explained. "He's going to hate me because he knows she does."

"That's stupid." Gretchen shook her head. "My cousin Merina hates this girl Tabby from Republic in the mall, but I think she's pretty nice."

"Oh, I know who you're talking about. She's the greeter, right?"

"Yeah." Gretchen nodded. "I heard she was getting promoted soon. My cousin hates her for that. Says it's unfair because she was here longer and deserves the promotion. We all know she doesn't do her job. Why should that be Tabby's fault?"

"Good question." Zim nodded, looking over the field to Dib and Torque.

The two were whispering back and forth as if they were old friends, but Zim had a feeling that something was going on. Something he wasn't going to like.