Dlbn: Hello there, everyone! Welcome to another chapter of Haven or Hell! Its been a while only because e went to a Luke Bryan concert two weeks ago and had no time or energy last Sunday to update.
Nbld: Thanks to a day off, we have time to get going. Been doing more writing for this fic as well. As it stands, it's about 2-3/4 of the way done. It's essentially a three-part fic. I'll mark the separation between parts when I get there.
Dlbn: Not originally planned that way, but it works out. I won't be posting it in trilogy form like I did with the Iz Moth trilogy I wrote a few years ago, however.
Nbld: Time for the Review Corner! Thank you to Invader Johnny and Zim'sMostLoyalServant for reviewing! Candy for you both!
Invader Johnny: Technically in this version it wasn't entirely Zim's fault. He helped make the technology that made the blob, but the actual blob was either made or repurposed by someone else and went crazy. But I had to throw in that homage to the show. It was too good to pass up ;) though it IS also likely he somehow forgot. Seems like more of a Zim thing to do than anything, honestly. I feel like the Empire would do that kind of a punishment more or less because they're overly proud of their armed forces, not just out of brutality.
Zim'sMostLoyalServant: Thanks. I'm always worried with backstory that it's just annoying, but sometimes its necessary. For the most part, yes, its full AU. But as Invader Johnny mentioned, its also likely he just forgot. Or that he was forced to forget somehow.
Disclaimer: I own the OCs and the plot. Everything else belongs to Jhonen C Vasquez, who's birthday as yesterday! I make nothing off writing this.
Dedication: Happy one day late birthday to Jhonen Vasquez, father of my childhood and semi-foundation of my best friendship ever (one of my best friends I met through Invader Zim fanfics!) That's you, Beatie, if you're reading XD
Dedication 2: This is dedicated to my two-week anniversary with my boyfriend. I know celebrating weeks is juvenile and blah, blah, but this is the happiest I've ever been in a relationship, so I'm more than happy to shamelessly brag ;)
000
The school was beginning to become overcrowded with all the new people showing up. Ense and Chase were necessary following Coach Walrus being forced to retire and a freshman English teacher resigning to move to Florida, but the announcement that two new students would be joining Zim's grade made him want to slap the Principal upside the head. There was barely enough room and resources in the dump for the students that were there, let alone the addition of his sister and the two new kids. Rumor had it that they were both female, not that it mattered, but he had yet to gain any concrete evidence of that. However, it was the topic for discussion in almost every class, including homeroom and gym. One was starting that day, and the other was coming in four days. As their History teacher introduced the first new student, a female with bright red-violet hair, to the class, he couldn't help but feel as though she looked familiar. She wore feather earrings, a pink wrap top, jeans, and combat boots, and her stance was that of someone who was both protecting herself from others and inviting them to get closer. He recognized the stance well from doing transactions with…Sila…no way. This couldn't be. Heaven help his squeedly spooch if his mind wasn't playing tricks on him. This couldn't be…
"Ms. Masy take a seat." The History teacher waved her over towards Zim. "Zim, close your mouth. You're catching flies."
The girl cocked an eyebrow at his name, shrugging as the class laughed at his expense.
"Sorry, got a stuffy nose. Can't breathe through it." He sniffled for good measure.
Their teacher nodded and turned around to write on the board, beginning to teach the already half-asleep students about the Civil War. The girl plopped down in her seat next to him, dropping her textbook carelessly onto the desk. She put her feet up on the metal bar under the desk and folded her arms behind her head. She turned her head just enough for their eyes to meet. She sent him a wink and a smirk before looking back at the board to look as if she was paying attention. Zim smirked. There was only one person who had that kind of audacity and would openly tease him in a class without words. As if her last name wasn't enough of a clue, her behavior was slapping him in the face. Sila frigging Masy had arrived.
000
After class, Sila nudged Zim into an alcove near the stairs closest to their class. He hadn't said a word to her since class let out, but they automatically fell into step with one another as they left. No one seemed to notice the way the two of them were acting. He'd been caught daydreaming by their teacher, which Torque had responded to with a crack about him wanting to get with the new girl. A well placed 'as if' from Sila had even Zim laughing in response. He could care less what Torque said. His other half was there. Other half? Where had that come from? She was his best friend, nothing more. But he'd be lying if he said she hadn't matured very nicely. He found himself tempted to stare at her breasts but knew she'd beat him senseless for it and held back.
"Talk." She ordered him. "How the hell long have you been here?"
"Uh…like two years…maybe more?" He rubbed the back of his neck. "How the hell long have you been here?"
"Twenty-four hours." She snorted. "Wouldn't have come here if some jackass hadn't seen me and thought I was sixteen."
"You didn't correct them."
"And prove it how? With my Seoul ID? Come on, Jun."
Only Sila had the permission and the right to call him Jun, short for Junior. He'd caught Ense and Lahna saying it once or twice, but he let it slide since they were his siblings.
"Gram Haven said you were a'right, but she wouldn't tell me where you were. Something about a big secret mission or the military or some shit."
"Nah, I'm banished." Zim flushed. "She just didn't wanna embarrass me or make anyone worry."
"As if I'd worry about you. I know you can take care of yourself, dude."
"I'm aware. As can you. But doesn't stop me from wondering what you're up to back home or if you're alright…what are you here for, anyway? Banished, too?"
"Yeah, how'd you guess? Guess this place is the military's dumping grounds for unwanted souls."
"Ouch." Zim complained, rubbing at his chest. "My pride."
"Yeah, everyone knows where your pride really is."
Zim laughed. It felt good to have Sila back. His family could rib on him all they wanted, but there was something different about Sila doing so.
"I suppose I can't argue."
"Suppose? Well, look at you, using big words." She folded her arms over her chest and smirked at him. "Guess you're too smart now for lowlife losers like me, eh?"
"Yeah, missed you too, Sils."
Where she was the only one allowed to call him Jun, he was the only one allowed to call her Sils. He'd heard a guy call her that before and the poor unfortunate soul got his wrist broken.
"Don't answer my question, but fine." She rolled her eyes. "Where you headed?"
"English." Zim answered. "Then lunch."
"You got Dr. McDorf?"
"Dorfy? Yeah, I do. Guess were in class together then?"
"Yeah, no shit."
"Let's go or we'll be late."
"As if you care about being late." She led him out of the alcove anyway, not caring who saw or what they said.
He quickly caught up to her, resisting the urge to toss an arm around her shoulders like he did back home. It would raise some questions since it was just her first day. He felt a hand grab his wrist and sighed, turning to look at the culprit. When he saw it was Dib, he hung his head and groaned, making Sila cock an eyebrow.
"What, traitor?" Zim wondered, giving Dib the strongest death glare he could.
"You attract the new kids like flies." Dib informed. "Can't imagine why. You're kind of a pain in the ass."
"I'm sure he knows." Sila rolled her eyes, instantly taking a disliking towards the raven-haired teen. "He sits next to me in class. That's all."
"I see." Dib nodded. "Dib Membrane."
"Sila Masy."
"Nice to meet you."
He finally let go of Zim's wrist, and the Irken had to try with all his might to resist the urge to scrub hand sanitizer from the dispenser on the wall from his finger tips to his elbows, if not further.
"Yeah, same." She nodded.
"Welcome to Skool. Catch you later." He ran off down the hall, almost panting as he stopped in front of Dee's locker and acted as if he'd been there a while.
"Who's the brat?"
"My former best friend."
"I thought I was your best friend." She complained. "Damn, Jun, I'm frigging hurt."
"Oh, go to hell, Sils."
"Already there, Jun. Already there."
He nodded. "Couldn't agree any more or less." He stated.
"So former?"
"Long story." Zim stated.
"Shorten it."
Her authority over him scared the hell out of him as he answered her. "Got a girl, she told him to choose, he kicked me to the curb, and he and his great new friends have been on my damn case ever since. Almost beat the shit out of one of um in gym until Coach Haven stopped me."
"Coach Haven?" Sila groaned. "Great, how many of you fuckers are here?"
"You couldn't even imagine, Sils."