Chapter Three
Gaz gazed in bewilderment as Dib and Zim stood at the front door, covered in some hay and smelling like coffee, "Wow...I hope the barn had enough thick walls," she teased, "Dib's quite the screamer." Dib blushed furiously noticing Zim was looking at him, now with more curiosity than ever about the 'screaming' although it was just Gaz pulling dirty humor just to watch his reaction.
"No, Gaz...n-nothing like that happened between us," Dib stuttered.
"Your face is red…" Gaz chuckled.
"Nothing happened like that!" Dib repeated, "Zim, just sit down and read a magazine or watch TV while I take a shower."
Zim wasn't used to Dib treating him so equally. Hell, in the past, being equal and fighting foes had head butting and insult throwing; but now Dib was incredibly friendly, a bit annoyed and irritated but the atmosphere was less...tense and heavy, although the awkward air was clear as day. Zim sat down on the couch as Gaz grabbed a soda from the fridge. She sat next to him and opened her can.
"Did Dib ever tell you about that spell accident that killed SasquatchET of his Paranormal club thing?"
"The Swollen Eyeball thing?" Zim asked before the word 'killed' struck him, "Wait, Dib killed someone?!"
"Not...intentionally. He was just fifteen and feeling way more frustrated with all the fighting he went through with you," Gaz explained, drinking, "He was just...in that phase where you hate everything and just wanna be alone. So, out of desperation...he ordered this book and SasquatchET joined him just to summon some stupid demon to get powers or something. Sasquatch might have accidentally broke a rule for the ritual, or Dib said the wrong thing, either way, she died and her body...like...exploded from the inside out. Dib was arrested but he was let go, and his Paranormal pals almost fired him," she put the can down on the coffee table, "Dib's life hasn't been the same since then, and...it just hasn't gotten better. He's taking antidepressants and sleep aids, but…"
"But…?"
"He just feels even more alone, you know. Even if it was accidental, he blames himself. He's been trying to make himself less stressful by painting and flower arranging, just to get his mind off things. He still loves the paranormal. I guess I was hoping...you could cheer him up?" Gaz asked, "I don't know him like you do, and Dib never stops talking about you; he wonders if you're happier than him." Zim felt his body shudder at the thought of Dib being so wracked with guilt that his life just collapsed because of that misstep. Gir did tell Zim that on TV his friend was on at the time three years ago, was blamed for murder, but Zim believing he had no friends other than his cohorts shrugged it off. Thinking on it now, made him want to throw up. Dib was utterly broken after he was absent for a good deal back in Middle School, when High school came around...he was a shell. Dib might have pulled the rug under him as students would do, but lord knows maybe that's all he could ever pull. Dib was probably reeling of SasquatchET's death and didn't want to risk more casualties, in fear they would up roost.
That obnoxious loud boy who dreamed of putting him on an autopsy table, or showing him off on Mysterious Mysteries was locked inside as Dib grew older. Gaz looked over at Zim whose body was trembling, and tears were staining his pants; he had no idea why such news punctured him like a pin to a balloon, but Zim felt partly responsible for his jaded nature. Zim throughout the years kept pushing and pushing when Dib was already drained of most of his motivation. It was a terribly one sided war, neither party was feeling satisfied, yet Zim would crow with his chest puffed; in the end, it made no difference. Dib was defeated by his own hand; shooting himself in the foot because of their rivalry.
"Why didn't he tell me?" Zim asked, wiping away the tears as he tried to catch his breath.
"Would you have listened?" Gaz asked in return, already feeling like she knew the answer.
"No…! B-but I mean...he's my nemesis...he could have let me know but I…" Zim was stumbling over his words, pride mixing with his own guilt left him feeling confused. Would he have listened? Picturing Dib broken, bloody and in tears just made the chest pain inside of him feel worse.
"Exactly, it wouldn't matter," Gaz said bluntly.
Gaz was harsh to her words, but she had hit the needle on the head; Zim was still the same around the time Dib was fifteen, he would have slammed the door on Dib's face with the lawn gnomes dragging him away. Zim tried to say something, but the words got caught in his throat, what came out instead was a strained "Ehh-!"
"Zim...do me a favor, when you're with Dib, tell him this at the right time; because, he'll listen to you," Gaz took a small deep breath, "Al mal tiempo, buena cara." Zim felt even more flustered.
"What if I say it...wrong?"
"You won't. I know you won't," Gaz replied.
"How do you know I won't?" Zim asked.
Gaz shrugged, "Because that's how this stupid world works."
Zim's arms sagged to their sides and felt his heart beat quickly when he heard Dib run downstairs, his long antenna hair sagging over a white tee shirt, his blue comfort pants was decorated with alien heads, and Zim noticed he had fuzzy alien shaped slippers.
"Gaz, where's my hairbrush?!" Dib said.
"I didn't touch it. Why would I want to touch your brush that smells like you?" Gaz said sticking her tongue out, "You probably misplaced it again."
Dib sighed, rubbing his forehead, "Gonna have to buy another one."
Zim only saw his hair like this when it was raining, or during his time at the boys showers of PE, but Zim never properly got a good look at him like this. The blue and white of his clothing brought out the color of his eyes like precious gemstones.
"Gorgeous…" Zim breathed, thinking out loud.
Gaz blinked in surprise, as Dib's eyes widened as saucers, with his cheeks visibly red. Gaz broke the silence with a giggle, causing Zim to realize he spoke out loud.
"Uh...I mean-! Your...house is gorgeous…! Yes! With these, uh, old art on your walls!" Zim said.
Dib raised an eyebrow, "¿Mande?" he blurted in confusion.
Gaz was still stifling giggles, "¡No manches!"
Zim gazed at them, feeling embarrassed, he was too hung up on his schemes that he didn't study Spanish as much as the school wanted him to. "Well, anyhow, follow me upstairs…" Dib said, "You know where my bedroom is." Gaz smirked, cupping her cheek.
"Try not to break the bed," she teased.
"Sh-shut up, Gaz!" They said together.
Dib and Zim sat next to each other, he watched Dib squirm while they sat, trying to feel comfortable at being this close. Zim shyly held Dib's hand, Dib gasped softly at his mere touch and felt their faces close to touching again.
"Dib-"
"Zim-"
There was a brief awkward silence, "Um...you go first, Dib beast…" Zim chuckled nervously, "Just tell me what you're going to teach me about...human love rituals called intimacy."
Dib sighed softly, feeling his brain bring nothing but blank notes. He never had a relationship at a romantic level to explore properly, he had a crush on Tak in the past but that backfired and nothing came off the ground.
"Um...I never...had someone special...at that level," Dib explained, "Tak doesn't count because she was just using me."
"So? What does this love mean to you?" Zim asked.
"Fuck! Must you always be this blunt?!"
"You are teaching me."
Dib sighed, "Look love to me...is partners sharing equal support, encouraging each other, and sharing affection...just sitting on the couch and sharing dinner, watching a movie, and stargazing, and sometimes going to festivals...and dates; just sharing all of life experiences till they get engaged!" Zim rubbed the back of his neck, he had forgotten despite being the dork of the class of every school he went to, Dib was rather a romantic, although it could be also Dib daydreamed of being in love.
"That doesn't give a lot of information," Zim said. Dib rolled his eyes.
"Of course it doesn't; I never had a girlfriend...or boyfriend. These are just fantasies; just...fantasies," Dib added sadly, "Sometimes, I envy you, Zim. Your blissful ignorance, makes me wish I never knew what love was in the first place...I don't hate those that stay away from me, at this point-I don't blame them, and I don't blame you! I'm just...I'm just one big fuck up!" Dib held Zim's shoulders, "I know you hate me more than anything in the entire universe!" Dib whimpered, "Go ahead! Punch me, scratch me, kick me! If that makes you happy then I could die someday without regrets that at least I made someone's life better!"
Zim swallowed, putting his palms on Dib's shoulders in return before taking a deep breath, "Al mal tiempo, buena cara…" he said gently.
"Wh...what?" Dib looked flustered, his eyes still puffy, bordering on tears.
"Al mal tiempo, buena cara!" Zim said more firmly, affection in his voice. Dib paused, hearing that felt different from his sister. Zim could hear the concern, a heart hurt, from Dib's ramblings.
"Zim, I…" Dib softly cried into Zim's chest.
"You're...not a fuck up," Zim replied, "I...apologize for being part of your suffering. You were already thrown into the garbage and I thought I finally won! I didn't win at all! It's no fun winning by default like that, and I kept hammering you with all my cruelty because I thought you were still the same!" Zim embraced him, "How can I fight the Dib and be happy when you kick yourself like that!" Dib raised himself up to dry his tears, "So you accidentally killed one person, I did far worse than you! But, Dib, you care more about these walking sacks of flesh more than me! I don't see you so unlike you! Dib is Dib! That's all you ever are! That...that big headed idiot who got his butt bit over my schemes...you hear me, you weepy monkey? Dib is still Dib! Dib is still Dib!"
Dib was unable to control his arms, he wrapped around Zim in an affectionate hug. Zim would usually push him aside, but having Dib hold onto him like this felt so blissful; Zim was surprised when Dib met his lips to him again and Zim let out a blissful breath and pushed the kiss deeper. Even though Dib barked at him at Raybucks about being greedy, he felt more greedy now as Dib was allowing this kiss to happen.
He wasn't thinking about researching at this moment, he was going to make Dib relive some of those fantasies. Zim mentally assured himself this was all for research, but embracing this moment made him fan his cravings of physical contact. Zim wasn't violently aggressive, pushing Dib to the floor and fidgeting to get his pants off. Zim pulled down the zipper and threw the pants against the wall before throwing off any clothes Dib had.
He had to see what Dib looked like when their body heat was on the rise just like at that farm, but Zim was a bit surprised to see him be self conscious about his appearance now that he was exposed at this intimate level.
Zim moved Dib's cheek with his palm so the both of them would be caught in this gaze, "Can I have you now?" he asked.
"Zim...this is practically the first time for me…"
"I'm not asking that!" Zim said, "I'm asking if I can have you now!"
"Y-yes...but I…"
Zim wasn't listening, the yes was all he needed. Zim kept Dib's head down in fear of Dib reacting violently due to the sight of foreign genitalia. He wasn't human after all, but he had to assure Dib, that feeling it first was better before seeing it. It started as a gentle wet poke from the tip before Dib felt something almost drill like go through. Dib could feel the bumps, and the layered sections, how fleshy and hard it was like its own monster. Dib couldn't hold back a moan as the line around it moved slightly with each push.
He had seen mags and catalogues of weird shaped dildos on adult store windows that were just as bumpy, sometimes drill like, but feeling that sensation naturally from Zim was better than the store front.
"You're...you're tight and hot…" Zim heaved.
Dib found it hard to speak, elevated by lust and passion for this moment, he pulled Zim's arms closer just so they can share a kiss. Zim chuckled at this behavior, Dib used to push and shove him as did Zim if they had a bit of contact; now Dib was almost begging for more sexual touching like an animal in heat. Dib was twisting under him as his cock pulsed, Zim had control, he liked it.
"You're greedy…" Zim cooed, stroking his collarbone.
"Sh...shut up...and fuck me…" Dib breathed, hoarsely.
"Don't bark orders at me when I have you impaled by my meat spear," Zim teased, "You should see the look on your face, you're like a cat who inhaled catnip…" Zim started thrusting before Dib could even retort at such a comparison; embarrassment was a nice fuel to get that blood flowing and Dib's body reacted like someone threw gas to a fire. Goddamn was he loud. Gaz was right about him being a screamer, or at least a moaner, the house only knew how vocal Dib would get when it came to adolescent masturbation. Dib must have noticed Zim's smug expression because in between gasping and moaning, he managed:
"Don't look so smug."
Zim laughed, "Ah, but I thought you liked me when I'm smug; your body certainly likes my confidence."
Zim wasn't lying, Dib's body was reacting with bursts of pleasure like a hot sensation coming from firecrackers. Dib started to feel himself loosen and Zim went in deeper, even as they were in sex they treated this like a scale of power. Zim was still in control as he held Dib's hips, but Dib wanted Zim to melt under the intensity as much as he did. Who said the receiver could never have fun from their end?
Dib moved his hips to a rhythm and Zim nearly scratched his hips. Those walls were stroking him, and Zim started to nearly collapse at the new sensation. Zim caught his breath, chuckling lightly,
"You're...cheating…" he cooed, "I can cheat too…"
Dib felt a second penetration by a round end from Zim's PAK; he felt as if his brain was going to overheat from so much sexual stimulation as did Zim as that registered to him and his entire body.
"Don't stop…!" Dib moaned, his brain felt like it could slingshot to the moon, "Don't stop!" To be double penetrated by Zim and the chord felt like a nirvana he never thought he would reach.
Zim kissed Dib harshly, if only to taste his moans, and imagined his body almost swallowing each "Fuck yes" and "Don't stop" like a glutton. He didn't completely go in all the way, he wanted to play with Dib with a carrot and stick method. Zim smirked as the moans became whines and frustrated mewls when he pulled back slightly. Dib let out a disappointing breath before Zim made lay Dib on his stomach and trusted back into him. Zim could barely make out the type of noise that came out of Dib once he felt the penetration becoming harder than before; Zim added extra small cord nodes from his PAK to vibrate and prod around his hole to tease and penetrate.
Zim took the act on top of the bed, so Dib could feel some relief biting his pillow and finding feeling the soft blanket and sheets would at least soften due to how harsh Zim was going through sex. How they were on the floor was different once they were on the bed, Dib and Zim shared tender kisses before Zim pushed in deeper. Dib yelped as Zim pushed as far as he could go, but Zim was cruel in lessening his thrusts. Dib let out a "nyah" with his whines, Zim felt his cheek, almost expecting the human to purr.
"You are a cat in heat…" Zim breathed, mocking Dib a bit.
"Zim...Zim, please…" Dib begged, "I'm close…"
"Zim is not," Zim replied firmly, "but hearing you beg is delicious. I read in a human filth magazine that holding back a human's reach of sexual climax invokes multiples."
Dib suddenly regained composure, "How...how did you get those dirty magazines?!"
"Gir apparently was given them as a gift by his human lady club friends, and the dirty old neighbor next door threw the Kuma Suture at my head; and I have no idea what neighborhood hobo left those age old human male on human male magazines…"
"You mean the Kama Sutra?"
"Yes...can you explain the human pleasure of being turned into a pretzel?"
Dib looked frustrated, "We're in the middle of sex!"
Dib's utter frustration about wanting to orgasm was a delight to Zim, he was pulling and thrusting, dangling Dib by the thread. Zim pushed himself back in, catching him off guard and Dib arched pleasure; he would have to hold back the questions about human sex positions later as making Dib experiencing every set of his walls be brushed in was important. Zim wanted to lecture him on trying to quicken the act, but perhaps Dib wanted to drive Zim to the brink of climax, and it was working. Zim was grunting and panting, before sharing a deepened kiss and Zim felt his own body shudder and release a transparent green liquid into Dib's hole. The sensation was too much as Dib experienced multiple orgasms; he moaned, while his body writhed as his cock released wave after wave of semen onto Zim's legs and chest.
Dib laid back, his body sore and spent while Zim kissed him in a deep affection. Zim rolled Dib over so the young man can lay on his chest, he wanted to watch him doze off after being satisfied.
Hours had passed and Dib stirred when he felt his stomach grumble. Zim had fell fast asleep and Dib kissed his cheek before taking a shower and throwing on new clothes before going downstairs. Gaz had ordered Pizza Gut and had left a box for them on the table. Dib grabbed the box and a couple of plates before going up to his bedroom, Zim yawned and stretched from hearing his footsteps. He zipped up his pants and sat down with Dib, they were both in a state of wanting a post sex snack, and Zim was too exhausted to care it was pizza.
"Um...so…" Dib started, "This won't get me pregnant, will it?"
Zim laughed again, "We are from different species, but there are medically advanced methods in the galaxy that can allow you to keep a hybrid inside of you; but it is too early to tell you, after all, you humans value safety nets and education for job holding, correct? So babies do not become helpless blabbering bean monkey's."
"What?! That's all you ever remember from our class regarding human jobs?!" Dib asked.
"Only the important parts, Dib beast."
Dib sighed before taking another bite of his pizza slice, "I'm dragging you to parent classes with me if we ever get married. I don't want to birth a hybrid and you have no idea how to perform parental duties."
"Well, the embarrassing part is that reproduction organs are seemingly lacking in contrast to yours, Irkens are born from glass pods at the expense from a cloning device that coughs out different variations of DNA. I might have some variant of some organ to keep my body at a balance as one ages; but odds are, you have a bigger sperm count."
Dib huffed, "I wish you could have told me earlier...but wait, you still carry do you?"
Zim placed aside his slice of pizza, "Of course. Much like blood drives, there are donors to the clone machine. Specific Irkens are made nurses to suck out the liquid as part gaining genetics; I heard the sucky machine is painful."
"That doesn't answer my question; do you still carry sperm?"
"Yes."
Dib rolled his eyes, "That's all I wanted to know."
Zim smiled, "Can I show you the sucky machine?"
"Y...wait, what? NO!"
Zim let out an amused cackle at how red Dib's face was.
Monday came about quicker than they thought, Zim had stayed over during Sunday if only just so he can find an excuse to linger around Dib, making them study together, do homework and exchange notes.
During Monday morning, they walked together to school, Dib even subconsciously held Zim's hand, despite having sex on that one day; Zim did not react so positive about the hand holding. "Are you doing this to humiliate me, earth worm?!" Zim snapped, they were near the campus gate, so Dib could understand the embarrassment.
"Oh, um…" Dib stammered, "You're right...maybe it's a bad idea to hold hands on campus…" he said, crestfallen. Zim felt his chest tightening when Dib looked disappointed as he let go, but Zim grabbed his hand in retaliation and out of new instincts, pulled him closer for a kiss. Zim was just one head lower compared to Dib; Dib felt like Zim was bigger due to wanting to keep his fire burning, so Zim didn't want his mate to spiral out of control again like the day SasquatchET died.
"Zim takes it back, we hold hands, and you stay close!" Zim declared, albeit loudly.
Young people on the other side not far from the entrance, started chatting like morning larks once "Zim" and "hold hands" passed through their ears. The gossip pool was hardly ever dry over who was dating whom, like tourists at a zoo gawking at animal mates.
Dib winced a bit when Zim pulled open the gate door, and walked on the asphalt with him; as expected, gossiping hens were giggling and eating this up. "Ooh, nice girlfriend, Zim," a young woman mocked with venom. They weren't in the same class, or the same grade, it was just hip to drag people down as if they were sacks, "Did you buy her off from Mexico?"
Zim noticed Dib was shrinking slightly. He had grown adjusted from his usual vile treatment, but this was new ammo pelted in his direction. Zim would've had fire coming out of his ears, and he had enough. Dib could barely get a word out as Zim kicked the student in the stomach, the strength he had made the young woman cough and gag in pain to the point she would have vomited.
"Looks like those tater tots aren't agreeing with you," Zim mocked, "Maybe you should expel them in the bathroom…"
Dib had never seen Zim so mad, not in such a tranquil fury that one swift kick was enough to have a student be on the verge of nausea.
"Zim...you didn't need to do that…" Dib sighed.
"Do what?"
"The...the kicking was a bit much," he pointed out, "Zim, I hate them, I do, I question why I even care about them in the first place; but please, unless I'm really in danger...don't do that." Zim stared at him in confusion.
"I'm a…"
"Yes, yes, I know, an Irken soldier," Dib said, "That's why...you know...I want you to save up your strength?" he asked pathetically. He knew full well that Zim would be like trying to reign a bull by the horns, he almost never ran out of breath, and he took up fights if they were mere taunts. Dib felt like he had somewhat of a leash, but Zim was pulling in what direction he himself wanted.
Zim crossed his arms, feeling as if Dib was ungrateful, "She was trying to...to hurt you."
Oh God, this is turning into a lover's spat on campus, Dib thought, "I just don't want you in detention, or get suspended again!" he strained, his voice was shaking, on the verge of tears, "Please, just listen to me!" They were always like water and oil, and Dib was feeling frustrated at the lack of communication. How were they going to date if Zim always plugged his ears and suffered from selective hearing?
Zim flinched, putting his palms to Dib's shoulders, "I'm...Zim is...Zim is sorry…" he replied. Dib could read his body language that Zim was trying to be good to him at an intimate level; things like love were new territory, but at least Zim had one foot in the door, but the steps were going to be harder, and the mountain was steep.
They weren't considered a new couple on campus right off the bat, students were betting dollars, food, and DVDs to albums to the expectation of a breakup of the weirdest loners on campus. Students weren't always an empathetic breed, in fact, kids even as young adults could have been as cruel and barbaric if the target was weak, a misfit, or was disabled that it made easy to pretend it was an accident. Dib was already classified as all three, with a bonus crazy label that was on his ass since he was a toddler, and Dib could no longer take medication in class because pranksters dug through his bag and tossed the contents down the sink; enduring weeks without medication was torturous, but now the school was a silent executioner to take away what he gained: Zim's affection and commitment. Zim was his only source of happiness now, and these barbarians were ready to snipe it without a hint of mercy. Dib just wasn't allowed a lick of happiness, it was against the pecking order.
Exposure like this made Dib feel like those times he dreamt he was naked, embarrassed and his skin was almost thick with goosebumps; Zim had pulled him close that the height didn't matter, he was protective of Dib, and if anyone pulled a dirty look Zim flipped the bird or snarled. "Th...they're mad, aren't they?" Dib asked, "They don't like us together." Zim surprised him by ruffling his hair, his gloves were lightly grazing Dib's ears and it caused him to giggle. Zim felt his alien heart warm at the sound of it.
"Dib, may I grace you with my first display of school affection as your romantic school mate?" Zim asked almost shouting.
Dib blanched, "Stop...you're being loud…"
"Then let these stupid ape cows hear Zim then!"
"¡Cállate!" Dib whispered harshly, noticing heads turning, "¡Por favoooor!" he growled.
"Dib, you are my official mate in this school and from here on! If any one of you have a problem with Dib being with me, then you deal with me! You deal with Zim!" Zim yelled, "This is our first declaration!" Dib was about to slide into the crowd, but he pulled Dib close by his waist with such tenderness. Dib was in his arms again, looking up at Zim like a scared mouse. Zim swallowed, conjuring up the courage to speak clearly, "I love you…" he took Dib's hand, speaking more loudly, "I love you!"
Dib felt at first he was dreaming, he was practically kneeling slightly to be in Zim's affectionate and protective embrace; and Zim was confessing in front of the school. He felt like he was going to break into tears, that embarrassment and depression were attempting to suffocate his happiness. Zim noticed those insecurities, that made his chest hurt. Zim felt his cheek, "Dib...Dib, look at me," he spoke, knowing now why the boy inside was crying, "I won't disappear like SasquatchET. I'm right here, aren't I?"
Dib almost jolted, looking up at Zim, wide eyed, "I'm...I'm not leaving you; I love you too much to leave you, I won't leave you again. I'm not leaving you ever again!"
Dib couldn't stop the tears soon as Zim mentioned SasquatchET, the first time Zim mentioned it, he figured it was due to his sister telling him; but Zim pulled back the layers and pulled that twelve year old boy out of his soul prison. He was coming out through Dib's tears, Zim felt relieved.
"I love you, Dib. Eres el amor de mi vida…" Zim spoke tenderly.
"Zim…" Dib choked on tears, nervous he was blubbering, "I love...I love you too!" He embraced him, nuzzling into Zim's face as the tears became a waterfall,"Quiero estar contigo para siempre!"