Chapter Notes

Disclaimers: I do not own Invader Zim

Author's Note's: Next chapter here we go, thank you for reading!

[Back with Dib]

(The next day around 6:45 pm)

He wasn't sure why he was actually following through with this plan of his.

Okay that was a lie, he knew good and well why he was still going through with this date, and that was because of him! Soon after Dib had marched of the bus yesterday, Zim had disappeared, at first he feared the green alien jerk was going to blow them all up. However he soon came to the conclusion that Zim only wanted him to think that so he'd come running back to him. Well it wasn't going to work! NO! Dib was going to take back his freedom, and he was going to take it back now!

Dib forced a nervous smile as he led Gretchen into the school gym. He was fitted for a tux, courtesy of his father's dusty old wardrobe of clothes he never wore since he was always in lab coats. It was a solid black, with a matching black bow, he wear a mask that covered half his face. Its shape, and design mirroring the likeness of a moth's wings. Dib like the mask, it reminded him of his code name for the Swollen Eye Ball, and he thought it suited him well. In fact the only thing he hated about it was that it didn't allow him to wear his glasses. So he had to resolve to wear itchy contacts.

"Oh my looks like everyone came." Gretchen said pulling Dib's attention back to her. He gave her another nervous smile, he had picked up Gretchen strictly at around 6:30 as promised, and was now leading her onto the dance floor.

She was wearing a lovely pink flowing dress that reminded Dib of a princess from a fairytale movie, and if Dib was honest with himself he'd admit that she was beautiful. After Gretchen lost her braces back in middle school everyone looked at her differently. She went from being invisible to being most popular, however she still harbored a crush for Dib no matter how many boys asked her out.

Knowing this information now made Dib feel somewhat guilty, Gretchen had asked him out just last year, he had told her she was sweet, and pretty, but he just wasn't into her that way. For a moment he almost feels bad for using her to get back at Zim, but he pushes the feelings away.

The gym was already packed, by the time they got there, students and teachers alike were dancing to the music, while other chatted at the punch bowl. Dib scanned his eyes over every one of them, most of them he couldn't recognize because of their disguises, however he wasn't really interested in them. After all he knew he'd be able to pick out his enemy anywhere. And yet there was no green skinned monster insight! Did he decided not to come?

"Do you want to dance?" He heard Gretchen ask over the loud music.

Dib forced himself not to grimace at the invitation. "Sure, but I'm not really that great." He warned her.

"I'm not either." She assured him, taking his hand and leading him further onto the dance floor. The song was a moderate hip, hop kind of song, and Gretchen began jumping to the beat.

Dib copied her movements, he felt stupid, but this was dance, and besides he needed her to break this spell Zim, had over him; that is if that was really possible. His only theory was that if he could get Gretchen to kiss him her saliva would cancel out the effects of the substance from Zim's antennae. He wasn't sure if it would really work, but it was the only theory he had right now. However a part of him was conflicted, he really didn't want to play with her emotions, but he had to stop this before things got worse.

Soon the song ended and a new one began, it was much slower, and sounded more like ballroom music than a slow love song. Dib was sure it was ball room music, and it was probably chosen to go with the theme of the dance. However it wasn't a popular choice for many of his classmates deserted the dance floor. Only a few stayed, swinging each other around like idiots. Dib felt like one of those idiots as he and Gretchen began to sway with the music, but he forced himself not to focus on that. He had to test his theory, and he had to do it before Zim showed up, and ruined everything. "Um Gretchen?" he asked.

"Yeah?" She said.

"I know this is sudden, but can I kiss you?" Dib asked.

Gretchen looked as if her heart just grew wings. "Okay."

Dib swallowed nervously, and leaned down to kiss her, just then someone tapped his shoulder. Dib knew who it was, it had to be Zim! He whorled around to face his rival, only to freeze, as he realized it wasn't Zim at all! But some well-dressed boy about his age in a raven black suit.

The mask he'd chosen was black, and it shimmered with glitter, appearing like a night sky, and Dib wasn't sure who the boy was, or if he even went to his school. However there was one thing that stood out to him. Behind that mask were bright ruby, undisguised eyes. Dib thought that his heart was going to stop, it was beating so fast.

Why?

Because he knew those eyes anywhere.

It was Zim!

"May I have this dance, you pathetic cheating worm?"

"W-what?" Dib could hardly find his voice.

Zim rolled his eyes under his mask. "I asked for a dance worm, are you as deaf as you are blind?"

"Dib do you know this boy?" Gretchen asked, looking confused.

Dib turned to her slightly "I uh-" he wasn't sure how to answer. Somehow or another Zim had on a normal human disguise, he looked just like anyone else. How was he supposed to explain this to her? "No I-"

"Don't be silly Dib." Zim mused, looking at her with a petty look in his ruby eyes. "I'm an old friend of his, and I'd like a dance!"

"Hey you can' just-" Dib began.

"It's okay you can dance with him." Gretchen says, she looks defeated, but she gets the settle hint.

"What?" Dib looks at her in disbelief.

"It's okay I kind of knew you swung that way." She said, and walked away.

He moved to chase after her, to explain, but Zim pulled him towards him, guiding him across the dance floor. Dib had no choice but to follow his lead, well it was either follow, or fall flat on your face. So he decided to keep his face just the way it was and allow Zim to lead him into a waltz.

And just like that Dib was dancing with the enemy, he had no idea what he was doing, but Zim sure as hell seemed like he did. He pulled them around the dance floor, sweeping around people effortlessly. "Since when did you know how to dance?" Dib asked, a bit breathlessly. "And how come you look all normal!"

Zim scoffed. "It is not hard to dance. In fact it's a lot like fighting, you learn the proper movements and execute them." He said casually. "As for how I look...well it is a costume party, no one's supposed to know who you are; unfortunately me being green gives me a disadvantage. So I thought I'd use this chance to try out my new human disguise tech. You Like?"

"You look ridiculous!" Dib snapped, it was a lie of course, he really thought Zim looked kind of hot, all human like. He shook his head, he could feel Zim's drug working it's magic on him.

"Pfft. I do not. I look amazing." Zim declared. "And you know it."

"Liar!" Dib snapped "Is this where you ran off to?" Dib asked. "To your base to perfect your tech?"

"Oh I'm sorry Dib-pet." Zim mused. "Would you rather your master tell you when he's going to disappear?"

"You are not my master!" Dib growled, and yet he didn't stop himself, as they continued to dance. He knew he should try to pull away, to escape this monster now while he still had some dignity left. But Zim's spell over him was already working its magic, and Dib found that he no longer wanted to go after Gretchen, he no longer wanted to kiss her. No all he wanted was to kiss Zim! To be owned by Zim! "You're not wearing your contacts." Dib said. "Aren't you afraid someone will notice your bug eyes?"

"Oh some already have." Zim said as if it didn't matter.

"And you're not worried?" Dib asked in disbelief.

"You know Dib there are these amazing verities of contacts that can make your eyes looks all kinds of ways. Like red eyes, or cat eyes, for all they know I'm wearing alien contacts." Zim mused.

"Unbelievable." Dib shook his head.

"Unbelievable what? That your race is so stupid, and easily fooled?" Zim asked. "Why yes it is, in fact I'm surprised you all managed to be around for so long."

"Yeah well at least we chose our leaders base on their skills and not their height!" Dib pointed out.

Zim laughed, he could tell the boy the tallest were just figure heads, and that height was only a small factor of the situation, but he decided to allow him this small victory. "Touché." He said.

Dib smiled, thousands of colors danced around them, but he was solely focused on Zim, and the way his eyes would change color depending on the lights all around them. He never noticed it before but he loved those eyes, they were captivating, and he felt like they could see into the deepest part of his being.

The music has them moving around and around. It was loud and it felt like their conversation was protected by it. The dim lighting made things seem unreal, the dancing rainbow lights made it seem magical.

"You know this tactic of yours isn't going to work." Dib said, shaking those feelings away. He had to focus, he couldn't let Zim win, not again. He knew that if this kept progression the way it was, then someday soon Dib would no longer see Zim as the enemy. No, the stupid alien drug within him would twist his hate for the monster into a perverted since of admiration, and dare he say it? LOVE!

"What tactic?" Zim Asked. "We're just dancing Dib."

"Liar! You think you can sweep me off my feet, and I'll give in but you're wrong!" Dib said.

"Oh I don't need to sweep you off your feet, you'll come to see the truth soon enough." Zim assured him.

"What truth!" Dib argued.

"You are mine." Zim stated with ease. "Your body knows it, you know it. Don't you Dib?" Zim took one of his hands to his mouth, and kissed it.

"Zim..." Dib whispered, just the touch of those lips, had his body shaking for more. The song came to a close, and he finally looked away from the Irken, as if he'd just been in a trance. He blushes as he realizes everyone else was staring at them. Had they been watching the whole time? He watched as some whispered, while others pointed their way. Oh god they had! Dib jerked his hand away from the Irken and stormed off the dance floor, and out of the gym.

Zim followed him. "Going somewhere Dib-pet?" Zim asked.

Dib whorled around, eyes wide with rage. "I am not you-" he stopped mid-sentence as Zim crashed his lips into his. Their tongues dueled for a moment, and then Zim pulled away. The Irken expected Dib to scream some more, but instead Dib sighs, and kisses him again; his anger lost in the moment.

This kiss was softer than the one before, in fact it was almost caring. It began softly, cautiously. Than it became confused and yearning. It was confusing to Dib, because usually Zim made the first move! Of course if he was in his right mind at the moment he'd blame it all on that stupid alien drug inside of him!

Zim was also confused by Dib's decision, the boy hadn't kissed him willingly since that day in the detention room. However, Zim's hands curled into dark hair all the same, and pulled him closer.

The kiss deepened.

Dib also allowed his hands to run through Zim's hair, only to be frustrated when he realized he preferred to have the touch of his antennas rather than silky hair. However, he tried his best to force these emotions down, not just for his own good, but for the Earth's as well, because he knew this was wrong, he knew he and Zim were forbidden. This would be the death of him, not it would be the death of both of them.

Zim couldn't agree more, he had no intention to actually keep the Dib, no his plan was to use this sex game over him; to keep him, and his efforts at bay until the Tallest came to their senses and realized how valuable Earth really was. But now something had gone amidst, he was actually feeling something for the worm; something that ran deeper than just desire. Why did he suddenly have these feelings? He wasn't quite sure, his only guess was Dib's pheromones must have the power to affect him the same way the substance from his antenna effected Dib. He knew his best chance was to cut things off, this was dangerous, if the Tallest found out...no if they found out Zim could reclaim his birth right and become untouchable! However if a certain Emperor found out, or worse MAZ!

Zim wasn't sure how his family, or the nobles would react to such news.

Taboo among nobles was not unheard of, but it was still greatly looked down upon, and Zim had only heard of one Irken mix breed who had gotten away with it previously before. An Invader, he couldn't remember his name had married the Empress of his assigned planet. The Invader had played the role of Emperor for several years that included the mating part; thankfully no children had been produced.

The Irken invader himself might have not gotten off so easily if there had been. Of course the fact that the Empress controlled the largest amount of manganese, molybdenum, nickel, aluminum, and titanium that the Irken race had seen in over half a century did help his case greatly.

Such resources were hard to find in the vastness of space, and this fact alone is what saved that invader from getting punished for his Taboo.

Dib moaned his hands traveled down to Zim's chest, resting there, his body instantly rubbed up against Zim, wanting more; and then to his surprise Zim pulled away. Dib's eyes opened, expecting to see a smirk on the enemy's face for him giving in so easily, but instead Zim's eyes were half lidded, suggesting confusion, and a hint of something else.

Could it be longing that Dib was sensing? Did Zim actually enjoy this as much as he did? Did Zim have feelings for him? 'Do I have feelings for Zim?' Dib wondered. 'Maybe Gaz is right, I was obsessed with him before, and I kissed him before he drugged me. Maybe this was bound to happen either way.'

"It's your choice Dib." Zim finally spoke, determined to stick to his plan no matter the cost, after all it was working. And that was the problem! It was working too well!

"Choice?" Dib asked.

"Come home with me now, or I launch my next plan." Zim threatened.

And that's when reality hits him, that's when Dib remembers that he's just a ploy, that he's just being used. "I'd rather explode!"

"Suite yourself." Zim said, and walked away.

Leaving Dib, alone, confused, and angry in the middle of the high school parking lot.

Chapter End Notes

Thanks for reading as always I ask you to leave a comment. The next chapter will be up soon.

So until then...

This is Emily signing off :)