Author's Notice:

Very short chapter, I apologize, but it is moving things slowly along. I was going to make this scene a bit longer, but I didn't want it to become awkward.

So, anyway.

I'm so glad everyone is enjoying the story thus far. I very much like this story, and am trying to continue it. I have so many ideas, and I do know where I'm headed, but it'll take a long while to get there.

Hope you all will stick with me. Thanks!

"Red Velvet"

'Chapter Five'

Cyan didn't like when her mother left for work.

Dib was an apprentice under a prominent paranormal investigator, it had been something he had always wanted to do, and finally he had achieved his dream. But, his job kept him away and he often had strange hours. This past week-end had been a fluke but Cyan had been grateful for it.

She very much enjoyed being around him most of all.

Though, when Dib was gone, as he was now, she was forced to tag along with her father in his lab and Zim rarely spoke or acknowledged her.

She was starting to get hungry, but she didn't know how to ask; he didn't enjoy questions.

Cyan was currently sitting on the metal table at the far end of the lab while Zim busied himself with liquids on the shelf closest her. He had been experimenting with all those different colored fluids ever since Dib had sent her down here.

She absently kicked her feet, holding her doll firmly to her chest as her wide brown-red eyes surveyed her concentrated parent. Her antennae wilted forward – listening to the mundane 'click' of glass and 'swish' of unknown goo.

None of this was fascinating at all.

She tried to ignore her little-girl-want to whine, knowing it would get her nowhere with Zim and only aggravate him further. She nibbled her lower lip, not taking her eyes off him as she waited for him to look in her direction; having so many questions to ask from the recent fight she witnessed as well as the more pressing question on if he had any food.

"What?" Zim finally asked, not looking at her as he continued what he was doing; absently writing notes on his electronic note-pad.

Cyan squeaked in response, unsure what to ask first. Her heart beat hard in her chest as her young brain worked over-time trying to think of something before a question tumbled uneasily from her lips, "Where are you going?"

Zim quirked a non-existent brow, his red eyes flicked in her direction, "Eh?" He made a questioning noise, the beakers in his hand precarious as his attention was diverted to the young half-breed.

She shrunk under his gaze, pulling her stuffed Irken to hide most of her body from view, "Mama said you were trying to go somewhere," She said quickly, "But then he said you aren't going anywhere."

Zim eyed her a long moment before a languid grin fell on his lips, "Did he now?"

Cyan nodded.

Zim set the jars on the counter, leaning up against the metal table as he folded his arms, "Zim has an ingenious plan Dib doesn't know about." He said easily, "He only knows half of it."

Cyan perked her antennae, "What is it?"

Zim laughed a hard laugh, "I'm not telling you!" He tilted his head up arrogantly, "You'll just run and tell him."

The gears started to turn in Cyan's head – Zim had a secret, a secret plot he wasn't going to tell Dib and she might be able to be a part of it if she promised secrecy. Beyond that, Zim would tell her something no one else knew, they'd share a secret – they would have a bond.

Cyan wanted so desperately to have some type of something with her father she shook her head firmly, "I won't tell! I promise!"

Zim looked to the girl a long moment before he felt satisfied.

Yes, everything was definitely going to go according to plan.

He waved his hand dismissively, "I don't know, are you sure?"

"I promise!" She yipped again, her eyes rooted to her father's.

"Hm," Zim clicked his tongue, seeming satisfied. "If I tell you, you have to do something for me, as well as keeping this all a secret."

"What?" She was even more elated by gaining a possible task from Zim; she didn't even have a mind to think about what it might be.

"I want you to convince the Dib-human to go to the Gaz-beast's home tonight." Zim said easily.

Cyan nodded quickly, "Okay papa!"

Zim cringed to the title, "Zim." He corrected in a harsh tone.

Cyan fell back behind her doll, "Z-Zim."

"Good smeet." Zim patted Cyan's head before he set the beakers down and turned away from her, back towards the control panels.

Cyan flushed under her father's touch, smiling into her Irken doll. They had a secret, and she had a special mission—

Maybe Zim hadn't really meant what he said, why would he leave her behind if he wanted her to do these things? She was important now, he thought she was important.

Cyan could hardly contain herself; hunger a distant memory as she intently watched her father work in the darker corners of the lab.

Though, in reality, her importance was only akin to that of a cog in the machine of Zim's more massive plan.