It was around 4am that Zim began to awaken. He opened his eyes to his own room and at first didn't remember anything. It was when he tried to move his hands, and found them bound together, that he recalled the brief moments of struggle shared with the Dib-thing some time during the night. Zim quickly sat up and looked around. He saw Dib lying at his feet, asleep. His computer glowed on Zim's desk.
Zim tried to get his hands untied, but the rope was thick and unyielding. He glanced at his PAK and saw that all the wires were in place as they should be. That was good, at least.
He considered the Earth-boy for a moment, then carefully shifted to a sitting position on the edge of the bed. He saw his self-destruct on the desk as well and tried to reach it. The wires on his PAK prevented him from getting too far from the bed, and this he cursed silently.
The alien carefully settled back into his sleeping position as an idea came to him. With a foot he nudged Dib's head. The human stirred, but it took another, slightly harder nudge to awaken him.
Dib rubbed at his eyes and picked up his glasses from where they had fallen to the bed. He sat up and looked around, then yawned and turned to Zim. He was still asleep.
Dib turned his computer off and slipped it back into his bag, then checked his watch. 4:13am. He had class in the morning but, being seventeen, they didn't really care if he showed up or not so he wasn't too concerned.
He stepped over to Zim and leaned over to look at his PAK, wondering how he would know when it was charged.
0ne of the mechanical spider-legs shot out, catching him by surprise as it knocked him against the wall. Dib gasped, winded by the blow.
Zim sat up and struck at him with the leg, growling Irken curses.
Dib jumped out of the way and stared at the alien from the doorway, not really knowing what to say.
Zim continued to curse at him, rapping the mechanical leg against the wall in frustration. He extended the other three over the room, digging their tips against the ground and bed.
The human continued to watch until Zim snarled, "Earth-worm, unbind me at once! I will slash your throat if you don't let me go.."
Much to the Irken's surprise, Dib stepped forward and began untying his wrists. Zim sat where he was silently, watching him.
Dib stepped back when finished. Zim, keeping a wary eye on him, reached behind himself and unclamped the wires to his PAK. When the machine's warnings flashed, he pushed the button on its side with one of the mechanical legs. Zim then rose on his own feet, the tips of the mechanical ones rasping against the floor and walls in a nervous way.
Dib regarded him quietly, wondering what he should do. He was about to speak when Zim struck him to the floor with one of the legs. Dib fell on his back and when he tried to get up, Zim pushed him back down and stepped over him, holding him down with one of the legs.
The human looked up at him from his helpless position, somehow admiring the alien's aggression. He reached up slowly and touched the cold metal of the leg pinned across his chest.
Zim stared down at him through narrowed eyes. He still seemed rather confused, which gave fuel to his anger. He pulled away swiftly, not understanding the human's actions.
"What the fuck do you want, Earth-thing?" he asked viciously. Dib got to his feet slowly.
"I just.. I came to.." he faltered for words, rather ashamed of his intentions and now too confused and awkward to think of anything different to say.
The alien stepped back again, fearful of the human in his home and his own lack of understanding as to what was happening. He struck out again for lack of a better action, sending Dib to the ground once more. He stayed where he fell, looking away from Zim. Blood trickled down the side of his face.
Zim looked past him at GIR. He saw that the robot had been turned off, as well as the computer.
How could this human have gotten into my house? How did he do all this? Zim clenched his fists, angered by the intrusion. He looked back to Dib with malicious intent, but the boy was staring up at him with glazed eyes. Zim felt the anger clutching his mind loosen. He released his fists and tilted his head curiously.
Dib felt blood drip off his jaw onto his hand. He looked down at it. So did Zim.
The latter stepped into his room, the mechanical legs sliding back to their place within the PAK. Zim picked up a small cloth from his desk and, returning to Dib, crouched next to him and offered it.
Dib looked up at him again and took it hesitantly, not fully trusting the alien. He dabbed at the blood, wiping it away from his face and then pressed the cloth against the wound to his head. He glanced up at Zim again. The alien seemed troubled. Dib resisted the sudden and strange urge to touch his face.
"Why were you here?" Zim asked softly.
"I came to capture you." Dib looked away again. Zim nodded and rose, moving into his room.
When he didn't return, Dib followed him. He stepped into the room and saw with dismay that Zim was reading the translated journal entries on his computer.
"So.. I suppose you know all about me now," he said, a bitter edge to his voice. Dib nodded slowly, thinking he should get out while he still had the chance. Zim turned to him, closing the computer and setting it on the desk. He stood and looked about his room, saying nothing more.
Dib glanced back out into the lab, judging the distance between where he stood and the elevator. He could never make it, but he decided to try.
When he was to glance back at Zim, he was startled by the alien's presence directly next to him. Dib stumbled back fearfully. He could not read Zim's expression, but it was not the usual one of anger or annoyance. It was.. somehow sad. Perhaps at a loss.
Dib frowned at him. He felt a thick moment's panic when he saw the alien was crying.
Zim turned away from him, gazing out into his lab. Dib reached out and touched his shoulder gently, almost unnoticeably. Zim twitched and glanced at the boy.
Dib gave him a small smile. All the words in the world were said in that smile.
The Irken hesitated, then turned to the boy and wrapped his arms around him. He buried his face against his shoulder and closed his eyes silently.
Dib hugged the alien back, all his thoughts of contempt and hatred melting away as the morning's light was just brushing the outside world. He felt nothing but sorrow for him now. Sorrow and perhaps something else.
**N0TE** This is the problem with building a reputation… Risky writing like this can break it in an instant and I feel this may not be to everyone's taste. I ask that you do not judge me too harshly; this is my first XaXR (DaZR, here) and I did not plan any of it out. I simply wrote as inspiration came to me. Though there was no romance as the category states, the ending leaves it open to possibilities. Hope you enjoyed.