I'm back! Hope everyone had an awesome christmas. :3
It was so dark outside so the fluorescent lighting in the store stung the boys' eyes when they stepped in. They went to a corner store at the end of a mini plaza. Zim hasn't been in a crammed little store before, he found the place rather interesting. A huge array of different foods, candies, magazines, and just about everything else all packed into a room pretty much. Zim has heard of grocery stores, perhaps this was one?
"Dib-stink, are we in a grocery store?" the curious alien asked Dib as they examined the narrow aisles. Gir wouldn't stop touching every single thing he saw so Zim carried him in his arms. The store clerk didn't seem to care about Gir being in the store; maybe he didn't see Gir as a dog. Dogs aren't green that's for sure.
"Um kinda, a mini one I guess. It's called a corner store or a convenient store." Dib explained to the other. In his hands was an unfolded piece of paper with a few ingredients written in scribbled pen on it. He noticed that his house didn't have a lot of grounded species like ground ginger and ground cinnamon; those were essential to baking gingerbread cookies. He also needed molasses.
Zim nodded his head knowingly. Humans gave places the simplest names that more than half the time said exactly what they were. Like a pizza place being named 'Pizza Store'. Zim found it rather smart but stupid at the same time. Odd.
As the two boys walked silently through the different allies, Dib thought of how nice it felt to have a little green alien following him around. It made him smile a little. He found the irken to be quite cute sometimes. It was kind of an overpowering feeling to be Zim's Tallest now. What exactly did it mean to be a Tallest? Dib assumed the rules of being a Tallest didn't quite apply to him like it did for Zim's older Tallest's. After all, Dib was human, still a more inferior species as Zim would like to believe.
"Dib, what are you doing?" Zim asked suddenly. He looked a bit bored and Dib frowned.
"I'm shopping for ingredients. I'm baking gingerbread cookies." Dib said as he picked out the ground ginger, ground cloves, ground nutmeg, and ground white pepper, which where all on the same shelf. He hands became full and he looked to Zim who also had his hands full; full of Gir. They looked at each other and Gir giggled. Zim rolled his eyes and put the 'dog' down then he took a few bottles from Dib.
"you're…baking?" he said, giving Dib a look. Dib blushed a little.
"Sure, why not? It's fun and gingerbread cookies are good!" Dib said defensively. They went down the next aisle, then the next until they found the molasses. Zim marched behind the human, listening to his foolishness.
"But don't female-humans cook?" Zim asked.
"Guys can too!" Dib yelled offensively, as if Zim was calling him a girl, which isn't an insult, just not a true fact.
"Sure, Dib, sure." Zim said slowly.
Dib narrowed his eyes, but not in anger. "Is that anyway to treat your Tallest, Zim?" he teased. That seemed to shut the ikren up seeing as Zim just grunted and Dib laughed and so did Gir since he thought Dib's laughter was an invitation for him to laugh too.
They headed up to the counter and Dib paid for the materials then they were back into the cold once again. Zim insisted he carry the bag and Dib just gave up and let the other do what he wanted.
Zim crossed his arms tightly over his chest. "Now we walk all the way back." He said with a grouchy face on. Gir squealed in excitement and Zim's face changed to more of an annoyed look.
"That's how walking works, alien." Dib said happily, pissing Zim off even more.
The later it got, the lower the temperature and the snow continued to fall. The three walked silently together until Dib decided to start up a conversation.
"See, we get along well now don't we?" Dib said with a toothy grin. Zim blinked a few times at the human. The human was right, they did kind of get along. It was so natural too. Maybe Zim never needed his now and forever stupid Tallest. Maybe all Zim needed was to get away, he just didn't fit into the irken society…he was a defect and that's the very definition of a defect. Even Zim could see the failure his Tallest saw in him. This saddened Zim deeply.
"Yeah, I guess you're right, dib-thing…" Zim sighed. The response disheartened Dib.
"Hey, why are you sad about it…" Dib paused. "Do you not like getting along with me or something…?" he said softly. It was a stupidly worded question but that's what was needed to be asked. Before Zim could answer, Dib added "Cause I mean, it is kinda weird with the whole enemies thing and being different species…but I don't know…I like it…" he mumbled the last part.
Gir eat snowflakes as Zim stared at his new 'leader'. It wasn't like Zim didn't like being with the Dib human, it just proved how flawed the irken was, that's all. Zim looked at the ground and shook his head. "Zim gets along better with humans than his own species…that's all." He said sadly.
Dib looked at Zim and felt bad, he knew what Zim meant for sure. "I know how you feel. I get along with you way easier than anyone else. It's a little sad but I guess it's like destiny or something." Dib said as he watched his feet carry him to his house.
"Destiny? As in, we were meant to be?" Zim asked in shock. He had always had that weird feeling that he was supposed to meet Dib. If Zim didn't feel that sense of destiny then chances are Dib wouldn't be here now would he? And the fact the human is so amusing.
Dib flushed a bit and kicked some snow on the side walk. "Yeah. Except I know you were coming a bit before you actually did." Dib chuckled. Zim's eyes went wide.
"Y-You did!" he pretty much yelled at the other, shocking Dib.
"Yeah, I heard your leaders talking to all the soldiers about what planets they were assigned to and I heard you rushing in….I think you were in a rush, I can't remember…" Dib put his hand on his chin and raised it up as if it would help him remember. Zim just stared at the new information. He had no idea Dib heard all that and knew about Zim's arrival that wasn't even supposed to happen. If Zim never made it to earth. Dib would still be waiting, wouldn't he?
Suddenly Dib chuckled. "At the time I didn't find it funny but I remember one of the leaders saying something about curly fries. Funny how you guys have that on your planet too!"
Zim made a thoughtful noise in his throat. "That was…Tallest Purple I believe. And yes, that is very strange, isn't it?" Zim laughed a little too. "So you knew of my arrival…wow…" Zim said in bewilderment.
Dib looked at Zim and his amazement. "I knew something was coming…I had to wait 6 months though! It was brutal!" he whined, which made Zim laugh again.
"No wonder you saw through my disguise and had cuffs ready for me." Zim teased the other. Dib's face went red at the mention of the hand cuffs. As a kid it seemed like a great idea but now it seemed rather…sexual. Kinky is anything. Dib laughed nervously.
"Heh, yeah…those…" he scratched the back of his head. Zim laughed even more. Dib gave Zim a funny look. "What, it's not that funny is it?" he asked unsure whether or not it was actually funny.
"The things you could do with hand cuffs that rendered alien life forms unconscious…" Zim teased more, he liked teasing the human. The red colour of his face suited him very well.
Dib's face was as red as the reddest thing you could find now. "HEY! I was like 11 when I got those and you better not be implying that I'd do…things to you if I had actually caught you!" Dib said with embarrassment. "It was all in the name of Science!" he added.
Zim gave Dib his most 'I don't believe you' face he could muster. "Yes and that lovely speech about waiting for me forever and such was…" Zim gave Dib his trade mark look. " all in the name of science…yes." Dib huffed and crossed his arms.
"Yes." The human said stubbornly, with his extremely red face. Zim just laughed harder.
They never imagined having such conversations with each other and the fact that it was all normal for them was unbelievable to say the least. Finally, to Dib's relief, they were back at Dib"s house and Zim became nervous.
"Zim can come over…right?" he asked, ready for rejection all of a sudden.
"If you want to." Dib said casually.
"Zim doesn't want to go home…" he muttered sadly and Dib nodded, understanding Zim's decision.
They stepped into the house and Zim's eyes squinted at the brightly lit Christmas tree. Gir ran to the tree and sat in front of it; he'll be entertained for a good day or two.
Dib took off his boots, coat, and everything else and Zim did the same. Then Dib noticed Zim's pink scarf. "You really like pink." he stated.
Zim nodded happily. "And purple." The alien added happily and Dib chuckled. Those were such girly colours but Zim wear them like they were so manly, it was funny if not cute as well.
Dib gestured Zim to follow him into the kitchen with the bag. Zim hasn't been in the human's house in a long time but it stayed the same but Zim's house never changed either.
"Ok, just put that on the table and I'll look for the other stuff and-oh did you want to make the cookies too Zim?" Dib said all this while he went rummaging through the cupboards. Zim stood at the table wondering if he should help with the cookies or not.
"It may not be a good idea…" Zim said while he grabbed a chair and sat down. He had never cooked before and the sink across the room made the irken feel uneasy.
Dib pouted. "Aww, why not?" he said turning to face the other at the table.
"Um Zim has never baked before…" Zim said in a shy voice. Dib almost squealed from the sound of Zim's shy voice. The alien was just so cute! Dib thought for a second.
"Why don't you read the instructions to me then?" Dib offered, he wanted Zim to do something. Zim seemed to perk up at the idea but the wicked smile gave the reaction more of an evil vibe. Zim stood up, way more confident now and asked "Where is this 'instruction' sheet, Dib-slave?" The question alone was enough for Dib to regret his idea but he went upstairs to his room to print out the instructions he found off the internet. Dib went back downstairs to the kitchen and saw that Zim was sitting on the counter farthest from the sink. He passed the sheet to the evil irken, who took it with glee.
"Just let me get all the stuff ready and you can start reading." Dib paused and wondered something. "You can read…right Zim?" he asked in a strangely concerned voice.
Zim gave Dib a very offended look. "Of course Zim can read! I've been trapped on this filthy rock for years and forced to look at your hideous writing and read your horrid stories ever since I came here! Zim can most defiantly read, human stink beast!" Zim said in a snooty voice.
"Alright, alright I get it! I just never heard you read in class or anything. Plus your English is still a bit off but whatever." Dib said as he collected the things he needed. Zim made a 'hmph' sound. How was he supposed to get stupid human traditions or the little things they say? He just wanted to boss the human already.
As Dib walked around the kitchen, Zim watched the way the human moved. The human had a bit of grace in his movements. It was obvious that the boy knew his surrounds very well. And for some reason Zim never noticed the bright red and white wool sweater that Dib was wearing, it was tight and a little too small for the human since every time he reached for something his stomach would show. Zim could feel his face get warm whenever he saw the flawless skin show itself.
Dib finally got everything that was needed and he looked at Zim strangely. "What's wrong?" he asked as he saw that the alien looked a little flushed. Zim quickly averted his eyes from the human and onto the sheet in his hands. 'No, Zim, strange thoughts about the Dib are strictly forbidden!' Zim tried to warn himself. But with no Tallest to forbid such a thing, it's pointless for Zim to try and create his own rules. He has to be told not to by his Tallest.
Zim cleared his throat. "Zim is fine, human, now do as Zim says!" he cackled delightfully. Dib just rolled his eyes and then his sleeves. "Alright, human, you need 2 sticks of unsalted butter-"
"What? 2 sticks of butter?" Dib asked in confusion. He went over to the sheet and peered his head over Zim's arm to see if Zim read it right. Zim's heart stopped when he felt Dib's head brush against it. He wanted to shout 'DON'T TOUCH ZIM YOU FILTHY EARTH SCUM!' but he didn't, instead he thought about how nice it felt to have the human near him. Dib backed away from the list and sighed.
"I think we have another stick somewhere…" he said as he went back to the fridge. After about a minute of searching, Dib yelled in triumph. "Yes!" he shot the bar of unsalted butter in the air.
Zim smirked. "Well done human, now, back to Zim ordering you around!" Zim said eagerly. Dib closed the fridge and went back to the counter, he looked at Zim and Zim continued reading. "2 sticks of unsalted butter and 1 cup of sugar, then mix them until they are creamy." Dib nodded and began to pour the sugar into a measuring cup. Zim gave the human a bored expression then looked at the ingredients then at how slow it took the human to measure the sugar. Zim decided that things would go a lot faster if Dib had everything measured already so he hopped off the counter.
"Dib-human, where are your cups?" Zim asked. Dib turned around to look at Zim then pointed to the cupboard to his left. Zim nodded and let out a flexible PAK leg. Dib's eyes grew huge in fear.
"W-What are you doing!" Dib practically screamed. Zim shushed him and pushed the human aside, putting the sheet on the counter in front of all the unmeasured materials. Zim took in all the measurements of the ingredients on the sheet of paper.
"Where are the spoons?" Zim asked as many PAK legs spewed out of his PAK, ready to do various things. Dib jumped at the sight of so many of Zim's tentacle things and he pointed at the drawer with the spoons Zim wanted. Dib stood against the farthest counter from the crazy alien. He would make whimpering sounds whenever a leg got near him.
Zim's mechanical legs were stretching everywhere around him as they grabbed the things they needed, spoons, cups, and bowls. They measured the correct amount of ingredients in cups and spoons without even using measuring tools in seconds. When Zim was done his PAK legs were sent back into his PAK and the counter was full of the ingredients that were all measured. Zim turned to look at Dib. Dib's jaw had dropped at the sight and he was indeed impressed. He walked up to the counter and examined the ingredients.
"Wow, Zim, that was amazing…" he said a little breathless due to his astonishment.
Zim shrugged even though he liked the praise. "You humans are so slow." he said as he sat back on his spot on the counter.
"Well, this will get things going faster." Dib smiled gratefully then poured the butter and sugar into a bowl and started to mix but he looked at Zim with a pleading smile. Zim got the hint and sighed. He extracted a PAK leg and Dib held the bowl in place as Zim's PAK leg stirred the batter in seconds. Dib giggled happily and Zim shook his head in amusement.
"Add the eggs, molasses and the, urgh, dreadful water." Zim told Dib, who poured the ingredients into the bowl while Zim's PAK leg stirred it slowly. "You are giving this PAK leg the most amazing scrub when this is done." Zim grumbled and Dib nodded happily. "Now! Mix the dry ingredients! I'm sure you can do that yourself, human."
"Sure can." Dib assured the other and did what he was told.
"Then mix that into the other mixture." Zim commanded. Dib did that and poured the dry ingredients with the wet and Zim stirred once again. "Says there that we have to let the dough chill for 3 hours or overnight, which is it Dib-worm?"
Dib looked at the clock and it showed '7:19'. "Well, I'm up for staying up late tonight." he said as he looked at Zim. "What about you?" he asked. Zim shrugged his shoulders.
"Zim doesn't care either way." Zim told the human. Dib took the bowl of gingerbread batter and shoved it into the fridge.
"Staying up late it is then." He said and closed the door. Zim glared at the human and Dib stared back. "Why are you staring at me like that?" Dib said uneasy.
"Clean Zim's superior PAK leg, human-slave monkey." Zim demanded. Dib rolled his eyes then grabbed the sponge and put soap and water on it. He took the PAK leg carefully, scared it would randomly rip his arm off, and began to wash it. Zim sat on the counter happily as he watched Dib wash his PAK leg which was like cleaning a person's shoe to irkens.
Dib grabbed a piece of cloth and dried the metal until not a speck of water could be found anywhere on it. "Done." Dib said with a hint of pride in his voice, he believed he had done an 'amazing' job like Zim had to him to. Zim inspected his PAK leg and nodded slowly.
"Good, human." Zim said as the PAK leg disappeared into his PAK. He jumped off the counter and Dib took all the dirty bowls, spoons and cups and put them in the sink. "Now what human?" Zim asked.
Dib shrugged his shoulders. "I'm not sure…we could watch TV…" he mused. TV was the best way to pass the time. Zim tilted his head to think then walked to the living room without even telling Dib his decision. Dib followed and they sat on opposite sides the couch. Dib grabbed the remote and flipped through the channels. Shortly after, Gir joined them and later on Gaz shoved Zim off her side of the couch and Zim sat in the awkward middle with Gir.
"What's Zim doing here." Gaz asked in her usual anger filled voice.
"None of your smelly human business, smelly human!" Zim said, sticking his tongue out at the girl. He was still sour about her pushing over. Gaz grunted and gave the alien a little but painful kick to the thigh and Dib laughed as Zim whined loudly.