Just FYI: We are back on regular POV for now.
Well you guys didn't meet the review requirement, and I know I couldn't keep you waiting any longer. But I guess that's my fault for being gone so long. I just hope it's not because the story is boring you.
Review Replies
Captor of the Crazies - Congratulations you have sent my stupid writers block to burn in blazing firey HELL! I feel almost completely recovered and am ready to keep this mess going like it should *cracks knuckles loudly*. May I say I love your ZaDr-y enthusiasm ;) you GO!
Moth Mask - I'm glad you think it does :)(: Thankyou
Invader Neo - I guess we'll just be finding out ;D haha weird to say but you have my favorite review so far
ZADRookie - No, no, you're probably not being picky. I hope this chapter shows some improvement! UHMAGOSH when I first read this review I didn't know who it was from and I was really surprised to see one of my favorite authors review MY story! So thank you sooo much!
Disclaimer: Um, DUH...
After Zim asked his question, Dib couldn't come up with an answer, and they let the silence fill the air. Dib didn't have any ideas on his first move, and maybe that's why he gave in and asked his arch rival for help. Which they were currently on a truce so...
"Is your Dib-ghost brain incapable of ideas, Dib-stink?" Zim asked impatiently.
Zim, on the other hand, was determined to stick to the truce and do whatever the truce required. He was determined to prove himself, because if not, Dib may leave for good. Zim nearly gasped when he felt a strange twist in his squeedily-spooch. Weird, did that mean he was sick?
Dib sighed. "Honestly, I've got nothing, Zim. I mean, what does Fravardin expect me to accomplish with the way I look?" Dib outstretched his hand for Zim to see. "Look at me, Zim! Do I look human?"
"The only difference is your lack of solidness. You still look like a filthy human." Zim pointed out. "Nonetheless, I will fix you!" He pulled something out of his PAK and started fidgeting with the controls. He paused to glance up at Dib as something occured to him. "Wait a minute, how are you standing if you're not solid?"
Dib crossed his arms. "I'm not. I'm just floating slightly, and unnoticeably. And I guess it's working since you didn't notice." Dib craned his neck to see what Zim was holding and recognized the device used on him earlier. "What is that supposed to do?"
"Come," Zim waved Dib to the elevator as he stepped on, "Zim has a plan."
Dib looked at the elevator. "I can try to take us down there quicker. Where ar we going?"
"To the lab," Zim mumbled, still fumbling with his device.
"Ok...let me try something." Dib reached out to Zim, but his hand just phased right through.
"Nnagh!" Zim yelped, surprised and disgusted as Dib's blurry hand stuck straight through his arm and into his chest.
"Hang on," Dib said, eyebrows narrowed in determination. He pulled his hand back where his finger tips would barely be touching Zim's long glove. He stared at his outstrectched hand, focusing hard on...something.
Zim waited with his one-eye-narrowed look. But after a few minutes of concentraction, Dib made no progress. He groaned in irritation.
"Do not despair, Dib-stink! I will take care of your, eh, Dib-ghosty issues." Zim said.
"I was trying to be able to touch you, but I guess that didn't work," Dib tried to explain his disappointment. "I'll just follow you."
—~—
"Now," Zim said as he plugged the device into one of his computers, "you most likely won't be able to become a solid form. After all, as you said, you become more human-like on your own will."
Dib raised his eyebrows, astonished. "Did you really get all that from your scanner thing?"
Zim tapped on his keyboard. He turned to Dib, pointing at him with the device. "Yes," he said. "Irken technology is far greater than any of your Earthanoid technology!" He reached behind Dib to throw away the device in some electrical garbage can.
"What—"
"Step over here, Dib," Zim interrupted, deciding any of Dib's further questions weren't important. He pointed at a small platform with a glass tube hooked just above.
Dib raised an eyebrow and frowned. "What is that supposed to do?" he said with a disbelieving tone. No way even Irkens were genius enough to be able to tinker with spirits.
"It's going to examine your form and pick a suitable disguise," Zim explained, trying to be patient but failed badly thanks to being Irken.
"O...k." Dib hesitated before deciding to go with it. He put one foot on the platform and eyed the whole set curiously.
"Just get in it already!" Zim pushed.
"Alright!" Dib responded irritably. He turned his attention back to the Irken device in front of him. He had never trusted Zim, let alone any Irkens. Their only goal was to destroy, but Dib really didn't want anyone else. Zim was different. Smart, but lack of common sense. This was his best bet. He took a deep breath before stepping on to the pad that was oddly shaped like a hexagon.
Zim lowered the glass tube around him, and before Dib could say anything else, he started the scan. Two metal limbs slid down from either side of the tube and shoved themselves right through Dib's waist line and chest. Dib just stared as they phased right through his ghostly body.
Zim was relieved at how easy it was to see the limbs through Dib's figure. In only a few minutes Zim's computer showed only two resulting disguises for Zim to pick. He chose the one he thought looked the most like the old Dib.
"Don't move, Dib-thing," Zim commanded then raised a finger. He waited for a moment before finally pushing the button.
The appendages inside ghost-Dib twitched and sparked yellow before the whole tube was engulfed in orange smoke. There was the sound of a gasp before the smoke filtered down and Dib was allowed to step out.
"I...I think it worked," Dib said, examining his hands. "I'm...me." He couldn't help but half-smile. Seeing his human form again made him feel happy, even if it wasn't the real deal.
"Let me see. Turn around, Dib-thing!" Zim motioned at Dib who still had some smoke trailing off him. Dib obeyed Zim and turned around, so Zim could see.
Dib was right. He did look like his old self. The white lines were gone and he wasn't blurry, although there was still a slight glow, but it's not like any of the meat-brained humans would notice! Zim suddenly wished Dib was solid, because right now he just wanted to touch him. He wanted to touch his arms, his face, and his hair. It was like finding an old toy from when you were little, and you just had to familiarize with it again. His face, to Zim, looked funny. Not gross or haha funny, but the kind of funny where you just can't use a better word. The look of his old face ignited a fire inside Zim's middle. It felt like a growing forest fire that shouted "Dib is alive! Dib is alive!" as if he hadn't realized that before.
"Zim?" Dib's voice cut through Zim's thoughts. "Zim? Why aren't you saying anything? Do you think I look right?"
"I..." Zim wanted to say it. He wanted to just give in and admit it. But his Irken pride and past disgust for humans stood right in the way. "I-It is acceptable, Dib. No human will notice anything."
"Are you alright? You look like you're about to throw up. Or do Irkens throw up?" Dib quirked an eyebrow.
Zim swallowed the lump in his throat. "Everything is fine. It is time to proceed to your love-pig mission now."
Dib smiled again as he stared down his disguised ghost body. He looked up at Zim, still with the happy smile. "Jee, Zim, I wish I was solid so I could give you a big hug!" Dib chuckled teasingly, wanting to hear Zim's response.
Zim touched his chin with his one-eye-narrowed look. He looked at Dib like he just spoke a different language. "A hug...?"
Dib frowned. "You...you don't know what a hug?" It was barely a question.
Zim shook his head, still confused.
"Well I don't know how to explain it without...uh...touching you." Man, I really wish I could show him, Dib thought. Wait, did I seriously just think that?
"Eh...you can show me later. Perhaps I can do research and do without your pitiful demonstration," Zim teased with a grin. Zim waved his hand, brushing the subject off. "After all, I'm sure you will figure something out after finding a stinking love-pig..."
"Girlfriend," Dib corrected. "For me, it would be a girlfriend."
Zim tilted his head, one eye narrowed. He paused. "Zim will call it what he wants to call it, Dib-stink. Now, go! And be back at a decent time so Zim shall know of your progress."
"Hey, wait!" Dib suddenly went wide-eyed.
"What?"
"I'm not solid. What do I do if they try to touch me?"
Zim quirked an antenna. "Hmm...that could be a problem. Maybe I will have to assist you, Dib-thing." He grimaced and stuck his tongue out in disgust. "Ugh, but I never imagined there would be a day where I would have to watch a human mating system, or whatever you stink-worms address it as."
Dib made a face, knowing another meaning through Zim's term. "Uh, humans call it a relationship. I wouldn't say what you just said in front of anyone else."
"Why?" Zim asked.
"Because...to them it would mean something else."
"And what meaning is that?"
Dib slapped his hand to his face. Why did Zim have to ask so many questions? This was like giving a child 'The Talk'.
"Nothing. I wouldn't worry about it, Zim." Then before there was a chance of another question, Dib said, "So you're coming with me?"
Zim's antenna twitched. "I guess I have to accompany you with my genius so you don't give away your identity."
Dib rolled his eyes. "Whatever you say, Zim. But really, you should be ok. I mean, it's not like anything is going to happen today." ..Unless it's love at first sight, he thought sarcastically.
"You may be right. But I'll be preparing my squeedily-spooch anyway," replied Zim.
Zim and Dib were just stepping into the elevator when Dib thought of something. "Zim?"
"What is it now, Dib-creature?"
"T-Thanks." Dib squeezed out the word nervously.
Zim's eyes widened in bewilderment as he placed his wig on his head, accompanying his contacts. His antennas perked under his wig when he heard Dib say this, but then they flattened back against his skull. When they were up in the house Zim pointed when he remembered he couldn't touch Dib and said, "Get moving. The less I have to put up with you the better."
Dib shook his head as they walked past Gir and Mini-Moose (who were currently watching a romance-drama and crying rivers down the couch) and went out the front door down the sidewalk.
"Lead the way, Dib-worm," Zim said, waving a hand.
Dib looked to the right then the left, and began walking in a random direction. How am I supposed to do this? I don't even have a game plan, Dib began to rant in his head. This is so pathetic for me to go out here like some sort of tramp or something and expect to fall for a girl as I walk by! This is just stupid. But I guess I have no choice if Fravardin is going to make me human again...possibly.
Dib sighed and stared at his feet. Zim probably didn't think this through anymore than I have. He sure hasn't changed since I was gone. He acts like he was overjoyed when I died and I just ruined it for him by coming back. But why does that seem so surprising? I expected that, didn't I?
Dib tried switching his thoughts back to scratching up a solid plan for today. Seriously, what was there to do? From what Dib once saw off a TV show, "you can't find love but love has to find you."
"I guess we can start at MacMeaties," he announced after a long time of walking in quiet. Then he realized he was in front of the restaurant. He was about to push the door open until he remembered he couldn't. So he stood back and motioned for Zim. "I can't touch anything, remember?"
"Yes, yes." Zim pulled the door open and held it for Dib, who almost ran into someone coming out.
"Jeez, that was close," Dib said when they were inside.
MacMeaties never being quite a fancy restaurant, there was no one to seat them, so Dib and Zim seated themselves at a booth.
The restaurant was very crowded today. Dib looked around at all the other people seated around them. He was nervous, this being the first time he wore a disguise in public. It was like Zim, but Dib thought his was a lot better so he felt a little confident. However, his attention was a little more focused on all the girls his age scattered across the MacMeaties. He rested his chin on his hand as he reviewed his options. Too much make up... Oh, that hair looks weird there... She's way too skinny... Hey, she's pretty...aw, but she's got a boyfriend. Dang, is there not one single girl here that—
Dib's thoughts were interrupted when a lady with a pad and pen was suddenly standing in front of them. Her deep blue eyes flickered before she said, "Hi, guys, my name's Dani and I'll be your waitress today. What'll it be?"
Her voice wasn't high like most teenage girls, but Dib could tell she was close to his age.
"I knew it! I knew they'd be back for me!" somebody screamed at the lady over his booth.
Dib, Zim, and Dani gave him an odd look before Dib looked at her and said, "Two Poop sodas."
Dib caught himself in a gaze with Dani and thought, Man, her eyes are big!
Dani brushed a curly blonde lock from her face before jotting the simple order on her notepad. "Will that be all?"
"Yep," Dib answered immediately, knowing he couldn't he food and Zim didn't need it or like it much anyway.
"Sooo..." Zim said awkwardly when their waitress left. "What'd you think of her?"
"What?" Dib raised an eyebrow. "I just met her!"
Zim shrugged. "Zim was only being helpful, Dib-worm." His invisible eyebrows lowered into a line, showing that he was still not so entertained by this job.
"Yeah, I know," Dib matched Zim's displeased look. There was a pause.
"Well," Zim prompted. "Did you become interested in any of these pigs? Is there anyone you see that you would call 'girlfriend'?"
Dib sighed. "You know, Zim, I think this is pathetic. We need a better strategy?"
"Zim has a strategy." Zim offered with a smirk. "But not one that I think you will like."
Dib didn't disagree. If it was one of Zim's plans, chances are he wouldn't like it.
After MacMeaties, it was already getting dark. They made no progress at all that day, so Zim and Dib decided to give up and go home. As Zim opened his door for him and Dib again, he heard Dib sigh behind him. There was a long quiet in the living room as Zim removed his disguise.
"At least nobody saw through my disguise," Dib mumbled quietly as he sat on the couch for no apparent reason. It was any different than floating to him.
"That is because Zim is much more brilliant than your pathetic race," replied Zim. He carefully removed his black wig, his antennas twitching in response.
Dib rolled his eyes at Zim's comment. "Whatever. I just hope you have a better plan next time," he added.
"Me?" Zim defended. "Your the one who's life this depends on, Dib, not mine!"
Dib lowered his brows and crossed his arms. He suddenly had a good comback until Zim started talking again.
"I'm going to be down in my lab, Dib-thing. So I ask that you please do not take advantage and spy on me while I work." Zim glared hard as if to scare him.
Dib just averted his gaze in a lazy manner. "We're on a truce remember? I can't spy on you. And you've already done your part by helping me."
"I believe I have no choice but to believe you, Dib-ghost. But..." Zim paused as he made his way to sit beside Dib on the couch. "I have a question first."
Dib raised an eye brow, completely caught off guard at Zim sitting beside him. His tone changed to a completely different one that Dib didn't know what to think of it.
"Why did you help me?" Zim asked.
Dib looked confused. "With what?"
"With your sister-beast," Zim answered. "Zim saw when you pulled her off me and flung her out the door."
"Ohh..." Dib suddenly realized that this conversation was one he didn't want to get into. Honestly, he wasn't quite comfortable with what he did to Gaz. It was still a heavy burden inside him. "Why does it matter?" he asked hesitantly.
"Because Zim wants to know," the Irken snapped.
"I..." Dib thought about something he could say. "I...didn't want you guys to fight, that's all," he threw out but then mentally cursed himself. How would that make any sense?
"Your LYING!" Zim accused, pointing at Dib. "Tell me the real reason. Quit being so fake, Dib-stink. I know that's what you always have been. Fake. I can see right through it."
Dib averted his eyes, not expecting the last part. Heck, he never expected Zim to ever say anything like that to him no matter what situation they were in. Maybe he was wrong about him. Maybe he did change. He let his head droop, hoping somehow Zim couldn't see his eyes. "I guess...I thought you were too important..." Dib realized how that could sound and added quickly, "because you could help me."
Zim did his one-eye-narrowed look at Dib. For a while, Dib thought that Zim was thinking Dib was strange and stupid for feeling that way, before he stared seriously into Dib's slightly hidden eyes
"What was so awful about saying that, Dib?" It sounded a little more serious than Zim intended. He knew Dib was probably feeling awkward, but he had some stuff to say after the long weeks without Dib.
"Because..." Dib still didn't look at Zim. He couldn't figure out why he was having such a hard time with this.
Zim looked away from Dib, shaking his head slowly. "You are always so strange no matter what creature you are." Zim stood up and spun around on his heel toward the kitchen. "I'll be down in my lab."
Dib sat still as a statue as the sound of footsteps faded into the next room, leaving him alone with his thoughts.
The writers block is nearly gone, I tell you! Well I mean for now... : / I hope it looks like I'm improving a little because I've studied others' writing a lot over this time you guys were waiting and I feel like I've got a better grip on things. I noticed reviews weren't the usual, but I can't really blame you guys for that. I'll put a lower review quota this time.
I hope you all are still into this story.
RxR (98)