AN: Don't kill me! I'm sorry for not posting in forever but I've been busy with life and other things that's been going on. I wanted to continue this story because I did not want to leave you guys hanging like that. I'm keeping this short so enjoy! I made this chapter extra special and long!

Things weren't suppose to turn out this way. The sound of yelling and cracks of punches and kicks. The last thing Dib could remember was seeing black and then a flash of white came to his eyes. He woke up being in a white room with his entire body feeling absolute pain. He winces lightly and grips his ribs and a hand on his cheek only to feel moments later that he didn't have a shirt on and there was bandages.

"W-What the-"

"Don't move stupid human!" A voice yells near his voice, making Dib jolt up and turn his head to see the green figure. He had a bandage on his cheek and he was holding some gauze in his 'normal' fingers. "If you move, you're going to ruin Zim's brilliant wrapping of these...bandages! Yes!" He had this look as if he knew what he was talking about as he kept repairing the broken and bruised male in front of him.

Dib, who's mind was still cloudy about what had happened before, decided to listen to the other before he decides to break him even more. He glances down with a blurry vision to see that there was bruises across his chest as if he's been stomped on and there might be a few fractured ribs along with his arm that seemed to have bruises as well. Although he could not see his face, he could feel a cold ice pack on his forehead. "Do you mind explaining what happened?"

Zim looks at Dib and lifts an eyebrow, "You and your humans puny brains.." He sighed heavily and and finished wrapping the cloth, "While Zim was fighting the sack of meat in the gym, being the idiotic human you were went to fight but you didn't even last 4 seconds before getting knocked out." Zim makes a short snort before bursting out laughing.

A shot of red crossed Dib's cheeks and looks away from him as Zim kept going. "You can't stand against him! He would of killed you probably if Zim wasn't there to get you out of that mess."

"You should of just let me die if that was the case." He mumbled, squinting his eyes at the wall. Dib's hands went to fists, "Why did you even help me anyways? I thought you said you always wanted to destroy me first so you could take over this planet?" That part always bugged him ever since he gotten that locket from Zim. In fact, he still had it and it was loosely wrapped around his neck. He never admitted to Zim that he liked the present but he felt this warmth when he saw Zim wearing the scarf he got him on Christmas day.

Zim did not hear the first thing he said but looks away from Dib, not answering his confused question. However he did say, "You're stupid, Dib-stink." He said with that little nickname that always made him angry. The Irken smirks at him, "But Zim still sees Dib wearing Zim's necklace, no?"

The question got him caught off guard and Dib's pale cheeks turned into a flush of an even darker shade of red. It not was just because of the question either, it was also from the fact that he pointed out that he was still wearing the necklace and he said his name without the stupid nickname. Dib looked away from him and his bandaged up hands grip onto his skinny pants he was wearing. "You're still wearing the scarf I gave you." He retorted, glancing at Zim but only to see a small shade of blue. "Just sit still, human." Was his only response, wrapping the bandages around the rest of his torso.

Things ran through his head quickly, many mixed emotions placed. The fact that this 'human' was helping him through what happened weeks before, with the locket to the talk they had near the beginning of the school; yet you've got to think that everyone changes how they feel about an individual, right? But that shouldn't happen since Zim is an Irken.

Dib's eyes widen in realization, glancing at the shorter one who had just finished bandaging him. 'Just because he's an Irken, doesn't mean he can't feel emotions...' He thought about how happy he was when he got his scarf on Christmas, or even the time when he looked sad about a failure or, damn does he say it, scared of germs. Irkens are just like animals and humans, they have emotions too even though they don't need to show it. Just like Gaz, she loves her brother even though she beats him all the time whenever he does something wrong. And besides:

He is a defect and his entire mission is a lie.

At that moment, Dib felt everything just collapsed, his vision becoming more blurry as he slowly sat up from the stretcher he was on. He couldn't help but feel remorse, his vision only becoming more blurry when he thought about it. "Zim, I'm so sorry." His voice was cracking and he shoves both of his hands where his eyes were. The position he was in made him look like a little child that needed a hug or to be embraced. It was embarrassing.

Zim, who was confused on what the black-haired male was crying about, glared towards him and stood up 'tall' and 'mighty', letting out a loud yell. "Just look at yourself you pathetic worm! Why are you letting your sad liquids poor out of your eye-sockets for Zim!? The Dib is never like this!' The yelling just got louder the more angry and confused he was. "Explain now human! Or feel the almighty wrath of Zi-"

Zim's voice was cut off by Dib, a strong embrace of his arms wrapped around the other. There was the sound of just Dib's sniffles as he shoved his face onto his shoulder. However, Zim started to freak out, "Don't get your liquids on me! Zim did not bathe in paste today!" The smaller squirmed to get out of the others grip, the hug however only tightening. At this point, Zim knew it was useless and stood completely still once he found out that the other meant no harm.

"I can't explain. Now a-anyways." Dib whispers, "But can we just.. stay like this for a little while?" His voice was completely broken, the same going with his soul that's slowly eating away. Soon, Dib felt a pair of small and fragile arms wrap around his own torso, causing his heart to jump and race. He peeked up to see indeed that Zim was returning the hug.

"Only this one time, Dib-stink." Zim says, not realizing the soft flush of blue on his cheeks. For the second time, Zim managed to place a small smile on Dib's lips, despite it just being a slight tug. His hug tightens and their bodies pressed against one another, causing the hug to be more of an embrace than a normal hug. "And don't you dare tell any other smelly humans about this."

"That's all I need." His eyes shut and he could feel the color of red shaded on his pearl cheeks. At this point, Dib knew what he thought was completely true. Zim was not heartless, nor did he truly hate Dib. He knew that both had something that 'enemies' don't. He found out what his true feelings for Zim was.

. . . . . .

It's been a few months since that moment in the infirmary in school between Zim and Dib. In fact, the two of them learned how to actually stand being in the same room with one another, let alone stand next to each other. Ever since that fight, Zim, as well as Dib, have been free from the clutches of the bullies in school since Zim threaten them that if they harmed himself or even the other in any way, they were basically asking for a death wish. Of course Dib was surprised that Zim would defend him but he understood why and could only thank the Irken for that.

They seemed to be closer than they have ever been, almost as if they were friends. Although Zim would not admit it, it was obvious that the way they both interacted with one another is friendly and possibly that their bond to becoming more closer. It was dangerously obvious and Dib wondered why Zim was so thick-headed. Actually, take that back. Zim has always been thick-headed about obvious things that was shown right in front of his face; like that one time where Dib tricked Zim into meeting him in the forest with his old councilor, Mr. Dwicky, and was too stupid to realize that Dib made the meeting, not the 'aliens' that gave him the transmission.

All in all, looks can deceiving, tricking your eyes of what's really on the inside, just like Zim. He might be able to deny with what Dib's points are about them being technically friends, but what they really think inside their heads is completely different. Every person is different with how they feel about another individual, however, it is clear to what Zim feels about Dib, and what Dib feels about him. He actually thought that he was glad that he was thick-headed so he would never find out that he has xenophilia.

But now it was late April, the leaves came back upon the trees and they waved at the wind that passed through, the branches shaking blissfully by the pleasing feeling of the breeze. Flowers began to bloom from a large variety of colors with the sun smiling down upon them, them giving off this sweet smell. Although Spring may be blooming, that wasn't the only thing that was blooming in the air.

On some days, Zim would go over to Dib's house to hangout with him. Usually it consists of video games with yelling of threats when the alien was losing. The other however couldn't help but smile at him and knew the threats were false and not true, only doing that out of anger. Plus, he always likes to win anyways. Dib was starting to question if Zim actually felt the same way he does. Every time he comes over, at the end of day, he always asks if he could sleepover.

The first time he asked that, he thought he was going to do experiments on him. After getting used to Zim sleeping in his home, he finally let Zim sleep in the same bed together, since the pull-out bed was not so comfortable for Zim's PAK. Because of that, he managed to experience a side of Zim he never saw before.

One night when he slept over, Dib could not sleep since he was thinking about plans for summer and what he can do to spend time with Zim. That's when he heard Zim made some noises in his sleep, causing him to toss and turn on his side of the bed. Due to how the bed was a single bed, Dib couldn't ignore it and saw the green face filled with strain, sweat collecting on his forehead.

Dib knew that Zim was experiencing some form of discomfort in his sleep, possibly a nightmare or pain. His pale hand was placed on Zim's shoulder, gently shaking him. "Zim.. What's w-" He wasn't able to finish his sentence do to him grunting from a quick hug from the smaller one (although he was strong). Zim's arms and legs were wrapped around the other as if he was a koala, his breathing slightly heavy. Mumbles came from the Irkens lips, sounding like he was talking about his leaders and how they abandoned him, as if he already knew.

Dib felt a wave of grief, thankful but at the same time he was regretting that he never told Zim what he knew. He moved his hands around Zim to comfort him, rubbing his back in a soothing manner. His eyes were closed and he felt a frown grow on his lips the more the alien talked about his banishment. "It's okay Zim.." He whispered softly to the other, rubbing his back a bit more before he brought him a bit closer. He knew that Zim would pull away in disgust if he was awake, but right now he wanted to comfort him. Upon him saying that, the mumbling that came from Zim stopped slowly and all that Dib heard was the sound of him breathing. He opened his eyes and looked down to see that the alien had finally passed his nightmare and was now slightly smiling. The sound of thumping came from Dib, his breath suddenly taken away when he felt a pair of lips upon his.