Alright alright alright. You guys win. Here's the next chapter. Sheesh.
I... rather like this chapter. Despite it's ugly shortness. It makes me... happy. The interation and such. Interaction is nice. Like corn. XD
Oh, and I'm not really using a beta anymore. I decided that once this story is over I'll go back through an read it and fix all of my mistakes then. Sounds good to you all?
And one more thing. I have a suitable climax planned out for this story. It's super neat. But I don't know how I want this to end. Happy, or sad? So I'm asking you all, my lovery readers. How would you like this story to end! The voting will go on until it's time to write the ending, which ever has the most votes by then wins! But if I get enough love I may also post the alternate ending. Wouldn't that be neat-o? Don't forget to review and vote!
(NOTE: All revies that are JUST votes will not count to the five review counter.)
Two weeks went by without problem. Zim spent most of his time watching what Dib was doing, and Dib spent most of his time watching what Zim was doing, and neither were doing anything interesting.
When Zim wasn't watching Dib he was watching TV, or fixing something Gir had broken, or fixing something Dib had broken.
When Dib wasn't watching Zim he was watching TV, laughing whenever Gir broke something, or breaking something for Zim to fix. Not that he meant to, walking was still a little bit of a chore.
Eventually this routine got boring though, so Zim decided he wanted to go to the movies, then work on taking over the world, something he'd been putting off to watch Dib.
"But Zim, haven't you been watching the news?" Dib asked, motioning to the TV. They were saying for the hundredth time that Dib was missing, only in the last two days was there any 'break' in the case which happened to be Dr. Arkham's body. Apparently they figured the two incidences were related, which they were, but not in the way the journalists were thinking, which happened to be the 'psycho breaks out and kills his doctor' theory.
"So you'll need a disguise, not a problem, I wear one all the time." Zim said with a shrug. "You should really get out in the sun more."
"It's not that easy." Dib said, sighing. "The Membrane look is a little hard to cover up."
"So we don't cover it up then." Zim said, smiling wide, a smile that reminded Dib of the good ol' days. It sent a shiver up his spine.
When Zim was done with Dib it was like he was a whole new person.
First, he gave Dib a haircut, trimming his hair short, cutting off a good chunk of that scythe-y piece and then blending it with gel into the rest of his hair.
Then there was the skin. He put a good layer of tanning lotion all over Dib's face, neck, arms, and shoulders, giving him a light golden tan that absorbed into his skin.
Then he took Dib's glasses and got him a new pair, ones with thin, square rims.
Gir had already gotten Dib plenty of clothes, and even went to the store periodically to get him new ones.
Zim had to admit, he did a good job cleaning Dib up.
Dib had to admit it too.
He stared into the mirror, not at all recognizing the boy who looked back at him.
"Zim what have you done to me?" He asked, shocked.
"Amazing, no?" Zim asked, chuckling a little at nothing.
"That's one way to put it." Dib said, pulling at his cheeks a little, drawing his lower eye lids down. "Scary would be another way."
"I think you look good like this." Zim said with a pout before shrugging the comment off. "But either way we can go see a movie now."
"You really think this will fool everyone?" Dib asked a little unsurely, not wanting something like what happened LAST time he tried venturing off on his own to happen.
"Dib, you could run into your own father and he wouldn't recognize you." Zim pointed out, dragging Dib by his long sleeved stripped shirt to the door.
"I guess." Dib said with a sigh, stumbling behind Zim.
"Perfect, now let's go, what would you like to see?" Zim asked, leading Dib out the door to which Dib pressed close to Zim.
"Nothing scary, I've had enough horror for a while." Dib said, taking deep breaths to keep himself composed. "How about that new spy movie that was advertised on TV?"
"Nah," Zim said, looking up in thought. "Spy movies always bore me. How about that mystery movie about the guy that, like, never ages?"
"Sure," Dib said, nodding. Mysteries were always fun. He smirked a little, looking at Zim and jokingly saying, "Or we could see that alien movie."
"Not happening," Zim said, giving Dib an unimpressed look.
Dib just chuckled, feeling much more at ease as they walked together to the movie theater.
Zim pouted as they left the theater. The movie confused him to no end, but Dib had figured it out earlier on and had worn an annoying smirk the whole time!
"Oh come on Zim!" Dib laughed, following behind the alien closely. "You seriously didn't get it?"
"Shut up, Dib-stink." Zim continued to pout, crossing his arms.
"Never," Dib teased, smiling back at Zim.
Zim looked at the smile with interest. The human was much happier now, being out in the fresh air, doing normal, everyday things. It made him feel a little better at having humiliated himself by watching this movie, knowing he made Dib smile.
It made his motives for taking over the world come into question.
Zim, Dib noticed over the next few days, seemed to get lost in thought a lot now after seeing that movie. Was he really thinking about the ending that hard or was there something else going through that alien brain of his?
Probably plans for world domination.
Such was not the case, though, in fact, Zim was thinking about the consequences of such actions.
Zim sighed. The world would defiantly be in for a change if he were to rise up and take control. Many things would probably be destroyed, being conquered would change people, and life would be unable to flow the way it does now. Sure you could force people to go on with their lives, but it wouldn't be the same and Dib seemed so… at peace the other day, like a normal, happy human.
"Zim? What's wrong?" Dib asked from his place on the couch. "You've been thinking awful hard lately. I can tell by the smell of smoke."
"Ha ha." Zim laughed sarcastically, not seeming as humored as Dib thought he would be.
"Seriously, what's bugging you, is it me?" Dib asked, scooting closer the irken on the couch.
"Yes… and no." Zim said with a shrug.
"Well… my curiosity has been satisfied." Dib said sarcastically, rolling his eyes.
"I was thinking about my rein as ruler of all humans." Zim clarified with a roll of his own eyes.
"And what about me?" Dib asked, suddenly more interested now that he was getting a straight answer.
"That's what was bothering me." Zim said with a sigh. "If I rule the world would most defiantly change. Whole cities destroyed, people killed, it would be a big giant mess, and it would not be fixed with in your life time."
"So?" Dib asked, not seeming to care.
"So, the world you know would be gone." Zim said, poking Dib in the head as if to say, "duh."
"I know that," Dib said, rubbing the poked spot. "I just don't care. I don't like the world as it is now."
"But that's not all," Zim said, holding up a finger. "The world would not be rebuilt in your time. Sure you would see the fall of everything you hate but you would be unable to see the world reborn in to something you could enjoy."
"That's… alright." Dib said, though suddenly unsure. Could he live with the last thing of his world he sees is it in partial ruin?
"No it's not." Zim said, shaking his head. "It's not alright at all. I didn't rescue you so you could die before my glorious empire was even built."
"It wouldn't be that much of a loss though would it?" Dib asked, shrugging. "I mean, we used to hate each other, we were enemies, it wouldn't mean that much if I died would it?"
"Do you even hear yourself?" Zim asked, giving Dib a less than impressed look. "First off, if it didn't mean that much why would I keep saving your pathetic ass? Second, you know as well as I do that you want to see the kind of world the amazing Zim would build."
Dib chuckled a little half-heartedly. "You're right," He said, defeated. "It would be interesting to see the kind of empire you would rule over. But you said it yourself there's no way that would happen."
"No way yet." Zim said with a smirk. "I'm not a genius for nothing you know. I'll think of some way to keep you around. Forever even, maybe."
"How could you possibly do that?" Dib asked, looking unconvinced.
"I don't know yet," Zim stated simply. "But I'm working on it. Don't you worry, it's the first thing I'm going to do."
Over the next few weeks Dib grew intensely… bored. Like, the out of his mind kind. Zim spent all day in the lab and then slept all night. He hardly got to see the alien any more except for during meals and he was way too distracted then to hardly eat much less hold up a conversation with the human.
"Zim don't work yourself to death over this." Dib grumbled one day to which Zim only gave a grunt of acknowledgment before returning to his lab.
"Zim, please, I'm SO bored!" Dib whined, tugging on the alien's sleeve.
"But I think I've almost got something!" The alien whined back, trying to pull out of Dib's grip.
"Work on it later!" Dib said sternly. "It'll be there when you're done hanging out with ME!"
"But-but-!" Zim stuttered, pointing at his lab desperately.
"NO! Spend time with me!" Dib yelled, giving a firm tug on the sleeve, unaware that Zim had already given up the tug of war, send him crashing into the human and sending them both to the floor.
Zim was breathing a little hard as he stared into Dib's eyes and the human stared back. What was with… those eyes? The human was practically an adult and yet he still had that youthful glitter that Zim had been told he himself had at one point. Then it occurred to Zim. Dib had lost so many years. His body had grown up et his mind still had to catch up. His gaze turned saddened. It was all his fault. It was his fault Dib had lost those years and had been trapped in that horrible world of nightmares.
"What?" Dib asked, finally finding his voice. That look Zim had suddenly gotten worried him. What was that look for?
"Nothing." Zim stated, pushing himself up into a sitting position.
"No not nothing, what?" Dib asked again, giving Zim an annoyed look.
"Nothing important. Don't worry about it." Zim said, waving a hand to try and get rid of Dib's questioning.
Dib grumbled but let it drop, figuring he could always pop the question again later.
"So, you got me out of the lab, what do you want to do?" Zim asked, tilting his head to the side.
MUWAHAHAHAHAHAHA! What will Dib decide to do!? WHAT will be that excitinig neat-o climax I was talking about be!? Why am I asking YOU these things!? I DON'T FRIGGING KNOW ANYMORE! -runs off to cry-
Five reviews!