A/N: Alright. So that first chapter of TtFaF went over pretty well, all things considered. I wanted to see first how you guys would like it before continuing, and so far responses have been positive. So, how about another chapter to satisfy your cravings, eh? Much love to all our readers, reviewers, favers, story alert list adders etc. for all your continued support. In celebration of the fact that I am FINALLY finished with school (No, not for the semester. I mean quite LITERALLY finished forever, never have to go to school again after today finished), here's Chapter 2 for those of you who have been waiting. Oh and remember. Feedback be much appreciated. So please. Send in those reviews so Linnecha and I can get back to you guys about them. ^^ After all, we love getting to know our reviewers. =3
Through the Fire and Flames: Chapter 2
Zim: Me (For a change. XD)
Dib: LinnechaRose
Beta: CattGregory
Warnings: I hesitate to say extreme OOCness in this story because to be perfectly honest, we're trying to keep them in character this time around. I will say, however, that there might be a few minor scenes in which OOCness comes across. So yeah. Don't expect them to be perfectly in character. Just assume that we're doing our best to TRY and keep them in character.
Rating: M for later chapters
Disclaimer: We do not own Invader Zim, nor any of the characters from it. We do not make any money from the writing of this story.
Zim stopped circling the boy after a moment and tilted his head to one side. The Dib was still glaring at him, though it seemed more like a tired scowl on the other's part. He wondered for a moment whether the human was going to yell at him and when nothing of the sort came, Zim glared and jabbed a finger sharply at Dib's large head. "Dib-shit! Do you plan on answering Zim's question or not?" He continued to poke at the other as though that would make the rise he was waiting for come on faster.
Dib simply narrowed his eyes even more, a low growl emitting from deep inside his throat. He looked almost dangerous.
"Get. The fuck. Away from me, Zim," he hissed somewhat demonically. No yelling, no empty insults. Just a simple command.
A shocked expression spread across the alien's face. Dib stood there glaring at him for what seemed like forever. He was tired of the counseling sessions. He was tired of constantly being picked on by every single person he walked past. He was sick of living a life of hell. But most of all, he was tired of the stupid, conceited, hateful Irken who had managed to completely ruin his life over the years.
He glared at him even harder. "You're a weak, pathetic, stupid, useless and defective alien who claims to be superior to the human race. Well guess what, buddy! You're not. You can't even get your own robot to listen to you half of the time. It's because he's useless and defective, too. You need to just accept the fact that you're NEVER going to conquer this planet. Not like I give a damn about it anymore," he said, venom dripping from his words.
He turned to walk away, leaving the alien behind without saying another word. Tears formed in his eyes, but he quickly blinked them away. He couldn't let Zim know how he truly felt. How he felt about being so alone. So lost, so forgotten, so very unloved. But it didn't matter. Not anymore.
He was going to go far away. Yes, very far away, indeed.
As Dib left the proximity of the hallway, Zim couldn't help but stare after the human with perfectly round eyes. He felt as though he had just been punched in the gut, the rise he had gotten out of Dib nothing like what he had been expecting to get. Normally, he would have gotten angry at such insults. He would have chased after the human and beat him to a bloody pulp. But for some reason in that moment, he felt too stunned to even move a muscle. Their usual arguments always consisted of half-hearted insults and rants. But what the Dib had just said to him had his spooch giving an odd lurch.
The human's words played over in his mind a second time, two words in particular striking at his recently injured ego. They had been words he received about two months prior to that situation, the last time he had spoken to his Tallest.
"Useless...Absolutely useless."
"And defective. Don't forget that one." the call from that day rang loud and clear in his antennae again.
His body physically drooping, Zim turned to leave in the opposite direction Dib had just left, already gone by the time the human had turned back one last time to glance at where they had both stood.
Ditching the school grounds, Zim returned home to his base early that day, moodily shuffling past Gir when the disguised android bounded towards him. He planned to spend the rest of the evening down in his lab, monitoring the Dib-human's movements via a tracking device he had managed to place on the other several years back. The human still had as of yet to notice it, and he doubted the boy ever WOULD notice.
He slumped into a seat at his computer, watching the small blip on the screen move across the grid as Dib made his daily rounds around school and then returned home to his neighborhood. He didn't know why he always insisted on coming home to monitor the human. It had just become a habit of his over the past few months, he guessed. As he watched the small dot on the screen move from one spot to the next, the Irken couldn't help but let his mind wander somewhat. He'd been watching the other's movements for so long, he had practically memorized Dib's coming and going.
Finally after a good few hours, the tracking device made its final stop, a sign to Zim that the other had gone to bed for the night. Sitting up from his position slumped over the keyboard, Zim stretched and let out a small yawn. He guessed the show was over for now. Standing up, he then made his way back to the elevator, keen on getting a snack before checking in for the night himself. He'd confront Dib about his hurtful words tomorrow morning. Perhaps shove him into a locker or something as a form of revenge.
After retrieving a left over waffle from that morning's breakfast, Zim returned to the lower half of his base to make his way towards his bedroom to recharge. As he was making his way past the computer room, however, he stopped, eyes wide and half the waffle hanging out of his mouth.
The tracking device was on the move again!
Looking over at the clock in the room, he noted the time. Close to midnight. Dib never went out this late. So then just what the Irk was the human doing wandering about this late at night? Grabbing the portable monitor he had on hand, he slapped his disguise back on before making a run for the elevator. Wherever it was the human was going, he planned on finding out himself.
Dib simply couldn't sleep tonight. He had far too much on his mind. He kept churning over in his head the words he had spoken so harshly, both to the counselor and to Zim. It was as if somebody else had been talking for him. He had to clear his thoughts.
A/N: And there you have it for the second chapter. As promised, here are our responses back to those of you who reviewed last chapter. =3
To Pilpols:
Pat: No, no. XD Dwicky's not the counselor in this chapter. He hasn't returned to Earth just yet. But he will. Trust us, he will.
Linnecha: ZADR and DADR are indeed great combos! Glad you're enjoying it so far. ^^ Just wait till the later chapters! XD
To Lovegirl1:
Linnecha: Yep, Dib's about at his breaking point. And thank you! We'll be adding much more. ^^
Once again, much love to all our readers. And we look forward to hopefully hearing from more of you next chapter. =3