A/N: Fun fact: This chapter, excluding the author's notes section, has 1,111 words. I totally did not plan that. So, as you could probably guess from the beginning of this title, more nightmares. Whoopee.

Also, if you're going to complain about the ship I'm going to introduce, you might as well stop reading now. I will laugh at you, and when I have children and grandchildren I will tell them about you and they will laugh at you as well. I've seen some pretty good fics and an actual published novel that involved shipping that I didn't like, and you know what? I LIKED THEM. I didn't die because I read them. I didn't have to be checked into a mental institution. I was perfectly fine.

Disclaimer: I really think you should know by now that Invader Zim doesn't belong to me.

"Who's there?"

"You fool! You let me twist you around my finger...sure, there were a few who questioned my motives – who you should have listened to – but I've silenced them."

"You... you killed them? And where'd you get that PAK from?"

"Now, now, I didn't say anything about killing, did I? Once I'm through with you, the Tallest won't be able to ignore my wishes, and I'll be able to go back to my old body! "

"Tak, think this through for a second. I've done nothing but treat you well, while the Tallest threw you away!"

"Oh, quit complaining. You should enjoy your pitiful life while it lasts, Lard Nar. The little masquerade was fun while it lasted... but the Tallest want a dead Vortian, and they want him now!"

"Tak! Please!"

Lard Nar sat up straight, snapping out of the nightmare. "Oh... what was that about?" He knew Tak wouldn't try anything like that, right? Besides, Tak clearly didn't have a PAK – if she did, she wouldn't be allowed within twenty feet of him!

Still, no matter how much he reassured himself, he was having trouble getting back to sleep, so he decided to walk around the brand new facility. As he got out of bed, he made sure his pant legs didn't get caught under the ends of his legs. The humans had been nice enough to provide pajamas, even if they weren't tailored to most of them – his left the ends of his legs cold, and most Vortians tripped over theirs (especially Tak), but other than that they were comfortable. He slipped out of his room and squinted into the glow of the vending machines that were situated right outside his door. The place still smelled of fresh paint and lumber, mostly because some parts were still being built. He'd been amazed at what the humans had done in a month.

As he wandered into the main lobby, he was greeted by the night shift's desk worker. "Hello, sir! Were you perhaps looking for the girl who's sleeping on the couch over there?" She pointed a turquoise fingernail towards the furniture in question.

"Well, no, but thanks anyway." He went over there and looked at the aforementioned girl.

It was Tak. He hesitated before sitting next to her. It wasn't like she was suddenly going to wake up and jump him, right? He studied her face. It was serene, peaceful, and nothing like the face her nightmare version had worn. However, her calm expression was soon marred by a grimace. "No..." she muttered. "No! Stop!" She started writhing and clawing at herself. "Get them out! Get them out!" She cried, getting the attention of the desk lady. As the woman trotted over in her pointy heels, Tak managed to open a huge gash on her arm, which coincidentally was the same one that she'd broken the hand of. The desk lady went back to her position and called the medical wing.

Lard Nar grabbed his ailing crew member and shook her gently. "Tak. Tak! Wake up, it's only a dream!" he shouted.

Her eyes snapped open. Tak leaped up and embraced him, gasping and shaking, seemingly unaware of the wound that was now staining his shirt. "Ah... what are you doing here?"

"I couldn't sleep. Come on, let's get you to the medical wing, they're expecting you there." He picked her up and set the ends of her legs down on the floor.

"But..." Her gaze slid to the drop of blood sliding down her arm. "Oh... did I do this?" she asked as she put pressure on her wound.

He sighed and put an arm around her shoulder, and walked her down, not hesitating to sit her down on one of the beds there. "Er... thank you." she offered as the nurse on duty treated her arm.

"No problem." The two were out of there almost as soon as they'd walked in. "Alright, so... back to bed, I guess." Tak said sullenly. She didn't seem too happy about it..

"Well, we could go out." Lard Nar suggested, not knowing why he'd done so.

"Out where?" she scoffed. "We're in out pajamas, for crying out loud!"

"Doesn't matter." He whisked her out the door, before she could protest. Tak didn't seem to mind, though, because she was giggling. Eventually they came across a playground, and she ran and scaled the side made of plastic that was molded to look like a castle. "Hey, be careful!" He shouted after her. "Don't mess up your arm!"

She cackled and tossed a stray woodchip at him. "Come and get me!" she challenged.

"Alright, you asked for it!" He scrambled up the rock climbing wall. She squealed and ran off, and he darted to a plank bridge. As soon as she ran past, he tackled her. "Got you!" he said, then realized she was shaking and making little whimpering noises. "Oh... oh no... I didn't hurt you, did I?"

She rolled over, laughing, and slapped his chest. "Tag, you're it!" she screamed and ran away as fast as she could.

The two played tag, and once they'd gotten tired of that, they sparred with each other, and after they'd gotten bored of that, sat on a bench and talked. "So, what were you doing on that couch?" he asked.

"Oh... I had a nightmare, so I decided to go walking... before I'd knew it, I'd passed out on the couch, but then I'd had another one where Tallest Red had implanted little machines that writhed under my skin and laughed at my pain." Tak snuggled a bit closer, and he could feel her shudder.

"Ugh. At least it's only a drea. I'm pretty sure they don't do that for real... I hope." If they did, he was in for a lot of pain if he was ever captured. He glanced at the horizon, and noticed a sliver of pink. "Oh, I think it's time we headed back."

Tak leaned over and planted a quick kiss on his lips, surprising him. "I missed you."

"And I missed you, too." he said, still shocked by the kiss. He looped his arm around her and led her back, all the way to her room. "I... guess I'll see you later."

"Right. Good bye, Lard Nar." She closed her door behind her. Lard Nar went back to his room, brushing off wood chips as he went. He settled into bed and thought for a moment. I think, he told himself, this could be the beginning of something special. Then he mentally kicked himself for sounding cheesy while drifting off to sleep.