A Place to Call Home
Story By: inuyashacat13
Summary: After failing for years, The Tallest finally get bored of Zim's meek attempts and decide to take over the Earth for themselves, just for the entertainment. Zim, devastated, begins to question if he ever had a purpose. As for Dib, he's just trying to convince poor Zim, who's has been his longtime friend AND rival, that there's still a purpose for him out there. Like, oh I don't know, saving the world? ZADR. May become Mpreg (but I might just be messing with you xD)
Warning: Contains M/M, some angst, slight romance, drama, some bad words, some suggestive themes, etc.
Disclaimer: I don't own Invader Zim, if I did, I'd shove it down nickelodeon's throats until they finally decided to continue it :3
Chapter Two: Small Efforts
A/N: Yay! My muse hasn't given out on me yet! I could actually finish this!^^ haha, so I've been updating quickly, let's hope that becomes a habit! Thanks so much for everyone who's read, reviewed, etc. so far 8')
To rejectsuperstar: thank you very much^^ I'm glad you like how I write him, I was worried people would be mad for altering his need to expose Zim =w=(he just seems like the one to be the bigger person first and get over things) thanks again
To Darkdagers: thanks for reviewing again(and so quickly D8 :D lol) and lol, Dib could make all his troubles go away(too bad he won't except that fact :3…yet :D)
To Mio-chan's Return: Yay, I'm glad :D I like drama, but I also love humor x3 and thank you^^ I love it too, and lol, Zim annoys me too but writing him is kinda funny, yet annoying to me at the same time xD later he probably won't be AS bad :3
To Danny Anime Girl: thanks
To 1337kitsune: Thanks so much x3 and lol, I never I have time to write except during the middle of the night so as I've said before, I may not edit chapters too much when I first put them up x3(lol, I notice errors while reading too, I just usually laugh and go whatever if there's only a few x3) And I'm glad, I've had the same problem, which then made me pissed and I decided I'd write something better XD
(lol, before I post each chapter I make sure no one has just reviewed so I never miss anyone x3)
I give all who've read, reviewed, and/or favorited this story so far my love and this chapter!~
Zim sulked for hours before falling into an unpleasant sleep, filled with empty futures and betrayed faces. He tried desperately to escape them but his mind was wrapped around all the things he longer wanted to think about. He spent most of his dreams running endlessly from his problems, though never getting far enough away from them. Zim nearly screamed when he finally woke up the next day. I just need some time to myself, Zim concluded in his mind, No contact with anyone until I've got EVERYTHING straightened out…
Dib was waiting at Zim's door as he did every weekday, when Gir came flying out, smacking him right in the face. "Ow…" Dib groaned as he rubbed his now red forehead. "What was that for, ZIM?" Though Dib got no response, and he soon realized Zim's door had been closed and locked. Whatever, Dib thought before noticing Gir was looking at him expectantly. "What?" Dib asked, patience thinning.
"I've gotta' message for youuuu," Gir announced excitedly before Gir passed him a crudely written note.
"Take care of Gir." Dib read aloud, "That's it?"
"Yes!" Gir replied with a salute, before beginning to laugh like a lunatic. Dib's eye twitched. Zim was either up to something or something was wrong, though Dib couldn't guess what. He pondered the thought of spying on Zim, but figured it wouldn't get him anywhere if he was caught. Dib sighed.
"Come on Gir," Dib commanded tiredly with a sigh, "You'll be staying at my place."
"Yay! Slumber Party! And . CUDDLE!" Gir announced gleefully as he jumped onto Dib's back. Dib resisted shoving him off, and started walking back to his house so he could drop Gir off and then get to Skool.
Dib wondered if Gir would be okay alone in his house for the day, but it was too late to turn back, he was already at his house. "Okay now, Gir," Dib started as he set the little disguised robot onto his bed, "Don't break ANTHING, and don't leave the house or mess with my family members' rooms."
"Okay!" Gir replied, shutting his eyes and sticking his tounge out. Dib prayed his house wouldn't be in ruins by the time he got back.
"Just watch TV or make waffles or something!" Dib yelled as he ran out of his house, fearing his room's destruction more now than being late for class.
Gir sat still on Dib's bed for a WHOLE two minutes, before getting bored. "Maybe Gaz will wanna play!" Gir yelled as he sped off to Gaz's room, who was trying to catch up on lost sleep. "Gazzz!" Gir yelled as he jumped into Gaz's room, dancing as soon as his feet touched the floor. "Wake UP! Wake UP! Wake UP!" Gir yelled as he spun around in circles, "I'll make wafflesssss!" All the way on the other side of town, Dib suddenly had an odd feeling of foreboding doom…
A week past as Dib watched over Gir but Zim still hadn't shown his face, Dib was starting to get anxious. What has he been DOING? Dib wondered as he took Gir on a walk around the park, it's been a WEEK! "What's wronnggg, Dibbb?" Gir suddenly asked as Dib escaped his thoughts.
"Nothing, Gir, nothing you can help me with anyway," Dib scoffed in reply, pulling on Gir's leash to keep him moving.
"Are you worried about Masta'? Cause I am! Every since the TV people talked to him he's…" Gir started, and then randomly stopped.
"TV people?" Dib questioned, "And he's what?" Gir looked at him, dumfounded.
"I likeee, chicken," Gir said with a smile, before walking ahead as if he'd never said anything. Dib's eye twitched, which had been occurring a lot more with Gir around, and he glared at Gir as if it would bring him to finish telling his story…But Gir didn't, he just continued walking, and then chasing squirrels…
"Come on Gir, we're going to visit Zim," Dib announced, pulling Gir behind him.
"B-but, the squirrels! I NEED to play with theemm!" Gir whined, pulling on his leash. Dib was about to say no when Gir stopped struggling and began walking beside him, really, he would never get what was going on in that robot's mind…
Zim had been hiding in base for a week but nothing had changed, in his eyes. He just couldn't figure out what to do, and what to believe. The Tallest had been his supreme rulers all his life, but that didn't mean they cared for him. Dib, however, seemed to care for him maybe the slightest bit, though he could never be too sure since he was human. Zim groaned and rolled over on his floor, this wasn't helping.
As Dib neared Zim's house Gir suddenly stopped, refusing to go another further. "What's wrong?" Dib asked as Gir sat perfectly still.
"Zim said I'm not aloud to come into the house until he says so," Gir replied sadly, before jumping up and breaking through a window. Dib sighed before cautiously approaching Zim's house, not knowing if the gnomes would attack him without Zim, they didn't. Dib was contemplating how to get in, when Gir slammed the door wide open.
"Zim's downstairs!" Gir yelled before rushing off to the living room and turning on the Angry Monkey Show, Dib doubted he'd be of further help for the rest of the time.
After another argument with himself Zim had fallen asleep, and for whatever reason, he dreamt of an event that had happened almost five years ago.
It was raining and dark, but Zim could still clearly see Dib in front of him with some kind of laser-type gun shining mockingly into his eyes. Dib shot out a nearby streetlight as his grip tightened on Zim's shirt, leaving only the partial moonlight to give them sight in the darkness. Dib loaded his laser-gun and held it against Zim's head, though for once in his life, Zim didn't cry out an outburst or attempt to escape, he knew there was no way out now.
Zim lowered his head as Dib pressed the cold metal deeper into flesh. Why was it taking so long for Dib to finish him off? They stood there in silence for a while until Dib let out a sigh, and lowered his weapon. "I can't kill you if you're looking like that instead of facing your death," Dib voiced as he put his weapon away, though he hadn't released Zim yet.
"Why aren't you fighting back?" Dib asked, looking Zim strait in the eyes.
"I'd rather die a noble death then die making a fool out of my self just to escape from a worthless human. It'd be degrading to the Irkens," Zim responded formally, but venomously at the same time. Zim nearly fell back when Dib bopped him on the head.
"That's a stupid reason," Dib said with a smirk, before becoming serious, "to die just to look like the good guy and be noble…that's not like you at all! You're ZIM, the one who never gives up, no matter how foolish he looks." Zim tried to come up with a snide remark but failed, how had this worthless human figured part of him out?
Dib looked triumphant as Zim was rendered speechless, "I know you don't really want to die either, so you can stop looking so brave," Dib said as a parting, before walking off and leaving Zim alone with his thoughts. What is with that human? Zim wondered as he hurried away from the embarrassing scene he'd just been a part of. Dib was truly, unlike any human he'd EVER known. Zim sighed as he reached his house, Dib's whole reason to live was exposing the paranormal, so why'd he let him go?
Zim turned over in his sleep as his current memory reached its end. He mumbled something incoherently in his sleep before rolling back over and fading into his subconscious again. He still hadn't found out why Dib had let him go that day…
For the second time in a month, Dib found Zim sleeping on the floor of his base again, though this time his limbs weren't jumbled in nearly impossible angles. Dib walked up to Zim and began to nudge him when he decided looking around first was a smarter idea, in case Zim immediately kicked him out once conscious. Though he didn't know what he thought he'd find that could possibly hint him in on Zim's situation.
Dib searched for twenty minutes before giving up and questioning himself if he should try to get Zim up again, he figured he'd better not. Dib started to head for a lift when he heard Zim mumble something. His first thought was it was kind of endearing that Zim talked in his sleep, that thought was soon banished though along with part of Dib's every day, withering sanity.
Once Dib was done questioning his now unpredictable mind, Dib decided he could maybe get some information out of Zim's sleep talking nonsense. Dib got closer to Zim in order to figure out what Zim was saying.
"N-No Gir, the toaster isn't supposed to go into the dishwasher…"
Dib wouldn't be surprised if that had actually happened.
"F-filthy humans, I will destroy you and your BOLOGNA!"
Dib rolled his eyes.
"Dib…"
Dib couldn't help but perk his ears at the mention of his name.
"I-I want you…"
Dib nearly fainted at the struggling tone Zim was currently using.
"To…GET OUT OF MY SIGHT! YOU WORTHLESS MEATBAG!"
Dib sighed a breath of relief, though for some reason he hadn't been too worried ab- Dib realized where his mind was beginning to float to and cursed himself.
"Why? Why are you doing this to me? Is this some kind of test?"
That immediately took Dib's interest, though it could be nothing…
"Wasn't there ever a purpose for myself? W-was I really never meant to-" Zim's speech suddenly cut off as his eyes scrunched up and then began to open. Dib tried to jump back before Zim could notice he was there but Zim had already noticed. "Dib!" Zim yelled, fully alert, "What are you DOING here?"
Dib searched for a response but stopped when he noticed the unusual expression on Zim's face.
"What?" Dib asked, as Zim looked at him with the same strange expression.
"Are you trying to get with me?" Zim asked, rendering Dib speechless.
"From the shows I've viewed with Gir, you're doing a lot of the things the WORTHLESS human males do, when saying they're trying to "Get with someone," Zim explained once Dib didn't speak.
"What things? And do you even know what that means?" Dib exclaimed.
"Well, no, but I decided I'd base it's meaning on your reaction…so it must mean…YOU"RE TRYING TO GET ME TO BECOME YOUR MINDLESS SLAVE…or, something along those lines…And saying you'll be there for me, holding me, being there when I wake up…THOSE ARE ALL THINGS THEY DO!" Zim explained exasperatedly, he had honestly thought Dib was smarter and wouldn't need so much explained.
In Dib's mind, however, he had just officially claimed himself dead and tried to sink into the floor, he really, really didn't want Zim to find out what that phrase meant now. He'd overreact! More…then, well, usual, anyway…And assume crazy things that involved himself wanting Zim in- Dib couldn't even finish the thought!
Zim looked at Dib suspiciously as his face contorted into many different, confusing faces. Zim opened his mouth to yell something but Dib stopped him. "I-I'll tell you what that actually means some other time," Dib stated as Zim looked more suspicious.
"And WHY can't I know NOW?" Zim commanded in a questioning tone, arms crossed.
"J-just because," Dib stuttered, signaling that was the last he'd say of the subject.
Zim remained suspicious, but knew he'd get nothing from Dib at the moment. I'll find out you're secrets of "Get with me" SOON though, Dib! Zim thought triumphantly in his mind. Dib was relieved to no end when Zim dropped the subject, but then Zim brought up something else.
"Since you distracted me-" Zim began.
"But you're the one who-" Dib interrupted.
"SILENCE!" Zim yelled.
"Now, before I was rudely interrupted," Zim began again, glaring at Dib, "I wanted to ask…WHY ARE YOU IN MY BASE?" Dib considered lying, but he figured Zim wouldn't really pay attention to what he was saying anyway.
"Because, Zim, I was worried about you," Dib finally responded, brown eyes locking onto Zim's maroon ones. Zim tried to scoff and look away but couldn't bring himself to by how sincere Dib's eyes seemed.
"Why would a pathetic human worry for an alien who's trying to take over his planet?" Zim asked more directed to himself then Dib.
"Because that alien's my friend," Dib responded, taking Zim's hands in his own and squeezing them. Zim looked as if he was going to ignore Dib's words as he always did for a moment, until he remembered the time all those years ago. Dib had cared for him then, too, hadn't he? He'd just pushed it aside, though, as he did for everything… Zim looked away from Dib and let his antennas drop. Dib figured he started ignoring himself again when he felt the three-fingered clawed hands squeeze his back. Dib smiled.
"Don't think this actually means anything," Zim said as he refused to look at Dib, "I'm just saying that maybe there's a very slight possibility that we're sort of…friends."
Dib had never really thought he'd ever get Zim even to slightly accept the truth. But, although it was nothing major or life changing, and Zim still wouldn't call him and Dib "Real Friends" it was something. Which gave Dib hope, and made him happier then he'd been in a while.
Gir had been sitting on Zim's couch watching the Angry Monkey Show as Dib ran through the living room, but as soon as Dib was out of sight…
"NOW back to JANE'S SUMMER, this year's HOTTEST, NEW, TRENDY, SOAPOPERA!" the TV blasted as Gir began to laugh manically. Oh, he could just FEEL this was going to be a good episode and he began to wag his fake tail.
"Scenes from last episode:…Is that all I ever was to you, did you only ever want to GET WITH ME?-"
Gir briefly tuned out and wondered if Zim had seen the previous week's episode before shrugging and getting back to his SOAPS.
END A/N: XD Gir just makes writing this so much more fun xD Aww, I really loved how the part with Dib and Zim ended, yayz for hand-holding :D I wanted to just ended it all sweet and stuff, but then I was like…I haven't talked about Gir for a couple pages…OMG! xD Yes, this fic will have lots of light moments so the bad times don't get too overwhelming, but I'm not going to have random things happen during the most serious parts :3 like nothing random and no jokes were told when Zim finally opened up the smallest bit :D I hope you all enjoyed this chapter and are enjoying the story so far, I am^^ I have tomorrow and the next day off so I can write mores! Yay :D And edit a little =w=Reviews make my day! Favorites and Watches make me smile! Views are precious! And Constructive criticism is fine, if reasonable, but flames will be shunned! I love you all for reading this! :D
~Kitty