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 Thirteen: Loss
A/N: Helllo everyone 8D I couldn't write for a couple days because I procrastinated on my school make-up work but now it is DON E so I can write again, yay~ Ok, so…thank you SO MUCH for 100+ reviews!(now let's get over 200 xD)Oh, and another reason I couldn't write was because my computer got a virus but I'm on a back-up account so…NOTHING CAN STOP ME 8D ok! Here's another chapter for you all ;)
To UberSasukeFan: hmmm, maybe xD and yes, yes they are x3
To Mio-Chan's Return: I LOVE YOU 8D…ok, now that I've done that for you,x3, I found your DA account 8D I added you to my watch x)…I haven't done anything on there for a while =] and ooohhh, sounds interesting XD*waves as you go back into time again*
To Ebony3111: yes he is 8) and yeshh, I know how you feel D: and so glad, thank you so much! :3
To 1337kitsune: thank you for your double review xD yes he is, and they are! And to the second review, thank you :D and it WAS a fun carnival 8D I thought that too, but then I realized it was over ten chapters and was like…woah xD also, it's not close to done, so yay XD yes, they are, thanks again, you do that xD
To Invader Ang: Um… WAFFLES 8D
To genderless-but strait: I don't know D: (JAWS music starts playing in the bg) and good, cause more is here ;3 xD
To Darkdagers: YESSS! 8D
To Danny Anime Girl: I KNOW XD I have fun having them do suggestive things that people may or may not catch onto x) I'd write about their relationship too but this is supposed to be and stay a ZADR fic…so… :3 it's just hinted x3 and you should tell me anyway xD or, tell me if your right or not after this chapter ;) haha, and thank you soo much! I'm so honored that you love my fic so much x3
(I had to add everyone's name to the dictionary again but I remembered them all XD)
I give all who've read, reviewed, and/or favorited this story so far my love and this chapter!~
Dib's mouth went dry and he swore his heart stopped as he looked up at the screen.
"D-DAD?" Dib cried as the screen panned out to show his dad, gun pointed at his heart.
"H-Hello, there, son," Professor Membrane replied calmly, though Dib knew deep down he was frightened.
"LET HIM GO!" Dib yelled at the screen as Red and Purple began to laugh, Zim hid his face.
"But we need him," Purple exclaimed after his laughing stopped, "he's someone so many earthlings look up to…and he also happens to be your dad." Dib nearly growled.
"What are you planning on doing to him?" Dib demanded as he tried to stay logical.
"We're going to kill him," Red announced dully, proving his point by pressing the gun he'd been holding into the fabric of Professor Membrane's shirt.
"WHY?" Dib exasperated, legs feeling shaky.
"To make you humans lose hope and motivation for saving your race and planet," Purple replied snidely, before laughing and grabbing Red's hand over the gun. Dib was about to yell something when a voice interrupted him.
"Don't worry, son," Dib heard from his father, making his anger drop and be replaced with sadness.
"B-but they're-" Dib tried to say but was only cut off again.
"Take care of your sister," Professor Membrane announced as The Tallest took of the gun's safety, "I love you both-"
Professor Membrane was cut off by a loud blast, leaving a hole where his heart should've been, "I'm sorry, Dib…" Professor Membrane whispered as he slumped over into the ground. Dib screamed as his dad laid unmoving, rage and sorrow filling his being.
"I'LL KILL YOU!" Dib shrieked as he lunged towards the screen and punched it as hard as he could, causing his hand to bleed. Red and Purple laughed at the effort as the screen started to get scratchy.
"Oh, that was SO MUCH FUN," Purple exclaimed as he took Red's hand and left Professor Membrane's body in the park where they'd been. Red merely nodded before the screen blacked out. Everyone stared at Dib as the screen fell to the ground in a loud crash, Dib didn't move.
"Z-Zim," Dib finally mumbled after a few minutes of silence, causing Zim to jump, "I need you to help me…find my dad…" Zim didn't say a word. He only nodded and grabbed Dib's hand, walking him silently away from the scene that had just taken place…
Zim couldn't talk…Dib's father and just been killed in front of EVEYONE!...Dib looked so broken…it worried Zim.
"How long do you plan on staying silent?" Dib asked suddenly, causing Zim to flinch.
"It's not like it's your fault or anything…there's nothing you could've done," Dib stated in an emotionless tone, looking sadly at Zim. Zim wanted to say something, when Dib's eyes filled with tears and he fell to his knees.
"Dib…" Zim whispered, kneeling down and letting Dib hold him as if letting go would kill him.
"I-I just stood there and watched!" Dib exclaimed as tears fell from his face, burning Zim, but he didn't mind.
"There's nothing you could've done, either," Zim voiced as Dib clung to him.
"I-I know that but!..." Dib started before he gave up and buried his face into Zim, who tried to soothe Dib by smoothing his hands over his hair. I'm so sorry…Zim thought with regret as Dib continued to cry in his arms.
It didn't take long for Dib and Zim to find Professor Membrane, or to then light him aflame in his honor.
"It's all we can do," Dib had commented as Zim watched Dib light his father on fire, "We have more important things to focus on." Zim had merely nodded skittishly as he saw the hurt still etched across Dib's face.
"Come one Zim," Dib suddenly announced, bringing Zim out of his thoughts, "We have to get as many people as we can to safety. Zim looked back briefly at the fire that had burned the remains of Professor Membrane, before nodding and hurrying after Dib.
Dib couldn't help but wonder if saving the people of his town was a good thing. There they all were, huddled in the first area of his underground base, and all they could do was stare at him and Gaz. It was pissing him off.
"I'm taking a break," Dib announced harshly as all the people continued to stare with sympathetic eyes, dragging Zim along with his as he stomped down the base's hallways.
"D-Dib?" Zim questioned, as they continued to walk…Dib didn't reply.
"What are we doing?" Zim asked as they reached a doorway, which automatically opened in their presence.
"Taking a break," Dib replied, before leading Zim into one of the base's bedrooms, and shoving Zim gently onto the bed.
"…Okay…" Zim consented as Dib drew the lights and locked the door. Zim believed Dib was only doing this to escape his emotions…but if Dib just needed some time to escape for a while…he had no reason to argue. Zim closed his eyes as Dib pinned himself over him…
Dib woke up in a cold sweat, nearly flinging Zim off himself as he shot up, though Zim didn't wake up. Dib sighed once he realized he was no longer dreaming, in his dream everything…Dib shook his head…he didn't want to think about.
Dib thought about going back to sleep for a brief moment, before looking over to Zim, and nearly gasping. Zim was covered in burns, and a few bite marks. Dib let his head drop at the sight…he hadn't meant to hurt Zim… Dib felt awful, Zim hadn't even said anything…
Angry with himself, Dib silently lifted Zim off and got dressed…he needed some time alone…
Zim woke up alone hours later as the sun started to rise, he looked around the room he was occupying to find Dib no where in sight. Zim went to get up and look for Dib when he winced, looking down at his body to asses what was wrong. Zim sighed. Dib must have felt bad and gone off…Zim thought as he slowly got up and looked for his clothes. He didn't mind all the burns since he would heal fine within a day.
Once he was dressed, Zim walked out of the bedroom and began to walk down the hall to the main entrance, where everyone had been gathered yesterday…to find chaos. All the humans were panicking about something and running around, crying and screaming. Zim shoved them out of the way and went to the base's entrance/exit to find out what was going on.
Zim opened the vault like door that kept the base secure, and walked down a brief hallway until he reached a ladder. He quickly climbed on it and turned another, much smaller, vault like door that opened to the outside. He peeked around the grass the door was hidden under briefly, before climbing out of the hatch-like space. What greeted him was saddening.
The entire town had been destroyed…and a few bodies littered the ground, people who still had refused to believe Dib…Zim had no sympathy for them. All the wildlife and buildings had been burned, and blood of animals caught in the attack was strewn across the ground. Zim frowned as he noticed Dib, sitting on a cracked rock, watching the skies turn orange and gray, from the fire and smoke.
"The town's gone…" Dib mumbled as Zim walked into his view.
"I-I know," Zim replied, worried about Dib's current psychological state.
"I-I should go back and talk to everyone…" Dib stated as he got up, face void of anything.
"Dib-!" Zim exclaimed as Dib tried to hurry off, catching Dib's shoulder. Dib harshly shoved Zim off before looking guilty and running…leaving Zim alone…Zim's eyes darkened.
"Gir…" Zim announced to his wristwatch, making Gir pop up, "I need you…to bring my ship out of hiding and to me…"
"…YES!" Gir announced, appearing minutes later before Zim.
"Are we leaving Earth?" Gir asked curiously as Zim looked to where Dib had disappeared.
"…No…that's too risky, BUT…we're leaving here…"Zim explained, getting into his ship and taking off his disguise.
"But…what about Dib?" Gir asked as Zim scribbled furiously on a paper, before taping it to the rock Dib had been on.
"He's…better off without us…" Zim replied darkly, before grabbing Gir in and cloaking his spaceship.
Dib hadn't seen Zim since morning, and he couldn't help but feel bad. He'd hurt Zim, and then shoved him off when he was trying to help. Dib felt like a dick.
"Have you seen Zim?" Dib asked around his base as everyone tried to act calm and normal.
"No." "Haven't seen him since yesterday." "Nope." We're the only answers he got, Dib began to worry.
"ZIM? GIR?" Dib yelled as he searched around his base, "Where are you?" Dib searched EVERYWHERE before deciding that maybe Zim was still outside. Dib quickly hurried out of the base and onto the surface, desperately searching as thunder rumbled overhead. A piece of paper fluttering on the rock he'd be on earlier immediately caught his attention.
Dib walked over and took the paper in his hands, reading it, then reading it again and again until he fell to his knees and dropped it.
I'm sorry-Zim
Was all it said, but he kept reading it anyway as if it would change it's context.
"What have I done?" Dib questioned himself before grabbing the paper and running back into his base.
Gaz was calming playing her Game Slave 4, when DIB burst into the room he'd assigned to her.
"GAZ! I NEED YOUR HELP!" Dib yelled as he panted, out of breath from running.
"Sorry, can't," Gaz replied dully, attention not leaving her game.
"B-but! Zim… he-he's gone! And…" Dib started, before Gaz interrupted him.
"I always told you he would sleep with you and then run," Gaz stated as Dib began to seethe.
"STOP ACTING SO CALM!" Dib yelled as he ripped Gaz's game away, "OUR DAD WAS KILLED AND YOUR JUST SITTING HERE PLAYING GAMES AND MAKING JOKES ABOUT MY MISERY!"
Gaz glared, before replying with, "Give me back my game."
"That's all you're going to SAY?" Dib exclaimed, seething even more as Gaz snatched her game back.
"Yep," Gaz responded, not looking up once as Dib stormed out.
It had begun to rain now, and Dib was searching the entire destroyed town for Zim…with no luck. It's been hours and there was still no trace of him or Gir. Dib sighed. I shouldn't have shoved him away like that, Dib thought as he searched, he must've felt so…bad…his race had just destroyed my town and father…and he was probably blaming himself again…especially after he couldn't kill his leaders…who then…Dib's head hung, before he shook it and continued to search for Zim…even though it was getting dark…and raining…
Zim had traveled a lot of Dib's world in a few hours…he wondered what it would've looked like if it wasn't all…destroyed, or on fire, or crumbling… Zim frowned, and felt responsible. He could've ended it all…could've seen the world…with Dib…but now everything was in ruins. He could just see the satisfied smirks on the Tallests' faces…it sickened him.
"Ohhhh! Look at that!" Gir suddenly squealed as the passed by some more ruins, Zim frowned.
"Yes, yes, it's very…thing…like…" Zim replied, mind too focused on other matters to really care what he was saying.
"Yeah…" Gir responded admiringly, before turning around, yawing, and falling asleep. Zim figured he needed some rest as well as Gir began to snooze, and stopped his ship in some ruined city's alleyway.
"Goodnight…Gir…" Zim announced brokenly, before allowing himself to fall into an unpleasant sleep.
Dib had searched all night and into the morning…but had come up with nothing… Everyone tried not to stare for once as Dib walked in, looking colder than ever. Dib marched to the room he'd set up for himself and nearly broke down as he saw the picture with him, Zim, and Gir above his bed…He then swore he wouldn't let the IRKENS who had caused Zim to feel so bad, and caused himself to suffer so much that he'd get revenge if they ever showed their faces again…
END A/N: the drammaaa D: ahhh, I sort of hate myself for this chapter…but love myself at the same time xD I nearly cried writing this :C(emotional 8D) lol, I actually wanted to write and Zim and Dib's little…bedroom escapade this time xD but chose not to…because I'M EVIL…actually cause I didn't want to change the ratings xD but…meh :3 How many people want to kill me, and/or Zim and Dib right now? :D…awesome 8) haha xD OH! And one last thing :D I drew the kissing scene from ch.4 a carnival comes and the picture from ch.8 feelings x3 they're on my profile if you wanna see ^-^ lol, if anyone else wants to make fan-art other then myself be my guest xD I'll die of happiness :3 ok, nough' randomness! 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