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 Sixteen: Interrogate

A/N: Ahh, I'm dreading going back to school in a couple weeks D: however, school won't stop me from writing! :D cause imma on a roll :3 haha x3

To Darkdagers: yes, he may have his father's looks, but not as much his personality xD

To Mio-Chan's Return: I love myself too for it x3 I didn't really want him to die, so I had decided I'd bring him back as a ghost :3 it's logic xD Oh, that's good, and Dib's only briefly looked at Zim and Gir and Alec are confusing him, so it's only natural he hasn't noticed anything yet xD Have fun! *waves you off again*

To UberSasukeFan: Well, Zim was unconscious and all, so… xD yes, bow to Alec and his cuteness! And good, cause' more of it's up :3

To Invader Ang: lol, well, a few people might but…xD And yes, Alec seems suspicious to him, but then Dib seems suspicious to Alec xD(family suspiciousness! x3) Yes! I shall continue! And I'm excited to write it x3

To Ebony3111: Yes, he is, and yep, he's three xD and it's ok, that suckkkss, I hate when that happens D:

To VampiressKatasandra: lol, I'd go on at school but then I'd get in trouble and have to explain why I was reading…xD And so do I x3 lol, Dib does think Alec looks familiar…but he can't figure it out x3 :3

To invader NAV: Haha, I love them too and yes, I could see him doing that as well xD Um, thanks x3 I'm glad you like how I write even if you don't like the pairing x) I hate when people write them all ooc, it makes me feel sad inside so I try to keep them in character as I can C: Okay! HAVE FUN! :D

I give all who've read, reviewed, and/or favorited this story so far my love and this chapter!~

After a couple days the humans finally figured out Zim had regained his memory, and Dib was to interrogate him soon. Zim disguised his voice and made sure his blue contacts were still intact before he heard footsteps leading up to himself. He honestly didn't know how he was going to deal with Dib…but he figured he could try.

"Good Morning, Zeke," Dib announced as he walked into the part of the nurse's office Zim was in, he tried to keep his eyes down, but eventually he gave up and looked up to Dib…and flushed.

"A-are you…blushing?" Dib questioned as Zim quickly hid his face.

"O-OF COURSE NOT! FOOLISH HUMAN!" Zim quickly replied, keeping his head down and missing the anguish that briefly flashed over Dib's face.

"Do you know an…Irken called Zim?" Dib asked once his mind became focused again. Zim caught himself from flinching.

"I've… never heard of him," Zim replied coldly, finally looking up again.

"Hmm," Dib stated, before clearing his head of unwanted thoughts, and focusing on something that was actually important.

"So what drove you to take care of a human?" Dib asked as Zim glared, while folding his arms.

"I felt bad for him," Zim replied evenly, feeling slightly at loss by Dib's now cold demeanor.

"I know Irkens…they don't feel sympathy," Dib scoffed in reply, making Zim's eyes narrow.

"Well maybe I'm different from other Irkens," Zim responded, making Dib once again reflect on unwanted thoughts.

"Irkens are all the same," Dib merely stated coldly in response, Zim felt his body freeze at the statement.

"You're wrong if you think that," Zim then hissed, turning away from Dib.

"You're the one who's wrong," Dib responded quietly, before angrily turning around, and heading back to where he'd come from. Zim sighed as his presence vanished. Dib seemed so…bitter…it hurt Zim to see Dib that way. But I can't let him know who I am…not matter what…Zim thought as he turned over on the infirmary bed…no matter what!

Dib was brooding in his room, when a knock on his door brought him out of his slump.

"Yes?" Dib asked as he turned on the light's and commanded his door to open.

"Hi, Mr. Dib!" Alec announced as he looked up to Dib, who in turn looked at Alec in surprise.

"Why are you here?" Dib questioned as Alec waltzed into his room, looking around interestedly.

"I got bored," Alec replied nonchalantly, before continuing to look around and cocking his head when Dib quickly blocked something from Alec's view.

"What's that a picture of?" Alec asked as he tried to look past Dib's body.

"I-it's nothing!" Dib hastily replied, turning Alec around and shoving him out of his room.

"But-!" Alec tried to protest, but before he could, Dib had brought them both into the hallway and looked his door.

"It' not nice to barge into other people's rooms," Dib stated, as Alec glared up at him.

"Well it's not nice to shove people either!" Alec replied, huffing in anger.

"Why don't I take you to the library or something?" Dib asked once Alec still refused to leave him alone.

"…Alright, I guess…" Alec finally replied, before looking up at Dib happily, "I bet I can beat you there!" Dib found himself smiling as the little annoyance ran off ahead of him, before wondering once again who Alec reminded him of…Dib sighed and shrugged as he failed to remember again, before dropping it and smiling, while running up to try and beat Alec to the library.

Alec didn't like the humans in the underground base too much…but he did like one of them…just a little…because he seemed to be the only human with some sense.

"So Bigfoot really existed?" Alec questioned as Dib excitedly showed him paranormal books.

"Yep! And so did the Lock Ness Monster!" Dib exclaimed as he pointed to another book he had shown Alec.

"Wow…how come no one ever captured them though?" Alec asked as he looked up to Dib.

"Because most humans were morons…" Dib stated, making Alec chuckle at the seemingly true statement.

"Oh!" Alec suddenly announced as he glanced at the clock, "I need to go check on my mo-guardian Zeke!" Before Dib could protest or stop Alec, he was off and out of the library…leaving Dib to clean up all they books they'd been looking through.

Zim had been worried about Alec fitting in with the humans, but he seemed to be doing okay…well…sort of.

"Mom?" Alec questioned as Zim zoned out, wondering how much longer he should stay.

"Oh, sorry," Zim apologized as Alec looked irritated.

"I was saying," Alec then continued, "that Mr. Dib taught me about the paranormal things of Earth today!"

"Hmm, did he?" Zim questioned still half out of it, which caused Alec to get more frustrated.

"Am I boring you?" Alec asked sadly as Zim finally paid attention.

"No, Alec," Zim soothed as he ruffled Alec's hair, "I just have a lot on my mind right now…"

"Like what?" Alec questioned, making Zim's current smile falter.

"Things you don't have to worry about…" Zim replied quickly, making Alec frown.

"I don't care anyway!" Alec huffed as he jumped off of the bed he'd been talking to Zim on, before he turned back.

"I love you, mom," Alec whispered before he ran off to the room he'd been staying in, making Zim's expression completely drop. I love you…too…Zim replied in his head, before shaking it and trying to bring himself to forget about the expression.

Dib didn't know why…but he couldn't help wanting to trust his base's newest addition. He was just so…different…and he seemed so…familiar…it bothered him. The alien Dib had been interrogating didn't make his thinking any easier. He acted so unlike other Irkens…and every time he talked to him he couldn't help but think of…Zim. There was definitely something that was up with Zeke and Alec that he couldn't figure out…and it was driving him insane.

A sudden intercom interrupted his thinking as Zita called him, "D-Dib…there's…something…I .show you…" Zita's voiced announced shakily, making Dib immediately get up.

"I'll be there in a minute!" Dib yelled, before hurrying towards the infirmary. When he got there, he was surprised to see a very shaken Zita and a glaring Alec.

"What's wrong?" Dib asked as he walked up to Zita.

"W-well…I was…doing a routine check-up on him and…"Zita started, before looking away.

"What is it?" Dib questioned, though instead of replying, Zita merely pulled back Alec's hair, making Dib gasp.

"He…doesn't have ears…" Dib stated, while Alec angrily looked away.

"Don't talk about me like I'm not here…" Alec mumbled as he pushed Zita's hands away.

"Did that alien do this to you?" Dib demanded as Alec looked up, glaring.

"NO!" Alec shouted, angered that humans could be so untrusting, "I was born this way…so quit BLAMING. ZEKE!" Dib flinched briefly at Alec's words, before wondering how Alec could still hear…

"Zita…could you step out of the room for a minute?" Dib asked once his mind decided on something. Zita quickly agreed and hurried out, making Alec look up suspiciously.

"S-stop!" Alec cried as Dib felt through his hair, when Dib's entire body suddenly froze.

"What are you?" Dib questioned as he brought Alec's antennas out of his hair, Dib knew Irkens could disguise themselves…but Alec didn't seem to be wearing and kind of disguise.

"I'm Alec," Alec stated simply, antennas dropping as anger continued to fill him.

Dib wanted to interrogate him further, when Alec was suddenly pulled from in front of him.

"What are you doing to him, human?" Zeke/Zim questioned harshly as he held Alec away from Dib.

"What have you done to him is a better question, alien!" Dib replied back just as harshly, making Alec cringe into Zim.

"I've done nothing to harm him," Zim hissed, as Alec continued to try and hide.

"Then why is he like that? Unless he really is an Irken as well," Dib responded, waiting for Zim to reply.

"He's…not an Irken…" Zim started, calming down for Alec, "BUT…I didn't do anything to him to make him this way." Dib scoffed at Zim's words, though part of him did want to believe Alec wasn't a part of the Irken race.

"Then what is he…if he's not human…but not Irken?" Dib questioned, smirking the slightest when he made Zim falter.

"I…can't tell you…however, he isn't a threat…he's just a three-year old," Zim tried to explain as Dib looked smug.

"Well…if you can't tell me then…I guess we'll just have to dispose of both of you," Dib replied after a minute, though, he didn't actually plan to dispose of Alec...

"If you hurt him I'll NEVER tell you anything about ZIM!" Zim harshly whispered to Dib without thinking, causing Dib's eyes to narrow to small slits.

"You told me you didn't know of him…" Dib whispered back, voice filled with anger.

"I lied," Zim replied smugly, knowing he'd won by the anger and desperation on Dib's face.

"TELL ME WHAT YOU KNOW!" Dib hissed as Zim made sure Alec hadn't been listening to their argument.

"I'll tell you…but only if you promise not to EVER hurt or kick out Alec," Zim replied quickly.

"If this turns out to be a lie…I'll kill him in front of you," Dib seethed as he backed away from Zim.

"And if you do anything to Alec in the next couple days…I'll make sure you never hear anything of ZIM again…" Zim replied in response, keeping up a strong front, until Dib left…

"Are you okay?" Zim whispered as Alec finally lifted his face from Zim.

"Y-yeah…" Alec quietly replied, before hugging onto Zim again, to which Zim immediately hugged him in return.

Dib was still seething when Professor Membrane appeared beside him, he tried to ignore his dad at first…but then he gave up…

"I…don't know what to do…" Dib voiced as his father tried to soothe him by placing a hand on Dib's shoulder…though Dib couldn't actually feel the weight of it.

"Do what you believe is right, son," Professor Membrane advised, though Dib didn't know what was right.

"It's…not that simple…" Dib replied eventually, to which Professor Membrane replied with an, "Oh?"

"I mean…" Dib tried to explain, "Alec doesn't seem bad or anything but…that alien…ZEKE…"

"Do you really think he's that bad?" Professor Membrane asked, confusing Dib further.

"YES!...N-no…I don't know! He doesn't seem bad but…but he…he's an Irken and…he's taunting me…" Dib exasperated, pulling at his hair.

"Well, to me, he just seems like he wants to protect that little boy…Alec, and even though he's Irken…that doesn't automatically make him an enemy…" Professor Membrane responded, making Dib frown.

"But dad…the Irken they-! They took you away from Gaz and I and-!" Dib started before Professor Membane cut him off.

"If my mind is still working correctly, which it should be…" Professor Membrane said once Dib had shut up, "there were only two Irkens who shot me down…not the entire race."

"But…" Dib tried to argue, though Professor Membrane merely shushed him.

"I'm not saying you can just give up your grudge against the Irkens but…maybe you can try to at least give this one…a chance," Professor Membrane announced, before he began to disappear again, leaving Dib once again…alone. Maybe he's right… Dib thought, before turning over, and covering his head with his pillow.

By the time Alec fell asleep Zim had decided that as soon as Dib calmed down he would leave…before Dib could question him about…himself.

"Take care once I'm gone," Zim whispered to Alec as he closed his own eyes, falling into a deep sleep within minutes…

END A/N: Dib's so nice :D xD welll, he is…when he's not out for revenge :3 Hope you all enjoyed this chapter! I liked writing it x3 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