Chapter six

"Ggrrriiiiiimmme... Zzziuuurrrmmm…"
"What?"
"Ziiiurm, izzzz mmmeeee, zrum!"
"Uh… Are you okay?"

Grrrrr…

Communicating is a bitch! Especially when a Blorch load of hormones are basically clogging up any thoughts other than…
Violently shuddering at the flood of mental images the hormones gladly flushed into his skull, Zim gripped the soft fuzzy coating of his dog bed and tried again.
Dib needs to understand; maybe he would spare him some dignity and piss off, y'know, 'for old time's sake'? Or perhaps he would even consider making his meaningless existence momentarily useful by helping Zim, he might be willing to serve his better after seeing how much of a struggle poor-but-still-amazing-Zim was in?

Zim's mind cleared momentarily. It had been so long since he had that type of mightier-than-all thought, and even then a bit of force was required just to lift his own personal image.
The Dib's presence might be good for something after all.
Alright, let's try this again.

"Deee… Diiibb. I iizzzz Zrrriimm. Zrrrim izzz meeee!"

Dib couldn't believe it.
Surely his ears were deceiving him? This couldn't be him, not a chance in hell. Zim would never let himself drop to this pathetic state; he prided himself on… well, himself!
But, he had become fat and lazy during that week I chose real science…
And there was those four days Zim had worked himself into a coma and Skoodge came to me for help
If it is true then it looks like he's been through hell and back, and was dragged through a shit pile both ways. Plus, what the fuck's up with his speech? I know Zim still couldn't speak English normally but at least he was bloody coherent! Can't exactly ask him what's wrong either, can I? Fuck, this is so not how I imagined our dramatic reunion! I'm sure as hell not going to leave him here, there's no telling what could happen. Gaz is gonna be pissed too.
Shit, I totally forgot about Gaz! It's been, what, twenty minutes? I've probably got another seven before she comes up and drags my ass back home for dinner… she's been weirdly mothering these recent years though.

A whine-like growl once again brought Dib back to the current situation.

Zim had flopped back down into the pile of purple plush. Eyes now tightly squeezed shut, he clutched the sides of his skull with his hands. Another wave of hormones had hit him hard, triggered by the taller figure in the room.
Nonononononono. He didn't want this and he didn't want the smelly meat sack before him, but every single cell of his told him otherwise.
Fighting the urge to slide under the Dib, to clutch the large slightly muscular body, to whimper and purr and plead with him to ease Zim of the strain of his 'condition', Zim wriggled as far away as he could.
There would be consequences, Zim knew. Long term, severe consequences. Not only to his already now tiny, battered shred of dignity but to his poor body as well. Every invader was briefed about what will happen, why they should never lose the injections, what would happen to an invader found 'suffering'. It was drilled into every invader's then terrified Pak, none of them would ever forget.
And here Zim was, faced with the very situation that had haunted his young dreams.

Typical.

But there was hope! The Dib would never even consider it, no, the Dib despised his very presence! Yes, he was weirdly 'safe' with the foolish human.

Said foolish human who is now staring at Zim intently, he could sense. A deep, quiet rumble of a voice now spoke to him. And he listened as intently as possible.

"Listen, man. If you really are Zim, and I'm still really not so sure you are, then I'm gonna need some answers before I can do anything. I know you can't really talk, and you seem to be in some pain but if you can just nod or shake your hand in response then I promise to help you the best I can. Alright, is that manageable?"

Since when was the Earth-smelly so civil? Is this really the same flesh ball he last saw nine rotations ago? Well, being in no position to turn down aid from anyone… Zim supposed he should accept the Dib's offer and respond to his foolish questions.
Turning to face his interviewer and propping his arm up on him elbow, Zim gave a 'thumbs up'.
"Okay, so we're getting somewhere. Are you the same Zim that I left nine years ago or are you an Irken of the same name? Thumbs up if you are, thumbs down if not."
The green digit remained pointing upwards, a little wiggle added to show he'd heard Dib.
"So you are Zim. Then how did you get so tall and skinny? You'd never let yourself starve in the past, why did you let yourself drop to this? Do you know?"
The little green hand wavered and dropped, how was Zim supposed to answer. He knew why, but how was he supposed to answer with his hands? Stupid Dib. Stupid, idiotic, smelly Dib who can't even match his questions to his methods.
"Sorry, can't really answer that one, can you? Hmm, then does your head hurt that bad? You keep holding it." Dib added quickly. He wanted answers but it was becoming apparent he'd just have to wait. It was like dealing with a difficult patient, one who knows something's wrong but won't tell you for whatever reason. Not much could be done in this situation, however.
The little green hand raised up once more, fingers curling into a 'thumbs up'. Another strong urge struck at Zim's squeedily spooch, forcing a reluctant whine from his lips. The twisting of his insides threw away most of his concerns about showing weakness, throwing his writhing body into a tight ball. He needed relief but he hoped none would be found. If only the large lump of seemingly brainless flesh would leave him alone. It would ease up only slightly, but slightly is just what Zim needed to endure this natural torture.
"Okay, I'll take that as a sound 'yes'."

Dib paused; he knew he couldn't just leave him here, not like this. It was far too serious, whatever it was, and no one should just be left to suffer in the middle of nowhere. He'd made up his mind, reluctant or not, Zim was coming with him. He'd figure something out at his house, maybe Gaz could come up with something…
"I'm gonna get you outta here Zim. You may not like it but I can't leave you alone in this state, it just wouldn't be human of me. I'll take your food and bed too, alright? It's going to be okay, I'll… I'll do something to help you. You're going to be fine."

In the depths of his mind, Zim heard Dib's voice. The urges were almost unstoppable, heat pulsing through his limbs and chest, any moment now and he would find himself desperately latching onto his enemy as if his very life depended on it. Every inch of his skin had become hypersensitive, his lekku vibrated with the miniscule breeze created by Dib's words and shuffles, it was so intense it hurt.

But there was Dib's voice, he was sure. He'd spoken Zim's name, he'd mentioned not liking something…

My bed?
What does the Din-monster want with Zim's bed?
What's going to be fine? Zim is certainly not fine.
Wha-?
What the Blorch!?

Dib's face leaned forwards, coming dangerously close to Zim's own flushed green face. He tried to pull back but, much to his dread, he found his body ignoring him. If he wasn't planning on allowing his body to rush forward to fulfil his basic carnal need then it wasn't going to let him pull away from its current object of desire either.
Long, strong arms wrapped around the stunned Irken, cradling him against his thumping chest. Lifting the strangely still alien with him as he stood, Dib noticed how light Zim really was. He frowned.

I'll feed him later. Poor bastard, even I'm feeling sorry him. How the hell am I going to make this work? How the hell am I going to explain this to Gaz? And how the hell am I gonna get everything out and down this tree!? Great location choice Zim. Couldn't have been a cave or underwater tunnel or somewhere I could walk out of, could it? And I can't put him down; he might try to scramble away…
I'll call Gaz.

Zim was bewildered as to why he was now just lying in the arms of his rival. What was the Dib-beast's plan? Was he trying to steal Zim, maybe he still wished to turn him in for experimentation? Vivisection was not on his bucket list, but he had no strength or drive to repel his captor. Chemicals coursing through his tired body kept him quiet and submissive to the taller on the outside, leaving him stuck inside his head, freaking the frick out.
Feeling the shuffle of arms beneath him, Zim squirmed to adjust his position, his head pressing against the large chest in the process. A shudder suddenly consumed Zim, a loud squeal was let loose from his mouth as his left lekku brushed the fabric of Dib's shirt. It wasn't much, only a simple touch, but in his hypersensitive state, his already sensitive lekku just couldn't handle it.
Hands quickly clamped over him mouth to prevent any other whimpers from escaping, juddering lekku flattened as close to his head without touching for fear of setting his insides on another trip.

Oh Irk, he could die of embarrassment right now. How he wished he could just drop dead and not have to see the smug look on the Dib-things face. To have Dib-stink look down on Zim as he discovered what power he wielded over him and to hear the roaring laughter of triumph spewing from the pig-smellies mouth would be utterly humiliating.

Zim tensed, waiting to hear that dreaded noise. And he waited.
But nothing came.
Cracking open one of his eyes, Zim peered round him. Glancing upward, he was greeted with a concerned Dib.
Concerned?
Why would the Dib be worried for Zim?
Where was the laughter?
Where was the condescending smirk?
Why are his eye fuzzies slanted upwards?

"Zim?"

Dib noticed how the little alien in his arms winced as he spoke, head falling back down to pull himself tighter into a ball. He hadn't a clue as to what the hell had happened, but it hadn't sounded good. One moment, he was calling his sister and the next, Zim made a noise like a scared mouse.

Gaz was still on the line, probably as puzzled as Dib as to what was going on but most likely still pissed off she'd been kept waiting for so long.
"Hold on a sec, Gaz. I'll be down soon, I just need to find out what's wrong. See you in five, okay?" Dib whispered into the mic, not wanting to disturb the Irken further.
"I'm coming up, Dib." came a dark voice from the other end of the line, before cutting off, the line now dead.
"Shit. Alright… Okay. Zim? What was that? Did I hurt you somehow? Can you look at me please?"

Dib spoke softly. It was really fucking weird speaking to your sworn enemy in such a gentle tone, even weirder actually feeling concerned about their welfare but Zim was clearly in no state to hurt a fly, never mind enslaving the Earth. He hadn't managed to do that in the eleven years he'd been here anyway but taking chances with a destructive race from outer space was never wise, hadn't all those sci-fi films taught us that?

"Come on, Zim, please. I need to know if I hurt you. Just look at me, alright?"

Zim wasn't expecting this. This was not expected at all. He'd have guessed the Dib would have peeled his skin off to reveal himself as the angry monkey off of the television before ever thinking the Dib would be kind to him. It was strange.
Is it a cruel trick then? A ploy to lure him into a false comfort before destroying him? No, the Dib didn't seem to have any motives. Perhaps it really was just the humans' primitive sympathy showing through? Silly human behaviour. Well, it wasn't the only primitive behaviour showing through, Zim reluctantly admitted to himself.
His body still buzzed from the contact, his flesh burned where Dib's body heat seeped through the soft shirt, riling up his natural desires further. Grasping at the loose bits of Dib's shirt, he whimpered. He wasn't the least bit enjoying this; how he couldn't help the noises he made, how he couldn't stop his bodily urges and alterations, how he couldn't kill his instincts when he wanted, how scared he was.

All this lack of control, it was enough to push him over the edge into insanity.

Zim gave in to Dib's request and looked up, his sad crimson orbs stared into the human's honey coloured eyes, pleading with his holder that this would not turn out to be some awful prank on pitiful Zim. Dib looked back, surprised that Zim had complied but more so shocked at how broken the small green form looked before him.

'Zim must have been through some serious shit…'

All further thinking was cut short when a purple haired figure walked through the narrow doorway and into the den, towards the pair.

Hello readers, I'm really sorry! I thought I had uploaded chapter five on Friday but it was actually still sitting in my documents when I got back from residential (I only checked on it recently as I saw my views hadn't risen in the slightest since chapter four. I was really sad at that but once it was posted they popped right back up again so yey!). I hope you liked it and this one too!

I didn't want Zim to be too different from show Zim but I still need to show how easily he can be broken in his current state, especially considering his predicament. So I hope you'll stay with me as I slowly heal him, returning him to his once glorious Zimness!

I'd love to hear what everyone thinks so if you could just spare a tinsy tiny miny moment and review, I'd be eternally grateful!

Thank you, see you (however many wonderful people have decided to stick with this god awful story) all in chapter seven!