Chapter eight
Throwing the door open without care, Dib strolled in with a conscious-but-calm Zim once more cradled in his arms, Gaz entering immediately afterwards. Walking into the living room, an enthusiastically booming voice greeted the trio.
"Hello, children! You arrived earlier than I had previously anticipated, fantastic! I have wonderful news; sit down as I tell you about my amazing discovery!" Dr Membrane announced with his usual showiness, throwing his arms up in the air triumphantly as he spoke. The professor had remained strangely unchanged throughout the years, the only noticeable difference being the light silver streak that now ran through his scythe-lock.
"Hello dad, it's nice to see you too. Gaz and I are actually a bit busy right now so if you could just give us a few min-"
"Goodness! What is that positively green specimen you are holding, son!?"
"Oh, this is Z- Ooft!"
"This is a patient of Dib's dad; he's just bringing him home for observation. We were planning to put him up in the attic with Dib, can we do that quickly?"
"Yes, of course sweetie! My, how sickly he must be to gain such a green complexion. Truly astounding!"
"Great, let's go, Dib."
"Ah, my insane, successful son and wonderful daughter… How they've both grown." Membrane says to himself quietly while turning toward the kitchen, a dramatic tear sliding down from underneath his goggles.
Tensing his poor stomach that had just taken a blow from his sister's spear-like elbow, Dib slowly toddled his way up the stairs. Why couldn't Gaz ever choose a peaceful, less painful way of getting him to do things? Passing through Gaz's bedroom, the odd threesome ascended into the attic.
It had been decided on their return that Dib, who had shot up to 6'0" over their duration in Europe, was too big for his box bedroom and so, seeing as their father's lab claimed every inch of the basement, he had been dumped upstairs. Cleared of dirt, dust, insects, and arachnids (Excluding his pet Brachypelma boehmei, 'Spicy', whose vivid red colouring had reminded him of a certain someone)long ago, Dib had tried to convert the still small, empty space into the star-gazing, sci-fi focused room of his dreams… And failed.
However, sunlight often poured through the line of small windows, catching the dust particles floating through the air and making it appear as if there was a constant haze surrounding his few possessions. Not really minding in the slightest, he felt quite happy to have the tiniest bit of extra room.
Laying Zim down on top of his solar system-themed, king sized bed (needed for his now fully filled 6'3" frame.), he stood back to turn to Gaz, who had headed off to the opposite corner of the room to set down Zim's dog basket.
"So what should we do about him?"
Both siblings turned to look at Zim, who was now inquisitively glancing bout his new surroundings, still sitting where he had been placed, legs crossed, arms straight and hands placed on the sides of his shins. Black antennae faced forward with interest, turning and twisting with every little detail they picked up. Eyes remained wide open on the flushed little green face, the purplish tinge on the surface of his cheeks highlighting his features.
Like a kid at the dentist.
It was hard to think that this was the same cocky, egotistical, insanely evil little creature that strived to take over the Earth eleven long years ago. He was more like a curious kitten at the moment, adorably wishing to explore and escape but didn't quite know where to start.
"This is so weird." Dib stated, his eyes still locked on the jade figure sitting on his mattress.
"This is weird? Seriously, after everything that's happened and this having an alien on your bed situation is weird?" Gaz replied, her eyes also following the little figures little movements.
"Yeah, I mean, look at him. This isn't normal, for Zim at least." Dib pondered aloud, glancing at Gaz as he did so.
"It's been nine years, idiot, things have happened. I think he's sick but it's not that bad if he's cute like this all the time… Just clean him up a bit and feed him. I'll be back up after I see what dad wants, I'll say you're busy 'settling the patient' or something." Gaz responded with a taunting smirk slithering across her mouth, heading down the stairway as she spoke, disappearing before her brother could say anything else stupid.
Dib watched as his sister left him alone. Turning to face the source of his dilemma, he heaved a sigh. What the hell should he do now?
Zim glanced around him, taking in the new sights, smells and sounds of his surroundings as best he could. This was definitely strange, why had the Earth worms willingly taken him into their house… Was he no longer a threat in their opinion? He did feel hugely embarrassed that he'd succumb to the touches on his lekku so easily but-
Had he lost all of his 'control' over the pig-smellies by purring?
Was that all it took to destroy his three year reputation?
It was that easy?
Unsure what to do, Zim continued to sit, thinking over his situation.
I can win their fear back, just wait!
I'll overcome this wretched condition within 33 rotations and then-!
Oh, what would happen then, such fear shall be instilled; the humans would be shaking in their trouser legs!
But, 33 rotations could be a while.
And the Dib-beast's presence isn't exactly helping.
His scent is intoxicatingly vile. It's disgusting, just like those horridly tiny, shiny, honey-golden eyes of his that never leave me. And that height! No being other than the mightiest of Irkens should reach it! Yes, he's really a vile, disgusting, horrible, tall, powerful…
No! I can't fall into this trap, it would be disastrous! And imagine the after-effects.
This is not Zim; this is those stupid chemicals that fill Zim's wondrous self, contaminating my amazing senses and thoughts.
I can get through this; I'll just have to fight every treacherous urge as soon as it hits. I can do this; I've been through worse and survived!
Zim is amazing!
Zim is incredible!
Zim is…
*Sigh*
Lekku are aching, stupid squeedily spooch is twisted and my limbs have lost their strength, what can I do?
I'll just look about for a bit, that'll distract me. I have to make sure the worm-baby hasn't planted cameras about.
That's what an invader would do.
While dramatically shaking his head to clear the negative thoughts away, Zim lost his remaining fraction of balance and fell into Dib's steady arms that'd quickly extended to catch him.
'Again, with this strange protective behaviour. What is Zim, an elderly female!? Why bother?' Zim thought as he tiredly looked up at the face of his worried 'saviour'.
Human's facial features were very strange indeed. Humans being a very peculiar species in their own right, the transformation from young to mature was freakily drastic.
The smooth pale skin Zim remembered had become rough and slightly more tan in colour, a few marks here and there, with speckles of black hairs protruding through the skin around the mouth. A hippo-sized head now sat upon broad shoulders, only slightly bigger in proportion to the rest of his larger figure. That irritatingly hypnotic scythe lock that bobbed atop of the human-smeets skull had somehow spawned another at its tip. The twig-like arms that had pinned Zim in many of their confrontations were now thicker, muscle showing in general movements but not overly noticeable. And the obvious change; Dib was now the size of a small tree. Even his smell had changed into something more annoyingly delectable.
'Stupid Earth worms and their growth spurts, stupid chemicals making the Dib seem almost close to attractive, stupid situation, stupid behaviour, stupid everything!'
"…hate cycles..."
The gritty words shocked the pair. It was hard to tell which of the two were more surprised, both faces going blank and turning to stare at the other.
"You can talk now!?"
"Recovered the speechy!?"
"Bu-"
"Z-"
"Just a mi-"
"Silence!"
Dib stopped and stood, eyes wide and jaw hanging.
Zim could now speak!
All his questions would be answered!
Well, they could be if he cooperates.
That's unlikely, but what's been normal today?
What should he ask first?
What happened?
Why he was where he was?
What were the chains for?
Why did he have a dog basket for a bed?
Why he left?
Why did Zim leave?
"Put down."
"Eh?"
"Put down."
"Oh, err, sure, okay. Where should I-?"
Placing Zim down less than gracefully back on his bed, Dib stood up to his full height, crossing his arms defensively over his chest as he did so. Looking down at Zim who, in turn, lifted his head to lock eyes, Dib forced himself to ask the question resting on the tip of his tongue.
It would hurt, he didn't know why.
But it did.
And yet, he needed to know.
"Zim."
"Hm?"
"Why'd you leave?"
Dib was sure he had winced at the sound of his own question; it pained his chest just to speak it. How the hell would he take the answer?
Well, it was necessary. At least when he'd left, he had the curtsey to tell Zim. He could have waited or left a note or… something! Just up and disappearing like that, without leaving a single track to follow, really did make a person feel crazy, not really a feeling he relished considering past events.
What had been so important that Zim had to vanish?
For him to leave Dib behind like some forgotten toy?
Trying to maintain his façade of emotionlessness, Dib furrowed his brows to keep them from pointing upwards. Draining his eyes of light, he continued to look down past his nose at his old nemesis.
Zim was taken aback.
The Dib's behaviour had just done a 180 on him and he hadn't even done anything yet!
Actually, could it…?
Was it the talking?
Was speech the only thing differentiating him between 'pet' and 'threat'?
How did the talking… words thingy come back to Zim anyways?
'Perhaps, the humans 'petting' has satisfied the filthy urges enough…
Maybe I could get through this without the mating or the pain.
I need a 'fix'…
All I require is occasional contact from the stink beasts to regain my usual greatness!
That must be it!
Oh, how clever I am, FOR I AM ZIM!
But I must explain this to the humans, don't want them trying any trickery on me now.
But wait!
What if they abuse my wonderful trust and hand me over?
Zim will not become some organs in jars, Zim is a free Irken!
And how free I shall continue to be!
But I have no other choice, if I do not explain then the Dib or Dib-sister could fall prey to my future allure and then…
Oh, the horrors!
But, if I do explain then my mortal enemies will have entire control over my condition for the next 33 rotations, I might be autopsied!
Urgh, the worm is speaking too. Can't he see that the amazing Zim is trying to come up with a solution?
Stupid humans, with their one stupid use.
Stupid, stupid, stupid!
"Eh?"
"Don't play dumb with me, Zim. You disappeared. Vanished! I want to know why and I want to know now."
"Oh, urm. It… be complicatedez stuffs. But Zim must-"
"No, Zim. No avoiding it. I want to know, and you will tell me. Why'd you leave and where'd you go? You couldn't have possibly have stayed in that tiny room for nine years, there wasn't enough food for that, or a GIR running around the place. Where have you been hiding, and why'd you look like shit?"
Author's note:
Hiya! It's been a short while, my wonderful readers.
How do you like it so far? It's going a bit slow for my tastes so I'm going to try and pick up the pace a bit so we can get to the good stuff (That's right, the ZaDr!). It won't be romancy at first, let me warn you. Enemies don't just jump into each others arms and ride off into the sunset that quickly/easily, no matter how much tension or time there's been between them. But affection will develop, I promise you!
Also, I've just discovered that I can see you all!
And by that I mean the traffic graph! Sadly so many people are just passing this story by, not a review or follow or nothin', just a quick read and move on. Why? What have I done that's made my story so unappealing to fellow ZaDr fans?
='(
Ah well, there was great discoveries too!
I've had reviews from a 'Guest' and 'glowzilla48' (Thank you so much for your continued support of this story, each of your reviews has brought a smile to my face!) since last time and I'd like to respond.
'Guest', dearie, you aren't being a bother at all! I will love any who take the time to review and I love details so ask away! Dib couldn't recognise Zim at first because Zim has not only become taller and paler over the years but he has lost that 'dominant, controlling, reality-can-kiss-my-green-ass' attitude. After spending years of fighting this type of personality, it would be unimaginable for Dib to picture Zim so weak, broken and submissive (Zim might not have a submissive mindset currently, but his body/pak are releasing chemicals that make him appear so to any potential taller mate, to make him more attractive in an Irken sense as they love to 'conquer' and dominate others).
Zim's weak body language combined with his now fragile frame (I'll mention how physically weak Zim has become in the next two chapters actually) and dirty appearance (Zim's a clean freak) make him almost unrecognisable. And yes, he does let Dib know. I thought of keeping it a secret but I thought Gaz would be too smart not to notice, she's a really clever cookie, y'know!
I know how my story is set out is different to other fanfics (More clumpy) but I do hope you guys enjoy it, even if you're just passing by. I plan on posting Chapter 9 within the next week and a half but, seeing as I'm posting as I'm completing, it hasn't even been started yet!
Any criticism or helpful tips (Even just pointing out an error I can fix) will be welcomed with open arms!
Please spare the time to review, I will be eternally grateful! If not, just clicking 'Follow' (Or, If I have my dreams come true: 'Favourite') will have me jumping up and down for joy. See you soon!