To say that Dib was surprised when he found Zim at his doorstep bright and early the next morning would be an understatement. Zim wasn't the kind to pop over for a friendly chat. "Zim," he murmured groggily, wiping at his eyes. "It's 6 in the morning. What are you doing here?"

"I need to talk to you, stink-meat. About that wretched Atra-drone's offer."

"Can't it wait until, like, noon?"

"No! Now move!" Zim gently pushed him aside. It was rare that Zim would visit him. Usually he never did unless circumstances forced him to. It was also rare that Zim actually bothered to use the front door.

"Ugh…" Dib yawned. "I guess it's actually good that you're here, I gotta get Gaz up and take her to school. But can't we do this after I get back?"

"No! We will talk about this now, Dib-beast. Your sister unit will have to take the bus this morning."

"Yeah, no. Gaz doesn't do the bus. How about this, ride with us? We'll talk over breakfast after I drop her off. I'll buy you those waffles you like."

Zim had opened his mouth to argue, but at the word "waffles", he found that whatever argument he wanted to make died on his tongue. So long as they weren't within the vicinity of his SIR Unit, waffles were among one of the only Earth foods he could withstand. "…Very well. But we shall go to the house of pancakes! Zim likes the waffles there the best."

"You mean IHOP?"

"Yeah sure, whatever. Hurry up! Zim does not have all day."

Dib couldn't help but smile as Zim promptly seated himself on the couch, engrossing himself in the TV. He turned around to go wake up his sister, but was surprised to see Gaz already sitting at the kitchen table with a bowl of cereal.

"Oh, you're already up."

She didn't answer. She was careful about what she said in the morning. Dib wasn't a morning person either, but Gaz was far worse.

"Zim's gonna ride with us. He and I have something we need to talk about, so I'm taking him to breakfast."

"Whatever," she said through a mouthful of cereal. "But I'm still riding shotgun."

There was no refuting that. Dib, realizing that he was basically half naked and in desperate need of a shower, hurried upstairs to get himself ready.

The TV at Dib's house was boring, as Zim had come to find out. All that was on were shows intended for smeets and the news. He shut it off and curiously wandered through Dib's house. Ha. Human housing was ridiculous and quite impractical. So many unnecessary rooms and utilities- why did humans need all of this?

He wandered into the kitchen and found Gaz just as she finished her cereal. "Oh, Dib-sister, I see you're awake."

"Zim, let me just tell you, that I am not a morning person. So if you want your face to remain intact, you'll refrain from... being yourself."

Zim abruptly shut his mouth. He had learned from personal experience not to mess with Gaz. Dib he could handle, but his sister was on a whole other level, one that ought not to be trifled with.

"Oh, and by the way, I'm riding shotgun. No arguments."

Zim wanted to argue. The front seat was his spot! But Gaz really didn't seem like she was in the mood to argue. Rather, she was in the mood to kill.

Minutes that felt like hours dragged by before both Dib and Gaz were finally ready to leave. He wanted to ask why Gaz was wearing such an excessive amount of eyeliner, but he ultimately decided against it. He had tried eyeliner a few times, mostly for whenever he was trying out a new disguise. And although he'd never admit it, there was something he admired about human makeup. It could easily make the naturally hideous humans less so.

Briefly, he wondered if the Dib was always wearing makeup. It would certainly explain-

No, Zim. Bad thoughts. Bad thoughts.

Besides, according to the knowledge he had gathered over the years, human males typically didn't wear makeup. It seemed to be mainly targeted towards human females. Not that Zim cared for or adhered to Earth's gender roles.

The ride to school was mostly silent, save for Gaz's music blaring from the radio. When Zim saw the school coming into view through the window, he was reminded of the horrid memories of that place. Yet again, he found himself relieved that he didn't have to attend it any longer.

"I'll be here to pick you up," Dib said as they came to a stop in front of the school.

"'Kay. Have fun on your date."

And before Dib could correct her and say that it was not a date, she was already out of the car and heading into the building.

Zim tilted his head, confused. "Is the Gaz-beast referring to the human act of courtship?"

"…Let's not talk about it. Do you want to ride in the front now?"

Zim glared at him before clambering up to the front seat, nearly kicking Dib in the process. After he properly seated himself, he readjusted his wig in the rear-view mirror, making sure that his antennae weren't sticking out (that had happened a few times, actually).

"Hey, watch it!" Dib scolded. "This car has a nice interior!"

"Whatever. To the pancake house!"

Dib grinned, shifting the car into drive. "Yes, my overlord."

"You know, for someone so tiny, I'm surprised you can eat that much."

Zim wiped the whipped cream that had gathered around his mouth. What was the one human term, the one he had heard the Dib-beast say every now and then... "What the frick is that supposed to mean?"

Dib blinked once, then twice, before cupping a hand over his mouth to conceal his sudden laughter. His snorts gave him away, unfortunately. "Whoa, Zim, language," he teased, sipping his orange juice.

Zim wasn't sure what Dib found to be so funny, but he wasn't really in the mood to question it. "Whatever."

"So, now that you got your waffles, mind telling me what the deal is?"

Zim swallowed and dropped his fork as if he were preparing to make a grand announcement. Why does everything have to be so ceremonious with him? "Oh, yes, of course. The 'deal'. I've… come to tell you that we are going to accept the science drone's terms."

"Oh, we are?" Interested, Dib leaned forward, resting his cheek in his hand. "And what made you change your mind?"

"That's none of your business, Dib-stink. But the reason is simple. The Dib simply won't survive in space without me. You need my superior skills and advanced knowledge, so naturally, I must accompany the helpless Dib-beast."

He couldn't resist- teasing Zim was just way too much fun. He placed his hand over his chest as if he were touched, his snarky grin shifting to a tearful smile. "Wow, I'm honored. The Almighty Zim has been so gracious to me lately."

Zim didn't even seem to pick up on the blatant sarcasm in his tone. "Yes, he has. You should be glad I'm not having you publicly worship me on your knees for my kindness."

Dib decided not to focus on how much those words affected him in... less than appropriate ways. "Well, I'm glad you decided to go. So did I."

"Of course you did. I'm going, so you're going too. Besides, I'm not going to let the Dib get special military training without me."

"So it's settled then." Dib smiled, feeling the excitement rush through him like a shot of adrenaline. "We're going into space together."

"Don't get all excited, this is hardly-"

He knew he sounded like he was eleven all over again, but getting to go into space to fight an oppressive alien monarchy, with a rebel alien from said monarchy? Very few can say that they've done the same. "I can't help it. It's just that… for the first time… we're not gonna be fighting each other in space. We're gonna be on the same side."

"…The same side… as a human…" Zim chuckled dryly. "Who ever thought I'd be fighting against my own Empire with my sworn enemy?"

Dib's excited smile suddenly fell as he recalled what had occurred yesterday. "Zim, about… what Atra said… are you still... struggling with your feelings towards the Empire?"

Fake lilac eyes clashed with all too realistic amber ones. "…It is hard to explain an Irken's devotion to the Empire to a human. A human could never understand loyalty to this extent. This loyalty is more than fact, more than common knowledge, even more than law. It's closer to what you humans refer to as 'religion', even though Irkens know no deities or higher powers. There is no greater power than the Almighty Tallest and the Control Brains."

He had always hoped that he could learn more about Irken society, beyond what little tidbits Zim decided to tell him every now and then. Perhaps this would be his chance. "Well, what about you? Is it… really that strong?"

Zim nodded slowly, hesitantly. "…Yes. But… every time I think of how badly I wish to crush this planet beneath my boot… I remember what it was like being trapped inside my own mind. I remember… what my Tallest said to me."

"Trapped inside your mind? What… was that like?"

"It was brief, very brief, yet it felt... like a never-ending dream," he explained. "I knew I was dreaming, but I couldn't escape. And I relived… things from my past that I've wanted to forget."

Dib ducked his head, averting the Irken's gaze. "The Tallest and Atra mentioned… that you did some pretty messed up stuff. On Irk."

"...Yes."

A moment of tense silence fell between them. Dib leaned in curiously, impatient and eager. "Well?"

"What does it matter if I tell you?" Zim abruptly snapped.

"It... doesn't, I guess, but... I just thought... maybe it might make you feel better. To talk to someone about it."

"Zim isn't weak like you- I don't need to talk to you or anyone else," he snapped.

Dib threw up his hands defensively, resigning himself now before another fight broke out in public- again. "Okay, okay, fine. Don't talk about it then."

It seemed like the topic had been dropped, with Zim defiantly huffing and refusing to meet Dib's eyes, but before long the little green menace was back at it again, nearly standing atop the table to catch Dib's attention once more. "It was many years ago, Dib, and I don't feel regret. And know that no matter what you say, no matter what sort of hyuuumaannn feelings you try to poison me with… I am Zim. I am a ruthless Irken soldier. Whether I am loyal to the Empire or not, that is a fact."

Dib didn't understand. Why was Zim talking like this, like he was bragging? Sure, he was used to Zim bragging, that was nothing new, but it was never anything like this. Zim was playing himself up to be the true monster that Dib had imagined him to be as a child. But why? What good would that do them now? Why try to push him away unless-

It dawned on him suddenly. Of course. Why hadn't he seen the signs sooner?

"Zim," Dib said his name with a taunting smirk, "you're going soft, aren't you?"

"S-Soft?" Zim threw his head back, laughing almost maniacally. "Oh, you can only wish, Dib-beast."

"I'm right, aren't I?" Dib continued. "You're getting soft, but you don't want me to see, so you're trying to make me think you're a monster. Isn't that right?"

Oh, he was pissed now. Dib could see the way his eyes darkened, the way his lips split into an angry frown. "Dib," he started in a sickeningly sweet voice, "do you really want me to make a scene in front of all these people?"

"Go ahead," Dib urged. "Be my guest, Zim. Tear this whole fucking place down. Kill everyone in this room. Show me that you really are the monster that you say you are, and I'll stop. I'll go back to fearing you, to loathing you, just like you want."

The old Zim wouldn't have hesitated any longer. The old Zim would have burned this building to the ground just to prove a point to Dib, because that's how ruthless he was. He gave what he got tenfold, and he didn't care who was hurt in the process.

But he was not the old Zim anymore. The new Zim was weak, pathetic, fucked up… soft. He was a shell of the Irken he used to be.

And it was all. Dib's. Fault.

Zim felt the familiar hot sting of tears brimming in his eyes, but he refused to let them fall. He would not allow the Dib to see him while he was weak. He abruptly stood up, chair sliding out from underneath him. "I'm going home."

'Wait, Zim!" Dib stood up as well. He frantically reached into his wallet and pulled out a twenty dollar bill to cover the meal before he hurried after Zim. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that! I crossed the line!" he yelled as he followed Zim out the door.

Zim abruptly stopped, whirling around on his heels to face Dib. He pointed a gloved finger up at his chin. "You did this to me! I can accept being a defect, but this… this feeling you gave me… get rid of it! I can't take it anymore! I'll concede victory to you if that's what you want, Dib, just… make it go away…"

Dib had never seen Zim this desperate before. He was begging him. "Zim… I didn't do anything to you, I swear. I know these feelings must be new, but… you don't have to be afraid. Having a friend isn't the end of the world. Far from it."

"Lies! Filthy lies! Invaders need no one! I don't need you! I don't… I don't..!"

"Zim, look at me-"

"Get away!"

All Dib saw was a swipe of black as he abruptly jumped back, stumbling as he somehow regained his balance. Thankfully Zim hadn't managed to scratch him, but it had been close. "Zim…"

Zim gasped, eyes widening as he slowly stepped towards Dib, looking up at him with an expression he could only define as worry. He was regretting it.

"I'm fine, Zim," Dib reassured him. "See? No cuts or anything."

"Ugh… this is exactly what I mean! Stop it! Stop saying things like that to Zim!"

Before Dib could counter, Zim was already gone, heading off in the direction of his base. After breaking out into a fast-paced run, Dib saw him extend his PAK legs and use them to scale the buildings.

Just what in the hell was that all about?

Zim wasn't exactly sure how he was going to handle being trapped in space with the Dib, especially with their relationship so strained. But Dib was dead-set on going, and if the Earth really was in danger like Atra suggested, he didn't have much of a choice. For now, he would have to put his... relationship with Dib to the side.

"You've reached the Resisty. This is Lard Nar speaking. May I ask who's-"

"Find that Atra-drone and bring her here!" Zim demanded, slamming his fist onto the control panel.

Lard Nar grinned, seemingly jumping to life as he leapt out of his office chair. "Oh, Zim, what an unpleasant surprise! So, something tells me you've considered our offer."

"Yes, I have. And while I can't fathom why you would want someone as weak and pathetic as the Dib, Zim has graciously decided to join you on your quest to take down the Armada, as silly and downright suicidal as it is."

Zim was half expecting the Vortian to fall to his knees and praise him for his kindness, although he should have known better, considering he was the leader of a ragtag rebellion. Instead, Lard Nar was suddenly oddly calm, leaning back into his chair with a languid smirk. "You know, Zim, Atra goes on and on about Dib and how much of an asset he'll be, and I have no doubts that he'll make a great soldier, but… you are the one I was really excited about."

"Me? Why? Erm, I mean-" Zim cleared his throat. "Y-You should be, after all, I am amazing."

"That's one way to put it. What Atra said to me about you is true; you don't have any remarkable skills. Irkens are one of the most feared races in the galaxy, but let's be honest. They're physically weak. Without their weapons and technology, they wouldn't be a threat. But you… you are the ultimate weapon to use against them, and the best part is- you're one of them!"

"Hey! I do too have special skills! How dare you disrespect-"

Lard Nar leaned in towards the camera, effectively interrupting his incoming rant. "Zim, if you're going to accept our offer, you must understand… that you'll have to let go of your loyalty to the Empire. Otherwise… we cannot accept you. We can't take the risk of having an Irken spy on our team."

"What about Atra?" Zim argued. "She's Irken! How do you know she's not a spy?"

Lard Nar's eyes widened, an expression of pure confusion crossing his features. "Oh, she didn't tell you?"

"Tell me what?"

"O-Oh…" he turned away suddenly, appearing somewhat embarrassed. "It's nothing. It's best that she tells you herself anyway."

Zim narrowed his eyes suspiciously; he was well aware that there was something Lard Nar wasn't telling him. "Whatever. Zim… is aware. I know my Tallests have been trying to get rid of me for years. But..." he trailed off suddenly, unsure of how to word his concerns.

Lard Nar nodded grimly, his smirk from earlier fading. "…Yes, I am aware. If you join us, Zim, we can help you overcome it."

'Overcome it'. Ha. Zim might be more intrigued if such a thing were possible. Although now that he'd had a taste of "feelings", he was really starting to wish that his PAK was working properly. "…Mm. Zim still thinks that this whole mission is stupid, but… I won't allow the Dib to get ahead of me in any way! I can't leave him unattended, who knows what he'll plan? Therefore, we both accept your offer!"

Lard Nar suddenly jumped from his chair again. "Wonderful!" he exclaimed. "We're still within range, so the teleporter should work! Now, go get that big-headed boy of yours!"

Nodding, Zim jumped to his feet. "GIR!"

Within seconds his deranged robot came bounding in from the elevator door, giggling maniacally, his dog suit unzipped and barely clinging to his foot.

"Make sure you're prepared Gir, we'll be leaving after I go retrieve the Dib. Don't do anything stupid while I'm gone."

"Yes sir!"

Gir watched as Zim left, the elevator sliding up to the main level with a groan and a hiss. He turned around toward the screen, and noticed that his master had failed to end the call before he left. Smiling cheerfully, Gir jumped into the seat his master had just been sitting in. "Hi!"

Lard Nar eyed the robot curiously. "Oh wow, a SIR unit! I haven't seen this model in years! I wonder why Zim would have such an outdated robot…"

Gir leapt onto the monitor, pressing his face right into the camera. "Horns! You got horns on yer head!"

Lard Nar self-consciously grabbed at one of the horns that sat atop his head before narrowing his eyes at him. "A defective… ha, how fitting. Gir is your name, right? What does the 'G' stand for?"

"No idea!" He smiled cheekily. "Hey, you got any taquitos in space?"

"Did um… Zim say if he was taking you with him?"

"I go with master everywhere!"

"Oh, joy."

"Dib-beast! I've come to- hey, where are you?"

It was rare that Zim wouldn't find Dib in his room. That's usually where he spent most of his time, after all. He frowned and clambered the rest of the way in through the window, falling onto his bed rather clumsily. Thankfully Dib hadn't seen that.

He'd been visiting Dib's house a lot more lately, but his room never failed to surprise him. Bedrooms seemed so useless, especially to someone that didn't need sleep. But Dib's was interesting, perhaps because it was the only bedroom he had ever been in. Gone were the posters of mothman and Mysterious Mysteries. Of course, he still kept his computers and all of his tech, and a few alien and ghost posters remained.

Zim slid off the bed, his PAK legs retracting. Dib wasn't here, and he never had gotten the chance to explore Dib's room before. Not that it really mattered now, but curiosity was getting the better of him. He ultimately, after some debate with himself, decided not to mess with his computers. Dib was smart enough to tell if his computers had been tampered with, and Zim wasn't in the mood to hear him complaining.

He walked over to Dib's closet door and slid it open. Nothing much, just clothes and a few old toys. Useless junk. Just as he was about to shut the door again, a small box in the corner caught his eye. It was dark and small but Zim was curious enough to open it anyway.

The box looked like it had previously been a shoebox, but its contents were most definitely not shoes. Instead, they were unmistakably pictures… of him. Admittedly, he was a little creeped out, but he had plenty of pictures of Dib stored on his computer, so he guessed that he didn't have any room to talk. Some of them were random images, others were blurry and indefinable. But there was one in particular at the bottom that intrigued him.

It was a picture of the two of them. Together. Not killing each other.

Granted, neither of them were smiling in the photo. In fact, Zim appeared distracted, playing with a new device he had made, and Dib was smirking. Humans called these "selfies", if his modern-day lingo was up to date. Why would Dib take a "selfie" with him? Regardless, Dib had not only kept all the photos he took of Zim, but he kept the one that they took together. It was obviously without Zim's knowledge, but still. It gave him a funny feeling, to know that Dib kept pictures of him even now.

"GAAAH! Zim, what the fuck?!"

Startled, Zim dropped the photo he was holding and stood at attention, like he hadn't just been digging through Dib's stuff. "Dib-beast! Ew- why are you only wearing a bathing gown?"

"It's not- it's a towel! Jeez, Zim, couldn't you have just used the front door like a normal person?! And why were you looking through my stuff?!"

"I was not!"

"Yes you were! You were in my closet, weren't you? I can see the box you pulled out." Dib pushed past him to pull out an outfit from the closet.

"It's not my fault, I was bored and you weren't here."

"Nosy bastard," Dib grumbled under his breath.

"Whatever. Why do you have pictures of me?"

"You have pictures of me too. Besides, I meant it when I said I was always watching you as a kid."

"Stalker."

"Uh-huh. Hey, can you leave? I don't need an audience while I'm getting dressed." Dib's cheeks flushed, gesturing to the towel wrapped around his waist.

"Zim was here first! Besides, I have no interest in your human… bits. So for the sake of my eyeballs, I will not look."

Dib narrowed his eyes. "I'll leave, then," he grumbled curtly before retreating back into the bathroom.

Zim shrugged. "Suit yourself." He really didn't see what the big deal was- it wasn't as if Dib had something he was interested in seeing. Humans and their weak, pointless modesty.

Dib came back moments later, fully dressed. "Okay, so I know you didn't come just to snoop through my stuff. Why are you really here?"

"I contacted the leader of the Resisty. They're waiting on us now. We need to hurry, soon the teleporter will be out of range."

"Wha- now?! Zim, why didn't you tell me?"

"I just did. Now come on-"

"B-But there's still so much I have to do! I have to pack my things, say goodbye to Dad and Gaz, and-"

"Foolish Dib, you won't need to pack anything."

"I… won't?"

Zim shook his head. "No. If the ship is holding a large crew, there's no doubt that it's designed to accommodate."

"So you mean… it'll have food? Beds? Bathrooms?"

"Of course."

"Okay, well just… give me a few minutes. My dad's not home, but I'll give him a call."

Zim huffed irritably. "Make it quick."

Dib quickly pulled out his phone and dialed his father's number. He figured that his father wouldn't answer, he hardly did. But he was pleasantly surprised when he heard his father finally pick up on the last ring.

"Hello son! I'm very busy, so I hope this is important. Oh, did you schedule your classes yet?"

"It is, dad. Um, I'll try to make this quick. But… okay, to make a long story short, Zim and I got invited to go to space. So we're going. Together. And, you know I've been into space before, but… I'm not sure how long I'll be gone this time, and… I just wanted to say goodbye, and that I love you."

There was a pause on the other end and an abrupt shuffling sound. "Now son, this isn't really my business but… last I heard, you despised this boy. And now… you're going into space with him?"

"Um, yeah, it's uh… complicated."

"Oh... I see. Well… thank you for telling me. Um… is there anything I can say to make you reconsider?"

Dib laughed halfheartedly at that. "Nah."

"That's my boy. Be cautious in space- there are all sorts of hidden dangers. I'll try to pay more attention to my phone- call me again and we'll talk. Okay?"

"Uh… yeah, sure dad. Sorry to worry you. Um, I won't have cell service while I'm in space, so while I'm gone… can you please at least check on Gaz more? With me gone, she'll be home by herself a lot and… well…"

"I understand. I'm going to try to be home more often now. I'll... see if I can talk to NASAPlace, I might be able to get a hold of you there. Good luck son. And send your little green friend my regards."

"Okay, will do. Bye." Dib hit the end button and looked up, blinking rapidly. "Did that… actually happen?" Was it just my imagination, or did my dad actually seem worried for a second?

"It would appear so," Zim answered bluntly. "Zim does not find your father as annoying as you."

"Gee, thanks," Dib grumbled flatly. "Gaz is in her room, I'm gonna go talk to her. Wait for me here?"

Zim waved him off. "Again, be quick."

A/N: I wrote this before I discovered that IHOP was abandoning pancakes and becoming a burger joint. Out of bitterness, I've decided not to change it.