A/N:
This is for the "new 100 themes challenge" by Sora-Horsey on DevArt (.com/art/NEW-100-Themes-Challenge-131213677)
Some of this might be confusing, since most of these take place in my made-up post-series universe.
At the bottom, I'll introduce it a little. If further explanation is needed, drop me a note :)
Also, please keep in mind that I'm not a native speaker.
Beta-read by Sage-ums on DevArt
As for warnings: This has ZADR, mentions of rape, supporting character deaths, Mpreg, genocide, xenophilia, angst... erm.. It's not as bad as it might sound now, but some of the themes are dark. (most of them are cute/romantic/insane/fluffy)
You have been warned and flaming will not be tolerated. Serious critique will be rewarded with cookies (I'm new at writing and I want to learn)
1: Names
„Filthy Dirt-child!" „Bastard alien scum!" With a strained grunt and an uncontainable grin, Dib tried to use his larger body to pin the thin alien to the ground and snatch the tv remote out of his clawed hands; somehow, their name-calling had become less insulting and more affectionate with each year that they had shared a home.
2: Hardship
Looking at the vast, tranquil expanse of black, occasionally interrupted by glittering dots of light, Zim sighed. For the first time in years, there was time to relax, to look back at everything that had happened, that had changed. And he found, when he felt his Tallest step up to stand next to him, the hardship of the past had been totally worth it.
3: School
Keep up the pretences. Don't stand out. Do not be noticed. Both of them repeated those words in their minds, over and over. They needed to pretend, to make everything seem normal to keep the world around them unsuspicious. At least for a little while longer, no one must know of their plans. The moment their classmates, the teachers or even anyone else around them would be able to tell something was wrong, it would be too late to stop.
4: Opinion
„What do you think?" It took a full five seconds to get a reaction. But, when Dib burst out laughing, nearly falling off the pink couch for the third time that evening, Zim decided to not ever ask his opinion on changes for his disguise again.
5: Break Up
Tears, shouts and a resounding slap were the expected reaction and Zim didn't even wince when the human female stomped away, leaving the Dib to rub his bruising cheek. Stepping up to him, Zim shook his head, rolling his fake eyes. „Why do you even bother anymore, Dib-stink? You court female after female, only to break their puny little hearts, knowing in the end you will return to me anyway. Zim's irresistible." And Dib knew he was right.
6: New Love
It all had started with hatred and fascination. Fascination had become obsession, hatred had become a fragile kind of respect and familiarity. From there their environment and the forces around them had brought about the vital need to form an alliance to stay alive. A strange friendship had been born and with the passing time it had become so very much more. Now, years later, Dib smiled at the relaxed alien standing next to him, knowing that with each time he lost himself in those deep, magenta eyes, he fell in love with Zim all over again.
7: Alley
Dark alleys in the night, the perfect place to commit a crime and never be found out. Murders were being committed tonight. With each hasty press of lips against lips, with each rub of skin and each thrust against still mostly covered bodies. They killed their morale, their drummed-in beliefs and their bonds with their people. Neither cared. They were criminals and in this dark alley, no one would ever find out. It was alright.
8: Riddle
„You talk in riddles, Dib-thing!" An accusing finger was pointed at the human's face and the alien attached to it gave an annoyed growl. „Explain to Zim what you meant by that!" Dib just grinned and shook his head. „Not a chance, spaceboy. With that almighty brainmeat of yours, I'm sure you'll figure it out on your own." He leant forward to press a kiss to the fingertip pointing at him, before he bolted. It was silly and childish, but it also kept them going. They had to fight the cabin fever. And having a silly chase and playing tag like that distracted them from the fact that they were trapped in an underground lab. It was a self-chosen prison, but a prison that they could not escape yet for a long time. A little play wouldn't hurt and Dib knew, no matter who won, the result would be the same.
9: You and Me
It had been a year since Zim had broken Dib out of the mental hospital. They had decided to go into hiding and break off any and all contact to the world outside of Zim's base. They had started plotting against both the irken Tallest and the earth's inhabitants. Still, sometimes, Dib showed signs of homesickness or second thoughts. He never voiced them, feeling that it didn't matter anymore. But the alien knew. At one point, he could see the depression in his human „housemate" getting worse than usual and stepped up to him. Dib had gotten so much taller than him, forcing the smaller alien to look up at him with serious, magenta eyes. „Stop that, Dib-human. It's no use. They don't exist anymore, nothing does. Now, it's just you and me. And once I take over the irken empire and the universe, I'll give the earth to you to use as a plaything as you wish." The severity and seriousness of the magenta stare forced an amused smile onto human lips and Dib felt as if a heavy weight lifted from his shoulders. „Yes..." He whispered, pulling Zim closer. „It's just you and me. That is enough." And it was.
10: I Do
It was a stupid, human custom. It was superfluous. They had already mated, they shared traces of the same DNA and there even was a smeet growing in his slim belly. And even with all that, the Dib had asked him to perform this silly little ceremony, informal and with no real effect on anything. As silly as it was, Zim found himself blushing and struggling to utter those two, very short and very simple words „I do..."
11: Secret
There were so many secrets between them. The first few years, Zim had had the advantage of going to a human school and having had access to a vast amount of information on life on earth. Dib, on the other hand, had had no clues at all, except for the things he had seen while he had spied on the alien. Later on, they had started talking, asking questions about each other, learning of the secrets and features of both sides. Inevitably, the topic had switched to anatomy and what had started as their usual curiosity soon led to exploration. Neither Zim nor Dib could really remember who made the first step, going from asking questions to asking permission to touch. It had started innocent enough, touching each other's faces, comparing the feel of human and irken hands and skin. Instead of sating their curiosity, though, it only got worse. Somehow, suddenly, unexpectedly, there was the question of „taste". And the next thing they knew, they were all over each other, kissing, licking, biting, sucking, touching, more than eagerly bent on seeing what reactions they could cause within the other. It was the hottest, strangest make-out-session Dib had ever experienced. And the first one for Zim.
Only hours later they finally disentangled, exhausted and curiosity quenched at least for a while. Zim was still staring at the ceiling, dazed and trying to get back his bearings, while Dib started wondering how he would explain the countless love bites and scratches that covered his skin. With a little silly grin, he decided to tell anyone who asked that it was a secret. A secret that only one other being knew.
12: DO NOT ENTER
The big „Do not enter" sign on Dib's door never bothered his little sister. She entered any door she wanted, when she wanted. Though, this one time, she truly wished she hadn't. As Gaz pressed her back against the wooden door, rubbing her eyes to unsuccessfully remove the flashing images from her mind, she wished that she had minded the sign this one time. Flashes of white skin pressed against green, tangled limbs and rumpled sheets would probably haunt her nightmares forever.
13: Colors
Golden specks in pools of swirling magenta, pale green skin with a light rosy tint, soft fuzz of black hair... both children were a mix of so many different colors. And so, so beautiful. They were hybrids, mixes of two species, and they combined the best of both in themselves.
14: Cruel
It was cruel. Probably unreasonably so. But Zim didn't care. Bluish blood splattered onto his combat boots as his mate took out his rage on his Tallest. No.. not „his" Tallest anymore. His new Tallest was currently beating the ex-leaders into bloody messes, while he watched with glowing eyes. A red eyeball bounced wetly in his direction, to stop near his boot. The screaming had died down and all that was heard now were strangled grunts and Dib's heavy breathing, as he finished ripping away flesh and breaking bones. Zim watched, fascinated as the blood covered male straightened, towering tall and proud above the bloody figures that had once been the most powerful leaders in the universe. It had been cruel. They had suffered, Dib had made sure of that. And it was the most satisfying thing Zim had ever witnessed. Stepping onto the eyeball as he moved forward, the petite irken all but jumped his mate, finding himself in a passionate kiss, tasting the blood from Dib's skin. Revenge was sweet.
15: Kings, Queens, and Jokers
With a twitch of nonexistent eyebrows, Zim threw the cards into the air, huffing in annoyance. „This game is stoopid." Dib chuckled and just nodded. With all his intelligence and knowledge of highly advanced technology, the little alien was unable to remember even the simplest rules of playing cards.
16: Run Free
It was a sort of last request and Zim was all too happy to grant it. Dib ran across green and golden fields, barefoot, not paying attention where he was going or what was waiting for him in the near future. He just ran, enjoying the feel of cool grass and warm sunlight, the wind on his skin and the sound of insects and birds and rustling clothes. He wanted to remember this feeling, the few sensations that were worth paying tribute to. In a few days, it all would be gone, reduced to nothing but ash and dust. He ran and ran and burned this very moment into his memory.
17: Where are the Crackers?
„Where are the damn crackers?" Dib rubbed his forehead with a weary sigh. „You ate them, Zim. ALL of them. And I already told you, I will get you new ones." He was just in the process of pulling on his jacket to go to the all-night store. He knew it wasn't the alien's fault. His hormones made him have these cravings, but sometimes, Dib wished he could just have one single night in which he wouldn't be forced to wake up and go shopping for whatever snacks his pregnant mate was craving.
18: Life
When he had been activated, it had been just that. He had jumped into existence, from one second to the next he was alive, conscious and self-sufficient. His race reproduced mechanically, they were all clones and almost no one really remembered how it had been before that. Zim did. As he curled up in his organic nest, exhausted and content, he watched the two tiny beings squirm in his hands. They weren't self-sufficient yet, they didn't have much of a consciousness yet. But at the same time, to Zim, they already were the most perfect beings to ever exist.
19: R is for Revenge
The air was filled with smoke and screams, thick and heavy as the wind blew the stench of burning flesh into his face. Calmly, he walked through the violent chaos that had once been his home, grinning in satisfaction. Once spotted, there were several people rushing towards him, panicked, begging, desperate... filthy. They begged him to save them... to use his knowledge to end their suffering and stop the destruction. They promised to do everything, to believe everything he said. And he just kept grinning, cruel eyes looking down at them, and he told them „No." Delight filled him at their terror, the realization that he wasn't their savior. Not anymore.
Laughter, loud, ecstatic, insane... Dib watched with keen eyes as each and every one of them perished, along with this city... along with this country... along with this very planet. They did not deserve to be saved. They hadn't wanted to be saved when they had still had the chance. Now it was HIS turn to laugh at them. Indeed, the saying was true. Revenge was sweet.
20: Burning
It burned. Strangely enough, it wasn't unpleasant at all. It was a hot prickling that filled his mouth and covered his skin wherever Dib's lips and tongue touched. When the burning sensation moved lower, his quiet sighs and gasps turned into moans and cries, begging to feel that heat everywhere at once.
.
.
Anyway.
My main storyline starts with the "bolognius maximus" episode, where Zim and Dib get infected with bologna-DNA. Following this incident, they work together to find a cure. It takes only a little while to get rid of the mutations, but it takes years to get rid of all traces of bologna-DNA. They mix their blood and DNA to create something strong enough to remove it. Due to that, Dib becomes part irken, Zim part human. Because of his his even more "crazy" behaviour and his continued claims about the supernatural, Dib is put into the crazy house for boys for half a year. Zim breaks him out and they go into hiding in his undergroudn base. Sometime during that time, Zim gets told by his Tallest that he is an exile and they want him dead. Dib, suffering from recurring fits of insanity (the crazy house incident made him snap) decides to become Zim's new Tallest and take over the irken empire.
I will not tell you much more here, since it would spoil the real fic I'm currently writing. But it might help you understand what is happening here :)
If you're still confused, drop me a note or comment and I'll do my best to explain