41: Sealed in Blood
It had been years ago, when Zim had tried tempering with his DNA, pulling a prank whose outcome neither could have expected. In return, Dib had infected him with the same virus. The months after that incident were spent in Dib's lab, trying to figure out a cure. The mutations to their bodies weren't that hard to undo, but the invisible changes to both their DNA were harder to fix. In the end, they had to mix irken with human DNA, to create something strong enough to erase the unwanted substance. It left them both with traces of each other. It was a connection so deep it was frightening. After a while, though, it stopped being scary and unwanted... and became precious instead. They were inseparable.

42: Impossible
Impossible... a word that didn't seem to exist for the green-skinned alien. It was impossible for a single being to overthrow a whole planet's inhabitants? Yet, Zim had done it. It was impossible for an irken defect to be anything else than useless? Yet, Zim had proven them wrong. It was impossible for an irken to reproduce? Yet the twins were proof enough that it wasn't. It was impossible to change the laws of time and space? Well... at some point, Dib was sure, Zim would manage even that.

43: Party
Never had either of them been invited to a party. Dib had stopped caring at some point, and Zim never had to begin with. But they enjoyed their private little parties. When they met in Zim's house, turned up the volume, listening to human and irken music alike. Sometimes, they danced. Sometimes they drank. Most of the time, they just enjoyed each other's company.

44: Sparkle
Magenta Red. Pink. Changing colors with even the tiniest of movements, with each change in lighting... Dib could stare into those huge, alien eyes for hours and not get bored for a single second. In return, Zim stared into human eyes, wondering at how, even with the small size of them, they held so much life and emotion. It was a sparkle he hadn't seen in any other's eyes before, no matter the species.

45: Be a Man
„Don't act like such a smeet, Dib-thing." Zim chided, shaking his head at the pained whimpers and gasps. „How do the hyuumans say? Act like a man!" Dib tried coming up with a witty remark or at least a half-hearted complaint... but it was hard to do, when your former alien enemy, now comrade, was trying to attach an alien piece of technology directly to your spine, while mechanical tendrils forced their way through your body. Damn... getting a PAK certainly was unpleasant.

46: Go For a Swim
„Stoopid Dib-stink! Have you already forgotten that-"

„No, I haven't. But I promise, the water is clean! It's a pool, I tested it. It is safe, even for you." Dib smiled patiently, stepping closer to the indoor pool. „Come on, just try. You can put a fingertip in and see it's perfectly clean and won't burn your perfectly green skin." Still, Zim hesitated. „But, I can't..."

„Swim? Don't worry, I'll not let you drown. Trust me..." the last words did the trick and Zim moved closer, wondering how swimming in a thin liquid like water would feel like. On his home planet, the cleaning liquids usually were more like goo, thicker and sticky. Surely his body would just sink like a brick, but the heavier human managed just fine, gliding through the clear substance. If he'd sink, Dib would sink with him, Zim was going to make sure of that.

47: Am I Dreaming?
Through the fevered fog, Dib blinked at the blurry green blotch above him. It moved and pushed something into his mouth. The more he thought about it, the surer he was that it had to be a spoon. With a thick liquid on it. The bittersweet taste made his stomach lurch for a moment, before it surprisingly settled and calmed. The green blotch vanished a moment, there was muffled complaining, but Dib wasn't able to make out words. Something cold and wet was dropped over his burning forehead... a towel? „Am I dreaming...?" he croaked, unable to tell with his fever. As it leant closer, the green blotch became a little less blotchy and Dib could make out two annoyed, pink eyes. „Shut your mouth, Dib-beast and stop being sick. Zim would think you humans were at least immune to your own germs. Get better or I'll kick you out." Dib smiled. If it was a dream, it was a good one.

48: Too Good To Be True
Everywhere he looked, there were snacks, piled on his fake kitchen counter, covering most of his living room table and he was covered in delicious sweets and doughnuts as well. No matter where he turned, he was faced with the most exquisite treats. It was too good to be true. And sadly... it was. Just as he was about to take a bite, he jerked into consciousness again, blinking about confusedly. Dib was leaning over him, looking both relieved and a little worried. His drug-induced hallucinations were over and he came back to reality slowly. „Zim wanted those doughnuts..." he slurred and Dib had to chuckle. „Don't worry, spaceboy. I'll get you as many as you want once you're back on your feet."

49: BAD
„This is bad... how did you even manage that?" Dib tried to gauge the situation, unable to stop the amused grin from tugging at his lips. The sour look that his mate gave him could have made stones cower in fear, but the human was far too used to it by now. Somehow, the irken ex-invader had managed to tangle his PAK-legs so hopelessly into the wiring of his lab, that he was now trapped and dangling from the ceiling in a helpless, annoyed bundle. „Dib-beast, Zim swears that if you don't get-"

„You out from there right now, you'll have my head and use it as a snack bowl. I know, Zim. Just give me a moment to get up there and I'll see what I can do." He laughed, unable to keep it in anymore.

50: 50%
With loving eyes, Dib watched the twins sleep, brushing gentle fingertips over the pale green skin. They were a perfect mix between his mate and himself. The tiny bodies were smaller and thinner than a human infant's, yet seemingly stronger. Smooth, warm skin a lighter shade of green than the usual irken hue and on their heads were both tiny lekku and a soft fuzz of human hair. Dib smiled, pressing a kiss to his daughter's forehead and one to his son's cheek, quietly getting up from kneeling by the crib. They were 50 percent irken, and 50 percent human... and 100 percent perfect.

51: Elemental Tempest
The universe was vast. That much Dib had expected. But not the wonders he'd see. There were supernovae, which were astonishing to watch. And the beautiful, huge nebulae. But what he saw right now was purely mindblowing. It was the birth of a star. It went much faster than he had thought it would, and there were so many colors, wild swirls and soft looking, cloud-like structures around a blazing center. It was as if all elements were dancing in a wild storm, consolidating to form a sun that would maybe give life to a planet at some point. The wonder in his golden eyes was child-like and pure. Watching this display of sheer energy made him feel insignificant and small. It calmed him and soothed his insanity-plagued mind.

52: Too Late

„It's too late to save them." It's what Zim told him. And for some reason, Dib smiled. Too late... from this moment on, he wouldn't have to fight anymore. He could relax and surrender, be a slave to the alien that fulfilled his every bidding. Giving up had never felt this good.

53: But I DIDN'T Do It

Magenta eyes stared at the file in Dib's hand, „evidence" written on the cover. He knew inside were photos of him without his disguise, videos, proof of his being an alien. Golden eyes met his and they just looked at each other, unable to speak for a long while. Finally, Zim opened his mouth. „You... could have turned me over to the earth authorities..." Dib nodded slowly. „But I DIDN'T do it." It took another moment, information sinking in slowly. „Why...?" The answer he got wasn't one he had expected. But then again, he hadn't expected the human to spare him, either.

54: Hot

It was hot... Zim didn't understand why. Being close to the Dib made a strange heat spread in his middle, making him shiver from the cooler air around him. At first, he had thought something was wrong with him. But several check-ups from his computer confirmed that he was completely healthy. It was different from arousal, Zim could tell. The heat was not as sharp, yet more intense. Such a strange feeling. It must be one of the human emotions or reactions he had inherited when their DNA had mixed. This kind of heat spiked every time Dib was close to him, especially when he touched him in a softer manner. Like right now. The warm, large, human hands smoothed back his lekku softly, while Zim rested against Dib's broad chest. And his own felt like it would burst with this wonderful burning heat inside.

55: Optimism
No matter what obstacles they met and what dangers and problems they had to face... if there was something that kept the human going, it was Zim's sheer unstoppable, unbreakable optimism. Who cared if it bordered dangerously on insanity? If Zim claimed they could do it, they *would* do it.

56: Lucky 13
„How is this even logical? Zim thought this number was supposed to be bad luck. How can it be lucky, then?" Dib sighed wearily and explained it all to him over again, already regretting mentioning that movie to him.

57: I'm In
Zim blinked his large eyes at the human before him, positive he had not heard what he had heard a moment ago. Either that, or the fragile string that had held the boy's sanity had finally snapped and he had lost his mind. Sensing his stunned confusion, Dib stepped closer, confident and serious. „I'm in. I'll join you. I'm tired of trying to save beings that won't so much as acknowledge me as one of their own." The first impulse was to laugh and refuse. But the alien instead found himself offering his hand in acceptance.

58: Slightly Disturbed

In his slightly more sane moments, Dib knew their relationship was dysfunctional, affected by codependency and their lingering, subliminal obsession for each other. That, plus the dire need for comfort and company that bound them to each other. Both had lost their reason, their homes and their people, forced to go against all laws and morals and forge this strange companionship. Dib had become Zim's Tallest, the single most powerful leader in the known universe. And Zim bowed to his each and every will. In return, Dib offered everything he had to his mate, fulfilling his each and every wish. They were slaves to each other, without one being a master. It was disturbing and it was insane. But it was the only way for them. And within this giant mess of chaos and unhealthy thoughts, Dib found himself happy. Happier than he had ever been in all his years on earth. Maybe it was the insanity clawing at his genius mind, maybe it was all his imagination, but it didn't matter. He was happy and Zim was happy. That was all that mattered.

59: Loathing
It was what was in the Tallest's eyes when they took away his sole purpose for existence. It was what was in his mate's eyes, when he took their lives in retaliation for the hurt they had caused him.

60: Worse
It had started bad. Explosions and earthquakes all around, terrified screaming filled the air, along with the stench of burning flesh. Rather than watching the chaos below, Zim watched his mate as he stared at the scene unfolding before them. There it was again. That insane glow in his golden eyes. It was creepy and Zim silently prayed he would never be on the receiving end of that stare. By the way Dib's shoulders shook in soundless laughter, Zim knew it would only get worse from here. He had witnessed how his mate had dealt with the former Tallest and knew that he would take out his insanity on the people below. Pressing a three-fingered hand to his belly, over the new life growing inside, Zim only hoped the bloody revenge would serve Dib as a sort of catharsis.