xoAmaxi
Chapter 31
EVIL CLIFFHANGER IS EVIL.
I REALLY love this chapter.
It's so action-packed, and it's cute that Zim is so concerned about Gaz.
All the while she's enjoying every second of these fights.
It's truly good to see Gaz beating the heck out of.. stuff.. again.
But something tells me, at some point, something really big and bad is going to happen o.o
.. You know, I may have said this before, but I have to say it again; I have absolutely NO IDEA how this story is going to end. Seriously. The goodness is so amazing that I don't want it to end D:
- Amaxiiii, eagerly waiting for chapter 32!
So many of you bitched (I used that word affectionately) at my unnecessary cliff-hanger.
BUT IT WAS TOTALLY NECESSARY. MY STORY HASN'T HAD ONE IN A WHILE, I NEEDED YOU ALL TO SQUIRM, LIKE I ALWAYS DO! D:
Hahaha, you know you guys love me.
And, if you can believe it, I was not looking forward to writing that part, with the fight and how Zim and Gaz were reacting to it and what not. I was putting it off as long as possible, so I'm glad you liked it. ^_^
Honestly, I wasn't quite sure how this was going to end either. But now I do, obviously. XD
ShugoCharaLovey
Chapter 5
at first i was like . . . who in heavens name is 'skoodge'? then it hit me. . the fat one XD
Ahahahaha! I did that too, when I started looking up ZAGR stories. I was like . . . Skoodge . . . Skoodge . . . OH YEAH! THAT ONE THAT GOT SHOT OUT OF A CANNON, RIGHT!
I like your "the fat one" comment better.
Torrasque666
Chapter 31
Me-sa love cliffhangas. They add a nice...how you say...epicness...to a story. And I have to admit, I also check this story regularly. Except its more of a daily thing than hourly. I only do that when I'm in the middle of a group Roleplay and its almost done. Which by the way, we did finish one. I'll probably have it up in 2 weeks. Gotta break it down and make it flow a bit better first. And thanks for your critique of my writing sample.
Oh joy, SOMEONE appreciates my suspense. :D
Hehe, story-obsession. Been there, done that, am still doing it. Glad I've got such loyal readers. ^_^
Of course, always happy to help with the critiqueing, even if I am not particularly good at it.
Invader Johnny
Chapter 31
Heh, I knew Gaz was gong to fight some alien animal.
After all Irkens have a liking to sadistic games much like the Romans did centuries ago as proved a deleted scene from "The Nightmar Bgins" where Zim had to fight a Digestor in order to gain the honor of getting a planet to invade.
Although I was HOPING for the Digestor to be Gaz's victim the Slongoplax was certanly a show I WISHED that got animated.
I loved Gaz's cruelty to alien animals LOL.
Invader Johnny Signing Off.
sadfkjafdgkjafgkad DELETED SCENE? What, I didn't . . . !
GAH! Every time I talk to my sister, I feel like an Invader Zim fan of the year, but every time you review and tell me something, I feel so uninformed! I am going to steal your knowledge one of these days, I swear! Now I'm going to go look this up on the internet you sly little dog you! Meh!
. . . Digestor . . . grumble grumble . . .
In no ways am I mad at you though. You, sir, are just keeping me on my toes, of which I appreciate greatly. Especially since your brain comes in handy to my learning about Invader Zim.
So thanks!
TimIsaFunSucker
Chapter 31
A cliffhanger? Oh you retched thing, you! I love you and hate you at the same time right now! I just wanted to let you know that this series is by far my favorite collection of ZaGr stories EVER!
Ahahaha, love/hate. I just have that type of effect on people. (win)
Well gee, I am flattered! You gets a cookie! (throws delicious treat at you)
QUICKLY, EAT IT!
ForceWalker
Chapter 31
NO! NOT THE EVIL CLIFFHANGER! WHY MUST YOU TORTURE US WITH THE EVIL CLIFFHANGER! WHY?
...But seriously, we all know Gaz survives. I mean, it would kill the story if she's dead at this point.
And finally Dib learns the truth. And man, it's hard not to ahte Dr. Membrane after knowing what he's put both Tak and Dib through! But what does this mean for the two of them now?
Because I can. :D
And oh, Tak and Dib's reactions? Priceless.
Potatoes4Eva
While you didn't review, I wanted to let you know: Go on utube /watchv=ZkdHMpTFB6o&list=PL8DB7E33B710B87EB&index=1&feature=plpp
That's my video, but it ain't done yet.
cheddarbiscuit
And since you harassed me, by FAR, the most about Tak, I have a feeling you are going to adore this chapter.
See! I pay attention to you all and your personalities!
Another song/title.
But my music is kick-ass, so it's alright. (thumbs up) ;)
I expect you all to be screaming like the little fan-girls you all are (whether you have a dangler or not) by the end of this chapter! MWAHAHAHAHA!
Enjoy.
Chapter 32
"Bruises and Bitemarks"
Zim was ready to jump from the stands.
He only resisted because Gaz would kill him if he did.
The crowd was still on their feet, going insane as Gaz's lithe form, on her back, sat up and shook her hair out. The beast was dead, smoking, blasted a few feet from where it had been. Even if she refused to show it, Zim knew how much that must have taken out of her.
Anything to make an impression.
Zim wasn't sure if he should scream at her or just be relieved she was still alive.
Red laughed, nudging Zim again. "Anxious, Zim?"
Gaz got up slowly, walking over to the monster and retrieving her weapon from it's chest with a jerk backwards. She connected the hilts, letting them return to their original small, disguised shape. She draped it around her neck, turning towards the door and ignoring the excited crowd of violent Irkens around her. Zim was immediately hurrying out of the arena, to get downstairs, to the back, where Gaz would be taken. The Tallest laughed at him as he darted off but made no move to stop him or say anything to tease him.
They knew better then to tease an Irken about their mate.
Downstairs, a few rather congratulatory Irkens lead her into her own back room, like a dressing room, except for fighters. The next match would be some famous person or another but honestly, she really did not care. That fight had taken about half an hour. The incessant, excited babbling of her guide made her want to hit them but she resisted, too tired. They showed her the room, still talking until she slammed the door on their face and they stopped, stunned, before eventually walking away.
As soon as their footsteps faded away, Gaz began swearing, clutching her side and leaning against the wall a minute. She made her way over to a couch-like piece of furniture, sitting down on it and taking deep, silent breaths. Her body was sore now that she'd burned off all of her adrenaline. The ankle the splonrg-thing or whatever had nicked, tripping her, was especially sore, as were her hands. Gaz hadn't felt so bad since that period during the LEECHY incident, after Zim had (reluctantly) saved her from getting mugged.
Except now she felt about ten times worse.
Her wrists, too, hurt from the fall, as did her side, which was what she had actually landed after the blast. Shortly before the smoke cleared away she'd rolled onto her back, to ease the pressure off that side. No doubt she would have bruises in the morning. But aside from injuries, she was covered in filth. She had blood (that was not hers) on her palms and clothes, from being under the beast. The dirt (or whatever it was) from the floor of the arena, mixed with the blood, was stuck to her in different patches on both her clothes and skin.
All in all, she was not the most attractive of sights at the moment.
"At least there aren't any scratches," she muttered, trying to figure out how to get the armor off of her without hurting herself.
A knock on the door made her want to bang her head against the wall.
"Gaz?" Zim called anxiously through the door.
She sighed. It was either now or never. And at least he would be useful, even if he was going to be obnoxious about how she looked.
"Come in, Zim," Gaz called back, reluctantly, still trying to get the damn vest-like object off.
The door opened and she ignored his silent staring until it had gone on for a minute or so, looking up and locking eyes with him, irritated. Then he was next to her, picking her up smoothly, almost painlessly (which was quite impressive, since everything hurt, really) and walking down the hallway with her. No one occupied the halls, as the next fight had already begun.
Both of them remained silent as he carried her all the way to the elevator, holding her silently while they rode up to the floor with their room and even when they got inside. He simply set her down on the bed, examining her speculatively from the opposite side of the room, eyes flicking across her form.
"You can either stand there or help me get this damned thing off," She hissed, gesturing to the armor.
At once he snapped out of it and was by her side, sitting next to her. She turned away from him so that he could remove the straps for her, which Zim did quickly and smoothly. He winced when she hissed as he helped her slide it off of herself, since it was clear Gaz was incapable of doing so herself.
Zim scowled shortly after, "I should've never let you do this."
And so it begins, Gaz thought darkly.
Gaz rolled her eyes. "I'm just sore, Zim. No cuts, just sore and tired."
"Do not pretend you are fine for Zim's sake!" He hissed, making her look down at her lap. His hands went to the sleeves, taking especial care with her, despite his obvious irritation. "You are injured, and it is my fault for not intervening!"
"If it's anyone's, it's mine for showing off!" Gaz snapped back. "If you'd have intervened, I would have killed you. You know that."
"I'd rather be dead then have you hurt like you are."
"It's just the grime, look," Gaz wiped the blood from her hands on her pants, ignoring Zim's grimace. "The blood isn't even mine. And the dirt comes off. I just need to bathe is all, really."
Zim made a face at her. Then he picked her up again, taking her into the bathroom.
"You'll find it's not water but it'll work," He insisted, setting her down on the toilet (which, thankfully, had the lid down) while he turned on the tub, removing his gloves. "It filters automatically, so you won't have to take a shower."
Gaz began slowly removing her clothes. For once, it wasn't a tease-thing; she was just honestly that sore. "Fine with me."
Zim ran his hands under the water, calculating the temperature on his PAK and comparing it to the ideal human preference temperature. After a few seconds it reached what he wanted and he paused the changer, letting the perfectly heated water fill up the tub. He glanced behind him, since his task was done, to see Gaz had yet to get her shirt off.
He sighed. For someone insisting she was fine, Gaz was doing an awful lot to prove otherwise.
Gaz's eyes snapped up at him as his hands went to her shirt, removing it for her, still gentle but efficient.
"It seems I'll be helping you," Zim said, indifferently, though disapprovingly. Gaz had a feeling it was just because she needed the help, not that he really just did not want to assist her. "Attempt to protest and I will ignore you."
Gaz decided just not to say anything. Zim stood her up, supporting most of her weight as he helped her strip. Gaz felt completely useless and it was irritating. She should be able to undress herself but the fact was that she couldn't because she was a show-off and in the end, it had cost her.
Zim picked her up again, lowering her into the water. He removed the armor of his own invader uniform, as well as the sleeves, revealing the black, sleeveless shirt underneath.
"Here," He reached up, handing her the bar of soap-substitute. "Your cleansing chalk. Unless you need my help for that as well."
Zim was being surprisingly uncondescending. He was truly just asking her where she needed help and what she could do on her own. Gaz refused to let him help her clean herself though and shook her head, rubbing the initial grime off of her body. Zim was right, the dirt, rather then just sit in the tub, leaked out into the drain. None of the water left though; it really was like a filter.
He sat next to her, by the tub, looking up at her face. "Truly, Gaz; how injured are you?"
Gaz dunked her head, coming back up and running her hands through her hair, to get the dirt out. It worked relatively well. "We'll have to see when all of the crud is gone. Although I'm pretty sure there aren't any cuts. Just a few particularly tender areas."
Zim groaned and rested his head against the side of the tub, burying his head in his arms. "Zim is a bad mate."
"Shut up before I splash you," Gaz insisted, rolling her shoulders. The hot water really was working wonders on her muscles. But it was a little too good. "Is there something in this non/water?"
"I'm surprised you noticed," Zim admitted dully, looking up at her, resting his chin on his arms. "I added in a sort of gel, to help your body relax. You'll still be sore, you just won't be quite so stiff."
"Oh," Gaz replied, continuing to bathe herself.
Zim smirked at her lack of gratitude, turning his attention back to the bruises already forming in multiple places on her skin. As the water relieved her stiff joints, Gaz was soon able to reach all of her body without pain and was, slowly, able to clean herself. By the time she was done, her eyelids were beginning to droop from exhaustion.
At once, Zim pulled the plug in the tub, releasing the non/water and wrapping a towel-like object around Gaz, lifting her up in his arms. Gaz was already half-asleep when he placed her, with still nothing but the towel around her, into their bed, having no doubt she would sleep well tonight. Zim crawled into bed beside her, holding her tightly against him, kissing her on her head.
"Sleep well, my little Gaz." He breathed in her ear, carefully keeping the worry from his voice.
A few seconds later she was asleep.
They were about as close to "outside" as one could be underground.
Tak sat, legs crossed in front of her with her hands on her knees, looking at the television screen in front of them. MiMi lay curled up on her lap, alert as always but mostly relaxed. The TV was playing live feed of the chaos going on up above, with Zim in charge. Honestly, Tak had expected more, but it was enough.
"Well . . . this is definitely not what I expected."
She glanced over her shoulder to see Dib, leaning against the door-frame in a rather brooding manner.
Tak shrugged, looking back to the screen. "Never underestimate the insanity of a situation."
"Guess I'll remember that for next time," He muttered, sitting down next to her. He paused before saying, "So, that's why you hate him, huh? You would really rather be dead then a human, if only partially?"
It took a moment but eventually she nodded, slowly. "At the time, yes."
"Tak, I gotta ask," Dib insisted, half-apologetic. "Why did you come looking for the three of us when you came to Earth?"
She became very still. But looking at MiMi and noting her lack of agitation, Dib could tell she wasn't angry. If anything, she was probably just caught off guard.
Then Tak looked down at her lap. "Because . . . I did not know . . . what else to do."
"And Zim? What do you want with him?"
She sighed, looking up at the screen again. "I thought . . . maybe he could figure out how to change me back, if I made him, since he has the technology and I do not."
Dib nodded slowly, running his hands through his hair. "I figured as much . . . Wait, 'thought'? You don't think so anymore?"
"I've been thinking about it," she replied, quietly. A bit too quietly for Tak. "Even if Zim is smarter and taller, he never studied to be a technician. I did background on him, before I came to Earth to hunt him down. Whatever procedure he attempted would only end in failure. Zim is a designer, not someone who should actually be handling machinery. A PAK is an especially delicate, sensitive piece of equipment. When I first arrived I was adjusting the these emotions. I panicked and all I could think about was returning back, by any means possible. I never thought it through and when I came to, with you there, it seemed more likely. I refused to admit my plans inevitable failure, out of pride. I . . . I am sensible enough to realize that now."
During her speech, Dib had hugged his knees to his chest, thinking. His world really sucked right now. First Gaz, now Dad. Tak seemed to be the only one being honest with him, even if she hated every moment of it. And she was the one who said that she considered them friends, not Dib.
It seemed like Tak was the only (bluntly) truthful thing Dib had left.
He turned to her, "Hey Tak?"
"Mm?" She looked back at him.
Dib offered her a weak but sincere smile. "Thanks. For telling me the truth; no matter what it was."
Her eyes widened in surprise. She blinked profusely before nodding, awkwardly, averting her eyes rather quickly. "Eh, sure. Of course."
Dib's smile grew a little confidence and amusement. "Was that a weird thing to say?"
"Yes. A bit," She replied, nodding, her mouth turned down in a slight frown. "So . . . What are you going to do about your father?"
He sighed, "He's my dad, Tak. I'm not gonna refuse to talk to him, I'm just mad at him for keeping this from me. For taking away someone's chances and breaking promises to multiple people."
Tak's brow rose. "You're mad at him because of what he did to me? Why?"
Dib snorted at her, still smiling. "We're friends. Friends are supposed to defend each other, especially with their parents. It's just code."
"Code?" She shared a look of confusion with MiMi. "What code? I've never heard of a code."
"You've never heard of the Silent Friends Code?" Dib's brow rose in disbelief. "Some invader you are, Tak."
"I was on this pitiful excuse for a planet for a single day!" Tak snapped back, hissing at him. "And I still managed to blend in perfectly with your culture. Just because I didn't know a few details doesn't mean anything! I managed to learn in less then 24 hours what took you 12 years to figure out!"
As he laughed at her, Tak began to get more irritated. However, MiMi simply hopped off her master's lap, curling up away from the quarreling beings (as there is no other category that fits them both) and ignoring them, completely unconcerned.
"Well I just think it's funny the all-knowing Tak doesn't know about something as simple as the rules of friendship," Dib retorted, smugly, folding his arms behind his head leaning back against the couch that neither of them were sitting on. He had found it strange Tak was sitting on the floor instead but it was no real concern of his.
She glowered at him, speaking sarcastically. "So then why don't you teach me 'all-knowing Dib'?"
"I don't know if I want to," He retorted casually, basking in the moment.
Tak snorted at him and picked up the remote, changing the channel. "Fine. I'd rather watch TV anyways."
At once a romance drama came on.
"Ew," The both said in unison. With a face contorted in slight disgust, Tak moved on.
"Your culture is so disgusting," She commented, scowling. "No one wishes to see another couple's shows of affections. It's gross!"
Dib's brow rose, looking at her. "You've kissed someone before?"
"I never mated," Tak retorted at once. "But just because I've never done it doesn't mean I can't be disusted by it."
"I thought you preferred experience over second-hand information." Dib questioned, intrigued now.
She snorted. "I'm willing to make an exception in this case."
Dib laughed at her attitude. "You've got the opinion of a little kid."
"Well then clearly you lose your brain cells with age!" Tak snapped back, irritated at being badgered in such a way. She huffed, crossing her arms over her chest in a stern manner. "Affection was never an interest of mine. A few Invaders attempted to court me, before I was sent to Planet Dirt of course, but none of them were quite persuasive or impressive enough."
Dib grinned at her. "High standards?"
"Incredibly," She agreed, smugly, shooting him a look of amusement. Then she sighed, looking back through her channel flipping. "Although, I suppose they've been lowered considerably, considering I am no longer Irken."
"You'd have to have the best of Earth," Dib agreed, still teasing her. "If you were to continue to be so snobby."
"I prefer 'prideful'," Tak corrected, smirking at him again. "And what about you, Dib? Do you suppose you'll be going after that little Gretchen-girl you abandoned at her cousin's house?"
Dib made a face. "I really doubt it. Gretchen's a bit too . . . domestic for me."
Tak's brow rose, "Domestic?"
Laughing at his own statement, Dib leaned back more, comfortably. "I feel like if we did go out, she would convert me into being some type of imagery. Like I was more of a character to her then her boyfriend."
"So you want the emotional aspect then," Tak ammended, glancing at MiMi, who was still curled up near the door. "Typical."
"Well you just want the bragging rights," Dib insisted back, in disbelief she was harassing him about this. "Mine makes more sense then yours anyways. If you're going to spend your life with someone, you should at least like them."
"I find mutual respect to be enough," she said with a shrug, running her hands through her hair.
Dib snorted. "You will be lonely forever then."
"Oh?" Her brow rose, eying him questioningly. "And why is that?"
He gave her a look. "You don't respect anybody Tak. Well, me, maybe, but you can't stand me."
Tak nodded, "Fair enough. I do respect you, though, Dib, if not just for the fact you and your family are probably the best this scum of a planet has to offer."
"But you would never kiss me," Dib pressed, trying to get his point across.
Her eyes narrowed. "What is it with your race and deciding that a touching of your eating-holes supposedly means something else?" She pointed to the screen, which had once again changed to another romance show, where two actors were conveniently kissing on screen. "Your kind does it all the time for pretend and you don't see them making a big deal out of it."
"Well that's because it's pretend!" He insisted. "They're getting paid to do that!"
Tak's brow rose. "So effectively, all actors who've participated in romance scenes are prostitutes?"
"No!" Dib shouted, shaking his head at her in slight aggravation. "That's . . . different . . . somehow . . . Anyways! If it was off-camera, it would mean something. Everyone knows an on-screen kiss doesn't mean anything unless there's chemistry off camera."
Tak glanced at MiMi before looking at Dib, shaking her head. "I really don't see how 'everyone' should know that. Only a small amount of your kind ever end up on television and therefore, no one else would have the experience to know."
Dib sighed, frowning at her. "Must you base everything off of experience?"
She smirked at him. "Only because it bothers you. Really though, have you ever experienced a kiss you had any feelings invested into?"
He looked away.
"What?" Tak demanded, peering closer at him, suspiciously.
Dib fidgeted, "Tak, I've never . . ."
His last words words were a mutter.
She peered closer, confused and irritated. "What? Stop mumbling, Dib, I can't hear what you're saying!"
Dib groaned, burying his face into his hands. Through his knees and though slightly muffled, he shouted out, "I've never kissed a girl!"
Tak continued to give him a look. "And so why are you acting so distraught?"
His head snapped up, "You don't think that's weird?"
"Should I?" Her head tilted to the side. Then she shrugged, uninterested. "Most of the Irken population goes without mating. It's hardly strange to me that you've never kissed a female."*
Dib made a suspicious face at her before shrugging, hugging his knees and resting his chin on them again. "I'm never going to get kissed by a girl."
Tak gave MiMi a look of disbelief. Her cat simply shrugged, turning her back on her master and facing the door.
Rolling her eyes, Tak looked up at the ceiling. "Why is it so important that you do?"
"Humans often think you become a man when you, well . . . become intimate with a female." Dib stated, carefully. He really didn't feel like going into detail with Tak. Even if she wasn't fully human, she was still a girl. While Tak may not have boundaries, Dib sure did.
However, those boundaries shattered when a grip that seemed a bit too harsh for such a slender hand gripped his chin, turning him towards his companion next to him, and her mouth planted on his.
Dib's eyes shot open in surprise and for one of the first times in his life, he really felt what hormones could do. His eyes drifted shut as one of his hands unwrapped from around his legs and one went to her neck, the other remaining limply on his knee. In the corner, MiMi was watching this with a raised brow, but otherwise hardly reacting.
After a few boundary-shattering moments of this, Tak slid away from his grasp, standing in the same fluid motion. Dib was left sitting on the floor, staring dumbstruck at the place her head had just been, his hand still paralyzed in mid-air. With a gesture of her finger, MiMi headed over to her master, flicking Dib lightly with her tail in a subtle attempt to snap him out of his stupor before she jumped on her master's shoulder.
"There," Tak insisted, hissing at him in a way far too rough to just be coming from someone who'd just initiated a kiss. "Now you can quit whining!"
Dib blinked, looking up at Tak with a look of complete shock. He might've just been imagining it, but he was pretty sure Tak flushed crimson. It was very possible with how she gritted her teeth, glaring harder at him.
"If you're going to sit there all day, fine," She snapped, taking a step back and turning away from him, leaving the room. "But I've got things to do!"
The door slammed shut behind her.
Dib's hand dropped, but that was all that changed about him. He continued to stare after her, trying to come to terms with what had happened. Tak had kissed him. She had started it, not Dib!
. . . What?
"I find mutual respect to be enough."
"I do respect you, though, Dib-."
"You'd have to have the best of Earth."
"-If not just for the fact you and your family are probably the best this scum of a planet has to offer."
"Oh, geez," Dib's hands went to his mouth as he shook his head in disbelief. "What did I just get myself into?"
Leaning against the door she had just shut, Tak's hand went to her face as MiMi peered at her master, perched comfortably on her shoulder.
"MiMi," She groaned, looking at her minion, "What did I just do?"
*So many gay jokes, so inappropriate of times. Originally ". . . or male." was going to be added to that sentence followed by a series of witty remarks but I decided it just was too hard to get back to the original point after that.
Bitemarks is because I like to make fun of kisses and say that other people are eating ("biting") each others faces off. So that was just an example of my immaturity in the title right there.
YES. I FINALLY WENT THERE. Tak and Dib kiss!
Don't you guys just love how unromantic I am with these things? I just feel like this is how things would happen. Sorry if you disagree, but, I am an IZ fanfic writer and therefore cannot afford to be so mushy about this stuff!
Setting up for an eternity that explains itself.
Confusing, no?
GOOD. YOU KNOW I LIKE IT THAT WAY. :D
Daily Quote:
"No, it's like, who just decided to be like, 'mm, I'm just going to do what my friends say, even though it could possibly kill me!' Like really!"
"What do you mean?"
"Like, who said that was a good idea to just do that? Parents give us shit for that now for whoever jumped off that bridge! Dumbasses."
"Well what I really want to know is why such a tragic and mildly stupid death became a frequent saying."
"I know! That's so disrespectful, seriously! Those poor parents!"
-That saying 'If your friends jumped off a bridge, would you do it to?' that parents always say when you say your friends are doing it.
Whether it's real or not: Echo does not approve.
Till the next chapter!
