As they landed in the opened roof of Zims house, Dib awoke Gaz and returned his coat to his person. The ship came to a bumpy stop and they all spilled out down into the living room. Tak instantly carried on walking, not turning back.
"Tak?" Dib shuffled uncomfortably, "Where're you going?"
She hesitated by the open door, "Away from here. You've all cause me enough trouble and... I've got some things to sort out."
"You can't just leave!" Dib exclaimed.
"Bye."
With that, she was gone. Dib rushed out into the street, calling her name, but there was no sign of her. Mimi brushed against GIR's legs and then swiftly slithered away, following her master. Dib ticked over a nearby trash can in anger and stormed back into the house. As he walked in, Zim's computer was folding away into the ceiling and Gaz was curled up on the sofa. GIR, eyes tearing, peered out of the window.
"I miss you Mimi..." he muttered, waving at nothing in particular.
"The spare part for the machine will arrive tomorrow afternoon." Zim informed him.
Dib shrugged and looked at the pair of them, "Whatever... I'm going home."
"I'll be home in a while, is that okay?"
Dib paused, Gaz never asked his permission to stay out. He nodded and carried on, he didn't really care about her being alone with Zim. At that moment, he didn't care about anything.
Gaz watched him leave, feeling a strange sense of sympathy for her brother. Zim sensed her pity and wrapped an arm around her.
"It's not right, seeing him like that." she stated, leaning into him.
"Stupid Dib, I can't even enjoy his sufferings!" Zim exclaimed.
Gaz smiled to herself, she'd missed him. She lifted her head and kissed him gently on the cheek before getting to her feet.
"You're leaving?"
"I'd better head home and get some food ready, Dib won't be home till late, he does this sometimes when he's upset. Sometimes he doesn't come home all night."
"Then I will come with you. By the way, this is yours."
He reached into his PAK and pulled out a bent and slightly singed pendant in the shape of a skull. He tied it around her neck and brushed off some of the ash. She caught his hands and pulled him closer, kissing his lips softly.
"Thanks." she muttered, ducking to hide to blush.
Zim smirked at her embarrassment. Victory for Zim! He put on his disguise and walked out into the night with her.
On the other side of the neighbourhood, Dib stood on the bridge over the lake in the park. So much was going on in his head that he was sure it was going to implode. He understood that there was no way he was going to be able to separate Gaz and Zim and how ever much the idea sickened him, he had accepted it. Now it proved a perfect excuse to watch him further. The slightest mistake that alien made, he would be ready. But, that wasn't all that he was thinking about. It was Tak.
He had never quite known what to think about her. When they first met, it was like he'd found a real friend for the fist time. Then it turned out she was Irken and was just as dangerous as Zim. For the past year he had been fixing her ship for his own uses, but now he wondered if it was for a different cause, to find her? So it would be ready when she came back? He wasn't sure. All he knew was that now, he wanted to find her and help her. Right now, he didn't care that she was Irken, she was a defect now, just like him.
There was a splash below him and a scream of agony. Dib was thrown from his thoughts and leaned over the edge of the bridge looking into the water. Ripples like silver dances along the black water, there was a steam hovering over a single spot in the water, a horrible burning smell wafted through the air. There was another scream of pain. Dib threw off his coat jumped into the water and his hands found a body, it's skin was blistering under his grip. He grimaced in disgust but held tight, dragging it through the water until the got to land. Dib looked down at the soaked figure.
"Tak? What the hell do you think you're doing?" he cried.
A sleek black cat swooped into view and started tugging on his sleeve towards a tent further up the park. He nodded and carried the unusually light body in the direction Mimi was leading him to. He gasped in wonder at the amount of alien technology that was fixed inside. He lay her down and gagged at the smell of her sizzling skin. It seemed that even when she was in human form, her skin was still of Irken nature.
Dib held his breath and started undressing Tak from her sodden clothes, keeping his eyes on her head. He wanted to help her not pervert on her. He felt Mimi nudging his side and saw that she had brought his coat back, he thanked her and wrapped it around Tak. Mimi started nuzzling Tak's head to absorb the water in her hair. After at least an hour had passed Tak opened her eyes. She shrieked in horror at her undressed body and clutched the coat around her, she glared up at Dib who was now close to having her clothes dry.
"What the Irk is going on here?" she demanded.
"I could ask the same question... more or less. What were you thinking jumping into the lake?"
"I was going to see if this human form would withstand water."
"Don't lie to me!"
She looked into those determined chocolate eyes and sighed, "If I'm not an invader, what am I?"
Dib groaned, "There's more to Earth than invading it!"
Tak sank back into her bed and covered her eyes as string instruments started morosely calling around them. Dib rolled his eyes, perfect...
(I'm with you - Avril Lavigne)
Tak:
I saw you on the bridge, all alone in the dark,
I just wanted to talk to you...
I don't know what to say, I want the pain to end,
I failed and then I just gave in...
Why did you try to go and save me?
Being with you confuses me!
It's a damn long night, trying to figure out my life,
why'd you, follow me out here I don't get you,
I don't know what to do but you're,
always there, in my mind...
Dib:
So you feel out of place, and sent out in disgrace,
It seems we're not so different.
Nothing going right, and everything's a mess,
But I'll be right here by your side.
I saved you, I like you, I don't want to see you get hurt...
It's a damn hard life, but I will help out through it.
You know, Earth's not so bad when you give it a chance,
I do get what you are but I... I don't care...
I don't care... That's right...
Both:
Why is everything so confusing? Maybe we're just out of our minds?
Dib turned away while she dressed herself, when she tapped him on the shoulder for the all clear, she smiled at him and grabbed his hand. He froze, not really knowing what to do. She looked into his eyes and could feel herself blushing. Dib noticed that she was actually really pretty, but then he realised, she was always pretty, Irken form or human. He didn't care what she was. She looked at herself holding his hand, their fingers laced together.
Tak:
It's a damn cold night, Trying to figure out this life,
Won't you, take me out of here, make me feel safe,
I do get what we're like but I...
I don't care!
I know now!
I'm giving up on Irk my life's here now,
Who knows what is down, the line,
I'm with you! (x2)
Both:
Stay with me right now I will protect you,
I do get what you are but I...
I don't care...
I'm with you...
I'm with you.
Tak swallowed her conflictions and with her free hand, cupped his head and pulled him closer to her. She pushed her lips against his and closed her eyes. Dib's eyes widened in surprise, almost exceeding the size of his glasses and looked at her, kissing him. That was it, he thought, that's done it. He wrapped his arms around her and closed his eyes, breathing her in. When they broke apart, they wished that they hadn't.
"You got a proper place to stay?" he asked, face reddening.
"Just here..."
"No you don't." he corrected, "You can stay with me until things get sorted out."
He started packing a few of her things while she watched in admiration. He had gotten more firm since they had first met, he had gotten more... amazing.
"You'd let me stay, with you?"
He smiled as they left the tent, Mimi skulking behind, and wrapped his fingers around hers, he thought back to the music they had just left behind.
"I'm with you, remember?"