**Note: Hmm… I hope I'm doing a good job on this story….

Chapter 6—Enjoy! ^_^

Chapter 6: Bonding

"Sure I can. I'll pass by to pick up my car and then head to the grocery store. I have to get some things as well, so I might take a while." Kate said through the phone.

Nira walked towards the living room, "Okay. Thanks Kate!"

"No problem." She hung up.

Nira placed the phone back in its holder and walked towards the kitchen and opened the refrigerator. She didn't know why she did it; she knew there was hardly any food inside. Letting out a sigh she took out a bottle of water and drank from it.

XXXX

Out on the streets, the sky began to get a bit darker by the minute and the wind began to blow softly. Walking on the streets without a care in the world was Zim and GIR. The Irken had taken the leash off his small SIR Unit and allowed him to run free.

GIR was happily running around, squealing, and jumping into the remaining puddles at times. As for Zim, he walked around the puddles and managed to dodge GIR's splashes. "GIR! Enough!"

The little robot stopped before jumping into yet another puddle. He turned around and looked at his master with a concerned look, "Master, why are you sad?"

"…." Zim crossed his arms and looked away, "I'm just remembering."

GIR walked towards him, "What?"

"Irk."

"Aw, don't be sad, master. I know what'll make you feel better."

Zim gave him a puzzled look, "Huh?"

The little robot waved his arms rapidly, "Waffles! Tasty waffles!"

Zim's right eye began to twitch.

GIR just looked up at him and gave him a smile.

After a while, the Irken's annoyed expression slowly changed to a sweet and caring expression. He knew what GIR was trying to do and he really appreciated it. If anything, he could say—and he dared to say, GIR was the only one he could consider family.

"Thanks, GIR… but maybe later."

"Ookie dookie…"

Zim gave him a nod then looked around. His arms dropped and hanged from his sides, he then rubbed the back of his head with his left arm, "Um, GIR… where exactly are we?"

XXXX

"You're out early."

Kate just shrugged, "My last class was cancelled at the last minute."

"Fun."

"So, what do you need me to get?"

Nira reached into her back pocket and brought out a note. "This is the list."

Kate took it and opened it. She scanned through it, "Veggie-head…"

Nira chuckled and reached into her front left pocket, "And here's the money."

"Okay. I'm going to pick up some things as well so I might take a while."

"Okay."

Kate gives her a small nod and leaves. Nira closed the door and returned to the couch. She sat there, looking down at her feet. She felt a knot in her throat and an immense pain in her chest… the conversation with her father had affected her emotionally. Her art mid-term was in two months and she needed to think of something to paint. A few more seconds passed before Nira rose from the couch and walked to her room.

XXXX

Outside, the small SIR Unit was screaming his head off and running around in circles while Zim was trying his best to recognize the surroundings but couldn't concentrate due to the screams of GIR. He looked down at his small robot with an annoyed glare but before he could say anything, the Irken let out a hiss of pain as a raindrop landed on the back of his neck.

He rubbed his neck lightly with his left hand and looked up. The clouds had turned darker and the wind was blowing colder. A storm was coming… and he would be in the middle of it.

Zim looked at his SIR Unit, "GIR!"

The little robot stopped and saluted, "Yes, sir?"

"We need to get home quickly or find a place to stay before the rain starts."

"Why?"

"Because GIR…. I'm allergic to earth water."

"Right!" GIR replied in a high pitch voice.

They proceeded to walk but soon the rain began to fall and Zim began to feel an extremely painful burn on his body. Still, he continued to walk, biting his lower lip and did his best to not give in to the pain.

GIR on the other hand, was oblivious to the pain his master was going through. He just walked happily beside him moving his head to the sides humming the Doom Song. Then, as they walked around a corner, the little green dog took a hold of his master's hand. That sudden action surprised Zim and made him look down at his little robot. As random and as weird GIR was, this was very surprising… he had never shown any signs of affection other than randomly jumping on his head and hugging him.

The Irken then stopped and fell to his knees. The pain was now unbearable and his limbs refused to move. He shut his eyes tightly, trying to make his body move, only it didn't.

GIR then began to pull desperately his master's arm, "Master! We have to keep going!"

"I can't, GIR… it hurts too much…" Zim said in between painful gasps.

"What do I do? What do I do?!" GIR cried desperately.

Zim didn't reply. By now he was in too much pain to even speak… with the last bit of strength he had left, he managed to look up. In the distance, he managed to see a black car and a girl walking out of it with bags in her hands. He then saw her walk up some steps and knock on a door. She wasn't that far away so he could hear her speak, "Nira! Open up!"

Nira…

"GIR… once that girl leaves… go to that house… and tell Nira… I…"

He couldn't finish. The pain finally got the best of him and knocked him unconscious. Tears began to emerge from the little robot's eyes as he saw his master on the ground. He looked back and saw the girl his master had talked about.

Once that girl left, GIR ran to the house and began to knock on the door desperately. "Kate? You forget something?" Nira called.

There was no answer, but the knocks began to get louder.

"I'm coming! Gosh, Kate," She opened the door, "what…"

Once the door was open, Nira was surprised to see a small green dog at her steps, "A dog?"

"Are you Nira?"

Her eyes grew, "Y-yeah…"

"My master needs help!" GIR said pointing to the spot where Zim was, "He's in so much pain he fainted!"

Nira looked out; her eyes grew when she saw Zim lying on the concrete ground. Without second thought, Nira ran out to aid Zim. GIR was right behind her as she approached him.

"Zim! ZIM!"

There was no movement or response. She managed to pull his right arm over her shoulder and stand up. To her surprise, Zim was very light… as if he hadn't eaten in days. Once she had a good grip of him, she began to walk back to her apartment.

Once inside, GIR closed the door behind them and Nira placed Zim on the couch. The Irken still remained unconscious and his body looked burnt.

Nira walked into the bathroom and brought out a towel. She gave it to the small dog and told him to dry Zim. The SIR Unit saluted and took the towel from her. She then walked to her room and closed the door.

XXXX

Zim woke up ten minutes later. His body ached a little but he no longer felt the burning sensation. He took a moment to look around, it wasn't his house… so where was he? His thoughts were soon interrupted by the squeal of his SIR Unit. "You're alive!"

The Irken sat up, "Of course I am… mgh…"

"Are you okay, Zim?"

He looked up, "Nira?"

The human girl walked towards them and sat on the table that rested in front of the couch. "You're still soaked."

"I'll live…"

She gave him a worried look, "You scared me… seeing you unconscious on the ground… what happened?"

Zim crossed his arms, "Why so worried about Zim?"

Her eyes widened and looked at him in disbelief, "We're friends… right?"

"…. I guess."

"So what happen?"

"It's just an allergic reaction."

Nira gave him a puzzled look, "You're allergic to water?"

"Just earth water."

GIR then walked over to Nira and returned the towel, "Here ya go!"

"Thanks…" Nira said as she took the towel.

Zim the looked down at his SIR Unit, "GIR, remove your costume before the water gets to your brains!"

"Ookie dookie…"

"Uh, could I use the towel?"

"Sure." She handed it to him.

GIR began to remove his costume, and Nira let out a soft sigh of relief as she noticed the "dog" wasn't in fact a dog, but a small robot. "Zim?"

"Hm?"

"If you're allergic to earth water why are you here?"

Zim looked away, "For the same reason you live here and not with your father."

Her eyes widen, "H-How do you know about that?"

"Kate told me."

Nira crossed her arms and looked away, "Great…"

Zim placed the towel on his head and began to dry his wig, being careful not to accidentally taking it off. "She hesitated too… she thought I might hurt you or stalk you if she told me about you."

She looked at him, "Why did you ask her?"

"I was just curious as of why you were nice to me…"

"You could've asked me."

"I wanted to hear it from her." He removed the towel from his head and returned it to Nira.

She took the towel from him and remained silent for a while, "Please… don't tell anyone about that…"

"I won't. I know how you feel."

"I doubt it…"

The Irken crossed his arms, "I do. You see, I… was banned from my home planet."

**Soo… how was it? I hope it was good! BTW! A friend suggested that the All Mighty Tallest should come in and that there should be a little romance between Zim and Nira (I'm usually not used to Zim x OCs but I want to know YOUR opinion.) What do you guys think? Be honest please!