Chapter ...seven I think?
Enjoy~
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Normal POV
"Sorry it's not something more fashionable, but-"
"No, it'll do. It covers everything, at least," Spork interupted Membrane. The Taller Irken wasn't too pleased with having to wear the drab science clothing...the goggles and headcovering were enough to drive him insane, but the coat which had a neck covering the entire lower part of his face made him feel almost suffocated. Sure, Irkens were modest, but Spork could never stand for this kind of clothing! Still...he was a former Tallest. He was taught to always be polite to those offering assistance. And he would hate to jeprodize his chances to stay with Zim by complaining.
"Ah, well, good," Membrane commented, looking a little more proud. He had taken Spork into a seperate room without assistance as a sort of test to see if the green alien would try anything. Luckily, Spork was very calm and compromising. "We should get back to the boys then. I imagine you're eager to leave,"
"Yes, very much so," Spork smiled, in spite of the fact that he knew Membrane couldn't tell.
Oo
"Dib?"
The raven-hair teen looked to Zim, still not used to the air of vulnerability around the Irken. "Yeah? What is it?"
Zim looked away to the floor, a small tint of blue on his cheeks. "Thank you,"
Dib felt his own face heat up in return. Why was it he was standing this far away? Granted, it wasn't that far but...he needed to be closer to the other because...because...
Because why...?
Clearing his throat, Dib smiled. "No problem. It's better than coming here everyday to see him, right?" Why was he so reluctant to say the other Irken's name?
"It's not just that..." Zim rubbed at his arm nervously. "Thank you for...not just this but...not taking the chance you had to expose me...to the people not here, I mean...And...for not laughing at me before. For acting the way that I had..."
"Why would I laugh at you?" Zim's darkened cheeks suddenly reminded Dib then. "O-oh! The crying! Of course I wouldn't laugh at you for that! I'm not a jerk,"
Zim smiled softly, a weak laugh escaping him. "No, you're not, huh? I always forget that," He looked back to Dib, his pink eyes almost...glittering again... "I was always the one that was a jerk to you, though. I'm sorry about that,"
Dib blushed again. "Ah! I-it's nothing...You had a mission then," Dib looked away, rubbing the back of his neck nervously. Why was Zim suddenly making him nervous? He never got like this when Zim threatened him for all those years...
"It still means a lot to me,"
Before Dib could say anything in return, Spork and Membrane entered the room again, with Spork holding a bag that Dib assumed had the Taller's robe and such to change back into later.
Zim slipped his contacts back in, his pink eyes covered once again by fake violet. For once, Dib found himself hating Zim's disguise. In place, Zim ssmiled at Spork, walking over to him. "Do you want me to carry that?" He offered, his tone quieter while Membrane stepped close to Dib. Dib didn't have a chance to focus more on the couple when his dad started speaking to him, his tone also quiet.
"Are you sure you can handle walking these two back all on your own?"
"Yeah, I got it," Dib assured. "Zim's place isn't far away. Plus if they wanted to do anything, they would've done it by now,"
"I suppose so," Membrane sighed, caving.
"Dib? Are you ready? You're coming with us, right?" Zim spoke up.
Dib turned to the Smaller Irken, smiling. "Yeah, of course," He moved to walk with the two, mentally noting that Spork still had the bag in his hand and had clearly refused Zim's offer. He turned to Zim again. "Do you wanna lead the way or should I? I mean, it is your place after all..."
Zim smiled. Dib still hadn't gotten used to the sight of the small Irken looking so...not threatening. Zim now had this air of vulnerability and gentleness around him that Dib found himself both loving and resenting the sight of it. Loving it because it was so differnet to the alien monster he had been face to face with for so many years...But hating it because...Why did he hate it so much? Zim's reply broke him from his thoughts. "Why don't you lead the way? Since I've never made the way back from your father's lab before..."
Dib nodded in confirmation and strode ahead, noting that Zim allowed himself to fall behind to be in Spork's company. It wasn't that there was a long distance between them now. In fact Spork seemed to have to make an effort not to literally walk over Dib (Dib still was afraid that Spork was more like the current Tallests than he led on...), so there was just about six inches of space between Dib and the Taller, which meant that there was that much space between Dib and Zim...Still, Dib felt like Zim was too far away from him, like he had back in the lab...He frowned to himself, happy that Zim couldn't see his expression. Wanting the buzzing in his head to stop, he decided to make an attempt at conversation, moving his head to talk over his shoulder at Zim. "So, how do you think Gir will react to all this?" It was an innocent enough comment, but Dib could see Zim's eyes widen in realization.
"Oh, Irk, I completely forgot about that..." he muttered aloud.
Spork narrowed an eye in confusion, though it was a bit difficult for one to tell with the goggles. "Gir?" He questioned.
"My SIR Unit," Zim explained, a bit embarrassed. His cheeks tinted blue as he sighed. "He...is a bit disfuntional and...can be rather erratic...Takes a while to get used to him,"
"Oh, I see," Spork commented, relaxing. He had been worried that someone had stolen Zim's heart from him. "Well, I'm sure it'll be fine," He reached over to pat Zim's back in reassurance.
Zim smiled weakly in response. "We'll see...I've been tempted to disassemble him myself a few times..." He really hoped that Gir wasn't so annoying that Spork would do something drasitic like blow the SIR Unit up or (even worse) leave due to the amount of energy Gir had. Spork was patient, but he had his limits, just like everyone else.
"Well, I could help you to fix him," Spork offered.
Zim shook his head. "I've tried. I don't know what's wrong with him, but...trust me, you don't want him to get smarter than you,"
Both Dib and Spork were confused by the last remark, but left it alone. Dib looked about, recongnizing Zim's neighborhood. He felt himself growing reluctant to keep moving. A voice in his head kept repeating that the sooner Dib got them to the house, the sooner he'd eventually have to leave and...the sooner Zim and Spork would finally be alone...
Spork broke the silence again, surprising Dib. "Will you be doing any questioning today or is your father expecting you back?"
Dib shrugged, not sure how to answer. He wanted to find an excuse to stay with Zim longer but...it felt wrong, being dishonest to Spork. Especially since the Taller Irken made a point of trusting him. So Dib gave the only answer he could. "It would probably be better if I wait until I have a proper system of getting the information down...Dad is probably gunna set something up for that. Maybe tomorrow or something..." Dib frowned. He felt defeated inside. How long had he wished that he could learn more about Irken life and yet...he wasn't happy. He hadn't wanted to learn this way. He wanted Zim to teach him everything, no one else!
"There," Zim spoke up. Dib didn't have to look up to know that Zim was gesturing to the house.
Spork looked to the home and smiled. He had heard that the Irkens weren't being taught good disgusing methods, so it didn't shock him that Zim's home stood out so much compared to the others around it. He rather liked the way it stood out, actually. He could tell in an instant that Zim designed it himself. "You made it yourself," Spork commented. "I can tell,"
Zim blushed at that, leading Spork to the front of the home. Dib stayed outside the fence, his chest lurching at the sight of the two...together...
The door opened and the sound of the tv blaring was heard, even though Zim hadn't opened it entirely. He looked to the human, confused. "Dib? Didn't you want to come in for a minute? To get the uniform back?"
A part of Dib wanted him to take the excuse and roll with it. But...he just couldn't stand the sight of what was in front of him...and how they were standing on the doorstep of Zim's...No...their home...It wasn't Zim's base anymore...It was their home...The home of two Irkens in love...
And he couldn't bear to step inside of it.
Dib forced a smile. "I can get it later. Let you guys...settle in..."
Zim smiled in return, clueless to Dib's pain and walked into the house, Spork behind him. Neither Irken gave Dib a second glance as the door was closed.
And Dib felt numb as he made the walk home.
Oooooooooooooooooooooooo
not as cheerful but yeah...
Dib is trying to figure out what the hell and I feel kinda bad for him...