A/N: I'm sorry this has taken me so long to update D: I've been so busy lately and then when I finally sat down to write I had writers block. Becki: I am waruiokamix on DA. There's not much up there yet, but hopefully I will get a chance to finish the multitude of rough sketches I started! Thanks as always, I do have at least one more chapter after this one :)

Chapter 14

It had been a couple of weeks now since Zim had rescued Dib from slavery, and they drew ever closer to Earth. They hadn't spent much of this time out of Dib's bed. Admittedly Dib had been asleep for much of it but when he wasn't they spent most of their time exploring one another's bodies. It was all starting to feel like a very surreal dream, but as their destination grew nearer a tension began to build at the thought that this simple, carefree time was coming to at an end. Neither of them really knew how things were going to work out once they reached Earth, it was the constant elephant in the room. They didn't want to talk about it, but it ate away at their minds in private.

Zim felt sure Dib would be fine on Earth, he could see how well the boy had recovered. It was quite incredible really, a testament to his strength. He'd been so worried that there would be lasting damage of some kind, either to the boy's body or to his mind, but other than the multitude of scars that littered his pale skin his body seemed fit and healthy. He was still thin but then the boy had always had a skinny frame, but he no longer looked gaunt and ill. As for his mind the Dib seemed to be fully revelling in their newfound freedom. He had been very clingy at first, panicking every time he awoke if Zim wasn't there, but now much of his confidence seemed restored. Zim marvelled at the boy's seemingly carefree attitude, how could he just spring back to normal after everything he had been through? Most of the time Zim felt like it affected him more than it did the boy.

As for his own future on Earth though… Zim worried. His emotions may make him act more human than before but he was still Irken. Like right now for instance - here he was with nothing to do but wait until the human woke up again, a common occurrence. Zim knew that Dib was still recovering and that was why he was sleeping more than usual, but even now that he was getting back to old self the boy still needed far more sleep than he did.

He didn't mind lying in bed with the boy, he loved it in fact. But he could only do it for so long before he got too restless again. Being alone with his thoughts brought his anxieties spinning back out of control and he had to find something to busy himself with. He'd do his best to fit into a human life with Dib if that was what he wanted, he'd do anything for him. He felt guilty. All he really wanted was to be with Dib but still he worried that it wouldn't be enough, and that life on Earth would leave him unfulfilled. He wanted being with Dib to be enough for him but what if it wasn't?

Zim sighed and meandered over to the compartment where the remaining food was kept, and slid open the door. He gazed despondently at the measly few bundles that were left. His stomach growled angrily but he shut the doors again without touching the supplies. He had been careless feeding the Dib so much at the start, but the boy had been so hungry that he couldn't refuse him. He wished now that he had rationed it of course, there simply wasn't enough to get them back to Earth and he knew it.

Perhaps he could hold out another week, he didn't need much sustenance after all. He closed his eyes and focused on the gentle humming of his pak, feeling the mechanics working harder than usual. His pak energy could sustain him a while longer. He could feel his organic body growing weaker but the power of his pak would keep him alive for a good while without food. He'd lasted this long on just scraps, being careful to make sure the Dib didn't realise how hungry he actually was whilst the boy ate whatever he pleased without a care in the world. Zim would always say that he had eaten while the human was sleeping. His tummy grumbled again and he grimaced.

He'd have to deal with it. The last thing he wanted to do was have to stop for more supplies. He began to calculate in his head how much he could ration to the boy to get him home, and how he was going to broach the subject. He frowned, knowing the Dib would have many questions, the main one being why he hadn't thought to ration the supplies sooner. He heard a sleepy noise from the doorway and turned to see Dib standing there rubbing his eyes groggily and yawning.

"Hey Zim, what you doing?" Dib greeted him drowsily, moving over to wrap his arms around the Irken's shoulders. "Were you getting something to eat?"

"No, I'm not hungry." Zim had to suppress the angry protests of his stomach as he said it.

"Well I am, I'm starving." Dib said as he reached over to the cabinet and grabbed a wrapper. Zim watched him in despair, his mouth hanging open but still he couldn't find the guts to stop him. "What?" Dib asked when he caught the way Zim was looking at him, startling the Irken. "Do you want some?" He offered the sandwich towards Zim.

"No it's fine." Zim turned away and started pottering about, tidying things away so that he didn't have to watch Dib eat.

"You know you're acting kind of weird. You'd tell me if something was wrong wouldn't you?"

"I told you I'm fine." Zim replied a little tetchier than he meant to, but it was hard to keep a level head when he was so hungry. He could see that Dib wasn't convinced and was perhaps even a little hurt by his curt response, but thankfully the boy let it go and was quiet while he finished his meal.

"So… how much further is it?" Dib asked, trying to ease the tension.

"I haven't checked for a while, shall we go and have a look?" Zim made a conscious effort to calm his voice, and Dib nodded. They walked down the short corridor and up to the main control room at the front of the ship. Zim moved swiftly to the control panel, rapidly tapping at the keys to bring their current location up on screen.

"We still have about another week to go." Zim automatically converted their eta into Earth time for Dib. It felt like nothing to him, but he knew it felt longer to Dib and that the boy was starting to get restless. Humans required so much effort and attention.

"What inhabited planets are we near?" Dib asked wistfully as he gazed at the map onscreen. Zim's antennae twitched in irritation but he tried hard to keep his temper from flaring once again. This conversation always ended up the same.

"There's two not so far off course, neither of particular interest. Thromm is a wasteland of a planet, mainly just mined for it's mediocre materials. Saklax is the other. It's just a fairly average planet, there's nothing exceptional about it. And it's cold." Zim reeled off the information disinterestedly but Dib looked up at the map in wonder.

"Have you ever been?" He asked eagerly.

"No." Zim replied bluntly, in a tone which implied 'and I don't plan to.'

"Oh come on Zim, don't you want to get off this ship for a bit? Get some fresh air?" Dib nudged Zim playfully, but Zim remained rigid.

"How do you even know the air there is fresh? It could be deadly to humans for all you know." Zim grumbled.

"You know what I mean Zim." Dib sighed in exasperation, his positivity quickly dissipating as he saw Zim's mood was unchanging.

"I told you no."

"You can't shelter me forever you know. Bad stuff could happen to me on Earth too."

"It's not the same and you know it. Humans have such short memories. Don't you remember everything that just happened to you?"

"Like I'm ever going to forget." Dib's eyes burned intensely into Zim's but his expression soon softened when he realised Zim was more upset than he was angry. Zim broke the stare, looking away shamefacedly.

He was quiet for a moment, absent-mindedly reaching for Dib's hand and fondling his soft digits between his sleek claws. He hadn't bothered to wear his gloves since that night, nor the rest of his uniform. Dib smiled softly as he looked at the Irken standing before him in one of his discarded t-shirts. Zim had stolen it from him one night, and once Dib had cut a hole in the back for his pak to sit comfortably he had been wearing them ever since. The sight was adorable, the casual clothing changed him so much. He almost looked human, though Dib would never tell that to his face. It hung off his lithe frame, much too big for him.

"You're such a fragile creature." Zim whispered.

"I'm not." Dib huffed.

"Out here you are. I feel like you're made of glass." Dib looked at him curiously. "Humans aren't ready for the stars. All the aliens that are out here have evolved to get here. They're tough. Either their bodies got stronger or their technology did. Dib you're like a child next to them, you're so vulnerable."

"That's not-" Dib began to protest but Zim cut him short.

"Other species can sense it a mile off. They'll treat you like humans treat animals because that's what you are to them." Zim looked at him seriously now, his eyes imploring him to give in. Dib sighed in defeat.

"You're strong enough for the both of us." Dib stroked his cheek gently.

"We both know that's not true. I've failed you so many times."

"And you know I don't see it that way." Dib sighed. "Come on, let's not argue about this again." He pulled Zim in close for a hug, squeezing him against his chest. He rubbed reassuring circles against Zim's back, breathing his scent in deeply. He felt Zim relax a bit in the embrace and placed a small kiss to the top of his head. How could he make him see that he would be okay? They couldn't be like this forever. He took Zim's hand and gently led him back to the bedroom.

It wasn't until a couple of days later that the lack of food began to really take its toll on Zim. In truth he couldn't keep up with the Dib's bodily demands, and he was starting to worry that the Dib would get the wrong idea. Zim's arms trembled as he leaned against the counter in the washroom trying to catch his breath. He would have to go back soon or the boy would start to wonder where he was. He had fled as quickly as possible in the hopes that Dib wouldn't notice how exhausted he was.

"Zim?" Zim heard Dib calling him from the bedroom and tried to straighten himself up, taking one last deep breath. But as he stood up straight the room began to swim, and suddenly the floor was rushing up to meet him.

Dib heard a bang and sat up in the bed. Could that have been…?

"Zim?" He called again louder this time, but still there was no response. He'd thought Zim had seemed off when he had left the room so fast, but then he'd been acting strangely for a few days now. Something was definitely not right. Dib clambered out of bed and hurried down the corridor, heading for the washroom. As he peered inside his heart nearly stopped. Zim's body lay sprawled lifelessly across the floor, his skin a sickly pale green.

"Zim! Oh my god, Zim can you hear me?" Dib crouched down and pulled the limp form up against his chest, gently shaking him by the shoulders and patting his cheeks to try and make him come round.

"Mmm," Zim began to groan, his eyes slowly opening.

"Zim! What happened? What's wrong with you?" Dib panicked, the relief overwhelming as Zim finally opened his eyes. Zim simply blinked up at him for a few moments in confusion, until things finally made sense. His heart sank, there was no getting out of this one. Shakily Zim tried to push himself up but Dib refused to let go of him.

"Zim you're shaking… please, just tell me what's wrong. You're scaring me." Zim looked up in surprise at how fearful the boy's voice had become. He had to tell him now.

"I just… I need something to eat that's all. It's nothing to worry about." He grumbled, looking away shiftily as he let the information sink in.

"W-what? You're just hungry?" Zim nodded. "But why… how can you be that hungry?"

Zim knew the Dib wasn't stupid. He restocked the small cabinet where the boy always got his snacks from regularly from the main supply, which Dib himself had never actually seen. So he had no idea they were running low, and it had never even occurred to him. Zim knew it wouldn't take him long to catch on now though.

"Zim don't lie to me. You expect me to believe you fainted just because…" Dib trailed off as he thought it through, and the penny finally dropped. "We… Zim… are we running out of supplies?" Zim's silence was the only answer he needed and the Irken refused to meet his eyes guiltily. "But I've been stuffing my face! You're telling me you've been letting me just eat whatever I want while you went hungry? What's wrong with you!" Dib's worry quickly flared into anger, releasing his grip from Zim.

"You needed it so badly, you were skin and bone Dib." Zim mumbled as he unsteadily sat himself up.

"Maybe at first but I'm okay now! Jeez Zim… we have to stop at that planet." Dib's gaze turned determined.

"No I can make it." Zim muttered stubbornly.

"Are you kidding me? You can't even stand up right now Zim. We have to stop."

"We can't stop it's too risky, I've already told you! There's enough food for you to make it."

"I don't care. If you don't eat I don't eat." Dib glared at the Irken obstinately, and Zim turned away in frustration. He knew full well the human was tenacious enough to starve rather than concede on this. They sat in uncomfortable silence for a time while they both seethed, Zim unable to think of a retort and as much as he hated to admit it unable to get up. Eventually Dib couldn't take the silence anymore, he wanted to hear Zim admit defeat.

"Well Zim? Shall we go plot our course?"

"YOU HAVE NO IDEA!" Zim suddenly screamed and Dib flinched back in surprise. Zim panted a little from the exertion.

"Zim?" Dib whispered uncertainly.

"You have no idea how scared I am. Every day, every moment. I'm going insane thinking of all the things that could happen to you. All the ways I might lose you again." Zim trembled as he confessed his feelings.

"Zim… you can't go on like that." Dib was a little taken aback. He knew Zim had been stressing over his safety, but he hadn't been expecting this kind of an outburst. Sometimes he forgot Zim was still new to all these emotions, he was still learning how to deal with them. He supposed he would feel the same way though if the tables were turned. In some ways it was probably easier to suffer the torture yourself than have it happen to the person you care about. He thought back to how he had felt when Zim had first been captured and arrested – that had been bad enough to witness and Dib had been through far worse.

"I know that." Zim snapped. "I'm losing my mind." He squeezed his eyes shut, rubbing at them wearily.

"You managed to master your fears so well while you were trying to rescue me."

"That was because I was so focused on saving you. I poured it all into that."

"So that's why you're so dead-set on getting to Earth then, it's like your next goal right?" Zim nodded and Dib sighed, his voice gentle now. "I know you don't want to hear this but being on Earth isn't necessarily going to be any safer for me, not really. The Tallests could decide to change their minds and blow it up after all for all we know. And even if they don't I could just as easily get hit by a car, or catch an illness, or get killed by another human."

"I wouldn't let that happen." Zim growled protectively.

"You can't always be there to protect me. You have to learn to deal with it somehow, otherwise you'll spend all the time we do have together fretting and wishing it away until it's gone. You'll make living at all pointless." He saw Zim's tension ease a little. "I know it's hard but it will get easier, you'll see. I promise I'm stronger than you think." Dib grinned at him, turning the Irken's face towards his.

"You are strong Dib. I know that, I don't mean to discredit you. You are so strong. I envy it." Zim conceded softly. "I'm sorry I always spoil things."

"Don't be silly." Dib pulled him in tight for a hug. "Now let's go get some food into you, and then we can talk about how we're going to get some supplies right?" Zim gave him a long look before finally nodding in acceptance.

Their boots crunched into the freshly fallen snow as they stepped from the ship and out onto the planet. Zim shuddered and wrapped his cloak tighter about himself, glancing over to Dib in concern.

"Are you going to be warm enough?" Zim tried to keep his teeth from chattering as he spoke. Dib wore a hooded jumper and a thick cloak similar to his own, but his cheeks turned pink as the cold air bit at his pale skin.

"I'm fine, it's you who looks cold." Dib looked back at the Irken worriedly. He knew Zim struggled in cold climates due to his cooler body temperature. He had never coped well during Earth winters.

"Let's just get this over with." Zim replied evasively, heading towards the snow blanketed city that lay before them.

He had parked the ship just outside the settlement, hidden amongst the vegetation and quickly becoming buried under the falling snow. Saklax wasn't a massively advanced planet but the native race had reached other planets so they still made humans look like cavemen. It didn't have much to offer but it would at least have food. Zim was also hoping to pick up some equipment that he could use once he got to Earth. He wouldn't dare risk ever going near his base again, which pretty much left him with only his ship. He hoped he could acquire enough to make a decent base once more, after all Earth couldn't provide him with everything he needed to survive.

Zim shivered as an icy wind caught his cloak and whipped the hood from his head, cringing his eyes closed as the flakes of snow stung his face. Dib stopped and turned to face Zim, carefully pulling the hood back over the Irken's antennae and then placing his hands on the alien's cold cheeks, letting his warmth soak into them.

"Now I'm starting to think this was a bad idea." Dib said, smiling softly as he gazed down at his frozen alien. Zim scowled at the snow, hunching his shoulders and hugging his arms in tight to his body. "Let's get inside somewhere quick." He pulled Zim in close to his body and ushered them along, feeling guilty.

Zim clicked on his hologram disguise as they neared the first buildings. He chose to use his Vortian appearance. Their bodies were much the same shape as his own except that the legs were slightly differently shaped, the eyes smaller and instead of antennae two curling horns sprouted back from his head. Dib frowned at him with unease.

"I hate it when you use that thing." He shuddered at its effectiveness. "You would only have to change it once when I wasn't looking and I'd never find you again."

"Like I'm going to let you out of my sight." Zim responded sharply. "You know I have to use it. I wish I could make one for you, you're so vulnerable." Dib pulled his hood down lower self-consciously.

"No one's looking for me though. I'm dead remember?" Dib snapped back, and Zim scowled at his choice of words. "Just relax, you said it yourself no one's ever even heard of a human before let alone knows what they look like. I'll be fine, just look after yourself."

Dib didn't want to admit that he was in fact a little nervous. It was the first time he had left the safety of Zim's ship since being rescued, so it was only natural. But he was also excited. It was the first alien planet he had visited on his own terms with the freedom to look around. He gazed up in wonder as the buildings around them grew taller and taller, and the streets became crowded and noisy. Many of the aliens looked to be of the same kind, which he presumed was the native species. Zim had said there wasn't much reason for other races to stop on this planet other than for supplies and trading so it only made sense.

They were called the Scarrap, and their skin was a scaly, dull blue-grey, their four tiny eyes beady and unblinking. They were all taller than he was and much more heavily built, with stubby tails carried along behind them. He instinctively drew Zim closer as they bustled past and Zim looked up at him questioningly, seemingly unphased by their size difference. He supposed if he had a pak like Zim's he wouldn't be so unnerved either.

Zim had told him they lacked imagination which made them a very plain and boring race, they certainly all looked very alike to Dib. They all wore more or less the same clothing and there was nothing to really distinguish individual characters. Neither did they give the impression that they were a welcoming, friendly race that was for sure. They were all far too preoccupied with what they were doing and where they were going to even glance at the two aliens that wandered down their streets. Given the harsh environment Dib couldn't blame them, there was nothing to hang around outside for.

Zim pulled Dib into a large nearby building with a wide entrance which seemed marginally more inviting than the others to Dib. It appeared to be the equivalent of an Earth supermarket, though Dib couldn't read any of the signs or tell what any of the items were. Zim went straight to a nearby screen and swiftly began interacting with it. Dib watched curiously as Zim deftly tapped at the monitor, his actions quick and unfaltering whilst Dib could only guess at what he was doing. He marvelled enviously at how easily Zim could adapt to technology he'd never encountered before, and could clearly understand the language.

"I've ordered more than enough food amongst some other stuff, and had it sent to the co-ordinates of our ship." Zim turned to Dib matter-of-factly.

"Just like that?" Dib said a little stunned.

"What were you expecting? Shopping trollies and fumbling till attendants? This isn't Earth Dib." Zim scoffed, promptly moving towards the exit. Dib hurried after him, frowning at the slight. Though he'd never admit it being here with Zim made him realise how clueless and vulnerable he truly was. Zim claimed to have never been to this planet before but he acted so swiftly and confidently, whilst Dib stumbled along behind him dumbfounded.

"Where are we going next then?" Dib puffed as he tried to keep up with Zim's pace, despite having longer legs.

"I'm looking for a shop that trades in technology, but one that's a bit less… reputable." Zim put it delicately. "Ideally I want to get hold of some Irken technology, but it's forbidden for any race other than Irkens to own it. So as you can imagine there's a pretty big black market for it, because it is so superior."

"Isn't most of the technology you call Irken stolen from other races in the first place?" Dib criticised, earning him a scowl from Zim.

"Anything that has been conquered by Irkens is Irken." Zim said simply, powering on ahead.

Zim drew Dib close to him as they turned down darker, narrower streets, the bustling crowds dying away gradually. Dib was surprised as Zim took his hand and pulled him along, feeling Zim's unease at bringing him here.

"I'm right behind you Zim, calm down." Dib muttered.

"I don't see why you couldn't just wait on the ship." Zim retorted irritably. Dib bit his tongue against arguing back. He'd already won that fight so there was no point in dredging it back up.

Zim eyed up a nearby establishment briefly before ducking though the doorway, dragging Dib along with him. It was a dingy, cluttered place, piled high with bits and bobs Dib could only guess at.

"Don't touch anything and don't say anything. Just stay there." Zim muttered under his breath, fixing Dib briefly with a firm stare. Dib opened his mouth to protest but Zim had already strode away from him and towards the presumed shop owner. He took a deep breath and tried to let it go. He knew how stressed Zim was right now, he just hoped he wouldn't continue on like this once they reached Earth.

Dib watched patiently as Zim and the shopkeeper haggled over god knows what. The owner seemed aggravated, and Zim's Vortian horns twitched erratically which Dib knew was reflecting the movements of his antennae, betraying Zim's feelings no matter how calm he kept his voice. Eventually some kind of deal was struck and Zim turned back towards Dib, rubbing his brow tiredly with his claws.

"Let's get out of here." He uttered quietly, urging Dib towards the exit and back out into the alley.

"What happened in there?" Dib asked worriedly as Zim powered back towards the busier side of town, longing to be lost once more in a sea of faces. "Did you manage to get some Irken tech?" Zim sighed.

"I did, but he didn't give it up easily. It took long enough for him to even admit he had any. I think he only trusted me because my disguise is Vortian, as much Irken technology is from Vort. That was why I chose it."

"Did you get enough to build yourself a new base?"

"I think so." Zim smiled then, the first time since they had left the ship. Dib grinned back, happy to finally see Zim relax a little.

"Where next then?"

"Back to the ship of course, we're done."

"What, already? Aww come on Zim, we only just got here." Dib sulked.

"In case you haven't noticed Dib this isn't the most exciting of planets. Besides it's too risky, why would we stay longer than we needed?" His smile long gone, Zim was beginning to get irritable again. He longed for the safety and comfort of their warm bed back on the ship.

"Well there must be places to eat at least. Why don't we get some food before we head back?"

"I just ordered loads of food, it's back on the ship."

"I mean something fresh, something not straight out of a wrapper!" Dib complained.

"You don't even know what the food is like here, it might be horrible!" Zim snapped back, stopping now to face Dib angrily.

"It might not be! It's good to try new things right?" Dib responded hopefully, trying his best not to lose his temper.

"Why are you doing this to me? You know how badly I didn't want to come here!" Dib faltered as he saw Zim's anger turning to distress, his clenched fists trembling at his sides and his eyes growing moist.

"Zim…" Dib sighed and walked up close to the Irken, putting his hands on Zims arms and rubbing them soothingly.

"Don't call me that here." Zim snapped, trying to pull away but failing.

"I'm sorry. I just wanted you to loosen up a bit and try to enjoy things."

"Why would I enjoy this frozen wasteland?"

"It doesn't matter that this planet's not the best one you've ever been to. We're here together, here and now that's what matters. There's a pretty high chance we'll never come here again and who knows what will happen next so let's appreciate what time we do have."

"Living in the present, throwing caution to the wind. That is so human." Zim grumbled.

"It's not a bad way to live. We don't have as much time to waste." Zim looked up at Dib strangely then, and Dib couldn't work out what he was thinking.

"Fine. We'll get something quick to eat. And then back to the ship?" Zim looked up at the boy pleadingly and Dib smiled warmly.

"And then back to bed." His grin turned cheeky then, and Zim blushed.

Dib patted his full belly as he reclined in the booth leisurely.

"You know that was surprisingly good. I'm still not sure exactly what I've eaten though." Dib grinned, his cheeks flushed from fullness. Zim on the other hand still pushed most of his food around his plate. The Irken flinched every time someone walked past their table. Dib sighed, his smile fading.

"Can we go now please?" Zim asked in a tiny voice, jumping yet again as a waiter strode past them.

"Sure." Dib gave in. There was no way Zim was going to enjoy himself here, there was no need to push his luck any further. "I'm just gonna use the bathroom before we go, if I can figure them out that is." He tried to lift the mood, grinning.

Zim looked up worriedly as Dib got up to leave, but the boy swiftly pecked a kiss to his cheek and strode off before Zim could object. Zim watched him like a hawk as the boy crossed the room and passed through another doorway. He wanted to follow but he knew the Dib would be mad at him. He hunkered down further in his seat, waiting anxiously for the boy to reappear. That was when he noticed the pair of eyes staring at him. A shiver ran down his spine as the shadowy figure across the room held his gaze for a moment before looking away. Cursed human, couldn't he just have held it until they got back to the ship?

A few minutes later Dib ambled back out of the bathrooms. He felt proud of himself for navigating them by himself, it hadn't turned out to be so different from human toilets. He looked towards the booth where they had been sitting but stopped dead in his tracks. Zim wasn't there. He tried to calm his beating heart as he looked around the room, trying to act casually and trying not to jump to conclusions. Zim wouldn't just leave him, he'd be here somewhere.

But the longer he searched the quicker and more frantic his pulse grew. What was he supposed to do? Perhaps Zim had just gone to the bathroom too? Maybe he was paying the bill somewhere? Dib hung back by the doorway for a few anxious minutes, paranoia churning his stomach. He kept reminding himself he was looking for a Vortian not an Irken, desperately trying to remember every detail of Zim's disguise. But the harder he tried the harder his brain tried to convince him he'd forgotten what Zim looked like and that he'd never be able to find him again.

He couldn't take it anymore, this just felt wrong. Very wrong. Dib strode back down the steps towards the exit of the restaurant to see if Zim was waiting outside. He knew there was no logical reason he would be but he just had to be doing something. Zim was going to be furious with him for leaving the place without him.

As he burst out onto the street his eyes scanned the area frantically, but his heart sank as he recognised no one. He felt like he was going to puke. He stumbled backwards to lean against the wall, getting out of the way of the passing natives who suddenly seemed even bigger than before as they loomed threateningly over him. He took a deep breath, trying to rationalise his manic thoughts and stop his head from spinning. That was when he heard it… the sounds of a scuffle. Of someone taking a beating.

Dib stood tall once more, his eyes flashing about for the source of the noise. He followed the faint sounds around to the side of the building and peered down a narrow alley. His heart skipped a beat as he saw Zim struggling against two dark figures. They were taller than him but of a slim build, so they weren't natives like these huge lumbering creatures. They were hooded and cloaked though so Dib couldn't make much out, save for the razor sharp claws that protruded from their sleeves.

He gulped and took a moment to assess the situation. One of them was holding something against Zim's pak to prevent the spider legs from emerging, probably the reason why they had taken Zim so easily. His disguise flickered around the area where they struggled against him. All Dib would need to do was get that one off Zim's back and the fight would be over, but he was going to have to strike quickly to avoid coming into contact with those lethal talons. All he had was the element of surprise, if he lost that he was a goner for sure.

He did his best to quell his hammering heart as he crept down the alleyway, keeping to the shadows. Once he was close enough Dib lunged as hard as he could at the one impairing Zim's pak, throwing all of his bodyweight onto the alien who quickly forgot about Zim's pak. He slammed his fist remorselessly into what he hoped would be a face under the hood, sending the alien falling hard to the floor. Adrenaline pounded through his blood as Dib kicked frantically at the fallen figure until it was still. Gasping for breath he turned to see what had befallen the other assailant.

All four of Zim's spider legs impaled his attacker's body, a brown-ish liquid seeping rapidly from under the creature's cloak as it hung limply against the wall. Zim panted heavily, his weight supported by the mechanical legs almost as though he didn't realise they skewered a dead body.

"D…Dib… you… kay?" Zim gasped, his voice laboured. He finally retracted his spider legs from the carcass, his attacker falling heavily to the ground. Zim turned towards the creature that lay unconscious at Dib's feet and used what strength he had left to drive one of his spider legs into its chest, before withdrawing them completely back into his pak. Dib rushed over as he saw Zim's steps falter, catching him as he began to fall.

"I'm fine, what about you?" Dib tried to keep his voice from shaking. This was all his fault, why hadn't he listened to Zim?

"We have… to get out of h-here… now." Zim managed to splutter out.

"I know. We'll go right now. Can you walk?" Dib looked down as Zim's eyes seemed to grow unfocused, and he didn't respond. "Zim?" Dib felt a warm moisture against his top, and looked down to see a blue stain spreading there.

"What the…" In that moment Zim must have lost consciousness, as his hologram disguise flickered off and revealed his true form. Dib's eyes grew wide as the penny dropped, horror turning his stomach. It was Zim's blood that was soaking into his top, his poor Irken was covered in gashes. "Oh my god… Zim! Zim?" Dib shook him urgently but Zim was out cold.

He set Zim down for a moment so that he could grab one of the alien's cloaks – he'd not thought to pick up their own from the restaurant and he sure as hell wasn't going back in there. He wrapped Zim up tightly in the dark fabric, being sure to hide his appearance as best he could, before picking the limp form up and hurrying back towards the outskirts.

Zim groaned as pain throbbed dully through his body, dragging him back to consciousness. His mind flailed as he tried to grasp onto a single logical thought, without much success. He forced his eyes open reluctantly, his surroundings slowly coming into focus. He was back in their bed, on his ship. He wasn't sure if this surprised him or not, he couldn't seem to remember where he'd last been. He winced as he tried to sit up and the bruises that covered his body smarted, bringing the memory of his ambush flooding back with a wave of panic.

"Dib…" He whispered, but then louder and more frantically he began to call. "Dib? DIB!"

The boy burst through the doorway of the bedroom frenziedly, his hair dishevelled and wet and clutching a towel to his body haphazardly. Zim eyed him swiftly, inspecting the human's delicate body for signs of damage. He breathed a sigh of relief as he realised the human was without injury, the tension slowly leaving his body.

"What is it? What's wrong?" Dib gasped.

"Sorry I just… I didn't know where you were, or what happened." Zim looked away sheepishly, but a relieved smile spread over Dib's face.

"That's okay. Sorry, I was just having a wash." Dib left out the detail that it was Zim's blood he was having to clean off his skin. He moved over to the bed and sat down next to Zim.

"Wait… we need to get off this planet, we need to take off-" Zim began to get out of bed but Dib pushed him back down.

"Calm down, I've done it. We're already miles away."

"You… flew the ship?" Zim looked at the boy in disbelief.

"You know I can handle Irken tech Zim, give me some credit!" He chuckled softly. "I've taken care of everything. Look, I fixed you up too." He gestured to the sealed cuts on Zim's torso.

"You figured it all out by yourself?" He gazed down at the new marks that tainted his skin.

"Of course, I've seen you do it on me twice already." Zim knew the Dib was more than capable, and he suddenly felt bad for underestimating the boy. He'd forgotten that although he may be vulnerable he certainly wasn't helpless. He was actually highly intelligent, for a human.

"I didn't have much choice any way. You were losing a lot of blood, those bastards really did a number on you. Do you feel okay?" Dib looked at him worriedly.

"Zim is fine. Thank you Dib." Zim said in a small voice, unable to meet Dib's eyes. Dib's face softened into a smile.

"See, I told you I'm more capable than you think. After all that fussing it was me that rescued you!" Dib grinned cheekily, pleased he'd had an opportunity to prove himself.

"I'm so sorry Dib, I almost failed you again."

"Hey… no that's not what I meant. I should have listened to you in the first place. You were right, it wasn't safe. I'm the one who should be sorry not you."

"So… maybe we were both wrong." Zim managed a small smile and Dib beamed once more, pulling Zim into a tight hug. Zim inhaled the humans scent deeply, tasting his comforting aroma on his tongue. For a moment on that planet he'd truly thought it was all over. He pushed the memory to the back of his mind.

"What were those things?" Dib asked after a while, pulling back from the embrace.

"I don't know, I never saw their faces. Only their claws." Zim flinched at the thought of those talons ripping into his flesh. "They jumped me in the restaurant and tried to sneak me off. I'm presuming they were bounty hunters."

"But how did they see through your disguise?"

"It was because I bought Irken technology. The shop owner must have alerted them, they'd been watching me ever since we left the shop. They kept asking me why I'd bought it and demanding I remove my disguise, but I don't think they ever saw my face. I can only hope the threat died with them."

"Shit… even now, even this far from everything…" Dib muttered in disbelief, and Zim nodded grimly.

"The bounty on my head must be enormous to bring them out this far." Zim speculated, shaking his head in incredulity.

"Do you think there would be any looking for you on Earth?" Dib was almost too afraid to ask. Zim pondered it seriously.

"I think it's unlikely. It would be hard for them to blend in and there would be nowhere for them to get supplies from. Earth is a pretty boring place for an alien to spend any length of time." Dib flinched at his words, unseen by Zim. "Those creatures had probably been laying low on Saklax for some time waiting for a chance. Plus no one thinks I'd have any reason to go back there, or to be stupid enough to." Zim grimaced bitterly. "The Tallests will have my base under lockdown if they haven't destroyed it, so other than that no one would have the first idea where to look for me. Everyone will have already scanned it for my pak ID and found nothing."

Dib wasn't sure how reassured he felt. The threat suddenly seemed so much more real, and he wondered if he would ever sleep soundly again. The sheltered, cushy couple of weeks they'd spent on Zim's ship had made him complacent.

"Thank you Dib, for saving me." Zim leaned tiredly against Dib's bare chest, soaking up the boy's warmth gladly as it eased his aches.

"At least we got what we needed. It's a straight shot back to Earth now." Dib pulled the Irken in closer, placing a soft kiss on the top of his head. Zim's breathing soon lengthened as Dib realised he had fallen back to sleep.

He felt so guilty about what had happened to Zim. All of his fretting had been justified after all, and it had very nearly got them killed. Zim had been so preoccupied with Dib's safety that he'd failed to realise how much danger Zim was in himself. He'd never imagined something like that would happen with Zim wearing his hologram disguise, or that there would even be people still looking for him this far out and on such a nondescript planet. Had there been more of those aliens, or if they'd been bigger, or if Dib hadn't had the element of surprise… it could have ended so very differently.

He shuddered at the thought, pulling Zim in tighter to his chest. That had been way too close.

A/N: I hope this didn't feel too pointless a chapter. It wasn't really planned, I just saw an opportunity for something else to happen before they got back to Earth and couldn't resist squeezing some more drama in. I thought it would be a good/realistic idea to have a chapter where Zim comes to terms with not molly-coddling Dib too much, as would be expected given what he went through trying to get him back. So I just squoze this in here owo I also couldn't resist making them squabble a bit, as you could imagine those two would after 2 weeks on a ship together without a break. Thanks for reading! I think there is just one chapter left...