XXX

As the weather continued to get colder, Dib found himself keeping an eye on Zee far more than he did with his other students. The kid was just so strange, yet familiar in a few different ways. Even though he knew it was ridiculous, Zee was so incredibly similar to his roommate. He half-expected Zee to start yelling about lies and how human he was despite Zee's quiet and subdued presence in his class. The teen just didn't understand things in a way that seemed like a bit more than a lack of vocabulary. But still, comparing Zee to his roommate really was ridiculous. He knew that. Beyond that, though, Zee reminded Dib of himself in his younger years, what with being a bit of a black sheep who didn't get along with his classmates. Sure, Zee didn't go around talking about supernatural creatures and the like, but his point still stood. Instead of ghosts and monsters, Zee apparently obsessed over reading. These days, Zee had his nose in a book just about any time he could get away with it, and sometimes, even when he couldn't.

Speaking of which, Zee was currently sitting at his desk and reading a dictionary.

This, in terms of increasing Zee's English vocabulary, was perhaps not the worst idea, but he was reading it straight-through as if it was a novel. The dictionary.

And apparently, some of Zee's less pleasant classmates had noticed this as well.

"Wow, the Robot is actually reading the dictionary. What's next, a phone book?"

"Phone books are no longer widely used," came Zee's reply.

Dib had come to expect this sort of reply from Zee when his classmates were teasing him. He was glad that Zee didn't seem too bothered by it, but he still wondered if he should intervene. It was hard to tell if Zee was actually upset or not, after all.

"Like that'll stop you. Hey, how 'bout you use your robot brain to call your mom? Maybe then you'll have someone who wants to talk to you."

"You are currently talking to me, and you have done so almost every day for weeks," Zee responded. "It would be logical to assume that you want to talk to me."

"Why you-!"

Okay, this is probably where he should intervene.

"Hey! Knock it off!" Dib scolded.

The other student, Chadley, made a face before turning away from Zee. Zee, meanwhile, just continued to read his dictionary until it was time to start class (at which point Dib had to remind the class and Zee specifically to pay attention).

XXX

"Hey, Zee!"

"Hey, Ann."

Like usual, Ann came to talk to him during lunch. They didn't always sit together, but Ann would usually come by and talk to him for a bit at least. On the days they didn't sit together, Zee would usually just sit and read by himself. Today, however, it seemed like that would not occur.

"I was wondering, do you want to sit with my friends today?" Ann asked. "I know you like to read, but if you want to do that, they won't bother you. Plus, it's more fun to read next to friends, right?"

Ann smiled at him. He shrugged but stood up.

"Okay."

"Cool! Let's go, then."

He followed behind Ann as they led him over to a different table across the cafeteria. There was a small group of teenagers sitting there, and Ann quickly introduced them all to him. He greeted them. They were, in response, nice to him, and Ann hadn't been lying when they said he would be able to continue reading. After a brief period of questioning, the group left him to his book, only interrupting him occasionally.

It was a pleasant way to spend lunch. And Ann seemed happy, which was good too.

Life on Earth was, despite some of the more aggressive humans, shaping up to be pretty enjoyable. It beat constantly running away and fighting and all the things they had to do before, at least.

It was peaceful.

XXX

It was the end of the school day, and Dib couldn't wait to get home. Somehow, one of his students in his fourth block class managed to hijack his projector and started playing some weird video. He knew it was a meme, but he didn't really get it, and he didn't care enough about memes to even try to find out. The problem, however, was that he couldn't even figure out who was doing it, and whoever it was refused to stop, even when he reached the point of practically begging. In the end, he decided to just turn off the projector and write everything on the board by hand. This, combined with the distraction itself, had resulted in his fourth block class being significantly behind the others. He was debating giving the students extra work so they could catch up, but he knew that would be an unpopular decision, and he didn't want to punish the rest of the class for some stupid thing that only one or a few people did.

Point being, he just wanted to go home and flop onto the couch.

… Unfortunately, the meeting between his face and the couch cushions was going to be delayed for a bit longer.

On the way to his car, Dib circled around the back of the school to find a group of students gathered there. This in itself was not unusual. Rather than unusual, however, the situation was more concerning because Dib quickly realized that there were a few people circling around one.

"Come on, Robot, why don't you escape with your rocket legs?"

"I don't have rocket legs. I just want to go home."

And of course it was Zee.

"Well, too bad your mommy isn't here."

The students apparently hadn't noticed him yet. Before he could call out, however, Chadley punched Zee in the stomach, hard. The boy stumbled, but managed to keep from tipping over. Did felt a wave of rage and concern wash over him, and he stepped forward to end the situation.

… And then Zee flipped Chadley.

He actually flipped him. He'd grabbed onto the other teen's wrist and pulled him, using his knee to help lift the heavier boy off the ground. Once his feet were in the air, Zee made quick work of the rest of the move. Chadley was standing tall one moment, and the next, he was lying in the dirt, his breath knocked out of him.

"You-!"

Shaking himself, Dib charged over.

"WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?!" he shouted.

Aside from Zee and Chadley, the other students quickly scattered. Chadley, meanwhile, struggled to stand back up, stumbling as he rose to his feet. Zee just stood there, and Dib realized at that moment that the boy's face had shifted to one of exertion for only a brief moment. He hadn't even looked angry or scared, just like it was a tiny bit difficult to lift the other boy.

"What is the matter with you two?! Whose bright idea was it to fight behind the school?!" Dib questioned angrily.

He noticed that Zee had silently pointed to Chadley, who didn't look like he had seen the gesture. Dib took a deep breath in.

"You both have detention. Tomorrow. Chadley, report to Mr. Weasel's room after school. Zee, come to my classroom," Dib ordered.

He knew that Zee had, from what he'd seen, been protecting himself from a bully, and he didn't really want to punish Zee for something like that. But, the boy had flipped his classmate over, and he knew that things wouldn't go well if Zee didn't also get punished. Especially since Zee hadn't just pushed him or something. Dib knew, after all, that Chadley had the kind of parents who would 100% call the school to complain if Zee didn't also get in trouble. Hell, they were probably still going to call the school to complain because Chadley did get in trouble.

"But Mr. Membrane, he attacked me!" the boy protested.

"I saw you punch him, Chadley," Dib rejected. "Just be glad that I'm only giving you detention. Now, go home."

Chadley huffed angrily and stormed off, knowing that it wouldn't help himself to argue with the teacher when Dib had seen what happened. Zee bent down to pick up his books, where they had been lying on the ground. Zee's dictionary, especially, was dirty, and the pages were bent. Dib was pretty sure he could make out a light footprint on the cover as well. The sight of the boy picking up his things from where they had clearly been thrown made a needle of guilt shoot through Dib. Damn it, he really didn't want to be this kind of teacher.

"Look, Zee," Dib spoke, his voice now gentler but still firm. "I'm sorry I had to give you detention too. I know that Chadley and his buddies have been bullying you, and you were just trying to defend yourself. But flipping your classmates over isn't an appropriate response to that kind of thing. It's a bit excessive."

Zee finished gathering his things and looked up at him.

"I understand that fighting between students is against the rules," Zee told him. "But I will not stand there and do nothing when I am attacked."

Part of Dib was still relieved that Zee really didn't seem to be bothered by the bullying. And he understood what Zee was saying. But he couldn't just let this slide.

"I'm not saying to just stand there. But violence should be a last resort," Dib explained. "Try talking first, and if that doesn't work, try to call for help or run. And if that doesn't work, then defend yourself. And don't flip your classmates, even if you're defending yourself. You could have seriously hurt him."

Zee tilted his head.

"But flipping him was effective in preventing him from punching me again," Zee said flatly.

"Well, yes, but something less dangerous would have worked, too," Dib responded. "You're clearly strong enough, so if this happens again, maybe try pushing him out of the way? And then running? I'm really not trying to tell you not to defend yourself, but try to keep your reactions in proportion to the situation, okay?"

"Hm."

Dib got the distinct sense that, if this happened again, Zee would not take his advice. He sighed.

"Just… Go home, Zee. Maybe talk to your mom and tell her you're getting bullied?" Dib suggested. "It'll be easier to do something about it if your mom tells the school."

Zee shrugged before walking away. Dib rubbed at his temples as he continued his journey to his car.

Yes, sometimes he really questioned his decision to become a teacher.

XXX

"How was school today, Zee?" Bee questioned that night.

"Hm," Zee replied. "Chadley punched me, so I flipped him."

"Nice," the older Irken spoke with a nod.

"I got detention though."

"Oh, I see."

Zee knew that Bee didn't actually know what detention was. Zee honestly didn't really know, either, aside from knowing it was some kind of punishment. It seemed to vary between schools what the exact punishment was, though Mr. Membrane did tell him the punishment would take place after school.

"So, I think I'm going to be home a bit later tomorrow."

"That's fine. Maybe you can invite Ann to join you in 'detension,'" Bee suggested.

"Hm. I don't think I'm allowed to do that?"

"Oh. Well, I guess you'll have to play with Ann later, then."

Zee shrugged.

XXX

Aaaand Zee got detention. Life lesson: don't flip your classmates (probably).