Something was tapping on his window. The sound woke Dib, and he grumbled and turned away, half-asleep.
The tapping continued, to his annoyance. Seriously, all he wanted was some rest without worrying about being…being fondled by—Zim!
When that thought entered his mind, he jolted awake, quickly sitting up. He looked to the window, where the tapping continued. He narrowed his eyes.
…maybe it wasn't Zim. It could be hail, or bugs, or a poltergeist.
He slowly reached out, pulling down one slat of his blinds and leaning close to peer out. It would be nothing, it had to be nothing—
A familiar magenta eye suddenly appeared in his vision, gleaming when it saw Dib.
Dib yelped, quickly flailing backward. In his fumbling, his hand smacked against the blinds, causing them to pop open. Zim was using his PAK legs to perch on the wall, his feet on the windowsill and his claws tapping against the glass.
He grinned widely, straightening up and pointing at the locks Dib had added. Dib glared at him. Was he trying to tease him?
Zim grabbed the bottom of the windowsill, miming a tugging motion. He pointed at the locks again. "Open it," he said, his voice muffled by the glass.
"Wh…no!" Dib said, shaking his head.
"Open it!"
"No!" Dib inched back, ignoring his pounding heart. The window was locked, he was safe. "You're the reason the locks are there, there's no way I'm opening it!"
Zim snarled at him. "Last chance!" He grabbed the bottom of the window again.
Dib just continued to glare at him, and decided to flip him off, too. He couldn't show any nervousness to Zim, so he let it all be overshadowed by anger.
Zim grit his teeth, tightening his grip and tugging upward. Dib almost felt smug, confident that his window was as secure as could be. Zim would probably just try for a bit before getting frustrated and leaving, and Dib could get a good laugh in before going back to bed…
The windowsill creaked.
Dib's gaze immediately snapped down. The…locks were shifting, but that had to be his imagination, right?
Zim chuckled and pulled again. There was another creak, and Dib could see the locks buckle. The tips of Zim's claws began to scrabble in through the tiny crack that had formed, getting a better grip.
Dib whirled around, trying to jump off the bed, but just ended up tripping over his blankets and falling to the floor. "Oh, no, you don't!" Zim hissed, a mechanical clicking coming from him.
There was a flash of red light just outside Dib's peripheral vision, the smell of burning metal. He scrambled to his feet just as he heard his window push open all the way, a fresh breeze coming in.
Before he could run, two PAK legs had already gripped onto his shoulders. He immediately tensed up, staring warily at their sharp tips, inching back.
"That's it," Zim said, using one of the legs to grip the collar of his pajama top. It started to lightly tug, the other leg resting on his chest and carefully nudging him back. "No running. We're just going to have a little talk, you and me."
Dib swallowed, glancing over his shoulder. Zim was sitting on his windowsill, his legs dangling and wisps of smoke floating around him. He smiled and kicked his feet, like this was a completely causal visit.
Swallowing, Dib looked back down at the PAK leg. It was wrapped around his chest, the pointed tip not pressing into him, but very much there. And the one holding onto his collar would keep him from ducking, and both were trying to reel him back…
Reluctantly, he sat on the edge of his bed, crossing his arms and keeping his back to Zim. "Come closer," Zim said, nudging him again.
Dib sneered at him. "Like hell I will. You think I'm going to make this easy for you?"
Zim hummed, pulling back one PAK leg, keeping one wrapped around his middle. "And just what do you think 'this' is, human?"
"You're acting weird, and you're going to try and kidnap me again," Dib said, inching away as far as he could. "I'm not an idiot, Zim. And I'm not going to fall for any of your tricks."
"…that might be true," Zim said. "And you're not an idiot. You're…much smarter than any other human."
Something inside of Dib fluttered. He quickly grit his teeth and closed his eyes. He wasn't falling for any tricks. He wasn't. He wasn't.
Zim was quiet for a few moments before saying, "I'll let you go if you don't run. I just want to talk, my Dib."
"Don't call me that," Dib snapped. "And fine." He'd wait for Zim to fully lower his guard before running anyway. Or maybe just pushing him out the window.
Just as promised, Zim pulled back his PAK leg, and it disappeared with an audible click. "Could you look at me?"
"No," Dib said, crossing his arms. "You wanted to talk, we can talk. That doesn't mean I have to look at your bug face." He didn't want to know how he would react if he turned to face Zim.
Zim sighed. "Fine. But, my…ahem. Dib-human." He paused. "Was it so bad, Zim treating you the way he was?"
"Yes!" Dib shouted. "Yes, it was! It is! You…I can't believe that you would sink that low. Trying to…to manipulate me like that." He wasn't surprised about Zim's manipulation, but he was stunned and disgusted at the actual methods he used.
"Who says it was?"
Dib very nearly turned to give a disbelieving look, but resisted the urge. "…seriously? We're enemies. You hate me. There's no way that you meant any of what you said or did."
"If I really hated you, do you think I could have pretended that I didn't for so long?" Zim said. "You're smart. You would have seen right away if I was ever reluctant about something. And was I?"
He couldn't. And Zim was manipulative, but also really bad at making ruses that Dib couldn't see through. Was it…could he really…? Dib grunted, shaking his head. "Ugh, you could have just…acted all disgusted and reluctant when you weren't around me to get it out of your system."
"And you think I'm so great that I wouldn't have slipped up?" Zim countered. "Any act less than perfect would have failed to get by you."
"Yeah, well…I guess it wasn't perfect, then, because look at me, not falling for any of it." Dib snorted. "Like you're even capable of caring for someone like that, you space monster."
Zim was quiet, but Dib could hear him tapping his claws together…evilly. "Dib-thing," Zim said, his voice suddenly sly. "I think I'm the last being you know to accuse of being 'incapable of caring'."
It was bait, and he knew it, but Dib couldn't help but take it. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Your own kind always acts so callously towards you," Zim pointed out. "Over the years we've known each other, I've seen our peers mock you, and foolish adults belittle you. I've seen you go through so much to protect them, and they never seem to notice."
A knot tightened in Dib's chest. It was always there, but he hated thinking about it. "…whatever. Like you said, it's been years. I'm used to it all," he lied.
"Ah, but you can't deny that humanity seems more uncaring towards you than I have!" Zim said. "Even the ones that should be caring. Like your family unit."
"…What."
Zim quickly pounced on the idea. "Your father-unit is never around. When he is here, he never listens to you, even when you're right. Your sister might be present, but she's callous and mean, always leaving you to fend for yourself!"
"You leave my family out of this!" Dib raised his voice, shoulders shaking, barely holding himself back from attacking Zim.
"Oh? Is there a reason for that?" Zim said, a sneer in his voice. "You know I'm right, Dib."
"SHUT UP!"
There was a loud bang from elsewhere in the house, making them both flinch. "You shut up, Dib!" Gaz yelled from her room. "I'm trying to actually sleep!"
Dib squeaked, hand clapping over his mouth instinctively. But he quickly tore his hand away, scowling in anger. Here he was, arguing against an evil menace, and all Gaz cared about was that he was keeping her awake?
"The Dib-sister proves my point," Zim said from behind him. "They don't consider your feelings at all. They only care if you're disturbing them, getting in their way."
"Shut up, Zim," Dib said, quietly this time. He even dared to shoot a quick glare over his shoulder, just enough to see Zim shrug and close his mouth.
Dib quickly looked away, gritting his teeth and balling his hands into fists. Like he would even entertain the idea of listening to Zim. The alien was heartless, he could never really care about Dib. It was all a ploy, and his words just made it all the more obvious! He wanted to make Dib turn his back on humanity, but he would never.
Betraying his own people…he couldn't even begin to think of doing something like that!
…well, maybe there were a few people he disliked, but still! A true protector wouldn't sacrifice a whole people because of a few…dozen bad apples.
Someone would believe him someday. He just had to keep trying and find a way to prove himself. Everyone would look up to him, he'd be respected, the Earth could be kept safe, everyone…his family would all be proud of him.
His…family. That he couldn't remember being proud of him before now. Even after all he went through, everything that he did.
…Dad was rarely around. And he dismissed anything paranormal out of hand. He thought Dib was crazy whenever he pursued his passions, and only seemed happy with him when Dib was forcing himself to do something boring and miserable. Just thinking about it too much made his chest hurt.
He looked at his bedroom door. If he made a break for it, his sister was only a few rooms away. But it was hard to picture her helping him. She did usually leave him to fend for himself, and was pretty abrasive most days.
Dib was only accepted to complete the image of their family. And even then, he was shunned if he didn't perfectly fit in the mold his father wanted.
Just think about it made him feel choked up. He was drowning, and he needed to focus on something else so that he could breathe.
Without even thinking, he looked to Zim. Zim, who was still perched on his windowsill with his arms crossed and expression calm. It was actually pretty patient behavior for him.
Dib's body seemed to move on its own, drifting towards Zim. He decided, now, to let it, flopping against the wall under his window and pressing his head against Zim's legs.
Zim quickly wrapped his arms around his head, one hand digging into Dib's hair to scratch at his scalp. "Good Dib-beast," he cooed. "Very good."
Dib shuddered, wrapping his arms around Zim's waist, trying to press himself even closer. His breathing was starting to turn shallow and quick, and his eyes were starting to sting, and…
He quickly shut his eyes and turned his head, trying to hide his crying from Zim.
"Shh, shh, it's alright, my Dib," Zim said, gently rubbing his scalp. "Everything will be okay. Zim makes all things good, just for his Dib."
"Why…?" Dib managed to say without his voice cracking too badly.
"I told you, you're interesting enough. And worth it…all those years keeping up with me proved that you're worth it." Zim scratched just behind his ear, making a shiver go down Dib's spine. "I like seeing you like this, Dib-human. It's…well, it's indescribable."
"…that reason sucks," Dib sniffed. "You're horrible."
"You know I'm not," Zim said. "Honestly, what do I need to do to prove I want you around?"
"You…what?" Dib said. He had to have misheard.
"I want you around, Dib-human," Zim said, even more insistently this time. "I want you."
Dib stared blankly at him…before his face started to scrunch up, knots tightening in his chest and throat. The words dug right into his core and warmed some cold part of him there.
Nobody wanted him. All he really wanted was to be accepted, to be listened to, for people to be happy and willing to be around him. But nobody felt like that.
Nobody except for the evil alien, it seemed. The horrible monster who was now hugging Dib's head, making soothing chirping noises as he patted Dib's back. The other hand still rubbing at his scalp.
Dib didn't try to pull back. He melted into Zim at the touch, his breath stuttering. He closed his eyes and bit back a few sobs, though he could still feel tears streaming down his cheeks.
Zim's comforting gestures helped a lot, actually. After just a minute or so, Dib's breathing had calmed down, and he felt more clear-headed. Still upset, and with many knots sitting heavily in his chest, but a little better.
He sniffed, pulling out of the hug and wiping his face off with his sleeve. Zim's mouth twisted in disgust, but he didn't say anything.
"…I don't…I don't know what to do," Dib said flatly, leaning against his wall.
A clawed hand immediately sunk into his hair to scratch his scalp again. "Come with Zim. You know I'll take care of you."
Dib grunted, shifting his head to make it easier for Zim to reach. There were thousands, probably millions of reasons why he should refuse Zim's offer, maybe even shove the alien out the window.
But the thought of someone wanting him, caring for him, treating him just like this…it eclipsed everything he could think of. "Okay." The word slipped out of his mouth with him barely realizing it.
Zim beamed at him, and the right made Dib feel a little lighter. "Really!? You will? I mean…of course you would want to!" Even with his bravado, he couldn't hide his sheer…happiness at Dib saying that.
Now was the time for second thoughts, but they were quickly drowned out by his lingering, roiling emotions. "I…yeah," he said. Why not? If he left, he'd receive the attention he craved. He'd be next to someone who wanted him there, someone who would listen. "I just…I need a minute."
Zim patted his head and nodded. Dib stood up, placing his glasses on his nose and grabbing his trenchcoat from where it was hanging on his chair. A bit of searching in all the piles around his room netted him two shirts and a pair of pants, which he tucked under his arm.
At his desk, his hand hovered just above one of his cameras…before he shook his head and instead grabbed a notepad and pen, stuffing them inside his coat as he slipped into it.
"Shall Zim grab anything?" Zim asked.
Dib shook his head. "Nope. Uh, just…just me." He looked around the room, then climbed on the bed and crawled over to Zim. He didn't need much, and he knew…he hoped that Zim would be willing to give him anything he needed.
Zim reached out, gently cupping Dib's cheek. Dib sighed, letting himself lean into the touch.
He was able to enjoy that moment a little before Zim pulled his hand away, opening up his arms invitingly. Dib shifted forward, wrapping his arms around Zim's shoulders, keeping his chosen clothes pressed between them.
Zim wrapped his arms around him, using one to support Dib under his legs and lift him up. Dib wrapped his legs around Zim's waist, tightening his hold. Zim was able to carry him with ease, pulling out through the window and carefully descending the wall on his PAK legs.
As soon as they were on the ground, Zim took off, using the PAK legs to easily leap over the fence's radius by several feet. The landing barely even jostled Dib, and he dropped a bit lower to the ground, sticking to the shadows.
Dib buried his face into Zim's shoulder, his eyes and throat burning. Zim gave him a small squeeze, and Dib felt even more choked up.
It was all too much. His emotions, his thoughts were a muddled soup, and he felt that he would break if he let himself be battered by them. So he focused on Zim's touch, his warmth, the way he gently cradled Dib even as he moved quickly and stealthily.
He could accept that, at least, as something good.