Truce? ( Dib X Zim ) [ Invader Zim ] ( bxb )

- Full Moon, 10:35 pm.

Zim made it over to Dib's house and looked around the windows for any sign of life at this hour. It was a chilly night, which was unfortunately fitting. Colorful flickering in the living room window told Zim that Gaz was playing her game on the TV. Zim knocked on the door and waited. He heard the muffled music of the game pause and the footsteps of slippers nearing the door. Gaz opened the door and looked up at him.

"What, Zim..." Gaz said annoyed, "It's almost 11..."

"Well, 10:35, but anyway, I came to check up on Dib. He seemed a bit out of it while I was on the phone with him." Zim said.

Gaz groaned, "Upstairs, but I don't know if you'll want to go up there... He's having an episode..." Gaz said, "I'm not in the mood to fight again... Also be quiet... My dad's home."

"Huh?... What's wrong with Dib? Is he insane?"

Gaz looked to the side, "Well, he's definitely getting there... He's gotten a little better, but only a little. He was way worse three years ago... We nearly had to send him off somewhere when he threw a knife at dad during dinner and nearly set the bathroom on fire..." She went back to the couch and unpaused her game.

Despite the concerning warning, Zim made himself go up the stairs anyway. He made it upstairs and looked around for any signs of Dib. He saw the lights in one of the bathrooms on and walked over to the door to listen for anything. He couldn't hear any noise on the other side. He knocked softly on the door and checked to see if it was unlocked.

It was unlocked and he opened the door. He looked around and saw Dib sitting on the rim of the tub. Dib looked up at him, which made Zim place his hands together.

"Uh....Is everything okay?..." Zim asked. He took a step closer to him.

"Yeah... just tired..." Dib answered.

Zim sat next to him, "Do you need anything?"

Dib looked at Zim confused at why he wanted to help him. One of the biggest issues they faced all year was wanting to help the other, but being unsure if they should or not. Old habits were a bit of a wedge in their relationship still. Zim sighed.

"Please don't make stuff complicated, Dib," Zim started, "Do you need my help or not?"

"I can handle things on my own..."

"No you can't..."

"Look, you worry about replacing your need to take over the world, alright?" Dib said.

Zim looked at him disappointed and stood up. He then balled his fists.

"Why is this solely dependent on if I want to take over the world or not?" Zim asked, "Why can't you do something back? Like not using my existence for fame? How do I know that when I stop my mission that you won't betray me and use me for scientific approval anyway, Dib?"

Dib saw the rage in Zim's eyes. He internally admitted that Zim had a point. Not only does Zim have to stop taking over the world, but Dib can't sell information on Zim and get him in trouble with The City, which is something that would boost his credibility. Dib hesitated to answer back.

"I...." He couldn't finish his statement. Zim waited by the bathroom door, and he wasn't leaving until he got an answer.

"Well? I'm waiting! Why is this all on me?"

"I'm not trying to take over the entire world, Zim," Dib said without confidence.

"You're not really trying to save it either, Dib..." Zim said, "You could care less about the world being destroyed by anything else... As long as you have proof for your dad, you're happy..." He then sniffled, ".....That's all you want and you're going to tell me back on Valentine's day that I'M the one that needs to switch gears... That 'I'm not on Irk anymore' stuff..."

Dib froze from hearing the hurt in Zim's voice.

"What about the fact that I'm not trying to be a threat to you anymore?" Zim continued, "Oh wait, that's not why you're hunting me down. No no... You want me in that lab because it means that your dad will praise you more..." he sniffled angrily, "Maybe that first Valentine's day gift was just a trap so you could study me or something!"

Zim headed out the door. Dib immediately stood up and followed him out.

"Zim, wait! That's not why I got you that stuff!"

"It probably is!" Zim said, "You couldn't defeat me with fire, so you used my emotions to handle me!" He balled his fist, "All that useless stuff over that music and being nice to each other was probably just a front to get me to give up my mission! Just the thought of that makes me want to burn this place to the ground!"

"Zim wait, no!" Dib said, "I mean what I said back there. I meant every gift I gave you! Please!"

"LIES!" Zim said, "You can't even call me your boyfriend because you just NEEEED people to not think you're crazy about this paranormal stuff! That's all you care about!"

Dib immediately froze in his tracks. Zim immediately shrunk back while also reaching his boiling point.

"Wait...huh?"

Zim turned away from him, "... Nevermind... don't even-"

"You called me your boyfriend?..."

Zim turned around and looked into Dib's eyes and saw his realization. Zim grew a little bitter and crossed his arms.

"Pretty much everyone does, Dib..." Zim said, "Gaz, some people that know about our situation at school... Yes okay? I'm really trying to let go of my mission... What are you doing for me in return?... If your father's science friends were to take me away to a lab, would you do anything? Because I highly doubt it..."

He turned away again and headed down the stairs with a deep sense of stupidity following after. His face was burning from admitting that. Every time he was around Dib, he couldn't help speaking his mind around him. Maybe it was him being comfortable enough to say whatever, but it definitely worked against him from time to time. Zim marched out the front door and left the house. He hated that there was more evidence that he was more emotionally invested in this than Dib.

"It's not fair that he doesn't have to give up anything..." Zim said speaking aloud to himself, "He's doing just as much harm to me with his mission... He himself said that if we're going to do this, I have to give up my mission, so why doesn't he have to give up his??"

Gaz heard Zim's ranting outside as he walked away. She slouched into the couch, believing that she was back at square one. She wanted to groan loudly, but held it in.

"Perhaps this isn't the end," She thought, "I need to be patient..."

Dib was still standing in the bathroom just looking at the steps down the hall. His mood had softly lifted at the word boyfriend being used. He didn't think that Zim would associate that word with him. The situation then dawned on him and a moody cloud appeared above his sudden joy.

"He's right..." Dib said, "It's not just his mission... It's also mine..."