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Of Things Long Forgotten	By : ScarletSnow Category: +G through L > Invader Zim > AU/AR-Alternate Universe-Alternate Reality Views: 1530 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: Invader Zim and all its characters belong to Nickelodeon and Jhonen Vasques. I make no money from the writing and posting of this fiction.

Chapter List
- 1-Of Things Long Forgotten
- 1
Of Things Long Forgotten
By Scarlet Snow
Pairing: Dib/Zim
Summary: Dib takes notice of an empty seat in home room and ponders the Irken Elite.
Disclaimer: I don't own Invader Zim, any of its characters, and I make no profit from the writing and posting of this fiction.
Amber eyes scanned the classroom wearily, coming to rest upon the only empty desk for the hundredth time since class began that morning. Hours had passed and he had tuned out the monotonous droning of the teacher, his mind playing through the all too familiar memories.

Dib Membrane had awoken cheerfully that morning, so many years ago now, eager to get to skool and see what failure of a plot for world domination his diminutive green friend would try to use that day. It was their first day of Middle Skool, the first year where others would surely notice that Zim was not normal. His green skin, lack of ears, and short stature would be sure to be noticed in this new skool. Zim would never be able to pass it off as a skin condition this time.
Dib had run all the way to skool, eager to see Zim, though he would never have admitted it to anyone. Their almost daily ritual of back and forth arguments and attacks had become a driving force in his life. He eagerly anticipated each day's new challenge.
Dib's eyes roved over the vacant desk, an almost imperceptible flash of longing crossed his face before fading quickly behind his stoic mask.
Zim hadn't come to Middle Skool in the three weeks since the beginning of the year. Dib had wandered almost aimlessly to the street Zim's base was on, but no one was ever there, the lawn gnomes of doom never moved as he approached the front door to knock, and not even GIR could be heard inside. Something strange was happening. Where did Zim go? Was this just a new plan?
The period ended and Dib gathered his books and walked silently to his next class. Things were different without Zim here. His eyes fell on several of his classmates as he passed by them, but not a word was spoken. He was still the 'crazy' one after all. Zim had been officially announced 'deported' during Dib's second year of Middle Skool.
Dib ran out of the skool building, they had just announced that Zim was 'deported'. They couldn't have deported Zim, he was a real alien! His legs carried him faster than he had ever run before. Without even thinking about it his feet led him to Zim's base. The empty lot that stared back at him caused Dib's heart to sink. Zim was really gone. Dib walked slowly up the concrete path that had once led to the front door of Zim's base, not a single lawn gnome was left, only holes in the ground where they had stood. A massive crater lay where the bulk of his base had been. Shock set in and Dib sank to the ground, his eyes leaking tears unbidden.
Dib rounded the corner and pushed past several jocks, he had outgrown his black trench coat and his obsession with the paranormal. His white lab coat trailed behind him as he walked now, he was after all his father's son. A splash of red caught Dib's eye but when he looked up it was gone.
Dib walked into his father's lab, as he had gotten older he had gotten wiser and gotten an access badge for him and Gaz at their dad's work. He strode up to his father and they shared a few quick words before dib blurted out, "I'm giving up on being a paranormal investigator for good this time. I'm going to study real science, dad." The joy that had shot across his father's features was the brightest Dib had seen in as long as he could remember.
The day dragged on, everywhere Dib looked he could see the absence of the Irken soldier. Dib could almost hear Zim in his head as he poked at the mystery meat the cafeteria had served that day.
Zim stood above his lunch tray, pointing a spoon menacingly at the undulating pile of god knew what, "Zim is not afraid! I will eat this... earth filth. I'm normal!" Everyone had stared at him that day, more for announcing how normal he was than for talking to himself, or to his food.
With a disgusted grunt Dib tipped his entire tray of the slop that passes as "food" at skool into a waste bin and ignored the beeping of his wrist watch. It wouldn't be important, just lab business with his dad again. Dib glanced out the window as he passed by the gym and stopped in his tracks at the sight of a boy in a red trench coat.
Dib ran through the nearest exit door, it was the right shade of red, maybe Zim got smarter in all these years he had been away. Dib's hand closed around the boy's wrist and he spun the boy around to face him. Dib's heart sank, there was no way this was Zim. This disguise would be too good, especially for Zim. The kid had black hair, blue eyes, human skin tone, a look of confusion painted across his features, black slacks, combat boots, and a plain black t-shirt. Dib muttered an apology and something about mistaken identity before turning on his heels and striding away, missing the look of recognition flash across the boy's face.
Dib had obsessively searched the disaster area that had been Zim's base for years but no matter how far he dug through the yard or through that massive crater he didn't find one shred of Irken technology. He had come every day, hoping he would find something, anything, that the invader may have left for him. But this was Zim, selfish, stupid, inconsiderate Zim. Dib's anguish at losing what he could only consider a rival, turned into anger at the thought of him and his entire planet being tossed aside by the invader, the anger soon festered into a loathing and finally fizzled into decay. Zim's leaving resulted in Agent Mothman's retirement from the Swollen Eyeball.

The final bell rang, releasing all students to go home or to attend their extracurricular activities. Dib grabbed his messenger bag and walked idly toward his house. Even though he had done his best these last three years to accept that Zim was gone, he still found himself wandering down Zim's street. But today, there was no vacant lot that greeted him like some old memorial. Dib's eyes fell on a completely ordinary, run of the mill, house. There were no lawn ornaments, or decorations save for the lone tree that had once marked this as Zim's yard.
Dib stood just beyond the white picket fence and stared silently. "Guess I'll just have to try harder." He mumbled. Dib turned to leave and was face to face with the strange boy in the red trench coat. "Excuse me, but are you stalking me?" The boy asked, his head tilting in a playful manner, a smile playing across his lips. Dib backed up and hit the fence, that smile looked too familiar. "No. I'm Sorry. A-a friend of mine used to live here, that's all." He stammered before pushing past the boy and taking off for home.
Arrogant laugher stopped Dib in his tracks, it couldn't be. Dib turned slowly and saw a familiar little green dog standing in the door of the unobtrusive house. "Gir." Dib breathed and turned on his heel and sprinted full out for the dog. If Gir was here then Zim... Zim was back!
As Dib crossed the threshold to scoop up Gir, several hidden laser cannon popped up from the ground and aimed at him. "Gir!" Dib shook the little green dog, but it stood still, staring past Dib, to the boy in the red coat. "It's all right Gir, stand down. It's him after all." The boy spoke and Gir immediately burst into a high pitched squeal and lovingly mauled Dib with hugs. "I missded you bigheaded boy!" The robot squealed and dragged Dib inside the ordinary little house.
Dib sat on the ordinary looking couch, in the ordinary living room, of the ordinary house watching the open door like a hawk as the boy in the red trench coat strode through the door and it swung closed behind him. "Well, Dib-stink, we meet again." The boy's words were punctuated with a smile and it dawned on Dib, "Zim." The shock slowly turned to the long buried rage. "Yes, yes, praise me human worm-creature. I have returned victorious." Arrogance radiated from his new, improved, human disguise.
Dib launched himself at the disguised invader with an unintelligible shout of rage. They tumbled to the ground and Dib pinned the shorter male to the floor, his chest heaving, "You... You can't just walk back into my life!" Dib dug his fingernails into Zim"s shoulders, trying to reign in his anger. "Dib-human, why do I sense anger from you? You should be spewing that human joy feeling at my triumphant return."
Gir pulled on Dib's hands, "Gotta let the Master up now, Dib." At Gir's coherent sentence Dib looked up into the glowing aqua eyes of the small robot. "Gir, where the hell did you two go?" Dib crawled off Zim and let the robot lead him back to the couch. He flopped down, anguish washing over him.
Zim pressed a few buttons on his wrist watch and the disguise flickered and disappeared. "Dib. Be joyous. Zim has come home, Zim has improved his assimilation skills and can now pass for a human worm baby." Zim leaned down and tilted Dib's chin up with one clawed finger.
Dib stared helplessly into those crimson orbs, a feeling of desperation and longing welling up inside him, "Zim." Dib closed his eyes, trying to hold back the moisture that had begun to well up. He hadn't cried since that day he realized that Zim was really gone. A clawed finger trailed over Dib's features and Zim spoke softly, "Why does the Dib make these anguish faces? Did Zim not return to him triumphant? Alive? Improved?"
A crash from the kitchen woke Dib from his reverie, "Gir! Clean it up!" Zim shouted before kneeling in front of Dib, "The Dib has been chosen by Zim. You will be my human love pig, and I will succeed in enslaving the Earth for my Tallest. They can have all of them save for The Dib, The Dib Sister, and possibly The Membrane, if Dib so chooses to keep him." The thumb stroking his chin was distracting, it took a moment too long for Dib to register what Zim was saying, "You... You came back to finish your mission?" Zim merely nodded, waiting for Dib's choice.
Dib reached up and stroked one of Zim's exposed antennae, noting the quiver that shot through Zim's body, "You haven't succeeded before, Zim. What makes you think you will, now?" Dib asked, absently stroking the antennae. Watching Zim fight for control of himself, "Because The Dib asked, Zim will divulge his wonderful plan." Zim leaned back, breaking Dib's contact with the twitching appendage. "Zim and Gir will poison the planet. A powerful toxin that can render other species placid. Originally it was developed by a Vortian, but I travelled to Vort after... after my visit with the Tallest. The resistance had been trying to develop this toxin to use against the Irken invader stationed on their planet, but I stole it from them and perfected it myself." Zim preened and looked into Dib's shocked face, "You are impressed. I can tell."
Dib was shell shocked, a neurotoxin that could render a species placid. It would work if there were enough of the toxin to be delivered in one decisive blow to all countries simultaneously. "Zim. I can't let you... I can't allow it." Dib looked into the crimson eyes of his boyhood enemy, stirrings of his old desire slowly creeping toward the surface. Their proximity was no help, "The Dib has only a choice of whether or not to save The Membrane from this fate. Zim will succeed and prove to the Tallest that he is as the Control Brains have spoken. The greatest invader to ever live."

Dib leaned forward and pressed his forehead against Zim's, his voice came softly, "You never even... said goodbye." Tears slipped down his cheeks, unbidden, and Dib brushed his lips lightly over Zim's. "I hated you for leaving without saying it. Zim." Zim pushed Dib back against the couch forcefully and leaned over him, "You are mistaken human. The one thing the almighty Zim did before he left, was go to see you." Dib's eyes widened and Zim pressed a kiss against his temple, and with the kiss Dib remembered what he thought had been merely a dream so many years ago.

Pale yellow light from the street lamps below streamed through the cracks in Dib's curtains, he lay half asleep in his bed, staring at all the drawings he had made of Zim, theoretical speculations on anatomy, and observations on what he had seen of Irken technology.
A soft click brought Dib's blurred vision toward the bedroom door, but nothing was there. He closed his eyes, sighed softly and began to drift off to sleep. He was looking forward to the morning.
"Dib-stink." Came a soft hiss from above Dib, his eyes snapped open and twin pools of crimson were all he could make out in the blurred darkness. He reached for his glasses and a metallic leg shot out from the shadows and pinned his wrist to the bed, "Do not move. I have the advantage this time Dib." His name was spat from Zim's lips like a curse, for whom else would it be in his room in the dead of night.
Zim lowered himself from the ceiling and sat on top of Dib's stomach, metallic leg still pinning Dib's wrist. "Zim has been called to planet Judgmentia. You as my honorable enemy would see me leaving as cowardice, so I am informing you that it is an order that I appear for my judgment." Zim's voice was barely above a whisper, he leaned in close to Dib's face so Dib could see him clearly.
Dib was shocked, and still half asleep, "Zim, did you do something wrong?" He muttered, Zim shook his head and smiled, "If Zim's life is accepted by the Control Brains, Zim will be famous, and imprinted on the memory of every smeet to come after him. If... Well. Of course they'll accept my life. I am the almighty Zim." Arrogance poured from Zim's demeanor and Dib's free hand pulled Zim closer to his face, their lips inches apart, "I won't let you hurt the planet. Zim." Dib's voice grew soft, slurred, and trailed off, his arm like a dead weight around Zim's neck, pressing them closer, "Come... home... soon." Dib muttered as he fell toward sleep, their lips meeting in a chaste kiss.
Zim pulled away, his fingers tracing over his tingling lips, "Goodbye, Dib."
The End (Or is it?)
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Of Things Long Forgotten