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Endocytosis	By : Alienlint Category: +G through L > Invader Zim > Slash - Male/Male Views: 924 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Invader Zim, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
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Endocytosis: Chapter 3
Rating: PG-13
Warning: None.
Pairing: MAER (Membrane and Elliot)
Summary: As teenagers, Elliot and the Professor shared a ‘special friendship’. However, over the years, they grew apart. Can old feelings be rekindled, or is it all to remain in the past?

It was high afternoon and the sun had barely moved an inch from its noon stance. The air was thick with heat, and the campers sought relief in the forgiving lake. A few counselors stood watch clad in full lifeguard gear. A little lifeguard tower sat on the edge of a smooth wooden dock protruding several yards into the lake, creating a perfect launch pad for daring leaps into the water. The teens swam and splashed, a few played water games while others, mostly the girls, just sat on the dock and talked. All were enjoying the cool water except for one camper. Membrane sat under the shade of a tree, a tiny portable workstation resting on his lap. It was about the size and shape of a large laptop, and had several odd wires, tubes, knobs, data screens, and lights across its surface. In his hand was something that resembled a welding rod, but with tiny robotic arms at its tip. At the base of the rod was a thick wire connected to the underbelly of the workstation. A tiny insectoid android sat in the middle of the console, the tiny robotics making fine adjustments on it.

“Membrane!” A half drowned voice called out from the water. Membrane didn’t look up, too focused on his work. “Hey Membrane!” The second yell was coughed as a very wet Elliot made his way over to the older boy. He was in nothing but a pair of dark purple swim trunks. His blonde hair stuck to his face in thick, wet strings, and tiny beads of water rolled down his awkward teenage body. “Come swim with me!” Braces flashed down at the other.

“Careful. You’re soaking wet.” Membrane leaned to the side a little, hugging his work close to him for fear of the water ruining it.

“Oh. Sorry.” Elliot scooted over to the side where he wouldn’t drip onto him. “Can’t you work on that later?” He reached a hand up to wipe some water from his face.

“I could, but I have other things I’d like to work on.” A tiny spark emitted from the little robot on the console.

“Why not swim now, and do that later?” Elliot suddenly plopped to a sit beside the other, making sure to stay a good few feet away.

“I don’t swim.” Another spark.

“Why not?”

“I just don’t.”

“Are you scared?”

“No.

“Can you?”

“Probably. Even babies can swim. Humans are born with a natural instinct to hold their breath underwater.” Several sparks flew with every other word, and Membrane leaned close to examine his work, the flares reflecting in his goggles.

“So you’ve never gone swimming?” Elliot tilted his head a little.

“No.”

“Don’t you think you should start?” A grin quickly lifted. “With meee? You know, in case you fall off a boat or something.”

“I have technology for that.”

“Well, aren’t you hot in that?” Elliot reached a mostly dry arm over to tug on Membrane’s sleeve. “You must be really sweaty.”

“That’s my next project… Air conditioned clothing.” Membrane paused from his work to look over at the slightly damp hand. “But this is more important.”

“What is it?” Elliot leaned over a little, but was met with a glove to his forehead. He blinked and looked cross eyed at the hand on his face. It was blocking him from dripping on the equipment.

“It is a robotic bee.” Membrane worked with one hand, keeping the other on Elliot’s face, which began to slide down lower from the wet. “…Of the apidae bombus variety.”

“What does it do?” Elliot blinked, voice muffled slightly by the palm of the glove.

“It communicates with bees.” Membrane pulled his hand away and wiped it on the side of his lab coat.

The blonde leaned back to sit up straight. “Why would it do that?”

“Why?” Membrane paused and looked over at Elliot. “Because! Think of all the horrible bee stings that could be avoided by beekeepers and citizens alike. To communicate would be to control them. Bees work like a unit, a massive collective. And with this robot leading them. Just think of the advances in beekeeping technology!” He rolled his hand on his wrist. “Also, we could relocate bees that become a stinging menace.”

“Oooooo.” Elliot smiled and eyed the little robot. “It is all tiny and cute.”

“Indeed it is.” Membrane let go of the little welding rod and it whipped back inside of the console. “Let’s test it out.” He pressed a small button and the robot came to life. Its tiny antennae twitched, the legs strummed, and it then began to wiggle and move in an odd pattern across the surface of the console.

“Oh. It is so tiny and… Ee!” Elliot made a little noise as he watched it. “It looks like it is dancing. Look at it go!” He grinned, braces revealed.

“It is dancing.” Membrane watched his little creation. “You see, bees communicate through motor patterns, nominal graded messages. It appears to us as a ‘dance’. They can give detailed descriptions of where to find the best flowers. The ‘dances’ are rather complicated, based on the position of the sun, the distance of said flower, and many other extraordinary details.” Membrane paused for a moment. “Bees also use pheromones to communicate and control other bees. That is what this little tank here is. The pink one.” He pointed at a tiny pink swell on the bee’s underbelly. “It mimics the 15 glands found in real bees...” He paused to glance at the cheerily blank expression on Elliot. “Well, let’s just say it can perfectly communicate and control the other bees.”

“That’s really neat, Membrane!” Elliot smiled and scooted over to the older boy, he was mostly dry now. The risk of wetting the project was practically nonexistent at that point.

“Yes. I’d like to take it for a test run.” Goggles turned back down to look at the little bee, which was cleaning its tiny metal antennae much like a real bee would.

“Hmm… I think there is a bees’ nest around here somewhere.” Elliot leaned over to get a better look, chin nearly resting on Membrane’s shoulder.

“Excellent.” Membrane wasn’t bothered when the chin met with his shoulder. “I warn you, though. It is still in beta phase, and something horrible could go wrong, so I suggest you stay here.”

Elliot pulled away and stood up, dusting off bits of grass that had clung to his legs. “Come on. I think I know where one is.”

“Alright. Lead the way.” Membrane rose as well, careful to keep the console steady as he followed the other boy.

“Lemme get my sandals.” Elliot moved over to a pile of his clothes and towel close to the shore of the lake, slipping on his sandals and wrapping his towel around his waist like a sarong. “This way! To the bees!” Elliot pointed towards the mess hall and walked over, with Membrane in tow. After they had gone far enough away from the lake, however, Elliot slowed to walk beside Membrane, their shoulders touching.

Soon they stood before an old tree behind the mess hall. It was dead and hollowed out, a large buzzing nest of bees nestled inside of it. The edges of the large hole twitched with a living mass of worker bees ready to fly off, or returning from their foraging. Membrane raised a brow before looking over at Elliot, who seemed a bit nervous.

“I think you should go.” Membrane glanced back at the nest. “I wouldn’t want you to accidentally get stung if this malfunctions.”

Elliot stuck out a pouty lip. “Aw. But I wanted to watch.” The possible threat of bees, however, convinced him otherwise. “But, alright. I’ll see you later then, kay?” Elliot moved over to give Membrane a sort of half hug, the taller boy only glancing down slightly as he was hugged. “I’ll cover for you if the counselors ask.”

“Thank you.” From the sound of his voice, it seemed as if there was a slight smile beneath his lab coat collar.

Hours later, Elliot made his way towards the first aid cabin. His lip was bloody and slightly dripping down his chin. His clothes were dirty and dusty, as if he had been doing quite a bit of falling. Bruises speckled the visible flesh of his arms and legs, as well as the occasional scrap and cut. The worst was a long bloody line where he had skinned his arm. He held it up a little so the blood dripped off his elbow and onto the ground, rather than his shirt. Dirt would easily come out, blood, however, would not. The boy slowly climbed the steps of the nursing cabin, rapping his knuckles on the screen door before letting himself in.

“Hello? Nurse Bridget?” Elliot moved a hand under his elbow to catch the blood so it wouldn’t drip on the floor.

“She went to lunch.” Membrane lay on a cot, staring at the ceiling. What was visible of his head was wrapped in thick white gauze weighted down by ice wrapped in a washcloth.

“Oh… Did she just leave?” Elliot winced as he looked over at Membrane. “And are you feeling any better?”

“She left about two minutes before you arrived.” The older boy rested his gloved hands over his chest. “Yes. It isn’t as bad now. Pain associated with bee stings generally disappears after about two hours…”

“I guess I’ll help myself then.” Elliot moved over to the sink as he licked at his lip and the still very fresh blood. He turned on the water and made a little squeak as he began to wash his large wound, the hot water and soap burned painfully.

“What happened to you?” Membrane sat up, the washcloth falling to his lap.

“Oh. Heh.” Elliot turned to grin at Membrane, exposing braces and a rather busted bottom lip. “Dodge ball.”

“Wow. They really got you good.” The older boy stood, though swayed from the antihistamines he had been given. “Let me help you.”

“Oh. No. You should be resting.” Another lick of blood. “This is nothing compared to all those bee stings…”

“No, no.” Membrane moved over to Elliot and tugged him away from the sink a little. “You must take care of these properly, or risk a deadly infection!” He raised a scolding finger at the blonde.

Elliot opened his mouth to state the fact that he had often taken care of his own wounds, but how could he pass up the chance of Membrane doing it for him? “Ah. Well, thank you.” He smiled.

“First, clean everything with soap and water. And…” He paused to run his gloves under the water, washing them as if he weren’t wearing them at all. “Stop the bleeding on your arm, apply some pressure.” He looked over at the boy’s lip and took his chin in his hand, thumb gently resting beneath his lips to get a better look. “That looks as if it is clotting nicely. You might want to put a little pressure on it as well. And I don’t think you’ll need stitches either.”

A slight blush rose on Elliot’s face as the thumb brushed so close to his lips, and he quickly looked away when he was released. “Okay.” He did as told, first applying pressure to his arm with the aid of a nearby paper towel. Subconsciously, his tongue licked at the blood on his lip.

“No licking!” Membrane scolded before turning to the side to open a cabinet which held all the bandages and disinfectant.

“Sorry.” Elliot pulled his tongue back into his mouth as he leaned over to clean the little cuts and scrapes on his legs.

“Sit here when you are done.” Membrane pointed to a cot as he set a little pile of bandages and such in the middle.

When he felt he was clean enough, Elliot moved over to sit, smiling up at Membrane as he did so. “This is really nice of you.”

“Well… I can’t have you getting some horrible disease, now can I?” Membrane reached over for a cotton ball and dabbed a bit of disinfectant on it, leaning over a little to gently pad it on the boy’s lip. “Open.” Elliot opened his mouth slightly so the other had better access to his lower lip, and winced at the pain. “Don’t worry, the stinging will stop in a moment.” He dabbed it a few more times before grabbing a tiny tube of some kind of transparent cream. With a q-tip, he applied it to the wound. “This contains three antibodies; bacitracin, neomycin, and polymyxin. It will prevent scarring. Don’t lick it off. I’m sure it tastes terrible.”

“Ew.” Elliot made a slight face at the cream on his lip.

“Hmm…” Membrane stepped back to reach into a jar of lollipops sitting by the sink. He returned and held a cherry flavored one out to Elliot. “This should keep your tongue busy. I can’t have you licking that off.”

Elliot smiled, though the size of his grin was limited by the pain of his lip moving too much. “Thanks! Cherry! That’s one of my favorites.” He purred happily as he unwrapped it and placed it in his mouth.

“Don’t run the stick over your lip too much. You have to keep that on.” Membrane began to clean the wound on the boy’s arm, dabbing it with disinfectant before applying the same cream. “Or I’ll just have to put more on.”

“Don’t worry. I won’t.” Elliot suckled on the lollipop as he watched Membrane with bright blue eyes.

“Lean your arm back a little bit.” Membrane moved the boy’s arm back as he placed thin pads of cotton along the scrape. He then began to wrap a white bandage about the arm, securing it with an odd metal tab on both ends. “There. That’s done.”

“Thanks!” He smiled as he noisily pulled the sucker from his mouth. “It looks really good—Augh!” Elliot made a face as his tongue not only licked the lollipop, but the cream as well.

“Keep it in your mouth.” Membrane sighed as he lowered to a kneel to tend to the cuts on the boy’s legs, treating them with Band-Aids rather than bandages due to their small size.

“Ew. Yeah. Just a habit, heh.” He placed the lollipop back into his mouth. “I don’t think I licked any off, though.”

“That’s good.” Membrane rose when he was done. “There! Perfect!” He stood back a little and admired his work.

Elliot grinned as wide as he could without tearing the cut open and stood, wrapping his arms around Membrane in a tight hug. “Thank you so much!” He buried his forehead into the other boy’s shoulder.

Membrane was a bit taken aback by the sudden hug, but slowly returned it. “You’re very welcome.”

“Oh my. Elliot!” A voice sounded from across the room. It was a thin, cheery looking, middle aged women with bright flaming red hair. “What are you two doing?”

“Membrane was just…” Elliot lifted his head and began, twirling the sucker in his mouth.

“Don’t you know what that poor boy has gone through today? He should be resting!” She wagged a freckled finger as she moved over to Membrane’s original cot, picking up the washcloth so that it could be refilled with ice. “You two can hug later.”

“Alright ma’am.” Elliot slowly pulled away from Membrane. “He was helping me with this.” He pointed to his lip. “And this.” He pointed to his arm next, showing off the bandaging.

The nurse turned to watch the boy point to his wounds. “Oh my. Dodge ball again? Elliot… I swear I gave those boys a note about you playing that barbaric game.”

“It is fun, though.” Elliot smiled. “Even if I do get a little hurt.”

“A little?” The nurse raised a brow and shook her head before she turned to Membrane, who had quietly lain back down on the cot. “But thank you for helping our little Elliot, you must be great friends.” She smiled as she placed the icy cloth on the brunette’s forehead. “As for you.” Her eyes turned back to Elliot. “Run along. He needs his rest.”

“Yes ma’am.” Elliot nodded and headed towards the door, turning before he left. “See ya later, Membrane!” He gave a little wave before he disappeared out the door.
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Endocytosis