C&C means happy author = more fics.
Ask and I shall write.

<Part 1>
 

    Dib yawned and stretched out on the skool grounds languidly. He leaned back against a tree and opened his text. Actually it was the text for the university astrophysics class that his father taught, but the high skool books were too easy for him now.

    A flash of green caught his eye and he peered over the book carefully. It was him. Zim. The alien would-be invader. He had been Dib's nemesis since sixth grade when he'd shown up with plans for world domination. Now they were both juniors in high school and Zim was showing a very human growth pattern in fact he was growing almost along side Dib. It made the young man wonder if Zim had not found some way to link their growth rates. The thought wasn't as disturbing as it would have been when Zim first landed.

    Dib had grown to be six feet and one inch tall and was still growing. He calculated that he would become an inch or so taller than his father who stood six foot three. Like his father his scythe like bangs refused to be tamed even a little bit, as the rest of his hair was, and still stuck out like a weed from his ebony lochs. The rest of his hair had grown slightly longish and was pulled back in a choppy and small ponytail. He was thin but kept in good shape. His muscles were lean but hard and he was strong enough. He looked over Zim secretly and compared the proof of their maturing ages.

    The alien had grown to be six feet. Once the smallest of his race he most likely towered over many of them by now. He hadn't cut the back of his hair since middle school, when he'd implanted it permanently at Dib's mocking challenge,  and it hung long, passed his ass in fact, in a thin tail. The top was still as spiky and wild as ever. Dib took a moment to admire the ass behind the twitching tail of hair. It was smooth, small, and tight. All of Zim was tightly muscled. In fact, their muscular fitness was about the same. All said, Zim looked Good. Really good. //Wait! Damn! I wasn't looking at That! I was only comparing. Our structures are vastly similar, that's all I was doing!//

    The alien looked toward him and Dib looked down at his book quickly. That was another thing. //Shit.//  One more part of him that had grown over the years. He sexual awareness. Unfortunately it seemed more prone to enjoy males than females. One male in particular. Zim. That relationship was doomed without ever even beginning. //Relationship? With that. . . that . . . evil alien scum! Never!// He bit his lip and peeked over the book again. //But he 'is' adorable. innocent. handsome. smart. sexy. Zim.//

    Zim hated him. In fact most of the people he knew only tolerated him. He stood and turned his back on Zim and the skool and their classmates. It wasn't like they'd learn anything he didn't already know during the rest of their classes anyway.
_____________________

    Zim watched Dib walk away with a slight twinge of sadness. //Sadness? What?! That's ridiculous. The boy is the bane of my existence. Even since the tallest told me to shove a viple up my ass and stop reporting in as I was being denationalized from Irk, and I stopped trying to invade earth. He still wants to expose me as an alien. I suppose it would be termed as an obsession. So why should I feel sadness at his absence?//

    He looked at the retreating boy and frowned. //Something is not right about him. He looks. . . drained.//

    The Irkian made a quick decision and followed Dib back to his house. He climbed up the tree outside the human's window and watched from the cover of the leaves as Dib lay on his bed and closed his eyes. //He sleeps too much lately. A sign of human depression.// Zim went over his data on depression in his mind and turned worried eyes back to the sleeping human. //Depression can lead to self mutilation and suicide or non acentalmanion death.// He snorted mockingly, //Foolish humans. So fragile. I could crush them easily! Ahahahaha! I could wipe them off of the face of this planet! I could. . . care for this one.//

    //No! What am I thinking?! This is my nemesis! My mortal foe! I'm not checking up on him I'm just looking for a weakness! That's right!//

    He slipped quietly through the window and ran his gaze over the human. //No wounds in clear site. But self mutilation is mostly hidden from every day sight.//

    Careful hands slipped off Dib's clothing bit by bit and Zim felt his face go hot and his lower body go hard at the sight of the human's lean form. //I wonder if humans react the same way to desire. I will have to research. It would be an interesting study.//

    The cool air over his naked flesh woke the sleeping boy and he turned slowly to meet Zim's trapped gaze. "Mmm. Zmmmm."

    The alien didn't dare to move.

    Dib tensed as his mind registered that this wasn't a dream. He shot up and snatched the sheet around him to cover himself. "ZIM?!"

    "You have no need for shame."

    "What?! What are you doing in my room?! Why am I naked?!"

    "I was inspecting your flesh for self imposed wounds."

    "What?!" He yelled incredulously.

    "You have shown signs of depression which leads to self mutilation and often suicide. I needed to see how far you had gone."

    "I am NOT depressed."

    "Ah! Denial!"

    "Zim!"

    "What?"

    "Get OUT of my ROOM!!!"

    "I only wanted to help." The alien managed to look hurt and make Dib feel like a heel.

    "Why would you care? You hate me, remember? Now go back to your secret lab and plot to destroy me ok?"

    "Foolish human." There was no anger in his voice this time. "I have not plotted your destruction since the tallest banished me."

    Dib froze, "They what?!"

    "I have been alienated from my planet. I am not allowed to return."

    "I. . . Zim. . ."

    The green skinned boy shrugged, "I am not displeased with the outcome. I did not wish to return home in any case."

    "Why not?"

    "Compared to being with you, Irk would bore me."

    "Me?"

    "You are an extraordinary human."

    "Did you eat anything questionable today? Are Irkians allergic to cafeteria cole slaw?"

    "Can't I compliment you?"

    "No."

    "Then it will be difficult being your friend."

    "You're freaking me out Zim. You hate me."

    "But there is a fine line between love and hate."

    "Zim?"

    "What?"

    "Get out of my room!"

    Again the alien actually looked hurt! Dib almost called him back inside. Almost. //Well that was disturbing! Zim acted like he 'liked' me! And that whole love and hate line. . . what is he getting at? Like the proud Irkian would even lower himself enough to love a human.//

    //He's actually sweet at times. And funny. Like when he stole my candy bar and got so hyper I actually 'stopped' him from telling the world he was an alien.// Dib blushed. Zim had done a lot of things under the influence of that sugar high his 'friend's chocolate bar had given him. One of them was to kiss Dib. Right on the lips. Of course he didn't remember it after he woke up from his sugar crash sleep. //'I'll' never forget it.//

Or there was that once when he and Zim were working on a project together and they measured the materials wrong. The whole science lap had been covered in glowing worm like goo. //Zim is actually really fun when he isn't trying to kill me.//

    //We've shared a lot of good times. We've always had fun in our rivalry. Like the water balloon fight. I feel kind of bad for exploiting such a painful weakness, but he always gives as good as he gets. We could almost get along. Frightening. Intriguing.//

    //And he acted like he was worried about me. . . maybe I should go. . . um. . . say hi.//

    Mind made up, Dib made his way to Zim's house and knocked hesitantly.

    "I don't WANT A. . . Dib?"

    "Well then I don't want a Zim." Dib blushed, //Why did I SAY that!?!//

    "You!"

    "Me! Yeah. Hi. Can I come in?"

    "Yes?" Zim replied cautiously and stepped aside. "You aren't trying to capture me again are you?"

    Dib worried his lip and shook his head, "You aren't going to invade anymore are you?"

    "No."

    "Then I propose a truce."

    "Why?"

    "What you WANT me to try to capture you?"

    "It was nice having a beautiful human chase me around." //Doh! That was idiotic! Inane! Human! I must be out of my mind!//

    "Zim that. . . kind of sounded like a pick up line."

    //By the Tallest's thongs I. . .  Oh what the Hell.// "It was."

    "Oh."

    "Are you upset?" //Please don't be upset.//

    "No." Dib bit his lip in thought, "This is . . . sudden."

    //Maybe I misjudged. . . Have I offended?// "What? Do humans have to wait a certain amount of time before proclaiming another human beautiful? Is five years aquantence not enough?"

    "No that's not it. I meant. . . are you trying to get me back for something?" //Don't say things like that if you don't mean them.//

    "What?"

    "Like telling you the frogs we were dissecting were alien creatures, or when I said Jell-O was a living organism?"

    "No, though I should, I am not trying to get you back for your false information."

    "So you really think I'm beautiful."

    "Yes."

    "This is weird Zim."

    "I agree." Zim sat down on the kitchen cupboard beside Dib and watched him for a moment before continuing, "So what do humans do when they find another human to be beautiful?"

    "It depends."

    "On what?"

    "On what they mean by that."

    "Could you elaborate?"

    "If a human just thinks another is beautiful they might compliment them and walk away, or if they're artistic they might ask the other human to pose for them, or if they think a person is beautiful in soul and body and want to spend time with them, maybe a lifetime, they ask them on a date."

    "What is this. . . date?"

    "When two people go out and spend time together. Like going out to eat and to a movie, or to a carnival or something."

    "Human, Would you go on a date with me?"

    "Zim?"

    "I find you beautiful in many ways. I want to understand your odd motivations, research you. So will you come on a date with me?"

    Dib gave him an odd look, still in slight shock. "Research?"

    "Yes."

    "Just for research right?"

    "Of course." //No!//

    "'k."

    "After skool tomorrow?"

    "I'll meet you by the doors."

    Zim tried to offer an unalarming smile. "I will enjoy. . . uh. . . learn much from this date. Thank you."

    Dib nodded, dazed. His first date. And it was an alien. And Zim didn't hate him! For the first time in a long time, he wasn't a bit sleepy. He was too excited to sleep! //I'm going out on a date! With Zim!//

<Part 2>

    Zim slammed into the laboratory and quickly accessed his computer. "Computer I need information on the human dating rituals."

    "Information transmitting. . .  . . .  . . .  finished. The human race uses the 'date' as a precursor to mating. The most popular dating pair is male and female of course exceptions are found."

    "What is done on these. . . 'dates'?"

    "Transmitting. . . . . . . . . received. A date is usually begun with a gift of some sort. women prefer flowers or candy. After the initial gift, the one who initiated the date will ask the one he or she  invited
where they would like to go. It is also the job of the asking party to pay for expenses held on their date. Some popular dating activities have been recorded. Video files available."

    "Load Video files."

    "Loading. . . video one. . ."

    Zim blinked as he watched two humans sitting on a cloth of some sort, surrounded by flowers. The male was feeding the female from his hands. He blushed at the thought of him feeding Dib like that.

    "Video one. Picnic. A basket of nourishment and a blanket are taken to a remote location for partaking of the meal. Many variations can be achieved. . .

    The picture changed and Zim blush, "VIDEO TWO!"

    "Loading . . . video two. . ."

    This one showed two humans eating at a table together surrounded by other humans. Music began to play and both stood and held each other as they moved together.

    "Dinner and Dancing is achieved at a club or restaurant. The male leads in the dance. Some humans use this as an excuse to become closer to their date, others simply enjoy this as a pass time or even a sport."

    "Video three." Zim mumbled, his eyes replacing him and Dib for the people on the screen.

    "Loading . . . video three. . . movies."

    "Ah, Dib has mentioned these movies before."

    "Movies are a popular ritual for the younger groups. Used primarily as a place to become acquainted and to touch lightly in the dark. Usually followed or preceded by dinner."

    "What is the end result of these, dates?"

    "Information found. . . most dates end in a meeting of the lips called a kiss. Humans find this very pleasant, more so when done with an open mouth."

    "I see." Zim nodded and walked to the lift. He had never imagined a date would be so complex. The computer gave basic information but still, how was he to behave on such a venture? "I must consult a human."

_____________________

    "Welcome to 'As You Like It' The store with all of your dating needs. How may I help you?"

    Zim looked at the sales woman and blinked, unsure how to phrase his questions inconspicuously.

    "Oh! I don't believe it! You're going on your first date aren't you!"

    He jumped and blushed, "How did you. . . I mean. . . yes, I have a date."

    "Well let's get you all fixed up then!"

    The Irkian let himself be dragged around the human store as the woman babbled. He paid close attention for once however because she must have some information on how he should 'date' with Dib.

    "I can't believe you've never been on a date before! My my my! You're just so hot! I'll bet it's a very special someone who caught your eye!"

    "My eye?"

    She smiled, "First, clothes. Jeans are majorly in fashion, legging went out decades ago! Lets see. . . Ohhh! These! They're tight and black and perfect for whatever you do. Now. . . shirt. . . hmm. . . tan! Oh yes! a tan turtle neck would be excellent!"

    "Turtles. . . eep!"

    "Shoes. . . boots. . . oh yeah! Black Docs! You'd look so hot! Oh We'll have some fun today!"

    Zim bit his lip and allowed her to continue. //For Dib. This is for Dib.//

__________________

    Across town, Dib was tearing through his closet, "Argg! I don't have ANYTHING to wear!"

    Gaz stood in the doorway and caught the shirt that came flying at her head. "Jerk. What are you doing? Dad wants to have dinner with us tonight. It's your turn, pick."

    "I can't Gaz! I have to find something to wear. . ."

    "Your wearing what you always do, come on."

    "Maybe a black shirt. . . no, too goth. . . wait, he doesn't even know what goth is! Damn! Hm. . . white? Too 80s. Red? No, done to death. . . yellow, ah blinding, no. . ."

    Gaz picked up a medium brown no sleeve and threw it in his face, "There, lets go!"

    "Perfect! Thanks Gaz!"

    "Ass hole."
______________________

    Skool was just beginning when Zim walked in the class room. Dib dropped his text book and stared. Zim was. . . God he was beautiful! He could feel his bodies reaction to the alien and closed his eyes in appreciative agony. //Oh God! He'll make me insane before class gets out!//

    Zim in the mean time was having similar thoughts. //He is magnificent! Perfect in so many ways! Even in his imperfections. What is this warmth he creates inside of me? Irk had nothing comparative to this. Dib. . . why is the day moving so slowly? When will skool be over?!//

    When the bell finally rang, Dib let out a sigh of relief. He hurried to put his books away and wondered if Zim had been waiting for this as much as he had. //wait a minuet! He's your mortal foe! So you called a truce, you really think that makes a difference? Are you that naive? He could be trying to control you through this! He could be trying to humiliate you!// Dib looked up from his musings and saw Zim standing at the doors waiting for him. //I don't care if he is. I just want to pretend it's real for a little while. That's not too much to ask is it?//

    He walked up to Zim with a blushing smile. "Hello."

    "Hello Dib Human." Zim smiled back, not a malicious or unbalanced smile as usual, but a happy and slightly scared expression that made Dib want to just hold the alien and reassure him.

    "Dib." His sister Gaz walked out of the school and looked at him expectantly. "Come on, we're going home."

    "I'm going with Zim, Gaz."

    She paused and looked from one to the other, "Sure, whatever. I'm going home, do NOT mess with me today ok."

    Dib smiled, "All right."

    She looked suspicious but walked away and Dib turned to see Zim smiling, "What?"

    "Remember the time I tried to use her as an umbrella?"
 
    Dib chuckled, "And then when I splashed you I got her too. She threatened to kill me ten times that day! It was a new record."

    Zim touched Dib's cheek lightly and looked away from him in shyness, "I am glad we have called a truce though."

    "Me too." He breathed.

    "You look very captivating today Dib." Zim blushed and Dib smiled and blushed himself.

    "So do you. You've worn those pink clothes for so long, I wasn't sure if they could be removed."

    "The clothing can. My back compartment is semi permanently attached though."

    "Semi?"

    Zim blushed and nodded, "We can speak later."

    "All right."

    "Where do you want to go?"

    Dib smiled and swallowed passed the choked up feeling inside him. It was obvious Zim had put a lot of effort into researching proper dating behavior. It made him feel special. "What would you enjoy?"

    Zim paused, thrown for a second by the unexpected answer. "I have never witnessed a human. . . 'movie'. perhaps. . ."

    "I know just the one." Dib nodded and took Zim's hand.

    A shock ran up each of their arms and shot warmth through their bodies. Both boys paused and looked at each other in awe. "Did you feel. . ."

    "Yes."

    "What. . ."

    "I don't know."

    "I liked it."

    "Me too."

    Dib blushed and pulled on Zim's hand a little, "Movies?"

    "Ah, right." He walked beside the human quietly. Focusing on their joined hands and the unexpected warmth they shared.
 

~tbc~