Being Human

Eleven - Zim POV

Maybe I was so good at it because I’d been lying to myself for years now. I lied to myself when I was young, thinking I was some great invader when I was really a defective; I lied to myself when I thought I could get along just fine on my own, that I didn’t need anyone; and, finally, I realized I’d lied to myself and Gaz when I said that my being here was to throw Dib’s ignorance back into his face. The truth was, despite my time in elementary school, I knew nothing about this planet and anything I did know I learned due to my own curiosity and from the Membrane siblings. 

And... And... And I didn’t want to be alone. 

I didn’t exactly have the most cordial relationship with Dib and I wouldn’t dare refuse Gaz’s friendship if I wanted to stay whole and healthy, but those two were the only humans I knew and remotely trusted. And Dib...

I wanted to close my eyes when my heart suddenly felt like it was being squeezed, but somehow managed not to. Dib was explaining to me about some mechanic of the problems we were working on, and I didn’t need him pressing me for more information. When I saw him walk into class earlier, I was almost praying he sat anywhere else but near me. And of course, the humans’ god hated me, as all gods, both foreign and domestic, did.

“So what do you think?” Dib asked, taping his pencil against the math on the paper.

I studied it, trying to keep my face neutral. Dib has such horrible handwriting... “Looks right.” I said finally.

“Looks right?” Dib asked.

“Well, you did it the long way, but yeah.”

“Is there a shorter way?”

Dib, you’re always proclaiming you’re smarter than me, so why are you being so stupid? I wished I could say it, but I didn’t want to ruin this opportunity I had now. So I picked up my pencil and showed Dib the other way to solve the physics problem.

“Huh.” Dib said after I was done. “You know. You’re pretty smart.”

There was an odd flutter in my chest. I quickly squashed the feeling. It wasn’t Zim Dib was calling smart; it was Zeke. I felt like I wasn’t even me anymore. I was just pretending so I could lord it over him later. But... I was beginning to have second thoughts. I never cared much to learn about the planet I’d been sent to. I’d only ever thought about conquering it in the name of the Tallest and the irken race. But the longer I lived here, the more I experienced, the more I realized conquering this planet would be a stupid and foolish endeavor. I could live here for years, right under the noses of the people who spent their lives chasing creatures like me, and keep a relatively peaceful life. With my skills, there was no reason I couldn’t live comfortably.

But...

I looked at Dib and frowned a little. But the true question I faced was whether or not I could live alone.

“So, Zeke,” Dib said, startling me out of my thoughts. “What class do you have next?”

“Ancient history,” I replied. 

“After that?”

“I have a two hour break. I figured I’d go somewhere and do some work.”

Dib nodded. “Well, if you meet me at the dining hall, we could work on the physics together.”

I blinked, then gave a little nod. “Yeah, sure. When?”

“After your history class. I have a science lab, but it won’t take too long, I don’t think.” I just nodded. Dib gave me a large grin. “Great! I’ll see you then.”

“Okay.” I just stared at him, not quite sure how to react. Dib didn’t seem to be bothered by my lack of reaction.

After class, we went out separate ways, and I could swear I was being watched as I walked down the hall and down the stairs, out of sight.