Insecure

***Invader Zim, and all related characters, names, etc., are copyright Jhonen Vasquez.

I write for entertainment only, and do not make a profit from his work.

Jake is an original character.***

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Chapter One: Insecure

“Well, it’s not that I’m busy, Jake… There’s just nowhere to go.”

Dib stretched slightly to reach his left boot, nearly falling off the unmade bed he was lying on. His fingertips managed to grasp the boot’s tongue before he slid to the floor, dropping the phone. He quickly retrieved it, not bothering to sit upright until he heard Jake’s voice. “Sorry. Yeah. No, I’m sitting now.” Dib smiled as he heard Jake’s laugh on the other end. After lacing up the boot, Dib stood to search for his car keys. I haven’t been out in awhile, though. What were you planning?” He pocketed his keys and slipped his right boot on before lazily running his free hand through his hair. He had grown it out, his familiar scythe now rested just above his shoulders, while a few stray bangs fells over his right eye. “The Java Stop? Don’t you think that’s a little…stereotypical? Besides, a lot of punkasses hang out there. I hate the way they look at me. Let’s not spend the whole day there.” Dib stepped out of his room into his apartment’s hallway only to trip over his backpack and random dvd cases. He stumbled into the bathroom, mumbling, “I’m seriously going to kill myself in this stupid house. Heh, yeah, of course you can come over and clean for me. Hmm? Wear my contacts?” Dib blushed, avoiding his own gaze in the bathroom mirror as he got ready to brush his teeth. Sure, I’ll see ya in fifteen.”

Dib, now nineteen, was in the middle of his first year of college. His major was currently undecided, much to Dib’s embarrassment, but Jake was always ready to assure him it was better to consider all his options. When offered astronomy class, Dib was happy to accept, but not for the same reasons his younger self would have. No, now the only interest Dib had in stars was their offer of escape from this reality. It also didn’t hurt that Jake was in the class, too. Dib had lost almost all interest in the paranormal, and he hadn’t even realized it was happening until it was too late to keep the obsession alive. It had been two years since he had last seen Zim – three years, the ninth of next month. Not that he was keeping track, or anything…

Finished, Dib sighed. He glared at his reflection, fists resting on the sink’s counter. Why did he even care about Zim anymore? Zim had left him. Once they had graduated, they had both found a neutral ground between them, which gradually turned into friendship, and Dib had enjoyed it. He loved to pull pranks on the idiotic public with his former enemy, and go to the theater with him. Spending evenings with Gir always ensured a good laugh. He even felt honored when Zim had willingly programmed the house to accept him as a welcomed guest, as well as disarm those damn lawn gnomes… But then Zim just vanished. Dib had frequented Zim’s house almost constantly after the Irken failed to meet him for a planned day of pranks involving fireworks and paint guns. Dib was hoping to find that the Irken was simply ignoring his doorbell and cell, maybe needing some time alone, but after a few days turned into a week, Dib grew restless. He had finally entered his friend’s house after a day of moral conflict only to find the house completely deserted. Both Zim and Gir were missing, and the main computer wasn’t online. Hell, even the usually snack-filled kitchen was bare.

He knew he shouldn’t have been that surprised. Zim was an Invader, after all, right? And he had obviously failed in his mission. Zim had spent too many years on Earth without any attempts at conquering it. He had probably just left. Yeah. There was no sign of struggle, so that must be it. Zim had failed in his mission. But…why not say goodbye? Weren’t they friends? Wasn’t Dib worthy of at least that from the Irken? Or was it all a goodbye in the first place? The Saturdays together, and the hours of doing nothing but cloud watching. Was that Zim’s way of saying goodbye? Or had that bastard just befriended Dib to put his little Irken conscience at ease? Dib clenched his teeth as his brow furrowed. These thoughts had been plaguing him so long. His breath caught as tears made their way down his cheeks. As he neared the front door, Dib whimpered quietly and slid down the wall of the hallway, bringing his knees up to his chest. He wrapped his arms securely around them and wept.