Reciprocate My Love Chpt:7

Dib’s POV
I wrenched open the door, too impatient at the time to wait for it to open unbearably slowly by itself. Zim was in the corner of his bed, curled up into a ball again. I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself down. I slowly took a seat on the bed, causing Zim to edge even farther away from me. I edged closer to him, but he just jumped off the bed and curled up in the darkest corner of the room. I let out an exasperated sigh, realizing that I shouldn’t have expected a warm welcome after our last encounter. Standing up, I walked to the wall opposite of Zim and slid down, bringing my knees up to my chest. I took another deep breath, my eyes never leaving Zim.

I stayed quiet, waiting for Zim to speak first. He said nothing. I cleared my throat. The silence was not broken. I sighed again.

“Come on Zim,” I said in a slightly annoyed tone. “I'm not below a normal conversation.”

“What! You are foolish to think I will fall for your such tricks! I know why you are here…”

He let out a defeated sigh.

“Why?” I asked, with an amused edge to my voice.

“It is an insult for you to think of me as so stupid. You only want me for your perverted desires,” he snarled, with a somber whimper. “But I shall stop you. No more of your horrible molestations shall take place here.”

I laughed softly.

“Sorry, but that's wrong. I could act out any perverted desire I wished on you,” I said lightly, as if we were talking about the weather, instead of my “perverted desires.” “All I want from you today, however, is just to tell you about my day, any interesting news…. It’s been quite a few years, Zim. I’d like to catch up.”

Zim looked at me inquisitively. I smiled with what I thought was a warm smile. It must’ve looked quite devious to Zim, however.

He replied with a hateful glance, “I've nothing to talk about with YOU!”

I hated that he wouldn’t just open up to me, but I realized he had no reason to. I began to yell something in reply, but caught myself before the words left my mouth; I had to keep my calm to outsmart him.

“Well, if you won't talk, you'll just have to listen,” I said quietly. “I was informed that you have been scheduled a trial-”

As soon as I said the word “trial,” Zim jerked his head up, fear, fear unlike anything I had ever seen Zim express before, etched into every line of his smooth, green face.

His body was out of the tight ball, but it was far from relaxed. Hewas rigid, and tears swam in his crimson eyes. He closed them, a tear streaming down his face, as his body began to shake without showing any signs of stopping. I jumped up and ran to his side, as he began to sob harder along with the shaking. I did the first thing that came into mind: I grabbed him and cradled him in my arms, kissing the top of his head.

His breathing was ragged and heavy, as his face twisted in what must’ve been pain. He didn’t struggle to keep away from me as he usually would, but stayed still, aside from the violent shaking.

“Zim, what’s wrong?” I whispered in a concerned voice.

He looked up at me, his eyes widening. He pushed me away, toppling out of my arms. He wiped his eyes with his sleeve, looking down at the stained floor.

“I-It is nothing of your c-concern, Dib-stink,” he spat out in a shaking voice, still avoiding my gaze.

I cocked an eyebrow.

“Oh really?” I asked sarcastically. “Well, then, we must discuss your trial…”

Again, at the word trial, he began to shake once more. Trial. There was something about that word that seemed to have an odd effect on Zim.

“Oh,” I went on, “why do you do that, Zim? Every time I mention the trial-” More shaking. “-you seem to have some sort of fit. Why is that? Why are you afraid of something so simple as a trial?”

“F-Foolish human,” he stuttered. “The gr-great Zim is not a-afraid of a tr-tr-tr-”

“Trial?”

“Y-Yes.”

“Well, Zim, would you like to tell me why you can not even say the damn word?”

He stayed silent. I felt worried and slightly pitied the green alien. He was obviously trying very hard to keep something from me, but was failing miserably. I was also slightly frightened by his reactions; I had never seen Zim in such a state.

You're fear is silly, you know. I'm sure your sentence-" He shuddered. “Now, really! Tell me what is going on!”

Zim turned to me quickly, with a frightened, yet angry stare, as he exclaimed loudly, “You could never understand!”

“You don't know that unless you tell me!” I almost shouted, not meaning to be so loud, but I was so concerned for him, I wasn't controlling my words.

"What, you think I don't understand how a court tri-" I stopped myself before I said it again.

Zim took a few steps forward and then turned to face me. His face so full of hidden emotions. He let out a big sigh, sorrow taking the place of the anger on his face.

“You…you don’t know the pain and grief I have endured, Dib. You know nothing,” he whispered.

I stared at him questioningly. He stared back with glaring eyes. There was so much hatred and pain in those eyes; I wondered exactly what had happened when Zim had left me all alone.

“Would you like to inform me of the pain you have felt?” I coaxed. “I have all the time in the world.”

“But…”He began, then, taking another look at me, sighed. “Very well, then. You might as well take a seat.”