The Emptiness Ch. 5

Seconds dragged into minutes as the two sat in silence. Zim's previous adrenaline rush from earlier left him currently caught off guard. To see the Dib here alive and pissed off was almost as surprising as it was not. Dib pushed the gun more into Zim's face, "Answer me Zim." The human kept his eyes locked on the alien feeling his anxious finger tighten ever so slowly around the trigger. Zim needed to think of something to say quickly before his insides became an abstract art display. His eyes transferred back and forth between the gun and Dib a few times before he finally answered, "Uh...window shopping..?" Dib did not expect such a stupid answer...well yes he did, but not THAT stupid. It caught him off guard slightly allowing his brow to raise in confusion in response. Zim took this window of opportunity and suddenly pushed the gun out of his face and knocking Dib off balance. The alien quickly pushing to his feet trying to make a break for the door. However it didn't take long for Dib to regain his wits and balance, managing to turn and fire a warning shot into the wall near Zim to stop the alien from escaping. The sudden loud noise and small chunks of flying debree caused Zim to quickly jump away from the door and turn left heading into the kitchen. Dib didn't hesitate to follow Zim into the kitchen keeping his shotgun ready to blow the little freak's head open. When Dib entered the kitchen he came face to face with Zim from across the table with a dinner fork in his hand, really? Not even a knife but a fork of all things. "Seriously Zim? How are you still alive right now??" criticized Dib. Zim only narrowed his eyes back at the human, "...Zim is quite surprised to see you still alive as well dirt child." Dib narrowed his eyes once again at Zim, "Explain what you're doing in my house space boy..." The two shifted two steps to their right refusing to take their eyes off one another. Zim twitched wanting more than anything to be snappy at Dib and tell him to keep his fleshy smell hole in his own business. But with his current situation Zim reluctantly bit back the sarcasm and said with a calm low growl, "If you MUST know I'm looking for parts that can repair my base. I'm trying to reach the Tallest to send any sort of reinforcements to get control of the smelly zombies." Dib returned a skeptical look that partially said he should've just shot Zim. But like always the human's curiosity got the best of him, "You do not have adequate parts of your own to make repairs?" Zim's temper immediately flared, "WHY WOULD ZIM BE HERE IF ZIM DID??? STUPID FILTHY DIRT CHILD!" That response had the shotgun back in his face and Dib glaring at him, "I should kill you...sure the virus may not have killed you but I doubt you'll be able to walk away when your head is in pieces." Zim swallowed thickly, maybe that wasn't the smartest move on his behalf. Keeping his eyes on Dib he managed to turn the fork in his claws before quickly jabbing it into Dib's hand. Dib yelped in response suddenly dropping the gun to pull the fork out of his hand. While the human was distracted Zim quickly picked up the shotgun struggling to balance it as he aimed it at Dib. The gun was so much heavier than Zim had anticipated causing him to hold it awkwardly. Dib looked back to Zim and sighed dropping the fork. He held his hands up and looked at Zim, "....alright Zim...it's obvious this is getting us nowhere...right now we both have a common threat that needs to be dealt with. And as much as I hate to say it...we may have better success working together than carry on like this..." Zim glared at the human, his thin arms shaking as he tried to keep the gun up in the air, "Zim does not need your help. Besides, how do I know you won't just turn around and shoot me next chance you get?" Dib said the next part calmly, "If you didn't need my help than you wouldn't need mine...I don't like this any more than you but we both need help...I'm willing to put everything aside temporarily to focus on the matter at hand...when we finish we can get back to trying to kill each other...deal?" He lowered one of his hands to Zim to shake hands and seal the deal, "You have my word..." Zim thought about it for a long time, he didn't want to admit how beneficial it would be to work together, he hated this so much. But this gun was getting far too heavy and Dib was right, they were getting nowhere fighting like this. Zim groaned lowering the gun to the floor reaching out and grabbing Dib's hand shaking it, "Fine. Deal. I will work with you Dib Human...for now." Dib took his hand away and nodded, "Alright. Let's get started. Where do you need to look for your spare parts?" Zim thought for a moment, "Well unfortunately I didn't get a good look in your father's basement due to your scary undead sister..." Zim bristled remembering the look of her face. Dib thought for a moment as well, "There is always my dad's work...unfortunately that place is bound to be crawling with Zombies..." Zim wrapped his arms around himself defensively, "Zim does not want to be made a snack again!" Dib rolled his eyes, "Believe me I don't fancy being bitten either...considering our best chances if that's the case..." He trailed off. Zim's antenna twitched, "What then?" Dib looked nervous as he looked at Zim, "We're gonna have to go back in the basement..." Zim turned white, "No. You go Zim will stay here." Dib glared at him, "We go together, if she tries to get one of us there will be a better chance of saving the other." Zim sighed with defeat, now he really wished he didn't need those parts, "Alright..." Dib reloaded his gun looking up to watch Zim who picked back up the fork, "Zim that's not a sufficient weapon." Zim smirked, "Worked on you didn't it?" Dib's face turned slightly red, "It won't protect you from Gaz..." He reached into his holster he had strapped to his hip and pulled out a smaller handgun giving it to Zim, "use this...all you have to do is point and squeeze the trigger." Zim looked it over curiously before suddenly aiming it at the ground and squeezing the trigger firing a bullet near Dib's feet. Zim yelped when the recoil caused the handle to swing back hitting him in the shoulder. Dib jumped at the sudden loud noise getting so close to him, "NOT AT ME YOU GREEN DWARF!" He cursed. Zim dropped the gun rubbing his shoulder, "VILE THING!!!" He hissed clawing at it. Dib groaned picking up the gun putting it back in Zim's hands, "Zim, listen this is important. This is the best shot you have to protect yourself...just make sure it's pointed at Gaz when you pull the trigger....and watch out for that kickback.." Zim wasn't happy about using this evil piece of metal, but considering how terrifying Dib's gun was, Zim figured he'd trust the human's judgement this once. He held it in his hands and nodded. The two moved into the living room standing in front of the basement door. "Okay...I'm gonna do everything I can to cover you while you look for what you need...if you see Gaz. Shoot her." Zim swallowed thickly shaking, he did not like this plan. Any normal zombie wouldn't send him quaking the same way the terrifying little girl could. "Ready..." Zim held his gun close. Dib nodded turning the lock on the door. He took a deep breath grasping the doorknob before turning it and stepping inside, with Zim right behind him.