Dib rested his arms against the outside balcony of the theater. The senior year trip to see the big city production of Romeo and Juliet. Going was an easy way to get out of doing an art credit for the year and both he and Zim took the option immediately.
Zim. Why did fighting him have to get complicated? Why did they have to keep having these enjoyable truces? Why did they have to start having such a good time bantering on the school bus ride?
Why did Zim have to look so nice in a suit???
Dib pressed his face into his hands and let out a long sigh.
“Ugh. Zim. Why are you an alien invader Zim?
Just denounce your Tallest’s dumbass mission, and drop the invader act
Or..” Dib looked up into the clear night, so few stars were visible in the city, but that made the desire stronger.
“Or if you won’t, and you care about me at all
Take me up there, and ill forget about being Earth’s defender.”
“WHAT ARE YOU ON ABOUT DIB-STINK!?”
Dib jumped out of his stupor shouted “WHAT” looking all around till he gripped the banister and looked over to see Zim in the little garden that lead to the parking lot.
“What are you doing up there Earth-Boy? Did we not decide to get better snacks before we have to endure another act of this filth?”
“I ummm yeah. I just came up here to uhh escape.” In truth, Dib had ran off to use the bathroom and panic because Zim had grabbed his hand and whispered into his ear at the end of the first act. He then came to the balcony to get some fresh air and squash some feelings.
Forbidden love on a balcony…
“How did you plan to do that without Zim’s assistance hmm?” Zim rested his hands on his hips as he deployed a Pak leg.
Dib couldn’t stop a smile and dopey look spread across his face at the arrogance.
“Zim.. how is it we make fun of the play in there, but then do this out here.” Dib blushed as soon as he realized he said that aloud. “I mean umm.. ugh never mind, you probably don’t understand what I am talking about.”
“Perhaps Zim understands, a little bit” He turned his face in embarrassment. “But we’re nothing like those stage humans. They say they are in love and they just met. They haven’t even engaged in epic battle yet. Zim thinks we would make a much better story for those theater slaves.”
“Yeah?” Something bloomed, bright and warm in his heart “Maybe someone will write about us someday. A modern Romeo + Juliet. With a lot more aliens, guts, epic fights and minus the dying part.. I hope.”
They looked at each other and a careful determination spread across their faces. Neither wanted to think about it their end. This was good. The present was good.
“So lizard, you gonna come get my pathetic human self-down from here so we can hit the gas station?”
They both laughed and let the tension in the air dissipate. They were good. They had to be.
