zadr headcanons of DOOM
aka help tem fell in love with some cartoon dumbasses about 10 years late and has extremely specific needs part 45987
👽 it starts how you might imagine: they’re wrestling over whatever the evil scheme of the day is, Dib accidentally grabs Zim’s side and he flinches and makes this weird noise like...a sorta strangled squeak??
👽 this is a New Development, so obviously Dib’s like “owo what’s THIS” and does it a few more times to be sure and Zim keeps yelping and jerking like he’s being electrocuted (which he probably thinks he IS at first lol), so...“wait ...you’re ticklish??”
👽and Zim’s all “YOU LIIIE” but he actually has no idea what this feeling is?? tickling isn’t really a thing on Irk and sure he’s probably seen humans doing it but never paid much attention, bc no Irken, let alone the amazing Zim, could possibly have such a ridiculous weakness, right??
👽 w r o n g. Dib just smirks like an asshole like “oh really” and proceeds to wreck his shit.
👽 he’s obviously heard Zim laugh before, but this is something else - it’s all over the place from cackles to shrieks and squawks and chirps, when he hits a sweet spot like under his arms or around his PAK. (his feet are also pretty sensitive, but Dib doesn’t find that out til later bc it’s pretty impossible to get his boots off without getting kicked in the face.)
đź‘˝ he thrashes and fights like crazy, yells various death threats, ZIM DEMANDS THAT YOU CEEEEASE, etc
👽 meanwhile Dib is just teasing like a mfer bc this is the greatest day of his life, all “give it up, Zim, I know your real weakness!! maybe I’ll just keep doing this forever, you’re not much of a threat to the earth when you’re all giggly and cute—“
👽 cue record scratch bc wait WHAT?? where did that come from??? They both kinda freeze and there’s this moment of Awkward Intense Eye Contact oh my~
👽 until Zim breaks it by demanding to know wHAT DID YOU CALL ZIM?!?! and Dib is furiously denying it bc this is his sworn alien enemy, he’s terrible and evil and not even remotely cute even when he’s all flustered and dishevelled and actually blushing dark green and oh no Dib is So Totally Fucked(™)
👽 in more ways than one lol, the second he lets his guard down Zim pounces on him, the spider legs come out and “Zim will show you who is cute!!” (cute being, of course, the Ultimate Insult)
👽 Dib might have forgotten how ticklish he is (it’s been a while since his dad ain’t exactly the affectionate type and Gaz only touches him to inflict pain), but his sides, ribs and behind his knees are the worst. he also snorts, to his mortification & Zim’s delight.
👽 what Zim lacks in practice he makes up for in “yes, laugh, pitiful Dib-stink!! surrender to helpless hysteria at the merciless claws of Zim!!!” (the additional limbs come in handy too)
đź‘˝ oh and GIR helps!! who he decides to help when Zim yells for him is more of a gamble. he just wants to be part of the fun :D
👽 their scuffles mysteriously end in a looot more vicious tickle fights after this. but ifWHEN they eventually stop being idiots and admit that they maybe sorta don’t entirely detest each other as much as they claim?? so many more possibilities~
👽 Zim is particularly weak to tickly kisses, raspberries, nibbles, affection in general tbh. (you know that “what is this”/ “affection”/“disgusting!! ...do it again” meme? basically that. but he’ll never admit it even/especially if it means getting wrecked by his now unfairly taller human. )
👽 Tools? absolutely!!! You know they’re both inventing shit like idk, feather lasers, auto-tickling hairbrushes, anything they can think of to claim the coveted title of Ultimate Tickle Monster.
👽 they may also have detailed maps of each other’s spots, extensive notes on reactions, etc. for research, obviously!!
👽 these probably aren’t limited to tickling purposes buuut that’s all I’m gonna say about that :x