God he hated Zim. He hated him so much, but the real reason he hated the Irken was simply because he couldn’t completely hate him, as much as he tried to. That didn’t even make sense.
“I love you, cold unfeeling robot arm.”
He shouldn’t feel guilty, at all. Hell, Zim sure wouldn’t if he had hurt his feelings, but there were lines even Dib didn’t cross, and subsequently felt awful if he did apparently.
He knew what it was like, after all. To be alienated, despised, and from his life up until recently was sure he could empathize with a parent hating you. The sting of loneliness, of no one loving you wasn’t something he’d wish on his worst enemy.
It was easy to find him. GIR had neglected to shut the windows; easy access for him to slide through, but he still kept on the look out for lasers. Everything was darker than usual, the base a quiet cocoon of desolate despair.