XDD oh boo it's so short lol
I really do love this outside look on the subtle changes though!

*Wall of hearts* I'm going to add your other fics to my To Read list! It may take me a bit cause *side eyes* it's a uh...long list lol
But I LOVED your writing! The plot was really fun! The slow burn and look at how these two felt about each other was perfectly paced! I adored the OCs! Just *chefs kiss* all so good!
Thank you so much for writing and posting! I know it's an old fic, but I really hope that you still get these reviews so you can see it's still being appreciated even after all this time!

X3 Dib's all nervous

XD Dib talking to the computer

DX! MY HEART! ZIM'S HOLDING THE RUINED TRENCH COAT

My heart! Zim's trying to nuzzle Dib! But his nose is in the way!

Kiss!
DX noo burning saliva! (Honestly though, I personally have this headcanon too lol so, yeah, poor boys hurt to kiss)
X3 but not enough to stop

X3 *hearts* that was a sweet good bye

" AN: Happy 2008 :D "
Happy 2020 :D

XD I'm gonna guess Dib is healing, but oh boy that is not something you want to wake up to (naked suspended in pink goo lol)
I'm guessing he's too drugged up to care that he's naked lol

Naw! My heart! Zim and Dib leaning against the tube towards each other

XD I love how Kinn has a crush on Dib lol

XDD Dib's coffee addiction makes another appearance lol I knew that stuff was bad for him

XD how does Gaz know Dib's a xenophile now lol

X3 Dib mentally going over all the evidence that Zim cares for him

Awwww the three day rule! My heart! But Dib you should be resting you dork!

X3 Dib actually fell asleep
X3! And Zim's being so sweet about it!

*Banging head against the wall* ZIM'S BEEN STABBED

Oh no! Bass has been captured now too!

Oh? Miik and Blo? Are we finally going to see Red and Purple usurped?

Yes! Diplomatic law saves the day! (XD)

! Zim is legally allowed to KILL Red and Purple! 8D (a little sad cause I like RaPr, but, ya know, this story is too good for me to care that much lol)

Ah cool, Zim's being merciful
XD poor Dib, shirtless and all scratched up for the whole universe to see

" A list,' said Blo, 'of every Irken taller than a hundred and thirty Ligas and their missions trough the universe. It seems most of them are assigned to dangerous and deadly tasks.'
'Everybody out!' yelled Red 'Cut the transmissions, NOW!' "
*Evil grin* scandalous

X3 Taty and Miik's little head press

" Has any of you noticed that, besides his grand scene with the Irken laws and everything, Diplomat Blo NEVER talks? ;) "
XDD yes, I'm curious about that, but I figure he's just shy or something lol

XD thanks for the recap lol

As always, love the episode quotes!

Love the thought of the massive having a huge fighting arena! That is so perfect lol

Oh-ho-ho-ho yes! Zim's gonna fight the PREDATOR

Oh! Clever! Switching out Dib with the Dib-bot!

Oh! The bot's in the arena now! Hopefully Zim realizes that it's fully clothed compared to the real Dib and doesn't panic or do anything stupid

Oooooor the bot gets shot and Zim snaps XD I like this very much too
8D blood!

Awwww Dib gets to see how much Zim cares about him X3

ToT Zim was so worried!
! Little circles with his thumbs!

Lol, Zim could blow up the Massive by accident with just a microwave

XD I love Purple's panic

DX oh no! Taty!
Though, clever of Red to shut her up before she could announce that Dib was a Kribliss, just in case that caused any of the soldiers to switch sides

:( Poor shirtless Dib (all that metal must be freezing!)
ToT and he misses Zim!

X3 love Dib's little inner exploration of his feelings
8D Zim!

X3! Zim's finding out Dib knows about being a Kribliss~

Uh oh...the Tallest have them cornered

Wait...waaaait wait wait wait wait. Gaz gave Kinn a DIB ROBOT!? HOW COOL IS THAT!

XDDD honestly Kinn! You didn't have to change the bot into an exact replica lol ohmyword

" 'Why won't you admit that you liiiiiiike me?' singsonged Dib. "
Yes Dib XD get Zim out of his funk

" 'I hate you too,' he said with a challenging grin. Then, he added in a whisper only meant for the Invader: 'Now come and get what's yours, Space-boy.'
Oooooo yes.

" AN: Go Zim! Get your Kribliss back! He wants you too! XD "
YES! Right!? Yes!

" For the ones who are counting, this is the fourth chapter where Dib is shirtless. Whee! "
XDDD I'm counting, poor Dib lol

Oh thank goodness it was a teleportation beam DX Diiiiib

Wait, is that /literally/ the PREDATOR? YES PLEASE!

Oof *evil grin* Dib's being sent to the Tallest!

*Cackling* GIR is calling Purple mummy
DX awwwww nooo GIR was deactivated

Oof poor Dib! The Tallest don't seem worried about the whole Kribliss thing

! Oh! Red and Purple are Kribliss! Nice B-)

" They arrived at the medical area, where they found Zim, curled on a cot, holding Dib's trench coat and wailing like a kicked puppy. It was rather pathetic. "
ToT ZIIIIMMMM

Awwwww Ziiiiimmmmm T_T he's all drugged up and lost without Dib

I love how serious and strictly Taty is taking this Kribliss law!

Aw poor Zim, still a little doped up but wanting to join the fight in rescuing Dib

...might warrior that lives there...
Wonder who that could be
...XD I bet it's Gaz

XD Miik and Taty are into some violent stuff lol

XDD I was right, it's Gaz lol

X3 Gaz is so protective of her brother, she cares
XD or not! She's more concerned with the new game coming out to go help Dib XDD

Oh? Wonder what this device could be?

X3 yay RaPr lol

Okay, LOVE that definition of Kribliss!

! Dib's had the tattoo for FIVE years! 8DD I'm loving this reveal!

" 'He could chop us up directly in front of the Tallest and they would probably help him,' she moaned. 'It's that bad.' "
I'm loving these stakes!

" 'You were trespassing on Zim's planet!'
'The Earth was never yours!' shouted Dib from the back. "
XDD Dib!

XD Zim ya moron, it had to be pointed out that Dib wasn't there willingly

Naaaw X3 Taty claimed Miik

" 'It means you got yourself a very psychotic, very possessive, very messed-up, very kinky protector,' snickered Kinn. "
XD yeah, that's Zim

XDD why is Kinn holding Dib's cloths instead of letting him get dressed first lol

X3 Dib day dreaming about nuzzling Zim

XD! Dib! Bad Dib lol

'I haven't done anything,' said Kinn with raised antennas. 'Except… talk with him,' she added with a knowing smirk."
XDD I love Kinn
X3 poor Dib just wants some alone time with Zim

OH SNAP!? ZIM WASN'T THE ONE TO DAMAGE THEIR SHIPS! I love that twist! I was starting to wonder where that "gift" had gone!

XD I'm just suddenly reminded that Dib is shirtless during all of this

Oh! Action! Yes! 8D
XD GIR

Naw! Dib ran back into the fire for Zim!

NO! DIB! please just be a teleportation beam please just be a teleportation beam! DX curse you cliffhangers!
(XD yeah I know it's all posted already but you'll still get my honest first reactions lol, I am absolutely loving this story so far!)

X3 awww Miik knows who Zim is, this'll be fun
Aww I spoke too soon, Zim's being laughed at, poor bug

Lol GIR

X3 Zim, you're possessiveness is showing again *heart*

Okay, is it bad that I find it adorable that Dib just automatically assumes that Zim's the one who strapped him unconscious to a table and how Dib is noticing the small abnormalities that hint at it not actually being Zim (lack of Dib wearing a shirt, how Zim usually monitors his vitals so he can gloat as soon as Dib wakes up) I love those details!

XD I like Kinn

XD aw Dib, you don't want to see the recording where Zim finds out the last 6 years of his life was a total lie?

XDD Dib has bite makes and Kinn is taking it the wrong way

Oh? Implications? 8D here comes the exposition from Kinn!
X3 she's embarrassed and it's adorable
XD poor Dib! Learning that hand to hand combat is foreplay! (Honestly, LOVE that headcanon!)

XDDD ohmyword they're "compatible"

'We'll try to deal with the basics first,' she said with a calculated tone. 'I'm an Irken. Do you find me attractive in any way?'
XD oh, I am loving this whole situation! Poor Dib lol

XDD poor Dib! You're not a freak, you just like Zim

Kinn: scientist, relationship counselor, and drooler over the Dib

XDDDDD ohmyword! Zim branded him while he was asleep! XDD

! No cliffhanger XD
Though I'm assuming it's Zim claiming Dib as his thus anyone to interfere will be killed lol

XDDD this introduction! Does Kinn not know what's going on in the ship behind her? Lol better she doesn't
XDDD oooooh noooo she doooessss XDDD

Oh hey GIR XD

" 'You remember what almighty Tallest Miyuki said about interspecies relationships, don't you? "/There is nothing wrong with exploring, but Holy Irk, please chose something compatible with our species you freak!/"'
HA!

Oh! It's a hose with a sprinkler on the end XDDD
Lol these poor girls

1) son of a Vortian: LOVE THAT
2) Smeety being a pet name that equates to baby: love that!

XDDD they just, knocked Dib out in front of people at a bus stop, then drag him away, and of course no one cares lol

XD Kinn keeps saying Dib's dead

Ah looks like Zim went to space to deal with the ship there!

Can't wait to see how Zim reacts to learning that Dib's technically a prisoner now lol, too bad I have to go to sleep now

8D yay! Exposition! I breathe and live fic lore!
Also! LOVING these quotes from the show as chapter introductions!

XDDD oh my word, that Gaz translation was GOLD!

Oof, poor Dib really does feel All The Pressure :(

Ah Gaz, always a good sister *sarcasm*

:( Dib, please stop talking like you're about to give up more than just fighting Zim, life is worth living, you just have to push through the rough spots. There is a light at the end of the tunnel.

T_T Dib; ready to surrender. And Zim; feeling the last little bit of normalcy floating away not even a full week after being told he was abandoned by his leaders. Zim's so sad, and he doesn't even realize why Dib is truly here yet
They're both ready to surrender, without realizing that's what the other is about to do as well T_T (so good! Loving this writing!)

" 'You win,' they both said at the same time.
Both stared at each other in the most complete silence. Then…
'HA! VICTORY FOR ZIM!'
'No wait a minute, you said it too!'
'Lies! You granted me victory, Zim WINS! You said it, I've got it recorded by my computer!'
'If you got it recorded, then it will show you admitting defeat too!'
'Huh… foolishness! I will delete this recording then!'
'But, that would… oh forget it. You win, happy?' "
XDDD these BOYS! I love them so much! They're absolute morons! Lol (that build up was amazing too! So sad and angsty! Then this bit! Made me laugh XD very well done)

Yes! Zim! Get ride of that patch! That evil addictive caffeine patch needs to burn!

Huh...I uh...I think this is the fist time I've actually witnessed them making the truce! Everyone else just seems to gloss over it or skip right to the after effects!
It's awkward because they are so used to fighting and that's what makes it beautiful!

Aw, poor Dib really is exhausted. Hopefully he'll feel better after this nap

" 'You're staying here,' answered Taty to his silent question. 'The Tallest ordered me to take you only if it proved dangerous.' "
XD why would you admit that? I thought the whole point was to discreetly kill Blo without anyone realizing that's what you were trying to do lol
Ah, I see, she actually wants to keep Blo alive, wonder what that'll mean for the plot X3

" 'Kinn, are the holograms up to date?' she asked the orange-eyed scientist.
'Yes, my Captain!' she answered with enthusiasm. 'I searched the database and scanned the electrical and radio emissions from this planet to assemble realistic human disguises for us. "
XD they're gonna be horribly out dated, aren't they? Lol I'm going to guess 80's

"...they even have this unbelievable invention called platform shoes, that…' "
HA! CALLED IT!

" 'You know, they also have an interesting line of clothing called "lingerie",' muttered the pilot. 'I'm sure it would look pretty on you, my Captain…'
'Kinky little thing,' whispered back the Captain. 'With a smirk that wide, I bet it's good. Not get on the ship before I take you back to my quarters and ravish you.' "
XD *snorts* what!? Lol

X3 these little flirts lol I do like the whole antenna twirling though ;)

X3 naaaw GIR being a little teddy bear for Dib!

XDDD Zim replying to Dib's snores

X3 NAAAWWWWW Zim said /his/ Dib-thing! (XD don't judge me author, that's adorable)

Lol, hey Gaz, nice to see you "worrying" about your brother

Oof! Ulta-peepi, that's a reference I actually had to Google XD totally forgot that hamster had a name, but I /recognized/ the name as something from canon so I had to check it lol

Lol, poor boys with that awkward silence, but hey, now we get to combine the two plots so that'll be fun!

Ah, Zim's let slip the Tallest want him dead and his whole mission and Dib's was all a lie, poor kid

Naw, Zim's possessiveness is showing again X3

Oh!? A possessive/jealous Zim? Yes please! 8D
XD actually looks like Dib's being the obesive one so far, still good lol

" Dib groaned and hid his head in his arms. He was worrying too much, thinking too much. Zim would be alright..."
Naaw! Dib's worried X3

Oof, Dib's getting tired of all the fighting...just forgo the caffeine patch and get a good night sleep my boy, you'll feel better in the morning

Oof T_T sad depressed Dib

" Loved, hated, what was the difference? It felt good to be noticed. "
Oof, these poor boys

! I love that! They're so used to their daily banter that Zim's slip of leaving out the Tallest actually not only gets Dib's attention, but also his concern!

I like how angry Zim is about skool now, it just reminds him that he originally started going to learn about humans for his mission, but now that he doesn't have a mission, there isn't really a reason for him to be here anymore. And yeah, he's rightfully angry about that, even if he doesn't realize that's what he's angry about and is instead just deflective and projecting his feelings
u.u and now Zim's angry at Dib for being curious rather than suspicious

Oh! Skool yard fight! 8D
Ah-ha-ha! Zim's snapped!
X3 I liked that little fight scene

TxT poor Dib, that caffeine patch is /really/ not doing him any favors yet he still seems to think he needs it...boy, you're addicted

" Dib was speechless. Zim sounded more like a possessive lover than an enemy. What the hell was wrong with him? What look? Was he subconsciously sending Torque seducing winks while getting the crap beaten out of him? "
XDDDD yes.

" 'Collect samples, my smooth green ass' muttered the soldier. 'You females just want to raid their stores like the other times. Useless waste of time, if you ask me.'
'That blob planet had the cutest hair barrettes in this part of the galaxy!' answered Kinn in a defensive stance. "
XD okay, I like these guys lol

Hmm...is that Bass like the fish or the instrument?...I'll go with instrument lol

Oh? Is this the "gift" being sent?

Oh! This looks like it could be a fun fic
*Sees it was posted in 2008*
*Sharp inhale*
Yup! This'll be fun! (: (Honestly, XD I'm sorta new to IZ fics, I watched the show when it first came out but only truly got obsessed with it after ETF, so most the fics I've read have been modern ones so I am actually looking forward to reading a "classic" fic!)

Poor Zim, always being picked on by the Tallest

Oh! Zim's gotten taller? Neat!
Oooooh *evil grin* Zim's almost tall enough to threaten Red's and Purple's rule!

XD that's totally Earth's solar system
Ah, okay the Tallest figured that out too lol
Yet they're still gonna let the explorers go there? Hmm wonder what Red has planned

XD Dib has ninja gear! Love it! (Oh! Those late 2000s flashbacks lol)

Love the three day rule! So true!

" Not any trials, fry-cooks, crazy houses for boys or summer camp would interfere with /their/ fight. "
XDD or summer camp!? Oh man! I would LOVE to see Zim crashing in on Dib at space camp! The chaos!

Oh! Zim's been missing from his base for the last 3 days as well, hmm I guess he's already got the Tallest's "gift"? Hmm hope he's not in too much trouble yet

Oh okay lol, Zim still in his base, just sulking
Aww nooo :C Zim is sulking post offical banishment! I thought that was old news! Poor Bug, this was recent! (Which I guess means the "gift" hasn't been sent yet?)

T_T I love your take on Zim's developing feelings for Dib; it's cause he's a normal part in his life at this point and yeah, Zim would want to protect that, especially after being abandoned by his own people in the worse possible way

This was FANTASTIC! :D Eeeeee! *Geek spazzes*

Oh holy Nemesis goddess of warranted revenge

Ha! No one is allowed to touch Zim's family