I wanted to do my own ZAGR simply because I'm growing tired of reading others and finding out Gaz has been raped or turned into an emo. Never. She's kickass, and always will be, and Zim will always be the smart yet little lost alien who's deluding himself. Not a suddenly suave epitime of human "handomes".

I am not the copyright owner for Invader Zim.

Let's get cracking.

____

"I don't get it..." Dib mumbled, chewing around a mouthful of beans. He pushed a flop of black hair out of his eyes and squinted, looking over at the green form across the room. For so many long years, this otherworldly and utterly stupid being had plagued him; plotting to dominate the earth, all the while evading notice without so much as trying, much to Dib's annoyance. The efforts of both sides would always end up in a predictable stalemate. "Do you see this, Gaz!?"

The short and dark girl beside him frowned, never breaking the button mashing rhythm of her Gameslave IV. She was intent on ignoring her elder sibling.

"Maybe this is a new plan of his? Gaz, just look at him!" He exclaimed working himself up into a frenzy. A few of the students around him shuffled further away or continued to stare, waiting for the next outburst.

Gaz pressed the pause button - something she vehemently detested - and cracked her amber bloodshot eyes open. The glare she was throwing at her brother spoke of disturbed gameplay. "What, Dib. I was in the zone. Level twelve!" She hissed.

"Look!" He breathed, pointing to Zim.

She looked, reluctantly, across the hall.

Zim was sat by himself, hunched over his tray. The fork he held sloshed about his food almost like he was doodling.

"So what?" She was pissed. Dib had paused her, mid-vampire piggies, for that?

"He's just...not doing anything. We were due a crazed rant about two days ago, you know?" He stated, as if somehow the wind had stopped blowing. "Must be a ploy..."

"You know...his ranting routine? You're pathetic." Gaz un-paused her game, concentrating.

"It's just not right," Dib muttered, tapping a spoon to his lip. "Oh yeah what are we having for dinner tonight?"

"Pizza," was the rapid answer.

____

Gaz twirled a finger in her purple hair, reading the walkthrough book she had purchased the other week. Occasionally the headache that was her teacher would ask her a question to confirm that she was listening. She answered every equation and problem correctly. Eventually he would get the point and let her properly remember these cheat codes. God help him if he didn't leave her in peace.

She glanced at the clock momentarily, noting she had another quarter of an hour left before lunch. Dib had mentioned how he would be staying behind in chemistry for lunch, as he had to desperately finish one project or another. Atleast she would be able to play her game in peace.

Satisfied that she had memorized her cheats to heart, the placed the book into her bag and began to rapidly scribble down notes from the blackboard. As much she was into her videogames, she was the daughter of Professor Membrane. Coming home with a report card that had anything less than a 'B' on it was like telling her father she was addicted to heroin and was taking a skool day off to get an abortion. Not to mention her and Dib were now in hi-skool; their father, although never around much, expected greatness of them now.

Soon enough the bell rang, and Gaz was eager to get a table to herself today. Marking her territory, if you will. Yet her overly enthusiastic teacher beckoned to her, and she knew she would be dishing out the revenge by the end of the day.

"Gazlene Membrane, I am worried about you," he practically sang to her, all the while frowning. She resisted to urge to bite his face off. This was not another student...she would get in trouble. Some counter-attacks are best served unknowingly. "I do wish you would participate in class," he began, and she steeled herself.

____

Gaz walked slowly to the cafeteria, knowing all the empty tables would have been snapped up. She was right. The girl sighed, peering over the throng of pathetic life forms, trying to spot any space available. Her eyes kept peering as she stalked towards the vending machines - in her eyes an armful of snacks equated to a meal. From this side of the room, as she punched in the buttons, she could clearly see a space. Only one person sat at the table in the corner. Zim.

Gaz let out an annoyed sound and grabbed her snacks. She was going to grab a sandwich as well, but her appetite suddenly wasn't as ferocious. She stomped her way over to the table, and sat as far away from the green weirdo as possible. As she cracked open a can of soda and set up her game, she glanced over at him. He was frowning at her from the corner of his eye. Gaz glared, and switched on her handheld, which let out a delightful 'ping' in greeting.

"Earth-stink," he mumbled, as if weary, "what are you doing on Zim's table?"

"It's the school's table," Gaz replied, eyes never leaving the screen of Vampire Piggy Hunter. She began from her save point, but this game was proving difficult. It only took thirty seconds before a blob of pink animals dog piled her character, thus bringing up the gameover screen. "Stupid blood pig..." At this rate she would never make it near Iggin's high score. If it wasn't for the poor excuse for a alien next to her...

"Me? I am no pig!" He muttered, offended.

Gaz faced him, an irritated eyebrow raised. "Not you. The pigs." She showed him the title screen of her game, and he looked at it with a little curiosity. She then returned to her crouched position and selected 'start'. "When people say stuff it's not always about you."

"I know that!" Zim bared his zipper teeth, then went back to poking his food with more force, muttering Irken profanities to himself.

Gaz side glanced again. Now she was under his moss green skin she was feeling strangely inquisitive.

"Dib thinks you're plotting something..." She laid the bait and wondered if he would spill the beans. It usually didn't take long for him to boast of his plans, from what she could remember. Zims shoulders seemed to slump, and if anything, he looked tired.

"Well you have the pleasure of informing your DNA partner that no, I am not plotting anything."

"Why's that, then? I thought you were an almighty invader," she insulted, hoping it would rile him up - and it did. He rounded on her, leaning close growling in frustration. Gaz tried not to let her amusement be known.

"Because I can not!" He screamed his childish scream and clenched his fists, sending spit flying into her face. "My leaders have..." He trailed off, returning to his melancholy and his uneaten slush that was his food. "I am now convinced they are not fit to rule. Who would dismiss an Irken invader such as I when I was so close to completing my mission!?" The other kids began to turn his way, wondering what the fuss was about.

"So you've been put out of a job, huh?" Her video-game character strode into the next savepoint station, and she felt sweet relief sweep over her. Iggins score was now jeopardized. She looked to the other side of the lunch hall, where she saw him spit out his drink all over his screen, then glance at her with fear. Gaz smirked and raised an eyebrow, feeling elated when he dropped his gaze, looking defeated.

"How do you fancy helping me a little, foreigner?" She asked, cold eyes waiting as she steepled her hands together. He scoffed and crossed his arms.

"It is obvious you would come to me for help, but let me ask this of you, smeet." He twisted his torso towards me. "Why should I accept your filthy proposal?"

"Because now you have nothing to do. You can help me with some sabotage..." She exhaled happily. His face immediately brightened.

"We are to rain down some doom, them?"

Gaz nodded curtly in reply.

"And who, may I inquire, is the doom to be delivered to? Will it be Dib?" He asked hopefully.

"Maybe another day," she said in an aloof tone. Her eyes then returned to her usual scowl. "It's one of the teachers. I can't hurt him, or my dad will find out. I have to play it sly. Hence you. I need some...male...help."

"I'll do it," he answered immediately. Gaz smiled a little smile then offered him a snack, which he took and ate. Perhaps a different version of a handshake.

"I much prefer this to your Earth mash," Zim voiced, seemingly more content then before.

"Same here," Gaz grumbled, shutting off her Gameslave just in time for the bell to ring. "Here. Walk. You have gym next don't you?"

The alien followed her, glowering at the back of her purple hair which bobbed as she walked. The style hadn't changed at all in the years he had been here. "And how, exactly, did you come by that delicious slice of information, dirt-child?"

"You're in the same class as Dib, duh," she answered.

"Lies!" He began to scream, but cut off by a kick in the shin. "AH! Pain..." She pushed him into a secluded corner of the hallway, where masses of students trudged on by to their next class.

"Listen up, Zim, 'cause I'm only gonna' say this once; and you better not tell anyone or you'll be thrown into a world of nightmare of which-"

"-there is no escape. I have heard this before Dib-sister!" He interrupted, which earned him a smack which nearly knocked out his contact lenses.

"Gaz. It's Gaz. Now pay attention..."