(A/N) I almost couldn't wait for the proper editing to share this chapter with you guys! :'D A lot of people have been questioning Gaz, and I've been really worried that it might seem like an oversight on my part. But at the same time I'm please that you guys have noticed. ^^

A million and one thanks to EProspit, HalfBlackWolfDemon, "A Person," Ultravioletlex, Hazzybat, prettykitty473, Strangeressesses, and Blueninja10101 for reviewing!

Also, let me just restate this here, because some people seem to have overlooked it the first time: this is POST-SERIES, NOT AU! Now, let the confusion resume. :D

Dib tried hard to keep his back straight and his head high as he descended the stairs the next morning- somehow he knew that, unlike most mornings, they would all be having breakfast as a family.

He didn't miss his guess.

Professor Membrane stared at his son through tinted goggles, his eyes invisible behind them; Gaz's expression was just as unreadable, but the absence of her Game Slave XIII was as telling a sign as any. Trying hard to ignore them both, Dib pulled out his chair, taking the seat at the table that was owed him, automatically, as a member of the family.

The silence as unnerving as any words- almost any words, save for the ones that would send him back to his cozy little padded cell and Dr. Bethlem's crazed clutches. Still trying to act normal, Dib reached casually for the box of cereal- only to have his wrist seized abruptly and rather painfully.

"Ouch!" The exclamation was involuntary, and brought faded memories of handcuffs into startling definition. Eyes widening in a panic that was largely nostalgic, he twisted free of his father's grip.

"Ouch..." he repeated softly, glaring resentfully at his parental figure.

"We must talk, son."

"I couldn't have guessed!" Dib snapped, rubbing his wrist and trying to banish those particular memories. "So spit it out!"

"You never came home last night."

"No shit!" Dib snapped, and then bit his tongue. "Actually, I did get home around two," he corrected, making an effort to keep his tone level. "You were already asleep."

"I thought I had told you what the consequences would be if-"

"I stayed out late, Dad!" Dib cut in, desperate to keep his father from completing the thought. "I stayed out late to hang out with a real friend- with my boyfriend, for that matter! I was hanging out with a human boy- not a green-skinned alien bent on taking over the world! Surely that's a step in the right direction, not a reason to send me back... there!"

"I clearly stated, son, what would happen if-"

"You've met Miz!" the panicking boy cut in again, leaning across the table. "You have proof that he's real- the proof I could never give you about Zim!"

"Your little foreign friend was real as well!" Professor Membrane snapped, face reddening as the childhood hallucination was named. "I had coffee with him once, if you recall! Gaz knew him, as well! But that didn't stop your insane mind from twisting reality into something demented and dangerous!"

Dib winced at the painfully rational argument. "Miz isn't Zim!" he growled, and then his voice rose to a pained wail. "Miz isn't Zim! He's human, through and through! There's nothing fake or deluded about him, he's just a flesh-and-blood boy that I happen to be falling in love with, and you can't accept that! You think he's just another Zim, but he's not!"

"I worry only for your safety and sanity, Son!" Professor Membrane roared, bounding to his feet.

"You don't need to worry about that anymore, Dad!" Dib cried. "I won't be tricked, I won't! My mind and my heart are mine- under MY control, and no one else's!"

"I do not trust you!" the father said firmly, his eyes narrowing behind his goggles. "I may never trust you again!"

"If you can't trust your own son, then you're more fucked in the head that you claim I am!" the son screamed back, bolting from his chair and racing for the door, tears in his eyes. No sooner had he slammed the front door, though, than his wrist was seized once again. Instinctually he lashed out, but his sister dodged expertly and sent his fist into the concrete wall with all the force of his rage and despair.

"Dib."

"Let go of me! Let go!" Dib wailed, but his sister did not obey. Instead she pulled him closer with surprising strength, until they were nose-to-nose. Snarling like a trapped animal, Dib tried futilely to pull away.

"I know you aren't insane, Dib."

That brought the writhing boy up short, although it didn't stop the hot tears flowing down his face. "What?"

"You've forgotten that I saw Zim without his disguise- several times; I was down in his base with you; I flew Tak's spaceship. Or perhaps you haven't forgotten, you just think that it was all a part of your hallucinations. Well it wasn't, Dib, it just wasn't."

Her brother had stopped struggling completely, limp and wide-eyed as that sunk in. "What... are you saying, Gaz?"

But his sister was done talking, releasing his hand and groping in her pocket. After a moment she pulled out a small plastic bag, filled to bursting with tiny white pills.

"All I want is peace in this family," Dib's sister growled, but there was also a pleading tone to it. "Everything I've done has been to that end, and now you're threatening all of it. For the sake of that peace, keep taking your sugar pills and just shut up about Miz and Zim both. Or I will make sure you're sent back there- for the good of everyone involved."

... ... ...

Dib couldn't concentrate on his lessons; he couldn't even concentrate on Miz, despite his friend's worried chatter and affectionate nudges (and, when that got no response, his none-too-gentle pokes and prods).

But Dib's mind was fixed firmly on the events of that morning. Peace in the house... and spending time with Dad were always important to her... even more important than her games.

"I know you aren't insane."

He hadn't forgotten the role his sister had played in his delusions, but he had always assumed that they were just another part of his demented imagination. But... what she said this morning... that couldn't have been a hallucination, because I'm on... my meds?

... Sugar... pills?

"H-hey, Dib!"

The unexpected, cheerful voice broke into Dib's revery, and he looked up. An eager-faced boy stood before him, one of the few of his classmates he had semi-regular contact with. He smiled tiredly, and the boy's expression brightened further in response.

"What's up, Keef?"

"W-well, the teacher said to get into groups, so I was wondering if I could be in yours!" the redhead chirped, and Dib felt some of the tension leave him at the sheer normalcy of the request.

"Sure, of course," he said, blind to how Miz stiffened beside him. "Miz and I'd be happy to have you."

Keef glanced in surprise at the new boy. "'Miz?'" he echoed, and the named boy bristled. "I don't think we've met. My name's Keef!"

"So I've heard," Miz muttered edgily, to Dib's surprise. "I am called Miz."

Keef ignored the tension and plopped down in a chair across from the two other boys, all smiles. "So, did you read the chapter, Dib?"

If the truth was to be told, Dib hadn't read the chapter (little wonder he had all but forgotten about Skool entirely). But he knew the content well enough, and easily played as though he had. But his mind wasn't on the worksheet; now that he had been clued in on it, all he could pay attention to was Miz and his very strange behavior. He was as tense as Dib had ever seen him, and absolutely fixated on their little red-haired classmate. In addition, Dib was sure he wasn't imagining the thin sheen of sweat on his friend's skin, or the ghosts of memory and emotion flickering in his gaze.

"How are your eyes?"

The question was so abrupt that even Dib- mid sentence -jumped. Keef looked up in surprise and Dib noticed, for the first time, that his eyes did look very odd indeed, though he couldn't put his finger on exactly how.

"Oh! Um..." Keef seemed to know what the new boy was talking about, but uncertain as to how to answer. "I... I guess they're... do I know you?"

Miz didn't flinch at the question; prepared for it. "Miz was your roommate in the hospital, when you were dealing with your eyes. I was discharged before you, though, so I never found out if they were... fixed."

Dib watched in fascination as Keef's confusion cleared, his bright smile returning. "Oh! Yeah, yeah, they were fixed! It took them a while to find a pair that wouldn't fall out, but yeah! I can see just fine now! And what about you? I couldn't really see in the hospital, so I don't even remember what you were in for! Are you okay now?"

"Miz was in for these," the boy said, motioning to the wrappings that were always swathed around his neck. "And yes- there are only scars remaining, now."

"Why do you still wear bandages, then?" Keef asked curiously, the exact question Dib had been asking silently.

Miz chuckled softly, surprising both his listeners by loosening the aforementioned bandages. "So as not to scare all the humans. But you, as much as any, should see."

Dib watched in astonishment- trying not to be hurt that Miz was unwrapping his neck for Keef specifically, and not for him -as the cloth fell away. His breath staled as the last one fluttered down, horror and shock threatening to knock him from his chair. Keef's reaction was more controlled, but the same emotions were reflected in his eyes.

Crisscrossing Miz's thin neck were deep lacerations- so many, in fact, that it was somewhat impossible to distinguish any one, individual wound among the clutter. It was true that they were only scars, but that did little to lessen the lurid impact of the sight. Deep; angry; red, they sliced past his jugular and vocal cords, etching a path over the trachea. It seemed impossible that anyone could suffer such injuries without permanent damage or even death, but Miz sat before them as alive as anything, smirking.

"Parental abuses," he said, smiling, and Keef nodded.

"I know how that feels."

"So you see, Miz was callous before, about your eyes," the new boy continued, moving to wrap up his shredded neck once more as he spoke, "thinking it was nothing. I have felt guilt about this, wondering if your eyes were ever remedied. I wish to express my apologies."

"Oh... sure, Miz, I don't hold grudges!" The cheerful absolution was accompanied by a bright smile, and Dib felt his classmate's breath hitch beside him. "I never held anything against you. I'm glad it worked out for both of us!"

Miz looked down, shaking his head slowly and Dib, next to him, saw two crystalline tears drip onto his lap. "You... humans... all of you... so foolishly forgiving... Miz is not deserving of your company."

... ... ...

The remainder of the class passed uneventfully, and Dib was left to try to balance all the thoughts in his overburdened mind. His new window into Miz's past wasn't the least of his concerns, but he could hardly allow it to usurp the trouble he was facing at home. Miz easily picked up on his unrest, and so cornered him at the end of the school day.

"What is the matter with my Dib?" he demanded softly, moving in close to brush his lips against the other's nose. "Tell Miz."

"I've just got a lot to think about..." Professor Membrane's son answered wearily, unconsciously turning his head up so that Miz could reach his neck. "I got into a horrible fight with Dad this morning... about you. Then Gaz made things... so much worse..."

"Hmm..." Miz crooned soothingly, nodding. "Come back to Miz's house?"

"Yeah..."

The pair walked in relative silence, but Miz kept a tight grip on the other boy's hand, which had begun to tremble slightly.

"Hello, Dib!" George called cheerfully, when they entered. Sarge bounced up moments later, hopping excitedly around his master and his master's guest, tail wagging furiously.

"Hi, George; Sarge." Dib found it hard to be depressed around such friendly faces, and felt a hesitant smile dragged from him.

"Settle, Sarge," Miz muttered, and nodded to his roommate. "The Dib is welcome to stay here as long as he wishes," he added to his guest, and Dib nodded gratefully.

"Thanks, Miz."

... ... ...

Dib stayed at Miz's house until long after the sun had gone down; he wanted to make sure that his family would be soundly asleep by the time he got home. Then he bid the two roommates farewell, thanking George for diner and kissing Miz sweetly, and set out. He found himself staring up at his own front door far too quickly and, on a whim, forewent the door but instead climbed quickly to the roof, settling onto the cool stone with a shiver. And then he gazed up; stared up at the stars, something he had neglected to do for far too long, for fear of the memories they would dredge up.

Dib sighed heavily, hugging his knees to his chest to ward off the cold. He didn't glance up at the soft rustle beside him; a moment later, he became vaguely aware of a gentle heat rolling off of his new companion, banishing the chill.

"Dad really thinks I've gone crazy again," he said quietly, then chuckled. "I'm not so sure that I haven't."

The boy beside him gave a soft murmur of sympathy, but otherwise didn't speak. Sighing, Dib let himself shift sideways until their shoulders touched, and then leaned gratefully into his companion's side.

"What are we gonna do, Miz?"

Miz didn't respond right away, but reached over to loop his arm around the other's shoulders. "... What would you like to do?" he asked eventually. "We could leave this place, if the Dib wishes."

Dib laughed quietly, nuzzling closer. "Where would we go, Miz? Tell me."

"We could leave this horrible place, if my Dib-thing wishes to. Zim would take care of you."

"Where would we go, ? Tell me."

Miz shifted, breaking unobtrusively into- perhaps merging with -the memory. "Wherever the Dib wishes," he said. "Even..." he chuckled, using his free hand to gesture upwards, "the stars...!"

Dib shivered slightly, although he was past being surprised by such uncanny similarities. "... I wish..." he began quietly, but then bit his lip. Miz glanced down at him, his expression one of tenderness and sympathy.

"You wish that Zim were here?"

Dib choked softly, then nodded. "I'm sorry, Miz... I... I want to give myself over to you, my heart... but..."

"Miz understands," his companion interrupted with a soft purr, burying his face in Dib's hair. "Miz has no need to be jealous of this Zim- in fact, your devotion to him comforts me."

Dib laughed quietly, then closed his eyes tightly against the tears that were coming too quickly to stop. "I always thought he'd come back...!" he choked out, clutching at his companion like a child. "I always though... he promised, Miz, he promised! And then... and then he had the nerve to be... to be... not... not real...!" He sniffed, laughing softly again. "That jerk... that jerk...!"

Miz tightened his grip, holding the sobbing boy tightly. Tears fell from his own eyes, but they were completely silent and went unnoticed. All pretenses fell away as he wept, and he breathed the crisp night air, wishing it could be so. For a moment- just a moment, for that was all he allowed himself -he was not the all-powerful being, impervious to sadness, that he was fond of playing.

He was only himself, as he held his Dib beneath the stars.

... ... ...

Dib slipped back into his room that night, tear-sore and aching with dread, but still warmed by Miz's arms. Looking around, he pulled the ever-present trinket from his pocket and stared at it, sitting down heavily on his bed. Then he bent his head, burying his face in his lap, trying to think rationally.

What's... keeping me here...?

Zim offered, so long ago... to take me away from here. And I was ready to go.

And now... Miz is offering me the same thing. For real this time.

Coming to a decision, Dib rose and slid down the stairs' banister, leaving the trinket on his nightstand. He paused to glance around the darkened house but, as expected, his family was long-asleep, and so he stole quickly to the phone and dialed the familiar number.

"Hello?"

"George, hi!" Running a nervous hand through his hair, Dib leaned against the table. "Has Miz gotten home yet?"

"Dib!" The chubby boy sounded surprised and flustered, and there was a clatter in the background. "I-I thought you might be him for a moment! No, he's not home yet."

Dib's disappointment only lasted for a moment; his friend had, after all, left only a few moments before. "Maybe I can catch him, then!" he realized excitedly, then slammed down the phone with a hasty, "Thanks, George!"

Unbeknownst to him, however, Miz's roommate was screaming an objection into the deaf receiver.

Tearing out his front door, Dib looked around. Unable to spot his classmate, he took off in the direction of Miz's house- a path that was ingrained in his memory. He sped up when, on the horizon, he saw a figure... but slowed again when he made out a second.

One silhouette was definitely Miz- he would recognize the boy's figure and impeccable posture anywhere. The other, however, was unmistakably female- shorter and far more shapely, standing on her tiptoes to reach even close to Miz's height.

And their conversation did not appear a friendly one.

Dib's first instinct was to rush to his friend's aid, but some vague feeling warned him off of that course of action. So instead he found himself slinking closer, keeping to the bushes, trying to get within eavesdropping range. The moonlight glinted off of the girl's purple hair, making it impossible for the poor boy to deny his worst fear- and this time, he was on his meds.

Sugar... pills.

The girl stretched up farther, jabbing a finger into Miz's chest; the boy seemed unaffected, brushing her hand away. The girl flinched back, and then surged up again.

"... don't deserve it!" Her voice reached such a pitch that Dib could make it out, even as he continued to slink closer. "You don't deserve it, you don't! You of all people...! How could this happen?! I won't sit by and watch this happen!"

Miz's voice was stern as he replied, and Dib came within earshot just in time to catch the end of his statement. "... inflict harm on me or those I hold dear, Tak."

Dib felt a shiver race up his spine, but didn't have time to contemplate her now-confirmed identity as she began to speak again.

"'Those you hold dear?'" she spat derisively, taking a step forward and shoving him hard in the chest. "Don't make me laugh!"

"It is not my intention to make you laugh, Tak." Miz's face was stony as he reclaimed that step; he towered over the girl, who suddenly looked fragile standing in his shadow. "It is my intention to make an impression- to convey my convictions."

The girl bristled, her rage visibly building until, with a sudden forward surge, she brought her hand flying across his face. Miz's head snapped to the side and, when he looked up, his face glittered with the wetness of blood, dyed not red but a pale, silvery-blue in the moonlight.

At that sight, Dib couldn't hold back any longer. He crashed out of his hiding place in the bushes with a cry of, "Miz!" staggering as he wrenched himself free of a trailing branch.

Both parties looked up, shocked by the boy's sudden appearance, and Miz's hand flew to his cheek. A wicked grin split the girl's face, and she set her hands authoritatively on her hips.

"Well, if it isn't our little human friend, Dib," she purred, and then glanced at Miz. "Did you forget to latch your little pet's kennel tonight, my Tallest?"

Miz's eyes were huge in the moonlight, fixed on his classmate. "Go home, Dib," he said softly, his voice trembling with earnest terror. "Please."

The tone in Miz's voice made Dib's bones turn cold and brittle, but something in Miz's eyes made him nod. "O-okay, Miz. B-but I want an explanation for this...!"

Miz's shoulders sagged with relief. "I promise you one, my Diblet. But go now."

"Leaving so soon?" the girl said with a pout. "Aw, but we'll be lonely, won't we... Miz?" She purred the boy's name as if it meant more than it might appear, batting long lashes in his direction.

Miz stiffened, his calm demeanor evaporating. "Stay out of this!" he spat, and then grabbed the girl's hair. She shrieked with shock and indignation, but he didn't spare her a glance. "Dib, run! Run home, now! Before something regrettable happens!"

Shaking uncontrollably, the poor boy took first one step back, and then another. But he couldn't bring himself to run, transfixed by the girl, thrashing like a demon, in Miz's brutal grasp.

"Run!"

Miz's scream snapped him to attention, and he spun on his heal, bolting for home as he had been instructed. And he didn't stop when he was out of sight, nor when he burst through his front door, leaving it hanging wide open in his panic. He only came to a halt when, half incoherent with adrenaline, he dove beneath his blankets and buried his face beneath his pillow, unable to process what he had just seen and so spinning into a confused unconsciousness.

(A/N) Poor Dib. He's had a stressful day. ;n;

Reviews are always loved! I'll give you a hint about the next chapter if you leave one~