Gravity of You [Invader Zim] [Zim x Dib] [ZADR]

Chapter Nine

Dib had been walking with Vortex for about two hours now only carrying a few items such as his notebook, wallet, a change of clothes and phone, that was turned off. The young Membrane wandered around the city thoughtlessly, deciding where to turn left and right only when he reached a new intersection. Vortex followed him with complete loyalty, never needing a leash to be close to his favorite human.

When his feet started to hurt from the distance and the weather began to be unfriendly with thin icy drops of rain, Dib sat by a bench in a park. He noticed his hands were pale due to the cold wind and began to consider the possibilities. After some thought Dib was making up his mind on whether going back home or staying at a hotel. He looked around, trying to identify where he was for the first time since leaving home and when he acknowledged the location, his heart sank on his chest with concern.

"Oh no... We shouldn't be here, Vortex" Dib said looking at a sign indicating the name of the park

Meanwhile, Gaz was furious at her house, waiting just behind the door for Zim. When he knocked, Gaz didn't care about concealing Zim's identity as she grabbed him by his shoulders and made questions.

"Where is him?! You talked to him before, he must have said something! Don't you have a tracker on him? Can't you use the stuff in your basement? You have all kinds of stuff there!" She said angrily

"I... don't know where he is right now Gaz... but I'm looking for him with my remote cameras. I uploaded some pictures of him and programed them, I think they will recognize him fast, he's probably close to the neighborhood" Zim said trying to calm her down

"Gazlene, I'll get the car and drive around. Where should I start?" Membrane said getting his keys and leaving some questions he had for Zim for another moment. He had heard everything from the corridor.

"He walks three blocks and turns right when he is with Vortex, he probably started this way. Just think where would you would walk" she said, but this time she wasn't angry anymore

"You can do the same, for that matter" Membrane answered bluntly. "You know him better, call me if you have any ideas. Don't go after him, leave it to me... I don't want you to be outside so late"

Gaz was about to say something back to her father but looking at Zim, she just nodded in response and waited until his car was out of sight to continue talking to the alien. She didn't want to reveal Zim completely, although by now she was aware maybe her father knew something was a bit off about Zim.

Zim knew he could protect them with the things he had on his PAK, or at least provide them with a quick escape. Still, the alien made a point out of using his ship to take a look on the streets from above with Gaz. She was sure that purple alien ship with the sign of the Irken Armada was conspicuous, even for the most skeptic humans, but they had no choice this time.

Meanwhile, Dib was maybe in the most despairing situation of his life so far. The park was known to be a dangerous point in town, people would go there to purchase illicit things and sometimes reclaim debts, definitely not a good place to be at this time of the night. Dib's blood froze when he heard cars stopping nearby, people's steps on the grass following. It all only got worse when he looked around, trying to find a place to leave, but noticing the park only had one entrance. This wasn't good.

He saw some trees reasonably close to where he was and decided it was the only place he could hide.

"Vortex, go home! Go, go!" He said in a low tone and pointing to the gates

The dog resisted the command at first but obeyed later. Dib was scared to death to be completely alone there but he couldn't even grasp the possibility of something happening to Vortex.