It was high school. By now, everybody in school was going through puberty and growing into young adults. The girls grew breasts and a curvy figure, the boys grew a masculine jaw line and deep voice. It was all too common. Though, thats exactly why Zim quit attending school. Zim had something he was terrified of showing, and would avoid that possible weakness at all costs. He was trans.
Before, Zim felt no need to hide because in elementary school, he passed. His high pitched voice matched the sounds of other students around him, along with his short stature. But quickly things began to change. As everybody surrounding him began to grow up, Zim stayed the same. And the taunting he retrieved from the other students ruined his once perfect confidence. They called him 'She-boy' and 'P*ssy-boy' often, due to him appearing to not go through human puberty. This led to people thinking he was a female.
Zim stopped focusing on his mission on that point. He stayed home and desperately tried to take his mindset off his body. He avoided mirrors, sobbed, and fell into a deep depression due to this. Almost nobody noticed his disappearance, except Dib. Dib at first tried to enjoy life without constant fighting with Zim. But efforts were useless as he grew lonely, feeling like a part of him was empty. So he decided to check up on the alien.
After school, Dib knocked at Zim's door for what felt like the first time in years. Silence filled the air until the door cracked open, revealing Zim peeking out of the crack. "Dib.. what brings you here?" Zim asked, squinting his eyes at him.
"What are you planning, Zim? You've been gone too long for me to ignore." Dib asked, his voice seeming to show Dib still thought Zim was a threat.
Zim sighed, rolling his eyes. "Go away, Dib-stink. I don't want to fight anymore." Zim spoke as he tries to close the door. Dib put his fingers between the door to force it open.
"..what?" Dib replied, processing what Zim stated. At first, Dib didn't believe Zim at all. But the exhaustion in Zim's voice seemed too real. Too genuine.
Zim's voice cracked. "I said go away. I'm done." Zim looked away from Dib, trying to close the door though Dib's strength still held it open.
"Zim, something isn't right." Dib spoke, unsure what else to say. "You aren't yourself."
Zim was silent for a moment before tearing up and backing away from the door, trying to hide. He didn't want to be vulnerable. "You wouldn't get it!!" Zim cried, snapping back at Dib as Zim curled up. Dib slowly walked in, closing the door behind him.
Dib sat himself down as to not startle Zim. "We don't have to fight anymore. I'm ok with that." Dib looked down at the floor. "I want to help. I can tell something is wrong, and I can't lie, it hurts seeing you so distraught."
Zim lookes over his shoulder at Dib, eyes still watering. "You'll laugh at me.. they all do."
"I know what it feels like to be alienated. I don't want that for you." Dib replied, making eye contact with Zim.
Zim's heart rate seemed to increase, before quickly breaking the eyecontact. "I'm built wrong, Dib." Zim managed to speak out, clutching himself. "Humans like you seem to grow into your REAL form. Males grow as male. Females grow as female. I'm..." Zim trailed off. "Wrong. That's why I never truly grew as the others of my species. I'm defective. I'm WRONG." Zim cried, voice cracking as he broke.
Dib was shocked, unsure what to do. But he was compelled to comfort Zim. Dib scooted closer to Zim before pulling Zim into an embrace. Zim jumped a little, startled at first. But soon Zim held onto Dib tightly.
Dib sighed. "You're not defective Zim. You're not alone." Dib spoke. "I may not understand, but so many people do. The people who treat you different are just assholes." Dib explained, trying to help Zim make sense of this.
Zim sunk into the hug hearing that. "Humans can be trans..?" Zim asked, heart beginning to settle slightly hearing such words.
"Yeah, it happens. Being trans doesn't make anybody any less normal. You're just built different, and thats okay Zim." Dib closed his eyes.
"I'm here."
//A.N - Sorry this wasn't super angsty! This is a little warm up, I guess! I'll tone things up a bit more in future ones!!
