The Departure I

“You’re leaving?”
He stared up at the ship, far too familiar with what it was and how it worked from having studied it so much long ago to be baffled by the alien vehicle. It hummed and glowed, waiting patiently to depart.
‘To leave this filthy ball of a planet,’ He thought bitterly.
His eyes drifted up to the figure that stood on top of the entire thing casually. He wanted to jump up there and knock him off, much like his younger form would have-- but for a different reason completely. He blinked back a blur that had crossed his vision of the scene. The figure was dark for the most, other then the bit of light the cruiser gave to his pointed features above. Not enough to see the entire being, but just enough to know he’s there. The figure’s eyes blinked lazily, only to reveal an even more alluring pool of burgundy that darted through the other swiftly. He said nothing.
The boy below repeated, desperately wanting an answer, “You’re leaving?” It seemed so much more pathetic now then it did the first time. He felt like he was about to shatter.
The figure’s half-closed eyes traveled away from the boy, trying to fool that the grass below was more interesting. “Yes.” It came out sharp and cold, although that was surely not the way he meant it to seem. His eyes looked back up to see the boy’s reaction. When he saw that the other was only staying frozen, although he did bite as his lip to perhaps hold back some words, he spoke up again. “Yes, I am.”
The boy tried not to sound as upset, as weak as he had before, “Why?”
The figure gave a jagged grin, although it was distressing. “’Why,’” He mocked, not viciously. “Why would I stay? I clearly have no reason to.” His voice trailed off and his eyes fell back down to the wet grass and his sick grin faltered. “I just—I just can’t be here anymore.” He said, hoping it was simple enough.
The boy didn’t take it as easily as it was given, though, and broke his stare down to the ground like the other.
“You—you can’t just—Leave. Just up and leave? You can’t do that.” His words died down and he chanced a look back at the other character.
He looked harshly at the boy now, his eyes narrowed. “And why can’t I?” He asked, not amused. “I can do whatever I please.” He tried to sum up the pride he once had so long ago to make himself the brick wall he wished he could return to being. But that monster’s teeth were worn down and blunt and there was no point in it. He let out an inaudible sigh and decided he wanted to be on the same level as the other.
“Dib.” The name rolled off his serpent tongue, no cruel word tagged onto the end like there usually was.
Hearing his name, the boy shot his wandering eyes back to the other. “Zim,” Did breathed respectfully, having learned by now that when he is addressed by the other he needs to address him in return.
Zim sauntered down to Dib’s level, bit by bit becoming easier to see--which was just the boy’s luck that his vision was blurred once more by salty wetness.  Zim noted that the boy was trembling but didn’t tell him so.
He came close to the boy and soon was at the point of breaking his personal space bubble. He stopped when he was an inch away from the other, where he could see that the other had at least an inch over him which made him wish he was back on his ship. He left that nagging bit of jealousy die away and spoke up. “I’m sorry.” He said, as sincerely as possible. “But.“
He paused and tried to swallow back the bitter taste that, ‘I’m sorry, but’s made.  “But I really can’t stay. This horrible place—It’s just not where I’m supposed to be.” He didn’t want to give Dib the truth, it was just too stupid. But it wasn’t really lying.
Dib tried to give a half hearted smile, although it came out more miserable then his shaky voice. “Well, duh.” He said, as if it were some inside joke, which it basically was. He stared into the pools of wine that the Irken had, and feared he might fall in.
Zim gave a slight smile and reached one of his gloved hands up. For a moment he though about one of the cheesy romantic movies he’d had to encounter one time. What ran through his mind was the part where the man caressed the woman’s cheek and then told her he loved her and kissed her passionately. The idea of himself doing such a thing made him want to laugh and gag, so his hand floated right up past Dib’s face and to his bit of hair that stood on his head. He tugged it a little and grinned.
“Listen,” Dib said, trying to keep his voice even. “Why don’t I just… Go with you?” He said. It really shouldn’t have been any trouble, but Zim’s smile faded.
“You can’t.” He said quickly, although the words hurt him as much as they did Dib. “I’m sorry.” He repeated. “You can’t.”
The bit of hope that was in Dib’s blurry eyes was washed away as the wetness finally broke free and down his face. “Why not?” He said, demanding. “Why are you really leaving, Zim?” More defeated then angry this time.
Zim would usually get pretty upset if Dib ever usually spoke to him like that, but this time was much different circumstances. He merely tugged again, frowning. Finally he let out a light sigh that Dib could feel and said, “Honestly?” He said, only to get a stiff nod for a reply. “You can’t go because it would be better.”
That had Dib pulling away from Zim and his grasp on his hair, angry now. “’Better’?! Better, why, because now you get to fly away from here and leave me behind so I won’t be a bother to you??” He let out a frustrated growl and kicked at the ground, throwing a regular fit. He calmed down a little and stood straight, arms crossed and facing away from the Irken.
Zim waited until he was sure Dib was done, then walked up behind him and slipped his arms around the boy’s waist. “No, Dib. Not at all. It would be better because then you would be safer.” He said lowly, near Dib’s ear. He rested his chin on Dib’s shoulder, quite comfy.
Dib shook horribly, and tried not to melt there. “W-What do you mean, Z-Zim? ‘S-Safer’?” He tried to calm down more and leaned his head against Zim’s in an apologetic way. “What’s going on, Zim? Why are you leaving?” He didn’t want to ask so many questions, but he was all too anxious to know.
Zim closed his eyes and hummed lightly, although it couldn’t be heard past the cruiser’s, it could be felt from deep in Zim’s throat to Dib’s skin. After a moment of almost silence, he answered, “I’m on the run.” His arms locked a bit tighter around Dib, telling his subtly not to speak. “The Tallest have sent out for my arrest. They’ll be coming for me, Dib.” He sighed, letting a small grin fall on his features when he noticed Dib shiver when the air reached his ear.
“So… If they come and I’m not there, then they’ll have no choice but to leave and search elsewhere. They’ll leave this planet alone and… You’ll be ok. But… If you came, there’s a chance that they’d find me. And if they find me, they find you and if they find you…” His voice fell and once of his claws clenched the other tightly.
Dib’s hands finally pulled apart from the pretzel they had tightly formed and one drifted to clamp around Zim’s claws in some form of understanding. He turned, not moving his hand or Zim’s most uncomfortably, and faced Zim once again. His eyes weren’t wet anymore, which Zim found to be a good thing, when they searched the others for the truth that he found.
“Zim…” He started, his voice was steady and willed on by the bravery Dib had tucked away somewhere. “You know I care about you. And you know I know you do the same for me. And I respect all your decisions and opinions and ideas. You know that.” He smiled a little when Zim nodded with relief.
“But… Sorry. No can do.” He said cheerfully and leaned in to reach Zim’s own surprised lips to his own.
But just as quickly, he pulled back. “I’m going with you. And no, it’s not out of spite or disrespect. It’s because I am the only person who can keep you out of trouble. And you’re the only person who can get me into it.” He smiled more and gave Zim another peck, to which Zim was happy to respond to.
Zim gave a weak smile that gradually grew wider. “Fine,” He said. “If you’re going to be so stubborn about it.” He wrapped Dib’s hand in his and led him back toward the cruiser and informed him to say his last goodbyes to the wretched planet.
Dib thought, as they pulled away from the Earth for the last time, he didn’t care if he was safe or not and that there’s really no good time for anyone to leave.