Nye's bright blue eyes seemed brighter somehow as he straightened up, his hands patting Dib's shoulders in comfort as a snicker formed in his throat, coming out as a cough.

"Maybe I shouldn't have said anything," Nye admitted, crossing to the table and grabbing an apple from the tray. "Then again, I'm sure he was going to tell you sooner or later. He is your roommate after all." As he bit into the apple, his eyes fell to the black sports watch on his wrist. "Fuck. I've gotta be at work in an hour."

Dib nodded absently, his voice calm and cold. "Yeah. You should go."

Keeping his smile in check and the apple in hand, Nye ambled to the door of the too small room. "You're welcome for the food. If you need anything, I'll be at the Jezebel." He gave a small wave, the smile finally playing fully on his face. "Hope you feel better soon, Zim."

The door shut with a resounding thud that permeated the silence. It was a sign that the coast was clear, but Zim knew better, remaining under the protective blankets. He didn't even want to imagine Dib's face. He did want to imagine Nye's as his arms were ripped from his body by tortoises. However, the sinking feeling in his gut kept nothing but dread in his system.

"Zim?"

The voice was too unruffled; too composed. Zim prayed Dib had suddenly gone deaf and had not heard a word the bastard had said. Prayer in hindsight was futile at best.

"I'm sorry, Dib."

"Why are you here?"

Why. You can ask why about anything. You can ask why the sky is blue, why humans and Irkin's both breathe air, why butterflies fly and lightening bugs light. Why is always the easy part. It's the answers that take time.

With his small remnants of strength, Zim's arms pulled the blankets from his face. His eyes burned, not with tears but with what he knew was evident in them. Some emotions just transcended species.

The blankets fell to rest on his green chest, his dark crimson eyes deep with wanting.

"Oh, my god..."

Zim wanted to reach out and hold him; to comfort and explain to him. His arms rested weakly at his side, too tired to do even that.

"You've...been stalking me?" Dib's face contorted with disgust, his body going rigid in his seat.

"It's not like that!"

"I hate you."

Zim recoiled, determination taking over from sadness. "Dib, please..."

"Why, Zim? Why me?" The human glared with enough fire in his eyes to chase the confusion away, his fingers clawing at the wood of his chair.

"I've asked myself that for years, and I still don't have a good answer."

"Bull shit!" The anger that had been so well hidden under the cool exterior broke through. "You've followed me to college, moved in with me and are taking over my life! You don't do that and not know why!"

"Because I love you!"

Whatever retort had formed on the human's lips fell to oblivion, cascading down into an abyss accompanied by everything that was and had been.

"I love you, Dib. I've loved you for years." Zim's face broke into a sad smile. He'd pictured this moment since ninth grade, confessing his feelings for the worthy human. He'd pictured a night under the stars, just the two of them in the midst of twilight, with only Orion to watch as he'd softly kiss Dib's cheek and spill forth the emotions that rang so clear and true through his being. Not once had he envisioned lying on a bed, too weak to bat an eye, with Dib glaring with a stuffed animal's blank and terrified statement as the sun baked him to a crispier crisp. Why did dreams have to be more beautiful than reality? "I tried not to. I tried to hate you, kill you, rid myself of your light in my darkness. But Tallest save me, I couldn't. And after Gaz died... Damnit, Dib, you were an absolute idiot! Right up there with the rest of your pitiful species! You were going to destroy yourself. And I couldn't let that happen. I care for you too much."

"I hate you."

"I know you think you do." Zim winced, his sad smile remaining. "I knew what you thought when I decided to do this, Dib. I didn't come here to seduce you or take advantage of you. Irk knows I've had plenty of chances. I came because I wanted to make sure you would be alright. I wanted that crazy kid I first met, who used to chase me around and call me an alien." He watched Dib stand, his movements oddly stiff, like every joint was rusted. Miserably, Zim continued, wondering if he'd ever have another chance. "This morning I woke up alive, Dib. The only reason I'm not dead, or better off dead on a dissection table, is because of you. Somewhere, I know you care for me. If only in the slightest."

"I hate you."

"I still love you."

Dib was gone without hesitation, grabbing his shoes and leaving with them in his hands, still dressed in the tattered remnants of the night before. Zim lay alone in the too small room, watching the door for someone to bring Dib home.