The Return of Zim

Part Twelve

The Return of Zim

Part Twelve

(Zim's POV)

So, I recently discovered showers.

Well, Devon helped me with that, but...

Even the thought of that makes me blush. So I shift the train to something else... The bracelet. Charm.

Magically taking away my allergy to water.

I shiver and look down at the seemingly benile bracelet, wondering just how Devon met this woman. This thought brings to mind the salve that made my burns disappear. Which brings to mind...

Is Devon wielding magic?

The thought swirls around my mind, over and over. What if my lover is a witch? I wouldn't put it past him, considering just how much he used to believe in the supernatural... But those beliefs were always based in the thought that he needed to save others from these paranormal beings. It had been bugging me so much that even Devon noticed my sullen mood.

"You ok, Zim?" He reaches out and gently takes my hand, his hair still slightly damp from our joint 'shower'. I smile and nod, but he raises an eyebrow, not convinced. I sigh and look down.

"Devon... are you a...witch?" His hand, which hand been gently rubbing my palm, freezes. I look over at him, and his face is frozen in determination, fear, and regret. Finally, he sighs and retracts his hand.

"Not entirely." He whispers. I couldn't believe what I was hearing: Not Entirely? Does that mean that he is in some sense? My scientific mind cant wrap around the thought.

"So... you are... in some aspects." He gives me a mean look.

"No, I'm not a witch. I'm a magic User, or used to be... No, am... Zim, you have to understand: I started using magic when I felt like there was no other choice to protect myself. I woke up at night, fearing everything. I really didn't have any choice. I almost killed myself before I found the spells..." His eyes drift down to his hands, and I sick in a breath. I had seen the two thin scars. I had held him as he cried when I asked about them.

"I... I do understand... I just..." I sigh, my brain not yet fully comprehendihg this. "It may take a while to get used to." He looks up at me, saddness and hope making his eyes almost white in some aspects, and almost black in others, creating a lace like pattern in his wide eyes. I smile, and he smiles back, leaning towards me. I meet him half way, and when our lips meet, he pushes me down on the couch.

Too bad we just had a shower.

~*~*~

Yawning, I look up at him, and gently reaches out to take off his glasses. I get up, shivering against the cold, and retreat quickly into the bedroom, making sure hes covered with a blanket before doing so.

In the bedroom, I put on a pair of skinny jeans, (recently aquired for myself, so we can stop sharing clothes- although we still do) and a short sleeved green shirt. I go into the bathroom, and apply a thick coating of makeup, staring at myself in the mirror. I put in my contacts, and place my wig upon my head, before slipping on my combat boots, (Another new addition to my wardrobe) and leaving with a note, "Be back soon, ~Zim."

I grab a pair of sunglasses, and open the door quietly.

Truth is, I don't know where I'm going. I just need to go for a walk, let my mind fully absorb the fact that the man I love is a magic User. And then, at the thought of magic, a certain occurance comes to mind. Looking around, I curl my hand into a fist, watching as it becomes engulfed in blue flames. I sigh, letting the fire extinguish itself, and continue walking.

As I'm walking down town, I pass an odd little store with dried herbs hanging in the windows, and as I look farther in, I see things floating in sealed jars. Probably against my better judgement, I step inside, hearing a jingling bell, and feeling something like a wave of energy pass through me. I gasp and look around,wondering what could have caused the situation.

"Goo' mor'in, shuga! Whas cans I dos for you, to'ay?" The sprightly old woman behind the counter asks, her smile wide and white. I watch as she braids together some long grasses, tying them with brown string that smells like hay, and moving on to another one, all not looking at them once.

"I-I, um... What is this place?" I ask, looking around. I take off my sunglasses, looking back at her. Her smile falters, and then falls completely. Standing slowly, she walks over to me, taking my head in her hands. She studies me closely, sniffing the air occasionally. Is this how she greets people? Finally, recognition lights up her features, and she steps back, grabbing my shoulder and pulling me through a swinging door.

"Weel, deer-ay! Yous should knows! Whas, wif be'n wif my Devon!" I freeze, looking at her strangly.

"E-Excuse me?" She turns and cocks an eyebrow, staring up at me.

"Devon! Hes par o' my Coven! Yous smell li'e him! Jus' li'e him! Yous lucksy. Hes don lets no one in, specia'y since yous an Alien, bub!" My heart stops and I start to growl at her.

"How did you--" She waves her hand to silence me.

"I's knews it at the mo'ent yous walk'd ins my door! Now, whas cans I dos for yous?" She smiles again, looking at me.

"Well, I-Id like to get something for Devon.. He recently aquired this for me." I hold up my wrist, and she nods, urging me on. "He says he got this for me to protect me, so...maybe I could get something to protect him?" Her eyes light up, and she turns, ruffling through a box of weird smelling things.

"Whys, Is cans dos tha' ins a jiffers!  Ah! Heres wes gos!" She turns, and hands me a braided bracelet, made of that same hay-string, with a wooden star in the middle, and a green bead on each point. I look up at her, and she smiles.

"Thank you, but what does it do?"

"Tha's a petridot! I's us'd fo protec an conceal!" She snorts, like its the most obvious thing in the world. I smile and pull out my wallet.

"Ill take it. How much is it?" She waves me away.

"No nee fo mon'ae! Jus tell Devon tha Slick say hi." She smiles, and pushes me out of the room, waving goobye as I leave. I smile, holding the bracelet tightly in my hand.

Yet, ask I walk home, I get a sinking feeling in my stomach. Somethings wrong... somethings very wrong. I stop, trying to get hold of the feeling, and when I finally realize what it is, and why it feels so familiar, I gasp, taking off in a full sprint towards the apartments, praying against hope that Ill make it in time.

How did he survive?