Chapter Text
Clembrane, however, wasn’t really the best for going out in public, so he’d been convinced that once a week the plants in the lab really, really needed some care....and pudding. Aside from the one night, Membrane had also managed to get him to leave them alone occasionally with the reasoning of them needing to spend time with both of their dads. At different times. Alone.
At first, Dib had been really excited for it- seeing his dad, consistently! The keywords, however, were at first. He’d thought that since Membrane had seen the world almost ended, had been stuck in space prison,flown in a sentient spaceship, and now had a clone of himself that looked vaguely like a goldfish living in his house, he’d be a bit more open to the paranormal....he couldn’t have been more wrong. Of course. Clones were very scientific, son. His dad was so weird. Clones, being trans and gay, fine. ALIENS? Unacceptable! Entirely unacceptable in the Membrane household.
In all honesty, Membrane had tried to listen to Dib’s ramblings, but he didn’t quite enjoy Dib almost crawling on the table in anger in the middle of a restaurant when Membrane said he’d heard of several people with a skin condition like Zim’s. And continue to argue about it in the car. And once they got home. His daughter’s snickering did not help the situation.
Dib had managed to miss the past two nights, both using the excuse of hanging out with Zim (Membrane was usually receptive to that, as he was the only person Dib would voluntarily spend time with.) This night, however, Membrane refused to let his son miss out on more quality time.
“Dad, I don’t wanna go out. Everytime someone from my school sees me out they look at me!”
“Isn’t that what people usually do when they see someone?”
Dib huffed. “No- they-...they look at me weird. They know i'm a freak, and all i can do is sink into my coat and try to forget it by the time I get back on monday. And the things we do aren’t even fun!”
“...Well, what if you brought Zim?”
“If...If i what? I thought it was family only.”
“Well, this is special, I suppose. If it will make you more comfortable, he can come.”
Dib smiled. “I’ll go tell him! Right now!”
“Son, just tell him at s-”
“ILLBEBACKBYNINEDAD-” and he ran out the door.
“Eight!” Membrane called out the door.
---
“Zim! Zim! ZIM open the door! ZI-” He was interrupted by gir opening the door in his face.
“HI DIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIB!!!”
“Oh, hey Gir. Is...Zim here?”
“Yeah!”
“...Can i see him?”
“OH!” GIR slammed the door shut, and Dib stood there. Either GIR would be back with Zim within a few minutes, or he’d just knock again and hope Zim heard this time.
A few minutes of waiting...and there was a very angry looking Zim at the door.
“Oh, it’s you.”
“What?”
Zim eyed GIR. “GIR told me you were another door-to-door salesman. They’ve been coming all week to- nevermind. Anyways, why did you need me?”
“Well, we’re having family night tomorrow, and I was wondering if you’d like to come.”
“I’m not apart of your worm family, Dib!”
“I know that you idiot. I just wanted you to come since my ‘worm family’ is boring and I don’t wanna be bored tomorrow.”
“Yeah, whatever. I’ll be at your filthy house tomorrow.” Zim turned on his heels and kicked the door shut.
“...’Kay then.”