Invader Zim Fan Fiction ❯ Smip and Kwe's story ❯ Chapter 8

Somewhere in the background, a record scratches loudly and Smip goes absolutely white.

"Oh.. fuck.. Please tell me you're making an EXTREMELY unfunny joke right now..." His body starts to tremble as he holds onto his lover. In a panic, he tries pulling himself out, eliciting a yelp of pain.

"AH!! Stop it!" Kwe shouts as his Irken reproductive organs were tugged at. "Pulling out now won't help! It will just hurt us both!.. Especially me!.. Hold still!"

"Ah! Shit!.. Kwe, you have to let me go. NOW.. Just relax yourself or something.. I have to get out."

All Kwe could manage to do was back against Smip harder to try to stop the other's struggling. As he moved back, he pushed them both to the ground, straddling Smip's lap in an attempt to hold him down.

Kwe pleaded in a soft voice, looking back into his partner's eyes, "Please, that really hurts.."

Smip panics more, clinging tightly to his lover as they sink into a sitting position on the ground, still connected. He rubs Kwe's arms as comfortingly as he can while he starts to hyperventilate.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"

Kwe turns to face forward again, concentrating on relaxing his body as much as he could, then slowly pulling free. It's still quite painful on disconnecting prematurely and his body offers plenty of resistance.

Once free, Smip yanks the condom off, holding it up and staring in horror as he sees the contents leaking out a small slit.

"Oh, fuck.. oh fuck oh fuck oh fuck," he chanted in a slight mantra. "No.. No no nonononono. This isn't happening.. This did not just happen.. I'm a fucking dead man...."

Kwe blinks at the broken condom and to Smip's reaction. He was quiet and looking quite scared.. How could he tell his mother of this? To tell her that he was going to be having a smeet of his own.. Tak the loving grandmother? It was an almost laughable thought at best. He just slowly sits down next to the tree and hugs his own legs against his chest, rocking back and forth, as terror slowly overtakes him.

Smip shakily tries to redress himself, but finds it the most difficult task he's ever faced. Stumbling over to Kwe's side, he wraps his arms around his shoulders, trembling with him.

"Don't worry, we'll think of something.. It'll be okay.. Maybe it didn't work. Yeah.. Maybe we're alright." His words are very unsure as he tries to comfort his partner as well as himself. He hugs onto the other teen tightly, "Kwe.. I'm so sorry.. I didn't mean for this to happen.. Please don't hate me."

"... You realize my mother will do.. horrible.. horrible things.. when she finds out?.. Well.. then again.. Maybe.. she does like children.. I.. have no idea to how she will react, Smip." Kwe looks up with large eyes, his hands clutching at his stomach slightly as if waiting to feel a kick coming. ".. What will Zim do?"

Smip swallows hard and offers a weak nod at first. He doesn't need to be reminded again of Tak. His body tenses when he thinks about his alien parent's reaction, however.

"... I don't think I'll live to see my own graduation...." He tries to stand and to help Kwe to his feet as well. "Maybe we can run a scan on you in the lab to make sure.. Or use the computer to find out something that can help." He's grasping at straws, but it was the hope of a desperate man.

"No.. If.. worse comes to worse.. I could disappear... You could too.. I don't have any tracking implants, so it would be harder for me to be found," Kwe says softly, slowly getting up and dressing again. ".. My body isn't demanding that I have sex anymore.. That's a good thing at least."

Smip gives Kwe enough room to get dressed, but still stays close. Afterward, he clings to the young Irken.

".. Let's not talk like we're giving up just yet.. Maybe.. maybe we can ask my father if there's something we can do.." He doesn't look forward to that conversation and seeing the disappointment in Dib's eyes. "He would be the only one that might understand..."

"If we have to tell Zim, I will do so.. Alone," Kwe states abruptly as he fixes his shirt. Giving a slight sigh, he looks at the dirt, ".. We have only known each other a short time... Are you sure you.. want me?.. If you were to leave me now, I could see why.."

Another look of horror crosses the half Irken's face before he takes Kwe into a tight embrace, hugging him like the other will disappear at any second.

"Of course I still want you! I'm not going to leave you now or ever!.." He gives another squeeze, "I thought you would want to leave me since I just fucked up everything.. This was my fault and I'm taking the responsibility for it." Smip gains a small bit of confidence, "If we're going to be parents.. then.. then so be it. You heard my pop. They were our age when I was born."

Kwe blushes deeply as he is held and hugs back.

".. I will.. enjoy being the carrier for you then.. my seeder.." His purple eyes of his new costume, the same color as his own, glisten while looking into Smip's eyes of hazel. "We should.. go back to your place and umm.. think, or clean up, perhaps.. I.. don't know if I'm up to doing much else out in town now."

Smip kisses Kwe tenderly, that one gesture speaking so many words. He's quite finished with their little outing as well and more than ready to go back home. Taking his lover by the hand, they walk quietly out of the park and along the sidewalks back towards Smip's house. Smip has his head low, lost deeply in his own thoughts and relying on his subconscious to lead him in the right direction to home.

Holding hands all the way home, Kwe doesn't take notice of much. His mind is far too full of other things to concentrate on what a beautiful day it was around him; birds chirping, the sun slowly setting, the sky beautifully highlighted in shades of orange and red. His face showed his worry.

As they neared Zim's house, the lawn gnomes all turned at once, watched the two walk to the front door, and enter the house, only to find Dib sitting on the couch and Gir on the floor. Gir was occupied in rolling around in what appeared to be maple syrup while Dib ignored him and casually flipped through the channels on the TV.

Smip walked in slowly, taking careful time to shut the door behind them and avoid looking at his father.

Dib looked up with a soft smile, "Welcome back boys... Hey? What's up? Is something the matter?"

Smip shies away with a wince, antennae flattening against his neck guiltily. How was he supposed to tell his father what they had done after he trusted him? His only thanks are that Zim wasn't there at the moment.

Smip speaks very softly, ".... Dad?... We.. I..." The words catch in his throat he clenches his eyes shut, cursing himself as he feels some wetness there.

Kwe watched the other struggle at telling the new, so he steps forward and touched Smip softly. He looks into his lover's eyes to calm him, then turns to Dib.

".. We believe.. the latex protection failed.."

Dib's eyes blink, then slowly go huge, jaw slowly dropping open as he realizes. Yet, before any words could be spoken, a blast from a voice no one wished to hear comes ringing through the air.

"Dib! Have you seen where Gir put the.." Zim walks in and blinks, a glare focusing upon Kwe. "Oh, I see you're back.. Welcome home, Smip.. And I would welcome you, Kwe, yet I do not wish to. In fact, I hope your date when horribly," he says, crossing his arms and looking snobbish. Sensing the tense silence, however, Zim blinks a few times and drops his arms to his side. "Why is it so quiet in here?"

Dib winces and Smip goes from guilty to afraid when he first hears his mother's voice approaching. Smip jerks his head up with a quiet gasp when Zim talks about their 'date' going horribly. Leave it to Zim to turn the knife a little harder. Tears sting his eyes, threatening to fall as he looks at Zim with a very hurt expression before shooting his gaze to Dib.

"We didn't mean it to happen! We were trying to be safe, but it was an accident!"

Kwe glares daggers at Zim. As far as he was concerned, the elder had just made his Smip cry.

Zim shoots daggers right back at Kwe, feeling that the other had done something bad to his Smip.

"Zim," Kwe started, in a remarkably similar tone to how Dib used to say the Irken's name. He steps closer, pointing to the addressed, "You and I need to speak in private." He finishes dramatically as he walks from the room, Zim hot on his heels.

"IT WILL BE YOUR DOOM IF YOU DID SOMETHING TO SMIP!.. DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!"

Smip is reluctant to let Kwe leave, but lets their hands finally part while he watches. Dib gets up quickly, avoiding the mess on the floor, and comes to stand in front of his son. Gir takes the opportunity to switch the channel and is happily distracted by cartoons.

Dib grabs Smip's shoulders firmly, his concern evident. "Smip? Just calm down a little and try to tell me what happened."

That never works though and Smip gives a sob before having to be lead by his father into the kitchen to get some water. It takes a bit before he calms down enough to start speaking again.

".. We.. we.. had sex.. but we made sure to use a condom.. I don't know what happened! It looked just fine when I had it on, but it ripped and.. and.." he feels fresh tears welling, "I think Kwe's pregnant now..." He gives a pleading look to his father, "I didn't mean for this to happen.. You have to believe me.. We tried to buy some in a box, but I didn't have enough money, so we got one out of the vending machine in the bathroom at the gas station.."

While Smip is upstairs talking with his father, Kwe enters the lab where the training simulator is held. He walks with his hands behind his back, body rigid in a very Irken military fashion. Turning sharply on his heel to face Zim at the other end of the room, Kwe glares before taking a moment to remove his human disguise to speak Irken to Irken with the other. After, he takes a deep breath and crosses his arms in front of himself. He was scared; very scared. Yet, he wasn't showing it in the least as he faced off between a mother bear that was protecting her cub.

Zim stands with his arms crossed, keeping his eyes fixed onto the younger alien and waits for him to speak.

Speaking in a loud, clear voice, Kwe proclaims, "Smip has failed to stop his seed from entering my womb and there is the possibility that I will shortly be with smeet. If you try to stop this pregnancy, separate Smip and me, or do anything in retaliation to this, I will quickly disappear with your grandchild still within me, not to be heard from again.. If Smip wishes to come with me, then he will be properly scanned for tracking devices and come as well.. Now, Zim.. What do you have to say?"

Zim's eyes widen steadily with each word spoken and his is filled with blind rage. His arms tear away from his chest as he stomps a foot forward and raises a shaking hand.

"WHAT?!"

He tries to speak, but nonsense falls from his lips as he overloads with fury. It's a testament to his small amount of self-control not to disintegrate Kwe on the spot, but a fear of harming his potential grandchild keeps him at bay. His chest heaves and small amount of foam is on his lips while he stares at Kwe with one eye, the other clenched tightly so his head doesn't explode in anger.

Kwe waits and stares at Zim for a moment more. "Not understand?.. I'll speak slower and more stupid for you then.. Zim might be grandpa soon. Smip make love with Kwe, have baby.. Understand now?" He was almost daring Zim to fight him. In all honesty, he was hoping for a fight, but quickly realized a violent start might not be the best for his own child. He continues with, "Well then, I'm off to be with my seeder. If you have any more complaints about Smip and my relationship, you can place them firmly up your own anal cavity."

With that, Kwe begins to walk out of the room in a very firm and aggressive state, arms still tightly coiled around his own chest. As he passes Zim, though, he found himself shaking slightly.

Both of Zim's eyes are open now, body shuddering harder. Any more, and he's in danger of exploding all over his lab and leaving Gir to jump rope with his gooey entrails. Speech seems to have completely eluded the elder now as he cannot force a single word out of his mouth. When Kwe passes, however, Zim's hand shoots out and he clamps tightly upon an unprotected antenna. Giving a very hard yank, he tugs the teen backwards to yell silently at him some more. Once again, he can't get the words out, even as he has his mouth open to let them go. Snapping his jaw shut, he whirls around, still dragging Kwe by the sensitive organ as he heads back towards upstairs.

Suddenly in a great deal of agony as his sensitive antenna is yanked upon so roughly, Kwe lets out a loud howl. He slowly goes to his knees at the crushing grip and, as an almost automated response, the legs of his PAK burst forth, smacking Zim hard across the face while tears of pain slowly welled and ran down his cheeks.

Zim's head jerks with the force of the smack and his grip loosens. Oh yeah, this one had a PAK too. He ignores the remaining throb and reaches down, taking Kwe by the back of the shirt this time and roughly forcing him to follow as Zim once again heads upstairs. The two of them nearly burst into the kitchen, drawing Smip and Dib's gazes as Zim storms up to the table and points a trembling hand at Kwe. He hoists the teen up higher by the shirt while staring hard at his mate, as if he can telepathically communicate to the human.

".. HE... SMEET!!" was the only words he managed to spit out.

Kwe's eyes narrowed again and he crosses his arms as he is lifted slightly into the air.

"... Put me down, Zim, or I will hurt you..." he says in a quiet, yet very intense voice while trying to burn holes right into Zim's very soul with his glare.

A small bit of Kwe is impressed that Zim could even pick him up, seeing as how he was actually bigger than Zim was. Maybe it was just the other's rage showing again.

Smip's eyes are slightly puffy from crying while he wipes at them with the heel of his hand. Dib is sitting there with an arm around his son's shoulders, trying to comfort him.

Dib heaves a sigh and drops his eyes, "Yes, I know, Zim.. Put him down."

Zim lets go, but makes sure that it causes Kwe to land unsteadily so he can get a mild satisfaction out of it.

As soon as Kwe was on his own feet, he went over to Smip, but looked away unsurely. He obviously wanted Smip to hug him, hoping that the other teen appreciated the fact that Kwe was the one that faced Zim and that Smip did not have to do it himself.

Smip leans over to wrap his arms around Kwe, wanting the reassuring feel of his lover.

Dib slowly stands as he walks over to Zim, hoping to talk reasonably with his enraged mate. "Remember when I first told you about condoms and about how they can break sometimes? Well, that's what happened.." Zim opens his mouth to interrupt, still quite pissed off, but Dib grabs his hand and cuts him off. "I know, I'm not exactly happy about it either, but you can't change accidents. And you know that I was just out of high school when you got pregnant with Smip. We might have to go someplace FAR away before telling Tak this though.." Yes, he's not looking forward to that either. "I know you're upset, Zim, but they were at least trying to be careful though."

Kwe nuzzles all the more into Smip's side, finding his lover's touch very comforting his confrontation with Zim. It was at this time Gir made himself known by bounding in the room and pointing at Kwe with a wide, dopey grin on his face.

"When I'm growed up, I wanna be a mommy just like yooooooou!"

A look of surprise comes to Kwe's face first.. then a blush. Smip waves Gir over, afraid that his mother may decide to take his rage out on the little SIR unit. Dib grimaces lightly, but tries to ignore the robot, more focused on keeping Zim relatively calm. Zim's fists clench and unclench, retorts and insults stewing in the back of his mind.

"We could do a scan to see if Kwe is or not. Why not start from there?" Dib offers.

Kwe's eyes open and he smiles as he almost jumps at the chance to finally know, but his Irken mindset steps in, stopping him. At first, he didn't know why he was reconsidering the proposal to be scanned and possibly have his nerves set at ease. Then he finally realized what his subconscious was trying to tell him.

'If I'm not pregnant, then Zim won't let me see Smip anymore...'

The sentence runs through Kwe's mind in a moment that seems more like an eternity to him. A fearful eternity.

He finally speaks after only a few seconds of silence, "No.. I'd.. rather not."

Three heads turn to look at these quiet words. Dib looks a little confused at first before turning to face the young Irken completely.

"Are you sure? We'd be able to tell if you were pregnant or not." He speaks evenly, knowing it truly is Kwe's choice in the matter.

Zim shoves Dib aside to lean over the table, eyes narrowed on the teen, "You're getting a scan even if I have to drag you back down by your antennae and strap you to the table!"

In true submissive fashion, Kwe sinks into Smip's tightening grip, letting the other protect him from Zim. He wanted to attack Zim with a flurry of words and arguments back, yet, deep down, Kwe knew that Smip needed a chance to protect him. Smip needed the chance to show that he was really the alpha male, so to speak.

Dib finally recovers from the shove, pulling his mate back by the shoulder. "Zim, you can't force him if he doesn't want to."

Zim moves to argue more, but Smip speaks up, pulling Kwe into a protective embrace.

"It's not his fault Dad... I'm the one that's to blame for this.. I ignored your warnings and got myself and Kwe into this mess.. So.. so if you have anyone to yell at, then it should be me.." He lifts his head, giving his mother an almost challenging look, but readying himself for the retaliation. "It was my fault and I'm taking responsibility for it. If Kwe says he doesn't want to have a scan, then you can't make him unless you go through me first. He's my mate and I'm going to protect him." Such grown up words finally from Smip.

Kwe's eyes watered hearing such things. Smip was really sticking up for him. Not only that, but he was trying to take all the blame for himself. Kwe desperately wanted to say that it was just as much his fault, that he could have stopped it too.. but after what Smip had said, the most he could utter was a whispered, "I.. I.. love you..."

He held to his love tighter. No one had ever stood up for Kwe before, nor had anyone ever tried to take the blame for him.. It was really too much for the young Irken.

A very soft tremor of fear runs through Smip's body when he thinks about confronting Tak with the news as well, but thinks slightly better of it. One step at a time for now. He holds his lover closer, gently rubbing his back and nuzzling a cheek against him tenderly as he whispers back.

"I love you too, Kwe. I promise that I'll take care of you."

Dib watched silently, moved himself.

Zim, of course, is furious, but seeing his own son have the gall to stand up to him like that is enough to make him back off some. He seems to forget momentarily about Kwe and now looks Smip straight in the eye, staring hard as if seeing him for the first time, and studies him carefully. After a moment, he growls and thrusts himself back, storming off angrily to his lab, letting the door slam loudly behind him.

Dib comes to give Smip a caring squeeze upon his shoulder, "Let me go talk with him.." and turns to follow his upset mate.

Once Kwe and Smip are alone, Gir having wandered away long ago, Smip looks to his love.

"... We're leaving."

"GET OFF MY HEAD, GIR!" was suddenly shouted by Zim from downstairs, distracting Kwe for a moment before he looks back to Smip.

Kwe's first reaction was to blink, followed with, "... Umm, where?.. My place?.. I don't think I'd like to face my mother right this moment.. Maybe tomorrow?"

Smip completely ignores his mother's random shout and just shakes his head slowly and sadly.

"No.. I mean we're leaving here. Leaving Earth.. I can't risk losing you or having our parents kill each other because of this. I tried to tell you yesterday that we still have your mother's ship as well as my dad's Voot Cruiser. They're only really big enough to carry one of us, so we'll have to take them both.. I'll get all the all the money I can and we can just go and find someplace to wait until after our smeet is born. Then.. maybe we can return and maybe.. maybe our parents may put aside some of their differences for our sake when we have a smeet with us."

Kwe looks up at Smip with wide eyes, not sure at all of this plan. In fact, he has real concerns about it. Standing up straight and trying to look very official and invaderly, he was going to put his foot down about this; there was no way he would simply run off from Earth.

"I... I trust you my love.. Let's go."

What?! How did his lips betray him in such a way?.. Or was it his heart betraying him? Either way, Kwe only knew his answer felt right.

Once more comes a shout of "GIR! GET OFF MY HEAD!"

Smip was completely unsure of himself as well, but his mind and his heart were set. He really did feel that he was to blame for this all and felt that he had utterly ruined Kwe's life, so he decided to use the desire to make it up to his love as fuel for his determination.

He stands and gives a firm nod, heading upstairs to his room and grabbing all the light essentials that he could think of needing. Tearing through his things, he grabs a handful of clothes and what loose change he could find before going to his parents' bedroom. He though of taking his father's credit card, but then realized that was just stupid as it wouldn't be good on another planet. Instead, he gathers all the cash he can find, not really thinking that it may not be good either, and stuffs it into his pocket.

Taking just a few moments after coming back downstairs, he writes a note to his parents, wishing them well, apologizing for everything, promising that they would return someday, and saying how much he loved them both. He wipes his eyes and puts the pen down, ripping off the page to leave upon the kitchen table before grabbing his things and Kwe's hand, heading towards the attic.

"Let's go."

Kwe followed, his mind fighting every step he took, yet something in him not letting Kwe's mind have a say in the matter. As Kwe walked into the ship dock area and gazed at his mother old ship, he couldn't help by feel a bit proud to be Tak's son. True, she was evil, but.. the good kind of evil, if that mad any sense... No, it didn't make sense and Kwe knew this, which mad him realize that he just loved his mother no matter how bad she was at times.

"Umm.. Smip.. I need to stop by my base before we go.. I need to get something.. and leave a note of my own."

Before Smip could reply, Gir suddenly jumped out from behind the ship, gripping on to his young master tightly and sobbing uncontrollably, "I'm gonna miss yooooooooou!!" He shouted, "TAKE ME WITH YOU!" at Smip, clinging to him tighter.

Smip nods gently to Kwe, readying the ships for departure. He's surprised at Gir's sudden appearance, but hugs the robot back.

"I'll miss you too, Gir.." And it was the truth. After all, Gir had been his first childhood friend and was almost like an insane brother. "I can't take you though.. You have to stay here with dad and pop because they're going to need you. I want you to take care of them for me while I'm gone, okay, Gir? They're going to be sad and they'll need you to cheer them up while I'm not here. Can you do that for me, Gir?"

The cyan lights of the SIR unit flicker to red as he gives a serious little salute before jumping down and wandering off as if nothing was just said at all.

Sharing a quick last kiss, they climb aboard their separate ships, zipping out of the dock and straight to Kwe's home base. He exits his craft.

".. Wait here, Smip. I'll only be gone a minute," he says as he runs into the base.

Looking around, Kwe was relieved to not see his mother there.. Or, at least not in this room. Going into his bedroom, he grabs the only item he was taking: the music player that Smip had given him. As he turns though, Kwe jumps slightly and pales at the sight of his mother standing in the doorway.

"How was your date with the half worm?" she asks casually, arms crossed and looking very imposing.

"Err.. Just fine, ma'am," he replied as Tak approached.

"You know he's just going to hurt you. Badly.. That's how these things go. Just look what your father did with me; creating a son and then leaving. Smip will simply do the same to you."

The truth of her statement was so far from reality, in every conceivable way, seeing as that wasn't what happened between her and Skooge at all. Yet, she knew Kwe didn't know this. Her words do have one effect in that they made Kwe's newfound trust in Smip start to shake.

"N-no, Mother. Smip wouldn't do such a thing to me."

Tak just grinned a bit and pet her son's head. "You're so cute sometimes Kwe. Your innocence is darling."

With that, she turns and leaves the boy alone with a single tear running slowly down his face.

Not forgetting why he came, Kwe writes a brief note saying he was pregnant and would return one day if she wished him to. Afterward, he quickly runs from the base, clutching the music player in his hands. He doesn't wish to show his tears to Smip and tries to dry them quickly as he gets back into his ship.

"R-ready?" he asks over the communication radio to Smip, trying to hide his shaken state, yet doing so poorly.

Smip was terribly nervous while he waited for Kwe and takes the time to synchronize the ships to keep them in constant contact with one another, should they accidentally be separated out in space. He also disables the tracking devices that Zim had upon them uses a signal scrambler to hide their power core signatures. It was simple enough for him after his aunt, Gaz, had shown him how when he was a few years younger.

He gets a thick feeling in his stomach, like a lead weight settling there, when Kwe returns and he knows it's time to leave for good.

Smip mistakes the shake in his love's voice for nerves and returns over the microphone, ".. Yeah.. And Kwe?.... I want you to know that I love you."

Kwe is barely able to say "I love you" in return, choking back his crying while he sits there. ".. I.. My ship is set to automatically follow yours.. Lead on.. And hurry before one of our parents come after us.." he says, now knowing he was set on doing this for real.

His stomach churned, causing him to grab his belly from the nerves and the overly emotional state of the young alien.

Smip gives a tearful smile and nods, his resolve firming as he starts the Voot Cruiser and takes off, pulling away from the atmosphere. He sees Kwe beside him as they enter space and he pauses a moment, going through the control panels as he tries plotting coordinates.

Smip feels a small amount of panic as he realizes he doesn't have a plan on where to go from here. He spies the map and punches in the coordinates, setting a course to Foodcourtia. Where there's food, there has to be some place to live, right? He lets the ship go on autopilot and turns back to the mic.

".. So.. um.. what did you take with you, anyway?"

"Oh. My.. gift," Kwe mumbles, holding the music player tightly.

It was his soul possession. Even if he really didn't understand how it worked or what it did, it was his, and that made it special to him. The only other thing he really ever had was his PAK, but that was more part of him than a possession.

"You've done a lot for me, Smip.. Thank you.. You're.. the best thing that's happened to me so far," says Kwe, not meaning his words to be romantic, but rather truthful and kind.

He presses the buttons on the device, making the lights change and such, unsure what the buttons were for. Smip feels comforted by these words at least and watches Kwe fiddle with the player.

"You want to listen to some of the music on there? Just plug it into the console and hit that little green button in the middle there. It'll play automatically through the ship's controls and you can adjust the volume and stuff through there."

Following Smip's instructions, Kwe pushes the button, but hears nothing. Messing with it a bit more, he un-mutes it and sound blasts through the speakers painfully loud. He yelps and frantically grabs the player again, working until he finally finds the volume and turns it down to an acceptable level.

Smip clutches his antennae tightly as the music suddenly blasts through, scaring the bajeezus out of him momentarily. Once the volume is back under control, he still has a ringing in his ears.

"Ow.. Well, at least I'm wide awake now, but I might have to change my pants if you do that again." He receives little comfort from having his familiar music filtering through the speakers, but it does help calm his nerves some. ".. Sorry if my taste is music.. um.. sucks.. I just put whatever on it."

The rather mopey love song that now plays only serves to depress him a bit. Kwe looks at the player as the music continues.

Kwe asks softly, "Smip.. What are we.. going to do?"

So far, he trusts his mate and doesn't question him, yet as his stomach starts to hunger, he couldn't help by ask. The only thing he really wanted now was to be in the same ship as Smip as they rocketed through the stars together.

Smip leans back in his chair with a sigh. ".. I'm not completely sure myself.. But I promised I'd take care of you.. We're heading for Foodcourtia right now. Hopefully there's other stuff besides food there. I'll work there and support us." He watches the stars zip by, not even feeling that they're going that fast.

The trip is in relative silence until the computer alerts him with a planet proximity warning and he sees the general chaos of Foodcourtia before him.

"We can eat and think about what to do from there."

Watching the other ships, he grabs the controls and pilots them both to a parking area. He suits himself up as a precaution and engages the inviso-helmet since he's not really sure he would be able to breathe here. Afterward, he steps out and takes Kwe's hand.

"Where do you feel like eating?"

Kwe blushes as he finally takes Smip's hand in his. They hadn't touched in far too long for Kwe's standards.

"I.. don't know. Let's walk and see what's around?.. And.. um.. Smip.. I'm not sure if you'll like this or not.. but.. while we are here.... I'd like to start Irken military training.. It's always been my dream to be an Invader."

He hoped Smip wouldn't mind of his wanting to become an Invader and possibly taking over Earth one day. He doesn't even consider that the other may just not wish him to do so while possibly pregnant because of the affect it may have on their smeet.

Smip stops suddenly, getting an earful from a few aliens that nearly crash into him. He looks at Kwe with shock.

"But.. All that training.. It's so brutal.. Wouldn't it be almost impossible in your.. um.. condition?"

He tries to say it lightly, feeling another wave of guilt come over him, reminding him painfully that it was his fault for Kwe being in this position. His antennae droop as he keeps walking, not really saying much now. Instead, he tries looking at the different restaurants since the various smells cause his stomach to growl.

".. Feel like this place?" Smip reads the sign, "Shloogorgh's.. Sounds interesting."

Kwe's face dropped at the comment of "impossible in your condition" and continued to walk, growing angry at his mate for the first time.

".. My condition?" he asks, pulling his hand back to cross his arms. He glares at Smip. "Are you saying I am completely incapable of Irken basic training?" Anger filled his voice as he took this rather personally.

Smip blinks as Kwe rips his hand free and looks almost lost. He lifts his hands up in defense, waving them wildly.

"No no no no no! I didn't mean it like that. I just meant that.. you know.. I wasn't sure if it would be safe for you to do it right now is all.." He drops his hands, looking defeated. His head lowers, "I know full well that you're capable of killing me without using that much energy.. I just want you to be safe.. But.. I won't stop you if that's what you want to do. I don't want to fuck up your life more than I have already."

Kwe blinks, "Err.. You didn't mess up my life.. Why would you think that?" His anger completely dissipates as his love says such things. "And.. I'd never hurt you.. I love you.." Kwe quickly takes a step closer and latches on to Smip tightly, laying his head upon the other's chest.

Smip holds Kwe in return, he doesn't really give a reply though, having already convinced himself before they even left that he had messed up and that he should devote his life in trying for atonement to make up to Kwe everything that he took away in a single instant. He pulls back just slightly and reaches into his pocket, taking out a small pocketknife he carries with him.

"Can I see your finger for a second?.."

Kwe looks confused, but lifts up a hand, not sure at all what his partner had in mind. While Smip waits for Kwe, he uses the knife to slice into his own hand, drawing the bluish blood forth.

Purple eyes look down, watching the half Irken cut himself and he gasps, taking a step backward.

"Smip?"

With extreme tenderness, Smip removes Kwe's glove and holds the very tip of his love's finger.

".. I'm sorry.." he whispers and pricks Kwe, just hard enough to draw a small droplet of his blood. He presses Kwe's finger to his blood palm. "On Earth, sometimes when making a serious promise, it's made by sharing blood. I'm making you a promise, Kwe... I promise you that.." tears well softly in his eyes as he forces himself to speak, ".. that you can kill me.. for taking everything away from you like I did.. And.. and I won't stop you. It's what I deserve since I can never do anything else to show you how sorry I am for what I did and make it up to you."

Kwe held Smip's hand, completely shocked at what he was hearing.

"Smip.. It.. it wasn't your fault.. I begged for it.. It's just as much mine.. Honest.." Still holding hands together, Kwe moves in and embraces his lover again. "You owe me nothing. You can return home now if you wish.. I could raise the smeet on my own.. I would understand if you did not wish to take responsibility, Smip.. But.. don't do it because you feel you owe it to me.. If you do it, do it because you wish to be my seeder, my mate, and my lover.. Do it because you wish to raise your smeet.. not because you feel you owe me something."

A few stray tears fall and Smip listens to Kwe's words, but in his heart, he's stubbornly set. He would stand there and honestly let Kwe slaughter him for revenge on getting him pregnant if that's what would make Kwe happy.

"I'm not leaving you, Kwe. This IS my responsibility and I DO owe it to you. I owe it to you AS your seeder and your lover.. as your mate.. to raise our smeet together. Our smeet was made through our love and that will stay the same... I just.. don't know how you could still want me after taking away your life like this.. I've turned your own mother against you, I've made you my mother's enemy, I've gotten you pregnant, took you away from your home... I'm certainly not doing very well, am I?"

".. Eh?.. I fear your human side is being stupid, my love.. Stop letting your human side.. stupid up your mind. My life is finally going great for the first time since.. EVER!.. I mean, look, I'm here, about to finally live my dream of becoming an Invader. I'm finally around my own kind here. I've met a loving and very caring seeder who I intend to stay around from now on, and.. I'm sure either our parents will calm down or at least grow old enough where they will not be able to attack us one day. I told you before you were the best thing that happened to me. Did you think I lied?.. I didn't.. my love..." And with one more very tight hug that even generates a squeaky noise, Kwe finally lets a few tears fall onto Smip's shirt, yet he smiles.

Smip holds onto his mate tightly, caressing Kwe's back tenderly. Their emotional moment is cut short though by a few blobby looking aliens that shove their way past, jostling the teens.

"If you're going to have a soap opera, move it off the sidewalk!" one calls back, jiggling a fat fist in their direction.

Smip glares back very Zim-like in a look that clearly reads 'fuck you,' then turns back to Kwe.

"Why don't we get something to eat? It'll make us feel better."

Kwe gives a simple nod in reply. As they walk into the building, he could be heard commenting something along the lines of, "... And if you make any more promises, a simple 'I promise' will suffice.. I don't like you hurting yourself."