I have to say that this is probably your best written chapter to date; this is the exact sort of storytelling that fans imagine in their wildest daydreams, but which takes quite a while in order to set up believably. It required a lot of work for you to change the nature of Zim and Tak's relationship from outright enemies to something like this, but you did it with great patience and attention to detail. All I can say is that it's this new frontier of their relationship that I have been most looking forward to, as it's one I've never seen done successfully. I can't say that I saw it coming until the preceding chapter, but as always I'm left in great curiosity as to how the rest of the story's events will unfold.

What really shines in this chapter beyond the other ones is the exceptional characterization and timing of events. There's a lot of conflicting emotions over the course of this chapter, but I think you really paced it well. As you mentioned in the blurb at the end, I see how you could go too fast and end up rushing into the high drama of Tak's predicament, but you let it play out in a way that was simultaneously mannered and economical. Utilizing the narrator to describe the events of two months was an effective way to move the story to where we all want to see it go, but still keep us anticipating the details along the way.

But most importantly, in terms of characters this whole chapter is filled to brim with genuine moments of transformation and progress. Capping off the Valentine's Day story with a campout under the stars was a sweet moment that shows us the potential of their relationship to be loving, but as always it’s laced with the drama and tension that preceded it. There are great moments of duality here, such as the humorous yet touching symbolism of the paste giving her the freedom to venture freely on earth without having to be tied to him. Funnily enough, it's somewhat of an inverse of giving your significant other they key to your apartment: instead of an invitation to stay, it's the option to leave. It's exactly this somewhat paradoxical push and pull of love and hate that makes their relationship so interesting to read.

As the chapter title implies, their relationship itself is complicated and fraught with the personality issues of two aliens raised under militaristic suppression. Even though I can assuredly call their feelings for one another authentic, I appreciate that you didn't simply end Tak's feelings of resentment towards Zim just because they've become intimate. We can't just forget their history now that they're "in love" and capable of affection for one another. In fact, I believe the best parts of the story are yet to come now that they have to contend with these sometimes conflicting emotions. The already precarious state of their relationship further being rocked by this smeet event heightens the dramatic potential for this story that much more. Never a dull moment to be had in their relationship thus far.

On a lighter note though, one of my favorite additions you've made to the characterization of this ZATR relationship is the element of playfulness between the two. Even amongst some of my favorite fan writings, there's almost always a stranglehold on Zim's self awareness: he has to like he's hardly in a relationship at all and barely changes his external character around his significant other. It's like fans of the show want to keep the exact natures of the characters without at all changing their demeanor, only to add fanservice and sex. It's your willingness to let characters evolve and acknowledge the unique nature of romantic interaction that makes your portrayal of ZATR so endearing and well rounded. These characters laugh, cry, seethe, argue, worry, and challenge one another while still retaining their essence. People can change attitudes many times through the course of a day, so the fact that you're willing to maintain that breadth of emotional states with these characters is something to be commended.

Once again, fantastic job here. There's just so many things I'm looking forward to in the coming chapters. Probably more than anything, I'm excited to see the hormone effects on Tak's character and how it could generally make her more unfiltered in terms of her emotions. She always seemed to have a confident grasp on her feelings, but unprecedented events like this can make the journey all that much more dynamic. We all know some of the things she said here are overwrought, but they come from places of truth and that just means there are still a lot of things to address between Zim and Tak. I can't wait to read the ways you continue to explore their relationship, especially since it's been completely transformed by this chapter's events. I hope for another update soon!

I can't even begin to imagine what Zim and Tak are feeling, sure it was an emotional rollercoaster for them and it became a life or death situation, Irk holds the key bit also Doom, do there's no right answer here.

Invader Johnny Signing Off.

Damn, talk about emotional whiplash. Fluff between our Irken couple, then comedy as Dib as to deal with them, and then serious drama as they have to deal with learning of Tak's pregnancy.

Can't wait to see what happens next.

Keep up the good work.

Zim'sMostLoyalServant signing off.

really good story lad

I loved, loved, LOVED this chapter! After the emotional crescendo that was the 'Open Wounds' I was looking forward to seeing how their newfound relationship would develop. I was honestly curious as to whether you were going to continue the pattern of angst and tension set up in the preceding chapters or take a left turn and go in a lighter direction. I'm thankful that you've returned to a period of relative normalcy rather than talks of death and defectiveness. Getting to see them in a domestic relationship immediately brought out the warmest feelings and just made me smile the whole way through. Seeing Zim and Tak retain their essential personalities while slightly changing their behavior to accommodate each other was heartwarming and shows their potential for growth. You avoided jumping the gun too soon and still let Tak be Tak with her aggression and paranoia (arguably from trauma) and let Zim be Zim with his eagerness to please and hard-headedness.

I like that they seem to be unconsciously playing out anachronistic Irken relationship dynamics, and that we as readers get to learn about their forgotten social culture just as they learn. Things like female dominance, male gift posturing, and the blurred borders between aggression and intimacy make for wonderfully novel insights to their alien race. It's awfully funny that their previous enmity would actually be good grounds for a traditional Irken relationship. Details like these show that you're not just grafting a human romance onto these two aliens, but actually coming up with an interesting background for them to rediscover their social roots. This is really what makes you stand out as an author: there's a level of worldbuilding and interest beyond fanservice that elevates your writing and makes it feel curated and real.

Speaking of your uniqueness, I have NEVER seen anybody portray a romantic Zim like this. Making him more submissive around Tak while still being playful, and having him openly gush about his newfound feelings to Dib was just about the most adorable thing I have ever read. And what makes all this even crazier is that you make it FULLY believable and in-character regarding the Zim we all know and love. This kittenish excitement and prideful attitude work so well with Zim that I'm surprised people haven't portrayed it to this extent before. It's easy to portray him as hostile and obfuscating when it comes to his feelings, but I actually like it that he's as open with his newfound romance as he is with any other emotion.

I also can't help but feel you're setting up an *extremely* interesting storyline by bringing in the Irken history files and broaching subjects like life-partnership, parenthood, and whether these things belong in Zim and Tak's mutual exile. I don't think I've ever read anyone approach these subjects with very much success, as it's hard to have characters believably talk about what is essentially marriage and children, let alone have it play out. However, I think if anyone could do it and make it WORK it's undoubtedly you. You have such patience and craftsmanship about your writing that I think you could even turn the most difficult of fanfiction tropes into something riveting.

Of course that is all just speculation, but I'm just so excited to see how things develop further with this plot. Usually when writers say they have things planned for the future it ends up half baked or unfinished, but each chapter of this story has had me engaged as all hell. I even love the detours from the main plot such as Dib and Zim working at Membrane labs and going to the gypsy shop, which I just have to say was great because the genuinely paranormal parts of what is obstensibly a sci-fi show never got enough love in my opinion. Once again, your worldbuilding alone makes this a fantastic read regardless of the romance inherent to the story.

Really can't wait for the next chapter. Hopefully all this quarantine business will give you time to focus on creative projects like this. I wish the best for you!

Well things between Zim and Tak are hitting a little bumps on the road but eventually they're be ok, without awkward discoveries and stuff, heh.

As for Madam Theresa? Talk about unexpected surprises.

Invader Johnny Signing Off.

Loving this development in Zim and Tak's relationship, and liking the expansion on her backstory.

The gypsy scene was fun. Especially the Sabrina reference.

Keep up the good work.

Zim'sMostLoyalServant signing off.

m o r e

Seriously it’s kind of impressive to write an Invader Zim with developing a believable friendship and even a romance between these characters while still feeling faithful to them and the source material. I think what really helps is the way you describe the how these characters feel as well as the situation itself. It helps us understand and connect with them on a more deep and even emotional level. It’s especially done well between Zim and Tak with the way you tell how they personally feel towards each other in this situation and how they slowly develop feelings towards one another despite in a way that feels organic.

Now that they’ve finally embraced each other on a more intimate level I’m really interested on where you’re gonna take these characters relationship and how you’ll further explore it at this point. Especially in regards to Tak now that she’s learned about the harsh truth of the Tallests selfishness and that she just made out with the very Irken she initially despised. Really looking forward to what you have in store for this incredible story.

Well, Zim get Tak finally.

Good to have you back! I was wondering when this story would update and where it would go, and thankfully you leapt right back into the drama without a second's hesitation. I legitimately had no idea what this chapter would entail, but you pulled off this ultimate moment with great finesse and charm. As someone who loves ZATR, I couldn't have asked for a sweeter romantic climax.

At first I thought Zim might be heartbroken or disappointed with Tak's assassination attempt, but then I remembered he was raised in the vengeful and militaristic Irken society. It only makes sense that his thoughts would instinctively turn towards contempt and vengeance, and it was fitting to see that old fashioned Zim reappear to gloat at Tak's defeat. Instead of him being wrapped around her little finger, the extenuating circumstances compelled him to return to his old arrogant self. But it's this change that makes their mutual turn towards romance so sweet and endearing: when he's on the precipice of retreating back to his old identity and forgetting all the emotions and selflessness awoken in him by Tak, he is once again saved by her vulnerability. A vulnerability not unlike his own when he was privy to his own unwanted status in the empire.

I absolutely loved the level of angst and heartbreak present in this chapter right before the final moment of togetherness. Tak has been long deserving of a moment in the spotlight: where all her emotions are laid bare and she has no false hope to hide behind. It was gut wrenching how you described Tak's hopeless state and the depths of her own emotional turmoil. I was surprised that you were able to make her sadness so palpable, but you rendered her pain with such detail and believability that I couldn't help but feel for her. I don't think anyone has ever brought Tak to this emotional depth before. Her despondency was a legitimately brutal sequence.

But I love how it all turns around at the prospect exploring something new together: a relationship. It's obvious that expression and personal bonding is highly restricted within Irken society, but at their lowest moment both Zim and Tak find the courage to shed preconceived notions of dignity and honor to find comfort within each other. I imagine this sort of emotional vulnerability to be new for both of them, and it's wonderful to see them share this new experience with the very person they considered a mortal enemy mere moments ago.

And once again I have to commend your poetic flourishes in this chapter with lines like "Her tears, which she had fought so very hard to hold back, were now flowing freely, leaving wet, glistening trails as they lightly traveled down the mild crevasses of her cheeks." This flawless description coupled with the context of it being forbidden to cry in front of another just makes for a powerful moment. You give such vivid detail to important moments like this, and it makes the emotions the much realer.

I absolutely can't wait for the next chapter, especially since you still have more story planned ahead. I'm waiting with baited breath to see how this moment changes Zim and Tak's relationship, how they will move forward as outcasts, and what the future has in store for them. I need more of this psychotic alien power couple! Until then, thank you for all the great work you've written!

Well, Tak can't say that Zim didn't warn her. And on the bright side, glad the two of them are finally together. Can't wait to see what comes of that.

Keep up the good work.

Zim'sMostLoyalServant signing off.

Well Zim survived and Tak's world got turned upside down and shared a kiss and an emotional moment, wow it's amazing how fast it all went for them.

Invader Johnny Signing Off.

I really hope you update soon

Read this about a week ago and forgot to do a review!

Well I can say that I enjoyed this as much as I could and it really was a great chapter with all the mindgames both sides had to endure and overcome.

Gonna say Tak took the cake for the most interesting character for the chapter but that's only for the tidbit where she realizes how deep a hole she had dug herself (and the deeper it went) as she kept trying to honey pot zim.

Keep up the great work~