The ballroom was quiet large, and it showed since it was currently being housed by 600 and more scientist and their guest. The walls were a pale cream color that matched the tile . There yellow decorations and yellow, white and black balloons were pinned to the walls and little ones that were set in the middle of many tables. The tables were covered with white table covers and there were three long tables near the wall and away from the dancing area, filled with so many desserts and drinks.

[M/N] eyes sparkled as he looked around, looking at everything and the happy music that was playing. Some couples were dancing at the dance floor and others were talking. Everything was so different from all the party events that had on Irk or on the massive. Everyone wasn't guarded, nobody was dancing so awkwardly and there was no mess made by two dumb tallest leaders.

" Here you go." [M/N] perked up when he heard Mateo walk to him, the Irken looked and slowly takes the glass with some bubbly liquids in it. " Thank you."

" Not a problem, you were so happy with the inside, I decided to get us some refreshments." Mateo said as he held up his glass, the glass was very cold within [M/N]'s grasp and a sweet aroma came from it. The Irken sniffs it and licked his lips, " What is it?"

" I think the card on the table said Demi-sec. I heard it's pretty sweet." Mateo said as he slowly pulled sips his drinks, he looked back to [M/N] only to watch in surprise as the other drinks the champagne in one gulp. [M/N] pulled his glass away from his lips and licked them. " So you like sweet things."

[M/N] licked his lips and his eyes glancing at the scientist, " Huh? Oh!" [M/N] laughs shyly, maybe ashamed that he just drank it all without a care in the world. Was he disgusting?  " Yes I do. I simply adore all sweets. I have a huge sweet tooth." [M/N] grins at the professor, blame it on the human sweet tooth. " What is the event for again?" [M/N] asked, he watched Mateo sip his own drink. Though it seemed hard because he managed to sip it through the tall white cowl.

" Ah! This is a event to disguise future projects for my company, some to be little side projects and others to be something more into the future then my big reveal and idea." Mateo explained, " We will then discuss it later in the years to see if it would work out in the next few months before officially deciding what we will do as the main project."

" I see." They needed to discuss more on the matter before choosing something willy-nilly, something Purple and Red did often. " What is your idea for the big project?"

" I'm glad you asked!" Mateo seemed to perk to life as he grabbed another drink off a tray when someone working at the party walked passed them and hands it to [M/N] who drinks it happily but in small sips, " You see, the earth is running out of natural sources that can provide us humans with energy. And without it, how are we going to live off into the future? I want to make energy that lives on forever but through natural sources. Even when the sun blows out in a billion years, and the earth is moving to mars, I still want to create something clean. Without draining more of the earth and soon to be home on mars." [M/N] listened intently before smiling, " Oh, that seems... a bit far-fetched.."

" Possible bu-" Mateo was quick to defend himself but stops when [M/N] kept talking.

" Though you are a very intelligent man who has this fire to complete the project. I just know it." [M/N] smiles as he sips the drink once more, the bubbles tickled his squeedlyspooch. " plus, it would be interesting to live on mars. I would want my house powered up and ready when I get there with my son."

Mateo smiles before slowly sipping his champagne, would it be awkward to bring up the kids again? It wasn't a date between the two but he didn't want to make the other uncomfortable, he decided to against it but that clear message didn't send down to his mouth. " How's your child? I mean, you work for me as my sitter so he must be lonely. At a given time, he is very welcome to come over my house to play with Dib and Gaz. Dib does need more friends." Yup, Mateo felt dying for being super awkward around the other. 

" OH!" [M/N] interjected a bit too loudly making people glance at him before looking away. " Well my son is different. He prefers to he alone a lot because where we lived at before...didn't like him. Zim can be a bit... energetic, loud, zestful and very demanding at times." [M/N] looked at his half filled glass, his [E/C] eyes staring at it before chuckling softly. " The people around us at the time never really gave Zim a chance. Despite his bad qualities, Zim has a very high IQ, loves testing things and experiment with many objects. He has great confidence, very active and very loving.. well with me, he is.."[M/N] smiles and sips the drink, before feeling a hand on his shoulder, he didn't flinch. 

" I see.." Mateo was almost jealous of the relationship between [M/N] and Zim, they have a profound bond between the two. Something so sweet and something so powerful. " If he wants to come over with you then it is alright by me. Your love is so passionate.. I love my kids very much, even if we don't get along as much but I truly cherish them and their weird and insane antics. I'm so happy that I met you and that you're the one taking care of my kids. From the depths of my cardiac muscle." Mateo held his glass up and said, " To our kids and our future." He kept the glass up as [M/N] stared at Mateo with curious eyes.

" What are you doing?" [M/N] asked, why was he holding the glass up. " Are you having a stroke?!"

" Oh, hold on." Mateo used his free hand and gently took [M/N]'s wrist and lightly tapped their glasses together. It makes a soft 'tink' sound and Mateo smiles. " It's like a little good luck when you're celebrating. Do you not do this?"

[M/N] only smiles a bit, it was an uneasy one. He now knew how hard it was to pretend to be even more human in the open, no wonder Zim wanted him to stay home. " Uh, yes?" [M/N] chuckles awkwardly before sipping the rest of his champagne and looked around, he barely noticed the drip of the drink falling down his chin. God he felt awkward in the open and wearing this suit. " We don't celebrate much unless it is a holiday but barely. The holidays suck back at home but here...I feel..me and Zim can have a real life."

[M/N] turns towards Mateo who moved his hand towards [M/N]. The Irken stood still and watched his hand and flinched when the gloved hand began rubbing away at his chin making his cheeks flush. The thumb began rubbing at his chin, [M/N] had to grip the glass in his hand tightly to help him hold back his purrs, it felt good. It was wonderful. [M/N] glanced from the hand to Mateo who kept his focus on his movements but stops when his amber eyes met with [E/C] ones. Despite the hammering against his chest, Professor Mateo Membrane kept his hand on the others chin. It wasn't a rough grip with his mechanical hands but a soft one, one that [M/N] can break away easily but the babysitter doesn't move a muscle as their eyes kept connecting.

' Do something moron! Kiss him or move away, everything in this situation is SCIENTIFICALLY POSSIBLE!' Mateo's mind demanded. Should he kiss him? Should they move away? 

' What on Irk are you doing? Either kiss the damn human or kill him.' [M/N]'s own mind snapped and the Irken flushed even more, his cheeks red. 

" May the first couple dance commence!" A voice said and couples began walking towards the dance floor, the voice surprised both Irken and human. They pulled away and glanced around them. Mateo glanced at [M/N] then back at the dance floor, they weren't a couple but maybe having a dance would be nice for them or maybe getting something to eat? Gah, this was like high school again. Himself being an awkward and geeky person that is scared of being rejected. 

[M/N] covered some of his face with his hand, his cheeks bright red and his eyes glaring at the floor like it just insulted Zim. So many feelings and icky emotions running around within him, they were making his squeedlyspooch feel funny. He glanced around and rubbed his hands together, something to ease the tense. [M/N] glanced at people dancing around, it was one he recognized on Irk, something like it but they were all stiff and seemed not to move around or do any spinning in Irken dancing.

That seemed fun.

" [M/N], do you want to g-" [M/N] flinched a bit and laughs a bit loud and awkwardly, not meeting Mateo's eyes as he grabbed the gloved hand. " YES! [M/N], will dance with you! I love to!" [M/N] began walking towards the dance floor with Mateo scrambling behind him, letting [M/N] lead him towards his possible doom. 

" Did you just talk in third person?" Mateo mutter before standing up, they were in the crowd now and some were glancing at them expectantly to dance or leave. " Do you know how to dance?"

" Yeah, a little. Do you?" [M/N] asked as both of them settle down, [M/N] slowly moved his arms around Mateo's neck and looked at the scientist hands expecting. Mateo quickly moved them around the babysitters waist. They stood like that as the music stops and plays another song. Once more, everyone began to sway at the music. Mateo began the sway and [M/N] began following after. [M/N] made sure he wasn't stepping on the scientist's feet. While with Mateo, he watched [M/N].

https://youtu.be/rtOvBOTyX00

" I've never danced like this before." Mateo admitted, [M/N] looked up to the other with a raised [H/C] eyebrow. " I've practiced..but when prom came around..nobody asked me and I was rejected harshly three times."

" Why? You seem to dance wonderfully." [M/N] said as they both spin and ended up across from where they were. " You don't seem like the ugly type either, whoever rejected you was a piece of scum."

" You're a riot." Mateo chuckles as his amber eyes kept staring into those lovely [E/C] ones. He had asked Paulene Sanchez out three times while in high school. He wasn't bad looking in those four years, if anything he was moderately attractive. Dib would be the spitting image of him when Dib goes into high school. Paulene at the time was the student president that had lovely brown eyes and short purple hair, very charming and polite but when she was angry then you should move out the way. They have been going to the same school and been neighbors since they were toddlers and he was deeply in love with her. Despite all the pain she caused him as an adult, he was still in love with Paulene Sanchez. She was after all, Gaz's mother.

" I am one uncontrolled person if I wanted to be." [M/N] said as he looked up to Mateo. " I would've asked you out for this.. prom you speak of..you seem like a capable dancer." [M/N] had no clue what prom is and assumed it was a large event or a party. Irken's partied but never really have a prom party. " If it makes you feel any better, I was never invited to the prom."

" Really?" Mateo was a bit taken back, [M/N] was never taken to prom either? He seem so young and looked the same as he did in those high school days. " I'm sorry. It's just surprising, you look very attractive with your features and your symmetrical face. Plus your personality, shame on them." Mateo twirls [M/N] and held him close before twirling back into their position. " I'm glad to have the honor of dancing with you tonight." He said softly as he looked down at [M/N] who tilts his head up to look at him. Just a bit. " It is long over due."

[M/N] smiles before looking at the scientist, his eyes twinkling a bit. " And I'm happy to be your first dance partner. Curse those humans who rejected you, your skills in dancing is quite adequate. You are what they say, " One man's trash is another man's treasure." Though, you are not garbage."

" I'm happy to be your trash." Mateo said before tensing, " I mean, in a nice way of course. Not as in dating but as a nice way to say I liked dancing with you and you being my first partner."

[M/N] laughs, it was loud and soft sounding, people glared at him but the Irken didn't care. " OH! MATEO, CALM DOWN! I UNDERSTAND." He laughs as he looked at the scientist and grins, " I prefer you then any other to be my dance partner. I like you!"

Mateo's heart fluttered at the simple statement and he cursed mentally to his heart to stop. It was just too soon.

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" Status report." 

Red stared at the map of the galaxy, his red bug like eyes glaring at every planet that had a huge red X over them and their moons. They were vacation spots that most Irken's travel to when they are relived from duty for a week or month. He had sent Invaders to find [M/N] but each report stated that nobody with the name or same height as [M/N] was ever there.

" Almighty Tallest [M/N] has not been on the planet Nox, the Noxins have also reported that they haven't seen [M/N] in ten months." The report reads in a monotone voice. " He was there with-"

" Stop report." Red said as he watched as the small blue planet called Nox was X'ed out on the map. He growls before shaking his head, his antennas bend downwards and eyes closed. Red had sent out a search and retrieve team to find his missing fiancé but there was no luck. No one has seen him around their little quadrant and his squeedlyspooch was twisting harshly within him. Worry was eating him up. " Are you okay, [M/N]?"

" SIR!" Red hardly flinched when an scientist had slammed the door open. He heard tiny patter of feet and stood in front of him was a panting female scientist holding a hover screen in her gloved hands. " SIR! Permission to speak?"

" It better not be stupid." Red glared at the Irken who flinched and shakes her head, " What is it?"

" I think I have found Almighty Tallest [M/N]!" She squeaks as he pressed a few buttons on the pad and the machine began to float and soft hisses came out of it before showing a picture of a very confident Zim and that stupid broken SIR unit.

" It can't be." Red said as he moved closer and listened to what that excuse of an invader was saying. 

"" I HAVE DONE IT! Zim is finished with his vacation! The Almighty Tallest has given Zim a mission! A mission ton conquer a planet called URTH!" Zim exclaimed in the video. " Zim will not be home in a while, but please come to Urth if you please, and watch as Zim takes over it, Y-"

The hover screen fizzes out as a PAK leg was stabbed through it. It dies and falls when the leg is removed. " You...scientist..."

" Y-Yes my tallest?" She quivered, she never seen her Tallest so angry yet so blank at the same time. 

" Set coordinates for Urth and alert the empire that our beloved tallest [M/N] has been kidnapped by an ex-food drone and Invader." He said as he began hovering towards the large purple doors. " Until he is dead and [M/N] is brought onto the massive, Invader Zim is enemy number one. I want him dead, alive is good but he is better off dead."

The scientist gulps a bit, her antennas lowering and her gaze too. She felt guilty for fixing what Almighty Tallest red asked her for.  She did her job, " Of course my tallest."

" Good."