The thing was, David had always been curious; he had been programmed to be curious, to learn and to react to almost every situation. He was interested in the more intimate side of relationships, he hadn't admittedly contemplated being intimate with Minerva, it was something that had pretty much only come to mind through asking Elizabeth about her and Charlie's interactions. No, despite watching her dreams, he did not muse on her, or them, or anything like that. But his mind did dwell on Minerva.

She had stated something a while ago, while back on Earth; female androids and synthetics, more often than not, were used in clubs, or, David didn't know, nannies, he didn't muse on other androids or synthetics other than them two. Much like himself, Minerva had the capability to be intimate, to have sex. Whether she wanted to, up until this point, David didn't know. They hadn't been close that long, together, yes. But romantically? Not so much. Yes, they kissed, David enjoyed kissing her, he really liked kissing her, and from her reactions, she felt the same with him. But any signs of anything more had never appeared.

Until now, after their conversation, and her so gently asking, in such a formal way. David hadn't moved, he stayed leaning over her, Minerva rubbed her hands over his shoulders. It was a relaxing feeling, David tilted his head and smiled down at her before leaning, and kissing her surely. If he had the option, he wouldn't ever stop kissing her. There was no need to hold back, no need to fear hurting her, because she was unable to hurt. She had a concept of pain, like he did, but as Weyland liked to keep telling them; their feelings really were just an illusion.

David knew one thing was for certain and that was his feelings for Minerva, the girl he first met wired up to machinery; who read stories to him, who dyed his hair and cuddled him close, kissed him with such want and listened to him speak earnestly, was the lone person in this world that David loved with all his being. That wasn't an illusion. It was a fact. Like any human who cared for their other half, he loved her. He never wanted her away from his side, and he would do anything if it made her smile, and be happy.

There was a slight fidget from her when she felt a hand slip under her clean t-shirt, David lingered, keeping his lips close to hers, ceasing kissing if only for a moment. His fingers stroked against her ribs as she looked to the side with a smile, David tilted his head. "What is it?" He asked, resting his body downwards, resting more against her so he could feel her body close to his.

"I think we were made for each other," Minerva's eyes looked at him sidelong. David's eyes looked down at her with a pleased glint, hearing that just cemented everything he had ever thought about her. She fidgeted, her back arching a little as David's hand crept upwards more. She bit her lip and let out a whimpered noise, "Do...do you know what you're doing?" She asked, feeling a hand slip under the bralette she was wearing, her voice wavered when she felt his fingers stroking the underneath of her breast.

"I am doing what feels right." Was David's reply, he tilted his head to the side and watched as she bit her lip and fidgeted underneath him. He frowned slowly, "Unless it doesn't for you?"

"David," her eyes looked darkly up at him. "You are the only person that has touched me like this."

His fingers paused, "What about when you were human?" He asked curiously, her words did strike something in him.

She stroked her fingers over the side of his face, and shook her head slowly. "It was like an interview process...for any boy, or man that showed an interest in me, David." Minerva said honestly, and a little embarrassingly as she looked worriedly at him.

David smiled, "Surely there is nothing to be ashamed of? You have never been touched by a man, and that's the biggest of deals because?" David asked, his spare hand caressing her cheek, reassuring her that there was nothing to be embarrassed about.

"There is a stigma, David. Obviously, it doesn't affect me now I am a machine. But as a human, virginity and the losing of it seems to be a big deal...in hindsight really, I suppose it isn't. But it seems a big deal, sex in general does."

"I have noted the mention causes tension." David nodded, Elizabeth had looked extremely awkward. Coming out of his thoughts, he looked back to the woman underneath him. David smiled kindly at her, she looked more relaxed now having admitted to this whole inexperience thing. "Then I am to be your first?" He watched her hesitantly nod her head. "You are to be mine," David whispered, he would excuse her moment of ignoring this fact. She was lost in her head, in her thoughts and working herself up to worry over nothing. He didn't want her to worry. That was the one thing he didn't want her to do around him; because there really was no need for her to worry.

Minerva placed her hands against his cheeks, she leaned up and kissed him. "You...David, you are my first for many things..." Her eyes opened slowly, David looked at her with a smile, a smile which never seemed to ever vanish around her.

He nodded, "We have shared many experiences so far in this life, Minerva. I am more than sure we will continue to do so too." He kissed her forehead, Minerva let out a quiet laugh and shifted away to lean back against the pillows.

"I am uncertain whether there's meant to be this much talking, David." She continued to laugh quietly, she was clueless as to what exactly it was she should actually be doing here. He seemed definitely more clued in, and definitely more in charge; although that was nothing new, David wasn't exactly one for taking a back seat.

He looked at the ceiling thoughtfully, Minerva waited. He was clearly researching something in his head, she envied him for his mind there. Her mind wasn't like an endless source of research material and online information like his. Her brain even outdated the 7 model, despite of the emotional capability which had been installed within her. She was an amalgamation of two or three models. Seeing as how he appeared to find the answer he was looking for, Minerva looked at him expectedly.

"I believe most words which are exchanged in moments like this, are...how can I say, dirty? Suggestive even?"

She raised an eyebrow, "I don't like the sound of that..."

David smiled, "I agree," which he did, his fingers took up stroking her skin again. She felt so soft, David's eyes grew distant, his smile slipped as he leaned down and took to kissing her some more. He decided that words weren't needed. What words could be said which couldn't have been felt through actions? Minerva's arms wrapped around his shoulders, David felt one leg wrap around one of his, as the other found its way to wrapping over his hip. David felt her arching and pressing against him, her kisses were getting deeper, slightly more desperate. He stuck by it; he was uncertain how these feelings couldn't be real. Their love wasn't a facade. He pulled away, Minerva tried to pull him back, even quietly whispering in disappointment that he was retreating, only to let out a yelp and flail her arms slightly.

David knelt between her legs with a comical look trying to be kept at bay. "You do not need to be embarrassed, Minerva. Nor do you need to hide from me. You are beautiful, either way." Clothes or not, he would always think she was. She lessened the grip she had on her top and let him remove it. Although when it came to the bralette, she seemed to pluck up courage and pulled it up and over her head, shaking her hair out her face and looking at him as she dropped it over the bed.

David sat dumbstruck for a moment, the white lighting within the room made her skin look paler than it was, she seemed to almost glow as her long, blonde hair framed her head as she rested against the pillows. Her blue eyes looked brighter in this lighting too, they stared at him with a tint of something that David could only pin down as being mischief. It seemed shyness had suddenly done a runner now.

He smiled, he brushed hair away from her cheek and kissed the other, "See, beautiful." He whispered, feeling her hands comb through his hair as he nestled against her neck. He kissed her softly, he travelled along to her throat, her head tilting backwards as David continued to follow this path to her mouth. Her hands gripped onto his t-shirt, she was trying to pull the material, but David ignored her attempts to get it off him. Leaning upwards as her head descended again, David pressed his hips against hers and kissed her deeply. He muffled the quiet moan which came from her from this action, David smiled into the kiss.

He looked down at her, he ran a finger down the centre of her chest, her slightly curled hair trailing over her breasts as David's finger paused on her waistband. His eyes flicked back to hers, Minerva bit her lip, she still seemed a little uncertain. David just picked up kissing her again. There was nothing to be embarrassed about, how could he not enjoy her body, and her in general?

She gripped onto his arms, her hips naturally raising off the bed when she felt his hand travelling underneath her clothes to try and remove them properly. She let out a quiet whine, "David, you're still wearing too many clothes." Her voice came out heavy sounding as she felt her clothes being pulled down her legs.

He laughed, she looked down at him as he climbed back on the bed, after depositing her clothes on the floor. He knelt and looked at her with a small grin, "I am seeing to your needs first."

"But why?" She pouted, looking and feeling rather confused here.

David patted his knees and looked thoughtful for a moment, before his eyes stopped looking so distant. With a sudden brightening, his blue eyes looked downwards at her. "I believe it is called foreplay, and it is meant to make the experience more enjoyable, for us both."

Minerva raised an eyebrow, "Okay?" Still confused she just made a popping noise and pointed a finger at him. David looked curious, "You're still wearing clothes though."

He smirked slowly, "Are you requesting me to remove them, Minerva?" He asked, sounding rather amused by how accidentally blunt her statement came out.

David watched as her face went a light red. "R-requesting?"

"I am uncertain how this is meant to work, unless we are both unclothed." David stated obviously, her cheeks still stayed a pinkish hue. He sighed, shaking his head he climbed slowly back on top of her and rested above her. "There really is no need to be embarrassed. See, we feel the same, in more ways than one, no?" He had taken her hand and placed it against his cheek. He left it there, although she trailed down his neck to his chest. "We are the same, Minerva."

She was silent for a while, which had David looking at her with concern, before she opened her mouth and just quietly spoke. Her eyes just stared up at him, unblinkingly while she did so. "Love, when it is a sacred quest, is a space of resurrection and repair. It does more than help us survive a soulless world; it helps us to transform." And with that, David found her soon pressing her lips against his and kissing him with what seemed to be every fibre of her being. He felt her hands clinging to his t-shirt, her small, nimble fingers slipped under and he gave an involuntary shudder over feeling her fingers yet, he gave little to no resistance as she sought to dealing with his clothes.

Whatever this foreplay thing was that he was on about, Minerva didn't really give much of a damn about. How could something improve on what they already had, or what was already going to happen? She didn't know, and she didn't quite believe him. Seeing as how both had nothing else to say, they just concentrated on the feelings travelling through them; however, when David's hips pressed against hers, Minerva's nails dug into his skin and she had to pull away kissing him to let out a slightly startled noise.

"Sorry," David said quietly while he turned her face to look back at him. She looked a little sadly at him, he didn't think there would pain as such, he seemed to be wrong. He kissed her softly, shushing her sudden quiet fussing. It didn't take long for her to relax and wrap her arms around him again. David felt her hand weave back into his hair as the other gripped onto his shoulder.

Bliss, perfect happiness; great joy and oblivious to everything else. That was the feeling that surrounded the pair as they continued enjoying each other's bodies and the attention both were receiving in return. The fact that there even had to be an end, was something that was accepted begrudgingly. Yet, it still didn't mean they couldn't lay in each other's arms. David keeping her head propped up, his other arm wrapped over her side, and Minerva, her hands resting either side of his face as her fingers stroked against his skin, her eyes shut and a content smile on her face. David observed her silently, a content look appearing on his face too before his eyes eventually slid to a shut as well.

David didn't want to leave, his eyes slowly opened and he looked to her. She looked so peaceful, how could he possibly disturb the peace? It seemed totally unfair of him, yet, he sighed gently, Minerva must've felt his discontent because her eyes opened and she looked at him. "What is it?" She asked softly, her thumbs stroked his cheeks a few more times before stopping. "Was it not what you thought?" She looked suddenly concerned, her eyes widened as she looked worried and like she was about to bolt somewhere.

David shushed her quietly, he combed hair over her shoulder and smiled. "It was more than I expected," he said, easily dispelling her worries. Minerva looked instantly relieved, David couldn't have her thinking she had done something wrong here. "It is just that I need to leave."

She raised an eyebrow before having a shy smile. "Oh, I see how it is, David. Get your leg over, then leave, hm?" David didn't take her words to heart, especially considering her smile had grown, and her tone was joking. "Where to?" She asked, she wanted to know what could be dragging him away from their quiet, comfortable bubble.

He turned his face, he kissed her palm, his eyes opening to look at her sidelong before pulling away, and removing her hand too. "Your father." Her eyes looked interested then, "I need to check on your father. He should've been woken up by now."

"Were you meant to be with him, while he was?" Minerva asked, she slowly sat up, her hair trailing over her back, and her shoulders, covering her chest behind curling blonde locks.

David sat too, he frowned and looked slightly begrudging, "Yes." He answered, seeing as how she was fixing him with a certain look, David knew he couldn't lie here. "Yes, I was meant to be."

"David! If I knew-"

"You would've declined this happening? For the sake of your father, you would've ignored this moment happening?" David's tone turned hard, unforgiving sounding even.

Minerva shook her head, "No, no, David...I would've wanted you, us, to still have done this...just maybe after my father was awake." She brushed his hair out his eyes. "David, I would not ignore you, or push you to the sidelines for anyone, or anything. Do you understand?"

He slowly nodded his head, relieved to hear that. "And I you." He said at last, looking at her honest expression. He sighed, "Apologies for snapping."

Minerva leaned forwards, she rested her head against his shoulder and nestled against his skin. "I understand, but apology accepted." She peered up at him. "Will you get shouted at?"

David frowned, "Perhaps. I don't know. There is a team of people, Minerva. There is a team of people more than qualified to wake and care for your father, he doesn't need me, not really. But he will want me back with him, if only to tell him all that he has missed. I haven't been able to update him as often as he wished. And also, me being back by his side brings him some happiness, or at least...well, actually I'm uncertain that's the word to use, but it seems to bring some emotion to him. If only to know that by having me near him, Meredith will forever be bitter." David said at length while kissing her on the cheek before placing his legs over the bed and standing to find his clothes. He pulled on his trousers, while looking around for his t-shirt. He paused putting it on to look at her still kneeling there. David leaned forwards, "Perfect," he whispered to her while kissing her quickly. She looked perfect, to him. Sitting there innocently, her cheeks still a little flushed looking, her hair curled and ruffled, hands in her lap and still naked, she just looked perfect to him, not saying she didn't while clothed and in everyday life.

Minerva smiled and scooted on the bed and stood up, David pulled his top on and watched as she clutched onto her clothes and wiggled into them. She hopped from foot to foot, putting her boots on before shuffling around and looking up at him happily. David smiled, he wagged a finger at her, Minerva turned. David combed his hands through her hair, he picked it up and split it into three then commenced twisting and turning them together. Over her shoulder, Minerva suddenly held up a bunchy. He placed the cotton covered piece of elastic around the end of her hair and then patted her shoulders. Having plaited her hair, David was happy enough to let her turn and potter over to the door with him following. Least with her hair tied back, she didn't look so ruffled.

The two walked along the corridors before turning and entering the room which Weyland had now taken up as his own. There was a small team of people in here, helping the old man come round from the effects of hypersleep. The yellow lighting in the room somehow made him appear sicklier than he actually was. Soon being in a wheelchair he looked up to the two synthetics suddenly in the room. "You're late." His eyes were staring at David.

"Apologies, sir. I was merely bringing Minerva up to date." David replied curtly, although Minerva looked to him and frowned gently. His shoulders suddenly tensed and she could see his jaw clench slightly, he was annoyed. Angered even. Her father spoke down to David so much. For someone so clever, who created someone equally as clever, he should've known to speak to David like Weyland would speak to a familiar. Although, Minerva supposed really, he would always see David as something below him, due to the fact that he wasn't human. A thing to be used for his own purposes.

"Hm," came the response as he looked between the two. His hard look did lessen as he saw Minerva's nervous expression. She shifted from foot to foot, biting her lower lip lightly as her eyes looked shiny with growing tears. "Come here, dear girl." He waved a hand her way, she shuttled from David's side and knelt on the floor. With shaky hands he placed them against her cheeks and wiped at her eyes.

"I was scared you wouldn't wake up..."

He frowned, "You should have more faith in me."

Minerva smiled and rested her head in his lap. She squeezed her eyes shut and breathed heavily. "I have missed you so much, father." She looked up at him. "I know you didn't want David to tell me what you had set out for him to do, don't be mad at him, please. I begged him, wouldn't leave him alone even until he told me...sorry."

Weyland sighed, "I should've known really. It was unfair of me to think that you didn't deserve to know why we were really here."

Minerva looked at him surely, "Father...you, I don't think...well..."

"Come out with it." Weyland said impatiently as he leaned back in the chair, the white gown he was in seemed to make him appear so much smaller.

"I don't know if you will find what you seek." Minerva said quietly, painfully even.

Weyland seemed to scoff, he turned in the chair thanks to someone holding the handles and turning him. Minerva had to jump up and back, stumbling into David as she went. She didn't know he had drawn close, he placed his hands on her shoulders and steadied her. The sudden touching and closeness got a narrow eyed look sent their way by Weyland as he shook his head. "If I had found them sooner," he said, sounding like he was taking full responsibility here for Elizabeth's work. "Then perhaps you could have been saved. Do you recall the conference you watched? Surely you do."

Minerva felt David's hands run down her arms before he nudged her gently forwards. "You said we, humans, had found cures for most cancers and obliterated it from existence...but then you did also call the human race Gods in their own right..."

"But we didn't find the cure for you, did we?" Weyland asked while his back was simply to them as he was placed in another part of the room.

"Father...everyone dies...we can't pick or choose when, or how. It's part of life. The eventuality that it will end. But we have to enjoy each moment, I enjoyed my life, I lived and died with no regrets. I watched that conference, while being on my death bed. You looked so small on that stage, yet you spoke so confidently that I couldn't have been more proud to have someone like you as my father. There is no cure for death, regardless of who you are." Minerva said while watching as David moved over, he took the small container from the man before kneeling down and taking to washing her father's feet.

"I set into motion a few things that night." Weyland watched David, he carefully picked up one foot, then the other and placed it in the warm water.

"I died that night." Minerva said, "I died...and you wasn't there, a David was though. So I wasn't alone." David looked up at her before looking back down, he knew it wasn't him, but a very simplified version of himself. "I don't want to watch you die. But I will be there with you."

Weyland looked up at her as she shifted to the side and sat down slowly. "No parent should have to bury their child. Or watch their child die. It feels, in part, like a failure. The one thing I could do, which seemed to make sense, was this," he gestured a hand to her. Minerva knew that was a cue for remaking her as a synthetic. "I couldn't save you."

"Father, I do not think they will save you either. I am sorry." Minerva said painfully. He nodded his head, taking what she had said and mulling it over in silence as David continued to wash his feet. Minerva bit her lip, she felt saddened. This wasn't how she wanted their first conversation to go, from him waking up. "Please..." Both Weyland and David looked at her, she sounded so pained and had tears slowly escaping her eyes. She sniffed, her shoulders hunching quickly as she tried to keep tears at bay. "Please don't go down there, father." She just got stared at as if she was ridiculous for sitting there crying, David however looked sympathetic.

But he knew, no matter how much she begged, Weyland would ignore her. Stubborn, through and through, he would go regardless. Minerva watched as he turned away and looked back to his feet in the water. How could a being, or a race, who manufactured something as volatile as that black liquid, be one of good? The humans created the atom bomb, and look where that led. The Engineers created this stuff, something built to destroy, and destroy quickly, why would they seek to save a life? One life, no matter who it was.

She jumped though when the door got banged against before it opened. "Elizabeth?!" The woman looked like a mess, no offence to her. She was in her underwear, damp from sweat, bleary eyed, and covered in an orangey substance and blood. Minerva, despite the odd clashes she had with the doctor, was shocked by her appearance. She was so strong, certain looking. Unfazed and determined, this was not that woman. This woman was pained, broken looking, tears streaming down her face as her legs gave way. Minerva knelt by her side, she placed a hand on her back. "Elizabeth, can you look at me?"

The woman lifted her head up slowly, looking totally confused. Her auburn hair stuck to her skin, but she blinked and looked to Minerva. She may not have been the crews biggest fan, Minerva could admit it, she was bored of them now, but that didn't mean she enjoyed, or took pleasure in seeing them pained, or dying; although the latter she hadn't actually seen with her own eyes, thankfully. Elizabeth looked around the room, taking in the medical appearance, her eyes stopped on the form in the wheelchair. She tilted her head, a lab coat got placed over her and with Minerva's help, she stood and sat down. "You've been asleep here on the ship all this time. Why?" Her voice shook a little as she spoke, but Elizabeth's eyes stayed on Weyland.

"Well, I have a few days of life in me. Didn't want to waste them until I was sure you could deliver what you promised, to meet my maker." Weyland said surely while looking over to the shaking doctor, Minerva stood uselessly by her side, not knowing what to do.

David had glanced at the pair, the doctor especially got curious looks. Regardless, he looked back down and finished washing Weyland's feet. He lifted them out the tub, and placed them on the towel present. "There we are, sir. Nice and clean." He smiled upwards while drying Weyland's feet off.

Elizabeth glanced at Minerva, gripping the coat around herself before shaking her head and looking desperately at David. "Haven't you told him they're all gone?"

David perked up, he looked at Elizabeth and shook his head slightly in return. "But they're not all gone, Doctor Shaw. One of them is still alive. We're on our way to see him now." He spoke gently while looking at Weyland, he sounded so reassuring and everything seemed to cement Weyland's resolution on this.

"What?" Was all Elizabeth could come out with as she opened her mouth in shock as she just stared dead ahead at the ailing man. She wasn't quite sure how this happened, or why she hadn't been informed until now. This changed everything, and Elizabeth wasn't wholly sure whether it was for the better or worse; yet, because of everything so far...she was definitely inclined to go for the latter.

——

Edited: 17/June/2021