David laid and held onto the sleeping body beside him. Alma was well and truly fast asleep, a small smile was on her face though as she used one of his arms as a pillow. The bed, much like any other human's, was made up of a mattress, a pillow and a cover. But unlike that of a human's, the makeup of them was strange. Evident enough the pillow wasn't as expected or else David was certain his arm wouldn't be getting used as a substitute. Or wouldn't it? Alma was one for being held close and all that, so maybe regardless it would be.

He couldn't help but look around the darkened room with a thoughtful frown. Mornings after, from little simple logic he had of this matter, weren't they supposedly meant to be as awkward as the actual deed itself? Or rather, David was sure that was the humans standards and point of views, and whatever. That was the overall ending thought for David: whatever. He looked down when Alma shifted, a small frown appeared as she quietly mumbled something before burying her face against his arm. As if on instinct, David wrapped it around her. This action caused her to have to move again and eventually lean back against him. David wasn't complaining, he liked the closeness. The continued feeling of her skin against his.

With a smile, he moved too and ended up curling up around her. He wrapped his other arm around her, he had just been laying and playing with the chain on the dog-tags. He had turned them over, looked at her name imprinted on it, even her title. It caused David to smirk, technician. He wondered if Alma had ever really paid attention to that. He doubted it. When it came to titles, or ranks, or anything like that; she seriously didn't give a damn. That much was clear for when he first woke up and she insisted on him calling her by her first name. No, David was certain the title of technician didn't matter one bit. Truthfully, they both knew that Meredith just wanted her onboard to keep an eye on him. David couldn't help but smirk over that one, look how that turned out.

With a sigh, he placed his hand against her stomach. He could feel it rise and fall along with each breath she took. David had a whole new sudden train of thoughts appear in his head then. The creation of humans was done through such actions, David couldn't relate, nor could he fulfil that. Alma would make a good mother, he found himself nodding at that. But then, birth seemed painful. David's eyes narrowed, he wouldn't want her to hurt, no matter how much she would be good at that role.

He hummed in thought, somehow, the baby that Elizabeth aborted came to mind. At the time, he was fascinated. It wasn't conventional, not human at all, which meant that surely its way into the world wouldn't be conventional either, right? He wasn't present when she had clearly hacked the MedPod to get it out of her, Alma was, and neither had spoken of it, or the moment itself. But, creation, in part even to David, had realised that he had played a part in that being coming to exist.

Who knew Charlie Holloway could've had a use? His somewhat snide disposition and outlook towards David didn't ever get sent towards anyone else; sarcastic, annoying, a general nuisance, and partially insulting...not saying that that was why David chose him to test on, essentially, but Charlie was just there. That was basically it, no one else was around, and no one else was with a partner. So, what had David learned from this experience of creation? This pathogen was fast working, incredibly fast, volatile at best and destructive. Within a couple of hours, Elizabeth had become pregnant, the baby – no matter how it looked, it was a baby – had already become rather prominent, details could be seen, arms, legs...David could estimate several hours at best, and then a couple more for Charlie to finally succumb and then go up in flames.

The hand on Alma's stomach suddenly got held onto as she shifted and turned. David looked down at her sadly, creating life with her seemed so ideal to him. He wasn't a fan of the word perfect, but an ideal, a general thought of something perfect would be that. At the end of the day, David supposed it boiled down to a few things: was his thirst for knowledge going to cross paths with his want to protect Alma? Would he risk her safety for the sake of him wanting to find out more about what this cargo could do? If she wasn't an option, would he substitute for Elizabeth? Alma thought fondly of the scientist, David knew that much, and he too in part respected her. There was a fondness, a caring feeling that he felt. She didn't, after all, have to come back for him, she could've just come back for Alma and left him behind.

Though David was sure Alma would've kicked and screamed to get Elizabeth to bring David along. She wouldn't leave him. Just like he wouldn't leave her. Simple as. Between them both, they could've figured out how to drive the ship. He inhaled and exhaled slowly, not being able to sleep had never bothered him. It was something which would elude him, forever. And he was fine with that. But honestly, Alma looked so content, so at peace, so comfortable in her dreaming state that David was jealous. He couldn't help but frown at that. He was jealous over something so utterly ridiculous, but the thought of sleeping with her in his arms sounded much more appealing than laying here wide awake with all these thoughts which would divert and change in a blink of an eye.

Running a hand through her hair, he gently twirled pieces around his fingers. Alma had turned onto her other side, and had taken to burying her face against his neck. He reached forwards with his other arm and grasped onto the flimsy material of the cover and pulled it across her. He forewent having any, why would he need it really? He didn't feel the cold, well, he did but it was different for him. Sensing the cold for David, was more like sensing the atmosphere; if it was safe, was there oxygen, was there deadly gases, was there anything else to be lurking about which could harm humans? His sense of the cold wasn't the same. The same could've been said for heat too, or any other atmospheric change.

David lifted his head from the slim pillow, which to be honest, if he had a sense of comfort and cared for it, he would say it was genuinely one of the most uncomfortable things he had ever felt, and looked down when there was a quiet yawn. He smiled, so the supposed required amount of hours for sleep had been fulfilled? No longer seemingly going to be on his own, David's thoughts turned to a slightly happier route; as they often did when and where Alma was involved, he couldn't help but muse over her reaction to realising where she still was.

Naturally, her expression went blank, if not still sleepy, as she realised he was just laying there looking down at her. David smiled, "Good morning," it was a habit, even if he wasn't sure if it was morning. He had no idea, days blurred into one, morning and night become one and the same; even with all his internal computer systems, David didn't know which was what anymore.

He laid and watched as she rubbed at her eyes, he brushed hair from her face and over her shoulder as she rolled onto her stomach and propped herself up onto her elbows. She flicked her hair to go over her other shoulder and smiled. David naturally on instinct smiled right back. It wasn't just one of those things to try and fit in, something which had been programmed in, "So...still here?"

David's smile turned to a confused one. "I don't understand. Where else would I be?" As if he was going to move. As if! He was more than happy laying with her now practically using him as an extension of the bed itself. She may have propped herself up, but she was effectively propped up against him, on him rather.

Alma smiled and flattened her hands against his chest, she rested her chin against them and just continued to smile. David sat and frowned, he shifted and fidgeted and just looked rather unhappy. She couldn't help but laugh. It was mean of her, but his moments of being left out of the loop often reduced him to looking so displeased, like he well and truly couldn't figure out the problem, or the solution. He was missing out on part of a puzzle and he deeply disliked it, and that much was clear thanks to his expressions.

Always a rather expressive person, it was rather easy to often tell how David was feeling, or if he was thinking because of his expressions. "Usually, one or the other would end up waking up alone...usually."

David shifted and went to sit, which meant she had to move and sit too. Alma pulled the cover around herself as she did so. Despite being thin, and looking rather useless, it did surprisingly keep heat in. "I do not believe you have had good experiences in this department before."

She shrugged, not wholly denying it. "No." David looked at her a little sympathetically, if only to then suddenly look rather smug. Alma pouted and frowned, she pointed a finger at him. "David..." Alma trailed off with a knowing tone, he just tilted his head and narrowed his eyes with a gentle smile. It could've looked innocent, if only he didn't still look highly pleased with himself.

"I am not expecting a ranking system, or anything along those lines. But I am going to presume in comparison I far outdid others before me."

"David!" She couldn't believe this. He blinked with wide eyes and then tried to look innocent. Apart from that damn smirk was creeping back onto his face. "You're unbelievable!"

"And you're not denying it," he commented while taking to picking her cocooned form up with ease and settling back against the wall with her in his lap. Alma just buried her face against the cover and sighed heavily. "It's okay, Alma." He smoothed a hand over her head, which was now hidden under the cover too, like a hood. "Did you sleep well?" Even this he couldn't ask without almost scoffing.

"You're going to get a smack in minute if you continue." Alma's voice came out muffled. "Can you stop talking?"

"But you like me talking. You are always saying you like talking to me." David said while watching the little cocooned form let out a huff. He smiled, he got her on that one.

"If you must talk, can it be about something else?" The cocoon spoke in an embarrassed, awkward tone.

David leaned his head back against the wall. He looked around as if trying to think of inspiration, in actuality he was just enjoying the new silence. The silence when with company was so much different than when he was with himself. He knew there was someone there to break the silence if he so wished. Feeling movement from his lap, he looked down as Alma's face peeked out. "Yes?"

"Getting hot." David raised an eyebrow at that, Alma slapped a hand to her forehead. She muttered to herself and shook her head. He didn't catch most of what she said, even with his hearing, but it seemed to revolve around her less than tactful use of words.

Pulling the makeshift hood down, he settled her hair and looked at her. "Are you wanting to leave?"

Alma smiled stiffly and shook her head, "No...no, I don't want to, not really."

David was curious, he sort of thought that she would be up for immediately going to find food and to see what Elizabeth was doing. Apparently not. Truthfully, he didn't want to leave either. He just wanted to stay in this quiet bubble and enjoy the moment while it was here. "Why?"

Alma looked downwards, through this odd material she could just about make out the sight of her legs curled up. "Because it means going back to the boring routine. To...to nothing. Returning to the dismal state of being...effectively screwed. If I stay, if we stay, I can almost sit here and just imagine we are either back on the Prometheus, or at my apartment. Which I prefer more than walking darkened corridors which are likely to be my tomb."

David pulled her to himself. He tucked her head under his and held on tightly. She looked like she needed comforting after admitting the blatantly honest truth. "Do you remember when you first took me home?"

"You looked so confused!" Alma laughed and looked up at him, taking to leaning against his shoulder. She nudged her face gently against his skin and eventually placed a hand near to her face, if only to trace up and down the scar.

"I was." David stated blatantly. "I was under no illusion I would eventually be housed, as it were, just not so soon and not with you."

"Thanks."

"I meant no offence, just...when it came to that, I did not think you would be the one giving me a home."

"As if I'd let Weyland get there first..."

David couldn't help but laugh at her grumbling. "Alma, as much as I feel like I don't need to state this, you are my first for many things. Not him." He held onto her a little tighter and buried his face against her hair. "Thank you for that."

"You know, I wish we were back there?"

David looked down at her, he cupped her face and gently stroked her cheek. She just looked up at him sadly, "I know," he kissed her on the forehead gently. "Trust me, I know." He took to resting his forehead against hers, she smiled sadly and her eyes slowly slid to a close. It was bad that Alma found herself in this position, he couldn't help but think that she was only here because of him. She evidently said yes to Meredith because the blonde told her that David was present. He sighed quietly, guilt, he presumed this was guilt that he was feeling...he didn't like it, not one bit. But he was going to suffer with the feeling considering who it was centred around.

"David?"

"Yes?"

"Do you think you can let me go so I can get dressed?"

"Do you need assistance?"

"Did you want that slap?"

David smiled and opened his arms to allow her to move. Alma sent him a glare, not at all a serious one before smiling and leaning forwards to kiss him quickly before jumping up and away from him. She kept the cover around herself, not that David understood why, modesty and all that. He caught his suit when she threw it in his direction. He got the hint. Continuing to be unclothed just made it awkward for Alma to look at him, it was endearing, her continued embarrassment. He was already half into his suit when she returned with her bundle of clothes. She sorted through them, now with the cover wrapped around herself, and just took to getting dressed while he turned his back on her. Considering the act of modesty was still present, he'd do the decent thing and turn away as she dressed.

Feeling a tap on his shoulder, he turned. Alma sat kneeling on the bed behind him, "Ready?" She nodded and shuffled forwards to wrap her arms around his neck. David managed to lean back slightly and reach down, if only to grasp onto her legs and hoist her onto his back.

"David, I can walk." She laughed and looked over his shoulder with a grin.

"Oh, I know. I just want to carry you." He didn't want to let her go just yet, that was basically it. He was determined to try and keep a hold of her for just a little longer before he'd have to let go. He let out a short sigh when she ruffled his hair, David sent her a frown, not happy with how his blonde hair now stuck up at odd angles. Blowing some out of his face, he managed to shift and hold her and open the door. It slid open and both blinked at the slightly brighter lighting out in the corridor, it wasn't too bright, but compared to the darkened room it was like looking into the sun.

Alma's arms loosely hung over his shoulders as he picked up walking. There wasn't a need to clutch and hold onto him, he wasn't going to drop her. "David?" Alma lifted her hands and combed his hair back down, his eyes flicked to the side to look at her. She smiled, she held onto his shoulders and shifted upwards to look more over and at his face. "I love you, you know?"

"I was under no illusion." David responded, he stopped and looked at her with a smile. "What concept of love I have, I feel for you." He paused, Alma tilted her head with a raised eyebrow. "I love you, too." He responded, seeing as how she wanted to hear the actual verbal response. Alma smiled widely and wrapped her arms around his neck this time, not for safety purposes, but to just hold onto him.

——

(Edited: 4/March/2021)