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Patience is a virtue that David has in spades.
If there was one thing that Stellar Firma taught him, it was how to wait. How to wait in a dark featureless room for their boss to turn up. How to wait his turn in conversation. How to wait for their impending doom. How to wait for someone to be willing to help him. How to wait and bide their time.
So yeah, waiting came as natural to David as breathing.
Which is why he’s confused that IMOGEN is surprised by his decision not to go straight to Bathins palace when he landed on galectonium.
“But his palace is literally right there.” She’d exclaimed from her portable communicator on their arm. “You could just walk through those doors right now. See all that insane yumminess in the flesh. Smell his aroma. David, you could seduce him! Weve already taken the long way round, why are you stalling now? Go get your man!”
“I will IMOGEN, I promise, just not yet. It’s not as easy as just strolling in, he doesn’t even know that I exist. No, I need to play the long game. I need to wait and plan and orchestrate the perfect meeting. Then I need to orchestrate many more until eventually Bathin falls in love with me and sweeps me off my feet.”
“And how exactly do you plan on doing all that?”
David grins as he walks down a cobbled street towards a tiny building with a for sale sign planted out front.
Now, all of that time waiting had meant that David had learnt how to entertain themself. He found that the best way to do that was by falling down IMOGEN rabbit holes.
Before even the mention of Bathin was barred from the Stellar Firma databases, David had done a very thorough deep dive into him. They’d learnt a lot of things during that search, information that they held incredibly dear. However, there was one piece of information that had stuck out to David amongst the rest.
Bathin had a sweet tooth.
“How do you feel about restarting that café?”
***
Ding, ding, ding.
Ever since he’d opened ‘Another Davids Place’ three months ago, David’s grown a great affection for the sound of the bell. They guess a lot of people would find it annoying over time, but for David it was the sweetest sound. It promised business and conversation and intrigue. David honestly thinks it’s one of the most wonderful things this side of the Milky way.
And its only gotten more wonderful this past month.
“Afternoon David.”
“Afternoon Bathin. What can I get for you today?”
The cafes quiet this afternoon so Bathin doesn’t have to deal with any ques. He just makes his way up to David, leaning on the counter with both elbows. Theres a sparkle in his eyes that almost brings David to his knees.
“Hmm, I was thinking about shaking it up today, trying something new. You still doing those galactic lattes?”
“Yep.”
“Then I’ll have one of those! A purple berry galactic latte… and a slice of cheesecake… and a tart- ooo and a molten brownie. Please.”
“of course, coming right up. why don’t you take a seat and I’ll bring your order to you when I’m done.”
“Thanks David you’re the best!”
Bathin leaves the counter, pep in his step. David can’t help but watch as the grand duke flumps himself into the seat that’s rapidly becoming his. The seat that he gravitates towards when he pops in every other day. Every other day for the past month.
David hopes it continues being every other day for many, many more months.
***
“So, you see, the thing about space whales David- the thing about space whales- is they’re great at diplomacy. Absolutely brilliant diplomats, space whales, lots of them in the intergalactic government.”
“Really?”
“Really! Oh David, the laws that they’ve put in place, the polices. I mean just the other day I was talking with one at a council meeting and you would not believe…”
As Bathin talks David starts wiping down the counters for the night. When Bathin first started staying until closing time to chat, David was worried it would seem rude if they just continued their chores. However, he soon learnt that Bathin didn’t care. The only thing Bathin cared about was whether or not David was actually listening.
And David did listen. They knew that most people tuned out when Bathin started discussing the more political side of his work, but honestly David found it fascinating. For all his life he’d only known Steller Firma, its corrupt laws and nepotism and reluctance to change. Bathins way of ruling was completely different. Moral.
Bathin may have inherited his title as duke, but he never held himself on a pedestal. He’d gone to many different unis to study the arts of politics and law and people. He knew he’d never be removed as a figure head, but he gave his people the choice to elect him for actual government. He made sure to work with a large and varied committee, taking their ideas on board. He listened to what they had to say.
He listened to what David had to say.
“Uh Bathin,” David asked during a pause, “did you give the government my suggestion? It’s perfectly okay if you didn’t of course! I mean it was pretty silly an-”
“Of course, I gave the council your suggestion, I promised that I would. And even if I hadn’t promised I still would have brought it up because I think it’s great. The council thinks it’s great as well.”
“They do?”
“Absolutely! After the whole mess with stellar firma they believe that terraforming technology should be available to all. A united force that can help sentient species create their own land and expand their communities is actually great for peace. Just think of the amount of wars that have been started over land and planets. That could be prevented with a scheme like this.”
“Wait… are they actually going to create another firm then.”
“Yes, but they’ll be basing it off of other comities and your proposals instead of Steller firmas model. For starters it won’t be mono species, anyone can work there, and they’ll all have the same chances as each other. Everything will be designed and created carefully with a team that actually works together, not in separate departments. Oh David, it’s going to be amazing. And, and, you’ll never guess what? They want you to run it!
“What, me? they want me to run this company? Why?”
“Well, you have business experience and knowledge of what that kind of company does. You’re the perfect candidate. Of course, you don’t have to take the job if you don’t want it. I, more than most, know the difficulties that come with being a leader. Not everybody wants that. So, it’s up to you David, do you want that?”
David had frozen about hallway through that conversation and slowly blinked themselves back to the world. He didn’t try and move though, instead attempting to wrap his head around Bathins offer. Running a company like stellar firma? There was no doubt in Davids mid that they could do that, better than standards ever could. He could do good, he could help others do good.”
But is that what they actually wanted?
He looks around at his little café, the place he has called home for the past few months. They look at their shiny counters, their mismatched tables, their squishy chairs. He looks at the glass cabinets full of sweet treats that he and IMOGEN baked together. They look at the grand duke currently perched on their counter tying to eat a flaky pastry without making a mess.
He makes his decision.
***
Davids so nervous that if they were human they’d be sweating. He is of course not human though, so he has instead jut becoming less sticky and more slippery.
And honestly, they don’t know why they’re so nervous, the hard parts already over. His date with Bathin had been perfect. It had been a lovely candle lit diner in the café, Bathin had made the main course and David had made the desert. The two of them had sat and talked for hours and the only nerves David had had were some slight butterflies in their stomach.
Those butterflies had turned to wasps the moment he started to walk Bathin home.
Originally Bathin had wanted to walk David home, said it was something he’d always wanted to do. It’d hurt David to point out that they were technically already at their home, considering they lived behind the café. So the two had come up with the compromise that David would walk Bathin home this time and Bathin could walk David home next time.
So now David was walking up the stairs to Bathins palace, hoping the duke wouldn’t comment about the slipperiness of their hands. With every step they took they became more and more nervous. Because David knew what happened when you walked someone home, what you were meant to do. It terrified him.
And it’s not that they didn’t want to. Oh no, he’d been thinking about this exact moment for months. It’s just that they had no idea how to go about it, they’d never kissed anyone before. He didn’t want to get it wrong, didn’t want to embarrass himself in front of Bathin. They suddenly wished that they’d taken IMOGEN up on the offer to put her in a discreet server on their wrist. Shed know what to do.
All to soon David found himself at the top of the stairs, in front of the door, facing Bathin. Their hands were still clasped together, and David was reluctant to let go. letting go would mean he had the chance to ruin everything.
In front of David, Bathin cleared his throat and spoke up. “Well, uh- this is me.” he gestured awkwardly to the giant palace.
David was confused. Was Bathin nervous?”
“Yes this… is you?” David replied, just for something to fill the silence.
“Yes, yes, it is. Uh I- well I enjoyed tonight, David. A lot. I enjoyed it a lot. It was… nice. No, more than nice, it was amazing. You were amazing- are amazing.”
“I’m, um- glad you enjoyed. I thought it was amazing too. And you, of course, you’re always amazing.” Theres a heavy silence, neither of them talking. It gets too much, and David speaks up, screaming mental curses at somehow managing to mess this up. “So, I guess I’ll be going then? It’s quite late and you need to rest before your council meeting tomorrow.”
“Yes, that’s probably for the best. Uh… will I see you soon?”
“I mean- I’ll still be at the café, so…”
“Ah yes, of course, wonderful.” Bathin finally removes his hand from David and the clone feels the loss right in their chest. “So, goodbye for now then?”
“I guess. Um... See you soon?”
“Yeah, see you soon.”
They both stand there for a moment, staring at each other awkwardly. It gets too much so David takes the initiative and begins to move away. Just as he’s about to move though, Bathin leans forward in a jerky motion to plant a kiss on Davids cheek. However due to Davids motion the kiss lands vaguely upon their lips instead, and Bathin springs back in shock.
“Sorry, sorry. I wasn’t meant to that. I mean, I was, it was just meant to be your cheek though, not your lips. Oh, I’m so sorry, I-”
“it’s okay,” David speaks up, voice dreadfully quiet. “I- uh- didn’t mind. Quite liked it actually.”
“You did?”
“Yeah, I did.”
“Good, that’s… that’s good- great even. We’ll have to do that again then… sometime. I- uh- bye.”
And with that Bathin was through his front door and into his palace before David could even blink, let alone respond.
He swipes a finger slowly across his lips. They taste of sugar, of the strawberry tart that they’d made specifically for Bathin. He stands there, shell shocked, a wide grin beginning to stretch his face.
“Good night Bathin.”