Work Text:
“Ruan Mei, do you love me?”
Herta asks the question out of pure curiosity. There is no hope, or accusatory doubt, or anything one would expect from the phrase in her tone. Her partner hums thoughtfully, tilting her head.
“I don’t think so,” Ruan Mei says. “I wouldn’t know how to define that. I don’t believe I’ve ever felt love. I am… fascinated by you. I suppose that may be the closest thing to love I can experience.”
Herta grins, satisfied. That’s about what she’d expected. She’s under no delusions that she could ever matter more to Ruan Mei than her work, just as Ruan Mei knows Herta will always love herself above all else. She knows they’re far from traditional lovers. They would not die for each other, or really even sacrifice much for each other. To witness each other's death would be a disappointment rather than a cause for grief. She doesn’t mind. To fascinate Ruan Mei is the highest praise she could receive. To be her muse, her lab partner, her scientific confidant, all this is far more rewarding than something like romance.
“Do you love me?” Ruan Mei asks. Herta is pleased to hear the same curiosity in her voice, preening with the knowledge that she is one of the few that ignite this interest and subtle emotion in her.
“Hm, that’s a good question,” she says. “The only thing I know I love is myself, and I’m afraid you don’t quite match up to that. But I suppose I do love you, in the way I love a good new question.” She smiles, meeting Ruan Mei’s detached gaze. “You never bore me. That’s a bit like love, isn’t it?”
"It's certainly close enough for our purposes."