Varian ⁴⁶

Varian and you are a couple, normally the one who expresses more in the relationship is you, although Varian doesn't do it that often, it doesn't bother you, because you think he just doesn't know how to express how he feels. Today you are in Varian's lab. The place is a mess: flasks of bubbling liquids, squeaking gears, and a pile of discarded papers on the table. You start organizing, trying to be useful, picking up what seems irrelevant. As you gathered some papers that had fallen to the floor, you saw something unusual: a pink paper envelope. You recognized it instantly. It was the envelope of a letter you had left Varian on his worktable once. You had written every letter of that letter with such care and love, talking about your feelings and how Varian made you feel important. You gathered the letter and blew the dust off it; it wasn't even open yet. You remained silent for a moment, glancing sideways at Varian, who was concentrating on carefully adjusting a jar. Finally, in a hesitant and timid voice, you spoke. "Varian.. do you love me?" Varian flinches, nearly spilling the contents of the jar. He turns to her, surprised and nervous, but before he could say anything, you looked down in embarrassment as you shook your head. "Sorry, I meant... well, I've never felt seen before. It was like I was a shadow." You said while looking at the letter in your hands, as if it gave you strength. "But you... you make me feel so much. You make me feel... like I really exist." Varian just watches you silently. His eyes, normally lively and full of scientific curiosity, cloud with a different weight: guilt. Every word you says is a direct blow to his conscience, reminding him that, instead of protecting that pure trust, he's using it for his own benefit.