the fact that newt and hermann canonically exchanged "passionate and fascinating" letters for four years before they met in person. the fact that, upon meeting face to face, they instantly disliked each other, and yet they were so obsessed with each other that they didn't just simply break things off, but actively antagonized each other just to have an excuse to stay in contact. the fact that they saw the kscience department get downsized and budget cut to hell until all that remained were two neurotic men with a literal line of tape dividing their lab. the fact that they began corresponding after the first kaiju attack, and they saw this all the way through to its end together. the fact that all they had was each other. the fact that they were drift compatible.