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Seth Lowell and Readers very bad no good Valentines Week

word count: 4600+

Content/ summery SFW: Seth tries to ask out an oblivious coworker reader, and running into a number of hurdles. (GN reader)

Notes: Did ya' fellow Seth lovers a little dirty I feel, but enjoy the 4600 words, this will likely happen again.

It’s the start of the month, and that means new deadlines, more activity around the office. Though you’ve noticed a lot of people already chatting one-on-one this month.

The first week it wasn’t as noticeable, but coming in on the second week it seemed like every other person you noticed had someone in lockstep acting chummy.

It was getting distracting seeing so many Pubsec officers seemingly being so blasé about their work, but thankfully you were able to work your way into special investigations late last year. Which does come with its own responsibilities but much more reliable people.

Going over the paperwork for the most recent series of seemingly hollow related gangs popping up a familiar voice appears next to you.

“Hey, how’s the work goin? Here’s your drink.” You look to your side, and Lowell and behold it’s Seth, with a cup from Coff Cafe.

“I’m just getting started, so can’t really say it’s goin’ can I? Thanks for the drink, I’ll get you something after our shift today.” You sip the still steaming drink.

He lets out an awkward laugh, sipping on his bottle of water, “I-it’s fine I do it because I want to, I already delivered everyone else's coffee.” He pauses, looking around the bustling office with ears twitching at the sounds.

Having gone back to the stack of papers you mindlessly speak without looking at him, “What’s going on with everyone this week? I Noticed it last week, but it’s only Monday, and it seems like everyone is taking so many breaks to talk one-on-one with someone else, are we getting reviews? No, didn’t we get one just at the start of the year?” You start mumbling the last part as you try to make heads or tails of these reports.

Seth whips his head around to look at you sitting, face buried in a manila folder full of papers.”Oh, well, it’s just that time of year I guess. I’ll get out of your hair, since you seem busy.” Ears drooping a little, he heads off.

The rest of the day passes, you get more reports and information to sort through on this new hollow gang, meaning you ended up working until sundown.

Seth had been asked to work even later tonight so you wouldn’t be able to treat him today. You make a note to find time this week. Tuesday rolls around, and you arrive to the office. It seems like a powwow in the office today, even more groups of people fervently talking, you overhear bits like, “Why don’t we go to Simmer this weekend?” and “Wouldn’t it be nice to check out that new restaurant in the mall Saturday?”

Everyone seems to be excited for this weekend, some kind of event? You couldn’t remember anything, you just want to get your job done and stop these annoying hollow gangs.

It is hard to focus though, when the office sounds like it’s a schoolyard and everyone’s talking about the coming break. Thankfully someone walks in and quells the dull murmur, “Hey everyone, I know that you’re all excited to spend time with each other this weekend. But these are work hours keep it to breaks and off the clock.” Zhu Yuan’s voice cuts through everyone’s murmuring many shooting down into their cubical's and out of sight.

Walking past you she stops, turning to you, “How are those reports looking, found anything useful? Anything I can help with?” She is clearly just checking in, the observant captain sheis.

“Looking at the information there’s a lot of these cases pretty clearly around this hollow.” You show a map of the city, red marks of the cases, all surrounding a small companion hollow.

“Ok, I’ll have people increase patrols there, let me know if you can get any information of where in that hollow they could be holed up. Even carrot information of the area would be helpful.” She takes the map and a few other papers to start organizing patrol routes. Soon after, you see commotion pick up again as people are getting ready to out on the new patrols.

Clearly rushed, Seth appears, dropping off another disposable cup saying, “How are you doing? The captain is asking me to patrol near the hollow, just around the boarder. Good job on at least locating where they’re coming from.”

“Oh thanks, but it’s really just where they’ve been so far. I’m not sure if we have the manpower to really ensure safety of that area. But something is better than nothing I guess, are you patrolling alone?” You know Seth’s record, but you can’t help but be worried about him fighting the hollow gang if they met.

“It’s fine, I’m not that easy to beat in a fight. I’ll make sure to keep everyone safe. A-and I was going to ask-” He was shifting his weight, and his tail started swinging more erratically, but was interrupted.

“Seth, come on, we’re going on patrol together. I don’t have all day for your schoolyard crush.” Zhu Yuan’s voice cuts through the office like a knife making Seth stand like a wood plank. “Yes Captain, I’ll be right there.” He glances at you for a moment, before quickly walking off to meet the captain.

‘Odd, the captain doesn’t usually joke like that, something must be bugging her.’ you ponder, getting back to the stack of papers. Making calls to get information about that hollow’s structure and layout from a few different groups.

Tuesday was mildly successful for you, managing to actually confirm with HIA that they had the data, but it was old and incomplete, so they’d send some people to gather data tomorrow with a few Pubsec escorts.

You didn’t see the captain or Seth come back, so you left all the information and resources on her desk, along with a long winded e-mail with all the contacts she would need for follow up tomorrow. Wednesday, has come around and this time Seth is early, waiting at your desk, two drinks in hand looking around his tail swinging quite fast.

You walk up behind him, and he doesn’t seem to notice you or that he’s blocking the way to your desk. Being a few steps away, you tease, “Is my desk a crime scene now officer?”

Whipping around, nearly splashing the drinks everywhere he looks at you. “Oh, god how long have you been there?”

“Long enough to see you blocking my desk, need something?” You take the drink he hands to you, sitting in your chair cross legged.

“N-no, I just got here earlier than I expected and was wondering where you were.” He sips the drink in his hand, clearly drinking a little too much and burning his tongue.

“How did the patrols go with the captain yesterday?” You carefully sip your drink, mockingly. “I still owe you that treat for the coffee’s.”

He seems to choke a little, “Y-yeah, about that. Would you like to do it this weekend? I don’t have work planned, so we can meet and even spend the day together.” He rambled, clearly trying to imply something but it wasn’t landing.

“What is with everyone this week, people keep going on about plans this weekend, doing that this weekend. Is there some kind of festival I’m forgetting about?” You tilt your head to the side, either your mind has been single for so long you forgot, or so single track on work it hadn’t registered it was nearly Valentines.

“Well, you know it’s that time of year.” Seth looks away, scratching behind his ears, wildly swaying tail behind him.

“Seth, y/n good you’re together. Makes my job easier.” Quingyi walks up besides Seth, clearly he didn’t notice with how his tail fur stood on end.

About to speak Seth was interrupted by the shorter woman, “Zhu Yuan has need for you, really just y/n. Seth, I just need to let you know I’m going with you around yesterday’s patrol, not Zhu Yuan.” Giving him a glance over, a coy smile played on her lips.

“Any idea what she wants from me senior?” You stand up, quickly moving the piles of papers out of the center.

“She didn’t say, just that she needed to talk to you in person. Though I doubt it’s anything bad, even if.” Trailing off, she glances to the side at Seth, “Maybe it’s not you causing trouble.”

“I can never understand you senior, thank you for the coming to find me. And Seth, we can talk more after our shifts, but I wouldn’t mind this weekend.” You straighten out your uniform, quickly darting to Zhu Yuan’s office.

The meeting is short, more she explains that she needs you to come with to deal with the HIA contacts and everything you did yesterday. Since she can trust you maybe a little more than others.

Making your way to the HIA office in her car, there’s an odd silence. “So-o how’s Seth been? Enjoying your work so far?” She is facing completely forward.

Having been focused on the world outside you didn’t expect the captains sudden questions, “Ah- Isn’t that a bit odd to ask now? I mean it’s not like I’m on an anniversary or anything. I’ve been with special investigation for at least three four months? And why are you asking about Seth?”

Pulling up to a red light the captain is clearly thinking hard, “Well, I’ve noticed that your productivity has increased, especially in the last month. I wouldn’t call that odd, but I also noticed at that time Seth started hanging around you more, I mean he had taken an interest in you even before you joined.”

She pulls away from the intersection, “But he’s been hanging around you a lot more, and I just want to know-, how is your relation with officer Seth?” She drags out a few works awkwardly, also seemingly implying something more.

“ I still kind of don’t get what you’re talking about, I mean we get on together well, not sure how that affects you, no disrespect captain.” You look over, puzzling over all these pieces of people’s actions.

“No n-none taken. I read you loud and clear, does that mean you have no plans this weekend?” the captain tries to lighten the mood with casual work banter.

“I didn’t but Seth asked me to meet this weekend, and I decided to take him up on it.” You feel like you just saw your captains brain short circuit as you swear she nearly slammed on the breaks.

“W-what? Didn’t you just say you didn’t have that kind of relation with him?” She shoots an incredulous look before quickly locking her eyes on the road.

“Am I missing something? I’ve been meaning to pay him back for getting me morning drinks. They’ve been really helpful in getting my work done.” You take a sip of said drink.

The captain slouches, mumbles something, though you’re unsure if you were meant to hear it, “God you and Seth are basically perfect for each other.”

She sits straight up again clearly speaking to you, “Do you know what this weekend is? Because I don’t think paying him back this week is.” She pauses, trying to find the appropriate word, “Appropriate? It doesn’t have the implication you are wanting.”

“I’ve been hearing people be so adamant about this weekend, what’s actually going on? I couldn’t be missing some big festival right?” You gesture wildly as if to signify a large tent.

“Y-you really don’t know.” The most defeated words you’ve ever heard out of the captains mouth, “It’s. This weekend, is, valentines day. Which means you-” points a scoring finger your way, “Were asked out on a valentines date, by officer Lowell. And you” finger of judgement returned, “were going to just go along thinking ‘it’s just a friend thing.’” she takes a deep breath.

All those pieces that had been stacking up, some apparently for a month, click and come crashing down on you. Needless to say, you’re reenacting Shinji on a chair for the rest of the ride.

The day flies by in a haze, as you process a lot of information. Whether by luck or divine act you again don’t see officer Lowell before you leave.

It’s now Thursday, and you’re going over hollow data with the captain at the HIA again.

The ride was dead silent, but once inside you are just reviewing possible locations for the hollow gang hideout.

It was about half way through your shift while taking a break that you overheard your captain on the phone nearby.

You likely weren’t meant to overhear, but were just in earshot when she said, “Ok Phaethon, I’ll bring the data over to you to process. Thanks for your help-”

Instinctively upon hearing that name you call out, “Captain, who was that?”

The woman wheels around like a dreidel, still holding the phone, she’s stuck. “I’ll call you back, work is on line one.” She hangs up carefully walking closer.

“That is one of special investigations contacts to help us work in the hollow. They’re reputable, and overseen by Senior-Quingyi and I.” She has both her hands in front of her.

“That name though, that’s-” She cuts you off.

“I know who it is, but I also have seen their work, and are under the supervision of even the mayor if that assuages any further concerns.” She stands in a neutral position, observing you.

“You’re going to meet them once we get all the information aren’t you?” It’s a dry probing question.

“Yes, I am. They’re second to none in their field and how effective they work.” She starts to walk by you, to the break room.

“Respectfully captain I’d like to go with, if they are a contact with special investigations, I should at least get familiar with them, the earlier the better.” You try and ease your tone and delivery.

“Very well, then what is the status of the carrot data?” She walks fully into the surprisingly empty break room.

Following her in your voice almost seems to echo off the empty pale white walls and orange furniture, “I’ve managed to collect as much as we can, a few of their stations seem to be deactivated. Meaning likely tampering, and there are two spots within the area that could serve as hideouts.”

You elaborate on everything, and by the time you’re fifteen is up you both grab your information and go.

The ride to the proxy location ends up in a small street, and park in a video store parking lot. She gets out, startling you, so you follow. In through the back, into a store smelling of cardboard and dust.

The front register you notice a small bangboo with an orange scarf manning it, that’s the only figure that you notice you give a look to Zhu Yuan, “Master proxy?” you gesture to the bangboo.

“Sure, go up and ask. See how well that goes.” She puts her hands on her hips.

Missing a cue or several, you do go up and talk to the bangboo, “Hello, Phaethon? That’s you, right?” The bangboo screen panics, running into the staff only area. Slamming the door behind it.

After some rustling and half dozen en-na’s later, a young girl comes out from the back, staring at you. “Hello officer, how may I help you? Are you looking for a movie?” The captain started leaning against the back wall out of view.

“I was informed that this is where Phaethon is. Is that true?” You try and approach.

“W-hat do you mean officer. We’re just a normal video store, we keep our license up to date.” The young girl became clearly panicked.

“Captain, what’s going on. Did you really bring me here to bother an innocent civilian?” You look over at Zhu Yuan who had a gloved hand over her mouth.

The shop keeper follows your gaze to the woman who was standing in the back clearly enjoying herself.

“Zhu Yuan! What was that for? I nearly had a heart attack! You didn’t even call to let me know you were stopping by.” The woman walked over clearly ruffled from her little joke.

“Sorry, sorry manager. This is one of my new officers in special investigations so given I was already working with them I figured you should meet each other. Well they asked to meet you.”

The captain stood to her full height, handing over the data you had just collected.

It took very little to appease the manager to apologize for the little joke, Zhu Yuan simply offered to buy her food after you were done today.

Going into the cool dark ‘staff room’ you get to processing all the data, or the assistant does as you all run over the plans for early investigations.

Once one of the suspected hideouts data is processed your captain quickly puts a call over the radio for Seth and Quingyi to approach carefully and scout out anything unusual, not to engage yet.

It takes a while for the second location to be processed, leading to your captain keeping an eye on the situation in the hollow with Quingyi and Seth.

This leaves you off to the side with the manager Rin, her brother being next to the captain working on their system.

“Sorry about the confusion earlier Rin, I really didn’t mean to scare you like that.” You sit next to her awkwardly angling yourself to face her on their couch.

“It’s fine, if anything I should thank you for getting Zhu Yuan to buy me anything I want as compensation.” She is positively beaming, then excitedly whispers “What should I get, roast meat platter, or I could ask her to take me to Simmer, oo- I could-”

Akira calls out from behind, cutting her off, “Rin, you’re not planning something devious over there are you? The sense of ‘my little sister is planning something’ started acting up.”

“What ever could you mean brother? You think so low of your adorable little sister, I would never do anything evil.” She was on her knees looking over the couch at the two watching the H.D.D.

Sitting back down, she turns to you and stars just firing off questions to try and know you, what movies you like, food, you name it. Once you do both share an interest she excitedly talks and fills the time before you hear the H.D.D. alert.