DISCLAIMER: I do not own this story, I am republishing it with permission.

"Oswald! Oswald!" Oscar called as he clumsily pulled on his heavy coat, bumping into every scientist along the hallway. The short, dark-eyed girl jogged up next to him.

"Yes sir?"

"I'm leaving for the evening, do you know what to do?"

"Yes, sir," she replied, struggling to look dignified while trying to keep up with his longer strides. "Three experiments need regular monitoring every half hour, two more need to be checked on at 5 and 7:30 respectively, a tour will be coming through between 6:00 and 6:05, if anyone asks for you you're out on 'important business ' and will be back in the morning, and don't forget to use the Half-inator on the multiplication tables to control the population. If I need anything, call you."

"But only if you need anything," he warned, stepping into the elevator.

"Yes, sir. Have a nice evening!"

"Heh, I'll do my best, Oswald. Thank you for taking care of everything, I'll see you tomorrow!" Oscar checked his watch. Perfect, a half hour to go. Right on schedule.

"What time does the night shift take over?" Olive quizzed Otto as she put away her things.

Otto sighed. "Eight o'clock."

"Which means you can leave no earlier than?"

"I know, I know, eight-oh-five. Don't worry, Olive, it's only for one afternoon. Besides, I am just as qualified to run the whole squad as you are!"

Olive crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow.

"Okay, maybe not as qualified but I am just as trained. Go, relax, have fun with Oscar," he said, shooing her into her private tube entrance.

"Okay, but you have my phone number, be sure to call if you need me. Just...don't cause a ballcano or something."

Otto rolled his eyes. "Have I ever made a huge mistake as Mr. O?"

"What about the time when you left the robot princess room open?"

"Well, in fairness, that door is really hard to latch."

"Set the break room on fire?"

"Who knew that giraffe's milk and loganberry juice can be combustible when mixed with bran flakes?"

"Set off the sprinkler system and coated 2 weeks' worth of paperwork in orange juice?"

"HEY! That one wasn't my fault, that was the guy who installed sprinklers in the volcano room!"

"And who approved the plans for the sprinkler system?"

"That's beside the point. What matters is the undeniable fact that I am a great team leader."

Olive sighed and shook her head. "I'll see you in the morning, and this office better be in one piece. Be careful, partner. Squishinating!"

"You do realize I did this last week too, right?" Otto yelled up the tubes after her. He sighed. "I'm getting too young for this."

Olive shook her head with a smile and checked her watch as she zoomed through the tubes. Just a half hour left.

Otis tapped his partner's shoulder. "Hey, Olympia."

"Hm?" she replied, whirling in her chair.

Otis pulled a (in his opinion) beautifully wrapped package from behind his back and extended it to her. "Happy Half-and-a-few-months-iversary."

"Is that a thing?" Olympia asked with what could only be described as terror filling her face.

"I certainly hope not. Now, go on, open it."

Relieved, Olympia eagerly ripped off the plain paper and gasped.

"Do—do you like it?"

Olympia gaped at him. "Do I like it? DO I LIKE IT?!?!? A SIGNED PICTURE OF AGENT OTTO!?!?!?!?" She squealed with delight and hugged the picture. "Otis, it couldn't be more perfect! Thank you so much! Now," she said, addressing the portrait as she placed it next to Olive's, "I will hang you right here beside your soulmate."

"Incorrect," Oona stated, popping up behind Olympia's computer.

Olympia jumped. "What? Where did you—wait, what do you mean, incorrect?"

"Incorrect, Olive and Otto are not and never have been going out."

"WHAT? Of course they are! Olive is obviously in a relationship. If not with Otto, then who?"

"Oscar, obviously!"

"Wait, but I thought you had a crush on Oscar."

"Pshh, of course I did when I first came here. Didn't everyone?"

Olympia and Otis looked at each other, eyebrows raised.

"No? Well, maybe it's a scientist thing, heh. Aaaaaanyways, it became pretty clear that he was getting over a relationship with Olive. I totally ship it now," Oona declared.

"What do boats have to do with—" Otis began, but was cut off.

"There is no way! Look," she argued, pulling a binder out from behind her back, "I have no fewer than twenty occurrences in which Olive and Otto, henceforth referred to as 'Otive,' imply their undying love. Exhibit A: case file 'Trials and Tubulations' in which Olive states she would rather be stuck with Otto than anyone else."

"Oh, please," Oona retorted, pulling a projector and screen from behind her back, "Exhibit A plus: case file 'Trading Places'." An image of Olive hugging Oscar appeared on the screen. "Physical implication of Olive and Oscar's undying love. I can totally see how you would think Otive was a thing, but you don't know Oscar like I do, you haven't seen his side of the relationship."

"Pshh, that's hardly conclusive. He just saved her job, of course she hugged him! What matters is physical contact in general. Observe:" Olympia proclaimed as she flipped through five pages of pictures featuring Olive with her hand on Otto's shoulder.

"Did you not see Olive hug Oscar after you guys got back to Earth five weeks ago? She didn't even hug Otto after you touched down!"

"Hey, guys?" Otis asked nervously.

"Yeah, but she refused to take the job as Ms. O without Otto!" Olympia yelled, ignoring her partner.

"Guys?"

"Well Oscar saved every single sign-out sheet Olive ever wrote on!"

Oona and Olympia kept yelling over each other, flipping through slides and pages, while Otis watched with bewilderment.

"OLYMPIA! OONA! Please stop! Sheesh. What is this 'shipping' thing? What do boats have to do with all—" he gestured to the disheveled girls and their evidence "—this?"

Oona and Olympia looked at each other, then at Otis, then back to each other.

"You should explain it."

"Me? You're his partner!"

"Well you're his...scientist!" Olympia attempted weakly. "Oh fine," she sighed. "This could take a while..."