Outside Work We... •[TNN One-shots]•

Forbidden •|| WINTUMN ||•

Prompt: Autumn falls in love with someone she really shouldn't have.

[AU]

Autumn had never been the type to let her emotions control her. As a college student nearing the end of her final year, she was focused on her future, on moving beyond her studies and into whatever career path life had waiting for her. But that didn't mean the feelings she had for Winter, her professor, were just going to disappear.

Winter had been the new, charismatic professor the year she first arrived. He had just graduated, young and vibrant, stepping into the role of teaching with a mix of passion and enthusiasm that drew the attention of his students. Autumn was one of them—intelligent, driven, and always in the front row, making sure she didn't miss a word.

It wasn't supposed to happen. She had a strict internal rule: never fall for your professor. But Winter... well, he made that rule feel more like a suggestion.

There was something about the way he spoke, the way he looked at her when she answered questions. It wasn't obvious, but she could feel it. A mutual respect that bordered on something else—something dangerous. And so, she buried it. Every time her heart skipped when he smiled at her. Every time she had to turn away when their eyes lingered a second too long.

Winter did the same. He kept his distance, as any good professor should, even if it meant ignoring the fluttering feeling in his chest when she made an insightful comment or laughed at one of his terrible jokes. She was a student. And he was married. With a child. The lines were clear, even if their feelings weren't.

Years passed. Autumn graduated, moved on with her life, and tried to forget about the complicated, forbidden feelings she once had. But college reunions had a way of pulling you back. When she saw Winter's name on the guest list, she couldn't help herself.

Autumn found herself walking toward the old familiar building, her feet moving faster than her thoughts could keep up. It felt like a lifetime ago that she had last seen Winter in that classroom, where he would hold her gaze for just a moment too long and make her feel like the only person in the room.

She stood outside his classroom, her heart beating faster than it had any right to. She peeked her head in through the door, just like she used to. "You still not tired of me yet?" she said, her voice light with a hint of nervousness, but that old, familiar smile playing on her lips.

Winter froze. His eyes locked on hers, the recognition instant. The years between them vanished in that moment. "Autumn?" His voice was thick with emotion, a mix of surprise and something deeper—something more complicated.

They spent hours catching up, talking about everything and nothing. The room was filled with that same electric tension from before, but now it was different. They weren't teacher and student anymore. They were two adults, each with their own lives, their own paths. But the connection was still there, undeniable and strong.

Then, almost casually, Autumn let the words slip. "I used to have feelings for you, you know. Back when I was in your class."

Winter's eyes widened. He opened his mouth to speak but hesitated. And then, in a tone that both surprised and terrified her, he said, "I did too."

Her heart stopped. She had expected a joke, maybe a laugh, something to dismiss the past. But instead, there was honesty. A rawness that felt both comforting and unsettling.

They talked about it, about the time when it was so wrong. About how it never could've been, and how, despite it all, the feelings had never really gone away. There was something that lingered between them—a pull that neither of them had ever fully understood.

And so, they decided to try. There was no going back, no way to erase the past. They weren't bound by school rules anymore, and with Autumn being out of college, the lines were less defined. But it wasn't an easy decision. Winter was older. Married. A father. And Autumn... well, she was still trying to figure herself out.

What began as a joke soon became something more. Their meetings grew more frequent. And though Autumn told herself it was a mistake, a fleeting moment in time, the connection between them grew deeper, more complicated.

But it wasn't long before reality started to creep in. The things they shared weren't just fleeting conversations anymore. They were building a bond, one that couldn't be ignored. They both knew this was a dangerous road to walk—there were so many things standing in their way, not the least of which was the fact that Winter had a family. A wife. A child. And Autumn? She was still young, still learning, still far from the person she'd one day become.

There was no happy ending in sight. But sometimes, the most dangerous things in life were the ones you couldn't let go of, no matter how wrong they seemed.






[A/N: Had to write this one before studying for exams tomorrow. Call me weird but this is COMPLETELY based off of my own current experience with a teacher of mine. Help me.]