Outside Work We... •[TNN One-shots]•

Calls •|| EVERYONE ||• [Intrusion Pt. 5]

Prompt: Autumn warns the others.

Autumn’s fingers hovered over the keyboard for a moment, her heart pounding in her chest as she initiated the group call. The familiar buzzing filled the tense room as Shibhon, Mia, Reece, and Clodagh’s phones vibrated with the notification, but they all declined immediately, their silent presence beside her making the call unnecessary.

One by one, five other people appeared on the screen, their faces lighting up as the video connected. “Autumn!” a man with spiky blond hair greeted warmly. “What’s the occasion? Feels like forever since we did this.”

“I miss you guys!” a woman chimed in, her voice bright and cheerful.

Others echoed similar sentiments, exchanging banter and warm smiles. For a brief moment, the weight of the situation seemed to lift, and Autumn couldn’t help but smile faintly at the sight of her old friends reconnecting. But the heaviness returned just as quickly, and she sighed audibly, the sound catching everyone’s attention.

The chatter died down almost instantly, replaced by concerned stares.

“What’s wrong, Autumn?” a dark-haired woman asked softly.

Without a word, Autumn angled the laptop, revealing Azalea lying on the couch. Her face was battered, and her breathing was shallow but steady. The reactions on the screen were immediate and loud.

“What the fuck happened to her?”

“Is she okay?”

“Azzi, who did this?!”

Before Azalea could answer, the piercing cry of a baby cut through the tension. Everyone froze, their attention shifting to one of the men on the call—a tall, nervous-looking guy with curly brown hair holding a small bundle in his arms.

“Sorry, sorry!” he whispered, rocking the baby gently. “It’s my night with the kids.”

“Shit,” Autumn muttered under her breath, locking eyes with Reece.

Reece didn’t need to be told twice. He grabbed his jacket from the back of the chair, his keys jangling in his hand. “Shibhon, with me,” he said.

Shibhon stood without hesitation, following Reece to the door. As they left, Autumn turned the laptop back to her, her face grim. “Listen, this isn’t a social call. The mafia’s back. They came for us, then Azalea, and they’re coming for you guys next. You need to get ready. Now.”

The expressions on the screen shifted from confusion to fear. Murmurs of disbelief and worry filled the virtual room.

Clodagh leaned into view behind Autumn, giving a small wave. “Hey, everyone,” she said, her voice light despite the circumstances.

“Hey, Clo,” someone muttered, trying for a smile despite their obvious anxiety.

“Tris, pack your things, it'll be okay, I promise,” Clodagh said firmly, directing her attention to the man with the baby. “Make sure the baby’s safe. Reece and Shibhon will be there soon to get you.”

Tris nodded quickly, his free hand already reaching for a bag.

Meanwhile, Mia finished tending to Azalea’s wounds, stepping back as Winter handed her a water bottle. Azalea took it gratefully, her eyes scanning the unfamiliar faces in the room. After a long sip, she gestured toward them. “Who… who are they?”

Mia glanced around at the group before answering, her tone light despite the tension. “These are our spouses.” She pointed at Carly. “And that’s Carly—basically Reece’s work kid.”

Azalea raised an eyebrow, her lips quirking up slightly despite her exhaustion. “Reece has a work kid? And spouses? You never use that word."

Carly flushed slightly but managed a small smile. “It’s… a long story.”

"Shhhh... Hush, child." Mia said placing her finger against Azalea's lips as if to shush her.

Azalea sighed, settling back into the couch as her gaze returned to Autumn. “They’re coming, aren’t they?”

Autumn didn’t answer immediately, her jaw tightening. “They’ve already started.”

The room was silent for a moment, the weight of what was coming settling over everyone like a storm cloud. Then Clodagh clapped her hands together, startling everyone.

“Alright, enough sulking. We’ve done this before, and we’ll do it again. Let’s get to work.”

The determination in her voice sparked something in the room, a flicker of resolve amidst the fear. They weren’t running anymore—they were preparing for war.