Outside Work We... •[TNN One-shots]•

Let's Move •|| EVERYONE ||• [Intrusion Pt. 7]

Prompt: Everyone gets ready for everything to go down to shit.

The house was chaotic, a mixture of frantic energy and somber focus. Azalea, sitting on the couch with her arms wrapped around her knees, watched the others pack in tense silence. Mia had told her to stay put, knowing that Azalea was still nursing wounds, but the injured woman had reluctantly agreed. She had killed people before while in worse condition, but her resolve to not overexert herself this time spoke volumes about the gravity of the situation. It made the others, those who hadn’t been involved in the darker side of things, uneasy. They couldn’t help but wonder just what they had gotten themselves into.

Autumn’s footsteps echoed through the hallway as she quickly made her way upstairs. She went to retrieve several duffel bags, large enough to hold weapons, ammunition, and survival gear. Meanwhile, Clodagh headed for the little cupboard under the stairs. Her movement was swift and confident as she knelt before the small, seemingly inconspicuous door.

Winter, who had been observing quietly, raised an eyebrow. “That’s been locked for as long as I can remember,” he said, a touch of confusion in his voice.

Clodagh didn’t even glance at him as she deftly picked the lock. “This house was built long before you were in the picture,” she replied with a smirk. She pushed open the door, revealing rows of weapons—rifles, snipers, shotguns, crossbows, and, even more unsettling, heavy-duty bombs. The sight made Winter freeze. He knew Autumn had a past, but he hadn’t realized just how deep it went.

His throat went dry as he stared at the arsenal, a sick realization creeping over him: he had been living on top of these weapons for years, ever since he and Autumn had started dating. The idea that his wife had been hiding this kind of power was simultaneously comforting and terrifying.

Clodagh worked quickly, packing everything into bags when Autumn returned downstairs. The two women worked in perfect synchrony, their movements precise and practiced. Mia, who had been quietly watching, leaned against the counter and spoke up. “Are we going to the safe house?” she asked, her voice laced with concern.

Autumn and Clodagh exchanged a look before Autumn responded. “Yes,” she said, her voice firm. “In case everything goes to shit, we need to be prepared. No one else can get hurt.”

The others, those who hadn’t been involved in their criminal past, exchanged uncertain glances. Everyone knew the stakes had just skyrocketed. Autumn turned to face them, her gaze heavy. “If we go, it’s not just about us anymore. We need to stick together. We can’t risk anyone else being in danger.”

Clodagh added, her tone just as serious, “This is for everyone’s safety.”

Everyone in the room hesitated, the weight of the situation pressing down on them. Winter’s eyes shifted to his wife, his expression clouded with worry. He had never signed up for any of this, but now that he was part of it, there was no turning back.

Mia rolled her eyes, but her movements were quick and decisive. She pulled out her phone and sent a message to their group chat before helping the others pack. “You guys really thought you were going to keep this to yourselves?” she muttered, though there was a trace of concern in her voice.

As the bags were filled, Clodagh and Mia carried them to the back of Azalea’s van, each of them lifting with a sense of urgency. The others followed suit, Winter pausing briefly to find Autumn in the kitchen, leaning against the counter with a glass of wine in her hand.

He approached her, his voice soft, “You okay?”

Autumn looked up at him, a small smile tugging at the corner of her lips. She downed the rest of the wine and then leaned forward, pressing a quick kiss to his lips. “We’ll be fine,” she said, her voice steady. “We’ve survived worse.”

She threaded her hand through his and together, they walked out the door.

Clodagh was already in the driver’s seat of the van, Sorcha sitting beside her. The van was packed to the brim, every available space filled with bags, weapons, and essentials.

Autumn and Winter climbed into the back of the van, the tension palpable as the engine rumbled to life. Clodagh glanced over her shoulder at them, her eyes briefly meeting Autumn’s. “You sure you’re ready for this?” Clodagh asked, her voice tinged with concern.

Autumn nodded, her expression grim. “We don’t have a choice. We keep moving forward, or we risk losing everything.”

Clodagh’s gaze softened for a moment, but she quickly refocused on the road ahead. Sorcha sat in the passenger seat, looking out the window with a thoughtful expression.

As the van pulled away, the group was quiet. The reality of what they were about to face settled in, heavy and inescapable. But they were together, and for now, that was enough.