Outside Work We... •[TNN One-shots]•

Beach Day! •|| EVERYONE ||•

Prompt: They go to the beach. Beach volleyball gets competitive.

The sun hung high in the sky, casting a warm glow over the golden sand. The salty breeze whipped through the air, carrying the faint sound of crashing waves. Everyone was gathered at the beach, a mixture of relaxation and excitement in the air. Some of them were lounging on towels, dipping their toes in the water, or working on sandcastles, but there was something in the air that made Reece, Autumn, Mia, Shibhon, and Clodagh exchange knowing looks.

"You sure about this?" Autumn asked, her lips twitching into a smirk as she eyed the volleyball net set up nearby.

Mia, already rolling up her sleeves, grinned back. "You’ve got something to prove, don’t you?"

Clodagh bounced a little on her heels, excitement barely contained. "We’ve been practicing," she said, her eyes glinting. "You won’t be able to keep up."

Reece laughed, his confidence unwavering. "You’ve been practicing? Hah. You should’ve seen me in my youth."

Shibhon, standing beside him, gave a short, fierce laugh. "You might’ve been good back then, but this is now."

The others—Charlotte, Winter, and the rest of the group—watched with interest as the five of them gathered around the net. It had been a while since any of them had played competitive volleyball, and they had no idea just how seriously the group took it.

"You ready for this?" Mia asked, standing next to Autumn, giving her a quick look of challenge.

Autumn raised an eyebrow. "I was born ready."

And with that, the game began. The first serve from Shibhon hit the sand hard with a sharp thud, and immediately, it was clear that this wasn’t going to be a casual game. Their serves were fast, their jumps powerful, and their spikes so on-point that even the wind seemed to lose its force trying to keep up with them.

The others who had been lounging by the water or making sandcastles stopped to watch, mouths agape at the level of skill being displayed. Reece dove for the ball, using every bit of his energy to keep the game going. Mia’s quick reflexes were on full display as she set up the perfect plays, while Clodagh and Autumn worked together seamlessly, making sure they stayed one step ahead of the opposition.

"This is insane," Winter muttered under his breath, leaning against the lifeguard tower with a drink in hand, completely enthralled. Charlotte stood beside him, shaking her head in disbelief.

"I’ve never seen them like this before," she said. "They’re playing like they’ve been doing it for years."

The game was nothing short of intense, with each side taking turns being in the lead. At one point, Shibhon and Autumn worked together to pull off an impossible rally, keeping the ball just inches from the sand as the others scrambled to recover.

"Not bad for an old man, huh?" Reece said between breaths, flashing a cocky grin at Clodagh after a particularly close save.

Clodagh shot him a competitive glare. "You’re going to regret saying that," she warned, her eyes narrowing. And within moments, she and Shibhon had executed a move so flawless that Reece was left practically scrambling to stay on his feet.

The match stretched on for what felt like hours, the competition only growing fiercer. The others watched in awe, cheering and laughing as the five of them continued their high-energy game. No one was willing to let the ball drop. They played through sweat, exhaustion, and the blistering sun, determined to come out victorious.

Finally, when the sun started to dip below the horizon, casting the beach in warm orange and pink hues, the game came to a natural end.

"Okay, okay, you win," Reece said, breathing heavily, his chest rising and falling as he wiped his face with his sleeve.

Autumn, Mia, Shibhon, and Clodagh all dropped to the sand, grinning widely, their faces flushed with the thrill of the game.

"No one can say we don’t know how to play," Clodagh said smugly, stretching out her legs in the sand.

Reece collapsed beside her with a laugh. "I’ll admit defeat this time. But don’t get too cocky, we’ll be back next time."

Mia chuckled, wiping her brow. "We’ll see about that. You all were good, but we’re better."

The others, still catching their breath and laughing at the spectacle they’d just witnessed, made their way over to where the winners had collapsed, offering congratulations.

Winter looked at the group, shaking his head in amazement. "I honestly didn’t expect any of you to be this good."

"We told you we were good," Autumn said, her voice thick with pride. "Just because we keep it low-key doesn’t mean we don’t have skills."

As they all gathered together, the sound of waves crashing gently behind them and the soft orange glow of the setting sun casting long shadows on the sand, they couldn’t help but feel a shared sense of satisfaction. The competitive fire had been fun, but there was a quiet, fulfilling peace in the moment afterward.

"Next time, though," Reece said, leaning back on his elbows, "we’re going to win."

The others laughed, their tired smiles matching his, the sense of camaraderie stronger than ever.

"Next time, sure," Mia replied with a wink, stretching out beside Clodagh. "But for now, let’s just enjoy the victory."

And with that, they all settled into a comfortable silence, the beach’s peaceful atmosphere wrapping around them as the sky darkened into twilight.