Outside Work We... •[TNN One-shots]•

Bromance To Romance •|| WINCE ||•

Prompt: Winter and Reece's bromance slowly start to turn into romance.
[AU]

Reece and Winter were the kind of friends who didn’t need to plan their hangouts; they just happened. Whether it was an impromptu coffee run or a late-night vent session after a particularly rough day at the nurseries, the two had a rhythm that felt as natural as breathing.

But lately, something had shifted.

It wasn’t obvious at first—just little things. Winter lingering a bit longer after their conversations, Reece finding himself smiling at Winter’s texts more than usual. They both chalked it up to their deepening friendship. After all, they were practically family at this point.

One Friday evening, Reece invited Winter over for dinner. Autumn and Marjorie were having a “date night,” so it was just the two of them. Reece had cooked one of his signature meals—a hearty shepherd’s pie—and they sat at the table, the sound of their laughter filling the cozy kitchen.

“I still can’t believe you wore that hideous green tie to the staff meeting,” Reece teased, leaning back in his chair.

Winter rolled his eyes, though his grin betrayed him. “It’s not hideous. It’s vintage.”

“It looked like a rejected Christmas decoration,” Reece said, laughing.

“You wound me, Knight,” Winter shot back, mockingly clutching his chest.

Reece chuckled, his blue eyes sparkling. “You make it too easy, Fortune.”

The teasing banter faded into a comfortable silence as they sipped their drinks. Winter’s gaze lingered on Reece a moment longer than usual, taking in the way the warm light highlighted his blond hair and the easy smile that always seemed to sit on his lips.

“You’re staring,” Reece said, raising an eyebrow.

Winter blinked, caught off guard. “Am I? Sorry, I was just—”

“Thinking about how lucky you are to have a friend like me?” Reece interrupted with a grin, clearly trying to lighten the moment.

Winter laughed, though his heart was pounding. “Something like that.”

°•°•°--**--°•°•°

It wasn’t until a few weeks later that the shift between them became impossible to ignore.

They were walking through the park after a long day, the cool evening air refreshing against their tired faces. Winter had been venting about a parent at the nursery who refused to follow basic safety protocols.

“I just don’t understand how people can be so stubborn,” Winter said, running a hand through his hair.

“They’re probably just overwhelmed,” Reece said, his voice gentle. “It’s not an excuse, but… sometimes people need a little extra patience.”

Winter sighed, his frustration easing slightly. “How do you always manage to see the good in people?”

Reece shrugged. “Guess it’s my job. Someone has to balance out your sass.”

Winter chuckled, nudging Reece playfully. “You’d miss my sass if it were gone.”

“Maybe,” Reece said, his tone teasing. But there was something in his eyes—a softness, a vulnerability—that made Winter’s breath catch.

For a moment, neither of them said anything. The world around them seemed to fade, leaving only the two of them standing beneath the streetlights.

“Reece,” Winter began, his voice quieter now.

“Yeah?”

Winter hesitated, searching Reece’s face for any sign of hesitation. But all he saw was warmth and trust, the kind that had always been there but felt different now.

“Do you ever think… maybe there’s more to this?” Winter asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Reece didn’t pretend to misunderstand. Instead, he smiled—a small, shy smile that Winter had never seen before. “Yeah. I’ve been thinking about it a lot, actually.”

Winter let out a breath he didn’t realize he’d been holding. “And?”

“And I think I’d be an idiot not to see where this could go,” Reece said, his voice steady.

Winter’s heart skipped as he took a small step closer, their breaths mingling in the cool night air. Reece didn’t move away—instead, he tilted his head slightly, the tiniest hint of a question in his eyes.

“I think you’re an idiot either way,” Winter whispered, his lips quirking into a teasing smile.

Reece rolled his eyes, muttering, “Shut up,” before leaning in.

Their lips met, soft and tentative at first, like testing the waters of something new. But as the seconds stretched, the kiss deepened, becoming a gentle yet unspoken promise.

When they finally pulled apart, Winter’s glasses were slightly askew, and Reece’s cheeks were flushed.

“Okay,” Reece said, his voice a little breathless. “That was better than expected.”

“Better than expected?” Winter repeated, feigning offense.

Reece laughed, pulling Winter back in for a second kiss. “Shut up, Fortune.”

This time, Winter didn’t argue.