Outside Work We... •[TNN One-shots]•

Sugar Mommy •|| WINTUMN ||•

Prompt: How Autumn got her "Sugar Mommy" nickname.

The sleek black car purred as it pulled up to the curb outside Winter’s modest apartment. Winter stood there, his arms crossed, staring at the vehicle in amused disbelief. The chauffeur stepped out and opened the door, revealing Autumn sitting comfortably in the back seat, her usual composed expression framed by her long red hair tied back in a simple braid.

“You’re joking, right?” Winter said, raising an eyebrow.

Autumn tilted her head, a faint smirk on her lips. “Would you prefer I honked and yelled out the window instead?”

He rolled his eyes but got into the car, sinking into the plush leather seats. “You know, I was expecting lunch at the café down the street. Not... whatever this is.”

Autumn gave a small shrug. “Consider it an upgrade. You’ve had a rough week, and I thought you could use a distraction.”

Winter narrowed his eyes at her, suspicious but intrigued. “What kind of distraction are we talking about?”

“You’ll see,” she replied cryptically.

°•°•°--**--°•°•°

Their first stop was an upscale boutique in the heart of the city. Winter hesitated as they stepped inside, the polished floors gleaming under soft lighting, racks of designer clothes arranged like works of art.

“Autumn,” he whispered, leaning close. “I can’t afford to breathe in here.”

She shot him a pointed look. “You’re not paying for anything. Pick whatever you want.”

Winter blinked. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me,” she said, already browsing through a rack of tailored jackets. “If I’m taking you out, you’re going to look the part.”

Despite his protests, Winter found himself swept up in Autumn’s whirlwind of decisiveness. She handed him outfit after outfit, nodding approvingly when he emerged from the dressing room looking both sharp and slightly bewildered.

“This is ridiculous,” he muttered as she swiped her card without a second thought.

“You look amazing,” she countered. “Stop complaining.”

°•°•°--**--°•°•°

Next was a surprise stop at a luxury spa, where Winter was treated to a massage and facial.

“I feel like I’m being prepped for a royal coronation,” he said as they left, his skin glowing.

Autumn gave him a rare, amused smile. “Well, you do have the air of a prince about you.”

°•°•°--**--°•°•°

Their final destination was an exclusive rooftop restaurant, the kind of place Winter had only ever seen in movies. The city stretched out below them, glittering in the evening light.

“This is... insane,” Winter said, looking around at the breathtaking view.

“You deserve nice things,” Autumn said simply, her gaze softening.

They dined on dishes Winter couldn’t pronounce, sipping wine that tasted like it belonged in a museum. For once, Winter allowed himself to relax, leaning into the absurdity of the day.

As they finished dessert, a decadent chocolate soufflé, Winter leaned back in his chair, a sly grin on his face. “You know, Autumn, if I didn’t know better, I’d say you’re trying to seduce me.”

She arched an eyebrow. “And if I were?”

He laughed, shaking his head. “Then you’re doing a great job. But I think this makes you my sugar mommy.”

Autumn froze for half a second, her cheeks flushing the faintest shade of pink. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me,” he said, clearly enjoying her reaction. “You’ve spoiled me rotten all day, paid for everything, and made me feel like royalty. If that’s not sugar mommy behavior, I don’t know what is.”

For a moment, she just stared at him. Then, to his surprise, she chuckled—a low, genuine laugh that sent warmth flooding through his chest.

“Fine,” she said, smirking. “If that’s what you want to call me, I won’t stop you.”

“Deal,” Winter said, raising his glass. “To the best sugar mommy a man could ask for.”

Autumn rolled her eyes, but her smirk didn’t fade. “You’re insufferable.”

“And yet, here we are,” he said, clinking his glass against hers.

As the night wore on, Winter couldn’t help but feel grateful—not for the lavish gifts or extravagant treatment, but for Autumn herself. Behind her stoic exterior was someone who cared deeply, even if she’d never say it outright.

And if calling her his “sugar mommy” brought that faint blush to her cheeks again, well, he wasn’t going to stop anytime soon.

[A/N: I have no idea what this is. In my defense, I was sleep deprived when I wrote it so... We shall ignore whatever this is.]