Outside Work We... •[TNN One-shots]•

Papa Bear •|| WINTER + ARRI ||•

Prompt: Arri gets catcalled.

Arri adjusted the hem of her skirt as she walked beside Winter, the cool evening air brushing against her legs. The two of them had gone out for coffee, a rare chance for some one-on-one time. Though Arri wasn’t yet fully comfortable calling Winter dad, she was growing to appreciate his steady presence in her life.

“Do you think Mom would be upset if I dyed my hair pink?” Arri asked, taking a sip of her iced coffee.

Winter smirked, adjusting his glasses. “Your mom once turned her hair purple for a bet, so I think you’ll be safe. But if you’re asking if I’d be upset...”

Arri raised a brow. “And?”

He chuckled. “I’d probably take you to the salon myself to make sure they do it right.”

The conversation was easy, their footsteps falling into a relaxed rhythm. But the peace shattered as they passed a small alleyway.

“Hey there, gorgeous! Love the view!”

Arri’s body tensed at the unfamiliar voice. She turned her head and saw a man leaning against a lamppost, his gaze crawling over her like an unwelcome touch.

Winter stopped immediately, his entire demeanor shifting. The easy-going man Arri had been joking with moments ago vanished, replaced by someone colder, sharper.

“What did you just say to her?” Winter’s voice was low and calm, but it carried a weight that made Arri’s stomach flip.

The man shrugged lazily. “Just giving her a compliment. Ain’t nothing wrong with that.”

Winter’s jaw tightened. He stepped between the man and Arri, his presence a wall of quiet authority. “You call that a compliment? Because I call it harassment.”

The man sneered. “Relax, man. She doesn’t seem to mind.”

Winter’s dark eyes narrowed, his glasses catching the dim light. “Oh, she minds. And even if she didn’t, it’s not your place to assume.” His voice turned colder, each word precise and deliberate. “If you have half a brain, you’ll walk away now and never so much as look at her again.”

The man faltered under Winter’s gaze. After a moment of muttered curses, he backed off, disappearing into the alley.

Winter turned back to Arri, his sharp expression softening. “Are you okay, sweetheart?”

Arri nodded, though her cheeks were flushed with embarrassment and unease. “Yeah, I’m okay. Thanks... Winter.”

Winter gave her a reassuring smile and placed a hand on her shoulder. “You don’t need to thank me. You’re family. No one gets to treat you like that.”

As they continued walking, the tension in the air gradually eased. Winter made sure to stay close, his protective presence comforting.

When they reached the car, Arri broke the silence with a small smirk. “You know, for a ‘dad figure,’ you’re surprisingly scary when you want to be.”

Winter chuckled, opening the car door for her. “Good. Let’s keep it that way.”

Arri laughed softly, and for a moment, she considered calling him Dad. Not yet, but someday. He was certainly earning it.

[A/N: This is what happens when you make me go to school for NOTHING. What the hell.]