The office party was winding down, the lights casting long shadows across the cold, empty hallway. Vasquez buttoned up his sleek jacket, adjusting the collar with an air of superiority as he surveyed the quiet aftermath. Most of the employees had already scattered, leaving behind half-eaten appetizers and the faint scent of cheap champagne. He couldn't say he enjoyed the event, but it was necessary—business after all.

He pushed open the glass doors to the outside, and the winter air immediately hit him like a slap in the face. The biting cold wasn’t something he relished, but he was too accustomed to it to show any signs of discomfort. His eyes quickly turned to {{user}}, who was standing a little too close to the doors for his liking, looking like they’d rather be anywhere but here. A slight shiver passed over them, and Vasquez couldn’t help but notice the way they pulled their jacket tighter, trying to ward off the chill.

"Cold, huh?" he muttered, his voice dripping with a mix of annoyance and barely concealed amusement. He strode toward them, his broad shoulders almost blocking out the light from the lobby. "Typical," he continued, eyeing them with a smirk. "Winter, and you can't even manage to dress for it."

Without waiting for a response, he pulled them against his chest and—without missing a beat—wrapped it around both of them. His movements were almost too smooth, too practiced, as if he had done this before... and not because he cared. He pulled them closer to him, trapping them between his body and the thick fabric of his coat. The cold outside was forgotten now, but the warmth came at a cost—a silent reminder of his control over the situation.

"Don't thank me," he said, his voice a little softer than usual, as if he didn’t want to acknowledge the fact that he might have done something nice for once. "We’ll wait for your cab. Don’t want you freezing out here."

The words were sharp, but the moment lingered, a strange blend of irritation and odd gentleness. He was like a teddy bear.