A Chance Encounter

Part 1


Author's Note

This story was written in honor of LGBT Month. I hope you enjoy. :)

The events portrayed in this fanfiction are entirely fabricated and in no way shape or form ever occurred in the universe of Overwatch.


A downpour like none other.

Heavy splashes upon solid concrete and awnings beneath a dark, night sky that concealed a beautiful crescent moon. The sounds alike that of ancient English war drums sounding away in a never ending battle between liquid and solid. An occasional bright flash of lightning revealing a deserted street in the small district of King's Row. Neglected by pedestrians, the local police and gendarmerie, and even the street sweepers. The rare umbrella speeding through the rain was a sight that she beheld only every so often. It would be insane for anyone to remain in such a storm, after all. But those few unlucky souls who got caught after work or on their nightly jog were in for a freezing and terrifying treat.

Hovercars were parked here and there. The only indicators to their presence being their glowing wheels. Suspending only a foot or so off the ground, and the lightning brilliantly illuminated the windows. In some it seemed there were occupants snoozing or playing with their phones as they awaited their friends or family to return from the nearby buildings. But most were empty, void of contact as their owners were places she could either not comprehend or even care to think on. They weren't that interesting, after all.

With each lightning strike there was soon after a fracus of thunder clashing heavily with the sounds of the rain. Another battle in that of its own between two forces trying their best to be heard. Usually the thunder won. But for the most part she mainly heard the sounds of the music in the small coffee shop she had found herself sheltered in. Smooth modern jazz behind speakers far out of sight, the personal choice of the manager and enjoyed well by the employees and the few patrons sitting here and there.

She paused, glancing at her watch. Her face slumped to glum disappointment as she noticed the hour hand slightly past seven. A dejected sigh escaped her lips as she lowered her arm, closing her eyes and shaking her head with the only thought she could muster being entirely of her friend.

"Blimey, where is this lark?" She thought. "Was supposed to be 'ere a half-'our ago…"

Her eyes opened slowly, her mind elsewhere as she drug her pupils across the table before her. Empty cups and dirty napkins was all that greeted her - a small phone with half battery just sleeping away next to the mess - her gaze gliding across the clutter painfully and gradually as her bored mind echoed with possible explanations of her friend's absence.

"I hope he's alright…" Her thoughts continued. "Perhaps the storm's forced 'im in…"

A moment passed, the jazz of the coffee shop playing blindly in the background of her thoughts. Then suddenly a small smirk befell her as another thought found root; a rather laughable one at that: "Perhaps he found a totty more interestin' than me?" She toyed with the thought a moment longer, rattling it around in her brain as she eyed, with a parched throat, the empty cup sitting quietly beside her phone. She giggled, folding her hands on her lap as she did so. The mere thought of her friend dropping plans to hang with another woman being a rather funny thought; and one she knew he would do if it meant getting laid.

"Ahh, that is so Michael… Always lettin' 'is knob think for 'im." She giggled further under her breath with a giddy inhale, her mental ribbing being a little too much for her right now. A small cough from a patron nearby gave her cause to pause and glance for its origin, her eyes going wide as she quickly spotted a rather tall man glaring at her from a table nearby. Her chuckles and self-appreciation seemingly annoying him with ease. Their eyes met briefly, and she mouthed silently an apology before turning back to her table.

For a while longer she sat in absolute silence, the music being her only companion as she stared silently into the rainy night. The rude patron being an easy distant memory as the minutes ticked away, the rain assaulting and battering away at against the glass and eventually she found herself leaning on one elbow, staring out into the distant dark street with a palm on her chin and a mind drifting away in sheer boredom.

"Bloody idiot gonna get 'imself paying a big fat child support cheque one day, though." She admitted eventually, knowing well her friend's antics will be his downfall. She was content to sit back and watch however. A "playboy", as he oft styled himself, would deserve such a punishment and it would make a funny story back on base to tell Angela.

But just as she realized she was bedeviling her old wingmate and dear friend she paused, lifting a brow as she contemplated. Did he really deserve such scorn, or was she just jealous of his skill with the ladies? She wish she knew, but regardless she quickly dispelled that thought with a click of her tongue, a glint in her steady wide eyes, and a cheeky smile as she remembered well her last weekend. It was all thanks to Michael, after all.

"Well… I guess there really isn't anythin' wrong with a little naughty fun… But goddamn does he take home the birdies…"

Her eyes slowly drifted to her phone, just waiting for a moments buzz. Hope was distilled within the time traveler that her friend would contact her and let her know what was up. But as the seconds, which felt like minutes to her, ticked forward she quickly lost patience and swept up the device in her palms. She eyed the battery for a wary moment before quickly sending a text his way.

"Alright ya arse bandit, where u at?"

No immediate response. She accepted that easily, understanding that the storm could easily affect the delivery speed or even damage the towers spread through the city yet as the seconds dragged into a full minute, with heavy rain bashing against her window and nearly displacing her cheeky smile with a worried glance, she thought it necessary to send another.

"Stop digging for candy and answer your damn phone, Michael! :/"

She waited, glancing again to her empty cups and her parched feeling grew only evermore. But as she turned to look for the barista her phone buzzed in her grip and she quickly turned back to face it. Michael had replied...a full minute later.

"Oh shite I tried texting u but the damn cell tower is leaning"

She giggled at his lame excuse. This wouldn't be the first time he chose sex over hanging with friends.

"Riiiiiiiiiight, wicked excuse luv."

"Wingnut Michael(:P) is typing….."

"If ur gonna ditch me 2 mine a tight gash at the very least give me a heads up. It's pouring out there and I'm here giving everyone a good view of my knockers. :/"

She glanced down at herself, admiring the beautiful work of art she was. She was wearing her favorite black dress, dark as midnight with white accents beautifying the bosom with shiny, yet fake, pearls that ran the length of her rather short sleeves and ended just short of her armpits. She often wore it when going dancing or to a formal party but more often than not it was for dancing and peacocking. The whole dress bottomed smoothly as a skirt over her thighs and the upper-half accentuated her breasts rather noticeably by exposing a large section of eye candy intended entirely for the ladies.

Many - including the Omnic barista - had said she should feel uncomfortable flaunting such a view around especially in a setting such as this, but she dressed wanting the attention. As she always put it: "Why try havin' fun when you gotta abide by fake-arse lady rules?"

The looks flattered her, made her feel special as it were - not to mention it felt great allowing her chest to actually breath as often times it became smothered by her clunky chronal accelerator - But unfortunately it was gaining attention from the wrong breed and she swore under her breath when she had realized this. She couldn't exactly blame them for looking, but she didn't appreciate the nameless Toms, Dicks, and Harrys that glanced her way.
She snook a glance up, trying to spot if anyone was looking at her. Much to her relief, as most of the clientele were male, nobody was doing such a thing. "Michael you better hurry up…" She mumbled.

She had caught him plenty of times in the past checking her out and she would always call him on it. But she also knew he wouldn't try anything. He knew what she preferred and respected it just the same. Besides, even if her situation was different she would still deny any and all of his advances. They were wingmates back in the air force and because of that she would always see him no more than a comrade and friend. A brotherly figure, as it were. She trusted him, and she had no reason to do otherwise.

It always made for a good joke when she caught him being a perv, though.

Her eyes drifted down to her upper half and instantly a tiny smirk grew: Her mother would kill her for wearing this, but then again she never spoke to her and didn't care to either. She began tapping away at her phone once more, trying her best to elicit a response from her clearly speechless friend.

"I wore my best dress and u bet ur arse the taxis aint running. I'm sitting here bored and thirsty and the bloody coffee isn't hittin the spot….. I'm really not that happy right now tbh"

"Wingnut Michael(:P) is typing….."

"Seriously now, where u at?"

"Jesus Oxton this is serious enough with the jabs and complaining"

"Oh boo hoo, Michael. :P I'm so sorry I have 2 interrupt ur happy time but u promised me u wuld take me 2 the club tonight. Kick that totty 2 the curb and come hang with me (and by hang, I MEAN PICK ME UP IM BORED AND HAVE NO RIDE!)"

"Wingnut Michael(:P) is typing….."

"And I told u 2 stop calling me Oxton, we r not in the air force anymore. Call me Lena, dipstick."

"Bloody bumble fuck Oxton im standing here in the bloody storm tryna get my car 2 start it stalled in the rain and ur pissed because u wanna dance with slappers and u cant"

She paused as she read that, her smile fading and her eyes going wide as the words set in.

"Get your priorities straight and stop texting me I seriously cannot talk right now"

"r u serious? :o"

A moment passed in jazzy silence as she glossed over her texts, awaiting with newfound worry for an answer from her friend. Eventually another text buzzed away in her palms, and her worry only skyrocketed further as she read silently her distressed friend's message.

"Yes goddammit im serious im fucking drenched to the bone right now"

"Oh my god get the fuck out of the storm!"

"And go where? Everythings locked down"

"Bloody hell, there's nowhere 2 go? Is it that bad?"

"This is a goddamn hurricane Oxton yes its bad and no I got nowhere I can get to but im looking trust me ill be fine I've been thru worse remember training"

"Hurricanes don't come this way, luv. That's an American thing. XD"

"Also hurricanes dont have lightning..."

"Goddammit Oxton did you pay attention at all to the news"

"Hurricane smurricane, I'm not scared of a little rain. Maybe I can help? I can get us - sorry, I mean U - to safety lickety split!"

"Oxton my car has stalled its dead do you know how to fix a bloody engine"

She hesitated, her sly smirk fading as she thought to herself. She drove a hoverbike, not a car, and even then she still didn't know how to do autobody repairs. In fact, that was part of the reason she was relying on him for the ride. This went on for longer than a mere moment and her distant friend picked up on it easily, a text that bled the words "I'm smug now shut the hell up" soon lit up the phone in her lukewarm hands.

"I thought so"

"Michael, don't be daft. You're no safer in ur car than out in the rain. Where u at ill be there in no time"

"No don't risk it Oxton its 2 dangerous out there right now stay where ur at and keep dry"

"Oi, hit me up with another cup of espresso, bruv." Someone shouted, catching Lena's worried attention. That tall, rude gent from earlier was shouting across the room to the Omnic behind the register. "That storm ain't lettin' up an' I'm feeling a bit tired. Can't be falling asleep here, yeah?"

"Comin' right up, sir." The robotic barista responded with a shout, turning away from his register to fulfill the man's request. Lena rolled her eyes, a small annoyed scoff accompanying the gesture as she looked back to her phone typing away already her reply.

"I'm coming anyways."

"NO STAY DRY if the winds dont knock your skinny arse through a window then youll freeze 2 death that dress dont cover much"

"Bitch, don't hate on me because im beautiful :("

"Oxton this isnt the time for talking or jokes im sitting here in my car txting u just waiting 4 the windows 2 explode just hunker down ill be fine ill ttyl"

"But I can get 2 u in a jiffy! After all, time is on my side! :D"

"For the last time N O stay indoors time will put you in the hospital or in a goddamn grave ill b fine now I gotta go ill txt u when im out of the rain"

His words gave her pause and she turned to glance out her window. Much to her wide eyed surprise, the trees that had acted mainly as decoration for the coffee shop's parking lot were swaying and bending against the force of the wind, the leaves dancing and breaking away as they tried to fight back; they failed miserably. A nervous and distrusting stare was all Lena could muster.

She sighed, realizing well that Michael was right. Even if she was to travel exclusively by blinking she would either lose control in the strong winds and go for a ride, or her accelerator would run out of juice before she even reached him just by fighting against the elements. The thing could only operate for so long before a recharge was needed and its emergency power would only last for an extra two hours. If she was caught out using her emergency power she would be soaked and stranded.

"Fucking 'ell…"

She shook her head and typed away a final, worried response.

"Fine, just get ur car running, get home, and stay safe luv. But u owe me a bottle of brandy when next I c u."

He did not reply back.

Yet she knew he'd be just fine. Michael was as resourceful in tense situations as he was seductive with women at the club.

She jumped, a slight gasp escaping past her lips as another bright flash, followed shortly by a shattering and deafening crash, slugged against the buildings nearby.

The storm was hitting its peak.

Surprise was all she felt as she watched the winds do their dark deeds for she hasn't seen a storm this bad in ever. Such things were uncommon in England, let alone Europe in general. A hurricane, a rare thing indeed for this side of the world. She hadn't really believed it initially when the Met Office had given warning that a category four hurricane was brewing and heading straight for England. No one did. She believed hurricanes were more an American thing and were willing to let them keep those storms for themselves. Even when she woke up this morning she hadn't really considered the light rain a precursor to a more dangerous evening.

If she did, she wouldn't have asked Michael to take her dancing.

She shook her head. "Always expect the unexpected." was something many agents and soldiers of Overwatch lived by. It was moments like this that she regretted doing the opposite.

She soon noticed that the occupied cars have disappeared, long since fled from the streets seeking more familiar and safer shelter.

"Oi, everyone listen up!" The Omnic barista shouted, slapping away at the counter to further steal the attention. The time traveler quickly set her phone down and glanced his way. The other few patrons had followed suit. In one hand was a drink destined for the tall, rude man sitting nearby. In the other? A small book with a name that escaped her view. "Hurricane Amanda is 'ittin' us hard now. Normally we close at this time but management doesn't feel like kickin' y'all to the curb. You all can stay 'ere until it settles out there but as soon as it calms y'all gotta get 'ome, understand?"

Some patrons far from the perturbed British time traveler murmured their annoyance at the situation but she was rather grateful to not be kicked into a hellish abnormality.

"To accommodate the inconvenience, management 'as allowed me to give you all some freebies. It's gonna be a long night an' they don't want y'all going without." He announced, his metallic words earning some praise from a few less bellicose patrons.

"Hey, hey! Wicked sweet!" Lena had cheered alongside the calmer patrons.

His visual processors then landed on Lena and he extended a digit to her. "I already know whatcha want, Ms. Oxton! I'll have it ready for ya shortly."

A jubilant smile sprouted on her face and she offered the robot a two-fingered salute, chuckling all the while. Being a regular had its privileges.

"Now I dunno wot exactly is goin' on out there. I ain't never 'eard of lightning in a hurricane but something funky is 'appening. So everyone just stay calm, do your own individual stuff until this thing subsides." The Omnic kept his eyes locked on the normally spunky time traveler, this storm was easily rattling her nerves. It was nothing like the deployment she had back in Cuba. Not even the winds there were dangerous. "You, uh, might wanna keep away from the windows." He called out.

Her eyes went to the glass and beyond, nodding as she watched the bending trees sway back and forth against the fury of nature. Her gaze lingered a moment further before it turned to her anchor in time, sitting lonely under the table by her stilettos. But before further thoughts entered her mind the barista called out to her again, this time having already returned behind the counter.

"Come, sit over 'ere! Rather chat with a friend anyhow." The automaton offered, giving the woman cause to smile; even if that smile was a small one. Lena lifted her eyes to meet his, and with that small smile remaining, nodded once more. She was disappointed, however. Not with Michael, but more or less with circumstance. This was a night she wanted so she could feel normal. Socialization, drinking, and dancing. All part of a plan to feel normal for one night.

But the weather evidently decided against such plans...

Even glancing at her infernal device was enough for a frown to sprout, but the friendly Omnic was always a ray of sunshine and was always willing to talk to her even when she was moody. She had known him for a while, about two years now. Meeting him when she first came to this shop and part of the reason she always returned was for him and his friendly personality and to a lesser extent the way he prepared the coffee. But mainly because he was always grand to be around.

He wasn't someone she went out dancing or drinking with - if an Omnic could do such a thing - but he was always friendly and upbeat even when bad things were occurring and because of that she would be willing to hang out if he had asked. The Omnic had his own life besides his job however and her job didn't allow for many days off so she would never pry on hanging out. Despite their only level of interaction being this place, she often called him "Boltiful", but his actual name was just Bolt. All a jab because he was such a positive robot.

She would rather sit near him than alone at this point if she was going to be stuck here. A conversation with a friend leagues better than staring at her personal hell.

Standing up, she took hold of her phone and grabbed a firm hold on her accelerator, a hand holding onto one of the shoulder straps as she tried her best not to look at it. Tonight was already flying south fast and she would rather not be reminded of how abnormal she truly was.

"Where's my drink, Boltiful?" She giggled as she pulled out a stool in front of him, letting the confining device fall to the floor with a loud clunky thud. It turned some heads, but no one was really interested. They all wanted to go home and do their own things, not invest time in figuring out what belonged to an annoying patron.

The Omnic chuckled at her, holding up a finger as he turned away towards the brewing stand.

"Friend not coming?" The Omnic asked, picking up a small cup filled with nothing but warm air. He was already aware she was awaiting a ride, but it has since been near almost an hour since she arrived. Quite obviously he wasn't going to make it. Especially not now with the status quo being what it was.

"Bloody nope. Storm's got 'im stalled out there." Lena lamented, waving a hand away as if it wasn't a big deal. "I was just texting the bloke. He's tryna find a safe place to hunker down but the moron should've been 'ere sooner."

"I could be shaking my bum all up an' down the dance floor but now? Agh.." She scoffed with a shake of her head. "Y'know I only get a few weekends out of the month? Goddamn it all.."

The Omnic looked back at her, his emotionless face betraying nothing but it was clear he was sympathizing easy. It was certain he had better plans than working overnight in a café but fate had turned cruel for him just as it did for her. "You got a mouth on ya." He laughed, causing the Brit return the favor with a playful scowl. Lena knew however that he was just playing with her.

"I hope he's alright but it's probably for the best. I think it'd be safer bein' stranded 'ere than with a bunch of-" He tried reasoning, but Lena interrupted him with "Nope, nope, nope."

"Nah, don't give me that. I'm sitting here in...this." She gestured to herself. The Omnic took a look at her, nodding slowly as he was reminded just how revealing her clothing was. It might've well just been a low-cut shirt with short sleeves and minor decorations combined together with a skirt. It was obvious even to the Omnic she was trying to flaunt what she had but this wasn't the place she wanted to show off. She then leaned in, lowering her voice so that only Bolt would hear her. "Most the blokes 'ere got knobs. I don't want that." Lena sneered.

The Omnic chuckled. The struggle was obviously real.

"...an' at least there they got booze." She added mildly, her eyes drifting behind him as he topped off her drink with a dab of whipped cream. Her mildly irritated eyes went wide as she beheld what he was making and a bright and toothy smile sprouted almost immediately "Ooh!" She exclaimed. "Make it extra creamy, will ya?" She asked, her smile stretching wider. "Like, really really creamy, yeah?"

The Omnic nodded, returning to his work.

"If you didn't wanna wait 'ere then why are ya 'ere anyways?" The Omnic asked, squeezing away at the dispenser. A small mechanical whir tried cutting into their conversation but it was just dull enough that neither Lena or Bolt noticed. "Seems rather better that you just take your hoverbike there instead of meeting 'im 'alfway…"

She deadpanned at him, a false one it was however as her eyes remained locked on the creamy wonderland that was forming on her cold coffee.

"The Tracercycle..." She corrected him, false agitation digging into her voice. "...is in the shop. 'Member? I told you I crashed it a few weeks ago…"

"Oh, right." He chuckled. He looked back at the drink, satisfied with the amount of whipped cream that was now drowning the coffee. He turned to give it to her only to pause as a thought came over him. He twisted his head askew, voicing the thought with a confused tone. "Uhh, remind me… How did you crash it?"

She smiled cheekily, giving the Omnic a simple shake of her head and a small gesture towards her free drink.

"That's classified, luv." Was her simple answer.

The Omnic accepted that, understanding well that her job as an Overwatch agent had ins and outs that even he, a not-so-close-but-close-enough friend, had no business in. He did not pry further, handing her the coffee that was oh-so drowned in whipped cream. "You're double royal espresso, frigid and topped with whipped cream." She took it gladly, licking her lips with a large childish smile.

"Thanks luv. You're a lifesaver, ya know that?" She giggled, staring at the delicious concoction before her in her hands.

"No problem, Lena. Now if ya excuse me, ma'am…" He said, grabbing a pen and paper from behind the register. "I need to go take orders now. I'll be right back."

With that said, the Omnic stepped out from behind the counter and moved first towards a couple sitting on the far side of the coffee shop. They were initially having a rather engaging conversation with one another and Lena quickly took them for an item. Or perhaps they were just like her and Michael - good friends just hanging out - but it was really none of her business. The coffee was. The Omnic quickly found a spot before them, pen and paper at the ready as he graciously took their order.

Out of the blue, in the mild quiet of the café, a loud ding startled her and she quickly turned around to witness a woman, soaked through and through, burst into the shop. Her hair a sopping wet mess that fell to her shoulders, her coat drenched and darkened by the haze of the storm's fury outside. Her clothes left a growing puddle where she stood, panicked breathing against confused stares. The newcomer was visibly shivering, her legs shaking like a rattlesnake as she stood there alone and singled out. The warmth of the shop completely lost on her.

Everyone's eyes landed on her, however this was not lost on her as she quickly spun her head in every direction, trying her best to locate something of dear interest. Her head darted left, and her expression remained one of panic. She darted it right, and her eyes met with those of the Omnic barista. She huffed, her scan of the room bringing something similar to annoyance mixed with frantic breathing unto herself. Lena could only look to Bolt, who was just standing there, dumbstruck as the woman took a step towards him. She was just as confused as he was.

The newcomer's voice was one of pure concern and panic.

"Bloody hell, are any of your phones workin'?!"


Post-Chapter Author's Note

So yeah, as of this note's writing it is LGBT month. I decided to write a story to honor Lena's canon status as a lesbian. This was originally meant to be a one-shot, but it's going on day 11 of June right now and I got to deal with a multitude of other projects, Morals and Heroes's final chapter, and my job that I'm getting hired for, and so I realized I wont have time to actually write it in full in one go so instead it's gonna be a short story that'll last for a few chapters. Not a whole lot, mind you. Just a few. With that in mind, the idea is to write this whole story out in the entirety of June while I work on Morals and Heroes big finale.

This story will not be canon with Morals and Heroes's extensive storyline I have planned. It's just a fun side thing. It will, however, delay the final chapter due to its planned length so bear with me and give me some time, plez. You cannot rush perfection.

A final note: I have actually suffered through a category 5 hurricane, the whole event and the aftermath. It was Hurricane Michael. So for the most part I write the hurricane in this story from experience. Yes, there was lightning too (even though it's supposed to be a rare thing in hurricanes).

With all that being said, I hope you've enjoyed what has been given thus far, see you soon! :D