Disclaimer: We don't own any of this. We are thieves, and I don't think I need to explain how I'm not a millionaire who owns Overwatch.
Author (Alec) Note: The other author (Kate) is French. She knows what, Je Désire une Employée means before anyone comments. Its how I, an American who speaks no French, misheard, Désiree-vous un emploi, the original title. I thought she said Desire an Employee. Which now explains the title. Also yes, this is a restaurant AU, bear with us, this is our NaNoWriMo.
Chapter 1: Désiree-vous un emploi
Lena Oxton slid off of her bike, slipping it into the metal rack before locking it up. She took a deep breath in before letting it out, readying herself. "Alright Lena, you can do this. You've got a new life, new job, new apartment and soon even new friends. It's going to be great." Her face lit up with big smile as she made her way down the street.
Lena stood in front of her new workplace, adjusting her tie, flattening her short brown hair and fixing her glasses before pushing open the glass doors of 'Talon'. Mentally preparing herself and fixing the last bit of her uniform, Lena headed in to see the staff members rushing around to get ready for the dinner rush. In the middle of the tile floor stood a tall woman, her long hair pulled back into a ponytail reaching her mid back, a clipboard in hand as she ordered everyone around. Lena made her way to the women, her spirits high. "Hello, my name is Lena Oxton. You must be Amélie, It's a pleasure to meet you, love." She held out her hand to shake, eyes fixated on the woman in front of her, a smile firmly on her face.
Amélie looked down at the new girl, eyes narrowed, giving her a once-over. She was expecting the new hire to come today, but she was not expecting someone like this. The hires in the past were less enthusiastic, all underdressed and lazy, less prepared and willing to please. She took Lena's hand and gave it a gentle shake, her grip loose on the other's. "Yes, pleasure." Despite her words, the tone and meaning was not there. "Gabriel had told me you would be coming. You will be shadowing Angela." She said, averting her eyes back down to the clipboard, waving Lena off just as soon as she had come.
Hearing her name, Angela head over to them; the young server had golden hair pulled up into a high ponytail. Her dress shoes clicking lightly against the floor, "Yes, Ma'am, I will be watching over her." Amélie gave the duo a nod, leaving the them alone as she stalked over to the next employee, inspecting their part of preparation. Once out of sight, Angela held a hand out offering a shake to the new hire. "The first day is always the worst. It sort of takes time to get used to her." She admitted, nodding in the direction of the manager. "But don't let her deter you. Welcome aboard."
Lena grabbed her hand happily and enthusiastically, shaking it with vigor "It's great to meet you, love. My name is Lena."
"Angela", she said, retracting her palm from the grip. Lena's happiness proved to be infectious, a warm feeling washing over the other server. Out of all of the new hires she has trained in the years past, Angela had a feeling that this would be one of the most enjoyable ones yet.
It took all of twenty minutes to show Lena around the kitchen, introducing her to the chefs and waiters making up the restaurant staff. Par typical of a shift, each member was rushing around, the flow in and out of the kitchen making a chaotically organized mess; orders being shouted, the clinking of ceramic plates hitting each other, the sizzling of cooking items all combining and saturating the air. Only being able to part for their jobs for a moment, each person giving a simple introduction, welcoming Lena aboard with rushed tones in brief moments of rest.
Preparation for the dinner rush proved to be necessary, booths and tables slowly being filled as people poured into the restaurant. The scene had transformed, overhead lights dimming and yellowing, adding to the small white candles alit on each table top, overall enhancing the steady-going and dream-like atmosphere. Lena couldn't help but be slightly taken aback by this sudden transformation in the moments that she had been gone, her gaze wandering across the floor.
Amélie made her way back to her office, shutting the door behind her. As she sunk into the worn leather swivel chair, her mind wondered about the new girl. There was something familiar about her that the manager could not shake off, even when throwing herself into the necessary paperwork for that night's shift. The intrusive thoughts reached the point of zero productivity, Amélie ending up staring at the glowing screen of her computer, watching as the cursor blipped in front of her. Interest in the paperwork fully left her, a new tab being made in the margin of the screen. With long, painted finger tips poised over the keys, she quickly tapped out the name of the new employee into the search bar. 'Lena Oxton'. As the engine booted up the match, imagines and links popped up, returning Amélie's memory to her.
Images of the 2008 and 2012 Olympics appeared, each depicting Lena receiving medals in her track and field division coupled with the awards for hurdles; every other image showing her and celebrating with teammates at the end. Coupled with the snapshots, advertisement appeared scattered throughout the search, branding taking hold of their part of the olympian. Lena Oxton, adorn with the nickname Tracer, had been one of the most popular and well loved olympians in the UK, each image and article reflecting this point. Even upon losing there were images and stories of her congratulating the winner, Lena's enthusiasm for the sport itself and the company alongside it everpresent.
Amélie placed a spindly hand over her mouth, her mind flowing with questions. All ponderance related back to an overall topic at hand: What was she doing here? With someone of her background, working at a restaurant was the last thing necessary in Lena's life, every aspect of it being financially covered from contracts of years past. Her curiosity was quickly answered with a click of the mouse button placed over news article illustrating a car crash nearly two and half years ago. The medical report stated that Lena Oxton had arrived at the hospital barely conscious, vitals dropping with each passing moment. After only fifteen minutes she was pronounced dead. Ten minutes after the doctor had declared this loss of life, she awoke, despite all little to no questioning, the doctors began to work on her legs, reconstructing the bones that had been shattered by the truck that was at fault. Written in the report it stated that she was to 'Never walk again'.
Amongst the given information, Amélie pulled up other sites to find more information. Eventually, a fan site popped up, decorated with more candid snapshots of the olympian, a header so cheesily reading 'Cheers love, the cavalry is here' in orange, cursive font. The main page was mainly bare, save for two clocks, one counting down and one counting up. Stuck to the left of the page was a digital timer reading 'Countdown Until the Rio Olympics!' coupled with another clock depicting a matter so lightly described as 'Days since Tracer was Last Seen!'. Spaced around the digital clocks were many different links, all highlighted in bright blue font, a particular one depicting her recovery story was placed evenly under the snapshot.
Six months after the accident and countless hours of rehabilitation, Lena Oxton was able to finally taken her first steps. Her story was quick to becoming that of an inspiration, each detail defying the odds. A year had passed since her accident and against her couch's and doctor's wishes, she decided to sign herself up for a race, 400m. Halfway through, her legs gave out, sending the once olympian crumpling to the floor. Unable to finish, she left. Lena had not been seen from since.
The fan-created site had everything on Lena, or Tracer, as the mods so lovingly called her. They described an attempt at a tear-jerking backstory about how the young girl at age three was orphaned, never to truly be adopted. Despite this fact, it never deterred her from pursuing her dreams and education at the highest level. At the bottom of the article, further information delved into her past life, borderline creepy details including her grades and track record from high school and college.
Amélie wondered what Gabriel might have know about this girl, so little information being told to her in the first place. Sliding the wheels of the swivel chair across the floor, she opened the small filing cabinet next to her desk and fingered the tabs of the documents before pulled out Lena's file. Opening the light tan folder, Amélie's eyes scanned over the paper of her resume. Lena hadn't written anything about the Olympics or even her past college experiences; the paper only depicting some hours of volunteer work. With so little information given, she couldn't help but wonder what Gabriel was up to with her. Closing out of the tabs on her computer, Amélie thought to herself I'll have to keep my eye on this one.
The dinner rush was about to begin and Amélie took great interest in how today would play out.
