technically challenged

☤ chapter 00 ☤

*omg new story! hi friends, just to start the story starts where Alyx is (31) and Luca is (36). this is just a prologue*

The building stood tall, its steel frame being analyzed by the short woman below. The violent modern look of the structure doing the opposite of ease, her stomach sitting in knots while walking into the SWAT headquarters. Which was a surreal moment for Alyx Austen and accompanying her was family friend Buck Spivey - of about 10 years.

It had been a few months since the woman had just finished her first PhD when Buck called her about an open position in SWAT. Originally Alyx believed she could live out the rest of her life serving under the LAPD Bomb Squad but being on internship for all of her vital career years wasn't as attractive as it sounded. She swayed on her feet as if attempting to match the height of the building, the nerves starting to show visibly as her tote bag started to fall off her shoulder after each scratch of her elbow.

"Hey don't sweat, they'll like you." Alyx looked to her friend who sported a small smile, agreeing silently she took a step forward towards the entrance. Removing her hands from the iron grip, on her bag she extended her fingers as if to shed the wet residue of inner turmoil. Her eyes scanned each person they passed and a common understanding was that women were near non-existent. Buck kept a safe hand on the small of her back, guiding her throughout the layout of her future home away from home.

They passed lockers and a boxing ring surrounded by work out equipment, the impact of padding echoing throughout the open area. Looks were thrown Alyx's way which she ignored while trying to keep her feet moving in the direction Buck was taking them. Her eyes remained locked to her Converse, not knowing they had entered their first enclosed room. Screens situated high on the main wall, a touch pad table in the center where five new faces stood confidently.

"Oh my gosh, another woman?" The first face turned out to be a needle in a haystack, the desperate words belonged to a short-haired woman. Alyx's eyes widened at the same time her head sought a face to the voice. The woman walked forward to pull Alyx into a hug which she couldn't outright reciprocate due to the items in her hands. So, she took her bag off and placed it on a table that sat in the corner of the room, before returning to the conversation.

"Alyx this is Chris, Chris this is Alyx. Unfortunately she won't be working specifically on the team but she is a forensic genius." The two women exchanged a firm handshake and a playful smile, Chris then gestured towards one of the men leaning on the table in the middle of the room. His biceps near the size of Alyx's head, he raised an eyebrow at her glance but introduced himself nonetheless.

"Hey, I'm Deacon." She bows her head at the silver-haired man offering a polite wave. Her eyes then followed to the dark-skinned man who stood firmly next to Deacon, his arms crossed over his chest. Alyx let out a meek "Hi" which caught the man in a small snicker, Alyx later on learned that he was the team leader and his name was Hondo. In the moment the awkward silence elicited a nervous smile which was caught on by a man who was standing with Chris.

"I love your smile. My name is Victor but everyone calls me Tan." She looks at the tall asian man who displayed a sly smirk, the corners of his mouth twitching when he noticed the red on Alyx's face spread over the bridge of her nose. Alyx struggled to fan herself while laughing at her flushed state, the blonde next to Tan decided to make it even more difficult for her to recover any composure.

"I'm Luca. Beautiful eyes, I haven't seen that much." Luca took a step forward, Alyx taking a retaliatory step back due to the lack of distance between the two. Yet that didn't stop everyone else, but Hondo and Deacon, from taking a glance over their own. Alyx dramatically opened her eyes to show two different colored irises - one brown and one blue.

"Lynx was her nickname as a kid." Buck poked into the conversation, the label piquing Luca's interest.

"Why? Her eyes?" Luca jutted a thumb towards Alyx's direction in which she and Buck nodded.

"Foxes adopt heterochromia like me. When I was around 5 we went to the zoo and saw a Iberian Lynx with matching color eyes. Got the nickname on the spot." Alyx raised her hands theatrically to explain the backstory, when she finished she let her hands fall to her sides. The rings on her fingers clinked together, prompting her to twist and pull at each accessory.

"I guess I'll call you Lynx." Luca was quick to respond to her explanation which left her cheeks shaded rose. Yet the questions didn't stop there as Chris spoke up again, this time holding an iPad.

"You can't be any older than 25, we just looked at your file. You already have a PhD in civil engineering? And you were a part of the bomb squad?"

Alyx took her own glance at the iPad verbally confirming everything the portfolio showed, "I am 28, and I'm actually here to get acclimated for a new position opening as a tech specialist. I can do many more things to help your team out but I go back to school to work on my second PhD." Backing away she went to retrieve her tote bag with a smile.

Together the groups exchanged excited faces, already thinking of the positive impact Alyx would have on the team. Both Buck and Alyx said their farewells and heading back for entrance of the building, Buck kept his arm around Alyx's shoulder while explaining the work SWAT did.

"Sounds like a good time."

"Sure is kid."