Chapter Text
Julia Argent was many things, but a fool she was not.
Sure, it might have taken a second too long to realize who she was talking to in the train, but really, can you blame her? The woman who had sat across from her was… marvellous, dazzling. And yes, Julia could continue and try to look into her inner thesaurus for every adjective describing Carmen Sandiego’s beauty and charisma.
But – not the time or place.
Why, you may ask, was it not the time or place? Well, someone was hurt. And bleeding. Badly. On the carpet of her hotel room. At 3 am.
Someone who was half-carried and half-dragged in by the one and only Carmen Sandiego.
“Wha-“ – “Could we ask the questions when my friend isn’t bleeding all over the floor, please?” the thief asked, as if she had any right to barge in.
But again, Julia was no fool. “Tell me what happened or I will call Devineaux, and the police.”
Carmen, who had carefully lowered her friend on the couch, looked briefly taken aback. “You have to take your friend to the hospital, miss Sandiego.”
Carmen sighed. “I know. But it’s too public a place, and I can’t go there without a disguise. I was hoping to stabilize her here and then take her to a clinic.” While explaining, she was ripping her coat to try and stop the bleeding on the woman’s – girl even – thigh.
Julia observed Carmen for a few seconds. “You clearly have no idea what you’re doing, let me do this." She kneeled before the couch, shoving lightly Carmen out of the way. “And go get me the first aid kit in the bathroom.”
La femme rouge almost protested, but the look in Julia’s eyes deterred her to do so. When Carmen returned with the kit, her hair was in a ponytail just like in the train. She looked younger, and more vulnerable than when she was wearing her notorious coat and hat. Julia thanked her while taking the kit. “So, are you going to tell me what happened?” she asked as she worked on the wounds.
“Will you let us leave if I do?”
“Given that you’re the criminal and I represent the law AND that I’m breaking said law by helping you, I don’t think you’re in any position to distrust me.” Having to concentrate on something as tedious as wound tending had always made her snappy, she couldn’t help it.
Carmen chuckled. “You’re right, I’m sorry.” She paused for an instant, seeming to prepare her next words carefully. “Ivy and I were on a retrieval mission. Some old… colleagues of mine weren’t too happy about that, and sent one of their agents to stop us.”
She tried to stay vague, but keeping details on how Ivy had gotten hurt could have consequences. Tigress had been vicious this time.
After a while, Julia declared that it was safe to move Ivy. “You can borrow some of my clothes for your disguise. But you should hurry, I won’t be at ease until I know she’s in proper care.”
“Thank you Jules,” Carmen said as Ivy slowly regained consciousness, “I owe you”.
And they disappeared into the night. It was 4.30, Julia was exhausted, and supposed to be up at 7 to go chase the woman who had just been in her room.
Maybe, after all, she was a bit of a fool.