Chapter Text
Player winced as he heard fist connect with flesh, not knowing whether it was a VILE operative or Carmen that had been hit. Listening to her fight never got easier. Especially after the last few close calls…
Almost witnessing her death and being able to do nothing about it had been bad enough, listening to her cries of pain as her former mother-figure, Coach Brunt, nearly beat her into a pulp. But what might have been worse was hearing her go silent with no idea of her location, and finding out forty-five minutes later that she’d not only almost gotten killed a few times underground but gotten herself captured by VILE and met arguably the most dangerous member of the Faculty.
And then teamed up with him. Permanently.
Aye yay yay. Did she know about “stranger danger?”
Not that Shadow-san was exactly a stranger, but a member of VILE Faculty.
Well, she trusted him. He knew she could handle herself; she was the smartest person he knew. He knew he shouldn’t worry so much. But what if, one day, he didn’t worry enough? Made the wrong choice and someone got hurt because of it?
“You good, Red?”
“All good, Player. I’m through.”
“Bet those VILE grunts wished they’d taken the day off.”
“Well, they got a few hits in, but probably,” she chuckled. Player’s heart always sank just a little bit when he knew she was hurt, however moderately. Ivy could always patch her up, eventually, but he never wanted to see his best friend injured.
He wondered if he’d ever tell his mother that his “online friend” was an international superthief running from both the law and the lawless.
Hm. Maybe not.
He registered the bar connected to her lipstick USB hit 100.
“All yours, White Hat.”
He grinned and tipped his white ballcap. Damned if he didn’t get to utilize his hacking skills working with her, though.
His fingers clacked easily across the keyboard and his grin broadened. She was Carmen Sandiego, world famous superthief he’d known before she even set foot off the Canary Islands.
“We’re in. The building is yours.”
They were an unstoppable team. As long as they were together, adding Zack and Ivy, they were practically invincible.