Behind closed doors

Settle down, Carmen

Summary:

Carmen was the epitome of freedom. She'd taken a new name because of it and wore it like a badge because she could flaunt that, she was free.

Having a home base?

It was like being back on the island.

Carmen's problem first reared it's head in Milan. Shadowsan had been the one to bring it up.

Carmen hid her giggle as the tourists put their camera away, the man dragged his daughter along, looking purely terrified by Shadowsan. He turned to her, gruff.

"Perhaps it would be best not to discuss delicate matters in public," she turned to look at him, "especially since my attire seems to be attracting unwanted attention."

"We're at the apocalypse, ancient Greeks wore togas here." "Acropolis." Ivy corrected.

"That's what I said, apocalypse." Ivy looked over at Carmen, pouting and gesturing vaguely for her to settle the score.

"Clothes do not make the man, but I might still suggest retreating to the privacy of your headquarters."

"As in HQ?"

Zack whispered something Shadowsan couldn't quite make out.

"I admire your discretion." He said simply.

"I am not sure that I would trust me enough to reveal its location just yet either." He moved to walk further down the steps.

Carmen's gaze softened, she paced after him, "We would trust you, Shadowsan, if we actually had one."

At his gaping eyes her brows furrowed. "Hard to believe, but true."

"Why would you not possess a home base?"

She hummed, "I vowed if I ever left VILE island, I'd see the world. And here we are."

Zack jumped on the man's shoulder, popping out of nowhere, seemingly having eavesdropped. "Welcome to Carmen Sandiego's never ending tour."

"And the wicked sweet part, VILE's footing the bill."

Shadowsan glared at the two, Zack put his hands up in surrender, hardly backing up; and Ivy rolled her eyes.

She sympathised "I guess if I knew more about my past, I might have a better idea of where I'd wanna hang my hat." she looked at the ground, family had been on her mind lately.

She swallowed the lump in her throat, "I mean, home base should feel like home, shouldn't it?"

Shadowsan's eyes lingered, thankfully that conversation ended when Player called.

Oddly enough, Carmen enjoyed fashion fest, at least the caper. She wouldn't tell her team that though, they'd claim she'd just liked seeing Julia.

She thought back to the conversation that morning, Shadowsan had gotten more stares recently from the locals.

When she'd offered finding him some more modern clothes, the siblings had to help coarse him into entering a few stores.

Luckily, he obliged in trying on the clothes while Zack and Ivy went to the food trucks.

They were just chatting, maybe somewhere deep down Carmen hoped this would cease the talk of a headquarters.

Afterall, what would they even do with it?

"You won't invite stares on the street dressed this way."

He turned back to the table, then he said it.