Imagine Book 2

A Different Dance- Carmen Sandiego (Carmen Sandiego 2019)

As requested by waterwater101! Male Y/N

The Louvre's marble halls echoed with the soft footfalls of a solitary figure. Y/N moved with practised stealth, his V.I.L.E.-issued gadgets humming quietly at his belt. His mission was clear: secure the recently discovered ancient Egyptian amulet before it could be properly catalogued and displayed.

As he approached the restoration room, Y/N couldn't help but feel a twinge of... was it excitement? Or perhaps apprehension? He knew she might show up. She always did when the stakes were high.

Carmen Sandiego.

Just thinking her name sent a shiver down his spine. Over the past year, their encounters had been a thrilling dance of wits and skill. Sometimes he emerged victorious, sometimes she did. But every time, Y/N found himself more and more drawn to the mysterious woman in red.

Shaking off the distraction, Y/N focused on the task at hand. He deftly picked the lock and slipped into the dimly lit room. There, on a workbench surrounded by various tools and instruments, sat his prize. The amulet gleamed dully in the low light, its intricate hieroglyphs promising untold secrets.

As Y/N reached for the artefact, a familiar voice rang out behind him.

"You know, some would say it's rude to take things without asking."

Y/N couldn't help but smile as he turned to face Carmen Sandiego. She stood in the doorway, her signature red coat and hat cutting a striking silhouette.

"I could say the same for sneaking up on people," Y/N retorted, his hand hovering near the amulet. "Though I suppose neither of us is known for our manners in these situations."

Carmen stepped into the room, her eyes locked on Y/N. "True enough. But then again, I'm not here to steal anything. I'm here to stop you."

Y/N's heart raced as Carmen approached. He knew he should grab the amulet and run, but something kept him rooted to the spot. "And how do you plan on doing that?" he asked, his voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through his veins.

A sly smile played across Carmen's lips. "Oh, I have my ways. Care to dance?"

Without warning, Carmen launched into action. Y/N barely had time to dodge her first strike, a sweeping kick that would have taken his legs out from under him. He countered with a quick jab, which Carmen easily deflected.

Their fight was a blur of motion, each anticipating the other's moves with an almost supernatural awareness. Y/N marvelled at Carmen's fluid grace, the way she seemed to flow around his attacks like water. For her part, Carmen couldn't help but admire Y/N's precision and control, each movement carefully calculated for maximum effect.

As they fought, Y/N found himself remembering their previous encounters. The time in Rio when Carmen had outsmarted him and made off with a priceless gemstone. The close call in Tokyo where he'd managed to secure a prototype AI chip just seconds before her team arrived. Each memory was tinged with a strange mix of frustration and... something else. Something he wasn't quite ready to name.

Carmen, too, was lost in thought as she traded blows with Y/N. She remembered the look in his eyes when he'd helped that child in Cairo, even though it had cost him his objective. The way he'd hesitated in St. Petersburg when following through on his mission would have meant destroying irreplaceable historical documents. Time and again, she'd seen glimpses of the good person hiding beneath the V.I.L.E. agent facade.

Their dance brought them closer to the workbench where the amulet lay. Y/N saw his opportunity and made a grab for it, but Carmen was quicker. She snatched the artefact and held it just out of reach.