Carulia Oneshots

More Than a Jewel

~word count: 717

Julia sat at a desk in a dark room so quiet she could hear her own heart beat. She was in the zone, finishing up some paperwork work on a recently arrested thief. Thief. That word reminded her of Carmen. God, she missed Carmen. It had felt like forever since the two had a lasting conversation. Suddenly—

"Argent,"  Agent Zari flung the door open. She stated with a boring tone and a blank expression, "you're needed elsewhere."

"O-of course!" Julia stood up and walked out into the long and gray hallway. She followed Agent Zari for a while until they reached an interrogation room.

"Can't believe she requested you," Agent Zari mumbled and stormed off to who knows where.

"What was that?" Julia tried to ask but it was too late and Zari was too far to answer. With a sigh, she stepped into the room. No lights? Odd. What am I needed here for? Am I in trouble? I hope I'm not. I don't know what I did wrong? Troubling and anxious thoughts flooded Julia's mind, although she truly never did wrong, it still felt like she had for whatever reason. Julia called out to the darkness.

"Hello?"

"Jules!" A voice replied and flicked the lights on. It was Carmen! In her darling red coat and fedora. Carmen held a hand behind her back, Julia didn't wanna question this but the thought of what it was sat in the back of her mind for awhile.

"La Femme Rouge?" Julia felt her cheeks warm up. "What are you doing here?"

"I pretended to get caught to come visit my favorite agent and return a jewel," Carmen grinned. She awkwardly reached for one of her many pockets in her coat with her available hand; she held a sparkling ruby in her palm and passed it to Julia. She set the gemstone aside on the table in the middle of the room.

"Y'know you didn't have to get caught to return something," Julia replied, "why pull off a stunt like this?"

"Because you're my favorite ACME agent," Carmen winked. Julia felt her knees weaken and her face felt even warmer.

"And also since you moved, I didn't know where you lived and didn't wanna become a stalker to find out," the scarlet thief added. "This seemed like the better option."

"I appreciate the not-stalking," Julia chuckled.

"A jewel is not all I brought you," Carmen grinned widely.

"Oh?"

"I brought something more than a jewel for my favorite jewel."

Carmen revealed a stunning bouquet of roses and held them out for Julia to grab. She noticed the redness on Carmen's face before she had quickly turned away once Julia grabbed the bright red and gorgeous flowers.

"Awh, jeez, Carmen," Julia gushed. Awh, jeez? What the heck kind of reply is that?

"I wasn't sure of your favorite flowers but I just paid for the same ones as last time."

"When you brought me roses in the hands of a terracotta warrior?" Julia set the beautiful bouquet beside the gemstone on the table.

"Yeah."

Julia wanted to speak but hesitated. It felt awkward now. Both women looked at each other and then around the room for a few seconds. Or forever.

"Carmen," Julia broke the heart pounding silence after what felt like forever, "before I let you go."

"Yeah?"

"Can I ask something?" Oh god, what am I doing? Why am I asking this? Maybe I should play it off? Or stall? Or anything to avoid her answer!

"You can ask me anything," Carmen grinned.

"I know we both live in dramatically different areas and rarely see each other, ever. And you're busy, and I'm busy," Julia rambled on, "And our jobs are widely different and I'm basically supposed to arrest you most of the time—"

"Jules, are you staling on asking me a question?" Carmen smirked.

"I was trying," Julia took a deep breath, "but I can't stall anymore. Carmen, do you wanna go out sometime?"

"Like on a date?" 

Julia winced. She probably sees it as platonic. Good job you ruined it. Maybe I can fix—

"I'd like that."

Carmen smiled and reached out for Julia's hands. "Before you let me go," the Super Thief beamed, "one more thing."

Carmen pressed her lips against one of Julia's cheeks, leaving an imprint on her right cheek.

"Guess you gotta let me go now, mm?"

"Maybe you can stay for just few more minutes," Julia chuckled and embraced the scarlet super thief.