Stumbled (A Carmen Sandiego/Gray Story)

Chapter Eight

I was three days into my "no training" week and I was bored out of my mind.
God help us all. I was going stir crazy and it was affecting everyone. Yesterday I told Zack to go to the "damn shops" himself if he wanted more food. Zack NEVER does that. At this rate, I'll have burned down the building before the week is over.
Then I had a lightbulb moment.
I got up off the bed and marched out of my room to proceed up the stairs. "Gray, come here now!"
Graham opened his bedroom door, looking concerned. "Is something wrong?"
"Yes, I'm going to burn down the building soon if I don't find something to do. Get changed, I'm training you."
Confusion was evident in his features. "Okay?.." He shut the door again.
I stood at the end of the hallway, tapping my foot. After what seemed like an age, Gray emerged, wearing sweatpants and a loose shirt, complete with a sweat band to hold back his hair.
He looked adorable.
Focus, Carmen! I told myself.
"Right, uh, come on!" I took off at a cracking pace down the stairs. Once we reached the basement he turned to me. "What now, boss?"
"We're going to start by warming up. Touch your toes, do fifty star jumps and twenty pushups." 
I sat down against the wall, waiting for Gray to finish. Not being able to do the excercises myself was annoying, but this was the next best thing.
Plus, I had a facade to stare at him. He WAS attractive.
I shook my head. The boredom must be making me delusional. There's no way I could have feelings for him... could I?
I considered the concept.
Gray has been my friend since I was eighteen. The first day at the academy, he laughed at me, but after I threatened him our bond was instantaneous. Since everyone else at the academy was at least twenty one, at first I was picked on for being the little kid, but Gray always stuck with me. Then I failed my final exams and had to do a second year at the academy while the others graduated and went on missions. That crushed me. Gray still always made time for me, but it wasn't the same. He had another life now, one I wasn't a part of. Over time, as the distance between Gray and myself grew, so did my plan to escape.
I left V.I.L.E island with no regrets besides not saying goodbye to him.
I didn't see him for another two years, until the opera house caper. I initially thought he was undercover, but it soon became apparent that he had no recollection of our time at V.I.L.E together. When he offered to meet me at the café, I realised that we could've had a fresh start, but I turned it down due to the danger I could've put Graham in. That night, I also considered that my feelings towards Gray may have shifted.
Fast forward a few months, to when I "employed" him for the "children's charity". That's when he worked out that I was dangerous, yet we still met at the café the next day. He found out I was part of some secret service, I found out that I definitely felt different about him. But I left again, worried for his safety.
Then the caper a month ago, in the outback. Where I had no choice but to drag him back into my chaotic lifestyle. It was simply chance that he was there, except now it seems like luck. This past month has been a roller coaster, yet Gray has supported me throughout it. I've supported him, too. And though when I first met him my feelings were of the brotherly sense, they definitely weren't anymore.
I had a crush on Graham Crackle.
"Hello, Carmen? Are you there?" Gray was standing in front of me.
"Uh, yes. Sorry! I was lost in thought."
He laughed. "It's okay. What do you want me to do next?"
"The obstacle course, please."
"Not a problem."

I spent the rest of the afternoon yelling commands at Gray. Yelling makes me feel good. Once it wat nearing up, Ivy called out.
"Come on, it's time for dinner!"
"Okay, I'll just take a shower then I'll be up."
I gave Gray a thumbs up and headed upstairs.

Once I arrived at the table, I realised that I was in for a "family" dinner night. In reality they aren't my family, but they were the approximate. Someone had even gone to the trouble of hooking Player up to the TV nearby. He was sitting there in dinosaur pyjamas, the light from the screen illuminating his face. Zack looked like he wanted to eat the buffet in front of us, which Ivy had graciously cooked. Sometimes I wonder if we will ever need to physically restrain Zack to keep him from eating. Shadowsan was also there, frowning.
If I knew one thing about family dinners, they were hardly ever for a good reason.
I heard footsteps and turned to see Gray coming up the stairs. "Woah, fancy." He exclaimed, sitting down next to me. Gray didn't know the meaning of a family dinner in this household.
"Alright, hi everyone." Player waved through the screen. "How's it going?"
Zack frowned. "Amazing, but can we please start eating?! You're teasing me by leaving the food in front of me but not touching it."
"Yes Zachery, you may eat." Shadowsan expression darkened. "V.I.L.E plans on stealing the Mona Lisa. We're going to need all the help we can get. Carmen, is Gray mission ready?"
I nodded. "Yes."
"Good. We fly out on Monday."
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PLEASE READ THIS
Hi!
There are 2 chapters to go!!! (Unless I feel the urge to write more because it's cramped or whatever)
I have a question: if I wrote a book of my own (not a fanfic), would you read it? It'd be about mystery/murder.
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed <3