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As Carmen entered the elevator, she ran through the plan in her head one last time.
She was currently at Phoenicia Floriana, one of Malta’s most luxurious five star hotels. VILE was going to hit either this party, or one of two others, in Scandinavia by 10 PM. To cover them all, Carmen was here alone in Malta, Shadowsan was attending one of the parties in Scandinavia, while Zack and Ivy were attending the other. Carmen just needed to keep an eye out for VILE operatives and stop them from causing any harm, should they show up here tonight. Player’s intel indicated ACME sent Julia to the party here in Malta as well, providing Carmen potential backup should VILE strike, but Carmen tried her best not to get her hopes up for anything more. She was here to stop VILE, not flirt with her favorite ACME agent the whole night.
That quickly proved to be a difficult challenge once Carmen entered the ballroom and spotted Julia at the bar. She was wearing a brilliant low neck gown, the color of a dark, cloudless night, fading to a brilliant violet near her ankles. The stars hung in her hair, completing her transformation to the image of the night sky.
Jules is as gorgeous as ever, she thought. Carmen had to pause and take a deep breath to center her thoughts. Focus, Carmen.
Carmen exhaled, pushing those thoughts away before taking an empty seat next to Julia.
“Hey, Jules,” Carmen said, forcing herself to think clearly.
“Miss Santa Rosa?” Julia responded, not missing a beat and prepared as ever despite the obvious question in her voice.
Carmen winked. “The one and only.” Carmen signaled the bartender, ordering nothing more than a sparkling cider. “What does ACME know about the mission?”
Julia took a sip of her own cider before answering: “Just the basics. I assume you know more.”
“My team had to split up, they’re halfway across Europe. VILE may not even be here. So, if nothing happens before ten, then we’re free to just relax,” Carmen offers as an answer. She carefully skirts around the edges of the actual question, avoiding the fact that she does not, actually, know much more than ACME. Just this once.
If VILE isn’t here, maybe I’ll ask her to dance? Carmen thinks, before quickly scolding herself to think of something else. Think Non-Julia Thoughts!
“Well, there are only twenty minutes left in the estimated time slot. Either VILE is improving at avoiding our notice, they plan to strike at the very last moment... or we’ve got a peaceful evening ahead of us,” Julia says, perceptive as ever.
(Carmen loved this about her- she always had.)
“All right, I’m going to go check around again,” Carmen said. A twinge of fear remained in her stomach: just because she and Julia had an easy night ahead of them didn’t mean that the rest of her team would. “Enjoy your evening. You look gorgeous, by the way!”
Carmen left on that note, setting her untouched glass of sparkling cider on a nearby ledge before vanishing around a corner.
Julia was left sitting at the bar, cider glass in hand, a blush rising in her cheeks.
§
After finishing her survey of the room, Carmen accepted a few requests to dance in order to better blend in. Reluctant though she may be, she did whatever the mission required.
The awkward dances and boredom lasted until almost eleven, when Player informed her that Zack, Ivy and Shadowsan had successfully stopped the VILE operatives. Carmen felt a rush of relief flow through her: no matter how many times she played the same game, the fear of losing was as potent as ever.
“You wanna go tell Julia that everything went well?” Player asked, his voice innocent. “You two can just relax now if you want.”
“Sure, why not?” Up until now, Carmen had been careful not to touch any alcohol but now that VILE had been stopped, surely she could unwind a little.
§
“Hey Jules, my team reported in- they’ve got the situation handled!” Carmen said happily, approaching the agent once more.
Julia was immediately relieved- at least some of it was a selfish relief, but she pushed that aside as firmly as she could. She wasn’t allowed that guilty pleasure, not yet. Besides, it genuinely was great news.
“That’s good to hear,” Julia said, smiling fondly at the thief standing across from her.
“A toast to a successful mission, and an evening off!” Carmen chuckled. They clinked glasses and sipped their drinks.
A moment passed. “Do you want to dance?” Carmen asked, almost tentatively. Julia blinked at that- tentative wasn’t a word she would have expected to describe Carmen with, but here they were.
“Of course,” Julia said immediately. She didn’t trust herself to say more, too shocked that Carmen asked in the first place.
They danced together to a few different waltzes, the music crisp and even as before but also somehow more delicate. Julia’s racing heart and flushed cheeks were no doubt betraying her with each step. This was brought to an end as Julia’s pen started to beep, even faster than her heartbeat.
“Sorry, Carmen, Chief is likely looking for a report,” Julia apologizes, genuinely remorseful.
“Dont worry about it, Jules. Duty calls, and so does the bar. I’ll go get another drink.” Carmen winked and sauntered over to the bar.
§
As Carmen sat down at the bar, the bartender walked over. “What would you like, Madame?” she asked.
Carmen hummed for a moment, thinking through her options, before saying: “I’m looking to try something new. What would you recommend?”
“The Silver Sazerac is my personal favorite, though it’s a little strong. Would you like a glass, madame?
Carmen considered her offer. Back on VILE island, Cleo had taught her what wines paired best with what posh meals, and how to properly appreciate a glass. A mixed drink would probably taste different, but have the same effect, she assumed.
“I’ll take a glass, thank you.” Carmen said smoothly, and the bartender quickly prepared the drink. The first sip immediately impressed Carmen. Wow, this is really good.
Carmen sat at the bar for some time, drinking the Sazerac while quietly keeping an eye out for Julia’s return. Just as she finished her drink, a young woman from the crowd asked her to a dance. Carmen agreed, figuring a distraction might do her some good.
§
“WhoooOO!” Carmen yelled into the crowded room, giddy off the successful caper, and getting to spend the evening with Julia. She took a sip of her second Sazerac, when she heard her comm-link click, signifying Player’s presence.
“Red, you alright?” Player asked, concern edging his voice. “I know we didn’t spot VILE there, but are you positive no one slipped you something?”
“Oh, sure,” Carmen struggled to finish her sentence, giggles interrupting her words at intervals. “Don’t you trust my … wicked skills … a bit more?”
Player wouldn’t be so easily swayed. “Red, I’m seriously worried about you. Is there anyone there you could talk to? Julia?”
“HEY! That’s a good idea! I’m sooo glad I keep you in my ear!” Carmen promptly abandoned the dance floor and headed on over to her favorite ACME agent. Player sighed, but the sound was drowned out by the stomping of feet on the dance floors and the pounding of hearts.
§
Carmen half walked, half stumbled over to where Julia stood in the corner of the ballroom, ever the picture of grace.
“Heeey! Jules, did you know that you’re my favorite person?” Carmen slung an arm across Julia’s shoulders and took another sip of her drink.
Julia startled; it seemed even drunk, Carmen could sneak up on anyone.
“I’m flattered, really, but would you happen to be intoxicated?” Julia ventured.
“Naaaah. I had one glass of wine with Cleo's fancy schmancy social lesson dinners aaallll the time back at VILE island, and I neeeever got drunk. I only had …” she paused, taking another sip of the drink, “one and five sevenths of this fancy schmancy Sazerac here. And it's all still alcohol, just different flavors. ” She shrugged, her arm not leaving Julia’s shoulders.
Julia’s eyes widened in concern, recognizing the drink immediately. “What? No! Sazerac? Carmen, that has a much higher alcohol concentration!” Oh god, how drunk was Carmen?
Carmen moved closer to Julia, resting her chin on Julia’s shoulder from behind. Julia’s face flushed at that. “Carmen, what exactly are you doing?”
“Cuddling,” the thief responded, as if that answered everything. She offered Julia a lopsided smile as compensation. As adorable as it was, Julia was too busy panicking and attempting to plan an exit strategy to appreciate it.
“Carmen, stop drinking that,” Julia said, as firmly as she could. Don’t let your panic show, she told herself, over and over. Maybe she had learned something with ACME after all.
“Fiiiiine.” Carmen reluctantly moved away from Julia just enough to set her glass down on a table, all traces of her typical grace gone.
“You’re drunk,” Julia said, leaving no room for debate. The sooner Carmen agreed and Julia could get her to sleep, the sooner they would be over with all this.
“An’ you’re pretty.” Carmen rested her head on Julia’s shoulder, as if the weight of it was too much for her to bear alone.
Julia sighed, considering her options when she heard a faint voice coming from Carmen’s earring.
“-Back to her hotel room!” it squeaked.
“What?” Julia asked, intrigued.
“Hmm,” Carmen giggled, pretending to be thoughtful. “He said to take me back to my hotel rooooom!”
Julia took this into consideration. More likely than not, the “he” in question was Player. Having someone who actually knew what was going on (and who was likely sober) on her side would probably be helpful. “Carmen,” Julia said carefully, “may I borrow your earring?”
“Mhhhmm.” Carmen took out her earring and handed it to Julia. Her blind, albeit well placed, trust in the other woman was clear in the lack of hesitation.
“Hello? This is Julia Argent,”Julia spoke into the earring.
“Julia!” Player said, letting out a relieved sigh. “Could you take Red back to her hotel room? Apparently, alcohol and its various effects was another thing missing from VILE’s curriculum, and I don’t want Red out in the open when she’s this drunk. It should be on the third floor, room number 347.”
“Certainly,” Julia said. Having a room number was definitely helpful, and she made a note to thank Player later.
“Thanks. Really, I don’t know what I’d do if you weren’t here.” Julia was about to respond when he continued on. “Oh, and Julia?”
“Yes?” Julia prompted.
“Thanks for being there for Red, she- I’m glad she has people like you.”
Julia smiled at that. “You too.” A vague crinkling sound came through the line, and Julia assumed that was the comms version of hanging up. She turned towards Carmen next, nudging her shoulder gently to get her attention.
“Carmen, we’re going back to your hotel room, all right?”
“Mhhmh, sounds good,” Carmen mumbled. “Private cuddles.” By now, Julia had simply decided to disregard half of what the thief said. For the sake of her own sanity. She started towards the elevator, with Carmen still hugging her from behind.
When the pair reached the elevator, Julia stopped before pressing the button. “Carmen, do you have your key card?”
“Dunno!” Carmen said, entirely unconcerned with the problem at hand.
Julia sighed and pressed the lobby button, and the elevator shifted, starting its ascent.
Carmen lifted her head from nuzzling Julia’s neck, and squinted at Julia’s face before giggling. “You have stars on your head Jules! Jewels and on your faaaceee, you’re sooooo sparklyyy…”
Julia subconsciously reached up to touch her freckles. Carmen seemed to take this as the go ahead to do the same, looking enamored with them. “Soooooo sparkly!”
Though Carmen was clearly out of it, she seemed to have a fundamental desire for contact with Julia. The smaller woman was having a bit of a hard time half-dragging, half-leading Carmen across the hotel lobby. The thief was not being helpful in the slightest, her head resting on Julia's shoulder, nuzzling into her neck, her arms wrapped around her shoulders, her uncharacteristically uncoordinated feet hindering their progress.
Though, Julia had to admit, it was really sweet.
When the two of them reached the reception desk, Julia stopped.
“Excuse me, Fennel,” Julia read the receptionist's name tag, “Could I possibly get an extra key card for room 347?” Julia gestured to Carmen, “She can’t seem to find hers.”
It was clear from their expression that Fennel was holding back laughter.
“Your girlfriend have too much to drink at the party downstairs?” they snorted.
Julia blushed. “I- we’re not-”
“Sorry ma’am, hotel policy won’t allow it. Security reasons, you know.” Julia had to acknowledge that- it would have been concerning if they gave a key card to everyone limping along with a drunk friend- but still, it made her job much harder.
“Thanks anyway,” Julia said, offering up a small smile. Fennel nodded and shrugged in sympathy, but there was nothing that could be done about it.
Julia guided Carmen to the elevator, making sure. Suddenly, Carmen stood up straight, with her hands holding Julia’s shoulders for support, and shouted, “ I’M GAY AS FUCK! ”
Everyone in the lobby turned to them, and the last thing Julia heard was Fennel’s laughter and at least one “Amen!” from someone as the elevator doors shut.
§
Carmen wrapped her arms around Julia once again. Before, Julia hadn’t minded much, but the weight was a bit too much this time. She adjusted Carmen’s arms as cautiously as possible so she wasn’t leaning her entire body on her for support.
“Y’knowwhatJules?” Carmen asked, the words squished together with alcohol’s tendency to stretch time, everything becoming too fast and too slow.
“What?” Julia asks, indulging Carmen’s drunken curiosity.
“You talk kinda weird, like Zack and Ivy but fluuuffier!” Carmen seemed proud of this discovery, gesturing dramatically with one of her arms to properly express the difference.
Julia’s eyebrows wrinkled in confusion before she realized what Carmen meant, having to laugh at the endearing absurdity of the question. “You mean my accent.”
“You taawlk liiyke thees,” Carmen said in a slurred attempt at a British accent.
Julia found that she couldn’t stop laughing, right before she wondered if she ever wanted to stop laughing.
When they reached the hotel room, Julia had to ask Carmen if she had her keycard one last time. Without it, they’d be locked out for the night, and Julia was not excited to see how drunk Carmen would act as a drunk, sleep-deprived Carmen. How much sleep did a super thief need, anyways? The laws of the universe had to apply to Carmen differently somehow..
“Hmmmmmmm. It’s innnn my pocket!” Carmen responded, happy to finally have the answer to something.
“You have pockets?” Julia asked, admittedly somewhat jealous.
“I’m Carmen Sandiego!” she giggled. “Everything about me is awesome, including my dress!”
Julia nodded, unable to argue with that logic. “Touché.”
Carmen made no attempt to reach the keycard, after several prompts from Julia, and it eventually dawned on her that she would have to reach into Carmen’s dress and get the keycard herself.
“Which pocket?” Julia asked. This would be infinitely easier if she didn’t have to make multiple attempts. Who knew how many pockets Carmen had hidden in that dress? If Julia was an international superthief, she would hide as many pockets as possible in her dress.
(She made a mental note to ask Chief about getting more pockets in their ACME suits, but given the dent Devineaux had left in their budget, she wouldn’t get her hopes up much.)
“Uh… left, opening’s at my hip,” Carmen said. Everything coming from her sounded like a young girl desperate for validation, raising her hand at every question, hoping the teacher would smile and give them a sticker. Let alone whether Carmen had teachers as a kid, Julia had to wonder how desperate Carmen had to be for approval, and how well she managed to hide it when she wasn’t incredibly drunk.
Julia’s face was redder than would have been ideal as she reached into Carmen’s pocket, attempting to do it in as unintrusive a manner as possible. With the keycard secured, Julia unlocked the door. Carmen finally removed her arms solely to clap in support.
“Woohoooooo! Great job baaaabe!” Carmen acted like opening the door was like winning the world cup, but Julia couldn’t find herself complaining at the unexpected enthusiasm. Maybe it was something all of them needed a bit of.
As soon as they got into the room, Carmen- surprisingly- let go of Julia and began to take off her dress.
“Carmen! What on earth are you doing?” Julia asked, horrified. On top of everything else, she couldn’t deal with this right now.
“The dress isn’t comfy for snuggling.” Carmen spoke, as though it was the most obvious thing in the world.
Julia noted the suitcase next to Carmen and turned around, giving her some privacy. Carmen could handle this one on her own.
Since Julia couldn’t see Carmen anymore, a sudden arm wrapping around her was the only indication she got that Carmen was no longer changing.
“Hey!” Carmen said suddenly, as if a great idea had just come to her. “You should change too, so we can both be comfy!”
“I don’t think that’s necessary-” Julia started, but Carmen quickly cut her off.
“YOU COULD WEAR MYYY CLOTHES!” Carmen dissolved into drunk giggles at the thought.
Julia made a noncommittal noise. She wasn’t about to give in and just cuddle Carmen, not in any world. It would be, unmistakably and undeniably wrong, to put it simply.
Carmen didn’t seem to hear Julia’s half-hearted protest, because the next moment, she ran back to her suitcase to grab a soft t-shirt and pair of loose workout pants for Julia.
Julia hesitated for a moment, evaluating the options before her
I’m going to be here the rest of the night, and this dress is rather uncomfortable for sleeping, not to mention...revealing, Julia reasoned. Finally, she took the clothes and headed into the bathroom to change, the reality of the situation sinking in. Did Carmen just call me “babe”? Julia was eternally grateful that in her current state, Carmen would probably be unable to tease her. Is she flirting with me? She’s drunk, Julia. It doesn’t mean ANYTHING. Julia scolded herself for getting distracted. You’re supposed to be taking care of her!
§
Julia re-entered the main room in Carmen's sweatpants (rolled up to her ankles) and a red t-shirt.
Carmen was sitting on the bed, and she positively beamed when she saw Julia.
“Oooh…” snrk she giggled softly. “Now we’re dating! because- because y-you’re wearing my CLOTHeS!” Julia tried to fight her own blush and found an extra blanket and a chair to sleep on.
Carmen, however, had a different plan.
“Noooo come cuddle with meeee! I love you so much!” A tear of joy rolled down Carmen’s cheek, and she wiped it away hastily. “I have a GIRLFRIEND!!!” she cheered.
“Carmen, I want you to try to drink some water and eat something before you go to bed, I don’t want you to be hungover tomorrow,” Julia instructed calmly. “I’ll order room service. What do you want?”
“To cuddle with my girlfriend,” Carmen said sweetly.
Julia sighed and sat on the bed next to her. “I’m going to order you some coconut water and a chicken sandwich.”
“No,” Carmen huffed, pouting and turning away from Julia.
“Come on, Carmen,” Julia tried persuading her again. “You need to drink something other than alcohol.”
Carmen continued to pout, stubborn with her arms crossed. “I don’t want food, I want cuddles.”
Julia, despite finding her pout incredibly endearing, resolved to stand her ground. With exasperation, she said: “Carmen, you need to eat. Please.”
“Tell you what, Julessss, I’ll eat your...coconut whatever if you cuddle with me.” Carmen stuck her tongue out cutely at Julia, who finally conceded.
“Fine, but only until you’re done eating.”
What happened to standing your ground? her mind snarked.
Julia ignored that and placed the order, setting the phone back on the stand. Carmen looked at her from the bed with pure anticipation in her eyes.
“Is it cuddle time?!” she exclaimed delightedly.
Julia shook her head. “I want you to drink something before then.”
She walked to the mini fridge and pulled out two bottles of water. Oh god, £18 each?
Julia handed one of the bottles to Carmen, who reluctantly took it.
“Ooh, fancy stuff,” Carmen muttered. Suddenly her face lit up, and Julia found her drunken grin stupidly endearing, like everything else about her. “We should have a toast!”
Julia laughed, sitting in the chair next to the bed. “Fine, I’ll indulge you. What are we toasting to, Carmen Sandiego? A successful mission, perhaps?”
Carmen hummed for a moment, twirling the water bottle as if it were a flute of champagne. “To Jules Argent, my girlfriend, and to cuddlllessss!” Carmen raised her bottle and looked at Julia expectantly.
Julia‘s ears heated up. Just as she was about to reply, a knock sounded at the door.
“Room Service!”
Oh thank god. “I’ll go get that,” Julia said, placing her water on the nightstand.
“Aw, booooooo,” Carmen protested, before her face lit up again. “Wait, does this mean it’s almost cuddle time?!” At Julia’s blush, Carmen cheered in victory. “Okay hurry uuuup so we can cuuuuddle!”
Julia went to the door, trying to shake the blush from her face as she opened it.
“Well, well, well if it isnt the gay gals from the gala!” Fennel looked so damn smug, and Julia would have slapped her if they weren't holding the food trays. “The Silver Sazerac Sapphics, if you will.” Fennel shifted their trays over to one arm. “My favorite…yknow…” they said as they limped their wrist. “The-”
“It isn’t,” Julia deadpanned. “You’re mistaking us for someone else. And aren’t you supposed to be working at the front desk right now?”
Fennel laughed at her deflection but answered her anyway. “Nah, I’m working a double night shift. I was in the front before, now I'm here, running your order, lucky enough to run into the highlight of my week twice in one night!”
Julia almost wished she had never opened the door, but she needed to get Carmen her food.
Fennel barrelled on, waving a hand as she explained.
“My girlfriend just so happened to be the bartender this evening. When I told her what your little girlfriend did at the elevator, she knew exactly who you both were!”
Julia bit her lip to fight her embarrassment. She couldn't resist asking: “So do you know how Carmen got drunk?”
Fennel simply shrugged, the food trays clinking slightly as they did. “She said your girlfriend wanted to try something new, and my girlfriend assumed she would be able to handle a Silver Sazerac. Then she saw her clinging to you an hour later and knew she made a mistake,” she chuckled.
“Jules, honey, what's taking you so longggg?” Carmen shouted from around the corner. Fennel laughed, finally handing the silver platter to Julia.
“Sorry for keeping you away from your girlfriend,” they giggled, wiggling their eyebrows to insinuate their assumption.
“Yeah, you better be!” Carmen yelled.
Fennel was on the verge of wheezing. “Well, have a nice night ‘Jules,’” they said, making air quotes with their hands and turning away.
“I hope you know you’re not getting a tip,” Julia stated dryly.
Fennel didn't turn around as they walked away, with a flick of their wrist as goodbye. “Worth it!”
Balancing the tray on one hand, Julia shut the door and headed back inside. She set the food on the bed, and Carmen patted the space next to her. Julia sighed and hopped on to join her, sitting against the headboard. Carmen smiled and scooted up against Julia, sitting so they were pressed together, shoulder to shoulder. Julia’s ears burned as she reached to pull the tray within easy reach before returning her arms to her sides.
“No,” Carmen complained, wrapping one of Julia’s arms around herself “We have to snuggle up, remember?” she pouted.
Julia reluctantly allowed the new placement, hoping Carmen couldn’t see her blush from this angle.
Carmen took a sandwich, nestled back against Julia’s chest and sighed.
“Carmen, you really should sit up to eat....”
“Hhmmf.”
Julia’s face felt like the surface of the sun as she sat on the bed, cuddling the superthief ranting angrily about some person named- Gary? Julia couldn’t tell- who had tried to attack Carmen with something called a sizzle stick, apparently. Julia struggled to keep track of the drunken tale. As Carmen rambled, her voice muffled as she tried to eat and speak at once, Julia couldn’t help but smile. She wrapped her other arm around Carmen and leaned into her briefly, before snapping back against the headboard.
This is a hug to ensure she eats, stop enjoying it!
Carmen finished her food and turned to smile at Julia, which quickly turned into a frown when Julia started shifting out of the bed.
“Wha happened to cuddles?” Carmen asked sadly.
Julia did her best to calm the blush on her face. “If you still want to cuddle with me when you’re sober, then sure, but right now you need to get some sleep.”
Carmen wrapped her arms around Julia’s neck and giggled.
“Y’know Jules, you’re really great, you’re just like the best!” She laughed before leaning forward and kissing Julia’s lips chastely.
Julia squeaked in surprise and Carmen pulled away, falling backwards onto the pile of pillows at the head of the bead, but taking Julia with her. “I tol you I coul do it, Ivyyyyyy!” Carmen quietly cheered.
Julia finally got her bearings and muttered: “Carmen?”
Carmen’s only response was a light snore, pulling Julia closer to her chest.
Oh shit.
Julia, what are you doing? You’re on a bed with Carmen Sandiego, wearing her clothes, and she’s drunk out of her mind! She needed help? But she thinks you’re dati-
Julia’s internal argument was cut short by Carmen hugging her closer. She tried to squirm free, to no avail. Carmen was really strong even when she was drunk and passed out. Eventually Carmen’s grip loosened enough for Julia to escape. Carmen stirred and whimpered: “Jules?”
Julia handed Carmen the extra pillow to let her have something other than herself to cuddle and reached out to stroke Carmen’s hair which had fallen loose from its bun.
Carmen sighed contentedly at Julia’s affectionate touches.
Julia reluctantly moved away when she heard Carmen’s breathing change. She looks like an adorable mess. Julia bit her lip to keep from laughing, but felt something weird on her teeth. She went to the bathroom, only to find Carmen’s color on her own lips. Julia’s face quickly became the color of the lipstick as she wiped it off her mouth. She went back to the main room and shifted the chair closer to the bed before attempting to make it as comfortable as possible for her night in it. It’s just in case she needs me , she told herself.
§
The next morning, Carmen awoke with the worst headache she had ever had. She brought her hand up to her head and groaned. She took in her surroundings: she was hugging a pillow, there was a glass of water at her bedside, and Julia was sleeping in the chair next to her. She felt cared for in a way she’d rarely allowed herself to be since leaving VILE.
Julia woke at the noise, blinked to reorient herself, and stretched her neck. “Carmen, how are you feeling?” She said quietly.
“Awful,” Carmen moaned, her eyes closed.
“I’m going to order breakfast. Once you eat something, you can take some ibuprofen.”
“Mmmm,” Carmen murmured.
Julia ordered an acai bowl for each of them, along with a pot of tea. Until that arrived, she grabbed another bottle of water from the minifridge.
Carmen finished the bottle quickly; she was more parched than she’d realized. “How do you feel?” Julia asked as Carmen set the empty bottle to the side.
“A lot better, thanks,” Carmen said gratefully.
At the knock and call of “Room service!” Carmen’s appetite made itself known.
This time, their food was delivered by a hotel employee who apparently knew nothing about them beyond their order. Julia silently thanked the universe for this one reprieve.
A few minutes later, feeling much better now that her stomach was full, Carmen felt enough like herself to wonder how she’d gotten into this situation. She was still trying to figure out how to ask about it when Julia spoke.
“So, are you still dead set on cuddling with me?” Julia asked jokingly.
Carmen choked on the last bite of her food, blushing a deep crimson.
“I-um-you- cuddling?” Carmen stammered.
Julia smiled, placing her hand over Carmen's. "What, don't you remember?"
Carmen blushed harder, squeaking at the contact. "Um, I remember celebrating with you that the mission was completed, then I had a bit to drink, but after that it's pretty fuzzy.” She closed her eyes and tried to focus, “I had a Sazerac and we talked a little- I can’t remember anything past that.”
Julia held back her laughter as she explained the events of the previous night. Carmen stared at her with comically wide eyes, her face as red as the dress discarded on the floor.
“When we finally got back to your room, I ordered room service, we ate some sandwiches, and you passed out. After that, I cleaned your lipstick off my face and fell asleep here.”
Carmen’s expression was one of confusion for about half a second. Her eyes widened even further as she realized the implication- she looked almost fearful, and Julia wanted nothing more than to reassure her that it was fine.
“I am so sorry, Jules,” Carmen breathed, looking so incredibly embarrassed.
Julia laughed and moved closer to brush a kiss on her cheek, and Carmen was certain she was going to pass out at that moment.
“Carmen, don’t worry about it. Though next time, it would be nice if you didn’t taste like alcohol.”
A small smile crept onto Carmen’s face, and she whispered under her breath, not expecting Julia to hear: “What if I do still want cuddles?”
Julia blushed slightly, beaming. “I’m all yours,” she said, before climbing onto the bed and wrapping her arms around Carmen.
Carmen’s heart stuttered, and she stammered out her question as if she wasn’t the one that asked for this. “Jules, what are you-”
Carmen was cut off by Julia’s finger on her lips. “Shush. You asked for cuddle time, and I agreed on the condition you were sober. You’re sober now, so I’m simply fulfilling my end of the agreement.”
Julia closed her eyes and leaned forward, meaning to kiss Carmen’s cheek again, but unfortunately (or rather, fortunately) Carmen turned to face her instead. Their lips met, cherry-red on blossom-pink, and Julia’s eyes flew open.
Carmen grinned at her reaction, gently removing the glasses from her face for their comfort. Julia just shook her head, taking the thief’s face in her hands and kissing her properly, on purpose this time.
Bloopers:
Shadowsan: Carmen. You got drunk and dragged a girl to bed with you?
Carmen: …
Julia: I slept in the chair !!
Shadowsan: this one’s partially my fault, VILE left many gaps in your education. I’ll add “the effects of various kinds of alcohol” to the list. Right after “Crosswalks”.
Carmen: my body is betraying me :’(
Julia: no, you’re hungover and exhausted
Zack and Ivy, crashing through the door: iS ShE DeAd?!?!
Julia’s mind was 47% “get Carmen to her room”, 33% “shelikesmebackshelikesmebackshelikesmeback”, and 10% “ffs ACME better not call me in again tonight.”
Lets appreciate Carmen’s pov:
You danced with your crush at a party
You wanted cuddles, and she agreed to have them back in your hotel room.
She changes into your clothes
She bought you food and cuddled with you
You fell asleep while she stroked your hair
“I will finish the sunburn fic!”
*spends a MONTH constantly working on a drunk fic*
julia: oh yeah, i ordered room service, you ate and then passed out. i spent like 10 minutes trying to get your lipstick off my face
carmen: oh i'm sor- WAIT WHAT
Julia’s nose wrinkled like a rabbit. “You still taste like alcohol.”
“Well let me brush my teeth!” Carmen said, covering her face in her hands.
This fic is sponsored by crest toothpaste /j