So, this story much shorter than my usual, but I didn't want to make it feel artificial by stretching it out. It's just mindless fluff because Carmen and Player have the sweetest friendship and I couldn't resist. Oh, and there's a tiny bit of discussion about chosen names vs birth names and you can read Player's advice on that as him being trans, but I don't say explicitly either way. Enjoy, and on with the story!
Disclaimer: I do not own Carmen Sandiego, nor am I associated with it in any fashion.
With VILE's latest scheme thwarted Carmen had a few days off to relax. Player, in his seemingly infinite ability, had booked her a nice room at a hotel in Manhattan, where she was currently collapsed on the bed, enjoying the downtime. And the cable TV. She had a bluetooth in and Player was alternately asking what was going on in the movie (a cliché rom-com he was enjoying making fun of and explaining why to her), and steadily hacking into more of the VILE hard drive.
"Hey, Player." Carmen said, biting her lip. "Can I tell you something?"
"Sure Red, what's up?" He asked, staticky voice tinged with concern.
"You remember the night I escaped VILE island?" She began, flipping onto her stomach.
"How could I forget?" Player said playfully, and Carmen chuckled.
"My name...Isn't Carmen. I don't know what it is, but on VILE island, it was Black Sheep. I got the name Carmen from Cookie Booker's hat. Carmen brand outerwear, from San Diego." There was a second of silence and then her only companion spoke up.
"I kinda figured Carmen might not have been your original name. Based on what you told me about how you were found, and what VILE's like, I didn't figure you knew what it was, even if VILE did. But you are Carmen. You chose that name, and you've made quite the impression on the world with it already. Just because it's not the name your parents gave you doesn't mean it's not your name." Carmen smiled, fiddling with her shoulder-length hair.
"Thanks Player, I think that was exactly what I needed to hear."
"Happy to help Red, now, what're Olivia and Ryan up to?" He asked, addressing the leads from the movie still playing in the background. Carmen glanced at the screen and told the other teen, and they trailed off into joking conversation, a soft little ball of contentment in Carmen's chest. She trusted Player with everything, and she didn't like keeping secrets from him, and now there were none left.
There will be more Carmen in the future, I've got an AU I'm very excited to write one-shots for, so expect to see some of that.