Requested by datweirdhooman

Here's some genderbent Carmen fan art created by yours truly for this chapter!

Carmen POV

Carmen Sandiego stood at the top of the tall office building, his back stiff against the wind that battered him to-and-fro. The glittering lights of the city beckoned to him, offering a night of delicious food and the company of his trusty crew, Iverson and Zephyr. He sighed at the taunting thought, rubbing a hand down his face and through the sides of his closely-cropped hair. They didn't have time for such frolicking tonight, sadly. VILE had taken a young convenience store employee hostage just an hour before now- and Carmen was aware he was the one that had put the young woman into danger.

So their goal had changed from disarming the bomb and booking it to saving the girl, then disarming the bomb, then getting the heck out before VILE reinforcements could arrive.

It really shouldn't be too difficult, Carmen thought to himself as he strode across the roof to gather up his hang glider and short, biker jacket-like crimson coat. Citizens always come first, after all. This isn't anything new. Get in, get out. He pushed a shuddering breath from his chest, sliding into the long red sleeves, making sure the high collar stood properly before tugging the backpack-hang glider onto his back. He checked to make sure everything was in order; black jumpsuit -which covered most of his body, save for his arms, shoulders, and head- straight and comfortable, sturdy combat boots that reached just below his knees ready for action. An assortment of red and silver themed tools glittered from inside his coat and the belt around his waist.

It was go time.

Shaking his gloved hands out, Carmen sprinted for the edge of the roof, flexing his feet to push off of the surface and soar into the night sky. He let himself enjoy the cool breeze through his hair and the sensation of falling for just a second before pulling a release mechanism, causing the flaps to unfurl and catch the wind. He was pushed up, gliding over the tops of buildings, allowing a smile -just one smile- to help him feel better about tonight's mission.

He could do this. He was Carmen Sandiego, after all.

Reader POV

They locked you in the freezer.

You glowered at the heavy metal door, holding back shivers as the handcuffs keeping you pinned in a chair bit at your skin. It had been your turn to close the store tonight, but as you had reached for the keys to the building, a shadow had leapt from behind and tackled you.

And now you were here, surrounded by frozen meat and ice cream, your fingers curling as your bare arms twitched. They must have gotten to the thermostat, because you swore the temperature only continued to drop further. Breath clouding in front of you, you gritted teeth angrily, hoping for a second that the door might melt under your glare.

A face suddenly appeared on the other side of the small, frost crusted window, followed with, "Aw, is somebody getting a bit chilly?" The door slammed open, and a lithe man prowled into the freezer, his steps laced with danger. You stared up at his powerful black-clad shoulders and chest, refusing to flinch as he gazed lazily at you with ice-blue eyes. His blonde military cut shone dully as he circled you, and you noticed the green and orange stripes along his suite. "The name's Tiger, girly," he grunted, though you hadn't asked and didn't care. "What about you?"

"I'm your prisoner," you spat, refusing to back down at his jabbing tone. "I don't particularly care what you call me."

"Hmm." His predatory eyes narrowed at you, glittering with cold amusement. You shivered, cursing yourself silently. He tapped his strong chin. "How 'bout Y/N?"

You started. How did he know your name?

Tiger snickered, crossing his arms over his chest. "Now then, Y/N," he purred tauntingly, "as you can you see, I'm dressed to wether the cold. You, however, are not."

You became painfully aware of how stiff your fingers were and of the ache pounding up your head.

"So," he said crouching down in front of you, his voice dropping. "You can either sit here and freeze to death, or you can tell me me where in heck in heck you put those keys."

Keys. The keys to the building. The keys you had dropped when he jumped you- he hadn't seen them?! You snorted. Cat-like vision indeed.

Tiger growled in annoyance at your dismissal of his question, the restraint to smack you evident in his taught muscles. His lips pulled back into a snarl, showcasing elongated canines. You flinched at the sight of them, hoping they weren't real. "I can wait all night, you know," he hissed, standing back to his full, imposing height. "Once you black out -which you will, if you don't talk- I've got other ways to find them."

"Like just searching the store?" you mocked, sarcasm and disdain dripping from you voice.

He sighed through his nose, the tips of his ears red with anger-or from the cold. "I was instructed to not draw blood. You are making that... difficult."

"Good," you huffed, feigning nonchalance as you settled back into your freezing metal chair. Barely restrained shivers twitched at your body, and you fought against the blackness that threatened to creep across your vision. What Tiger had said was true- you wouldn't last long in here. You needed a way out.

"You're feisty," Tiger growled, throwing you a sharp look as he stalked out the door. It slammed shut behind him. "Don't go anywhere," he taunted through it.

And where, exactly, would I go, you thought to yourself, watching your clouded breath in front you as your chest constricted, your breathing labored. You needed a distraction-

Glass suddenly shattered from inside the store, followed by cursing from not just Tiger, but a new voice.

You gave a lopsided grin, the muscles in your face slowly shutting down. "That'll do," you muttered to yourself. "That'll do."