All Julia Argent knew about her soulmate was that they appeared to be forgetful, or had no access to pen and paper. Scrawled addresses and dates had appeared on her hand nearly daily from her sixteenth birthday. The handwriting had evolved, but it was still a scrawl across her tiny palms.
So Julia wore gloves.
It wasn't like she was embarrassed by her soulmate, far from it. They'd never tried to communicate, but that didn't bother her. Julia believed one should not force destiny.
When the addresses started matching up with certain historical treasures and museums, Julia had a bit of a panic. The same targets that Carmen Sandiego were hitting were only showing up on her hand only hours before the raids.
Sure, Carmen Sandiego was hot, but... she was an international superthief, for God's sake. And Julia just wasn't that attracted to her, no matter what outsiders may think.
But then Carmen started leaving her handwritten notes, after they'd partnered up a few times, to Chief's bemusement. And Julia sighed in relief. Carmen wrote in elegant cursive, not an untidy scrawl.
That didn't solve the mystery, but it knocked one suspect off the list.
"Eh, Miss Argent, you appear to be lost in your thoughts?" Devineaux asked her as he tapped her shoulder.
Julia flinched in surprise. "Oh, just a personal mystery. It has nothing to do with our work."
Devineaux frowned. "But if it is occupying your thoughts, you will not be in the right mindset to work, no?" He grabbed a chair from nowhere and sat in it, his elbows on his knees, hands clasped under his chin. "Is it a mystery you are willing to share?"
Julia smiled slightly at the sight before her. Devineaux had grown from an arrogant, dismissive coworker to a steady and reliable friend for her. She sat down as well and took a deep breath.
As close as Devineaux was to her, you don't just talk about soulmates with anyone. Soulmates were a sensitive topic.
"It is my soulmate. Specifically the way our mark works. My soulmate mark is the ink mark, and my soulmate, they must be forgetful or in a habit of writing on themselves. As of the last several months, or year, several of the addresses..." Julia sighed, and removed her glasses to wipe them off in a nervous tic. As she replaces her glasses, she continues, "Several of the addresses lined up with places we have gone in our attempts to capture or work with Carmen Sandiego. At first I thought maybe my soulmate was her, but her handwriting is completely different. Yet the addresses continue to show up."
Devineaux's eyes had steadily grown wider and wider during Julia's small monologue. He cleared his throat. "So, is it maybe one of her comrades? Or someone here at ACME?"
Julia shook her head. "I don't know. But I have a plan. I've never communicated with them, through the connection, but with all these coincidences, I'm about to. I have to. I have to know who they are, Devineaux."
Devineaux nodded and stood. "I hope you find them, Miss Argent." He exited her work area, and made his way outside.
Having exited the building, he leaned against the wall, shaking slightly. He raised his left hand to eye level, and slowly, finger by finger, removed the glove that had been covering it.
He had just written down the address this morning, due to a tip from some of Carmen's contacts.
Devineaux never thought about soulmates, since he didn't have a visible soulmark. But suddenly, after Julia's words, Devineaux was anxious.
What if he had offended, oppressed, and hurt his soulmate?
But you've also learned from your mistakes, apologized, and stepped away from those hurtful behaviors, another part of his mind whispered.
Devineaux clutched his head in confusion and anxiety. He allowed himself two minutes of agonizing, then he stood up tall, replaced his glove, smoothed his hair, straightened his jacket, and returned to his work.
<Timeskip: Next Day>
Julia lowered the pen, only to pull it back. She had been so determined to do this, so ready to finally meet this person, only for her nerve to fail her now? She shook her head and pressed her lips together in determination. She raised the pen again, and placed it firmly on the back of her hand.
I believe it is time for us to meet.
She then gave the address of the café where Chief liked to go in the mornings, and set a time for their meeting, and set the pen down. She stared at her hand for a few minutes, breathless. Finally, the scrawl appears.
I will be there.
Julia released the breath she'd been holding. They were coming. She'd finally meet her soulmate and find out about the addresses and mysteries.
She might even feel less stressed.
She pulled her glove back on and pulled out her laptop, satisfied. They'd meet around noon, if all went well.
Devineaux looked at the back of his hand, shocked, and scared. He didn't have any proof, but if this was just a coincidence, it was an uncanny one.
He pulled the glove back on and resumed his work, though his eyebrows were closer knit than usual. He looked up at a gentle knock, however, less then two minutes later. Julia was standing there nervously.
"Ah, Miss Argent, come in!" He said, putting on his regular Chase facade.
"Devineaux," she began, "I did it! I'm meeting my soulmate for lunch today!"
Devineaux's head swirled, and a lump grew in his throat. He should tell her, but he couldn't get the words out. All he could manage was a weak, "That sounds lovely."
Julia was normally an observant woman, but she was in a daze, and couldn't quite see the tempest in Devineaux. She couldn't see his internal conflict with himself, a conflict that was growing stronger by the second. She just couldn't.
Julia walked around Devineaux's desk, and gave him a hug. "Thank you for being so supportive of me. Not just with this, but with everything. Ever since Egypt, you've become one of my best friends. No, you are my best friend now. And I couldn't be more grateful."
Devineaux returned her hug, his knowledge pressing on his tear ducts, but he swore not to cry. Not then.
"You showed me my errors, Miss Argent. You, and your perspective, changed me for the better." Oh, how he wanted to call her Julia, then. But he couldn't. That wasn't his place. Not yet.
Julia stepped away. "Now, I must go. I have some things to finish up before I leave. Thank you, Devineaux."
He nodded as she turned and left, a slight spring in her step. Devineaux looked down at his desk, noting a drop. The tears weren't tears of sadness, nor joy. They were tears of conflict, and tears of shame that he had been unable to tell her then and there.
He wiped the teardrop of the desk, and returned to his papers. Like Julia, he had several things to accomplish before their lunch. He would not be working through his lunch break today.
Julia tapped the last of her papers together, and looked at the clock. She swept the papers into her desk, and stood up. She was about to leave her area when she looked at a vase on her desk. There was a small flower on the edge of the arrangement she had placed in it, and she pulled it out. Her hair had grown out a bit, but she thought the primrose might still be a nice touch. She placed it gently behind her hair, and smiled, pleased by the effect.
Devineaux waited for Julia to exit the building before hurriedly shoving all his stuff in a briefcase and shoving it into the desk. He stopped by a mirror in the hall and tried to fix his hair, but stopped. It wouldn't change how Julia viewed him. She already knew almost everything about him, or at least his personality.
And his messy grooming habits.
Devineaux internally flinched. If today went well, if she accepted him, he resolved to improve his hygiene and grooming. And double check the toothpaste tubes.
He still hated VILE for that one.
He made his way to the cafe, and stopped just outside. His breath caught in his throat.
She was there. A primrose in her hair, and a radiance around her that just made her shine. He backed away for a moment.
He just realized that he was in love with Julia Argent.
He straightened his coat, hoping she wouldn't be disappointed in him. He walked in with a group of other people. Even from a distance, he could tell that, despite her glow, Julia was anxious. After a glance at his watch, Chase knew why.
He was seven minutes late.
Chase felt his heartrate go up drastically, and he wasn't sure if he'd make it to Julia. He pulled a pen out of his pocket, and placed it on his hand.
Try not to be disappointed.
Julia raised an eyebrow at the message, but also understood. She gasped in surprise when a hand was gently placed on the table in front of her. She looked down at the messages, which mirrored hers exactly, then followed the limb up, past a familiar jacket, to a very familiar face.
Chase Devineaux smiled weakly. "Surprise?"
He sat down heavily and placed his forehead on the table, the anxiety from earlier leaving him exhausted. Julia stared at him, her brain whirling.
"Wait, you're my soulmate?!" She mumbled, still in shock.
Chase lifted his head up. "I wanted to tell you earlier, when you walked in, but I just could not! I give you my deepest apologies, Miss Argent."
Julia looked at him, still processing, but the pieces are starting to click. "No, no, I don't think you should apologize. Something about fate. It's strange like this." She looked at her delicate hand, then placed it on Devineaux's rougher and larger one. "And fate didn't want me to know then, I'm sure."
Devineaux looked away. "But, Miss Argent, how can you trust me now?"
Julia looked at him quizzically. "You've saved my life, and grown into someone I can trust with anyone. Devi-" She stopped, swallowed, and continued. "Chase, how could I not trust you?"
Chase looked at her again, wonder on his face. Hardly anyone called him Chase. "I thought you would hate me, or even worse, ignore me."
Julia sighed. "I could never. We're partners, remember?" She held up her hand. "Forever, I suppose."
Chase cracked a grin, and leaned back, running a hand over his face. "It's like a weight has been lifted from my chest, thanks to you, Miss Argent."
"Julia," she corrected, and he nodded.
"Of course. Julia."
They sat in silence for a few minutes, until Julia's eyes widened and she covered her mouth. Chase glanced over in concern.
I can't find an easy way to tell you this, as you really are one of my dearest friends, and you really do mean a whole lot to me.
I'm going to have to reject you. I do love you to bits, but not in the way you want me to. I don't reciprocate the feelings you have for me.
I'm sorry if I ruined your day. I'm sorry if this breaks your heart.
There is someone else I love, and have loved for a long time. You remember Gray don't you? The guy ACME questioned? The Aussie boy with amnesia? Well, as you know, we're old friends, and we've loved each other for some time now.
Things got complicated after our change of alliance and the unfortunate day at the museum, but we're figuring things out together. We're making amends. Gray makes me feel like I'm on Cloud 9, and it's about time we finally came together. Us being endgame was always meant to be. We are simply meant to be! We always find our ways back to each other. It's like we're two pieces of the same puzzle.
I'm sorry again I can't reciprocate your feelings. I truly do care about you, and I wish you happiness. Tell Chase I said hello.
Chase Devineaux hcs w any theme like i'll take anything and also some Chasulia (Chase x Julia) hcs too, some soft ones cuz my heart is sore for them. Forgive me. xx
We love a frenchman n his smart gf 🥴
Chase Devineaux (+ Chasulia) Hcs
ong i cannot put my finger on it
but hes a cat person
i think he perfers the lil fwuffy ones
ever since he was little he always wanted to stop no-good criminals and help the world
cuz childhood angst? yea prolly
so throughout high school n college he has multiple detective + criminal justice degrees
so once he works for interpol its a little weird
finally!! dreams are happening!!!
but its so tedious
most of the criminals he arrests are pathetic
either doing bad stuff for the right reasons or just making light stupid mistakes like shoplifting
this isnt what he wanted
he wants to stop serious threats!
save a community!
save a life!!
but he gets that chance
a few years after joining hes told about a serious heist of a jewelry shop near Paris
hes the first one on the scene and there he sees her
shes dressed in a ruby red and holding a bag of what must be important
"Stop!" he calls out to her
but with a saddened look from her, she disappears
after an investigation he learns that all was stolen was a priceless necklace that was about to be shipped to an import-export company
our man chase here is staight up distraught
he had an actual chance to stop a serious crime and it slipped through his fingers
he reported his sightings to his superior and they suggested a partner
shes cute. and brillant.
shes gonna go far
and her name falls out of his mouth oh so beautifully
Julia
hes jealous, insecure, and impressed
so to make a good impression to the partner
and the best way to do that is tell the story of the mysterious red woman
he half expected the young woman to not believe him
or scold him like how he does himself
but when he peers back at her
shes listening
holding on his last word
theres this small smile upon her lips
"what happened next, sir?"
and it was at that moment he decided
the facts and details of such dull things are his job to talk about
