Is it finally Shadowlian time??
guys. i think it’s time. i’ve made you all suffer long enough.
so without further ado, ya’ll know the drill, buckle your seatbelts bc yes i have angst in here >:3 (and lots of fluff this time too dw)
This is my longest one yet. Just be warned before getting into it.
(Also, the name change between Suhara and Shadowsan is on purpose. I like to think of his two names as his two identities clashing)
First, a bit of a backstory of when this takes place:
Takes place during the same time as the Carmen Sandiego Season 4 epilogue, when a lot of VILE members start to reappear (plus the prison breakout but that will come later).
The “new” Carmen Sandiego team consists of Sonia, Xifeng, Jiang, and Meimei along with Charlotta Valdez (Lupe Peligro) and of course Lian.
(I headcanon that Charlotta adopted Sonia and taught her capoeira :D)
Instead of running away from ACME and tripping them up (although they really should have atp) the new cs team works side by side with ACME, actively communicating with them, even if they aren’t using the same strategy.
Every so often, the whole team, which includes ACME, Carmen and her mother, Hideo and Shadowsan/Suhara, and of course the new cs team; meets together to discuss strategies. Whether it’s virtual or in real life.
This is where Lian and Suhara first meet.
Technically, Suhara met Meimei and Jiang before he even knew of Lian’s relation to them. Going off of only Zach’s description, Lian was a terrifying Chinese military general who would tear you to shreds in an instant (I mean he’s not wrong..). So it seemed odd to both Shadowsan and Suhara that Lian’s granddaughters were silly little Meimei and Jiang.
In all honesty though, he and Hideo only met Meimei and Jiang because VILE wanted to steal the daisho once again. Both teams started to realize that VILE was no longer only targeting and stealing things of monetary value, they were now targeting things of cultural significance and importance, trying to lure Carmen and Shadowsan out.
The operative that was sent out was Dash Haber, who was sent by Lady Dokuso to steal whatever he could from Matsumoto Castle that Hideo and Suhara held dear.
Little did Dash Haber know, was that Meimei was already there waiting for him, with Jiang dressed up all pretty as bait. Jiang, of course distracted Dash Haber long enough for Meimei to strike and steal back the daisho from him, climbing back onto the roof and placing in back into its place (making sure to wipe off the glass from his fingerprints <3).
All the commotion caused both Hideo to Suhara to wake up, and check the exhibit for what was stolen, only to see the daisho returned, with a pink sukara themed envelope tied to one of them, with Meimei grinning at them before jumping off and onto the roof.
Hideo and Suhara followed her to the window and watched as Meimei skillfully jumped across the rooftops of Matsumoto Castle towards Jiang, who was shaking her head with exasperation at the bottom. (That didn’t stop Jiang though from catching her little sister in her arms and kissing the top of her head before waving to Hideo and Suhara, who awkwardly waved back as the two disappeared into the night).
Hideo was the first one to check up on the daisho (bc of course he was) and opened up the pink sakura envelope tied to one of the sword handles.
Inside, was written in Japanese “刃が汚れていてすみません。できるだけきれいにしようと努力したのですが、うまく落とせたか自信がありません。良い夜をお過ごしください!” Which roughly translates to, “Sorry about the dirty blade. I tried to clean it as best I could, but I'm not sure if I got it right. Have a good night!”
It warmed Hideo’s heart, and when Suhara pointed out that the glass was completely clean, Hideo just smiled.
“That girl is the real Carmen Sandiego”
“What? Just because she cleaned a couple of swords and glass?”
“She has honor, Suhara. More than you ever had at your age…”
*le gasp from Suhara and laughter from Hideo*
Anyways, now to the real stuff you all wanted.
When Suhara and Lian first met, it was kind of the first meeting between the old Carmen Sandiego Team “Team Red” and and the new Carmen Sandiego “Team Sakura” (yes they argued over this name, yes Lian won).
Hideo and Suhara were kind of like 😦👉 to Meimei and Jiang who were both like :3.
It was like a full circle and a big reunion thing for Carmen, and she got really teary eyed 🥹.
Thanks to Lian’s service in the Navy, her physique is top-notch which is why Suhara thought she was around his age.
When she actually told him her age, EVERYONE’S JAWS DROPPED, and Zack basically went from asking Shadowsan for ninja training to begging Lian for super cool Navy training. To which she laughed her ass off.
The two began as just casual acquaintances who talked every now and then between missions, sometimes sharing something about their past, but never too much in depth.
Both Lian and Shadowsan’s knowledge of VILE ran deep, however Lian’s ran deeper thanks to her relationship with her husband Kuro. Kuro was associated with VILE way before Shadowsan even joined VILE as a student and later an operative, which meant that Lian had a more thorough knowledge of VILE’s past actions.
One thing that never made sense to Lian was why would VILE come back now, after two years of silence?
It didn’t make sense to Shadowsan either, not unless VILE had a very well thought out plan.
The two didn’t properly bond until they were forced together on a mission to Japan to infiltrate a Yakuza dinner auction where Lady Dokuso could possibly be there.
This is where Suhara had to come clean, and tell Lian that he, Shadowsan, was in the Yakuza and that there is a slight, no actually, a quite high possibility that he could be recognized.
Lian just laughed, and told him that half of the Yakuza fears her because she dragged Kuro out of the Yakuza stronghold by the ear on numerous occasions, to which Shadowsan could not help but smile at.
The two came up with a plan, that Shadowsan would embrace his Yakuza tattoos (yes i headcanon that he has them on his chest), and would disguise himself as another member of the Yakuza, with Lian acting as his partner.
Bless Shadowsan’s heart, but for the life of him he could not figure out how to put on his top, coming out of the hotel bathroom looking like a hot mess, with Lian laughing her ass off before standing up to help him (he will never admit how much that one interaction made him blush, and how the entire time Lian was teasing him for being red).
It was even worse at the Yakuza auction dinner. Lian was fully in character, with a lovely plum dress on, acting haughty and sassy as ever, with Shadowsan being quiet and not in character at all.
Lian almost managed to stay in character the whole dinner, almost completing their mission of buying out everything back, when Lady Dokuso entered the room, thanking everyone for coming.
Suhara had never seen such fear and anger cross Lian’s face as she squeezed his thigh so hard it left a bruise. The whole ordeal made her so sick to the point where she genuinely threw up under the seat, allowing for her and Suhara to excuse themselves.
The second they were behind closed doors, Lian broke down, covering her mouth in an attempt to block the screams and the sobs. Suhara has never really been great at comfort, but he was able to man up and sit down next to Lian, enveloping her into his embrace for comfort. Lian practically melted into his embrace, sobbing her heart out into him. Something about the fact that Lian had trusted him enough (or perhaps was desperate enough) to gain comfort from him, did something to Suhara. He swore in his mind that whatever it was that was bothering her, he could fix it (yeah no bro, you’re not fixing years worth of trauma and loss 😭💔).
Eventually, Lian calmed down enough to tell Suhara a shortened version of all the trauma and pain Lady Dokuso inflicted upon her and her family.
“No, you’re not. That’s my job, remember?”
“I think it’s high time we blow this place up into smoke.”
“I couldn’t agree more with you.”
Suhara, like the gentleman he is, helped her up and hooked their arms together, causing Lian to laugh through her tear stained face.
“Such a gentleman for a Yakuza man.”
“Just because I am without honor Lian, does not mean I do not have good manners.”
Lian just snorted, and the two went on their merry way to blow up the entirety of the Yakuza dinner :3 (unfortunately they did not kill Lady Dokuso, but they managed to give her a big middle finger before being carried away by an ACME helicopter).
After that, the two got put on more missions together (mostly because they asked since they worked so well together) and bonded. Whether it was just quiet moments on the balcony of a hotel room, or fighting side by side against VILE operatives, the two began to grow attached to each other, and grow to have a teasing relationship that no one has ever seen Shadowsan have with anyone.
“You’re so aggravating, it’s a miracle I work so well with you.”
“You’re just saying that because you’re jealous that I’m better-OW OW IM SORRY IM SORRY-“
Once, and this was when VILE faculty escaped from prison and became a real problem, Lian fought with Coach Brunt and got an axe thrown at her head. She thankfully dodged it, but it slashed open her arm almost fully.
She had to go to the hospital for stitches and the whole time Suhara looked like a wounded puppy who did something wrong even though he didn’t even do anything.
“Suhara, I will be fine.”
“You have to get stitches Lian!”
“Not my first time, nor is it going to be my last with how VILE is acting.”
“Hey.. At least I’m alive, right?”
“I’d rather you be healthy and alive than injured and alive.”
The entire hospital visit Zack, Ivy, and Carmen were just staring at the two, wondering what the hell happened to Shadowsan.
“That’s… not how Shadowsan normally acts, right?” (Ivy)
“Nope. I’ve never seen him act like that in his life.” (Carmen)
“Woah. This is like a ninja love story.” (Zack)
“Not the time.” (Ivy and Carmen)
They weren’t the only ones confused. When Meimei and Jiang finally arrived with gifts in tow as well, they were surprised to see Suhara leaning against the hospital window, talking to Lian like old friends, and handing Lian her tea.
“Are they… flirting?” (Meimei)
“What? You’re paranoid of course not.” (Jiang)
*Suhara’s hand brushes against Lian’s for a moment too long.*
“Of course not..?” (Jiang)
*Lian snorts and rolls her eyes at something stupid Suhara says but a soft smile is on her face as she still listens to him.*
“Of course.. not..????” (Jiang)
*Catches Suhara looking at Lian with WAY too much affection in his eyes while she’s drinking her tea.*
“THAT’S IT. WHAT IS GOING ON?!” (Meimei)
Lian and Suhara just look at her confused. They’ve been with each other’s company for too long and are so clueless to the point where they can’t tell themselves.
Thankfully, Lian recovers and is back at work in no time. That doesn’t stop Suhara from keeping his eye on her every single moment she’s fighting someone alone.
“Suhara! Focus on your own fight!”
“No you’re not! Turn around before I make you turn around!”
Yeah they bicker and argue like an old married couple. It’s a miracle they haven’t kissed yet.
But they get pretty damn close.
Once on a rooftop of the hotel, Suhara brought Lian a beer for them to drink together while watching the Californian sunset (VILE had attempted to burn down part of the Redwood Sequoia Trees).
“Well look at that. You survived.”
“I like to think of myself as hilarious.”
Lian just shook her head and laughed as she leaned into him sighing as she rest her head on his shoulder.
“It’s a miracle someone as old as you can still be in the field.”
“HAHAHAA- Wait no come back!!”
As much as Suhara hates to admit it, Lian’s laughter is contagious and he too didn’t want to leave her side.
“And yet I don’t have nearly as many wrinkles as you do.”
“Then why are you still beside me?”
Suhara pretended to think about it for a moment before answering.
“Wowwww. That’s it? Not even my stellar personality?”
“Your personality is terrible. Not even Hideo can deal with it.”
That caught Suhara by surprise. His heart was beating so fast it was a miracle that he even managed to look down at her, let alone answer.
“Good. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Yeah that beer was NOT drank. Instead the sunset was watched with Suhara’s arm wrapped around Lian’s waist.
This is going to be a long.. long slowburn. Also this is far too long, ya’ll will get fed later.
@lousiecom11 @theheaddaphnestan
