The Beginning of a Beautiful Romance | Basil x Reader

Toy Store Catastrophe | Chapter 3

"Oh-hoo-hoo. Our peg-legged quarry can't be far now!" Basil says.

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Basil jumps off Toby's muzzle and lands on the window ledge. "Splendid job, Toby!" He says.

You jump and land onto the window ledge as well. You landed on the edge and you feel yourself falling backwards. Basil quickly grabs your wrist and pulls you close to him, holding you close to him and away from the edge. He quickly realizes the position you two were in and lets go of you, blushing and clearing his throat awkwardly.

Olivia stands on Toby's muzzle and holds out her arms towards Basil. He gives her a look of annoyance but holds his arms out to her anyways. She jumps and he catches her, setting her down and nudging her forward.

As Dawson is moving down Toby begins to growl at him again. Dawson tips his hat at him and is prepared to jump but Toby gives a deliberate sneeze, which sends Dawson flying forward, hitting Basil. Basil looks down at Dawson, then to Toby.

"Now Toby...sit!" Basil says. Toby stays standing, not listening to him. Basil marches back to Toby and stands in front of his dog, speaking more strictly this time. "Toby, sit."

"Sit, Toby." Olivia says with a smile. Toby sits down, listening to Olivia's order. Basil stares at Olivia jealously.

"Good boy." Basil grumbles, walking past Olivia. "If you'll excuse me."

"You be good now, Toby." You say, smiling at the puppy.

"We're going to find my father." Olivia says to Toby. You two walk back to Basil, who is humming to himself as he inspects the ledge and window. His humming slows as he sees a tiny hole in the center of the small round window. He points at it triumphantly. "Ah-ha! Here is our friend's entrance."

"But Basil, how could he fit through such a tiny..." Dawson asks.

Basil interrupts him. "Observe, Doctor." He takes Dawson's hand and sticks one of his fingers into the hole. He watches confidently as Dawson pulls his hand back, opening the secret passage.

"Basil, you astound me!"

Basil hastily shushes him and climbs in, followed by you, then Olivia, then Dawson, who closes the window once inside.

All of you walk through the giant toy store, Basil going a different way than the three of you. Dawson, who wasn't looking where he was going, accidentally bumps into one of the giant toys.

"Ooh! I beg your pardon, I-" Dawson stops when he sees that he bumped into a huge doll. He, Olivia, and you look around the toy store. "Oh my. Upon my word, I've never seen so many toys."

Basil suddenly peaks out from behind the doll's leg. "Behind any of which could lurk a bloodthirsty assassin! So please, Doctor...be very careful." He says in a hushed voice. He stealthily moves between the toys and through the shadows while you, Olivia, and Dawson follow close behind, walking normally.

You walk up to Basil. "Are you always so dramatic, detective?" You ask him in a whisper, a grin on your lips.

"I'm not dramatic." Basil whispers back with an eye roll.

"That's a lie and you know it." You say softly with an even bigger grin. Basil stiffs out a chuckle and glances away, a small grin on his lips. He's only met you for an hour now but he was already attached to you.

The four of you walk up to a ladder and start climbing it, getting up to a higher shelf.

Basil and Dawson quietly creep down the shelf with you following quietly next to them, then a sudden crashing noise from behind causes you three to freeze up. You immediately cling onto Basil's arm tightly and Dawson leaps into Basil's arms. You all look behind you and see that Olivia turned on a toy music box, watching the noisy fireman band play.