Truth or Dare/ A BBC Sherlock Story

Biting the Dust

An hour later Bella was ready. The dress was on and fitted to her body perfectly hugging it in all the right places and leaving just the right amount of room and others. She looked at herself in the bathroom mirror. Her makeup was done green to watch the dress with a winged liner and thickly applied mascara. She had red lipstick smeared on her lips.

Usually she looked perfect in her makeup and clothes but seeing as this had to be somewhat rushed, it didn't look perfect today, she was a little annoyed by this but it flew to the back of her mind.

      She added the finishing touches to her face before pulling away and rubbing around her lips to catch any lipstick that had somehow been misplaced.

     There was a knock at the door and she jumped smearing her lipstick up her cheek instead. "Damn it Sherlock! What?!"

      "Sorry," he opened the door only putting his hand through and holding out a mask to her. "For the ball. It's mandatory." The door snapped shut behind him after she gently grasped the mask away from him.

      It was beautiful. Black and green, with a lace pattern and sparkles adding an almost iridescent  look to it. She smiled at his then remember her mess of lipstick. She sighed and set it down onto the counter before grabbing a makeup wipe and fixing her face.

     Once finished and grasped her mask by the strings in the end and opened the bathroom door walking into the living room. The click of her shiny green high heels on the hardwood floor stopped any conversation that had been happening in the living room before she walked out.

     "Mike, What do you think?" She asked Mycroft who had moved into the hallway to see her. His face showed starstruck awe as she spun in a circle like a school girl going to her first dance. A smile was plastered on her face.

     "You look beautiful Bella." He kissed her forehead before holding out the crook of his elbow for her. She took it and the two of them walked arm and arm into the living room together.

     John dropped his phone when she walked in and Sherlock was facing the mirror above the fireplace so he had not yet seen her. "Bella, wow."

      Sherlock turned around at John's words and his face was priceless. A light blush rose to his cheeks. A dumbfounded look of awe crossed his features before he was stoic once more. "You look amazing. Are we ready?"

       Bella sighed and removed her arm from Mycrofts and walked over the room to Sherlock holding out her mask. "Would you tie it on?"

     She knew what she was doing when she handed it to him. She brushed her fingers against his and turned around pulling her hair over her shoulders so it wouldn't get snagged in the strings when he tied it. Sherlock cleared his throat and leaned over her shoulder making sure the mask was on and straight.

      She looked at him out of the corner of her eye and a smile formed on her face as she noticed his hands shaking and his cheeks turning pink. He cleared his throat again and pulled the strings tight enough around her head that it would stay but it wouldn't be painful to wear all night.

     "Hamish, if you're looking for baby names." John's joke landed flatly around the room. Everyone turned to look at him. Sherlock was horrified. Mycroft was questioning John's judgment and Bella was stifling a laugh.

     "Are you two ready? The car is outside." The duo nodded and Sherlock let go of the strings to her mask as she moved towards the door. Sherlock grabbed his suit jacket off of his chair and his own mask, decorated in green and black as well, before following her out. Mycroft came out after the two.