Stripped
Disclaimer: The only people own are Ben and Chester Meroff. Don't use them without asking.
Author's Note: Ben came into my mind one day while I was daydreaming and pestered me until I wrote a story. So here it is. Not my best work, but I decided to post it anyway. I have no idea where Chester came from.
Ben became aware to the sensation of sunlight on her face. She opened her eyes, after a few more hours of dreamless sleep, to see sunlight streaming through the living room window. Basil had long gone off, leaving his violin and bow on his chair, to go solve some cases with Dawson. She stretched, hearing her bones crack, and sat up and looked around. She grabbed her hat off the floor and stood up. The place looked different in the daytime. Sunlight bounced off the bottles on the chemical table, causing a rainbow effect to go onto the wall. It was actually very beautiful.
"Good morning," Ms. Judson greeted, bustling into the living room. "Would you like some breakfast?" She offered. Ben held up her hand and shook her head, declining her offer as politely as gestures can.
"Well, how about a hot bath then. You look a little tense and that should relax you." She said, taking Ben's paw, who yanked it out of her grasp and held it close to her protectively.
"Okay then, you can follow me to the bathroom," Ms. Judson told her. She led her to a door that was just off the kitchen and pushed the door open.
"Just leave your clothes outside the door, I'll pick them up and wash them while you're in the tub." Ms. Judson instructed and went off to fulfill her duties as a landlady. Ben went into the bathroom and, making sure to stay hidden behind the door, took her vest and her shirt off. She threw the shirt and vest into a corner for the time being, while she unwrapped the white bandages that flattened her breasts to her chest. She wore them to make her disguise more realistic and believable. She then shed her pants and went over to collect her clothes and threw them outside the door.
She caught a glimpse of herself in the full-length mirror that was hanging on the door. It was weird, seeing herself with breasts. She was so used to looking like a boy, she forgot what she looked like as a girl. She ran her hand through her grease spiked black hair, feeling just exactly how greasy it was. She made a face and went over to the tub and filled it up with hot water. She couldn't remember the last time she took a bath in a tub. Of course she washed, but it was mostly in a communal stream that all the street mice used. It would be good to finally wash properly.
She shut the water off and climbed in. She lowered herself down, sighing contently as the steaming water soaked through her fur and touched her skin. She snagged a bar of soap that was sitting on the edge of the tub and washed herself thoroughly. She went under to wet her hair and lathered it up, and went back under to rinse it. When she emerged, she rested her head against the back of the tub and relaxed, closing her eyes.
Her eyes snapped open as the sound of male voices reached her ears. Basil and Dawson must've been back all ready! She ducked under the water until only her eyes were peering over the water. If someone decided to barge in and find her like this. . .
"That was the most ridiculous case I had for quite some time. It was in the coal chute all along. The coal chute, what an asinine place to put something." She heard Basil voice saying.
"I think that the lady was rather fond of you though," She heard the doctor say teasingly. Ben could just imagine the detective blushing at that kind of comment.
"Oh, Mister Basil don't go in there yet. The boy's in there." Ms. Judson said.
"Oh, the boy's in there. I guess I'll just sit here and wait." She heard a chair being pulled out as Basil did what he said he was going to do.
Ben stood, shaking the water out her ears, and stepping out of the tub and pulled the plug. She looked around, drying herself off with a towel, trying to find something to cover up with quickly so she can get her clothes back. Her eyes fell on a long, tan bathrobe hanging on a hook on the wall. She snagged it down and put it on. Lucky for her it was really loose and long, so she didn't have to worry about anything showing. She stepped out of the bathroom, feeling very vulnerable being in front of people, especially the boys, looking like this.
"Why are you wearing my bathrobe?" A coal dust covered Basil asked, his voice demanding an answer. Ben pointed to Ms. Judson, not making eye contact with the taller mouse.
"You're wearing my bathrobe because of her?" Basil didn't believe her, not one bit.
"Actually, I took his clothes to be washed," Ms. Judson admitted, not wanting a big scene to erupt. "They should be dry by now." She hurried off to go check. Ben flashed Basil an "I TOLD you it wasn't my fault" look. He just grumbled and went into the bathroom to clean himself. She shifted nervously from one foot to the other, wishing Ms. Judson would hurry up with her clothes. Her eyes widened with fear when she realized something.
She left her wrappings in the bathroom!
She ran over to the door, hoping that Basil was still fully dressed, and was reaching for the doorknob when the door flew open, revealing Basil, holding her wrappings in his paw.
"Is this yours?" He asked, narrowing his eyes. She nodded, feeling a blush form across her cheeks.
"I'd appreciate if you didn't leave your stuff lying around," He told her and slammed the door in her face.
She stood there, swallowing nervously. Did he find out she wasn't what she portrayed herself to be? After a little stunt like that, she wouldn't be surprised if he did.
Ben almost got exposed there. More to come so sit tight.