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Basil looked at the couples who passed by his door and sighed.
On the one hand, this day reminded him of how lonely he was.
On the other hand, he couldn't risk the many enemies he's made (Especially his nemesis) hurting him by harming or even killing someone he loved.
There had been times where he had nightmares of Ms. Judson being killed by one of his many enemies. His heart couldn't handle nightmares of losing another.
He just had to accept the single life was his fate. He'd never know the joy of being loved by another.
Ms. Judson walked into the living room and put a letter on the table. Ms. Judson said "This was in the mailbox addressed to you."
Basil picked the letter up, expecting it to be bills that need to be paid or a request for help. He opened the letter and read it:
Mon amour le plus cher
Mon cœur bat chaque fois que je regarde tes yeux. Ils sont aussi sombres qu'une nuit sans étoiles. Nous nous sommes déjà croisés de nombreuses fois et chaque fois, cela me semble bien trop court.
Comme j'aimerais te tenir dans mes bras et t'embrasser comme le font les amoureux. Comme j'ai rêvé d'entendre ta voix crier mon nom dans la nuit noire.
Le destin est si cruel qu'il fait de nous des amoureux croisés.
J'espère que notre prochaine rencontre n'est pas trop éloignée
Ton admirateur secret
It was all in French. Basil understood every word perfectly.
His heart began to race and his knees began to buckle. Who could have sent this?
Clearly someone who knew him well enough to know what languages he could understand.
Basil kept looking for clues but the words kept throwing him off.
Basil then noticed that there was a faint smell of lemon.
Basil smirked and said "This is a clue. I'll need a jar and a lighter."
He looked around the room for a jar and a lighter. Once both were found, he placed the letter in the jar before slowly and methodically heating up the bottom of the jar with the lighter. He wanted to reveal the hidden message without risking the paper being set on fire.
Slowly the hidden message was revealed on the back of the letter. Basil turned off the lighter and carefully opened the jar.
He read the secret message:
Mon doux détective
J'ai faim de toi.
J'ai souvent rêvé de t'épingler sur mon lit et de t'aimer si passionnément que tu ne penses plus qu'à notre unité.
J'ai rêvé un jour de l'aspect de ta fourrure à la lumière des bougies et mon cœur s'est emballé.
Je souhaite faire de toi la mienne, de cœur, d'esprit et d'âme.
Ton admirateur secret
Basil's eyes went wide with shock as his heart raced faster.
This secret admirer, whomever they are, really and truly loved him.
But whom?
The flustered feeling he felt faded to a determination.
He needed to know who this secret admirer was, if only to compliment them on their romantic writing.
He finally read through the letter front and back, noticing the paw-writing.
It was familiar.
Too familiar.
He grabbed one of Ms. Judson's pillows and screamed into it.
He knew exactly who sent that letter.
But what sort of scheme was Ratigan planning?
Ratigan smirked when Basil burst into his lair.
Ratigan noticed the letter in Basil's hands and the angry look on Basil's face.
Basil said "You have five minutes to explain what sort of scheme warranted you sending this letter to me."
Ratigan clutched his heart and said "Basil, I'm crushed. I am not planning any scheme. I may be a cruel criminal mastermind but I would never lie about who my heart desires."
Basil's face instantly turned red as he stuttered out "You meant every word?"
Ratigan walked closer to Basil and said "Every word. No other person has captivated me in the way you do. Our battles of wit moved me in a way nothing else could. I have loved you for a long time and I hope you'll love me in turn."
Basil's heart pounded. His arch nemesis had fallen in love with him.
Ratigan gently held Basil's hand and said "I can tell your world has been flipped upside down by this revelation. I will give you as much time as you need to process this."
Ratigan told his minions "Lay one hand on Basil and I will feed you to Felicia."
The minion mice collectively gulped as they left Ratigan and Basil alone.
Basil felt his world begin to blacken as he fainted from the shock.
Ratigan caught his beloved mouse detective in his arms, smiling fondly at Basil as he picked him up.
Ratigan picked up Basil in a bridal carry, prepared for the long trek to Baker Street.
He kissed Basil on the forehead and said "Happy Valentine's Day, my love."