Then it all sounded again, closer.
His hands tightened on the blankets covering him, suddenly fearful. Was this a nightmare, was someone on their way to his room to drag him back to the workhouse? The boy closed his eyes and prayed to wake up. When he didn't, it was only a slight comfort. What was out there, making that strange cry?
A new type of fear gripped him.
What if it was Mrs. Lovett, in need of help? Tobias pushed his covers down and sat up, listening. He wanted to be sure before leaving his room. Despite himself he was still frightened of the sound. It seemed to be creeping closer to his room, rattling the walls as it went.
He began to panic, was Mrs. Lovett in danger while he was too scared to move from his bed?
Suddenly, whatever it was, crashed against his door, rattling its frail hinges. His heart leapt into his throat when he heard an all-too feminine cry after the door was hit.
Was she pounding on his door, desperate for help while all he did was wait? Tobias's door rattled once more before the sound moved to the wall beside it.
Leaping from his bed he made a mad dash for the door, wrenching it open with his outstretched hand.
"Mum!" Skidding to a halt in the hallway, he spun towards the source of the sound.
It was indeed his mum who had been making the sound, and as a part of him had immediately feared, Mr. Todd was the one with her. He was, however, completely wrong in his assumption of what type of situation was occurring. Mr. Todd had Mrs. Lovett pressed up against the wall, one arm supporting her body while the other was pressed heavily against the wall, helping to support him. Mrs. Lovett's bare legs were wrapped around his equally unclothed waist and legs; their torsos were pressed tightly together, though it did little but make Toby realize that part of them wasn't clothed either.
Though he had cried out, it had taken the pair a moment to notice him, and when they turned their eyes on him he immediately wished they hadn't.
He did not want to see his mum in such a state, arms wrapped around Mr. Todd, chest struggling against his for air. Even in the dull moonlight, the sweat gleamed on their bodies.
Tobias fell backwards into dark, thankful, oblivion.
A/N Forget finding a hand in a meat grinder, that would scar you for life. If you were Toby anyway.. I've always had a kinda humorous speculation on how he would react to seeing them.. together. The original idea was for him to bring up hearing noises in the night during breakfast, but I enjoyed writing this much more. Penny for a review? (figuratively, I'm not made of money)