Devotion
Most unpleasant actions just had to be done. It was the way of things. And Toby was never one to undermine the importance of the ways of things. Living in the work houses and dreaming on gin would do that to a lad, regardless of mental fortitude. Blind, easy acceptance was something that became instinct, like the way rats would run on a sinking ship. Toby was well aware of his lot in life, and well aware that somethings were just easier done than said in the dark.
Only, there had always been something rather off about that Mr Todd. Something not very pleasant, something murderous, and sinister. It was the little quirks about the barber that made Toby's rather simple eyes turn keen. The way he never had any repeat customers, for instance. Or the callous way he would brush off the rather wonderful Mrs Lovett. Things didn't add up about that Mr Todd, they didn't and he was not dumb enough to ignore the math on this one. Ladies like Mrs Lovett shouldn't have to associate themselves with people like Mr Todd, and Toby was dead-set against having someone like Mr Todd around.
Toby also didn't like the way Mrs Lovett got pushed around. It wasn't in an obvious manner, of course, but he could see that she was shoved by Mr Todd into doing things she'd rather not do. For people like himself it would be fine, but not for people like Mrs Lovett. Mrs Lovett was much more deserving than what she got, and she set her sights on a man that could only have been a demon. And as the days passed and the pies steamed and the razors sung, Toby could have sworn that the something dangerous in Mr Todd was growing even more strongly. And Toby wasn't afraid to admit he was getting scared.
Her screaming could have woken up the dead, and Toby felt something downright terrible in his stomach, something that didn't have to do with the pies. Eyes drifted upwards from the grate, and when Toby saw Mr Todd, and more importantly, didn't see Mrs Lovett, he knew what had to be done.
Even footsteps fell quietly and slowly. Toby was good at stealth, it was the only way for urchins like himself to survive. Mr Todd was bowed down over some old lady, saying sorrows that were not for Mrs Lovett, and Toby saw the silver gleam in the darkness. There wasn't any need for hesitation.
Ruby red stained the floors of the oven room, and Toby didn't bother to make any grace about dropping the razor to the floor. He didn't bother to hide the bodies either, as the way he saw it, he'd been cleaning up after Mr Todd for far too long now. Mr Todd had done something wrong, to the wrong people, to poor Mrs Lovett, and Toby had to do something to right it. It was the way of things.