cookie-monster101: hello,its me,again. i seem to be throwing out stories like Mrs Lovett's pies nowadays. :)
So without further a-do,here's another story!
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"Mr T, can you 'ear me?" the voice was soft, hoping not to alarm him, but to bring him to his senses. She was overjoyed that he was o-kay. (on the outside, at least)
Sweeney knew that voice. Almost as soon as the words escaped her mouth, he had his eyes open. Mrs Lovett. He was sore all over. His body throbbed from every area possible. Mrs Lovett.
"Can you move my love?" he wasn't quite sure. It took a lot of energy just to open his eyes.
"Not to worry, i'll get Toby to 'elp me. I 'ave to leave you for a minute but, I'll be back. I'll be back." He didn't want her to leave. He'd been alone for hours; he was thankful for her presence. But she had to, if he were ever going to get up. He felt a small peck on his cheek before she left.
Sweeney thought he'd never been so sad to see her go.
He looked up at the night sky. No stars, just darkness. Story of Sweeneys life.
His back was wet from lying on the damp streets of London for so long. Rats ran around him. He couldn't move away from them,only watch the filty beasts scurry around him. There was a smell in the air. Probably just the general smell of London,he thought.
It was cold. It had been colder, but Sweeneys body had adjusted slightly. Now he only felt numb. Numb was better than pain, he figured.
When would Mrs Lovett be back?
The months/dates/years didn't register with him, ever since his days in prison. But judging by the weather, it had to be December, or at least the winter season. He didn't want to lie here any longer. Where is she?!
"Sshh, my love, I'm back." A small hand slotted into his, soothing him immediately. She'd been afraid he was dead. From a distance she was convinced he was,and had desperately prayed for someone to bring him back. Until,that was,she got closer. He was breathing.
But felt so cold.
"Oo, you're freezing love. Open your eyes, if ye can." She needed to see him move, if just a little bit.
He eventually did as she said, but it hurt her to see the struggle it was for him. They both knew if she couldn't get him home quickly enough, get him out of the cold...
"Lets get you home Mr T." The habit of calling him Mr T had stuck. Not matter how inappropiate it was, they were both used to it and anything else would have been strange to their ears.
He groaned painfully as she lifted him from one side. "C'mon Toby, 'elp me out." The boy had been standing, watching, for at least two minutes now. He knew they should have taken Mr Todd straight home, but he let Mrs Lovett have her 'moment', just in case he really did die. He'd never felt pity for Mr Todd. Even now, when the man looked a state, and his body was bruised an' battered. If they'd left him longer he would have surely died. Normally, Mr Todd was a man to be feared, and feared is what Toby did. He liked to stay away from him all together. It got to a point where Toby wouldn't bother to answer back, but simply do whatever it was Mr Todd had ordered.
Of course, he would do anything Mrs Lovett asked of him, just because it was Mrs Lovett. The woman he'd come to think of as a mother...she'd been better to him than his proper mother had ever been.
So, without a word, he ran to Mr Todd's other side.
...
"Mrs Lovett." The first word she'd heard Sweeny utter in...it had been so long.,she'd forgotten when the last time she heard his voice was.
It shocked and delighted Mrs Lovett.
"Yes. Yes, I'm 'ere. Right 'ere love. I ain't goin anywhere." She was a big talker in normal situations,but tended to babble even more whenever in a panic, or nervous.
"Mrs Lovett...." this was his way of thanking her. She'd saved his life. Mrs Lovett understood what he was trying to do. She touched his forehead reassuringly, "Mr T, rest now. You need to sleep." His eyes shut slowly, but he was soon lost in dreamland.
"oh, what did they do to you." she whispered to the sleeping Mr T. He'd been through hell, once more. The man was damaged enough without whatever happened to him. Now she feared he would never recover. Bad things were all that ever occured in the poor mans life. Overwhelming pity and pain, for Mr T, was all she could feel. and love, of course.
Mrs Lovett wanted to know what happened, so she could help him. But she mustn't push him till he's had some rest. Mrs Lovett was a patient woman, sometimes. She could wait. She'd spend her life waiting for Mr T.
An hour later, and Mrs Lovett was finally drifting off, satisfied he was asleep.
That was when a hand reached out, clutching at her dress. "No! No!" He'd startled her, Mr T. It wasn't normal behaviour for him. Or, Mrs Lovett had forgotten what Mr T's outbursts were like. He seemed calm up till now,but hearing him shout like that brought back all those times he lost his temper. Oh yes,Mr T had a temper unlike any other.
"Oh, love, calm down!" He took no notice of her. She touched his hand, and held it. It seemed to calm him down immensely. This pleased her, knowing she did have a little impact on him after all. Then again, maybe it was the first bit of human contact he'd had in months that wasn't violent. But she'd make him forget that. Through choice Mrs Lovett was holding his hand, and he was holding hers. He held on so tightly, as if she'd disappear any a second, as if she wasn't really there.
"Everything's okay love, you're safe." Mrs Lovett wanted to say more to him, but that would do for now. Her voice soothed him to sleep again.
Her eyes shut, just like his. Her head drooped, exhausted from constant anxiety and worry. He's fine for now Mrs Lovett...He's fine...
The first thing she realised when she came to, be the warmth of Mr T's hand around hers... it was no longer there. She felt empty.
"Mum, wake up! Mum he's gone!" The boy (though he sounded more and more like a man every day now) spoke the very words she'd wished not to hear. Mrs Lovett fully opened her tired eyes.
"Did you see him go?" Her voice sounded raspy, making her sound older than her years also.
"I don't know mum. I just came up 'ere the now and saw he'd gone. I never saw him go or nothin."
Mrs Lovett shook her head, trying to wash away the tiredness. She had to find him.
"Alright Toby dear, I need you to look after the shop fir a while." She would find him.
"Course mum." She didn't bother getting into a more suitable dress for the day. She didn't bother doing anything. Mr T was her only care now, he was mostly her only care.
Stepping out, Mrs Lovett found the streets fairly busy. It was London, after all. She had to remind herself that sometimes, even though she'd lived there her whole life. London was always busy, aside from the small hours ae the morning, exactly when they'd found Mr T. That was lucky finding him, she thought. But now he'd gone again, this time by his own accord. Why wasn't on her mind; Mrs Lovett had stopped questioning Mr T's methods of madness, oh, years ago now. She just got on with it.
Sweeney was hobbling through yet another alley. Why? He didn't know himself. He kept waking up last night, and Mrs Lovett would always be there by his side. Holding her hand, he had found, was strangely comforting. But one time when he awoke, she was asleep. He knew then, he needed to get away. He couldn't live there anymore, burdening her, and even that boy. He knew that boy hated him. It had taken a lot of effort to learn to walk on his own again, but he'd done it. This was Sweeney Todd, who could do anything if he put his mind to it.
But he missed her. He missed her kind words and warm 'ands. He'd never been so glad to see her at last night's reunion. Now, he was on his own, again. People passed by, going about their daily lives. No one noticed him down the alley. Nobody cared if they did. He would have just looked like another homeless person living on the streets; he still wore his dirty clothes from the night before. Though Mrs Lovett was more than obliging to get rid of them,he'd refused.
Everything's okay love, you're safe. The last words from Mrs Lovett he'd heard, before falling asleep. A disturbed sleep no less, but a sleep. It's a miracle he slept at all. In the past he didn't like to. It was always disturbed, and always full of dreams. He didn't want to dream....
"Mr T, Mr T." Mrs Lovett? Was he hearing right? Ah, it was her. He knew she'd come.
Mrs Lovett lifted him easily this time, not caring whether she would hurt him. "Why did you leave you great loaf?! Why?" she as asking why now, though only through concern. She wasn't really angry, she could never be with him. She was worried. Just looking at him, the state he was in.
"You're not well! You can't go gallivanting around." She didn't know if he was listening, as per usual. He just let her lead him back to the shop in peace.
The dreaded blank stare had returned.
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A/N: All will become clear in time. Reviews make me day! ;)