Chapter Ten
Nellie found herself struggling to focus on her tattered rucksack when her demon barber was at such peace only feet away. Every now and then her eyes would flick upward to drink in the slumbering Mr. Todd, he who had curled himself into the bed, trying to grasp at the warmth that was streaming through the broken window beside them.
After a few minutes of stretching her aching limbs, Nellie Lovett had forced herself to get out of the withered mattress, knowing that she should move around to avoid becoming stiff with pain. As she bent forward to stand, her back and neck spasmed, angered. When she applied pressure to her bandaged foot it, too, began to throb like the rest of her body. The muscles in her legs were tender and sensitive to movement after sprinting in the alleyways of London, and the smallest of headaches had formed around her eyes, on the bridge of her nose.
More frustrated with her broken state than concerned for her own health, Nellie carefully massaged the soreness from her head with skilled fingers before moving, very slowly, to the emergency bag across the room she had packed months before.
A small whimper of protest rose in her throat as she knelt down beside the sack, her hunger for hope overpowering the need to rest. Untying the rough threaded bindings from its several knots, Nellie pried the sack open, smiling in relief to see that everything she had packed still lay inside.
She remembered that evening, that awkward night in June when she stood in the middle of her parlor, hands on hips, toying with Mr. Todd.
A Few Months Earlier
"Simply put," she pressed, taking another step towards Sweeney Todd who was seated on the piano's bench, "I'm a dirty woman."
The words brought the barber out of his daze and he blinked rapidly before settling his eyes upon her, his bleary expression saying enough.
Nellie made a face, waving an impatient hand at him, moving things around on her mantel. "You 'eard me. I know you can go days wearin' the same blasted thing, but I'm not as puzzling as you. I enjoy bein' clean."
Mildly insulted, he straightened, glaring at her. "As do I," he snapped, his hands gripping his knees, trying to remain patient with this tittering bird.
Rolling her eyes, she strode to the shelf beside him, picking up what seemed to be a wooden jar of sweets. "Well, I'm glad ya told me," she hummed, taking the top off of the jar, "I'll pack some clothes for you too, then."
Sweeney squinted at her, drained. Everything she was saying was strange now that he was actually listening to her. "I never agreed to go anywhere with you."
The baker shrugged, placing the top back onto the jar, having pulled out a small purse. Putting the jar back on the shelf, she gripped the purse tightly in her hands, sending him a strong stare. "I assume you don't want to return ta Australia." She took yet another jar from the shelf, trailing off. "I think dungeons would be more suitable, if ya ask me, havin' you escaped when ye were miles away from here. Nice job confining people," she scoffed, looking inside the container, talking to herself. "Who knows? Maybe the neighbors are killers alongside us an' can help with our profits." She smiled suddenly, glancing back at him for a moment. "Charming, ain't it?"
Her words upset him and Sweeney stood from the piano bench, getting up to leave her, running a hand through his hair.
Nellie frowned, shoving everything from her hands on to the shelf, padding quickly over to him. Taking him by the shoulders, she attempted to stop him. "I'm sorry Mr. T, I didn't mean to sound like that," she insisted, and he tensed at her touch, making her let go just as quickly. He stomped around the corner and Nellie followed, brown eyes clouded with guilt, hushing her voice as to not awake Toby. "I'm just thinkin' of the future, love! What if they find out what we're doin'? What if we 'ave to leave? We can't just...just go without anythin'!"
Sweeney halted in his steps, his back to her, fists clenched. He stood there for an unsettling moment, Nellie staring at his back from the doorway of her parlor, wringing her small hands.
"I'd be wanted too, Mr. Todd, jus' as much as you. Although I'm not the one killin' people, grinding up the blokes is probably looked down upon." He still didn't move, and she took a hesitant step further, her voice very firm now. "I won't letcha be taken away from me, love. Not again."
His shoulders drooped a little bit, and Sweeney turned, seeming to soften, nodding just a little. Nellie beamed, elated with the fact that he had considered her words and rushed to him, throwing her arms around him without even knowing it.
He tensed yet again, her embracing catching the both of them off guard, and she slowly pulled back. "I, er, pardon me," she sputtered, looking down, smiling nonetheless.
Sweeney, black eyes void of anger or any form of emotion, placed a hand on her shoulder, something Benjamin often did those years ago. She shivered, and to her surprise, he spoke. "Thank you for caring for me," he mumbled, already taking his hand off her shoulder. Looking a tad uncomfortable, he cleared his throat, going back to his moody self. "Now. Pack up some things. And don't bother me again." He turned on his heel and left her, returning to his humble abode on the floor above her.
Even though Nellie had nodded quickly, speechless at the sound of his voice, she stayed in the doorway, biting the inside of her cheek, trying to hold on to the brief warmth of his hand on her shoulder.
Three months later, as the sore baker knelt, sorting through the items in the sack, she could almost feel his hand on her shoulder, the same uncertain, yet gentle warmth that he held for that small moment. She smiled, pulling out a clean white shirt for Mr. Todd, nuzzling her face in it, taking in his scent.
"Mum?" Toby peeped, having been behind her for the past few moments, his hand on her shoulder. "I-I was able make a fire in the fireplace wiv some old timber in the front there, but I couldn't make anythin' of the teapot."
She jumped, swiftly pulling away from the barber's shirt, knowing she looked foolish, the warmth having come from Toby, not memories. Turning to look at him, she forced a tight smile, noticing a blur of black fur running in circles around his legs. "The thing likes ya," she pointed out, wanting to bring attention away from herself, and his hand left her shoulder.
Toby nodded quickly, smiling softly, the kitten having placed little joy into his blue eyes. "Look at this, mum!" He averted his gaze to the cat wildly looping around his ankles. "Bugger, stop," he ordered clearly, snapping his fingers.
The churlish kitten came to an abrupt stop and looked up at him with curious, little black eyes, white tail swishing on the ashy floor.
Nellie couldn't help but laugh. "You named 'im Bugger?"
The boy shrugged, kneeling down to scratch the little thing behind the ears. "It fits 'im," he answered innocently, and she snorted again. "An' 'e responds to it, anyways. So I thought, why not...?"
Shaking her head, Nellie reached inside the sack and pulled out a clean shirt and trousers for Toby. "'Ere, love, change into these, then come rest some more. There's a long day ahead of us, it's only dawn."
Toby frowned, picking up the kitten, taking the clothes in the other hand. "But I'm not tired, mum, 'onest. Not at all," he pleaded, suppressing a small yawn. Bugger mewed, agreeing.
Patting the cat's head, Nellie stood, pulling Toby up with her. "Now, don't be foolish," she said, yawning herself, aching as she stretched upward a little.
Instead of responding, Young Tobias turned his gaze to Mr. Todd who was sleeping soundly on the mattress. A clever glint caught in his eye. "But there's not enough room now, 'e took me spot," he pressed further, Bugger looking from Nellie to Toby and back again, very jumpy and curious.
Toby slowly lead Nellie to the mattress. "You lay down, mum. Ya need it more than me, that's certain. Please?" he asked again, and Nellie stood hesitantly beside the old, large cushion. Toby set Bugger down and rushed over to the sack, pulling out the moth-eaten, pink quilt that was packed. Turning to her again to see that she hadn't layed down, he blinked, smiling. "Go on, mum, for me. I'm takin' care of you this time, like I said I would." He puffed his chest out, walking towards her with the blanket.
The weary baker, having been contemplating the situation, decided that sleeping next to Mr. Todd wouldn't be all that bad. She let out a little breath and sat down on the mattress, lowering her voice little. "Jus' don't leave the 'ouse, alrigh' Toby? And be careful with that bloody cat," she nodded towards Bugger who was running furiously in circles, "He's right loopy."
Glad that she had given in, Toby scampered to her side, the pink fabric bunched in his arms as she waited for her to lay down. "I know, mum, I'll be careful."
Nellie sunk into the scorched mattress, happy to find that it was fairly comfortable, and was about to ask Toby once more if he was sure about staying awake, when the man shifted beside her. A large arm reached in her direction and wrapped around her waist, pulling her closer, a face nuzzling itself in her red curls. She let out a stifled gasp and Toby's eyes widened, boy and baker staying very still as silenced stretched between them.
Then, very quietly, Toby chuckled, the sight of a vulnerable Mr. Todd amusing him greatly. Even though he would watch them closely now, not wanting the barber to harm her, the young boy threw the blanket over them, whispering, "It's not like ya didn't want 'im to."
For the first time in a while, Nellie blushed, heart hammering at his touch, despite her aching body, despite the fact that the man holding her was still covered in dried blood. "Hush, you know I'd wake 'im if I moved," she whispered sharply, reaching for excuses.
Toby shrugged once more and wordlessly backed up a few steps, trying not to smirk, picking up his change of clothes from the floor, and left, Bugger scampering loudly behind him.
Once the boy had left, Nellie Lovett melted in his arms, having daydreamed of his touch for years. She tucked the blanket closer to them, a large smile spread across her lips. Sweeney's hot breath hit her shoulder, steadily, and her eyelids drooped downward, very content. "Thank you," she breathed to no one in particular, snuggling into this new warmth.
Once she had fallen into a deep slumber, Mr. Todd shifted closer to her, unaware of what he was doing, and mumbled a sleepy, "You're welcome."
A/N: Short, I know, but I wanted to give you all something :) A little calm intermission for you. A lot is planned out for the next chapter, don't you worry. I'll try to update soon.