Toby knew what he was doing was wrong

Disclaimer: Eye know oen. U know soo. Kay?

Extended the one-shot. Flames will be eaten by Asmo. Danke bows

Warning: bloodshed and all that goodness…

A Long Night

Toby knew what he was doing was wrong. He knew he could get caught at any moment, but he was too curious to pass up the chance to go sneaking around. Mr. Todd and Mrs. Lovett were out that afternoon, shopping or some such nonsense. He'd offered to tag along to carry their purchases, but the kind Mrs. Lovett told him to stay behind and relax, that he had worked so hard lately and deserved some time of his own. Not that he wasn't grateful for her kindness, but he was a bit suspicious. Not of the wonderful Mrs. Lovett, of course not, but of the dark and brooding Sweeney Todd.

Toby slowly ascended the staircase that led to Mr. Todd's private quarters, which also doubled as his working space. Where he shaved the men who never seemed to resurface. He knew something odd happened up here, and he wanted to know just what.

Pushing open the creaky door, the bell rang and he jumped. He'd not been up here often enough to remember that there even was a bell. Calming his rapidly beating heart, he wandered further into the room. He didn't carry a candle, as he didn't think he'd need one so early in the afternoon, but he didn't take into account the smoggy English sky. Shadows were strewn everywhere in the darkened room, giving the usually unshakable boy chills.

In the middle of the room sat Mr. Todd's infamous chair. Its plush seat was a deep red, lion heard adorning the bottom of each arm rest. It had metal attached in strange places that poor Toby's mind couldn't understand. The strangest thing of all was the little foot petal that resided off to the side of the chair. He didn't know quite what to make of it, or the whole thing actually. Why would a barber need such a fancy chair?

Shaking his head, Toby walked over to the bureau. At the edge sat the case of Mr. Todd's beloved razors. He glanced around, although he knew he was alone, and reverently opened the little box. All the razors shined up at him, snug in their little red velvet nests. All but two. Before he had time to wonder on that he heard the bells again. Jerking his head to the side in shock, the box lid snapped shut. Mr. Todd stared at him from the door way.

"What are you doing here?" he demanded in his softly threatening voice. Toby shivered, his mouth opening but no sound coming out.

"Out."

And that was all Toby needed to hear. He shot out of the room as quickly as his legs would allow. He wasn't chancing getting a beating. Although Mr. Todd didn't seem anything like his old master, he didn't want to give the dark man so much as a reason to be.

Racing down into Mrs. Lovett's pie shoppe he burst through the front door. Lovett looked up from her old workstation in surprise.

"What's gotten into you, lad?" she asked, coming around to his side.

"Nothing, mum. Everything's fine, mum," he managed, trying to catch his breath. Lovett looked him over, taking in his disheveled appearance. He was a wild little boy, and little boys tended to be messy, but that didn't account for his panic stricken expression. She raised a brow.

"You haven't been sneaking around Mr. Todd's place have you?" she asked, hands on her hips. Toby looked down, ashamed.

"Luv, what'd I tell you about his space?" she began berating him gently. Toby nodded in all the appropriate spots, but his mind was elsewhere. He was still wondering about the fancy chair and the pedal that sat beside it.

"All right, I think I've scolded you enough for one night. What say you to some gin?"

Toby's attention immediately snapped back to Mrs. Lovett.

"Yes, mum."

Yes, it's short, I know. Sorry. To those who reviewed the first chapter, thank you so much. I'd list you by name, but supposedly I can get in trouble for that, so I'll just have to give you a generic thanks

R&R please!!