Author's Note: Well, I told you I would update before I leave for camp. This will be the last update for at least a week. So look out after next Saturday, okay? I just posted my own stories on f i c t i o n p r e s s. :3 It makes me happy. I'll put the link on my profile so you can read them.
Disclaimer: I don't own Sweeney Todd.
It's Man Devouring Man, My Dear...
He released his grip on Lucy and walked away from her, the anger still bubbling inside of him. "I need to get to the judge still."
"To free Johanna." Nellie whispered, grabbing Lucy's arm. "Come on now, let's get yeh cleaned up."
As Nellie left his shop, Sweeney felt himself begin to calm down. He had his Lucy back now, but everything she was before was gone... she wasn't the same person, just like him. What he didn't understand, was why Mrs. Lovett insisted on protecting her. She had hated Lucy from the beginning, hadn't she?
"Mr. T I love you, please!"
She had finally said it to him... hadn't she? What did it matter when he had his supposed "deceased" wife in the house? He was still married.
"Bloody hell. What am I supposed to do now?"
Nellie didn't even know where to begin.
Lucy Barker was an absolute disgusting mess, and smelled so horrible, that Nellie couldn't stand close to her without bile rising in her throat.
"Dearie, yeh know yeh smell somethin' awful, right?" She mumbled.
Lucy just blinked at her, still fazed from the shock of the razor that had been so near to her throat.
"Mr. T was just angry, thas all." Nellie choked out as she began removing Lucy's dirty dress. "Yeh're lucky I saved yeh."
Lucy just blinked again in response.
"Oh yeh're hopeless."
When Nellie had finally removed the dress from her body, Nellie took notice to the many bruises across Lucy's body. She didn't mean to stare at her, but there so many... and some more recent than others.
"Wot?" Lucy mumbled, covering her exposed breasts with her arms.
"So yeh do 'ave some dignity left in yeh after all." Nellie supressed a laugh and pointed towards the bath water in the tub beside her. "Can yeh scrub yehself or do yeh need me 'elp?"
"I donno," Lucy whispered, moving herself into the bath water. "I donno."
Nellie smiled lightly. "Then I'll 'elp yeh anyway."
Sweeny Todd sighed as he sat in the chair in his shop. He couldn't believe himself... he hadn't killed her? But why? Her or Lovett... he let them both live.
"Ah, what the hell is wrong with me, showing pity for them."
The bell on the door made a soft tinkle and opened lightly. Sweeney felt himself turn and he ended up coming face to face with Toby's small frame. Sweeney had almost forgotten the boy was still here.
"Mr. Todd, where is mum?" Toby asked, staying close to the door.
"Taking care of me wife." He spat. "Bathing 'er in the basement, I believe."
"Wife, sir?"
Sweeney narrowed his eyes. "Yes."
Toby let out a soft sigh of relief and Sweeney cocked his head to the side lightly. "For a second there sir, I thought yeh meant you'd married mum."
"No." Sweeney pointed to the door. "Now go, fetch yehself a bottle of gin and let me be."
Toby nodded and ran out of the shop.
"That boy is gonna be the death o' me." He muttered, pressing his hand against his forehead.
"Um, Mr. T?"
He heard the door to the shop open for a second time, and he looked up.
"She's clean now." Nellie whispered, her eyes glowing full of anger as Lucy walked into the room.
Her face was still sunken and scarred, but she looked... presentable. Her skin was creamy and pale, but he could tell the hint of bruises that layered around her exposed neck, and the fact that she hadn't worn a corset since she'd been with him. Mrs. Lovett had tied that thing so tight that Lucy's breasts were about to pop out any moment. But she looked somewhat the same as she had before he had left... and her hair was yellow again...
"L-Lucy." He muttered, stepping close to her.
She flinched as he caressed her cheek softly. "Crazy ol' demon barber."
He pulled his hand back, the sting of her words lingering in his ears. "Get her out of her."
"B-but she wanted to come up 'ere-"
"Get her out of here NOW!" Sweeney yelled, and Lucy scrambled out the door.
"Mr. Todd!" Nellie screamed, following Lucy out of the door. "All she wanted ter do was see yeh again."
"I don't care. All I am is a demon barber, and that's all I'll ever be to 'er." He spat back. "I'm going to kill the Beadle and the judge, and then my purpose in life will be fullfilled."
Mrs. Lovett ignored his words as she ran after Lucy. She had already reached the bottom of the stairs and was attempting to run out into the street, when a hand grabbed her and stopped her dead in her tracks.
"Oh Toby, thank goodness." Nellie whispered as she reached Lucy. "Can yeh look after 'er an' make sure she doesn' leave me shop?"
"Um, sure mum." Toby smiled, and lead Lucy inside by her arm.
Nellie meanwhile, needed to have a little chat with Mr. Todd.
"Dammit." Sweeney whispered, sitting back in his chair.
"Mr. T, I need to talk to yeh." Nellie whispered from outside of his door.
"Wot is it?" He mumbled back. "You said you would watch Lucy..."
"Toby 'as 'er." She stepped into the shop and stared at him, hurt across her pale features. "Why do yeh have to act like that to 'er?"
"That thing is not my wife."
"But she was once," She kneeled beside him and pressed her hand onto his pale arm. "Look Mr. T, yeh've been doin' all this stuff fer 'er, and are yeh really gonna' throw it all away now?"
"I don't know what to do anymore, Nellie." Sweeney pulled his arm away and held his hand against his forehead. "I don't know about anything anymore."
"Wot do yo mean?" She asked, looking up at him.
He averted his gaze from the window and straight into her eyes. "Nellie, I need you."
End Note: Well there you have it. Please read and review. It would really make me smile. :3
