Simply Starve This Sin

Chapter 4: Thin Ice

If one was to visit the Todds' patisserie, one would have high expectations.

Nellie's cakes and pastries were indeed top quality, and apparently, so was the service. Unfortunately, as word got round how good it was, the busier the place became. Even with her husband working just as hard as her, it was still not enough to meet the demand heading through their doors. Part of her wished Violet was still there, she had been such a great help to her. Strangely, despite the popularity of the establishment, it didn't seem that the Todds were actually making a great deal of profit, and the family was slowly suffering due to it.

As soon as the Todds got to work on the day after Violet's funeral, they could sense that it was going to be busy, and it wasn't just because of Sweeney's "free advertising" incident at said funeral.

From the moment Sweeney flipped the sign on the front door to open that morning, groups of people flocked in, to which he stood holding open the door in tiredness, stoic expression on his face. Already he could tell this was not going to be his day...

After the first rush, there was only a handful of tables left to order, meaning the waiter could finally have a bit of a breather. Sweeney approached the nearest table. It was an elderly couple, but due to the finish on the man's tailored suit, it was obvious that they were higher class. 'Great... just what I need.' the murder-minded man thought, sniffing loudly as he purposely dropped his pencil and paper loudly onto the floor.

The reason he was acting like a dick seemed like a sudden change in demeanour, when in fact, Nellie was almost certain it had been her fault when she'd lectured about him bottling things up during her time of grief. Or perhaps he'd just felt that he could be more irresponsible in a new way, seeing as he'd vowed not to murder anyone? Either way, he loved being a total prick to people, even if it drove customers away.

"My wife and I would like to have the afternoon tea." the man spoke in an authorative tone, glaring at Sweeney through his little rounded spectacles. "And a glass of your finest whisky to go with it."

Sweeney leaned onto his elbow, which was now perched on the couple's table, his eyes were shut and his breathing had gone shallow. "I say!" the woman now whispered towards him, grimacing as she used a gloved pinky finger to prod his shoulder. "What on Earth are you doing?"

He jump started the couple as he let out a loud, incoherent "Hmm?" and stood immediately to attention with narrowed eyes, studying the couple. It looked like they expected him to speak - he didn't, he knew they expected an apology, it was indeed well into the afternoon and he'd been rudely awoken that morning so they could 'bloody well sit there and wait for their measly 'sorry' all day if they want to'.

"Ahm, the afternoon tea. And the whisky if you please, old boy." the balding man with a grey moustache repeated in monotone.

Sweeney scoffed and placed on his persuasive grin, "Whisky, sir? Like we have those sorts of beverages here. You really ought to look around you - no one else seems to be drinkin' that 'ere, do they? I'll bring you your damned afternoon tea, but don't think you can call me your 'old boy'. I'd rather you were blatantly honest, I know that I'm a mere peasant to you and nothing more."

The couple gawped at him in horror as he swivelled to stride towards the counter and left them both to then face one another. "I say, Harold," the wife whispered with wide eyes. "I think those rumours about this establishment are more than vicious gossip."

Sweeney pushed the handle-less door to enter the kitchen area in the back, a place that was ridiculously hot due to the stoves and ovens being on the majority of the day. Having said that, Sweeney preferred it in there, seeing as the only thing he could hear was his wife humming and working, opposed to the obnoxious chatter of the public in the eating area behind him. At the time of him entering, Nellie was busy at work, opening the main oven to take out a hot tray with a variety of fruit buns placed on it. She huffed and turned, placing it onto a large table next to trays of other fresh confectioneries she had made.

" 'nother order, ain't it love?" she huffed out, looking tiredly over to her husband, who nodded in reply. "'S 'ard work this, and we ain't even gettin' as much money as we used to!"

"I know," he responded, setting his eyes on hers with a sad expression. "Crime really did pay, didn't it pet?"

She smiled whilst he wandered over to her, expecting him to give her another order to meet, instead he kissed her which caught her off-guard. Her tired eyes fluttered shut and she smiled into the kiss. It had seemed too short when he pulled away, linking his arms around her waist. They still hadn't had much intimacy together, especially with the exhaustion that would hit them as soon as they both got home.

" 'Ave you ever wondered what it'd be like if we went back to our old lives?" he said in a small sincere voice, resting his chin on the top of her head. She frowned at the fact he'd asked a question, then smirked, not that he could see, " 'O course I 'ave Sweens. Part of me don't even miss it, but I do regret the wealthy repercussions 'o course." Clearly she was referring to their cunning makeshift-slaughterhouse.

He grinned in silent agreement.

"Anyway, I better get on wi' me work, an' so 'ad you Mr T!" she exclaimed in her cheery tone, pulling away from his embrace with a wink. "At this rate I'll be in 'ere 'til closin' time!"

His eyes widened, as her words suddenly made him remember something, and he began to shift, "A-Actually Nell, I have to leave earlier tonight. 'M sorry, should've told y'earlier." She frowned at him, her accusing chocolate eyes studying his suspicious expression. "Ay? To go where? I can't run this bloody place on me lonesome, can I?" she told him, floury hands pressing against her hips. "And what about Rue? She's in the back and I can't well serve out there, control everythin' in 'ere and peek in on 'er every now and then - "

"Then we'll close early." he interrupted, advancing towards her to take hold of her hands in his. "It'll die off 'ere soon, I'm sure of it."

She narrowed her eyes at him, "Oh really? We're already strugglin' money-wise an' your tellin' me that we can shut up shop so you can do some mysterious activity ya 'aven't even told me about?!" He sighed in annoyance, taking his hands away from her. He wished he could tell her, he really did, but how could he? As soon as he'd mention what it was, she would immediately disapprove.

Nellie sighed, taking a hand away from her sides to wipe away the sweat from her brow, "Look, I don't know wha's gotten inta you lately Sweens, but I don't know 'ow you expect me t'just let you go off somewhere y'ain't even told me about."

"It's just this club, Nell, is all." he said in monotone, turning to go back through the door behind him, clearly trying to escape the situation he'd got himself into. "I didn't want to say anythin' in case - "

"Club?! What kinda club?!" she cut him off, slamming something dense onto the worktop that was now behind him, yet he decided on leaving what exactly made the noise a mystery as it would mean he would have to turn around to look at Nellie. "It's nothin'," he replied, his lips in a stern line as he frowned and stared at the floor. "I'll be leavin' a bit earlier t'night. And I suggest you do too, pet."

And with that, he mysteriously exited in silence.

And left without seeing the shade of red Nellie had turned, her fists were balled in anger as she glared at the door he'd just departed through.

Suddenly that same door opened a fraction...

"Oh," Sweeney's voice came, slightly smaller than usual. "And the order's afternoon tea, and a glass of whisky if we 'ave any."

Sweeney Todd was a man that was treading on thin ice.

And it wouldn't be long until that oh so delicate sheet of ice, slowly melted away until it nonchalantly ...

...cracked.

A/N Now that I have more of the story noted down and mapped out, this will mean more chapters and therefore more updates. Thank you for staying with this story this far, I know I've had a huge break, but there'll be more to come :) Apologies for the shortness of this chapter.