17. Caring

There are many things Sweeney Todd cannot comprehend, and the ever cheerful pie maker is one of them. He stands on the little wooden landing outside the tonsorial parlour, his cold eyes honed in on said baker as she steps between the throng with a batch of pies in each hand. The crowd is almost unbearably loud and Todd grits his teeth against the unpleasant sound, but he cannot retreat. It's as though Mrs. Lovett is a witch, casting her spells to enchant and spellbind everyone in the vicinity.

"'Ow nice to see ya, love!" he hears her exclaim as she dishes out the priest, and he can imagine the bright smile on her face. Her business is improving every day and she is back to doing what she is best at: caring for others.

Caring is her element. She rushes around like a woman possessed that morning as he watches, her smile never once faltering. She enquires about everyone's health and expresses her hope that they are enjoying her newly reformed pies. She tends to their every demand, keeps them pacified. As the scruffy street urchin dashes by with the jug of ale, she runs a loving hand over his messy hair, briefly catching his arm and telling him in a quiet, gentle tone to slow down because she doesn't want him to hurt himself. He nods, flashing her a grin of mutual affection before hurrying off to supply the demand.

It's when she turns to see him staring at her, her dark brown eyes catching his and holding his gaze, her own eyes dancing, that Sweeney Todd has his second epiphany.

In all the time he has known her, she has never cared for herself. Only others.

Him. And the boy.

How many times has she brought him the dinner he never touches, washed the clothes which the blood never comes out of, baked his clients into pies rather than hand him over to the law?

How many times has he seen her soothe the boy out of a nightmare, praise him for being a good little worker, held him like a mother holds her son?

When has he ever seen her doing something for herself?

His lips part and his brow furrows at this confusing revelation, and before he knows it, she is at the top of the wooden staircase, casually throwing the dishcloth over her shoulder as she cocks her head to one side, regarding him through chocolate eyes.

"You all right, love?"

There she goes again, always interfering, always caring. Does she think he's completely helpless?

"Fine," he grunts, raising his eyes to gaze over her head on the pretence of scanning the crowd for his next potential victim.

His mind lingers on thoughts of her.

(hands on his shoulders, voice telling him that the judge will come soon, aiding him in his search for vengeance)

"Mr. T? You sure you're fine? Ya look a bit pale. I'll get you a nice cup o' tea, that'll set ya straight…"

"No," he says, turning away from her, and she waits for him to step back inside his room. However, before he does so, he shoots her a look over his shoulder. "I want you to close the shop early tonight. I am in no mood to replenish your meat supply. Just…" Here he pauses, as though there is something nasty in his mouth. "Have an evening off." He leaves her then, blinking stupidly at his disappearing back.

Soon though, a huge grin finds its way on to her face, threatening to crack her features in two. She begins to make her way back down the wooden staircase, humming cheerfully to herself as she does so. Well, that's something Nellie Lovett had never expected to hear from the barber's lips. Fetching a fresh batch of pies from the counter in her shop, she turns to the customers with a wide grin.

Perhaps Sweeney Todd does care after all.