𝙵𝚘𝚛 𝙻𝚞𝚌𝚢 (𝚂𝚠𝚎𝚎𝚗𝚎𝚢 𝚃𝚘𝚍𝚍 𝚡 𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚎𝚛)

03

A Month Later
Your POV

You had stayed at the home that used to be your sister's for a while now, and you couldn't deny that you craved the touch of another… though it wasn't always the best idea, back in the navy, you were familiar with occasionally soliciting a woman of the night, or anyone who would take you. You of course had your favorites, between dominatrix to the more soft and submissive. But you craved something. You needed it. You of course could settle for your hand, but that hadn't been satisfactory enough in the nights prior.

Through your escapades in your room between yourself and your hand, you occasionally got the strange fear that you weren't alone, that you were being watched. You however, just attributed this to the fact you were in an unfamiliar city.

As the last rays of the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the world in shades of amber and indigo, you stood by the window, watching the fading light stretch across the town. The twilight felt like an invitation, beckoning you to slip into the night and seek the pleasures it offered. You’d been patient, waiting for the right moment, and tonight, something about the way the sky lingered in hues of lavender and crimson felt like a signal.

You moved slowly, savoring the anticipation, as you left your room and stepped into the quiet of the empty barber shop. The silence was comforting, and every sound—your footfall on the wooden floor, the soft creak of the door—seemed amplified in the evening hush. You let the door click shut behind you and descended the stairs, glancing around to ensure no one was watching. The descent felt effortless, almost dreamlike, as if the world around you was moving in slow motion.

Outside, the street was alive with the scents of baking and laughter spilling from the open doors of the pie shop down the way. You couldn’t help but smile as you caught sight of Lovette, busy as always, but she looked up just in time to catch your eye. Her face lit up in a warm smile, and you gave her a small, discreet wave. The familiarity of the gesture grounded you, steadied your nerves, even as a thrill of anticipation thrummed through you. Tonight was different. Tonight, you would let yourself indulge.

As you walked further into the heart of the town, your pulse quickened. The night air was cool, with a faint breeze that carried hints of perfume, mingling with the scent of baked goods and the heady aroma of tobacco smoke from a nearby tavern. Memories tugged at you, stirring up a yearning that you had long kept at bay. It had been too long since you’d felt the warmth of another, the spark of connection shared in the soft intimacy of the evening. You could already feel your heart racing, each step bringing you closer to something you hadn’t dared seek for a long while.

— — —

The morning sun peeked through the thin curtains, casting a hazy glow over the modest room as you stirred awake. Soreness weighed on your limbs, a gentle reminder of the night before. The woman beside you—who’d introduced herself as "Finch" with a sly smile that all but confirmed the name’s falseness—slept peacefully, her long black hair spilling over her bare shoulders. She looked serene, so different from the confident allure she’d exuded the night before.

Suppressing a yawn, you slipped quietly out of bed and dressed, trying not to wake her. It felt only right to fetch something warm for the two of you; the pie shop would be open by now, filling the air with its savory scents. Perhaps a warm meat pie would be a pleasant gesture for Finch when she awoke. Besides, you liked to think of yourself as a gentleman in these matters.

Easing the door closed behind you, you felt a small sense of relief to see the shop floor below was empty, save for the comforting quiet of the morning. Mr. Todd was nowhere in sight, which spared you the discomfort of explaining the company you’d entertained overnight.

You made your way down the creaking stairs and stepped into the pie shop below, greeted immediately by the eager smile of Tobias, Miss Lovette’s assistant. His wide eyes sparkled with curiosity and energy as he bounded over to you.

“Hello, sir! What can I get for you this fine morning?” he chirped, practically bouncing on his heels.

“Two meat pies, Tobias, if you’d be so kind,” you replied, pressing two thrupence into his hand. The boy nodded vigorously and dashed off to retrieve your order. In no time, he returned with two steaming meat pies, each nestled neatly on a plate. The smell was heavenly, rich and seasoned just right.

“Thank you, boy,” you said, nodding as you took the pies and turned to head back upstairs. But as you reached the barber shop’s entry, you found yourself face-to-face with Mr. Todd. He stood there, wiping his gleaming razor with slow, deliberate strokes, a sharpness in his gaze that made you pause. His eyes flicked briefly to the two pies in your hands before he tightened his grip on the cloth.

His expression shifted slightly, a flicker of something hard to place. "Your... friend... she left," he said abruptly, his tone flat, though his eyes hinted at something far darker. The way he adjusted his jacket seemed almost too quick, too purposeful.

You blinked, caught off guard. "Left? Already?" You managed to hide the twinge of disappointment in your voice with a polite smile, trying to mask your embarrassment. "Well, I suppose that’s how these things go." You held up one of the pies, adding with a smile, “Take hers, Mr. Todd. No sense in letting it go to waste.”

He accepted it with a nod, though his gaze never left yours. As he turned away, you noticed a dark stain just barely visible beneath the edge of his jacket, its rich crimson hue unmistakable. An uncomfortable chill ran through you as you looked away, wondering if perhaps Finch’s early departure had more to it than you cared to know.