Esteemed Malevolence

XXX: Hook

"D-Do we 'ave to go there tonight?" Toby whined, his small legs struggling to keep up with Miss Fiori's effortlessly smooth pace.

"Of course." she replied simply, carrying on as straight as she could, swerving out of the way of anyone on the grimy street ahead of her.

"B-But why?! Wot d'ya even do anyway? You's been there nearly every night an' ya always gone for so long - "

Eva paused abruptly, causing him to crash into her. She swivelled around, defined brows lowering into a brief warning as she seized him by both of his shoulders.

"That is none of your concern." she whispered, the boy could tell she was holding her temper due to the way her eyes seared into him. "You are far too curious for your own good. And rather selfish. I didn't specify that you were to follow me everywhere, did I? In fact, you can run along home and wait for me, there's no need for you to even come with me."

"No!" he yelled out, face alight with alarmed worry.

Some of the strangers around the two of them briefly glanced at them, nosy enough to give them their attention, but not nosy enough to stop what they were doing completely.

A distraught child wasn't worth their time.

"I-I don't wanna be by meself." he muttered glumly, lowering his head so she couldn't see the disappointment in his beading brown eyes.

She let out a huff of amusement - her eyes were filled with mirth yet she didn't quite smile, ensuring her sincere authority was still in place.

"You really want to head to Fleet Street, don't you? What if Mr Todd makes an appearance?" she poked, actually beaming a wicked smile as he lifted his head to widen his eyes at her.

When the boy didn't reply verbally, she sighed in reluctant defeat, letting go of him before turning around in order to be on her way. He didn't move for a second or so, but then ended up scampering after her. Even with all of those strangers around them, the cobbled street made the lad feel vulnerable.

Before he'd met Miss Fiori, he'd never once thought about the true dangers lurking around the city he lived in. Now that he was more aware of the snide goings-on, he hated being alone, especially beneath the black sheet of night sky.

He scuttled over the slippery cobbles to push his way through the stream of street-goers, shoving his way forwards in order to walk beside the undertaker.

When Eva felt his shoulder barging into her as he slowed down to sidle next to her, she rolled her eyes and kept her gaze dead-ahead, focusing on Mrs Lovett's Meat Pie Emporium - which was just across the road from them now. Something about the way the place's chimney churned out black fog caused her to smirk with pride. It seemed that parts around Fleet Street were certainly shaping up to be somewhat cleaner.

Before the lad caught hold of his bearings, she clutched a hand on his shoulder, dragging him through the current of deadpan civilians. They diagonally cut the crowd in half, Toby's eyes darting about to take every angle in.

Once the mass of people cleared, the sight of Mrs Lovett's domain was rather a welcome one. Although the place's courtyard was thriving with gobbling customers, and poignantly vibrant from the various bird cages and flickering lanterns - there was no sign of the ever-cheery baker. The buoyant woman's presence was something that Miss Fiori had gotten used to greeting her those past few successful nights.

In all honestly, she really did like the woman - she found it impossible not to admire Eleanor's intelligent masks, all of them adorned for different purposes. It was clear to Eva, that the baker was likely the backbone of Mr Todd's vengeance, whether he knew it or not.