Sweeney's Willow (Sweeney Todd)

- Chapter Eleven: Anchor Me -

The shadows dance enthusiastically along the cracked walls of Sweeney's room as the candle flames flicker from where they sit on the floorboards after having been strategically placed in order to offer a warming light to the room, illuminating every dark and grim corner. Silence remains a welcomed friend between both Cora and Sweeney in this calm moment as they both sit at different sides of the room in their own little worlds. Worlds that were coming together slowly, ready to collide and mould into one very thrilling and law breaking one.

Cora smiles from where she sits on Sweeney's bed with her chin resting in her palm, her eyes drooping to a close every now and then as her exhaustion begins to set in from the chaotic day she had had. But as ever stubborn as she is pretty, she forces her eyes open and widens them a fraction in a weak effort to stay awake to keep Sweeney company as he works almost in autopilot at the chairs side, adjusting various things on the rough piece of furniture whilst adding other functions that she is far too tired to pay close attention to at this late of an hour. She enjoys this comfortable air between them void of discomfort, revelling in the memory of his soft and tentative lips on hers, basking in the knowledge that he had as much passion for her as she felt she did for him.

She shoots a discreet look to Sweeney as he works, watching as the muscles in his back and arms beneath the fabric of his white shirt contract. She bites her bottom lip as it tingles with a blush rising in her pale cheeks, her body warming quickly as her mind teases her with images of things, she only wished they could do, things that were not proper behaviour for a lady out of wedlock.

She aches to be in his arms again, to feel his warm body pressed against hers and his hands cupping her cold cheeks. To feel the way, he held her so gently, so delicately as though she would break if he were to hold her too tightly, as though she were a fragile thing to be protected and handled with respect. His softer side had come through just as it always seemed to do when in her presence, she noticed this whenever his gaze would meet hers – so clearly could she watch the darkness in his eyes fade away as though she had saved him for that brief moment from himself and the demons lurking within his head. For that moment, he is just a man yearning to feel human again.

She had been saddened to pull away from him, an emptiness rising in her as soon as her hands had slipped from him. She had felt cold and slightly dazed, as though a piece of her soul had been transferred to him the moment their lips had desperately locked, a piece she feared he would always hold of her. A piece she willingly gave to him without ever realising she had in the moment.

Did she feel things for the dark man that she did not understand? Yes.

Were they feelings she felt the need to run from? Lord, no.

What did this mean for them? She did not know. Nor could she bring up the courage within herself to ask him, fearing that if she were to ask such a heavy question then he would pull back from her and close himself off, that it would pose to be too much for his fragile heart. She would not rush this; she would not build it up or put pressure on she or Sweeney. She would simply, just be in the moment and let it carry her where it so wished to.

She brings her hand lazily to her mouth to muffle a yawn just as Sweeney lifts his head to glance at her figure, a smile forming on his lips as he watches the beautiful creature sat atop his bed fighting the sleep her body so desperately craved, all for the sake of keeping him company as he works. He shakes his head and places the screwdriver that had been in his rough palm down, then with a hefty sigh he pushes himself up to a stand, being sure to arch his back slightly to ease the tension in the muscles from being sat on the floor for so long.

He walks to stand in front of where she sits, reaching out to place a single finger under her chin, tilting her head up to meet his soft gaze. "You need to sleep, love." he tells her gently with a fond smile, allowing his thumb to brush along her jawline causing a noticeable shiver to run through her body as she closes her eyes and leans into his touch with a quiet and content hum. "You mustn't fight it." he murmurs.