Sweeney's Willow (Sweeney Todd)

- Chapter Fourteen: To Trust and Compare -

His dark eyes trail along her rosy cheeks and jawline; memorizing every freckle and smooth of her delicate porcelain skin as she leans over the table just feet from his, wiping its wooden surface with a damp rag that really was long overdue for being thrown in the trash. He feels his breathing hitch whenever her soft green eyes meet his brown ones whilst his hands that silently tremble under the worn table clam up and an indescribable need to be close to her overcomes him as though he is a wild animal with no self-control.

He feels the familiar warmth wash over his icy heart as she offers him a discreet smile, one that reflects all the adoration for him she had previously expressed in other more intimate acts such as the kiss they had shared only a short three hours earlier in his room above. He allows his lips to twitch up at the corners for her, his eyes remaining soft as he nods to her before forcing himself to a stand.

"Returning upstairs so soon?" the all too familiar shrill voice asks from behind the counter at the front of the shop, the quickening footsteps he had heard all too much following it.

He doesn't turn to look at the petite woman with an unflattering nest of hair upon her head as he walks to the door steadily, finding no real desire within himself to see her pale face in this moment. "I have customers waiting Mrs Lovett and you have pies in need of a filling." he informs her dully whilst tugging the door open swiftly.

"How about I bring you up a nice warm pie straight from the oven then, eh?" she offers with hopeful eyes, eager to spend more time with the dark man than he himself deemed necessary or comfortable.

His brow arches incredulously at her offer before he shakes his head with a growing disgust forming within him, "that won't be necessary." he mutters simply. "Thank you,"

"How about a nice pot of tea then?"

"I have all the tea I can drink upstairs," he points out with knitted brows before stepping outside into the chilly air. He turns to grip the doorknob once more, allowing his gaze to fall to his sweet Cora for a moment longer. He feels a smile twist on his lips as he watches her converse with an older and less able woman politely, her plump ruby lips permanently etched into a kind smile as she explains the ingredients of the pie whilst effortlessly avoiding going into too much detail about the mysterious meat that everyone was eager to learn of.

"She is a thing of beauty, isn't she." he whispers absentmindedly as he leans his weight on one foot, unable to tear himself from where he stands.

Mrs Lovett hears him though no response worthy of being uttered to the barber forms on her tongue as she simply nods and folds her arms across her chest, her jaw setting angrily as she bites back the cruel words begging to be released from the confines of her mouth.

Though as soon as Sweeney's walls are down, they are back up again as he stands straighter and clears his throat awkwardly, sparing the woman a side glance before he drops his gaze to the floor below his feet. "Send the next one up." he mutters with hard eyes before trudging back up the stairs with an irritated expression, slamming his door behind him like a petulant toddler.

Mrs Lovett rolls her eyes at him as she remains stood in the doorway of her busy shop. This was not the way this was supposed to be happening, he was supposed to want her, need her. But no, instead she had to go ahead and hire a pretty little cleaner who would steal his fragile heart right from under her. No. This would not do. She would not lose him again; she would not be second best again. Not this time.

So, with a sinister smile, she turns and steps outside to address the queuing men awaiting a shave from the very skilled barber of Fleet Street. "Up you go, love." she urges whilst leading an older looking gentleman with greying hair and stubble on his chin towards the stairs to Sweeney's room. She smirks and turns to walk towards the shop once more as that dangerous obsession within her takes a hold. "Let's work that girl to the bone before sending her right into the lion's den," she laughs wickedly.