Never Forget

Never Forgive

Set during the renewed success of Mrs. Lovett's pie shop and Sweeney's murders before he reaches the judge.

Mrs. Lovett carried the tray in front of her as she carefully ascended the stairs from the bake house. She lifted each foot cautiously; concentrating on not letting her dress catch her shoe; she wouldn't waste an entire batch of pies. She was so grateful of Sweeney providing for her like he did. Her face broke into a satisfied smile at her own good fortune. Mrs Lovett took the tray to the front of the shop, placing it on her worktop. She moved a bowl aside on the cluttered table and promptly dropped it with a half-muffled shriek. Slamming both palms on the edge of the table, she stared at the spot where the bowl used to sit. She jumped once more as a man flooded down the staircase just outside the side door and burst in the door; making the bell jingle and the door slam against the wall behind it. He was slipping a razor into his belt, pausing only to hurriedly wipe it on a rag dangling from his pocket.

"What's the matter? Why did you scream?" he murmured in his usual slow and distant drawl… regardless of that, she thought it was beautiful. It made him sound like he considered every word he spoke, and to her, he meant every syllable with every last fragment of his long-broken heart. He eyed her suspiciously as she grinned happily at his sudden appearance.

Oh, nothing… it was just a bug, Mr. T", she replied, casually flicking a dishcloth over her shoulder. She weaved towards him, abandoning her freshly baked produce on the shop counter. The woman stood a fair few inches shorter than the man, and she looked up at him in pure admiration.

Noticing a spot of red on Mr. Todd's face, she took his head in her hands and let a single finger gently wipe it away. "You know what the things are like…" she added, letting her hands slip off his smooth cheeks. Mrs. Lovett dragged her dirtied finger down the cloth slung over her shoulder, leaving a flash of red on the white linen. She kept eye contact with the barber, noticing his gaze pursue her movement past her chest. It was a minute until she cleared her throat with a smirk, snapping Sweeney's stare away from where it had fallen.

He shifted his weight from one foot to the other, and regained his composure; looking back towards her face. Although he refrained from looking embarrassed, Mr. Todd had been startled: a very rare occurrence for somebody such as him. He continued to act as if nothing had happened, and swiftly began to speak before she could.

"Let me take that; it's stained." He said quietly, indicating to the bloodied cloth she used. She glanced down; as if unaware it was there and shyly shook her head.

"It's fine… -barely noticeable." she said dismissing it with a flick of her hand. He shook his head too, closing his eyes for a fraction of a second, almost regretting causing a marginal inconvenience to her.

"You don't want people catching on, do you?.." he said, not as a threat but as if the whole affair was a innocent secret only the two of them knew. "we don't, do we?" he reiterated, recognising his possible mistake and stressing his use of 'we'. He couldn't upset her now. He was so close. The judge was within his grasp and the poor star struck Nellie Lovett almost felt herself weaken at his words. Such a gentleman to care how she felt…

Sweeney stepped forward to take the cloth, frowning slightly when Mrs. Lovett did not pass him the material and simply drew a long breath. He flashed his eyes at her. Moving closer for a second time, the barber lay his hand across her shoulder and gently brushed his fingertips towards him, letting the blood-stained cloth fall at their feet and letting his hand continue across and up her neck. It skimmed across her smooth skin and tangled in her red hair behind her ear, bringing their faces tantalisingly close. Her eyes grew wide, as she realised that the slightest movement on her part would bring their lips crashing together. His warm breath panted a little, and wafted a vivid curl of hair away from her burning cheeks. She felt a slight pressure as Sweeney placed his other hand on her hip, adjusting his stance so that there was not an inch between their feet. He stepped on the forgotten dishcloth; disregarding it as he fixed Mrs. Lovett with a piercing stare. She felt as if he was looking into her soul, and let herself become lost in its apparent warmth. As she sighed with the bliss of his company, he slowly pushed his mouth to hers, leading the kiss. Nellie convinced herself to close her eyes softly, unwilling to keep her gaze from lingering on his beautiful face in such close proximity.

The barber grew evermore assertive in his actions, causing him to increase his grip on her waist and lean her backwards slightly. His hair fell forwards, obscuring his cheeks and casting a shadow on their locked lips. He slid his leg momentarily past hers, letting her step backwards and walking her around of the main shop. He loosened his hold on her and let her step away from him, although keeping her hand locked tight in his. Mr. Todd applied force onto her arm, and they completed a somewhat fractured waltz towards the side door he entered from. Slamming her spine against the glass, he once again kissed her deeply and lifted a single arm to rotate the 'Open' sign to 'Closed'. Mrs. Lovett gasped out a small smirk.

Nellie slid herself down his body; wrapping an arm gently around his waist and slid out to the left. She stood up straight and wrenched open the door, instantly dashing up the wooden stairs climbing the outside of her pie shop. Halting at the uppermost step, she clutched the banister and spun around to see Mr. Todd looking hungrily up at her from the ground level.

When he reached his barber's shop, Mrs. Lovett was pacing the room; preening herself in the mirror, straightening her dress. At his rapid arrival, she marched over to him and rested her chin on his shoulder, nuzzling her face in his hair, feeling the warmth radiate from his skin. He returned the motion, letting his hands roam her dress. Mrs. Lovett's hands began to dance up his half-buttoned waistcoat, wrapping her nimble fingers around the necktie he had knotted at his throat. She pulled at one of the ends, letting it drape over her hands and unravel.

All of a sudden, Mr.Todd backed off and turned his back to her, walking away, creating an aching distance between the two. Nellie's face fell, rapidly changing in mood… what was the matter? The barber slipped out his glinting razor from the belt slung around his slender hips. It flashed in the dim light of the evening, and a streak of something resembling fear cut through her heart. With resounding relief, she watched as Sweeney flung the silver instrument from himself; causing it to clatter along the desk surface, closely followed by the belt and his white material he used in conjunction with the blade for shaving. He threw himself back at her, the magnetism too strong to keep them apart a second longer. Mrs. Lovett resumed with the necktie, removing it and dropping it to the floorboards.

Mr. Todd's white shirt fell open, revealing his pale chest, rising and falling in pants. Nellie tugged it open further, desperate to feel his pounding heart beneath her palms. Sliding her hands downwards, she felt him beginning to perspire under the friction created by her movements. In the cold room, she could feel sweat beading on her skin also, cooled by wafts of air created by the pair. She began to tear at his waistcoat, flicking open the two buttons and pushing it back off his shoulders. The shirt remained; merely buttoned once at his waist, flowing freely across smooth abdomen.

The barber pressed his bare chest against his partner once more, driving her towards a wall; he craved feeling her reactions become more urgent as the adrenaline of the situation rose. He worked at the main bodice of her dress, removing it finally and tossing it over his shoulder. It skittered across the uncarpeted floor, joining Mr. Todd's jacket and waistcoat. Her dress was no longer as restricting, and she let herself slide down the wall; pulling Sweeney with her. Propped up together in a seating position, and resuming a forceful kiss, Mr. Todd wrenched at the thin material of her outfit. He could feel every contour of her shapely figure, her body heat acting as his power supply.

Nellie let her spine relax, and collapsed flat onto the wooden boards; her dress crumpled high up her thighs, her arms reaching for Sweeney. She looked deeply into his eyes as he threw a leg across her abdomen, and straddled her. His body weight was reassuring, and not uncomfortable. Both palms lay flat either side of her face, and he dipped his neck down frequently to kiss her face and neck. Mrs. Lovett felt for the waistband of Mr. Todd's trousers. They unbuttoned down one hip, and she felt the material around his crotch slacken as they were undone.

Sweeney slowly changed position of his right hand, placing it on the wall behind the two of them, steadying himself as he entered her a few seconds later. With each thrust, Mrs. Lovett felt the air get knocked out of her; making her pant as she struggled for breath. Stars exploded behind her closed eyes at the immense pleasure he caused her. Mr. Todd rocked backwards and forwards on his legs either side of Mrs. Lovett's waist, their stomachs gliding past each other intimately. His fist was clenched against the wall, slipping slightly every time he moved; his serious face full of concentration and desire. As he came, he replaced his hand back next to Nellie's head and pulling out, he lay his head on her sweat-covered chest.

Steadying their breathing, they lay in silence together; Sweeney moving only to repetitively kiss all over the pale skin around her collarbones. Their hearts began to slow in unison with each other, their intakes of breath matching. Mr. Todd placed a palm on her shoulder, and gradually slid it down her body; admiring her and relaxing her aching muscles. He reached her waist and slid it down underneath her hips, using his weight to pull her up upright. They sat opposite each other, both their pairs of legs a tangle in front of them, both of them overwhelmed and overcome. Satisfied and yet lustful. Searching deep inside each others eyes. Caught in the moment.