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Fallen Angel	By : Linalove1988 Category: S through Z > Sweeney Todd (Movie Only) > Sweeney Todd (Movie Only) Views: 1526 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Sweeney Todd. No profit is made out of this story.

Chapter List
- 5
- 6
- 7
Disclaimer: I do not own Sweeney Todd.

Chapter 6

“Okay, so you do the groceries and I get the carpenter to fix the counter.” Kate said to Anna before they separated ways. Anna sighed and turned towards the market. There had been a fight the previous night and the two men involved in it had destroyed the bloody counter. Now it needed to get fixed before nightfall or else the customers wouldn’t have anywhere to lean while standing at the bar.
She shook her head and tightened her coat around her. It was a pretty cold day and the roads were pretty quiet. Perfect morning for her foul mood.
“Annie!” a sudden feminine voice made her pause. She turned her head only to come face to face with Kristine or Kris as she liked to be called. Anna resisted the urge to scowl.
It’s Anna! Not Annie! I am not your bloody friend! She thought fiercely but she didn’t move as the other woman approached her.
“Yes?”
“You’re going to the market?” Kristine asked and Anna had to notice that outside the pub she didn’t look so glamorous.
“I am. Where are you going?” she asked and Kristine smiled at her while flicking her blonde hair behind her shoulder.
“With you? I need some new gloves.”
“I see.”
“Can I join you then?”
“I suppose. But I need to get groceries for the pub. The cook asked for them.” Anna said reluctantly and Kristine shrugged.
“Fine by me.” She responded as they started down the street together.
Anna tried to walk with a distance between them in case anyone recognized Kristine from the pub. Now, she had nothing against woman of her profession. Everyone had to do what they had to do but she didn’t want people to think that she shared the same job. It was hard enough to avoid the advances of the men at the pub every night.
“So where are you from?” Kristine asked and Anna looked at her.
“From here. I was born in London.”
“I see…You have parents?” Kristine asked, obviously trying to start a conversation.
“I did. They’re both dead.” Anna replied as they rounded a corner and the market gates appeared in front of them.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I never knew my parents. I grew up in an orphanage.” Kristine said and Anna frowned.
“I’m sorry to hear that.” She murmured as they entered the market and were immediately surrounded by people.
“Yeah…Anyway, I came to London a year ago.”
“Is that when you decided to become…” Anna coughed and Kristin laughed at her discomfort.
“Let’s just not get into that conversation, sweet Anna. I think it will be too painful for your virgin ears.” Kristine said as she looked away.
Anna pursed her lips but didn’t speak. Virgin ears! She was definitely not a virgin. That was something Kristine didn’t need to know anyway. Foolish things should always stay hidden.
“I guess this is where we part ways. Happy shopping.” Anna said shortly, not giving Kristine a chance to respond, before she turned and walked away from the other woman, still fuming. Kristine wasn’t the only one with problems anyway. She shook her head to clear it from unnecessary thoughts and then proceeded towards the carts of groceries.

***********************************
She was ready to pick up a basket of potatoes when a small figure ran towards her.
“I’ll take it, ma’am.” The voice of a young boy chimed and Anna looked down.
Mrs. Lovett’s boy, Toby, was smiling up at her.
“Oh, hello there. I have it but thank you.” Anna declined but the boy shook his head.
“I’ll help.”
“Are you alone here?” Anna asked curiously but the boy shook his head.
“No, ma’am. I’m with Mr. Todd but he ain’t looking right now so I can help you down the street.” Toby said and Anna froze. She hadn’t thought about the barber for over a week. Or she should say Mr. Barker?
“Then you should go back to him now.” Anna said as she picked up the carrots she had bought and placed them inside the basket of potatoes.
“But he isn’t here now…” Toby shook his head as he took the things from her and started walking.
“Wait! It’s too heavy!” she laughed but it was cut off when they came face to face with Mr. Todd. The barber’s eyes moved from the boy to Anna and back again. His lip curled in a sneer as he looked down at the boy.
“Mr. T-…”
“Leave that and take these back to my shop.” The barber said curtly as he extended a bag of supplies towards the boy who hesitated, “Now.” The barber said with narrowed eyes.
“But Miss-…”
“Didn’t you hear what I said, boy?” Mr. Todd snapped impatiently and the boy gulped. Toby placed the groceries down and with a last, apologizing look at Anna took the bag from the barber and scurried away. Todd watched the lad go before he turned to Anna.
“Perhaps you should hire your own helper, Miss Smith.” He said as he looked at her groceries and then at her with his eyebrow raised.
“Perhaps it is more polite to greet people before you snap at them, Mr. Todd.” She shot right back as she did a mental note to herself.
This man cannot possibly be Benjamin Barker. Benjamin Barker smiled at people; he didn’t snap at them like they were beyond them.
But how come he does look like him?
“I would say good morning but from this weather I think we both can tell that it’s not.” He sneered at her and she sighed as she leaned down to pick up her things.
“Right.” She muttered and she took a last look at his dark eyes before she walked past him.
“I thought you needed help with those.” She could hear the smirk in his voice and she paused, her arms shaking under the weight of the basket. Slowly she turned and gave him a fake smile.
“Why, Mr. Todd! Are you offering me your help?” she asked and he blinked, his face blank as he walked towards her and slowly took the groceries from her. His cold fingers touched hers as he removed the weight from her arms and she shivered.
Why were his hands always so cold?
He lifted the basket in his arms as if it weighted nothing and looked down at her expectantly.
“Well? Are you going to move?” he asked gruffly and she blinked.
“Right. I’m heading to the pub.” She said quietly as they started walking together, Anna just a couple of steps behind him.
“Good. I could use a drink.” He said as he quickened his pace. Anna struggled to keep up with his quick strides even without carrying anything.

****************************
“Is there something wrong with Mrs. Lovett’s gin? Or ale for that matter?” Anna asked as soon as she placed a glass of gin in front of the barber who looked at her with a boring expression on his pale face. They were at the far end of the broken counter while the carpenter worked on the other end.
“Have you seen her kitchen, lass?” he asked as he took a long sip, almost finishing half the glass.
“It’s Anna. Don’t call me lass. I hear it every night so please don’t say that while it’s still morning.” She scowled and he smirked although it was more of a grimace, a twitch of the lips that anything else.
“Alright.” He said as he looked at his glass, his eyes empty.
Anna took the chance to look at him while he wasn’t looking but he felt her eyes on him and looked up sharply.
“What?” he growled and she blinked before she let her eyes fall on the half gloves that adorned his long elegant fingers.
“Um…What?” she looked up at him with a small frown.
“You’re doing it again.” He rolled his eyes as he took another sip. At her blank expression he sneered, “You’re staring. What are you trying to find I wonder?” he murmured and she flushed under his gaze.
“Nothing.” She shook her head.
“Liar.” He hissed as he downed the last of the gin and then pushed it towards her, “Another.” He ordered and she looked at him dubiously.
“It’s too early for another, don’t you think?” she asked carefully and he glared at her.
“I’m paying, am I not? So fill it up.” He snapped and the previous, brief amiability vanished from his eyes.
“Excuse me for caring.” She muttered as she refilled his glass and placed it forcefully in front of him. He seized her hand before she had the chance to move back and tugged her closer, his eyes sharp and his lips set into a thin line of displeasure.
“Who ever gave you the right to care, hmm? Do I know you so well, lass?” he put particular emphasis on the last work, just to annoy her.
Anna pursed her lips and tried to remove her hand from his hold but he only tightened his fingers around her hand with magnificent strength that one could not tell he possessed by his slender figure.
“I guess you don’t, sir.” She replied calmly as she raised her eyes to stare into his harsh ones. His brow furrowed briefly at her tone but he slowly let go of her. Her hand tingled as he released it and she wondered if it was from his cold skin or from his bruising touch. She gently rubbed her hand and he briefly looked at it before he turned his eyes to his drink. Anna watched as his half -gloved fingers wrapped themselves around the glass and wondered if she should tell him that she indeed knew him. She wondered it she should mention to him that she knew him before he turned into this cold creature who no longer smiled at the mere sight of her. Because Benjamin Barker did talk and smile to the young girl whose only trouble at the time was to sell a few flowers to help her mother. Perhaps she should burst his bubble of fake anonymity just to see his reaction. But she didn’t. She spared him the anger he’d obviously show at her revelation and simply walked to the back to do some cleaning.

********************************
A few days later…

“Hey, what’s up with you today?” Kate asked Anna as she appeared in the kitchen and sat down on a chair.
“Nothing.” She muttered as she watched the cook and two other girls run around the kitchen in search of plates and ingredients.
“Did you leave the bar unattended?” Kate asked and Anna scowled.
“Just for a few moments. It won’t hurt anyone. Besides, Kristine is getting friendly with one of the customers.” She replied as she crossed her arms over her chest.
“Really?”
“Yes. I think that will keep the customers busy.” Anna said before Kate bounced out of the kitchen. She returned moments later with a frown.
“Hon, that’s Mr. Todd. He looks as drunk as a fish.” Kate said and Anna shrugged.
“He’s a big lad. He can’t do whatever he wants.” She said as she stretched her legs.
Besides, just the other day he told me not to care. That’s what I’m doing. I am not caring. She reminded herself bitterly.
“She will suck him dry!” Kate exclaimed and Anna looked at her sharply.
“I mean, she will steal his money while he’s too pissed to realize it. I’ve seen her do it. She won’t even lay out the goods if you know what I mean.” Kate winked and that caught Anna’s attention.
“What?” she stood up and looked at Kate with incredulity, “Are you serious?” she gasped and Kate shrugged.
“I’ve seen it.”
“Jesus.” Anna murmured as she left the kitchen and headed straight for Todd’s darkened table.
Kristine was there alright. Her arm was around the barber who looked totally dazed. He probably didn’t realize what was happening. His eyes were settled on the glass in front of him and he was unmoving and stiff beneath the woman’s touch. Kristine’s hand left his arm, which she had been clutching and slid down towards the inner pocket of his leather jacket.
Anna’s nostrils flared and she marched towards them.
“Hey!” she snapped and both the barber and Kristine turned to look at her, “What the hell are you doing?” Anna hissed as she grasped Kristine’s arm and pulled her from the barber, sliding her all the way down the bench.
“What are you doing? Can’t you see I’m busy?” Kristine hissed back at her.
“Busy? He doesn’t even know you’re here!” she pointed at the barber who blinked rapidly as if waking up from a daze, “And we have a policy against stealing!” Anna snapped and Kristine looked around, her face flushing.
“I wasn’t going to-…”
“Customers only pay you for the services you provide for them. Upstairs, in one of the rooms. They don’t pay for the pleasure of your intellectual conversation.” Anna continued and Kristine stood up angrily.
“How dare you talk to me like that?” Kristine hissed at her.
“Anna?” the barber spoke up while squinting at her and she turned to him.
“A moment, sir,” she said to him before she turned to Kristine, “Now, I suggest you find someone who is sober enough and leave the pissed ones alone.” She said quietly and Kristine glared at her before she stormed away.
Anna walked to the barber and reached for his glass. She took it away from his parted lips and he looked up at her with narrowed eyes.
“Why did you do that?” he slurred and she rolled her eyes.
“You’re drunk and that woman almost robbed you. What are you doing here so late?” she asked him and he made a futile attempt to reach for the glass.
“Give that back!” he snarled but she stepped back, “And who says I didn’t want that woman?” he asked and Anna paused.
“You didn’t seem particularly into it. Besides you’re drunk.” She said calmly as he slumped in his seat and flexed his hands.
“You keep repeating yourself. All I want is my glass back.” He said as he looked up at her with half hooded eyes. His eyes were a bit lighter under the influence of the gin and they almost resembled their previous warm brown gaze.
“I won’t serve you anymore alcohol. So either you pay and leave or you stay there until you feel more sober to walk.” She deadpanned and he set his jaw.
“I’m fine.”
“I can see that.” She said as she noticed his flushed cheeks; a total antithesis to his usually pale complexion.
“We’re closing soon anyway.” She added before she walked away. She heard him kicking the chair next to his in aggravation but he didn’t ask for another drink.
Kristine passed by the counter some time later and sneered at her.
“I don’t know why you’re so interested in him but he’s out of his wits anyway. He called me Lucy just before you came and ruined it for me. You can bloody have him.” She said before she walked upstairs alone.
Anna looked at the barber again who was just sitting there and sighed, deeply disturbed by his inability to always communicate with the rest of the world.
Lucy. Lucy Barker. Of course he’s asking for her. She shook her head. She never found out what had happened to her. Perhaps she was dead?
“Kate? You mind finishing here? I have something to do.” She called and Kate came over.
“Sure. I’ll see you tomorrow then.”
Anna bid her goodnight and then headed for Todd’s table.
“Come on. I’ll get you home.” She said to him and he looked up at her with a frown.
“I don’t need a chaperon.”
“Really? Get up then.” She stated as she waited.
He sneered at her like he usually did and then attempted to stand. He succeeded but when he tried to walk his knees almost buckled.
“Damnation!” he hissed as he caught himself on the table.
“Shall I help you now?” she asked while stifling an amused chuckle. Todd simply glared at her and she reached over to take hold of his arm. She pulled him closer and realized that his hand was slightly warmer than it usually was when she wrapped it in her own.
“Come on.” She tugged on his hand and he stumbled but managed to stay upright by holding tightly onto her. As they stepped outside he almost tripped again and cursed loudly.
“If you wanted to get pissed why didn’t you just do it at your house? I know there’s alcohol in Mrs. Lovett’s cupboards.” She said as she wrapped one of his arms around her shoulder and groaned at his weight. His fingers hovered over her collarbone as he leaned on her and she wrapped her own arm around his waist to support him.
“She talks a lot.” She heard him mumble as they walked down the street.
“I bet she does.”
“The place smells bad. Apart from my room.” He carried on and she laughed softly.
“I know…I wonder how you eat her food.” Anna’s nose wriggled at the remembrance of the woman’s counter. Bloody cockroaches were walking on it the last time she was there for tea!
“I don’t.” his breath fell on her cheek as he spoke and she turned to look at him but didn’t speak.
“That’s why you’re so skinny.” She muttered as they carried on walking in silence. At some point her arm started to throb at his weight but she didn’t speak. She stifled a sigh of relief when they turned the corner to his road but then she yelped when she felt cool fingers on her neck. She looked down and saw his fingers ghosting over her skin, his silver ring glimmering in the dim light of the street.
She looked at his face but he was watching the movements of his fingers on her skin.
“It’d be better if you looked where you’re walking.” She said as the back of his fingers caressed her neck slowly.
“I can’t see anyway.” He muttered and she thought that she felt him briefly burying his nose in her hair before he moved back. She drew her head to the side, sidestepping his touch and he found the opportunity to sink his hand in her hair instead.
“For God’s sake.” She mumbled when she realized that Mr. Todd no, Mr. Barker, was rubbing his fingers though her hair, feeling its texture. And worse than that was that she was almost okay with it. It was years since someone had touched her in such a way.
“Here we are!” she announced more loudly than necessary and the barber looked at the building with a sneer.
A moment later the door to the pie shop was wrenched open and a wide-eyed Mrs. Lovett appeared, looking worried.
“Oh, thank God! I thought something bad had happened to you, Mr. T!” she exclaimed as she rushed over to them.
“It’s Todd. Sweeney Todd, woman! Desist calling me such silly nicknames! I assure you I don’t appreciate them let alone welcome them.” He hissed at her and even in his inebriated state he could be extremely biting.
Anna recoiled from his words and so did the baker but she recovered quickly, “Well, let’s get you inside then.” She said quietly and Anna felt bad for the other woman.
Mrs. Lovett made to go support him but he shrugged out of her hold.
“I’ll go upstairs alone.” He snapped with a slur as he removed his arm from around Anna. He paused before he walked upstairs with a hand on the banister, holding himself up. His eyes trailed over Anna’s face and his hand reached up to brush against her cheek with a single finger. Anna allowed it for just a moment before she leaned back and away from his touch. Unfazed he let his hand slide down her jaw to her neck until he let it fall from her skin.
Anna immediately stepped back and met the curious and accusing eyes of the baker who had watched the entire thing.
“You need help getting up those stairs, Mr. T-…Mr. Todd?” Mrs. Lovett asked as she drew her eyes away from Anna.
“No.” the barber answered curtly as he stumbled his way up the stairs and towards his own shop.
Anna cleared her throat and smiled tightly at the baker.
“Well, goodnight.” She said quickly but the baker was quick herself.
“Hold on there, love.” She called as she tightened her black robe around her waist.
Anna slowly turned towards her just as the upper door closed shut.
“Yes?”
“Is there something going on between you and Mr. Todd?”
Great. Now the woman thought they were involved. Which they weren’t. He was drunk for Christ’s sake! He’d never touch her while sober.
“Of course not.” She answered with a snort but the other woman looked at her dubiously.
“He touched you. He never touches anyone.” The baker stated hoarsely and Anna swallowed hard.
“I guess he was just too drunk then. He called one of the girls at the pub Lucy. He’s just confused.” At that the baker’s eyes widened and she gaped.
“What?”
“Yes. Um…there is this girl that entertains the customers and…Well! I have to get back. Good night, Mrs. Lovett.” She called and the baker nodded, her eyes narrowed.
“Just be careful, dearie.” She called and Anna paused before she continued down the street, feeling deeply unsettled by the whole ordeal.

End of chapter 6
Please review! Thank you for reading!
xxx Lina
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Fallen Angel