(no subject)
Written for 10_quotes , a challenge to write fanfiction based on a series of classic movie quotes.
Title: That Idea
Fandom: Sweeney Todd (revival-verse)
Rating: PG
Characters: Toby and Mrs. Lovett
Summary: Toby asks a rather awkward question- and isn't sure he knows what he wants the answer to be.
Quote: "Mrs. Robinson, you're trying to seduce me..."
Notes: Toby in the revival version is a (slightly crazy) teenager rather than a small child.
It was a slow day in the pie shop when Toby made his mistake. Of course, he’d made the earlier one of even half-listening to what that old beggar woman was screaming at him from outside, but he didn’t realize it until it was too late.
“She’ll trick you, boy! She’ll seduce you, get into your heart and tear it from the inside!”
He shouldn’t have paid any attention, and he certainly shouldn’t have asked Mrs. Lovett about it. She was a kind woman, sweet and gentle, an angel sent to save him from his earthly sorrows. But that afternoon, as he lay with his head in her lap, her warm hand stroking his hair, the words came out before he had time to think.
“Mrs. Lovett, are you trying to seduce me?”
His face burned, and he wanted to take it back immediately. He’d been wicked to ask such a thing, she’d run out in tears from shame and hate him forever.
But no, what Mrs. Lovett did was even worse. She started to laugh.
“Wherever did you get that idea, Toby dear?”
He couldn’t manage to look her in the eye.
“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have asked, it’s just the old woman- ”
“Oh, did she?”
Mrs. Lovett was looking at him in an odd sort of way. It wasn’t exactly unkind, but a bit colder than he’d seen her face before. Toby swallowed, looking down. It was all his fault, he’d been bad and ruined everything…
After a moment, Toby felt her hand on his shoulder.
“Well” she said, “seems that hag is determined to take away every man in my life. Don’t you pay her any attention.”
“Then- then you don’t hate me for asking that?”
“Of course not, dear!”
Toby hurriedly picked up the broom, hoping that the subject had been dropped. He felt even more foolish now than before- what on earth had he expected her to say? Thank heavens she seemed to have shrugged it off…
“What’s the matter, Toby? You look hurt.”
He turned to Mrs. Lovett, trying to reassure her. She only shook her head and smiled.
“ Did you want me to seduce you?”
There were no words he could manage to say to that.