Work Text:
“He… used me as bait…”
Lizzie is shivering, clearly cold and slightly tipsy, her voice low and weak even as she tumbles forward a little into Polly’s arms. Polly’s grip tightens even as she leads the girl, her precious Lizzie, to the fireplace, glad she’d already been using it, settling the girl and wrapping her in blankets to cover thin clothes, bare collarbones and bruised neck.
“Stay here Lizzie Love…”
She returns quickly with tea, pressing the cup into the girl’s hands and kissing her forehead tenderly.
“Stay here… I’ll be right back.”
Later Lizzie will hear the muffled argument, the raised voices echoing more clearly as time goes on.
“She used to be a whore Pol…”
The sound of the slap echoes in the hall.
“She’s still better than that now, you judgmental little shit. You used her, you got her… got her hurt… nearly got killed. You foolish little boy.”
He makes to say something and a second slap echoes.
“Get out.”
He does, Lizzie can tell from the slam of the door and click of the lock before Polly joins her again, locking the other door and window before settling beside her, gently smoothing her hair and letting her rest her head against her neck, Lizzie setting down the empty teacup to climb shyly into her lap. She smiles then, tucks them both under the blankets and holds Lizzie closer in the firelight.
“That’s my sweet girl… just relax, Pol will keep you safe, little love, just rest.”