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#john shelby angst
calummss · 4 months
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masterlist
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requested by the lovely @zablife . thank you for being so patient i feel awful but i hope you enjoy
prompt this was always how it was going to end
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‘What is wrong with you?’
‘What’s wrong with me? What the bloody hell is wrong with you?’
‘With me?’ You stopped strutting, stepping towards his face. ‘Me? Are you fucking insane?’
John reached out for your arm, his tight grip making it impossible to walk off, leaving you in his embrace that no longer gave you the same warmth it used to. It was cold and wet, cold and dark. All you wanted was to go home, eat the food your nan had made you and sip a cup of tea by the fireplace as she talked about her golden age. John had apprehended you as you sat inside of the Garrison, patiently waiting for Pete to show up but as the clicking of the clock continued to burn into your head, you had given up and pitifully ordered four shots, all burning the back of your throat and you wiped your lips with saddened eyes.
‘Don’t touch me,’ you tried to pull back, your heels almost making you trip every time you tried to get away from him but he was also the one that saved you from the dirty streets of Small Heath. John had loosened his grip, enough to get rid of the burning sensation on the skin of your arm. His eyes were dark, no joy, no tears, no pain; just soulless.
‘You are mine.’ He growled at you not caring for the people that eyes the scene in front of them.
‘You don’t own me!’
‘You’re mine. Stop going on these stupid dates. Do they know you’re married? That they’re committing adulterous acts against me?’
‘We divorced, John!’
‘There’s no such thing as a divorce, sweetheart,’ he inched his face closer to yours, his hot breath clashing against the cold air. ‘Til death do us part.’
Your eyebrows softened with the released tension of your forehead. Who was he? What happened to John?
‘Pete won’t come.’
‘Why?’ You asked. Each second letting his words settle, his grip on your arm slowly fading as you tilted your head to look at him. Legs barely supporting your weight. ‘What the fuck did you do John? What did you do? Where is he?’
‘Receiving the punishment any man should.’
‘What the fuck did you do?’
‘I shot him in the head and watched all of his blood spill next to him as I watched life leave his eyes, his breathing stop, as he looked at me and realised that the last thing he would see was me.’
You stared at John processing what he said. Going over every word he had just uttered, not realising that your shaking hand had made its way to your lips, anxiously pulling the skin. And then it dawned on you… ‘Freddie, Roy, Kennedy, Albert…they never showed up, they…never returned any of my calls…John, what did you do?…Oh no no no,’ your tears silently fell.
‘Do you think I share what is mine?’
Sobs
‘If you think it was ever going to end any other way you are a stupid girl. This is how it was always going to end. You can run as far away as you want. Date who you want. Kiss who you want. But I will always find you. And I will take back what is mine. Always’
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eviegray · 2 years
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❛ die first ❜ - john shelby
genre: fluff and maybe kind of angsty.
this was inspired by some songs i was listening to so, feel free to lisen to them while reading this. <3
"die first" by nessa barret
"fourth of july" by sufjan stevens
"iris" by the gogo dolls
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soulmate.
a person ideally suited to another as a close friend or romantic partner.
that’s the definition often attributed to the word that has long haunted your mind.
you grew up hearing about people daydreaming about the day they meet their soulmates, how their life would suddenly make sense and everything would be finally all right.
having another half, someone who completes you, someone you share a deep connection with… another soul roaming this earth, made just for you?
some things sound too good to be true.
until you met him.
john michael shelby.
met by accident when, at a fair, you’ve turned to speak to your sister and you were faced by him, confused as ever and staring you in the eyes.
embarrassed, quickly apologising and justifying yourself. 
that's when john smiled at you could swear that was the moment you realised what everyone meant when they spoke about love at first sight.
you always thought you’d never fall in love… until you saw him.
getting to know john and eventually deciding you two belonged together taught you a few things but mainly...
one. two sounds don’t find each other simply by accident.
two. a soulmate isn’t someone who completes you. a soulmate is someone who encourages you to complete yourself and who loves you regardless of your imperfections. it’s someone who loves you so dearly that it’s nearly impossible to doubt how capable you are of becoming whom you have always wanted to be.
three. there is no sadness in sunsets because you know it will rise again.
"do you think we will be together in another lifetime too, john?" you ask, admiring the beautiful night sky.
"why'd you ask, darling?" he smiles.
"was just wondering. eventually everything ends... and i don't want to live again without you by my side." you sigh.
john sits up, and instructs you to do the same. his hand grab your face, as he looks right into your eyes.
"i'm scared to live without you, john. i don't want to have to learn how to live a life that you're not part of." you say.
"where's all of this coming from, darling? hm?" he speaks, voice low and caring.
"i was just thinking..." you reply back.
"you'll never lose me. even if you loose me first, i will always come back to find you. i will always come back for you." john speaks.
silence falls between you two.
"if i ever leave before you, find me in the sky. look at the moon, it will be me looking after you." he smiles.
"don't say that, john" you tug at the bottom of his shirt.
"it's true. i'd be the moon and you'd be the sun. the moon loves the sun so much that he dies every night just to let the sun breathe." john speaks.
"i love you, john. i love you so much, i can't explain how much of you i have in my heart." your eyes start to tear up.
"i love you too. you dance inside my heart, where no one else can see." he softly smiles. "you're the closes to heaven that a man like me will ever be."
"some day everybody's leaving... so if one of us dies, i hope i die first." you say while softly kissing him.
"i'll break the curse. i'll always come back to find you... in this life or in the next hundred. i will always look for you, my love." he says.
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warnersister · 2 months
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Peaky blinders headcannon ->
“the boys finding out the reader is a virgin”
Find the request here
Tommy🪖
🪖Tommy had been courting you for a good few months now; much longer than he would any other woman. But he quite liked you so he was more than willing to make an exception for the lovely young lady that had just moved to the area.
🪖You’d moved for a fresh start, away from your past and to Birmingham. You’d packed your bags and left home and got on the train - taking it as far as it would go and got out when the conductor pleaded with you to disembark as they’d start the journey back to your beginnings.
🪖You’d accepted the job at The Garrison, noting the sign in the window as you aimlessly wandered the streets, mindlessly questioning your intentions. The sign in the window was almost a call from God and you hurried inside, being greeted by the bar man and a few raised eyebrows at the young girl with her life in a suitcase and hair all tangled. “Y’alright love? Look like you need a drink.” You shook your head. “A job is what I need. Still hiring?” You asked and he looked you over once. “When can you start?”
🪖So eleven months deep with a flat and a job you were quite happy in Birmingham. Your specialty straying away from being a barmaid and more towards being a hostess and front of house staff. You’d seat people and prepare the hotel lodgings upstairs, and arrange rooms and port for pesky business when it came down to it. And in the process you’d captured the attention of a certain blinder who believed he had no business interfering with the life of a young maiden just getting back on her feet, but you entertained him so who was he to be so austere and deny himself such pleasures?
🪖You were shutting shop on a Saturday night, footfall substantial and you’d finally managed to kick all drunkards out of the pub after much struggle and a bit of help from John Shelby, who’d tipped his hat and went on his merry way. You’d grabbed your coat of the hanger, hearing the door bell chime behind you “we’re closed” you announced, pivoting on your heel “I know.” That all familiar voice sounded and you peeked your head. “Alright, Tommy?” You ask, getting your bag and fastening your coat; preparing for a cold winter night in Birmingham.
🪖He stepped closer and you, in turn, stepped backwards until you were trapped against the bar. “This has gone on for long enough,” he says gruffly, staring deep into your eyes and studying your face. You’d raised your brows “what has, Tom?” He shook his head and chuckled slightly. “You and I; ‘m so sick of seeing you and not being able to have you for myself.” He tells you, right arm wrapping around your waist and head dipping slightly.
🪖Your hand came up to hold him where he was and he stopped, in question. “Not like this Tommy.” You say, looking away but he grasps your chin gently to pull you back to face him. “Not like this?” He hums “Thomas, I’ve never..” you lead off hoping he’d understand what you were implying. He thought for a moment before it clicked. “Never?” You shook your head “never.” His Adams Apple bobbed as he swallowed a lump in his throat “never.” He mumbled. “And how should I go about this the right way?” He asked, settling his hands on your hips and smiling slightly.
🪖“Dinner and a nice walk.” You say and he nods with a hum. “How’s tomorrow?” You shake your head “not leaving Harry to deal with your lot on a Sunday.” “When you next off?” He asks “Friday.” “Then we’ll go out on Friday.” You nod and smile, but point a judging finger at him. “No guns” he smiles “yes sweetheart, no guns.” “And no peaky business” he shakes his head “no business.” “No fighting either, at all” you warn and he chuckles “I promise” you lean your hand up to caress his face and he leans into your touch. “Take that bloody razor blade out of your cap too.” He raises a brow “how do you know about that?” “You underestimate the amount of times I’ve carried Arthur out of this bar and nearly sliced my hand on that thing.”
🪖“I want to see Thomas. No Shelby.” You say and he blinks. “Then Thomas you shall have.” “May I walk you home?” He asks and you smile up at him “you may” and he offers an arm to walk you to your house, looking forward to taking the last of your innocence the following Friday.
Alfie🧸
🧸Alfie recently started attending his local synagogue, at first yes: to reconnect with his faith, but now it was to see the young woman who attended every day, volunteering as your father was the rabbi. Albeit that sounding wrong, Alfie thought the rabbi was bordering on ancient and you were younger than him, but you were nearly twenty six so that wasn’t too bad.. right?
🧸“Ah Mr Solomons, back again I see” the rabbi commented, noted the recent inclination of Alfie’s presence at the house of God. “Well, been trying to reconnect.” He told his superior. “With God or with my daughter?” The rabbi asked and Alfie’s brows rose. “E-excuse me?” He choked on his words. The rabbi smirked with a slight twinkle in his eye “I’m not stupid” “no, of course you’re not-” “I’ve seen how you’ve been eyeing her.” Alfie quietened for a moment. “Well, y’see she’s a lovely young lady” “I agree, that’s how I raised her.” “And I’d like to ask her for dinner, with your blessing, f’course.” Alfie began to ramble but his elder cut him off.
🧸“Not with the business you’re in, Alfred.” And his mouth ran dry. “For her I’d get out of it, move to Morecambe, open a bakery, marry, have kids, y’know I’d raise them proper.” Rabbi Kaplan again hummed “but that sort of business isn’t the kind you can get out of, is it?” “You did, Abe.” Alfie corrects him and there’s a moment of contemplative silence. “You’re right I did. But no one hurts a rabbi.” “Then I’ll get ordained.” Alfie shrugged. Abraham looked at the man before him. “Gods punished me enough. He knows how much physical pain I’m in. And ‘m not gettin’ any younger. Neither’s she. ‘nd I never wanna be in this business anymore. Wanna settle down, dogs, kids, grandkids, the works.” Alfie says and Abe’s tongue protrudes from his lips to lick his dry lips as he thinks.
🧸“If I allow this, he’s watching.” The man looks up “I know.” “And if I allow this, she calls all the shots.” Alfie nods “wouldn’t have it any other way” “as in she says no, means no. She wants to go for a walk at two in the morning, you take her. She wants to come here, you bring her. She wants to get married, you wed her.” The man took two steps closer so him and Alfie were closer than any Rabbit should be with his child “she tells you to jump of the docks, you jump.” Alfie’s eyes don’t falter. “Done.” Abraham closes his eyes and runs a hand over his face “alright, you have my blessing.” Alfie nods, trying to suppress his glee, shaking the rabbi’s hand and walking towards the front of the synagogue where you were sat counting donations.
🧸“Excuse me missus” Alfie clears his throat and you look up at him, swallowing with a lump in his throat “yes?” “I was wondering if you’d like to go for an eat to bite, I mean a bite to eat, I mean-” you giggle at him “yes Alfie I’d love to go out with you.” Alfie sighed in relief and smiled down at you noting how the rabbi had wandered off elsewhere. You sealed and locked the cash box, storing it where I belonged and Alfie held his arm out for you to take “shall we?” You grin back at him “we shall”
🧸You’d been seeing Alfie for going on several months, and today he’d arranged for a restaurant to be shut down in order for the two of you to enjoy some peace and quiet together. You’d enjoyed a lovely romantic meal, accompanied by a bouquet of white tulips and a sneaky kiss to Alfie’s cheek, which he was grateful that they were covered by a large beard - disguising his beat-red features.
🧸Alfie was walking you back to his house, as you’d both previously agreed that you’d stay for the night and head towards Morecambe Bay the following day: to pick out a cottage on the seafront.
🧸You had some clothes at Alfie’s house, for events such as this where you’d decided to stay or go elsewhere the following day without needing to drop back home for anything. You were uncoiling your hair, and your gentle giant came around to hug you from behind, kissing up your neck until you giggled from being tickled, turning to kiss his lips.
🧸Your eyes surveyed one another’s for a moment, him leaning back down to kiss you in a more seriously insinuating manner - sciatica obviously not bothering him today as he managed to pick you up and lead you to his bed. “Alfie wait,” you say quickly and the man immediately stopped “what’s wrong treacle? If y’don’t want to we’ll stop here ‘nd-” “no it’s not that” your left hand fiddled with the rings on your right “what’s wrong flower?” He caressed your cheek gently. “Alfie I’ve never done anything before.” You say and his brows form a line in confusion. “Y’what?” “Alfie I’m a virgin.” You say and time almost stands still, Alfie nearly felt sick as he’d been handling you like a woman of the night and not a dignified young lady of whom was vastly inexperienced. “‘M sorry alf.” You say, looking down. Alfie grasps your chin and forces your eyes to connect with his “it’s me who should be apologising, sweetness. Your old man didn’t know. ‘V been handling y’ like ‘y know what you’re doin’.” He says gently. “And if y’ don’t want to, we don’t have to.” “No Alfie I want to.” And you could swear you could see the hearts forming in his irises, lenses constricting into something unnatural but simultaneously not animalistic. “I’ll take good care ‘f y’ love, just lay down for Alfie and let ‘im work his magic, yeah?” He says, laying you back gently on the bed, vowing to handle you like a porcelain doll in a box of feathers.
Arthur🍺
🍺You were several years younger than Arthur, he never felt like you were - he was as immature as any lad two decades his senior, but with you he never felt his age.
🍺The peaky blinders had been invited to a lavish banquet, black tie, chandeliers, live orchestra, the works. And Arthur never shied away from an opportunity to show his lover off, especially when that dress hugged you perfectly and your matching black gloves made you look so dainty and proper. He was proud to waltz into that event, feeling almost smug with ‘such a babe’ on his arm.
🍺The evening began wonderfully, three courses, all of which Arthur found laughable as he questioned the waiter why his entree was only a piece of rocket and slice of undercooked stake. Drinks were flowing and he was happy to get tipsy while to congregated with Polly and Ada, smitten to see you engaging so well with his family and them requiting his adoration for her.
🍺You’d stood at the bar, trying to gain the attention of the bartender to order yourself another rum and coke and your date an umpteenth pint. “Hiya can I just have a rum and coke and an apple juice?” You ask the man and he raises an eyebrow. “He’s so drunk I don’t think he’ll tell the difference.” He laughs and nods, heading off to get the top of shelf rum Arthur had requested he’d serve you earlier.
🍺“Gorgeous night, isn’t it?” A voice asked from beside you and you peer left, a young gentlemen with slicked back black hair asked as he knocked back the rest of the whiskey he’d been nursing for a while, requesting another as well as your drinks being on him. “Yes lovely.” You say shortly. “Well I was just thinking-” he begins smugly, before hissing and you look back at him quickly to see whatever is the matter. His finger was drawing blood as the new glass he’d been given was chipped on the end, in turn slicing the edge of his finger. “Oh dear, here let me help” you grabbed one of the inscribed handkerchiefs from the pile and applied pressure on his finger, only noticing your proximity when he chuckled. “What a first acquaintance” you laugh and agree. “You’re good at this” he hums “nurse in the war.” You say, not really wanting to reflect on the past.
🍺“May I buy you another drink for your troubles? Or possibly dinner?” He inquires with an up quirked lip. “No thank-” “I think she’s quite happy with the fella she’s got, son.” An angered voice quipped from behind you through gritted teeth, an arm snaking around your waist as the boy’s face ran pale. “Mr Shelby, sorry she didn’t say-” “she shouldn’t have too. Now fuck off before I kick the living daylights out of ya.” Arthur threatens and the previously smug man makes himself scarce.
🍺“Arthur,” “c’mon. We’re leaving.” He says, dragging you through the crowds of people and hailing a taxi, still gentlemanly opening the door for you but clambering in beside you, the smoke billowing from his ears fogging the windows. “Fucking little boy thinking he can talk to my fuckin’ woman, fuckin’ bastard” he reiteratively mumbled under his breath until he reached his house, roughly taking you from the car and throwing a wad of cash at the driver.
🍺As soon as you entered the house you were trapped against the closed door, his lips attacking yours unexpectedly as you struggled to keep up with his might. “I’ll show him who you fuckin’ belong to” “Arthur” “little boy makes up nothin’” “Arthur” “scream my name so the little bastard will fuckin’ hear me” “Arthur I’m a virgin” the man stopped immediately, expression stopping form angered to a more gentle one. “Y’what love?” He asks quietly, tight grip on your trapped wrists loosening “I’ve never had sex before Arth, sorry for not telling you.” You could see him visibly sobering up. “Oh my darlin’ m’sorry I didn’t know.”
🍺This was the only time you’d made Arthur feel his age, his lover a virgin. “I’ll take good care of you sweetheart, if y’let me.” “Show y’ what you’ve missed out on” he chuckles and you laugh, allowing him to pick you up to carry you up the stairs and into the bedroom.
John🥃
🥃Waking up this morning and getting married to a stranger wasn’t on your bingo card. But here you are. Kneeled at the alter beside a smirking young lad who was in a similar situation. “By the power invested in me, I now declare you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.” The stranger smiled and you and kissed your lips sweetly.
🥃The reception was just as hazy. Drinks were flowing and laughter was heard. Your father and Thomas Shelby seemed at peace for once and all was right with the world. When slow dancing, John had held you close and embraced you like you were young lovers wed, not total strangers at the chapel. He whispered sweet nothings into your ear and smiled as you giggled back at his remarks, fighting with icing on the cake and having an overly fun time with one another’s families after the initial shock from the morning. After all, he was incredibly charming and you couldn’t get out of a gypsy marriage that easily. Not in post-war Britain.
🥃You headed back to the Shelby Manor in a car strung with cans, attached by young children earlier in the day. You looked out the window to the vast house, feeling a hand tugging gently on your hair, the owner tucking it behind your ear as you looked at home. “Glad we’re married cause I could never pull you if I tried, gorgeous.” He comments and you laugh. “You’re joking. One drink and I’d be a gonner.” “At least we got to skip the funny business” he took your chin between your forefinger and chin “cause your all mine now, darling”
🥃He’d hurried you to your room quicker than anticipated, giggling like school children up to no good. He’d kissed you tenderly once inside, behind closed doors and away from the interference of all other prying eyes.
🥃He spun you gently, hands dropping to focus on the details of the backing of your dress; unthreading and untying the intricate lacings applied to keep the gown tight to your person. The dress fell and pooled at your ankles, him attacking the now bare skin with open-mouthed kisses and gentle pecks to the untouched skin.
🥃Coming to your front, he cornered you backwards in small steps until your legs hit the bed and you fell backwards onto it - him on top of you, kissing down your bodice animalisticly. “John?” He stopped and looked up with a hypnotic gaze in his eye “yes love?” “I’ve never had sex before.” You say shakily and he stops all movement. He falters for a moment, before climbing slightly higher in order to be face to face with you “never? You’re a virgin?” You nod back and he swallows the heavy lump in his throat as his briefs tighten.
🥃“Well then what an opportunity to consummate the marriage, aye darling?” He smirks “if you’ll let me that is” you smile and offer a kiss to his lips, him getting the green flag and go ahead to give you the absolute night of your life.
Bonnie🥊
🥊Bonnie was an old fashioned lad. From a young age he drempt of the stereotypical traveller lifestyle - never a singular home, him the homemaker, wife on his arm and umpteen kids running wild. It sounded like heaven. And from the moment he’d set eyes on you Bonnie had decided that that was your role - destined to be by his side. You weren’t a gypsy yourself, but he was certain he could sway you but either way he was happy to compromise as long as he had you.
🥊Tonight was one of, if not the, biggest night of his life thus far. The largest and most important fight he’d ever partake in, not only against the reigning champion which would secure his fate of being the new ruler, but also performing in front of the Peaky Blinders - prove himself to the trust Tommy Shelby had bestowed upon him. And most significantly, you were watching.
🥊He was stood in his changing room, allowing you to gently wrap his hands while his father gave him a pep talk. “Five minutes son.” His dad said, patting his back and nodding at you as he left to give you a minute alone before his spotlight moment. You finished wrapping the cloth around his palms and took his face into your hands, forcing him to look at you. “How we feeling champ?” You ask, trying to wake him up from his dystopian trance. “‘m scared m’love.” He mumbled as you frowned slightly. “Why’re you scared? Talk to me Bon, get it all out. You scared about the Shelby family? I’ll kick ‘em out-" “scared ‘m gonna disappoint you.” He says and you falter.
🥊“Bon you could never disappoint me, why would you think that?” He sighed, looking away before beginning to admit his desires. “Just wanna make you proud. I want to marry you and give you my children and travel as a family. But if I lose you won’t want to do that.” He grumbles. You chuckle slightly. “You’re such a dafty, Bon.” You say and his eyebrows crease. You lean into kiss him as he happily requites the gesture. “Bonnie of course I want to be with you either way. I don’t care if you loose, hell I don’t care if you don’t want to fight and walk out, I’ll walk right out with you.” You say.
🥊“I never knew you felt like that but I’d love to marry you Bon and have your children and I’d be willing to travel with you. I just need you to stop fretting and go win this. I love ya Bonnie.” You say, leaning your forehead against his. “You mean it?” He asks, giddily. You nod “I do”
🥊“God if I win this we’re gonna get started on those kids.” He says, getting riled up as the minutes tick down. You laugh at him “anything you want, Bonnie. Always wanted my first time to be with you.” You say and time stops. His father knocks on the door to hail his son out to the ring.
🥊“BONNIE!” “You’re a virgin?” “Yes” “BONNIE COME ON!” “And you want me to take your virginity?” “Yes Bonnie I trust you. Now go.” He hurries out of the door reluctantly, all riled up and heading for the ring.
🥊The knockout was inevitable, his opponent out cold in a matter of rounds, blood flowing freely from Bonnie’s nose as he celebrated by raising his hands victoriously above his head, father and Blinders crowding him to pat him on the back and exchange congratulations. But none of that mattered. It was just faint ringing in the background. All he could see was you stood a fair way back from the celebrating men climbing over the limb body on the ground no one had seemed to care too. He looked upon your innocent doe eyes and soft smile staring back at him as he blew you a kiss; and never has he been so desperate to get away from his own party.
🥊And after a good few hours and countless attempts to get you all to himself, you were back in Bonnie’s humble beginning: laid on your back as your boy thrust into you gently, trying not to hurt you while simultaneously trying to adhere to his desperation for you. “Faster Bon, please.” “Wanna give me a child? Is that it?” He asks and you nod meekly, as he quickens his pace desperate to bed his maiden in his own place called home.
Isaiah♟️
♟️Isaiah had been trying to get to you for many many years. Countless attempts proving fruitless from not only your rejections, but also your elder brother’s: Finn’s. Any time Isaiah had any suggestion on courting you he was shot down by his friend, who’d smack the back of his head and scold him for thinking such things. “I’ll cut your dick off and shove it in your ear if you keep thinking about my sister with it” he’d tell him.
♟️But tonight, oh tonight. Darling you looked ravishing. The Blinders were celebrating a grand festivity at Shelby Manor, someone was getting married.. or someone was dead, Isiah needn’t have cared less. Because when you cascaded the stairs, Mary Jane’s on foot and tight black dress clung to your bodice, Isaiah had to physically refrain himself from grabbing you from the get go.
♟️Sure, he’d mingled with others and drank freely with the brothers; but not once did he stray his eyes away from your figure, never letting you out of his sight. Not when you looked so delicious and drinkable, mouth running so dry he’d have to reiteratively lubricate it with whiskey. A bit of the good ole’ ‘Dutch-Courage’, aye?
♟️Finally noticing an opportunity when you brother wasn’t lingering over your shoulder, scolding you for wearing such a gown, Isaiah made his move. He slivered to the bar beside you, where Harry was offered a well-paying job serving for the evening and told him to get you another of whatever it is that you were drinking. “Your brother lets you wear a dress like this?” He questions, knocking back the rest of his whiskey and hailing for another.
♟️“No. But I am not Finn and he is nor I” you tell him, nursing the edge of your glass with your finger absentmindedly trailing it. He leant closer. “Tell you, if you were my woman that dress would be on the floor of my room right about now.” He promised and you shivered at the thought. “But I’m not your woman, am I Isaiah?” You rhetorically ask, sipping and please to feel the alcohol running down your throat.
♟️“Oh god if you were.” He said, trailing off. “I’d have you married, knocked up, never not pregnant. Have your last name Jesus. My dad would do the ceremony, y’know. Get you a nice little bouquet and pretty white dress I get to ravish you in afterwards.” He said “well you’ve got it all planned out, huh Mr Jesus?” You snort but you are backed against the bar, two hands either side of your waist as your belittled by the taller between you.
♟️“Believe me I’ve dreamt of the day since I first saw you, just your fucking brother wouldn’t let me.” You eye his lustful expression. “As I said, Isaiah. I am not my brother, nor is he I.” You repeat slowly, relaying that your older sibling(s) had no say in what was going on at that moment. “You’re playing with fire, little girl” he warned “then let me get burned” you say, batting your eyelashes doe-like and innocently, as you dared him to make the move your core had been dying for for decades.
♟️His nostrils flare as you wrap his tie around your hand and yank at it harshly, bringing an ear close to your lips to offer a promise never before foretold. “Isaiah I’m a virgin” you whisper, before releasing his tie and straightening his suit. He follows the lump in his throat before surveying the room once and looking down at you, grabbing your hand to drag you through the crowds of people and into the safe proximities of his bedroom for newly discovered events.
♟️The evening died down and the chatter faltered, as Thomas Shelby announced a new betrothal in the family. However he was unable to promise the two, because the bride and groom were missing.
Michael🎱
🎱Oh god I’ve been waiting for this one. Michael absolutely eats that shit up.
🎱You and Michael were first acquainted when himself, Thomas and John travelled to the Cotswolds in order to engage in some legal business with the Wentworth family - Tommy spoke business with the ceo of the family, while John entertained the mother and Michael; the daughter.
🎱Michael was an old fashioned man with old fashioned views. He liked his women obedient and untouched and willing to listen to his every word - just like they were supposed too.
🎱They were welcomed into the home by several butlers, two to open the grand doors - three to take their caps and the others to lead the family to their guests. “Thomas Shelby.” They heard, and a dignified gentleman descended the stairs, an unnecessary cain in one hand, the other wrapped around his wife as they descended the central staircase to the visitors, a young lady trailing behind.
🎱“Archibald Wentworth.” Thomas smiled at the man and nodded out of respect. The man walked up to him and shook each of their hands firmly. “How longs it been old chap?” He asked Thomas. “Too long, old friend.” Thomas replied, and they engaged in friendly conversation as neither had seen each other since their fathers dealt with similar business in their own youth. The elder woman approached John who kissed the back of her hand and she curtsied, him remaining respectful as their shared introductions. You however, approached Michael who looked back at you fondly. You curtsied to him and he bowed slightly. “It’s a pleasure Mr Gray.” You say, voice soft and unbroken. He took your hand and kissed the back of it gently. “All mine, Miss Wentworth.”
🎱“And please, do call me Michael.” He told you, smiling gently. “Well in that case you’re compelled to call me Yn.” Michael studied your face; never in his twenty one years of existence had he seen such beauty before. Your skin was fair and undamaged - soft to the touch. Your nails were clean and manicured with a neutral colour. Your hair was cascading down by your ears, as if instructed to sit perfectly, framing your face. You eyes were innocent yet appeared all-knowing - your mouth formed into a graceful smile. And you carried yourself with such proper dignity; it was admirable.
🎱“Yn my darling?” Your father spoke from beside him and you turned to face him on command - trained to do this. “Yes father?” “Please will you accompany Mister Gray into the living area? I’m sure you’ll both be quite comfortable in there.” You nodded once at the man. “Certainly, father.” “It was a pleasure to meet you gentleman, and see you again Mister Shelby.” You say to the other two, before leading Michael into the living area - which was nothing short of double the size of his childhood home.
🎱“May i offer you some tea?” You ask, as you settle in the room. “That’d be lovely, thank you.” You nod as the maid by the for stepped out to grab tea. “Normally I’d make it myself, however it is improper to leave your company unaccompanied.” You joke and he laughs in response. Soon, the tea arrived and you served it for Michael, who took the cup and saucer thoughtfully and nodded in thanks.
🎱“It’s a lovely home you have.” You smile up at him. “Thank you, I’m sure my father works tirelessly to afford it.” “You’ve no job?” He asked, awaiting the words that he was utterly and totally in love with you. “No, I’m trained in etiquette - to be polite, to cook and to clean.” Michael listened to you thoughtfully. “So you’re kept awfully busy then?” You nod. “Busy however I don’t mind it, I get to live in this glorious building with a loving family and life skills. What more could a girl want?” You confirm and he was sure his eyes were forming hearts.
🎱“And I’m sure you have quite the line of suitors with your beauty.” You giggled but tried to compose yourself. “No sir.” His eyes widened in mock surprise. “Surely you’re already married, how has a man not captivated a lady such as yourself. I’d do it myself if it wasn’t for the line of men ahead of me.” You looked down, blushing, before looking back up at Michael. “There is no line and there are no suitors. It is simply me, myself and I.” You tell him.
🎱“And you Michael? Have you a wife?” You asked, batting your eyelids. “No, in your words it is simply… ‘me, myself and I’.” “And what business do you do yourself, Mr Gray?” You ask. “That is not the sort of information for a lady’s ears. It is not good business.” He almost scolds and you nod. “Oh I understand, my father is not too dissimilar. Staying safe in your business, I hope?” He basked in the way you simply understood, didn’t pry. “Not quite.” He said, raising an eyebrow. He rolled up his left sleeve slightly and you gasped. “Oh you poor man,” you say. “You must treat these with oil, that way they shall heal better.” You scold, touching his skin gently. “Well if you were my wife you could sort it out for me.” “Oh certainly Michael, I wouldn’t allow you to come home damaged as such without properly patching you up.” You say, seriousness written all over your facial features.
🎱“And what do you do with the rest of your time, this afternoon per se?” He ponders, sipping his tea. “Well as you said yourself I’m quite a busy person regardless of what I occupy my time with.” You peer down at the dainty wristwatch wrapped around your wrist, Michael estimated the small device at a hefty sum. “At two o’clock I have etiquette lessons.” You say “and at three?” “At three I read in my library” “how about four?” “At four I have a date.” His face dropped. “A date? With who?” “William Wordsworth.” You giggled at his expression which sighed a breath of relief. “Oh I see, she lives the poems she could not write.” He says, quoting the famed poet. “More like she writes the poems she could not live.” You reply, and Michael notices a longing stare as you probably imagine the life you would have, if not the heir to an infamous delegate.
🎱“And no man has yet compared me to a summers day.” You admit. “You have not yet met your Shakespeare.” You smile, enjoying how he understood your references. “Nor my Victor Hugo” “ah but you have not yet died so nobody may quote ‘Demain, dès l’aube’.” He spoke matter-of-factly. “For I am always the poet, never the poem.” You speak; in words of your own. And Michael cannot stop himself from reaching up with his free hand to caress the soft skin of your cheek gently. “It is impossible. How can a man write anything short of a novel about a maiden so fair?” He question, and you find yourself absentmindedly leaning into his light touch.
🎱“You’re a charmer, Mr Gray” you speak, voice barely above whisper “I’m no charmer, just a man who knows what he wants” he leans to whisper in your ear “is it working?” He meets your eyes with a cheeky grin on his face. “Certainly.” You both finished your tea and the trolley was taken away, miscellaneous chatter arising from each of your lips.
🎱“Madam?” A voice squeaked from the door behind you both. You spun on a pivot to look at the young maid by the entrance. “Yes Beth?” “Mister Wentworth has requested you and Mister Gray return to the foyer” she said, avoiding your stare. “Thank you Beth, we shall be there shortly.” The woman nodded before clicking the door shut behind you to allow you to make your own way there along with the company. Michael’s face contorted: annoyed, but relaxed it when you faced back to him.
🎱“I believe it is time for us to depart.” You tell him. “When may I see you again?” He asks, holding your hands in his own. “Whenever you wish, Mister Gray; should my father allow.” You tell him, before slowly leading him back to where you originally met. There, the rest of the men along with your parents stood as you’d left them - engaged in unwavering chatter. “Ah, Mister Gray - treated well I hope?” Your father asks and Michael nods at the man. “Certainly.”
🎱After some goodbyes and a hug for your father’s old friend Thomas, Michael smirked at you and kissed the back of your hand and whispered promises that you shall meet again.
🎱The men walked back to the car in silence, Thomas lighting a cigarette once inside. “How’d you like her?” He asked, eyeing Michael before nicotine smoke billowed from his lips. “She’s a lovely young lady.” Michael tore his eyes away from his cousin and back to the house, hoping to catch a glimpse of you as you drove away; but to no avail.
🎱“She’s a gentle lass. Innocent and proper.” Thomas continued and Michael squinted at him, wondering what the man was getting at. “Doesn’t need corrupting.” “I know that Tommy, what you on about?” “We’ve come to a business agreement with Archibald Wentworth. They in exchange for protection and a good deal of Shelby business, his daughter would marry a gentleman.” Thomas stubbed the last bud out on the leather of the car. “I trust you can fit that role?”
🎱Before either of you really knew it the two were being wed on the great estate of the Wentworth Mansion, both smiling at each other at the end of the aisle like giddy school children with a secret. Within the hour you were husband and wife and Michael had the life and wife he had so hoped and dreamed for.
🎱The reception was a glamorous event; dancing and drinking and the celebration of you being safe, and the Shelby name moving up in the social hierarchy of local reputation. Yourself and Michael had snuck off for a moment alone with one another, to discuss the whirlwind of a day and plans moving forwards together. “May I say my darling you look absolutely divine.” He comments, taking your hand to make you do a full 360 turn to display your attire to him. He swore the dress was adorned entirely in Tiffany crystals. “Thank you, you are too kind.” He tuts “I can never be too kind to my wife.” He smiles.
🎱“And may I be so reckless to say I cannot wait to get this dress of you either” he smirked and you raised your brows as your cheeks reddened. “If that is no problem of course, my lady?” He confirms and you nod. “I apologise for my experience, for I have never before been with a man.” You admit, bashfully and his mouth ran dry. “Never?” You shook your head in confirmation. “Never, Michael.” You say and he gleefully picks you up to spin you around as you laugh at his response. “Well my darling, I hope you know I am prepared to take more than good care of you this evening. And of course continue the family name.”
Finn🎞️
🎞️You were the first girl Finn really cared about. Sure, he’d been on dates and hired whores to satisfy his desires. But he’d never really given much thought into actually taking his time with a girl. Until he saw you working at the bookshop two streets in the wrong direction from the Garrison.
🎞️Him, Isaiah and Bonnie were basically being little shits on the streets of Birmingham when he’d saw you organising shelves through the window, brow furrowed and tongue slightly protruding from your lips as you struggled to place an old hardback on the top shelf. The other two lads had carried on walking whereas Finn had stopped, the other two halting a few ways down to road to figure out where their third had gone, turning to see him awestruck at the bookshop window.
🎞️They hurried back, laughing at the boy who was notably illiterate. Finn could not read, nor write but was staring into the bookshop. “What y’ doing Finn? No picture books in there!” Isaiah joked, straining to see what Finn was so intently staring at. “Ah the girl” Bonnie elbowed him. “She won’t want you mate.” Isaiah informed him “she’s got Shakespeare and Wordsworth. You don’t even know who I’m on about.” And Isaiah was right. You did look dignified and well read because you were. And he was just Finn.
🎞️But he found himself two street in the wrong direction every day nearly, at least when he could find time to slip away. And Isaiah and Bonnie were sick of their lovesick friend ditching them to stare at a stranger awkwardly through a window. Then one day, when the three were repeating their galavant from the first time they saw you, Isaiah shoved him in the door.
🎞️The bell chimed and you turned from your stepladder “just a minute!” You climbed down and approached the disheveled boy at the door. “Can I help you?” You ask “book” he says and you crease your brows “…book?” Isaiah chimed in behind him “he wants to buy a book” he confirms as he smacks Finn around the back of the head. “Any book in particular?” “My first alphabet!” Bonnie exclaims, and the two boys begin cackling loudly and Finn grits his teeth and pushes the two out of the door.
🎞️“Eh what do you recommend?” He asked, scratching the back of his head and his eyes wander on all the paved backs of untouched literature. “What do you like? Fiction? Non-fiction?” Finn looks at you gone out. You look around for a simple poetry book you know is easy to understand “here, try this it’s one of my favourites” Finn nods and turns the book over in his hands and has a quick flick through. “How much do I owe you?” He asks, pushing his hand into his pocket. You shake your head “just come back and exchange it once you’re done.” Finn nods. He could do that. He thanks you and begrudgingly heads out the door to his friends who were still hounding him for the situation and he just smiles at you through the window.
🎞️Finn was getting ribbed week in and week out by both his friends and older brothers, Arthur drunkenly questioning in front of everyone why he hadn’t hired any whores recently and why books were appearing by his bed when he couldn’t read. The family laughed as his face reddened, Isaiah explaining that the lovely young lady down the bookshop had his interest peaked.
🎞️“Y’got her in bed yet?” John asked with a smirk and the younger boy elbowed him sharply. “No.” He mumbled. “No? Ol’ ‘just want a shag’ here hasn’t gotten a lady in bed?” His brother joked. “No she’s not the kind of lass I want to put off.” “Ah” Tommy ruffled his hair. “She’s the real deal then?” He smiled while lighting up another cigarette. Finn thought for a moment before nodding. Yeah, you were the real deal.
🎞️“Date” Finn said as he crashed through the door of your bookshop. You raised a brow at him. “Date with me, please.” He says, panting. “Finn are you alright?” You ask, placing a hand on his back. Me nods, heaving and placing his hands on his knees. He’d just ran here from being with his family. “Do you want to go on a date with me?” He asked when he’d finally gotten his wind back. You smiled and nodded. “Yes I would Finn, when?” “Now.” You raise your brows. “Right now?” “Yeah. If you’d like.” You look down at the dainty wristwatch you were wearing and decided it was wishful thinking if you thought that you were going to get any more footfall in the next hour before you closed. You hummed and nodded. “Sure, let’s go.”
🎞️Finn took you to one of the nicest restaurants in Birmingham in walking distance, waiter seating you quickly after he noticed who Finn was, handing the two of you two open menus. You looked over the options, but was soon distracted by Finn’s conflicted face. “You alright, Finn?” He nods. “What’s up?” He ponders for a minute before mumbling something. “Sorry?” “I can’t read and this has no pictures.” He admits sheepishly, averting his eyes from yours.
🎞️“You can’t read?” You ask, mulling over the past several weeks where you’d be too-ing and fro-ing with Finn with your book recommendations. “But you’ve been borrowing books for months-” “just to see you.” He says, looking down as a smile began to grew on your lips. “I understand if you want to leave. You’re smart and pretty and I’m just an illiterate gangsta.” He says, mentally readying himself for your leave. You placed your hand on top of his where it was laid on the table. “Finn that’s so sweet.” His brows shot up. “You did that for me?” You ask, biting your lips as he affirms your question. You place a chaste kiss to his cheek as you realise just how much the blinder truly cared about you.
🎞️“Let’s get out of here.” You say, breaking the silence. “Seriously?” He asks, moving closer for a more private conversation. “I’m serious. Let’s go.” You say, “really? We don’t have too if you don’t want too-” “Finn Shelby. Let’s go.” And you didn’t have to tell him again, running back home like two giddy school children, hiding away in his room for the rest of the evening, ended by you laying on his bare chest while he drew shapes into your relaxed shoulder.
🎞️“That was better than I expected for my first time.” You admit, staring at the ceiling. It takes a few minutes for Finn to clock onto what you’d just said. He looks down at you, movement of his thumb faltering. “You were a virgin?” He asks, lump in his throat growing as he forced himself to swallow it. “Yeah.” He smirks.
🎞️“Nice.”
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storywriter007 · 8 months
Text
Life or Death - Thomas Shelby x Fem!Reader
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summary: in which y/n realizes thomas shelby hasn't been good to her
warnings: character death, cursing, poverty, catcalling, mentions of sex,
genre: heartbreak
word count: 2.9k
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Birmingham, 1900
"i'm starving." a young thomas shelby said aloud.
"have you not had anything to eat today?" a young y/n asked.
"money's been tight, i've had to skip meals." tommy explained.
the two ten year olds sat in silence for a moment.
y/n knew what it was like for money to be tight. her family's income had been tight, after the passing of her father. her mom went to teach children at a local school while making dresses on the side to keep the two of them afloat.
"it's almost suppertime, why don't you come to my house?" y/n invited.
"really?" he asked.
"of course." she nodded. "you're my best friend, why would i want to see you hungry?"
that evening, y/n and tommy walked home together and were given a warm welcome by y/n's mother.
"tommy! welcome!" she exclaimed. "come on in you two."
they sat down at the table and began eating supper. stew and dumplings. it was warm and delicious.
to tommy, y/n's house often felt more like home than his own. it was quite small, but it had home-like decorations everywhere. it was nice and toasty since it didn't take much fire to heat the place, and moreover y/n was there.
"you children cannot stay out in the cold during this time of year." y/n's mother scolded, putting her hand on tommy's cheek and seeing how cold it was.
"but we were playing a game-" y/n argued.
"play games inside. i don't want to see you to freeze to death." she continued.
"yes mom." y/n laughed, looking at tommy, knowing they were going to go outside the next day anyways.
it was getting dark out and tommy was full.
"i should probably get going. bye y/n, by ms. y/l/n!" tommy said, getting up.
"wait!" y/n said, running to the kitchen.
she came back with tupperware.
"here, take some home." she insisted.
"no, no, i couldn't-" he argued.
"take it! tell john, arthur, and ada i say hello!" y/n said, shoving the tupperware into his arms.
that night, tommy's siblings had a warm meal.
"this is delicious tommy! where'd you get this from?" arthur remarked.
"y/n. she insisted." he responded.
"you better marry her for this one." arthur laughed.
.....................................................
Birmingham, 1904
"look at the body on that one." a classmate remarked as y/n walked by.
she just rolled her eyes and continued walking. this wasn't unusual.
"you'd make a ton of money at the whore house!" the boy yelled out again as laughter followed.
so would your mother, y/n thought of saying, but decided that it was best for her to not. this boy was twice her size.
"so would your mother." another boy's voice called out.
y/n turned around to see tommy and the other boy standing chest to chest, about to fight.
"what'd you say shelby?" the boy asked.
"so would your mother." he repeated, not an ounce of fear in his voice.
a teacher came and pulled the two apart.
"both of you seperate. if i see this again, i'll make sure to tell your mothers!" she scolded.
both the boys backed away from one another. tommy caught up with y/n.
"thanks tommy." she said.
"it's nothing, i've wanted to say that to him for a while now." tommy laughed.
"my mum's sending me to get groceries today? would you like to join me." y/n asked.
"of course." tommy agreed. "can't wait to eat apples out of the farmer's cart."
"don't do that! you got us chased down last time!" y/n scolded, remembering a set of angry farmers running after them.
they settled down after they were paid, at least. otherwise, who knows what could've happened.
"it was fun!" he argued.
"it was." she agreed.
as she watched tommy walk away, y/n realized that she had a crush on him. but it was just a crush, it wasn't that serious.
.....................................................
Birmingham, 1914
"glad to see you dr." tommy smiled, opening the door to the pub.
"happier to see you mr." she returned the joke.
y/n had always wanted to save people's lives, so she entered the medical field. after gaining main patients, it became more difficult to see tommy as often as she used to. even tommy was on the rise in the business world. it was hard to hangout with one-another, but they always made time.
over the years, y/n's crush on tommy had turned into love, but she didn't know how to tell him. no time ever seemed right.
"there might be a war." tommy said, drinking whiskey at the pub.
"you think you'll get drafted?" y/n asked, wanting him to say no, but knowing what the answer was.
"yes." he answered. "unfortunately."
"it'll just be me and ada." y/n chuckled. "she's better company than you."
"oh really? go drink with her." tommy laughed. "you'll miss me when i go off."
"you know i will." y/n smiled.
.....................................................
y/n realized her worst nightmare had come true as tommy stood at her front door.
"i have to go to france." he said.
she felt water fill up her eyes, but she stayed calm.
"i'll miss you." she smiled.
"i'll miss you too." he smiled back.
he turned around to leave.
"tommy, wait." she said, trying not to cry.
he turned around.
"i didn't know when to tell you this because no time ever seemed right and we were always so busy." she rambled. "but since you're going to france, and i might not see you again, i just want you to know i love you. it's no use for me to say i don't, because it's true. i've loved you ever since i've known you."
the tears started falling. he stared at her for a minute. did she ruin their friendship? did he not feel the same way? would he never talk to her again? did she have to do this before he left?
lost in her thoughts, y/n didn't realize tommy had leaned down and kissed her.
.....................................................
Birmingham, 1918
y/n got down on her knees, that had already been bruised from how much she'd kneeled.
"dear god, please keep tommy, john, and arthur safe." she pleaded. "please keep tommy safe."
she'd done this every morning and every night since the boys were drafted.
"please make it end soon." she continued.
she looked at the couple of photographs her and tommy had together from years before. they used to love taking together, and writing the story on the back.
she got to their last picture. taken four years ago. it was hear and tommy making silly faces. on the back, it said, "tommy's going to france."
she felt a tear run down her cheek. what if he never came back? what if that was their last photo together?
.....................................................
Birmingham, 1919
y/n was overjoyed when all three brothers returned, alive. she hugged tommy so tightly, glad he was alright.
but something had changed. tommy wasn't as happy as he used to be anymore. he didn't smiled as much, but he still did when they were together, and that was all that mattered to y/n.
y/n knew all about the shelby business, having grown very close to ada and polly, she was informed about everything. even when tommy was doing gang work before, he was never as gloomy as he was now. he was much more serious.
she tried desperately to comfort him, and it did work. he did talk about the war with her, and y/n understood he was traumatized. she didn't try to change him or tell him lighten up, she understood the mental toll it had taken on him.
countless nights would tommy tell her about the memories of war and they would end up falling asleep on the floor, in a mix of papers and books.
they were never officially together, they had never gotten then chance. but when tommy was ready, y/n hoped they could make it offical.
one night, they walked into the garrison. y/n had just finished with a long day of patients.
"dr!" arthur greeted y/n with a hug.
"arthur!" she laughed back.
however, there was a new face at the pub. she was pretty, with blonde hair and blue eyes. y/n came up to her.
"i haven't seen you around! are you new?" she smiled, asking.
"yes, i am new." the barmaid responded, quite curtly, y/n noticed.
"i'm y/n! what's your name?" she asked.
"grace. my name is grace." she said, briefly.
"well, grace, i just wanted to say, i think you're absolutely gorgeous." y/n smiled.
grace gave a brief smile back and went back to bartending.
odd, y/n thought, but assumed it was because of how busy the pub was, her mind was probably on working.
.....................................................
"there's this new copper who's been on my ass." tommy said.
"that sucks. has he been sniffing around?" y/n asked.
"yes." he responded, taking a long drag out of his cigarette.
y/n noticed grace very clearly listening to their conversation.
"he's been asking me about, well, y'know." he continued. "they're taken care of, but still. he's onto me."
of course she knew. the guns. tommy had told her everything. his plan and why.
"that's enough about that." he ended. "how's your business, doctor?"
"it's going well." y/n chuckled. "i'm seeing entire lineages now."
"whiskey?" grace asked, coming over.
"no thank you." y/n smiled. "i should get home now."
tommy smiled and said goodbye. y/n thought that was odd, since usually tommy would've walked her out.
"thank you grace." she said, before leaving.
grace ignored her.
.....................................................
y/n was sitting with the shelby's at the garrison. she noticed something about tommy, something odd. he straightened up whenever grace entered the room and he always smiled.
this wasn't the first odd thing tommy had done. since she came, he was at the pub more. he also took her to a horserace. not to mention, his eyes foretold a story between them. it had been a while since tommy looked at her that way.
but there was something odd about grace. she was always listening in and trying to get closer to tommy.
y/n asked to see tommy privately, and that's when she made her point.
"the barmaid, she seems suspicious. do you notice how she's always listening in and trying to get close to you? and how that copper start bothering you the same time she came here?" y/n said.
"her name's grace." tommy responded.
"yes, grace, seems odd." y/n corrected.
"what is it y/n? you can't stand there's another friend of mine?" he said, clearly aggravated.
"no, i don't care about that. i just don't want you to get hurt-"
"hurt? hurt is when i was in france." he interrupted.
"tommy, will you just try to listen?"
"to your bullshit? no." he said.
that hurt.
"you're free to leave." he said simply, taking a drag out of his cigarette.
y/n chuckled, and left.
.....................................................
can y/n say it came as a shock when tommy told her grace had betrayed him and fled the country? not really.
"i told you so." y/n said, plainly. "it was obvious."
tommy seemed pissed at that comment.
"that doesn't mean you can talk down on her." tommy stated.
"well tommy, you can't really control what i say and what i think." she responded back, beginning to get aggravated at his blindness. "and what i think is that grace is a traitor."
"what i think is that you should leave." he said.
"always running from the truth, now-a-days, aren't you?" she smiled, leaving.
y/n would be lying if she said she didn't go home that night and cry, because she did. why was tommy so wrapped around grace? had he fallen in love with her? no, no. it was probably just attraction. it had to be. right?
the next day, tommy apologized for being so harsh to her, and everything was back to normal. no more grace, no more deception, and no more stupidity.
.....................................................
y/n was still waiting for tommy to make it official, but he still hadn't. the war had been over for two years now. she had thought about tommy everyday for the past seven years.
she missed him, she missed what they used to have. it was almost midnight, and she decided she wanted to go see him. she couldn't keep waiting.
she called his number three times, but he didn't pick up, so she drove to his home, and knocked on the door. no answer. she was starting to get worried. she opened the door and walked in on something that made her stomach drop.
it was tommy with grace. and they were having sex on the sofa, and he whispered how much he loved her and how he thought of her everyday. it seemed they had finished, because now they were getting dressed. when tommy turned his head and saw y/n, his eyes grew wide.
y/n felt tears in her eyes and a lump in her throat.
he dragged her into his office.
"what the hell y/n! you can't just fucking barge into my house!" he yelled.
"i called you three times. i knocked on your door and waited outside for five minutes. with the life you live tommy, i got worried." she said, wiping her nose.
"y/n, you have to leave." he said. "i've got something here, and i can't lose it again."
again. y/n felt her stomach drop and her heart break into a thousand pieces.
"again?" she asked. "again! tommy, i have waited for you! i waited for seven fucking years, waiting for you to say you want to try something with me!" she yelled.
"do you not remember! do you not remember the night you got drafted, because i sure as hell do!" she screamed.
"y/n, calm down, you're going to scare grace-"
oh that sent her.
"grace! you think i give two fucks about grace! the one who deceived you, lied to you, manipulated you, and now comes running back!" she screamed even louder.
"i love her!" he yelled.
"you love her! you love her! than what about me!" y/n yelled, tears starting to flow. "what about every day and night i prayed for you during the war! what about every time i invited you to my house for supper! i have waited and waited for you to say that you love me and you just don't!"
tommy was silent.
"i have loved you throughout everything. i was always kind to you. i was good." she continued.
"i'm a bad man, y/n, we know this." he said.
"and i love you even though you're a bad man! you believed every one of her lies of all of my truths. and i still loved you! you kicked me out everytime i brought it up! and guess what? i still loved you."
tommy looked at her.
"who was there by your side when you were scared and alone? who was there every night when you got back from the war and had terrible nightmares? who was there taking care of finn while you were off at war, because i don't think it was fucking grace!"
"i'm sorry." he said.
"no you're not because if you were, you wouldn't have done this in the first place!" she screamed through tears.
"who was there thomas!" that was the first time she had said his full name. "i'm done. don't fucking call me, don't show up to my office, don't come near me. i'm done playing your dark and twisted games just for you to switch the rules so someone else wins. i'm done dealing with a different you every fucking night. i'm done."
thomas looked at her.
"who's it going to be?" y/n asked.
"so well." he responded.
y/n smiled and turned around to leave, but before she left, she said he final words to thomas.
"i'm never going to aid you again. whether it be in life or death."
that was the last conversation between y/n and thomas.
.....................................................
Birmingham, 1924
"just have some soup and rest up, and you'll feel a lot better." y/n advised her last patient of the day.
work had become more of a thing for y/n after word of her spread all across birmingham, she was getting patients from everywhere. and for right reasons, she was a damn good doctor.
she walked them outside before sitting in the waiting room with her receptionist.
"thank you edward, you're free to leave." she said, smiling.
"see you tomorrow doctor." edward smiled as he exited.
y/n was left to close her office. she began putting files away and cleaning equiptment. the doors and windows were locked. the stationary was put away.
suddenly, she heard a loud knock on her door. she turned around to see a face she thought she'd never see again. she stared into his bright blue eyes for a moment, before realizing he was actually here, and that it was just a figment of her imagination.
y/n opened the small window on the door. she looked down to see him carrying grace. she had been very clearly shot.
"she might have a chance, please y/n."
"you chose her over me." y/n said, looking into his piercing blue eyes.
he froze.
"and i told you that very night, i would never aid you again, whether it be life or death." she reminded, shutting the window door.
he banged on the door, pleading. she shot him one last look before shutting the blinds, turning the lights off, and leaving out the back.
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tommyshelbyswh0re · 7 months
Text
the forgotten daughter- Tommy Shelby
summary- tommy sent his daughter away because she was a burden he wasn’t ready for. she went 12 years without seeing him once, what happens when she gets an invitation to his wedding?
trigger warning- talks of abuse, neglect, rape, violence, illness.
angst
dad!tommy shelby x daughter!reader
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you were 6 when you were sent away to a girls school in manchester. your father, thomas shelby, had told you that ‘he couldn’t be a father’ and that he was ‘too busy to be burdened with a child’. you were now 18 and hadn’t seen your family since. the last time you had received a letter from your father was when you were 17 and it was to inform you about the birth of his son, charles shelby.
you were enraged. it was unfair that he saw charles as a blessing and you as a burden. that he could step up to be a father then but not 17 years ago. you had practically raised yourself for the last 12 years. every birthday you stole a cupcake from the canteen at the school and sung yourself happy birthday. every christmas you receive pitying looks from the nuns because you were one of the only children to stay in the four walls of your dormitory whilst all the other girls spent time with their families.
you had just finished your last year and was lucky enough to get a job straight out of straight out of school which allowed you to buy yourself a small flat. you sent a letter to your father to let him know that you were safe and you gave him your address although you never knew whether he received the letter because he never wrote back. until a week ago when he sent you a wedding invitation.
deciding to attend was the easiest decision. you knew you wanted to see him one last time before you ultimately cut all communication and moved on, knowing that there was no point in hoping he would acknowledge you as his daughter. you were however grateful that he paid for your education, even if he did abandon you for 12 years.
you used your savings to buy a new dress before getting the train to birmingham and paying for a taxi to the church. as you stood outside the venue you pondered on whether this was a good idea, but you knew you had to do this in order to accept that you were alone in this world. you sat at the back with your head down for the entirety of the ceremony. you didn’t even put your head up to see the bride. as selfish as it sounded, you didn’t care for the wedding and you did not care about their happiness.
when the ceremony was finished, you stood outside of the church with a cigarette in your hand whilst your ‘family’ took photos. next to you, a gentleman was doing the same thing. he was also glaring at the family and you wondered what his issue was.
“what did they do to you?” you scoffed.
“huh?” he raised his brow
“if looks could kill, they’d be slaughtered by now” you joked.
“i just don’t like the groom” he shrugged.
“me neither” you agreed. “y/n” you reached your hand out to shake his.
“alfie” he reciprocated. “so why don’t you like him?” he asked.
“im his daughter” you nonchalantly replied.
“never new tom had a daughter”
“yeah he seems to forget aswell” you shrugged.
“what’s that supposed to mean?” he asked.
“it means he shipped me away for 12 years whilst he fucked off and had a family” you smiled. “fancy giving me a lift to this reception?” you linked his arm.
“absolutely. i think we will get along just fine” he grunted. and you smiled at him.
you both walked to his car and he held the door open for you. “didn’t take you for a gentleman” you bantered.
“is it the cockney accent that gave you that impression?” he wondered. which made you laugh.
“i suppose so” you climbed into the passenger seat and he climbed into the drivers. he started the car and drove towards what you were guessing was your fathers house, not that you’d ever been there.
“so tell me about the relationship with your father y/n” he delved straight in.
“wow you waste no time” you scoffed. “well he impregnated my mother, she died during childbirth, he lazily raised me for 6 years before telling me he couldn’t be a father and shipped me off to boarding school in manchester for 12 years and didn’t visit me once” you shrugged. it didn’t bother you anymore. you have accepted that even though he’s your dad, he’s never really been your father. he never tucked you into bed and read you a bedtime story, he never looked after you when you were ill, he never threatened your first date when he came to the door, he never took you for your first alcoholic drink and he will never walk you down the aisle at your wedding. and even though sometimes you just really need your father to tell you everything is going to be ok, you have been alone for 12 years and managed. you can go the rest of your life.
“oh. daddy issues then?” he tried to banter which made you laugh.
“you could say so yes” you replied.
“so if he’s such a shit dad why did you come to the wedding?” he pondered.
“i need closure. after this we will never ever speak again. all form of communication will be cut off.” you said with confidence.
“fair enough” alfie replied. he felt bad for the girl. she had never had a parent in her life. she had been neglected. and he could tell that even though she gave off the impression that she wasn’t bothered by it, he knew she was hurt deep down. so he left it at that.
for the rest of the drive you spoke about all sorts. your job, where you live, his job and where he lives. it was nice. and when your ‘fathers’ house came into view, you were in shock.
“are you fucking kidding me?” you whispered under your breathe. you don’t know why it was the house that made your heart drop, but it was a reminder that you were unwanted. that your father had abandoned you and started a new family that he lived with and looked after in the ridiculously large fucking house. and then came the lump in your throat.
“you ok?” alfie asked. he could tell that she was not.
you took a deep breath. “yes” you nodded and got out of the car. all the guests started showing up at the same time. you waited for alfie to get out of the car before you went in. he linked arms with you and you both walked in.
the first thing you saw was a stair case with large portraits of the family of three. it made you laugh.
“arrogant arseholes” you whispered to alfie which made him laugh. and it was then that you really looked at them. there was a portrait of what you’re guessing is your father, his new wife and his child. that was the first time you saw mrs grace shelby and charles shelby. and as bad as it sounds, you resented them. you resented grace for not encouraging your father to get to know you which sounds stupid and irrational but you couldn’t help it. you knew logically that it’s not your fault that the relationship between you and your father was none existent. it was his. and you resented charles for having the father you needed and wanted. that was supposed to be you. and again it’s irrational because he’s a child and it’s not his fault but you just felt so angry. so you looked away.
a waiter passed by with a tray of champagne and took a flute and chugged it. this concerned alfie. he didn’t want you to get drunk and say something to your ‘family’ that you would later regret.
“go easy” he sternly told you.
you glared at him.
from the other side of the room, john and arthur had noticed you.
“who is that linking arms with alfie?” arthur asked john.
“i think it might be y/n” john squinted.
“y/n y/n, as in tommy daughter y/n?” arthur responded.
“yeah, kind of looks like ‘er” john smiled.
“well why the fuck has she got her arm around alfie soloman’s” arthur said angrily.
“i don’t know, he’s like 15 years older than her” john looked confused. before tommy came up behind them. “need you in the kitchen now” tommy demanded.
“did you know y/n is here?” john asked him.
“who?” tommy asked
“your daughter, y/n” said arthur.
“what? where?” tommy looked around before he saw you.
“why the fuck is she linking alfie, and why is she downing champagne? she’s a child” tommy asked.
“that’s what we were wondering. and tommy she’s not a child, she’s like 18 now isn’t she?” john asked.
just as tommy hummed, he made eye contact with you and it was you who looked away as soon as it happened. he truly saw you for the first time in 12 years. you were a woman now. he couldn’t help but notice how beautiful you were. you looked like the spitting image of your mother with your y/e/c coloured eyes and your soft y/h/c coloured hair. and all of a sudden he had a wave of guilt come over him. he knew he’d been a shitty father towards you, but he never really thought about it until that moment. he felt like shit and so he did what he does best and walked away.
on the other side of the room, you had just made eye contact with your father for the first time in 12 years. you had seen him in the papers so you knew he hadn’t really changed. but making eye contact felt so awkward for you. this was the man whose dna you shared and yet you felt no father-daughter connection with him. you just felt hurt. and so you chugged another flute of champagne. to which alfie’s concern grew even more.
the announcement was made that there was food in the other room as they asked everyone to move there.
you and alfie made your way to the table. you sat next to eachother. you looked around and saw your great aunt pol sat opposite you.
“is that you y/n?” she smiled.
“hello” you suddenly felt shy.
“hello darling” she replied. sat next to her was ada.
“how have you been y/n?” she asked.
“good, i graduated school”
“oh brilliant, do you work?” pol asked
“yes, i have a secretary job working at a factory and i’m a barmaid on the weekends”
“why two jobs?” ada asked
“moneys tight, have to be able to pay the bills on my flat”
“tom doesn’t give you money?” she responded
“why would he?” you asked.
“because you’re his daughter” ada said to which you shrugged. this conversation made pol and ada sad. they realised they truly knew nothing about you and your life. they also knew that tommy hadn’t been the best to you, but again, it didn’t dawn on them how neglectful they had also been.
“you recently turned 18 didn’t you?” pol asked.
“yes”
“did you do anything for your birthday?” she asked.
“not really. just went to work, went to the bakery on the way back home and bought a cupcake and went to bed” you shrugged. that was your routine of 12 years.
“you didn’t celebrate with friends?” they asked
“don’t have any” your shrugged.
“what about school friends?”
“well they all knew eachother because their parents were friends so they would see eachother outside of school” and this made pol and ada feel even worse, you truly were alone.
“well i’m sorry we didn’t come and see you, we were just so busy preparing the wedding” ada smiled.
“it’s ok, i didn’t expect anyone to”
arthur got up from his seat to do the best man speech.
“hello everyone, before you eat i just want to say a few words as best man. my brother tommy met grace in 1919, obviously at that point we didn’t know she was a spy from the parish” at this, you looked up to the top of the table for the first time to see arthur and john for the first time, and then you looked towards your dad. he had an uncomfortable face on him, obviously not expected arthur to bring such a thing up in his speech.
you chugged another flute of champagne. and now, alfie, pol and ada all grew concern for you.
“-anyway, enough about that. these two were destined for eachother. if tom can forgive her for it then it shows how much he loves her. tom doesn’t really love anyone besides grace and charles” and at this, your father looked in your direction to see you chugging another flute of champagne. your 4th in the space of an hour. his eyebrow raised.
“-they are the perfect family. tommy, grace and charles. when grace was pregnant with charles you should have seen tommy. constantly talking about how this is all he’s ever wanted. he was bouncing of the walls” a lump formed in your throat. because he already had a child. you.
ada and pol looked in your direction to see your head facing down and you picking at your nails. a nervous habit you have.
“when charles was born, you couldn’t get the smile off tommys face for weeks. it’s obvious he loves his little family. it didn’t take long for tommy to finally start taking days off work for once to take grace and charles on days out. i remember the first time tommy took a week off to take charles away in the caravan.”
you could feel your heart beat speeding up and tears forming in your eyes. and you sneakily tried to wipe them away. but alfie noticed. and he placed his hand on your shoulder and squeezed it.
“i remember the dark circles under his eyes when charles had a cold and wouldn’t settle and tommy had been up with him all night”
your dad looked in your direction to see you wiping a tear off you face and put your head up. and he saw the disappointment in your eyes. and he was disappointed in himself. he knew then that he hadn’t been a father towards you. he can’t remember a single night where he stayed up with you as a child and helped settle you. it was mostly ada and pol who raised you for them 6 years.
“grace. we love you, you came into tommys life and made it better. you gave him something to live for, a child” at this you stood up and walked out of the room. at this it dawned on all the family what had happened. arthur hadn’t realised how big he was fucking up until your shoes clacked against the floor as you speed walked out of the room. “shit” tom whispered. grace looked very confused as to what was happening. alfie stood up and went after you.
he found you sat on a step with your head in your hands. he quietly sat next to you and out his hand on your back and rubbed it. neither of you said anything and you just sat there and cried for the first time in 4 years.
a minute later, tommy came out. alfie glared at him. “go away mate” he whispered gesturing to you crying.
“i want to speak to my daughter privately” tommy demanded.
“haven’t you done enough. why now?” alfie asked him as he got up of the step.
“please” tommy pleaded. he looked desperate.
“don’t say anything stupid” alfie warned as he walked back into the other room. tommy sat next to you. you still had your face in your hands and he could just hear you sniffling. it broke his heart.
“im sorry y/n i know i haven’t been the best father” you scoffed.
“you’ve not been a father at all” you muffled from behind your hands.
“i know” he nodded.
“i haven’t been there for you at all. especially in the last 12 years. but i want to start” he tried to put his hand on your shoulder but you shrugged it off. and pulled your face away from you hands.
“it’s too late. i’ve managed on my own for 12 years i can do it for the rest of my life” you turned to him.
“everyone needs someone y/n, trust me. i didn’t know it until i met grace” he sincerely said.
“maybe. but i’m fine without you in my life.”
“you don’t mean that” tommy shook his head.
“i really do. i have my own flat, a job and food in my cupboards. i don’t need you. i will never forgive you. you abandoned me for years. you neglected me. i spent twelve years in the same institute. christmas’s and half terms included. i was stuck in a building with people who would hit, kick and spit on me whenever i did the slightest thing wrong. i spent my 18th birthday being brutally raped by 3 men on my way home from the fucking bakery. i had to nurse myself back to health whenever i was ill. you weren’t there. you don’t need to be here now.” you shouted.
“y/n i- i don’t even know what to say. i overheard you talking to pol and you never mentioned that that’s what happened” you shook your head.
“its not really dinner talk is it.”
“i swear i will hunt those men down and make them hurt” he had a determined look on his face.
“too late. it’s already happened. they’ve already told me that if i tell anyone they’ll come after me” you shrugged.
“they won’t touch you, i’ll protect you”
“for how long? two weeks before you decide i’m too much of a burden again” you shook your head.
“you remember that?” he asked
“what? you telling me that i’m a burden? you don’t just forget your parent telling you that. sticks with you”
“i am so sorry y/n”
“yeah well i’ll get over it. coming to this wedding was a fucking mistake.” you sighed
“why did you come?” he asked.
“i wanted to see my family one last time before i cut all communication. not that any of yous care”
“come with me y/n” he got up and gestured for me to follow.
“why?” you questioned
“just come with me” he started walking so you followed.
you came to a stop infront of a door. he opened it and gestured for you to come inside.
you entered and quickly realised this was his office. “why are we in here?”
he walked towards his desk and grabbed a picture that was stood on it and held it out to you. it was a picture taken on your graduation. you looked up at him confused
“i had your school send a copy to me. i always asked for updates on how you were doing at school. i have every school report in my draw. i always cared about you. i was just terrible at showing it. and i always thought it was too late to try and be your father so i avoided you. which was wrong. but seeing you today reminded me that i don’t want to have regrets in life. i don’t want to be an old man on my death bed and wondering where my own daughter is. i know i cant expect you to just accepted me as your father. but i would really like you to come over for dinner one day. and meet grace and charles properly?” he asked.
“i don’t know. i don’t feel like they would want me here” you shook your head. with tears still rolling down your face.
“trust me, they do. grace has wanted to meet you for years. she was the one who encouraged me to invite you to the wedding. she really wanted family here. and you are family y/n. i know you feel wronged by all of us, and i understand why. but i want to make it better. please, give me a chance” he pleaded.
“okay.”
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madeinparadis · 4 months
Text
NIGHTLY SORROWS | THOMAS SHELBY
pairing: thomas shelby × reader
tw: grief (reader is dead), angst
word count: 724
masterlist: all characters
a/n: this is more of a drabble, just a little something i wrote before bed. italics signal a flashback/memory.
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Far into the winter, all of Birmingham was covered in fog and cold. The houses were dimly illuminated by the bleak sunshine during the day, then engulfed by darkness in the later hours, and Arrow House was no exception, looking and feeling particularly gloomy. Despite all efforts done by staff to make it warm and hospitable for its owner, the most important part of it was lost forever, and could never be replaced- you.
The clock on the bedside table read one o'clock. Tommy sat in what was once your shared bed, now only his. His mind was playing tricks on him yet again, clouding his conscience with visions of you, the feeling of longing and regret leaving a bad taste on his tongue.
No matter the circumstances, Thomas Shelby wouldn't ever say he is an emotional or sensitive man. With all the horrors he's seen, all the men he's brutally murdered, the business he leads, there was just no space in his life for feelings. Even so, that doesn't mean they didn't plague him- in fact, they took over his mind at every given chance. Every time he let himself breathe and relax his muscles, he was taken there, to a place where you exposed the thoughts and emotions buried the deepest in his consciousness.
"Tom?" you called, a smile painted on your face. Oh, this was one of his favourite memories. "Look, I want you to see this." your request caught his attention, making him glance up at you, taking notice of the new garments on your frame. "What do you think?" you gestured at your outfit. "The seamstress finished it earlier today. I'm thinking of wearing it the charity event next week."
If only he didn't take you to that ball...
"It looks perfect. you're always beautiful, love." Tommy replied, watching you change back into your nightgown, joining him in bed- back when it was still both his and yours to share.
"Fuck." he spoke in a low, tired tone. He had to get his shit together, stop reminiscing, he thought to himself. Well, perhaps later he would- for now, he wanted to keep you around, in whatever way possible.
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The hours went by as Thomas drowned himself with work in the office, a poor attempt to drown out the thought of you. He got up from his chair, dragging his tired self to the cabinet and pouring himself a glass of whisky. Sitting behind the desk again, he drank up the contents of the glass in one uninterrupted take, setting it on the wooden desk quite harshly.
For a second, his head was empty. Then, there you were- the vision of your ghost like an oasis sighting to him. You took a step closer to him, standing behind the office desk as you rested your hands on his shoulders, earning a relieved sigh from Tommy, who leaned into your touch almost desperately.
"Did you miss me, darling?" Your voice was like medicine to his soul, making the pain drift away while he heard it- except it made his heart ache even more after, when he was reminded you weren't truly there anymore.
"Everyday, love." He replied with a tormented tone.
"You know you can't keep living like this, Tom. Our son needs a father." You spoke softly. "He needs you."
"There's no joy in this house without you, (y/n). Charlie misses you just like me, everyday."
You remained silent for some time, offering comfort with your touch rather than words. Tommy accepted every gesture of yours, taking every second he could get with you.
"It's not your fault, Tom. There was nothing you could do to prevent that bullet from reaching me." You spoke up again, kneeling down until your lips reached his ear. "Do you remember my last request to you, just before I died?"
"To be good to Charlie, take care of him." The expression on his face was pained as he answered your question, reminding him of your last moments on earth.
"Exactly. Have you gotten him a horse yet?"
"Yes. I bought him one for Christmas, a good breed."
"That's good. Be patient with him, Tom. He's got a strong-willed spirit like yours."
Tommy felt your lips on his cheek, looking up to see your face. But just like that, you were gone once more.
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cilliansdove · 11 months
Text
PICK UP || tommy shelby oneshot
pairings: tommy shelby x fem!reader
warnings: fluff x angst
word count: 2304
summary: nobody answers tommy’s call late at night. Apart from one person.
a/n: This is my writing and I take full credit for it so please do not copy x paste/rewrite the writing. You may repost/like/comment etc. Enjoy reading!!
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Studying again.
I couldn’t remember the last time I had gotten a good nights rest because of studying.
It would be worth it though, for that fucking doctors degree.
Doctor y/l/n.
The phone rang, causing me to snap out of my haze, “Hello?”
There was a silence on the other line.
“Hello? Who is this?” I questioned.
Considering how late it was, it was odd for the phone to go off.
Although silent, I could hear someone exhaling from the other line.
As I was about to hang up, they spoke gruffly, “It’s me, Tommy.”
My heart skipped a beat at the sound of his voice.
As kids, we were close. So very close with one another. But when the war came about we drifted and his return home just made matters worse.
He was quiet. Like the boy he was when he got told off, he was quiet.
“Is everything okay, Tommy? It’s awfully late, shouldn’t you be asleep?”
“I don’t sleep,” he sighed, “As for you, I should be asking the same question.”
“I’m studying.”
The line went quiet. Again.
“I take it you still want to be a doctor then, ay?” He smiled briefly.
I hummed, “Yeah, I do,” I shifted in my desk chair and rested my head on the back of the chair, “What’s the matter then, Tom?”
I hadn’t called him Tom in so many years. It was nice to hear his voice, I will admit, but I was convinced there was a reason he called.
“Just wanted someone to pick up the phone. You’re the only one who did.”
My heart dropped slightly and I frowned, “Where are you, Tommy?”
“In my house. Arrow House.”
Of course. I smiled to myself. He had done well for himself.
I wasn’t at all surprised that he lived there. I suppose he did deserve it after all.
“Y/n/n?” He called out.
“Yes, Tom?”
I waited for what he was going to say.
“Come over?”
Shaking my head I rested my pen on the table, “It’s late Tommy, you should go to-”
“Please, Y/n,” he begged, “Please.”
Reluctantly I agreed and made my way to his house swiftly.
I was lucky. The streets were empty as were the country roads. I dragged my feet all the way to his front door and knocked twice.
Tommy opened the door. He looked awful. But he took my long coat and hung it on the rack regardless.
I only wore my night slip underneath, however, it wasn’t see-through and it was also long, like my coat was.
When I walked through the door he practically fell into my arms and buried his head into my neck.
Scared, I just decided to hold him and stroke the ends of his hair whilst rocking the both of us back and forth.
He grumbled softly, “I missed you.”
Tommy moved his head to look down at me. I wasn’t intimidated by his presence one bit.
Yes, he was the Thomas Shelby. However, to me, he was just simple old Tommy.
My Tommy.
Holding his hand I told him politely, “Talk to me.”
Slowly, he dragged us up the stairs of his home and into his grand bedroom where he sat down on the edge of his bed and made me stand.
In search of comfort, he wrapped his arms around my waist gently and I chose to bury my hands in his short hair.
I was glad to be wearing a night slip that covered all of me from neck to feet.
“My wife, Grace. Those bastards, “he paused, “Those fucking bastards, killed her, Y/n.”
My heart broke for him. Tommy didn’t deserve what had happened to him. Not one bit.
I felt a tear slip through my clothing, dampening it. But I didn’t care, not one part of me cared. Because he was crying. And Tommy didn’t cry. Ever.
“Hey,” I cooed, “It’s alright, Tom…it’s okay, shh….”
I gently rubbed the back of his neck and his shoulders slightly, trying to release the tension in them.
He lifted his face up from my waist and looked at me with such sadness.
“Lay down with me,” he begged.
I shook my head, “Tommy I can’t…I shouldn’t even be here.”
“Do you have someone, Y/n?”
The question took me by surprise.
“No. I don’t.” I looked down at the ground. At the grand age of nearly thirty, it was embarrassing for me to not be wed.
I was a few years younger than Tommy, and Aunt Polly had always guessed I’d grow closer with John due to the closeness in age.
And yes, both him and I are close. However, my bond with Thomas was one no other could compete with.
“Then lay with me, Y/n/n, please.”
I couldn’t cope with the eyes he gave me, and so I did as he pleased.
His body was completely tucked into my side as he grabbed my hips and breathed my scent in.
I tried talking to him with words as well as my presence, “You do your best, Tom. Your always there for your family, but they’re never there when you need them. I don’t get it.”
He gripped me just that little bit tighter, “But you are,” he looked up again, “You’re always there. I haven’t seen you for years but you answered the phone and you’re here now. I don’t get it.”
I swallowed the lump in my throat and simply told him the truth, “I have and always will love you, Thomas. Since I was twelve years old and you were fourteen, nearly fifteen, I think I’ve always loved you since. So yes, I came here when you asked. And yes I answered the phone. But I came here, because I never stopped loving you.”
A tear slid down my face and I was confused because I didn’t even understand why I was crying.
Tommy pushed himself off of me and sat up on the pillows. He was the same level as me now, but he gestured it was my turn for some comfort.
“I know you want to, Y/n,” he smiled, “Go on.”
I sobbed and moved my body down to rest on his chest. The tears wouldn’t stop flowing and I gripped his shirt whilst my leg hung loosely against his thigh.
I felt Tommy’s fingers tangle in my hair as his other hand rubbed my thigh gently. Then I felt it had moved to my lower back, and then to the curve of my arse.
His breathing was like a favourite song of mine. I could listen to it over and over and over yet I would never grow tired of it. It would lull me to sleep, but also make me feel so alive and comfortable at the same time. Like a blanket that wrapped itself around me and I didn’t need to do anything apart from cuddling myself closer into it.
And I did. I held myself closer to Tommy than ever before. And whilst my lips lay so close to the pulsing of his neck, I couldn’t bare to push them closer to his skin, for it would be a sin.
But I could feel his fingers, they weren’t moving now. They just held still on the curve. He was waiting.
For me.
Waiting for me…
He was like a drug to me, I couldn’t get enough. And the urge was overwhelming my senses and before I knew it my lips touched the skin of his neck. And then my tongue.
Before I realised, I was now laying on my back with his mouth against mine, melting and moving so gently against one another.
I pushed my hand against his chest in order to push him off but he grunted.
“Don’t push me away.”
I didn’t know how to respond.
I loved Tommy, but this wasn’t right. He was upset. I was upset.
“Tom, no,” I pushed him away again, “Stop,” I whispered.
He lifted himself off of me and moved his legs over the bed facing his back to me.
Fuck sakes.
“You don’t want me?” He asked.
Shaking my head, I sat up and knelt over to where he was sat, and trailed my lips up from his neck, to his earlobe.
“I’ve always wanted you…but not tonight. It’s not right to do this, now.”
He stood up and faced me, “Why not!?”
His impatience turned to anger and I frowned at him, “Tommy you need to take a breath.”
His breathing wouldn’t slow down and I stood up rapidly to hold him before he got any worse.
Tommy’s knees were buckling and he took us both straight to the floor, I was kneeling as his head was flat on my lap with his tears sinking into my slip again.
“Shhh…Tommy,” I whispered out, “It’s okay but you need to calm down now. I’m just trying to help you.”
Once I heard his breathing slow again, I pulled him up, “C’mon. You need to sleep.”
It was evident in his eyes that he was craving rest. And a long one at that.
I sat him on the edge of his bed and began to unbutton his crumpled shirt.
His bare chest was on show and I couldn’t help but stare.
“You like what you see?” He teased.
I slapped his shoulder gently, “Shut up,” I tried to hide my smile but it caved through. He smiled back at me.
Again, he stood up.
But he took both my hands and placed them behind his neck, and lifted me to stand on his toes.
“What’re you doing, Tommy?” I squealed.
“You’re not a very good dancer, Love. So I thought I’d help you out, ay.”
His hands trailed on my waist as he began to move his feet, swaying us and making me laugh.
“I could never get tired of hearing you laugh, Y/n,” he stated.
I smiled into his chest and traced the tattoo on his shoulder.
He put me down back onto my own feet again and I looked up at him tiredly.
“You’re tired,” he frowned.
I yawned in response and just continued to rest my head against him ,”Mhm…”
“You’re not going back home, Y/n. Not at this hour and especially not on your own.”
We stared at each other in silence but one of my straps fell of my shoulder.
The both of us went to lift it back up, making our hands touch.
I gasped at the contact even though we were kissing just mere seconds ago.
I moved my hand away however and he chose to lift my strap back up.
Too tired to walk, Tommy picked me up bridal-style and placed me under the duvet.
I smiled tiredly up at him, “I don’t want to be a burden, Tommy. Where will you sleep?”
“On the sofa, downstairs,” he leant down to kiss my forehead.
I felt his lips kiss the skin of my head and my cheeks warmed, “And you’ll never be a burden to me.”
He went to walk away but I couldn’t help myself. I sat up again, using my strength to, and grabbed his hand.
“I just tucked you into bed, silly.”
“Stay. It’s bad enough that I’m sleeping in your bed, Tommy. Please…stay,” I shrugged.
Giving in, he stayed.
I turned away out of politeness so he could dress into his nightwear, which were just a pair of boxer shorts, and he finally came into bed with me.
My head lulled forward as my eyes were closing quickly.
Holding my figure, Tommy lifted up my chin so I would look at him, “Come here, Love.”
He lay down and brought me with him, pulling my head down to his chest again.
As if it was natural to him, his fingers waved their way back into my hair, massaging the roots of my scalp making me more tired than before.
“Stop fighting sleep, Y/n. Just rest,” Tommy continued to massage my scalp, “I’ll still be here when you wake.”
“Promise me?” I asked tiredly.
“Promise.”
I leant up a final time to kiss his cheek. My lips lingered there a second too long as I could feel his lips slowly meet mine in a slow and loving kiss.
I moved both my legs so they would rest on each side of his, and ground my hips down, not meaning to push his cock.
He groaned into my mouth, “Not now, Y/n, you’re tired.”
“I know.”
We pulled apart and rested our foreheads together.
“I should’ve told you years ago that I loved you, Y/n. And I’m sorry I left after the war. Left you. But I just assumed that’s what was best.”
I smiled sympathetically, “It’s okay, Tom,” I kissed him again, “I understood. At the time maybe I didn’t, but I did after awhile. And I was fine with it. But I can’t leave you again, Tom. You can’t leave me.”
I began to cry again, and he stilled.
Pushing the hair out my face, he kissed me promisingly, “I would never leave you again, Love. If I can promise you one thing, it’s that.”
Tommy lay me down once and for all and rubbed my back as I was on my side.
“I love you,” I said.
“I love you too.”
My eyes closed slowly as I drifted into a sleep, resting against the man I loved.
What I didn’t expect, was when I woke, he was still there, but sleeping. Fast asleep.
I’d never seen him look so at peace.
Deciding to let him rest, I too, fell asleep again, to the sound of his soft snores and the call of wood pigeons.
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tommyshebyisdaddy · 2 years
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𝐿𝑖𝑡𝑡𝑙𝑒 𝑚𝑖𝑠𝑠 𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑒𝑙𝑦 𝑃𝑡.1
𝐷𝑜𝑟𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑦 𝑆ℎ𝑒𝑙𝑏𝑦 𝑥 𝐴𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑒 𝑆𝑜𝑙𝑜𝑚𝑜𝑛’𝑠
𝑆𝑢𝑚𝑚𝑎𝑟𝑦;𝐷𝑜𝑟𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑦 𝑆ℎ𝑒𝑙𝑏𝑦 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑔𝑜𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑛 𝑜𝑛𝑒. 𝑇𝑜𝑚𝑚𝑦 𝑆ℎ𝑒𝑙𝑏𝑦 ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑓𝑎𝑟𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 ℎ𝑎𝑑 𝑓𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑 ℎ𝑖𝑚𝑠𝑒𝑙𝑓 𝑎 𝑤𝑜𝑚𝑎𝑛 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑎 𝑐ℎ𝑖𝑙𝑑 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐷𝑜𝑟𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑦 𝑤𝑎𝑠 𝑚𝑒𝑡 𝑎𝑤𝑎𝑦 𝑡𝑜 𝑎 𝑝𝑜𝑠ℎ 𝑏𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑠𝑐ℎ𝑜𝑜𝑙 𝑖𝑛 𝐿𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑜𝑛. 𝑠ℎ𝑒 ℎ𝑎𝑑 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑠𝑒𝑒 ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑓𝑎𝑚𝑖𝑙𝑦 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑓𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑡𝑒𝑒𝑛. 𝑛𝑜𝑤 𝑓𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑦𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑠 𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟. 𝐷𝑜𝑟𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑦 𝑤𝑎𝑠 𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑡𝑜 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑠ℎ 𝑠𝑐ℎ𝑜𝑜𝑙. 𝑠ℎ𝑒 𝑤𝑎𝑠 𝑖𝑛𝑣𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑡𝑜 ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑓𝑎𝑟𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑤𝑒𝑑𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔. 𝑎𝑓𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑦𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑠𝑒𝑒𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎𝑛𝑦𝑜𝑛𝑒 ℎ𝑜𝑤 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑦 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑐𝑡. 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑠ℎ𝑒 𝑚𝑒𝑒𝑡𝑠 𝑎 𝑡𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑏𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑑𝑒𝑑 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑟. 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑜𝑛𝑙𝑦 𝑝𝑢𝑡 𝑎 𝑏𝑖𝑔𝑔𝑒𝑟 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑖𝑛 𝑜𝑛 ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑟𝑒𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠ℎ𝑖𝑝 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑓𝑎𝑚𝑖𝑙𝑦.
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When she was young all Dorothy wanted to do was to make her farther proud of her. When he came home from war. It was like the little girl had turned in to a complete stranger. She would draw him pictures only to later find them in the bin. She tried everything. She always did well in school but none of it was never enough for him.
So soon enough the young girl stood trying. She didn’t even speak with her so called farther. Dorothy couldn’t remember a time when the two of them had a conversation. She would watch the way John was with his children. How he would swing Katie around and cuddle her. She often imagined that her dad would do that to her.
But that day never came. And now here she was. in an all girls boarding school. She only had a few months of school left. She hated the place. It was filled with nuns. And there was one strange perverted priest. But Dorothy managed to keep out of trouble. Her quietness kept her away from most of the cruel punishments.
She did have to admit. That the place was incredibly lonely. She had no friends. And she didn’t receive any mail on Fridays like the rest of the girls. And Fridays were the days that Dorothy would spend on her own in her bedroom crying. She just wanted someone to write to her. Ask her if she was ok. Ask her how she was doing.
She just longed for one little letter. And then she received one. But it was far from the one she expected. It was an investment to her farther’s wedding. No are you ok? No. How are you? Just a shot in invitation. ‘𝑦𝑜𝑢 ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑏𝑒𝑒𝑛 𝑖𝑛𝑣𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑤𝑒𝑑𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑜𝑓 𝑇𝑜𝑚𝑎𝑠 𝑆ℎ𝑒𝑙𝑏𝑦 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐺𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑒 𝐵𝑢𝑟𝑔𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑓𝑖𝑡ℎ𝑡𝑒𝑒𝑛𝑡ℎ 𝑜𝑓 𝑆𝑒𝑝𝑡𝑒𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟’ that was in four days. And all Dorothy wanted to do was to shove the invitation down her farther’s throat.
But the young woman chose to be civilised and decided to attend. She had taken the train to Birmingham and she would probably call a taxi from the train stations public phone. She had worn one of her best dresses. And she had gotten her hair cut. Her hair was nearly down her back when she was fourteen and now she had it cut to her shoulders with pretty curls.
She had changed a lot in four years. She looked nothing like she did when she had first left for London. And her voice was very much different. Her words always sounded very smart. And she had a strong posh London accent. She no longer sounded as rough as she once did and Dorothy quite liked the change.
She wanted to leave every thing that reminded her of her last life. She watched out of the window as the taxi pulled up to the church. It was large. She saw some men standing out side smoking a cigarette. She had arrived ten minutes early. But it seemed as though she was not the only one which put her mind at ease lightly.
As Dorothy exited the car she handed the money over to the man bidding him a fair well. The young woman made her way over to the church noticing some of the men smoking their cigarettes outside staring at her. They were wearing cavalry uniforms which confused her. She remembered how much her family hated the cavalry.
A lot has changed. She gripped her small purse in her hands. As she walked through the doors of the church. The rows were full and Dorothy could see her farther stood at the front with her uncle. Dorothy walked quickly hoping that they did not notice her. And just her luck they did not. She took a seat next to a large man with a beard. He did seem to mind as she sat down.
She noticed Finn in the corner of her eye looking at her. The two of them were once close. Dorothy would often comfort Finn after he had had a nightmare or when he had been told of for being naughty and he was yelled at. The two of them were friends. Well that was what Dorothy thought until she went a month without a single letter from anyone.
Dorothy looked away from the boys eyes. She also noticed the man next to her starring at her. She felt a soft pink colour paint her cheeks. Dorothy had chosen to sit further away down the church as the family of the groom and bride were sat. She wasn't ready for any awkward confrontations yet.
She turned to look at the man she was seated next to. He was much taller than her self. His face had some scars on it. He seemed rather friendly in his body language. But he hadn't spoken to her. And Dorothy understood. She was a stranger and so was he to her. So she didn't bother to engage in to small talk.
The church looked beautiful and elegant. And her family all looked to be wearing expensive clothes which was very different to what they wore when Dorothy lived with them. She felt out of place. Her dress was cheep and she had bought it in a small boutique in town. She shrunk down in her chair. Now Embarrassed of the way she was dressed.
It felt like they were all going forward and they were just leaving her behind. And she was just like some kind of dead weight. A young man came around with the lyrics of the songs that they would sing in church. The man next to her didn’t accept the paper. But Dorothy smiled taking it from the young man’s hands.
Of course with four years of church every day. Dorothy practically new every word of the songs. But the young boy looked scared from talking to the man next to her. So she thought she should be kind. And it seemed to work. The young boy looked more relieved as he returned the kind smile to Dorothy. And carried on handing the slips of paper to the rest of the people.
As the church choir sang in the bleak midwinter. Everyone sat in silence. And soon Jeremiah Jesus came forward graces side looked disgusted with the fact that their was a man of colour who would marry grace and Tomas. But Jeremiah didn’t let that bother him as he walked forward taking his place at the stand.
And then the music began to play. Dorothy and the rest were all waiting for grace to come down the isle. She looked around at the rest of the family. None of them had noticed her here. And she couldn’t lie she felt really disappointed. She thought that at least one of them would have noticed her being at the bloody wedding.
And then grace came out from behind the door with her farther holding her hand as he was dressed in a cavalry uniform. A dark purple vail was placed over her face so nobody could see her face. All of the women on graces side of the family all fussed over about how lovely she looked. But the Shelby women didn’t look very happy. Dorothy wasn’t really bothered.
Tommy removed the vail off of his future wife’s face. They both smiled at one another. Before they both turned towards Jeremiah Jesus. Waiting for him to marry the couple. Dorothy heard the man at the side of her let out a unhappy grunt. Dorothy turned to look at him. He was also looking at her. Making the young woman blush as she turned back around.
“Dearly beloved, we are all gathered here today to join together in holy matrimony. Tomas Michael Shelby and Grace Helen Burgess. Do you Tomas Michael Shelby, Take Grace Helen Burgess to be your lawfully wedded wife ?” Jeremiah asked her father. And he turned to look at grace. “I do” he said proudly.
“Do You Grace Helen Burges. Solemnly swear to love, honour, and obey till death do you part. ?” Jeremiah now turned to grace and asked her. And she once again smiled and turned to her soon to be husband. “I do” she smiled saying it with the same pride as tommy did. “I now pronounce you husband and wife.” And the newly wedded couple brought one an other in for a kiss. Making everyone clap and cheer.
Everyone then made their way out of the church and outside. Dorothy was stood on her own. It was like nobody cared about her. She felt like a fool. As she stood with her purse in her hand. She just wished that she could go home. She watched as the two family’s gathered around for a photo. And heat Dorothy was not in it.
She watched as they all smiled together. Tommy and grace then climbed in to their carriage to drive to their home. She turned to see the man she was sat next to in the church standing besides her. “Who are you then.” His voice was rough and his frame was much larger than hers. But Dorothy sent him a soft sad smile.
“Dorothy but it’s not like anyone remembers” she said sadly looking at the man as she played with the purse in her hands. The man studied her. And he looked at her confused. He clearly didn’t understand her answer but he didn’t bother to question her which she was great full for.
“Ay been there. You need a lift.” He asked when he noticed she hadn’t come with anyone and women were not allowed to drive so she wouldn’t be able to get to Arrow house. Dorothy gave the man a genuine smile. No longer sad.
“If you really don’t mind.” Dorothy said. Her voice was soft. She was sweet. And there weren’t many people like that anymore and Alfie could tell that there was something wrong. And he didn’t want to engage In awkward small talk with his driver. When Alfie just wanted to blow his fucking brains out.
“Ay. Not at all” alfie said walking towards his car with Dorothy following behind him. Finn watched from the steps of the church. He knew he had to tell Tommy. He didn’t trust Alfie and he really didn’t trust Alfie around Dorothy. She didn’t know about the business that Tommy and Alfie had. So she was vulnerable.
Alfie opens the door for Dorothy and gave her his hand helping her inside the car. She sat down on the right side of the car. Tucking her purse in at her side. The driver gave Alfie a questioning look. But Alfie just nodded at him to drive.
“Who are you then. I’ve given you my name.” Dorothy smiled. At Alfie who nodded his head at her words. He was nervous that she would know who he was. And be scared of him. His name was well known. And many people already feared him.
“Alfie, Alfie Solomons” he told her leaning back in his seat in the car. His name sounded familiar. But Dorothy couldn’t exactly put her finger on it so she just left it. And shrugged it off and smiled at him.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you mr Solomons, so what are you doing at my dads wedding?.” Dorothy asked. Not noticing the shocked look on Alfie’s face as the words came out of her mouth. But he tried to keep his cool.
“Me and tommy. We’re business partners. Didn’t know he had a a girl. Thought it was just the little one.” He said as he stared at Dorothy who’s expression suddenly changed. She looked sad. Really sad.
“Yeah, I was sent away. For school in London. I don’t even think he remembers me. I don’t think anyone does.” She said sadly looking down at her hands with a sigh. Now Alfie felt bad. And that was a rare thing. Alfie never felt sorry for people. Not even for himself.
“Maybe that’s a good thing ay. You don’t want to be with them. Bunch a bastards if ya ask me.” Alfie said his voice rough as he placed his top hat on his head. Dorothy giggled at his comment finding him funny as he cheered her up. Maybe this whole wedding wouldn’t be so bad.
“I suppose your right.” She laughed. Alfie watched as she did. The way the dimples on her cheeks became more visible and he got to see her beautiful hazel doe eyes. As the car pulled up to arrow house. Cars were all over the place and Alfie ordered his driver to pull up right at the door. And then to park the car once him and Dorothy were gone.
“Wait there” he told her with his thick London accent as he got out of the car. Dorothy did as he had said and remained in her seat. She was not sure as to why. But she did not bother to question him. Then her door opened and their Alfie stood with his hand out for Dorothy to hold so it was easy for her to exit the car.
The young woman smiled at him taking his hand in to hers. As she jumped down from the car. She thanked him as she strained her dress down. And Alfie’s hand left hers. So she used both of her hands to hold on to her bag. Her and Alfie walked in to the large home.
It was beautiful. This was far from what Dorothy remembered living in. She remembered a small home. With stained walls. And dirty floors. And this. This was amazing. She felt so left out. While she was still learning how to cook and clean. Everyone else was living life to the fullest.
But underneath her and Alfie. There was a meeting. And her name might just come up. Tommy took of his jacket with a cigarette hanging from his lips. As John and Arthur finally appeared on the stairs. Finn was eating whatever he could get his hands in and all of the other peaky boys made their way in to the room.
“Right boys, you’re all here. Today is my fucking wedding day.” Tommy was about to carry on with his speech before John interrupted him. “Yeah and you said. There’d be no bloody uniforms” John told his older brother angrily.
“Nevertheless… nevertheless, John…despite the bad blood, I’ll have none of it in my carpet. Now for graces sake, nothing will go wrong. Those bastards out there are her family. And if you fuckers do anything to embarrass her, your kin, your cousins, your horses, your fucking kids. You do anything…” Tommy said in an angry rage once again before he was once again rudely interrupted.
“Tom?” Isaiah said and tommy turned to look at him his face still angry. “What about snow?” He asked curiously. “Yeah their women are sports I’ll say that…” John laughed bringing Isaiah in to a head lock. Scratching his scalp making the younger boy laugh.
“No. No. No. no cocaine. No cocaine. No sport. No telling fortunes. No racing. No fucking sucking petrol out of their fucking cars. And, you Charlie, stop spinning yarns about me, eh? “ tommy told everyone of the men individually.
“I’m just trying to sell you to them. Tom.” Charlie told his nephew. Finn was wondering when he should tell Tommy about Dorothy and the fact that Alfie was trying to get close to her. He knew that Tommy wouldn’t be happy. But then again Tommy hadn’t seen the girl in four years and no one other than Finn recognised her anyway.
“But the main thing is, you bunch of fuckers, desire the provocation from the cavalry. No fighting, Oi! No fighting. No fucking fighting. No fighting. No fucking fighting.!” Tommy shouted at the men as he went and stood next to Arthur until a male maid bumped in to him. Tommy pushed the man to the floor. “Get the fuck off me!” And then Arthur through a glass at him.
“Tom. Dolly’s here. But she’s all different her hair it’s short and she’s well she’s wearing a dress.” Finn said out loud. All of the men turned ti look at him. Clearly shocked that Dorothy was here. Tommy looked the most shocked. He didn’t think she would really come. Especially after he had been a massive dick. He hadn’t written her a single letter. No one had. She spent four years off her life by herself. And now tommy was having to come to terms with all of his guilt.
Tommy didn’t say anything as he left the kitchen and back out to the party in the home. He searched around for a young woman matched the description of what Finn had told him dolly now looked like. But what he saw was not what he wanted.
His daughter sat with Alfie fucking Solomons
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b-a-n-a-n-a-ss · 1 year
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Peaky Blinders: Shelby’s x shelby!reader
Summary: the reader is poisoned when at a party. She returns home in an immense amount of pain. Then her brothers take care of her.
Warnings: crying, fluff, poison, vomit, throwing up, pain.
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As [y/n] Shelby walked home from the party she had just attended; she noticed a pain growing in her stomach. It was sharp and she could hardly walk.
When she entered the Shelby household she had a arm wrapped around her stomach and her face scrunched in pain. She dropped her bag to the ground with a thud then she slowly sank to her knees as she clutched her stomach for dear life.
She moaned in pain as John walked over to her body. He kneeled down beside her and placed a hand on her back.
“[y/n]? Are you okay?” He asked as he slowly rubbed her back.
[y/n] only groaned and that was enough for John to pick her up and bring her to the couch. He gently laid her down and she cried out a little in pain. Johns heart ached watching his sister hurt.
“Arthur! Tom! Come down here!” John yelled then kneeled beside his younger sister, gently stroking her hair. Heavy footsteps approached the two and the eldest brothers came running into the living room. John quickly stood up and Tommy quickly took his place.
“What’s wrong [y/n]?” He asked. Y/n moaned and panted as she replied.
“M-my stomach hurts. Please make it stop Tommy.” She cried. Tommy put a hand on her sweaty forehead and frowned. She was burning up and her face had a blue color to it.
A sharp pain erupted in y/ns stomach and she clutched it and hissed violently. She started to sob and Tommy picked her up and brought her to the bathroom. The two brothers followed and Tommy sat her in front of the toilet.
Y/n moaned and she struggled to catch her breath.
“It hurts, it hurts so bad.” She screamed. Tommy knew what was happening, he had seen it before. She was poisoned.
“I know y/n I know.” Tommy whispered.
“Y/n I’m sorry to do this but I have to. It may hurt.” Tommy warned. Arthur kneeled behind the two and John stood at the doorway.
Tommy shoved his fingers down y/ns throat. She gagged then threw up into the toilet. Tommy did it again and she threw up for a second time. After the third time she was weaker than ever and she fell back into Arthur’s chest. She was shaking like a leaf and all her brothers felt horrible.
“Is it all gone? Will I feel better?” Y/n asked as she leaned her head into the crook Arthur’s neck. Tommy placed a hand on her knee and rubbed it comfortingly.
“I hope so y/n.” He said. John kneeled on y/ns other side and gently rubbed up and down her leg. Y/n swallowed thickly and nodded her head. She felt so cold and so weak. Arthur wrapped his arms around her and planted a kiss to her head.
“I’m s-so cold.” Y/n whimpered.
“Let’s go out you to bed ‘eh?” Arthur asked. Y/n nodded and Arthur picked her up. He took her to her room and John moved the covers back. Arthur laid y/n down on her bed and covered her up. The three brothers looked down at their sister with sad eyes. She was still shivering and she looked so weak.
John kissed y/ns head and then left the room. The other two did the same and y/n was alone. She slept for a little bit until she woke up. Her stomach had a full ache in it and she got scared that she was going to have to throw up again.
She got up and walked downstairs. She had her blanket around her shoulders. She saw her two oldest brothers sitting on the couch smoking cigarettes and looking into the fire. Their low voices echoed through the living room.
Y/n entered the living room more and the two men looked at her and sat up.
“Are you okay y/n?” Tommy asked. Y/n moved and sat between her two brothers.
“My stomach hurts again.” She said. She looked up at Tommy with fear in her eyes.
“What if it didn’t all get out?” She asked with a slight quiver in her voice. Tommy rested his hand on his knee and shook his head lightly.
“It did, I promise. Stomach aches usually happen after that kind of thing.” Tommy said. Y/n nodded her head but winced a little as her stomach pain became more noticeable. She shuffled closer to Arthur and laid her head on his shoulder. Arthur draped his arm across her shoulders and laid his head ontop of hers.
Tommy leaned against y/ns other side and his head on her shoulder. He gently placed a hand on her stomach and rubbed it lightly. She sighed and nuzzled her head further into Arthur’s shoulders. Tommy kissed her cheek and continued to rub her stomach.
“Get some sleep y/n. Please, we’ll be right here if you need anything.” Arthur said and kissed her head one last time before the three of them fell asleep.
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cosmic-crybaby · 1 year
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Blue Skies- Tommy Shelby
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Summary: Sparks fly when a self-sufficient, newly single mother meets the cold-hearted bachelor gangster of Birmingham. On their first outing, it was like everything in the world was asking for them to finally meet each other. But when fate intervenes, they soon find themselves suffering the reprocussions of their own decisions.
Rating: Mature, Minors DNI plz
Warnings: Warnings will be advised on each chapter. 
Story Playlist
Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 | Chapter 10 | Chapter 11 | Chapter 12 | Chapter 13 | Chapter 14 | Chapter 15 | Chapter 16 | Chapter 17 | Chapter 18 
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calummss · 2 years
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Lilac And Lilacs | John Shelby
masterlist
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summary: thomas wants john to marry esme lee to finally put an end to the shelby-lee family war. john’s heart however belongs to francesca wellington, the barmaid at the garrison who finds john’s romantic talk charming but is oblivious to his intentions with her
pairing: fem! oc x john shelby
words: 2.2k
a/n: john is more romantic in this fic than canon, still i find it to be somewhat believable. my choice of words for john are more proper but nonetheless believable in my eyes if john really tried to impress a girl. even if you aren’t a fan of oc fanfics i promise y’all will love this
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The door to the Garrison flew open with a loud bang, eyes of the customers already enjoying their pints fixated on John Shelby as his heavy footsteps weighted the old wooden floor of the pub. His gaze met the emerald eyes of Francesca Wellington, who gave him a defeated look; a reminder to leave the building unharmed at his expense.
‘Sorry, darling, old habits.’ His soft tone rang bells inside her head. A light blooming in the pit of her stomach as John sat down at the counter and grinned, his pearly white teeth nothing but inviting.
‘Old habits still have an urge for whiskey?’ Francesca returned the smile, her eyes reflecting the sunlight only he seemed to take notice of.
‘They do.’ John lifted his cap off his head and set it aside, the rough and violent part of him too.
Harsh walls let down that were only ever meant for her. Francesca was the only one that John ever allowed himself to be more relaxed with. More calm and less tough. A yin-yang relationship that turned heads even inside of the room, though it was no secret that the two of them were close.
‘Coming right up, Mr. Shelby.’ Her cheery voice echoed deep into his mind, the colour yellow coming to mind. Just like the sun.
‘I told you to call me John on more than one occasion, Frankie.’
‘I know,’ Francesca briefly turned around to grab a bottle of whiskey that was standing on display. ‘But it feels so informal, you know…you being a Peaky Blinder especially a founder.’ The gradual high tone that made her statement sound more like a question made him chuckle.
‘We are friends, are we not?’ John’s fingertips grazed the rim of the glass.
‘Depends how you define friends, John.’ She raised an amused eyebrow, annunciating his name with a grin, her hair the colour of wheat and sunshine more beautiful than John had remembered.
‘I believe that friends always listen to what the other has to say.’
‘I’m a barmaid, that is quite literally my job.’ Francesca placed an ashtray next to the glass. ‘To listen to old men wail about their wives and children, how they regret the life they chose and how everything is so awful, but that I am the highlight of their day…though I believe they’re talking about the bottle of whiskey more than me.’ Her giggle warmed his heart on the cold November morning.
‘Why wouldn’t you be the highlight of their day?’ John leaned forward, his breath so close she could feel it on her neck as he removed a piece of dust that was sitting on top of her hair.
Collecting herself, Francesca let out a small cough. ‘I’m a barmaid walking around in filth. Dirt all over myself, messy hair,’
‘You’re still gorgeous to me…’ The seriousness in John’s tone and face let a light blush warm the cheeks of Francesca, her fingers rubbing against each other under the counter that was the only thing separating their bodies.
Francesca’s mind wandered to Thomas Shelby. John’s older brother and the head of the Peaky Blinders. If he set something in motion then it would happen. No one dared crossing him. Why John ignored his brother’s orders was beyond what she could imagine.
‘John,’ she coughed, shaking her head at the same time. ‘You can’t say that,’ her eyes scanned to see if anyone was listening in. ‘I can’t be found being courted by one of Small Heath’s most eligible bachelors. It’s not proper for me or you.’
‘I never intend to marry Esme.’
‘Why?’
‘Because I don’t love her.’
‘Marriage is about convenience, John.’ Francesca said, her mind forced back to reality when she found herself thinking of the life she could lead with him if the circumstances were aligned with their fate.
‘Not in my eyes.’ He downed the rest of the amber gold liquid that burned his throat. ‘I want to marry for love. For a partner that matches my half…not too perfectly though because that would feel too artificial.’
‘Such a romantic at heart.’ She poked at him, his love hidden behind his eyes as clear as the summer sky the day he first saw her.
‘You have no idea, Frankie.’
For a short moment it was quiet. Cars driving past the Garrison, the sound of clanking metal, and worried mothers running after their children. John’s eyes were on Francesca the entire time she had turned her back to him, trying to gather a moment of clarity, hidden by the cleaning of various glasses that had piled up beside the sink.
‘I want to be with you, Frankie.’ His soft tone had once more invaded all her senses.
‘John, I— I don’t think you would want to be with me.’ She turned around.
‘You’re everything that I want.’
‘And what do I have?’ Her hands slammed onto the counter. Her face was pained with all of the confessions he had made the past minutes, yet she struggled to be angry at him.
John leaned forward, his pink lips pulled into a smirk as his breath met her rosy cheeks. ‘My name written all over you.’
Francesca pulled away hastily, head turning in every direction to make sure no one had heard the thing he had said. ‘John!’ She half yelled before lowering her voice, ‘You’re making me blush.’
‘I like seeing you red because of me. Makes my ego a little bit bigger than it already is.’ And he was met with a firm slap on his upper arm.
‘I don’t think I’m built for the life you lead…All the violence? Not only would I constantly be worried about my safety but also yours.’
‘So you worry about me, huh?’
‘John.’
‘I would protect you from all violence.’ He reached out to firmly hold her soft hand that felt like it already belonged to him. ‘My hands carry the weight of blood and punches so that you can wear the finest jewellery in the world.’
Francesca’s head tilted to the side, her fingers brushing against his wrist.
‘I mean it.’
She retrieved her hand, ‘You’re flirting with me in a bar full of men that have nothing better to do than to listen and eye us up and down.’
‘I’m a Shelby. I can do whatever I want, and this lady,’ he turns around, all men staring at him. ‘Feels uncomfortable with all of you listening in so unless you want to keep your ears, you keep to your business and your business only. Have I made myself clear?’
Men muttered, turning around instantly and didn’t dare to turn their heads once more. John too turned back around again, his smile painted back on.
‘John has gone all soft.’ A voice said from the back, the smile quickly dropping off of John’s face as he turned around, grabbed his cap and stormed to the direction of the voice where he grabbed a fistful of the man’s collar bringing him to his knees.
John’s free hand took the cap, the blades close to the man’s face who was now panicking.
‘I have not gone soft.’ John breathed through his teeth. ‘I merely treat a woman how she should be. Now remember what I said about the ears of the men inside this building? Same goes for your lips and tongue. I hate to repeat myself, so leave this establishment before I ruin this new suit I just got. Hate to ruin such fine work with a man’s blood not worth it.’
The man stumbled, his friends following him outside of the door. The rest of the room stuck to their business as John had instructed them moments ago.
Francesca met John’s face with widened eyes.
‘Frankie, I would never let a scratch on your body. If I did it would be the day I’d stop existing.’ He cupped her cheeks with one hand, his thumb stroking her cheek.
‘How are you ever going to make sure that I don’t get hurt? That’s practically impossible. What if I fall into a river?’ She smiled, still stern.
‘Then I will bleed every river dry that flows on this earth to stop you from ever falling into one.’
John’s grip on Francesca’s cheek grew tighter as he slowly yet steadily pulled her closer, close enough to let him kiss her as he had imagined over a hundred times. Her lips melted into his. Engulfed by his desire to deepen the kiss and push himself against her then was physically possible but it was enough that for this moment he could feel her beyond her hand and cheek. Her lips as addictive as cocaine.
John dreaded pulling away from her but held her close. ‘I’m addicted to you.’
‘What,’ she breathed deeply, her mind still processing what had just happened.
‘Every time I’m away from you, my heart only wants to feel you. My eyes want to see you. My ears want to hear your voice that’s sweet like honey. My nose wants your smell, my skin your touch. My lips melting into yours until we both forget our names.’ He paused for a brief moment, his eyes holding hers. ‘I’m addicted to you, Francesca Wellington. My heart, body, and soul belong to you. Yours to love, yours to hate, simply and utterly yours. You don’t have to be mine but I will always be yours.’
Words.
Simply just words, but they had made Francesca forget everything and anything that wasn’t John. She forgot that he was to marry Esme despite what he wanted. She forgot that she wasn’t enough, that she couldn’t give him what he needed despite his every belief.
‘John,’ her breaths drew heavier, ‘I— I told you that this cannot happen.’ She pulled away, stumbling back and steadying herself against the back counter. ‘You are marrying Esme! You are setting me up to be the girl discarded by Shelby when I already work as a maid and had a daughter out of wedlock! I’m a whore and it wouldn’t do a Shelby good to be seen with a whore. With me.’
‘You have bewitched me.’ John’s hand shot towards Francesca’s wrist, her breath caught in her throat as her lips trembled, looking at the man she felt for but could not be able to feel anymore. ‘On days I do not see you, even the warmth of the sun does not make the coldness of your absence any more bearable. The flowers hang as the dry soil does not give them what they need to survive. My heart feels an ever pit of loneliness when you are not around me. You are the sun my heart, mind, soul orbit around. They can only be complete if you are my center. Without you nothing makes sense.’
Francesca’s tears had stained her lilac dress, the colour now a deeper purple. A growing pain in her chest that made it hard to breathe. Her hands felt weighted and felt the urge to drop down to the wooden floor but she fought back, her eyes not ready to part from John’s face that has never looked the way it did at this present moment.
‘If I marry Esme, every waking moment until I close my eyes I will long for you. For your touch, your smell, your laugh, my heart clenches at the thought of a future without you. Every day I pass the lilacs that are planted in front of the flower shop and every day I fight the urge to not buy you every lilac I see because the colour reminds me of the ribbon in your hair. I don’t care what Tommy has planned for me because if you are not in his plans, there is no reason for me to continue breathing as I do now.’
‘John, I—‘
‘If you do not say that you feel the same way about me, it is better to not say anything at all. The pain would still be great but I couldn’t stomach it if you would speak the words that would break my heart.’
The urge to kiss him felt tiresome as Francesca fought every nerve in her body, blood pulsing through her veins, trying not to give in. But what happens if you leave a cheese trap for a mouse? They take it, no matter how often they do it. They take the risk.
Francesca pulled John in for a kiss. Her hands on either side of his head as John leaned over even further to taste the sweetness of the woman he had longed for.
‘Yes.’ Francesca breathed out heavily, her chest rising and falling.
‘Yes what?’
‘I’ll be with you.’
‘You will?’ John’s eyes lit up brighter than the light that shone above them.
Francesca nodded, her lips curling into a warming smile.
John pulled her in for another kiss, this time savouring her taste that he would taste and cherish for the rest of his life.
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geekwritersworld · 2 years
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Scratches and Boys
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Pairings: Peaky Blinders x reader (you)
Warnings: Mentions of slight violence, no details. Angst, fluff
A/n: I'm writing after an entire decade so I apologize for any.....strokes you may have reading this.✌️
Summary: (request)@luvlyencanto
Hey, how are you? Well, I wanted to make a wish for the younger sister Shelby, but a few years older than Finn. A request where the reader -or (Y/N)- comes home with tears in her eyes and several scratches on her (maybe she was tricked by some boy or she got caught. They tried a few things on her, but they weren't too far away, as she managed to stop them and escape). Of course, his brothers will protect the princess of the family. However, a few days later, the same people who tried to hurt her, will come back, as they didn't like to see a lady defending herself or simply didn't want to give the Victory award to the Shelbys, maybe they could invade her room, or her house, or something like that, anything that invades your brilliant mind.
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You slipped of your coat as soon as the door shut behind you and were engulfed in warmth. You heard Arthur and Ada arguing-something about the business you assumed.
You weren't ever included in on the business, Finn was- despite him being younger to you. You'd grown tired of arguing with Tommy about it however, so you just let it go.
And instead kept to yourself, finding ways to keep yourself busy.
Finn had left school almost a year ago. Leaving school for you was out of the question, not just because you didn't want to, but because your brothers as well as Aunt Pol and Ada wouldn't allow it either.
But you didn't mind. School gave you a place to go, people there weren't the nicest to, they kept their distance from you. Which you decided was better than being picked on.
It wasn't that you hated being home with your family, because they were barely ever home. When they were, there was chaos- chaos you'd grown fond of cause it meant they were well and alive enough to be noisy. But you never really knew what to do, with the house empty, Ada working at the library living by herself, Aunt Pol and your brothers working at the betting shop, it was often just you and your thoughts.
Sometimes you went to the library Ada worked at and read for hours, but the commute was too long and you didn't trust yourself to return the book by the due date so you never borrowed one either.
Walking up the narrow creaky stairs, you slipped into your room, swiftly changed and headed to bed. Thinking about the day. About Edward walking up to you with that beautiful smile of his, his hair falling into place perfectly and his green eyes shining as he held his head high.
He came up to you out of nowhere and asked if you wanted to join him after school. And you thought it wasn't real for a second. But you agreed. You walked home ecstatic that day.
Falling asleep with a small smile gracing your lips, you didn't hear Tommy come in to make sure you were warm and home safe. Running his hand over the side of your sheets making sure they were tucked properly so you didn't feel cold anywhere he closed the door behind him.
Polly was without a doubt taken aback to see you coming down stairs without her having to scream at you to wake up, and all you said was you were looking forward to school today.
But Polly knew it was more than that. She didn't let on however that she knew and instead watched her niece devour her breakfast in minutes and speed out the door.
You pulled your black coat a little tighter around you, letting the chill yet damp air of small heath whip through your hair.
You were supposed to be meet with Ada an hour or so after school, but of course before that you were to meet Eddie, so you quickly gathered your things once school was out for the day and walked quickly down the dimly lit corridor of your school. You ignored the chattering and anyone else in your way and slipped out of the school doors.
It seemed as though it was going to rain. The clouds were dark and grey and the air felt damp against your skin.
The cut was where Edward had asked you to meet him. And you were nervous but quite excited. You had only a few months left for school, and before long you'd be looking at what to do with your life after. And you weren't sure if you'd see Edward again.
The bag heavy on your shoulder you turned the corner and headed further in to the tunnel leading up to the waters.
You never did like the cut, it was dark irrespective the time of the day and you weren't ignorant to what the cut was notorious for. But it was also the spot where Tommy once brought you years ago before the war, to comfort you after you'd accidentally ripped your favorite dress.
You leaned back against the wall- waiting. You began to wonder if maybe he wouldn't come. Had he forgotten? or maybe he was joking and you'd taken him seriously?
You were torn away from your thoughts by the sound of footsteps. You furrowed your brows in confusion, it didn't sound like just one person, those were the footsteps of multiple people. And you didn't know who it was.
"Ah Ms. Shelby" Eddie's lips stretched in to a smirk, as he walked in to the tunnel leading to the cut.
Trailing behind him were 3 other boys, all taller and seemingly stronger than you.
"What is this?" You asked, your heart thudding heavily in your chest. You had an abhorrent feeling you knew exactly what this was, your stomach tightened at the thought.
One of the boys behind him with dirty blonde hair snickered. You'd seen them around school before, but you didn't know their names.
"Oh nothing, we just didn't think you were stupid enough to think I'd actually want to see your face" Eddie snorted.
Tears pricking your eyes, your ears burned and hands grew sweaty despite the cold. You felt humiliated, you should've known.
But you didn't, and here you were.
It was only when you felt the edge of cut did you realize that Edward was moving closer to you at the same time you were moving away and before you knew it you were toppling into the water behind you.
At first all you heard was the water thundering in your ears. But once you'd managed to get your head out of the water, you heard the laughter. And all you wanted to do in that moment was crawl into bed.
And forget the entire day.
But you had no where to go, you weren't even sure where the cut ended and so with dread coiling in your stomach you slowly swam to the pavement near the boys.
Slipping your bag off of your shoulders you slid it on to the ground then proceeded to pull yourself up.
You shivered, you had nothing to keep you warm seeing as you were drenched from top to bottom in the coat you had on.
You hoped that Eddie would leave considering you were already humiliated enough. But he didn't. Neither did any of the boys. If anything they closed in on around you.
"Pol, where's Y/n?" Tommy slipped a cigarette between his lips walking into the betting shop where his aunt was sat.
"Is she not home yet?" Pol raised a brow
"No, just been there, 's no one home"
"have you checked with Ada? They were going some where together" She hoped you were with Ada.
"Ada's still at the library." Tommy quickly walked out of the shop, not saying another word to his aunt, who stood up concerned and went to find John when Tommy left.
Tommy only just adjusted his coat while walking out on to the street that was now wet with the rain that had begun to pour heavily when he spotted his sister slipping in to the house.
Quickly following after her and dodging people, not that he had to try very hard, people moved out of his way anyway.
Following after you Tommy noticed you didn't have your bag with you.
Hastily opening the door he stepped inside just in time to catch a glimpse of his little sister disappearing at the top of the stairs.
"Y/n" he called, knowing something was wrong. It wasn't like you to ignore him nor was it like you to come home late. You were the only one in the family, in Tommy's opinion who actually listened to anything that was said.
He heard muffled sobbing, hurrying up to your room. Not bothering to knock Tommy opened your bedroom door and saw you laying down on the bed face first.
You were drenched from top to bottom and it was obvious it wasn't just from the rain. But your missing bag confused him further, but what had him walk towards you in big strides was the scratch going down your arm.
"what happened?" Sitting down next to your quivering figure, Tommy placed a hand on your back.
You responded to his question by sobbing even harder.
"Y/n" Tommy's voice was softer this time "I can't help you if you don't tell me what it is eh"
Finally, wiping your eyes and nose, you looked at your big brother. It was only then Tommy noticed there were scratches on your face too.
Along with a torn lip.
Temptation ate away at Tommy to demand an answer about who had done this to his little sister, but he knew better than to show any anger towards you right now.
Voice quivering- your eyes watered again "Thought he actually cared"
You slowly shifted and sat against the wall, your legs curled up to your chest with Tommy's arm now on your shoulder.
"What?" He looked at you confused
"There was this boy, I'd sort of thought he was-" how were you supposed to tell your brother who was a Peaky Blinder you'd been pining over a boy for months? "thought he was ..nice"
Avoiding his gaze, you waited for him to speak.
"This boy, did he do this?" His voice was firm now
"Let it be Tommy, I defended myself alright" You shrugged.
"Did he do this to you?" Tommy asked slowly this time, ignoring your remark.
"I said let it go Tommy"
It wasn't in your nature to be firm, you stood up for yourself, sure. But in all the arguments you and Tommy had, he'd never heard you use that tone.
"Please, if there's any trouble again from him I'll tell you" Tommy decided he'd come back to it later. So instead he inspected the scratches and after deciding they weren't serious nor was the torn lip, he sat with you for a while, till he heard Polly come in with John downstairs, and then went downstairs.
"Somebody hurt her" Tommy said quietly. He didn't want his sister hearing him speaking to his aunt and brother about this.
"What" John yelled only to quieten down under Tommy's glare.
"Won't tell me who it is or what happened, all she said was it was a boy and she defended herself." Tommy looked at Johnny " find her bag John. It's not with her and I don't want her to go looking wherever it's been left"
John nodded and walked out, he had an idea of a few places where his little sister went often.
"What are you going to do?" Polly watched him closely, knowing her nephew wasn't going to let this slide as easily as he was making it seem.
"Give her time" Tommy walked in to the kitchen and pulled out a chair "talk to her about it then, find out who the boy is, and have a little chat with him then"
"To-"
"She's got a torn lip Pol, and scratches, on her arm and face" he continued at Pol's concerned expression " I checked to make sure they're not serious, but the point is, some kid, eh, hurt her. Now we can't let him get away with that can we"
He wasn't asking, he wouldn't when someone had threatened his sister's safety.
The following few days you went about them as normally as you could. Keeping to yourself, barely speaking to anyone- even at home. At school you did your best to avoid the boys. And you had a quiet few days since the incident. It wasn't lost on you that Tommy was going to insist on you telling him who the boys were. John and Finn had already tried their hand and failed.
Your brothers however had become even more protective if nothing else. Finn would escort you to school and back, it definitely got on your nerves since he was younger to you, John would linger around at the house a lot more than he usually did. Arthur and Ada constantly tried getting you to go out with them while Polly forced you to drink tea with her every now and then, and Tommy would sit with you a lot more than he used to.
"Make your own bloody tea Arthur" You groaned climbing up the stairs. Arthur had come home behind you. Knowing it wasn't a coincidence you dropped your bag, that John had found in the cut, near the stairs.
"I-" you stopped short in front of the mess. You room was never a mess. You hated it. But this was beyond a normal mess, someone had been in your room. " Arthur" you slowly went back down, a part of you was afraid whoever had been in your room was still around.
Arthur popped his head out of the kitchen door way "what?"
You walked towards him cautiously "someone's been in my room"
Arthur quickly waked towards your room. Treading carefully on the stairs. He wasn't concerned for himself as he was for you. He had a hand on his gun, and you trailed behind him quietly.
Pushing your room door open further Arthur took in the mess. Your clothes were on the floor, the bedside candle lamp thrown on the floor, photo frames were shattered and your sheets and curtains were torn up.
Draws from your table were open- it's contents scattered on the ground. Arthur swiftly looked around your room to make sure there wasn't anyone inside then quickly proceeded to check the other rooms.
And he found them to be clean- the way they had been left. He knew everything downstairs were left normal as well. He realized it was only your room that had been trashed.
With you still trailing behind him quietly, Arthur led you out of the house "need to see Tommy and Pol"
You still hadn't said a word. You realized there was only one person who could've trashed your room. Unless of course it was one the peaky blinders enemies. But it wasn't and you knew it.
The relatively empty betting shops door were slammed open making Tommy and Pol's heads snap up when Arthur barged in.
Tommy instinctively reached for his gun only to withdraw his hand seeing it was his siblings. His older brother spoke so quickly Tommy thought his brother was smoking.
He turned towards Arthur "Arthur what are you talking about?" he looked between you and his older brother.
"Someone Tommy" Arthur half yelled " bloody broke in to this ones room, 's all a mess Tommy" he caught his breath.
Tommy looked at you knowing that you knew who it was.
"Right Arthur, find John and Finn" Tommy was calm. You looked up knowing you weren't going to like what was coming next.
"You" Tommy looked at you " come on" he wasn't stern yet his tone let you know there was no way out.
You followed Tommy into his office while Arthur left and Polly rolled her eyes and continued looking over at the numbers knowing her nephews would handle it.
"name" you hadn't even sat comfortably yet and your brother was already demanding things.
"just don't kill him" rubbing your face you looked at Tommy.
"name" Tommy's voice more stern now
"Eddie"
"Eddie?" He didn't want nicknames or first names like the one you were giving him now.
"Edward Ray" You huffed.
"And?"
"What the fuck Tommy?"
"you and I know both there was more than one person." Tommy said nothing further but stared right at you. You were sure he wasn't even blinking.
"I don't know"
"n-"
"I honestly don't know Thomas, I'd only ever seen them once or twice in school" you slumped back in your chair "never bothered introducing myself" you smiled sarcastically.
"This" Tommy continued "is the part where you tell me exactly what happened" he lit a cigarette
"thought he wanted to meet up, went to the cut where we agreed to meet. He showed up with his friends, taunted me, I fell in the water, climbed out, they tried to touch me, I fought back, so did they apparently, left my backpack, they swore to get me back, and I came home. End of story" you said monotonously.
Tommy rolled his eyes, holding the cigarette between his fingers. He knew you were trying to downplay how you felt and what had happened. But he also knew this was the most he was going to get.
You were his sister after all.
You'd grown tired of the looks from your brothers, Ada and Pol kept giving you for the last few days. Why didn't any of them acknowledge the fact that you fought them off yourself instead of the fact that you got hurt?
"Y/n-"
"I know it was stupid of me Tommy, I know" you flailed your arms, you didn't need your brother judging you either.
"Bloody hell, would you shut up " Your eyes widened, he never really spoke that way to you "I'm trying to tell you those boys were bastards, it's not your fault. You've got to talk to us sweetheart, can't have you keeping secrets and getting hurt. It was stupid of you to go to any isolated place by yourself to meet a boy, but it wasn't stupid of you to like him nor hope he liked you back. I hate that you like any boy, but unfortunately I s'pose that's inevitable and I'm here to protect you against the bastards but I can't bloody do that if you don't tell me things"
"I don't need you to protect me Tommy" you were still taking in all that your brother said.
"No, but I want to"
Almost as if on cue Arthur barged in once again with Finn and John hot on his trails.
"Right boys, we've got some work to do" Tommy stood up, straightening his suit and grabbing his jacket.
"Don't kill him alright"
"We'll try" John snickered.
"I'm serious" you snapped standing up.
"Don't need to kill an 18 year old boy for being an arse"
"Yeah an arse that broke in to our home and fucked up your room and beat you up" Arthur muttered.
"HE DIDN'T- oh forget it" you gave up trying to explain you'd fought those boys off on your own. Sure they got a few scratches and a torn lip on you, but you'd bruised them too.
The four of your brothers were almost out the door when Tommy turned around to look at you "Y/n" he paused "We're proud- of you defending yourself" he walked out then
You smiled to yourself.
Tommy was absolutely raging inside, but he knew that had he shown any anger you wouldn't talk to him abut anything. You barely did anyway. But you were the light of your family's life. The only one who seemed to have any opportunity of getting out of small heath and making something for yourself. That's all your brothers wanted for you.
"She's a bloody fierce one, that one" Arthur mumbled, his brothers smiling as they got into the car- on their way to speak to the boy who thought he could lay a hand on their sister and simply get away.
But what did it for your brothers was the boys breaking in to your room. They didn't want to think of what could've taken place had you been in your room when it was wrecked.
They wouldn't take a chance at letting anything happen again, and Tommy thought a few blows to the face would do the job for the boy.
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traumadumpwriter · 2 months
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Heavy trigger warning for abuse, SA, assault, violence, self harm, mentions of r*pe
If you enjoy please don't forget to like, repost, comment. Give me feedback! | love to hear it!
I do update more frequently and there r already more chapters on my Wattpad @/slowlychanging!
Check out the other chapters by going to the Freedom tag on my page!
Freedom: A John Shelby Mini Fic
Chapter Nine: 4311 words
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Hours passed until 'Go time' finally arrived and the adrenaline was just starting to kick in for Alice. She and Tommy were sat in silence as he drove her towards the agreed location - a seedy hotel just outside of town, ran by the Turks with a grand suite that Ergin often stayed in.
The window to his suite was visible from the street below; red velvet curtains pulled shut behind the thin glass panes. Alice was relieved that to see it was only on the second floor - knowing it to be her most likely route of escape incase things went wrong.
There were blinders surrounding the property, hidden in bushes and under cars, and the plan was clear in Alice's head. She could do this.
"We'll be an hour at most." Tommy spoke quietly, his eyes staring at a figure promptly coming towards the car.
After receiving strict instructions from him for the last hour, Alice found his voice to be extremely annoying and also looked to the figure, having nothing pleasant to say to Tommy.
A tanned man in a suit eventually came to the door on Alice's side, opening it with a smile and holding out his arm for her to take. She looked back at the Shelby one more time and he sent her a nod before sending her out into the cool night air, her hand placed gingerly on the arm of the small man.
Upon reaching the lobby, he stepped away from Alice with a polite nod and she suddenly found herself surrounded by an entourage of colourful characters; even the other women emitting an intimidating energy. They were all sat around a large table, decorated with intricate cloth, drinking from ornate glasses and laughing merrily. Alice looked around and tried to work out which one was Ergin, but had no luck - all of the men wearing similar, cream suits with no real distinction from each other.
A cough from the polite assistant quickly drew their eyes upwards and although they initially looked so unimpressed, the men's faces instantly softened upon seeing Alice - stood there like an innocent doe.
"The Shelby woman aye?" One of the men stood up with a grin and held out his hand for Alice to take, to which she quickly did. His accent was thick and he exuded suaveness. "Even more beautiful than I was told." He placed a kiss on her hand before pulling away and gesturing for her to follow him. "The boss's room is just up here, I show you."
"Thank you." She replied, being careful to smile and be polite but not too much - Tommy said it was important that she came across as unintelligent and innocent but still sexual and willing; a difficult mix to nail.
As she followed his path, she could feel all eyes on her; devouring the white, corseted dress and how it draped her frame perfectly. Polly had gotten her measurements and rushed into town to get it not long after the initial family gathering, worrying about Alice not looking the part. The older woman hated the plan and it had been even harder getting her approval than Tommy had originally anticipated, but she eventually caved in and agreed to help - citing the trickery and murder of Jones Buckley to be her main motivation. She owed it to Clara after all.
John on the other hand had disappeared from the house for hours, unable to handle the rage or betrayal his family had made him feel. Hidden, he watched Alice from a distance after she first tried on the dress; practicing her gun draw with Polly in the back street whilst the other Peaky boys rushed around preparing for potential bloodshed that night. The dress was absolutely beautiful on her and he struggled to watch, stepping away after a moment whilst painful thoughts started to ravage his brain again. There was no way he would ever forgive Tommy for asking this of her, and if she got truly hurt there was no way he'd ever forgive his family for allowing it.
Now he sat in tense silence, waiting for his signal to burst into the cellar and begin the raid, desperately praying that Alice would be okay.
Meanwhile, the woman was surprised by how pleasant the Turks had been to her, although she now suspected that things would change as the varnished door to the huge suite opened.
"Ah, Ms Buckley. You look incredible." Alice cringed at the name but nodded graciously to the man in front of her; his facial hair meticulously groomed and his suit black. "Do you mind if I call you that? Or are you a Shelby now?"
His tone was mocking and as Alice studied him, she realised he was one who'd been at the campsite that day - her face almost going red from anger and embarrassment.
"I'm my own woman now, you can just call me Alice." She answered with a sultry tone, eyeing his body in a way to suggest she didn't care if he eyed hers - even though she really just wanted to punch the man.
"And your name is?"
He chuckled slightly, staring her down as he closed the door behind her with a loud bang.
"My name is Maximus, Alice." He winked and patted her waist before leaning in to her ear. She expected an uncomfortable kiss to her neck, not the menacing tone that then quietly fell from his lips. "And I don't trust you one little bit.. I don't know how you escaped your husband, but I can have you sent back to him with the click my fingers, long before any of those Peaky brothers could find you. Don't forget that - whore." He almost spat that last word before suddenly standing straight again with a smile. "Now let's go see the boss, shall we?"
Alice didn't have time to even fully process his shocking words as another door was opened and they stepped deeper into the suite. She immediately spotted the red curtained window before she even looked at Ergin or his associate; both larger men, clad in expensive suits and golden jewellery. They had glasses of wine on the table in front of them, along with a pile of cards and an ashtray full of fat cigar butts. There was an empty chair opposite them and Maximus gestured for Alice to sit on it before leaving the room, leaving the three in silence for a moment.
Now she could ponder on the sinister man's words. She tried not to believe him, to keep her faith in the brothers, but a seed of doubt had now been planted and she was starting to accept that she would in fact have to sleep with these men if she wanted to stay alive - or atleast not get sent back to Jones. She'd rather die than have that happen.
Her panicked thoughts almost started to spiral until Ergin suddenly announced something to his friend in Turkish, instantly making her alert again. He cheered as he placed down a card - obviously winning whatever game they were playing - and then finally acknowledged the nervous woman in front of him.
"Sorry, I had to think about that move." He chuckled before meeting her eyes, his demeanour instantly softening. "Wow, look at this kadin, Aylin! Even more beautiful up close."
His friend, who Alice assumed to be named Aylin, laughed and nodded as he too studied the woman - staring as if she were an object and not a person.
"What you doing with a dog like John Shelby huh? You really just a whore like his brother says? I don't believe it." Ergin scoffed, once again sparking an anxious flame in Alice's belly that she had to quickly stamp out. "And what is this Maximus says about you being some kind of gypsy whore also? You are far too beautiful. I don't believe."
Alice was shocked by the seeming interest that Ergin had in her, taking a moment to collect herself before cooly replying "I thought I was here to dance with you, not be interrogated."
That seemed to surprise the men as they laughed again and exchanged few words in Turkish before Ergin leant forward and locked eyes with Alice again.
"I think you are an interesting woman.. The scars are something I like." Alice immediately went to pull down her sleeves as she realised they'd ridden up but he stopped her, his big hands enveloping hers with ease. "No no, don't cover, I said I like."
She didn't know how to respond to that. No one had ever liked her scars. A discussion about them wasn't what she had mentally prepared herself for. Instead, she was now thinking about how she would open the red curtain to send the signal without it seeming suspicious.
"It shows-" Ergin lit a cigar and placed it to his lips, drawing her attention again "-that you are not scared of pain. At least not pain inflicted by yourself. Am I right in this?"
Alice nodded slowly, unsure of where things could go from here. Her heart was racing and her handbag felt like a tonne weight placed gently on her thigh as she thought about the gun hidden inside.
"I want you to take off the dress and cut yourself right now then." His voice had a sudden firmness to it that paralleled to the friendly tone he'd shown a second prior.
With the four eager eyes on her, Alice knew she had no choice but to undress and started to slowly pull down her dress - the undergarments also being purchased in town by Polly that day. It was all white, a corset and frilly bra with matching garters and panties. Alice felt exposed but less exposed than she should've - so used to this objectifying treatment that it almost felt normal.
She took the small knife from Ergin's large, leathery hand and moved it to her thigh, taking a deep breath before making a quick red line. Even in such forced circumstances the pain felt a relief to her, visibly so as the two men let out another laugh and Ergin quickly snatched the knife back from her.
"Wow. You really like that huh? I didn't actually expect you to do it. Maybe you are a whore. Or maybe you are just crazy." He chuckled, earning an awkward forced chuckle back from Alice before his tone went serious again and he stood up. "Now dance with the knife. I want you to cut yourself with it as you dance. I expect all clothes to be gone by time the song is finished."
Alice's stomach dropped once she heard the record playing and felt the knife being placed in her hand again. Ergin was stood against the wall next to the phonograph - right by the window - whilst his friend remained leant into his cushioned seat, taking casual sips from his wine. Her eyes scanned the room desperately, looking for some kind of help, until she saw the mini bar in the corner.
"Do you not want me to make you a drink first? I thought I was meant to do that. I'm a barmaid you know." She fluttered her eyelashes and giggled, trying to act as if she was perfectly comfortable - a real whore like Tommy had obviously tried to sell her as.
"You can make any drink you want but know that you'll be testing it before either of us drink it. We're not stupid, Alice. Know this before you try anything told to you by Thomas Shelby."
"Fuck!" She started to mentally scream at herself as she realised nothing would go as smoothly as she'd hoped. She looked at the clock on the wall and saw it had only been seven minutes, she would have to think of a plan, fast.
As she sauntered over to the corner, Ergin called for Maximus to enter the room and she knew she'd have to pour the powder into the cups before the vulture like man was watching over her shoulder. So quickly, she pulled the vial from her bra and poured the white substance into each of the three glasses before covering it with whiskey - just as his thin frame reached her side.
She played it cool, pouring mixer into each of the drinks and stirring it with an ornate, metal spoon before she felt a hand gripping her thigh, instantly making her stop.
"You see? She is not a whore. Even one touch and she freezes up." Maximus scoffed. "I bet these drinks are poison too, go on, try one little lamb. Let's see."
Luckily, the drinks weren't too poison, just a tranquilliser, and Alice knew that if she just drank considerably less than them she would stand a better chance at staying awake than the men did. At least the older ones. They already seemed pretty drunk, after all.
"Fine, I'll show you. Maximus." She hissed his name and took a quick gulp from one of the glasses, earning an amused holler from the other two men.
"And the other one too-"
"Ah that is quite enough, my boy. A frightened whore does not perform as well as a comfortable whore. You will see this in a moment." Ergin cut him off with obvious authority, although there was enough care in his tone to imply a close bond between the two - perhaps uncle and nephew or father and son.
Either way, the younger man shut up immediately and stepped back, watching intently as Alice handed the drinks to the men. She now knew it was time to perform and stepped over to the phonograph before Ergin would stand up again to do so, earning a thankful laugh from his fat face as he and his friend lazily gawked at her.
As she gently placed the needle onto the record, she was careful to lean against the window and shift the curtain open - even it was only slightly - knowing that would be enough to let the boys below know the bosses were distracted.
That short feeling of relief was quickly replaced by the anxiety she'd been pushing down as the music started to play and she knew she couldn't postpone the dance any longer. Almost all forms of self harm had always been extremely appealing to Alice until this moment, awkwardly trying to cut her skin whilst remaining sexy and moving on beat. The men didn't care though, excited as she cut off her garters, corset and bra leaving only panties by time the song finished. Her mind had been miles away, not really seeing anything in the room as she danced, so when the trance ended with the music, she was relieved to notice their two cups empty although Maximus' remained full.
"Very nice, but remember what I said? All clothes off-" just as Ergin's instruction struck another deep pang of fear into Alice's chest, a loud bang followed by some shouts came from downstairs and all attention was averted.
"What the fuck was that? Max you go look!" Ergin demanded and the younger man immediately complied, shooting Alice a sharp glare before racing out of the room. From that point on everything moved fast. Too fast for her to properly comprehend.
All of a sudden, Alice felt a heavy force against her face and went flying to the floor, taking a second to realise that Ergin had hit her and was now bent down beside her. The woman could already feel the small amount of tranquilliser making her drowsy and so she knew that he would pass out any minute now - he had to - she just had to hold him off until one of the blinders arrived.
"What have you done, whore? What did you put in Aylin's drink? And what was that bang? You and the blinders have come up with some plan! What is it?" He grabbed her by her hair and pulled her face so that it was inches from his. Out the corner of her eye she could see that his friend had passed out so she just prayed that he would too - but he didn't.
"I said what have you done?" He repeated himself louder, spit flying from his mouth onto her face before he struck her again, once again sending her body to the floor.
She groaned in pain this time and struggled to move away as Ergin towered over her. There was blood all over her body already from the cuts she'd made, now some leaked from her mouth as her lip started to swell and she knew her face would be bruised the next day.
"You really think I drink a drink made by a Shelby whore?" He scoffed before kicking her hard in the ribs, earning another painful groan. "I may be fat and old. But I am not stupid."
From her position on the floor, Alice tried to take the knife off the table but Ergin quickly grabbed her hair again and dragged her around the room, to the chair she'd originally sat on. Memories of Jones flashed agonisingly through her brain every millisecond and she started to really hate Tommy for putting her up to this - yet hate herself more for agreeing to do it. John was right; she did love putting herself in danger. That was until the consequences of the danger hit her like they were right now.
"If he dies, I promise you will regret it very much." As Ergin spoke he placed bullets into a silver pistol, shaking and dropping some as he did.
Although his thick accent was still intimidating and booming, Alice realised he wasn't as powerful as he seemed and was in fact scared or at least nervous.
She looked around desperately for something to defend herself with, slowly regaining her hope; until she saw her handbag and felt a powerful surge of adrenaline. Just as he finished loading the weapon, Alice reached for the bag and pulled it to the ground with her, bloody hands desperately fumbling for the gun inside as she heard the violence downstairs.
"Hopefully that's the Blinders I can hear and not the Turks." Her thought was cut off by Ergin grabbing her again, this time by her neck, and pinning her against a wall. He squeezed tight and stared into her eyes as he did, watching the hope drain from them as the air did from her lungs.
She was almost convinced that these would be her final moments, staring into an ugly face - just as she had been with Jones so many times. Gradually, her body was going limp in his hand, her limbs feeling heavy as she thrashed against him, scratching and spitting like a wild animal.
"You planned ahead for this huh! What is the antidote for this poison? Tell me now!" He shouted, loosening his grip with wide eyes and letting her catch her breath for a second.
Her head was pounding and dizzy but it still worked fast.
"It's, it's in my dress. Sewn in. A small vile." She choked out, the noises downstairs getting louder and her body getting heavier.
As soon as the words left her mouth he dropped her and rushed to the crumpled white velvet by the phonograph, looking worriedly to Aylin before starting to desperately rip at the material.
"You stay there whore or I will kill every single member of the Shelby family, you understand?" He barked with his back facing her, but soon froze as he heard a gun cock and felt the metal pressed to the back of his head.
In that half minute, Alice had managed to get herself up, grab her gun and quietly slink over, leaving a trail of blood behind her on the already red carpet. There were few thoughts as she placed the gun to his head, only one real loud one that screamed "Fuck you!" He didn't deserve a chance to explain himself, he was a pig and now he was going to die.
"There's no antidote. It's not poison, it's a tranquilliser. Your friend would've been fine, you stupid fucking-"
"Please!" He cut her off with a loud beg but before he could let out another word she pulled the trigger - a loud bang echoing through the room.
It didn't move in slow motion like Alice thought it would, instead it was quick and sudden; skull fragments flying and a heavy thud. She'd never taken a life before and it was easier than expected.
Meanwhile downstairs, John heard the gunshot and even amongst the fighting in the lobby, he knew that it came from the suite. His blood immediately ran cold. The Blinders were winning and the Turks were massively outnumbered, but he felt no sense of victory until he knew it was Alice who fired that shot. He looked around the reception desperately, bloodshed all around him, until he spotted a waiter cowering in the corner - obviously not paid enough to be dealing with this.
Eyes wide, he grabbed the man's collar and shouted "Ergin's suite! Now!" to which the man immediately complied, taking him to the hidden staircase that lead directly to the exclusive room.
However, John hadn't been the only one to hear the gunshot. Maximus was already halfway up those stairs when he heard it, running as he reloaded his own weapon and prayed to God that his uncle was alive.
Upon opening the door, he was enraged to see Ergin dead and Alice stood with her gun to Aylin's head, about to shoot the passed out man until he suddenly tackled her, throwing her to the ground and pinning her down with bared teeth - foaming like a rabid dog.
"You fucking bitch!" He shouted, a guttural, grief filled scream as he started to violently shake her shoulders, banging her head against the floor. She was struggling to stay awake at this point and could feel herself slipping into darkness between each painful bump to the head. Still, she tried to fight back against him, punching, screaming and spitting. It was no use though.
He was in a trance like state, mad with grief, rage and shock, turning him into a complete animal with enough strength to break the girl's neck if he wanted despite his skinny frame.
"You evil fucking slut." He hissed, holding both her hands above her head with just one of his whilst the other groped her chest with such force that she screamed in pain. "You think you had it bad with the gypsy scum? Just you wait little girl." He dug in his nails so hard it drew blood, running them down her chest and digging into the fresh cuts made during her dance. There was definitely at least one broken rib he pressed into too, the pain becoming so intense that Alice could barely breathe as she cried out for help.
His hand finally reached her underwear, ripping them off in one swift motion despite her attempts at kicking him away. The feeling of his sharp nails drawing so close to her privates filled Alice with pure terror. A horrific scream left her lungs, followed by a loud sob.
But then suddenly he withdrew and his body was no longer on top of hers - giving her an immense sense of relief. That was until she heard John's voice calling her name and realised the psycho was going after him now.
"He's got a gun, John!" She desperately cried from the floor, her vision fading and not even certain her voice was loud enough for him to hear. She couldn't lift her head or keep her eyes open anymore, all she could do was listen as bullets started flying, empty shells flicking onto her naked body but from who she couldn't tell.
The room fell silent and there was a thud, sounding similar to the one Ergen made when he'd dropped dead earlier - instantly putting Alice's heart in her throat as she prayed it wasn't John's body she heard.
Apart from her own breathing and her heart thudding, she could hear nothing.
"Alice?" His thick Birmingham accent broke the silence and the woman instantly let out a relieved sob, alerting him to her position in the room and he immediately bolted over.
"Fuck." He muttered upon seeing her, more blood than skin visible, and quickly bent down to her side, ripping off his jacket to wrap around her. "Where'd they get you?"
His hands desperately searched her body for a bullet wound, shaking as he struggled to distinguish each injury from the next.
"Alice, where'd they get you?" He repeated, his voice cracking as his worst worries had seemingly come true.
"I-I'm not shot, John." She spluttered, almost laughing with relief. "They made me try the drink. I'll be fine."
Those were the final words she had the strength to say before passing out, much to John's incredible panic as he tried to shake her awake. It was after a few seconds of panic that he decided to believe those words - or at least try to - and he grabbed a blanket to wrap the woman in before rushing down the stairs with her in his arms, holding her tightly against his chest.
It only took a minute for him to get outside and into the closest getaway car, throwing himself into the passenger seat and shouting "Fucking drive!" to Isaiah.
"But Tommy told me to-"
John swiftly pressed his gun to the younger man's head, his pupils maniacally thin and sweat dropping profusely from his forehead.
"I don't give a fucking shit about Tommy! Fucking drive!"
This time the boy immediately complied, stepping on the gas and speeding away as the remaining blinders started the fire that would eventually burn the entire Turkish hotel to the ground - only leaving ashes behind.
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warnersister · 4 months
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“Ultimatum” Luca Changretta x Reader
Luca Changretta x reader, Thomas Shelby x sister!reader
Tommy has a choice. Your life or many.
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“So, what will it be… hmm, Shelby?” Changretta asked, arm wrapped tightly but not constricting around your neck as your brother refused to meet your eyes. You were swaying slightly as a large gust of wind blow you, its cruel breath frosty and sharp.
You were stood atop a building, a tall building. It’s lankiness had never intimidated you nor even crossed your mind until that moment but now you had decided that heights weren’t for you. You were stood with several members of the Mafia, reason being your brother’s stupid Vendetta. They’d taken you in the dead of night - tied you loosely with rough ropes and blindfolded you with Luca Changretta’s own tie.
They’d woken you at dawn and Luca spoon fed you a meal, explain where you were and why and what could happen that day. And that he wouldn’t kill you but your brother could.
You were situated parallel to your brother, who was stood watching the situation unravel before him - the Italians threatening to drop you off the side of his very own building as an ultimatum for this Vendetta. The Birmingham council members were stood looking up at the bottom, pistols pointed to each of the politicians temples.
“Your sister or your precious council?” Time seemed to stop, Luca leant you back slightly so your tiptoes were barely on the ledge, desperately clawing at his forearm to stay on the side of the living. ‘Please’ you mouthed to your brother, eyes teary and vision blurry. His expression turned from remorseful back to that cold; expressionless, merciless Thomas Shelby you were so familiar with.
“I’m sorry yn” he said, but you knew he wasn’t. He spun on a pivot and left you for dead. All to protect his reputation as a politician. You screamed out, awaiting your demise and to be dropped to a sudden and messy death.
But suddenly you were pulled back from the edge and onto the safety of the rooftop, Luca spinning you into his chest and shaking his head, studying your terrified face. “I would’ve saved you.” He whispered.
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Peaky Blinders Masterlist
NOTE: If you have any fic suggestions feel free to write me! Updated: 14.01.2024 🔞 = mature ✔ = completed Other masterlists: mother masterlist
Shelby!Reader
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SERIES
Nothing yet...
IMAGINES/ONE-SHOTS/DRABBLES
Are you laughing at my brother? by @zkvry
↳ “Y/N is just a year younger than John Shelby, though her immense instinct to protect her older brothers against their enemies reveals that the Shelby name is not to be trifled with.”
Pressure by @randomoutsiders
↳ “You’re the youngest Shelby, and you’re about seventeen. When your older brother Thomas decides to host the ballet, Oswald Mosley is making you more uncomfortable than you’d like to admit. What do the Shelby brothers do with this?”
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Thomas Shelby
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SERIES
UPDATED:
Time After Time by @all-mirth-no-matter
↳ “You’ve been told by your mother since the moment you were born that you had the gift of prophecy. Convenient, since you managed to mysteriously transport back into time by one hundred years. What happens when you become wrapped up in the Shelby’s family business after the brothers return from the war? Will you ever get back to your own time or figure out how you got to Small Heath in 1918?”
↳ Chapters: 14/?
IMAGINES/ONE-SHOTS/DRABBLES
NEW ADDITION:
A Shelby Woman by @mrkdvidal1989
↳ “Once they go out together in town someone pulls her to the side and starts getting aggressive with her (maybe having issues with Tommy and taking it out on her). And then Tommy comes to the rescue and protects her as soon as the person gets handsy with her."
🔞 Attention by @fandom-puff
↳ “You’ve been begging for attention all day and Tommy finally gives it to you with facesitting and overstimulation"
🔞 Drunk Confession by @iluvzaddies
↳ “Thomas Shelby walks into your bedroom in the middle of the night and confesses his love for you."
The woman in the painting by @little-diable
↳ “The reader works as Tommy's maid, she knows all about Arrow House, even about those souls that are no longer alive but still around."
🔞 Unbreakable by @lovelybucky1
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The Ring by @anotherblinder
↳ “(Y/n) Shelby loses her ring and Thomas helps find it”
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John Shelby
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Nothing yet...
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lavender-romancer · 2 years
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Deceiver
Part Two Tommy Shelby x Reader CW: slow burn, swearing
You've been involved with the Peaky Blinders business for a few years now, undiscovered as a woman posing as a man. Now the Shelby boys have grown suspicious of you and want you found out.
an: set in season one
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”*°•.˜”*°•. ˜”*°•. ˜”*°••°*”˜.•°*”˜.•°*”˜.•°*”˜
previous part
No one else knew apart from the Shelby family, Polly looked at you with a new found respect and Ada found it extremely funny whilst understanding your motives. Most of the relationships between you and the family didn't change that much aside from a few jokes towards your situation that Tommy seemed to enjoy more than he should.
You'd started wearing blouses and leaving your chest free without binding at home, still not willing to live in society as your God given name. You couldn't get used to wearing dresses or skirts, it didn't feel right but as your hair started to grow out on the sides and on top, you started considering the possibility that you could be comfortable with it. It was on one of these nights that you were wearing a blouse that there was a knock at your front door. The rain had been falling since the heavens opened a few minutes ago and hadn't let up the whole time you sat in your front room. You placed a blazer on to cover up your chest in case it was someone other than the Shelby's but when you opened it you were met with Tommy, rain attacking his figure like a stranger.
"Tommy? What are you doing out here? Come in, come in." You stood aside and let him in, taking off your blazer and placing it on the coat rack.
Tommy rubbed his feet on the mat that was just inside your doorway and took off his hat and coat before you shut the door behind him. He looked at you with a stern expression, not anger towards you but worry seemed to plague his mind. You sat on your sofa and Tommy soon joined you, pulling out two cigarettes and handing you one before letting out a sigh he had been holding in.
"What's happened, Tom?" You asked as you struck a match and lit both Tommy and your cigarettes.
"Campbell talked to Polly this evening," he replied and your eyes widened. "He wants a meeting with me because he's realised Arthur knows nothing about what I do know."
"And what is it that you know, Thomas?" You looked at him quizzically, Tommy leant back on the sofa and looked you up and down, his eyes lingering on your chest that he still wasn't used to seeing.
"About the guns that have gone missing," Tommy studied your expression as your mouth slightly opened and you nodded.
"So that means you have them, Campbell wouldn't go through all that with Arthur if he just believed you had information." You took a drag and Tommy smiled back.
"Ever the perceptive, Y/n." Tommy said and you looked into his eyes, still not used to him saying your name.
"What have you got yourself into, Thomas?" You shook your head and sighed "You're going to get yourself killed before we've even started this bloody business you want so badly."
"We? Hmm," Tommy looked amused and you rolled your eyes.
"Before you've even started this business, don't get too excited Shelby. You're not getting me that easily." You smiled to yourself but Tommy saw and a feeling began to hit his chest. He didn't know how he felt for you but it wasn't the same as before.
"Well regardless it's your business too now," he paused. "That's why I'm telling you, Campbell is trying to stamp us out, he's come here to find the guns and doesn't know who's done it so far. My assumption is he thinks the Communists have them."
"Have you talked to Freddie Thorne about it?" You asked.
"Yeah that probably won't be happening anytime soon, our contempt for each other won't be bridged that way." Tommy took a drag and leant back on the sofa, looking up at the ceiling.
"Oh for god sake, Tommy," you sighed and he looked at you with a raised eyebrow. "What even happened between you to warrant this when working together against Campbell will work?"
"Well, aren't you full of bright ideas and questions today?" He smirked and you rolled your eyes.
"If you'd listen to some of them you wouldn't be in so much shit would you?" You leant back on the sofa and took a drag.
"You might be right, but I'm in a position of more power at the moment so I can't give it up now," he paused. "But you're helpful with tactical things… sometimes " be joked and you narrowed your eyes in his direction.
"And you're a little bitch, Shelby. Just like you're always thinking you know better." You giggled and Tommy sat up.
"You're something else, y/n." Tommy looked at you with eyes you couldn't decipher, as you sat up his gaze travelled from your neck to your lips in a slow glance. It made your stomach flip and you parted your lips slightly, what the hell was going on?
Later that week you were in the Garrison in the morning when you heard a massive commotion outside. You opened the door of the Garrison, cigarette hanging from your mouth and it dropped to the floor as your mouth gaped at what was before you. Raids, tens of them down the street with police horses and policemen everywhere and in the middle of it all was Fucking Campbell. The man that made your blood boil with anger, you wanted nothing more than to shoot that fucker in the back of the head as he sat astride that horse but you knew you couldn't. Police were beating people and dragging things out of houses to root through and take stuff out.
Campbell caught sight of you at the open door of the Garrison and he smiled like the devil. He rode towards you and you rooted your feet in the ground as he approached.
"Where's your entourage?" He asked with a knowing look.
"It's not mine to speak on," you replied, lighting another cigarette.
"At the fair I hear, not here to see what we accomplish with order." He looked down at you like scum and you just put your shoulders back and looked at him with hatred.
"Is that what you call order? Turning people out of their homes and raiding innocent workers as you parade around on your horse?" You blew smoke in his direction.
"I call this good riddance," he paused. "Now you have a good day." He smirked.
When the boys returned you and Polly told them what had happened and you ran your hand through your hair as they boys sat down and heard the news.
"It was fucking awful." You commented.
"They all think it was your idea," Polly looked at Arthur "that Arthur organised it when he was taken by the police."
"I didn't fucking," Arthur paused "Why the fuck would I agree to that?"
"It doesn't seem to matter, everyone out there is against you and you need to fucking prove you didn't do it." You took a drink from your glass of whiskey.
"She's right, you need to prove you're still the cocks of the walk," Polly nodded towards you.
"Alright, John boy, Eddie-fuck-y/n let's go." Arthur slapped his thighs and stood up. Tommy looked into your eyes as you stood up, you didn't change your expression but kept his gaze till you walked past him.
There was a tension between the two of you that was so obvious but you didn't know what the tension was. You couldn't even begin to consider the fact that you might have feelings beyond friendship toward him because you'd never really experienced it. Living your life through a lie had meant you hadn't dated, not properly anyways and you hadn't made connections that developed your ability to understand this 'tension'. You didn't know what Tommy wanted from you, before when he'd come to your flat you'd never sit near each other, you'd talk about business and that was it. There were no longing looks or near body contact before but now…something had changed between you.
The following week you were walking back from the shops with a few bags of food and a cigarette in your mouth, when you got to your doorstep Thomas was already there. You looked at him with a quizzical look and he smiled at you, it was an unexpected sign of happiness and he held out his hands to hold the bags as you unlocked your door.
"What brings you here, Thomas?" You asked as you both walked into the kitchen after you locked the door.
"Came to see you, is all." His expression was emotionless as you unloaded your bags.
"I'm just going to pop upstairs, you can go through to the sitting room," you smiled his way and placed your cap on the dining table.
Walking upstairs you went into your room and took off your shirt, you stood Infront of the mirror and began to unbind the bandages from your chest. Your breasts hurt on most days but today was the worst. You massaged them as you approached your bed and crouched down to pull out a box. They contained your blouses and bras you wanted to keep secret as your wardrobe was full of longline trousers and men's shirts. You chose a plain lace bra and a blouse with red and blue flowers embroidered on the collar with a v neckline. You were growing to like more feminine clothes and it almost made you happy sometimes even though you still didn't necessarily feel comfortable but, you were growing in favour of them.
"Haven't seen that one before," Tommy commented as you walked down the stairs and you smiled to yourself heading toward the kitchen "I've put the rest of it away." He called and you blushed almost ridiculously because why should it make you blush that he did you a favour.
"Want tea?" You asked and he nodded.
"I've put the kettle on the stove already," he added and you looked down with a smile.
Thomas noticed your smile and he took great pleasure in it. He hadn't decided when the transition between thinking you were handsome and pretty occurred but it seemed to be a relatively easy change. Thomas wasn't exactly not attracted to men but he was more attracted to you when you wore bras and more feminine shirts. The mix between masculine and feminine clothing made something inside him get excited and he wasn't quite sure what that meant, just that he wanted to spend more time with you as you got more comfortable. He enjoyed being around you and having this little secret that seemed to mean you trusted him more and in turn he trusted you immensely because he knew your greatest secret. Tommy could tell you had some form of affection toward him and he felt guilty for using those affections to get the two of you closer.
"I remembered the sugar and no milk, even though that's absolutely insane," you commented as you brought in his mug and set it on a coaster Infront of him on the coffee table.
"I'd prefer to have the actual taste of tea and not some milky concoction that tastes more like cow piss than tea." Tommy raised an eyebrow as he looked up at you and you narrowed your eyes at him with a smirk. You sat in the same places as you had the last time he visited with a respectful distance between the two of you.
"Cow piss, Thomas?" You sniggered and he rolled his eyes.
"Oh shut it, you know what I mean." He smiled.
"Oh do I?" You asked in a mocking tone.
"Yes you do know, cow piss, milk, it's the same connotation of milk." Tommy said trying to get himself out of the hole he'd dug for himself.
"You're ridiculous sometimes, Mr Shelby." You giggled.
"No more ridiculous than you, Y/n." Thomas returned your laugh and you let your head fall to the side.
"So what's going on, Thomas?" You asked, tea in hand as you faced him and leant your shoulder on the back of the sofa.
"As I said, I wanted to see you." Tommy smiled to himself and didn't notice how your cheeks went slightly pink.
"Almighty Mr. Peaky Blinders here all for me? I must be blessed." You teased and he rolled his eyes.
"Alright Miss. Secret Keeper, tell me why you feel so comfortable around me to change your clothes, eh?" He asked and you shrugged.
"I dunno, you're just…I feel comfortable around you," you looked at him over your mug and he nodded.
"I feel comfortable around you as well." Thomas looked into your eyes and swore for a moment that he would start leaning in but you giggled and it brought him out of a trance.
"Thomas Shelby feeling comfortable around me is certainly not what I thought you were going to say to me," you grinned and Thomas also looked amused as well.
"Am I so distant that it's inconceivable?" Tommy asked and you nodded.
"Absolutely and completely," you took a sip "You're Mr. Mysterious and you know that you are."
"I wouldn't say I know it, it comes with the territory so I'd argue you're pretty on par with my mysteriousness." Tommy picked up his mug and took a sip before placing it back down on the coaster.
"Well, I'd agree I have one big secret but everything else is mostly true, you're a whole entity of secrets." You placed your cup down on the other coaster and leant your arm on the back of the sofa.
"I think you'd agree it's safer and more interesting to have some secrets in your life rather than being an open book," Tommy looked up and down your body.
"I do enjoy that basically everyone has no idea who I am, it's like playing a character on stage." You smiled looking down at the sofa and Tommy snorted.
"You absolutely love the attention don't you, Darling." Tommy chuckled and the pet name caught your attention more than it should have as he probably called all women by names like this.
"I can't say I hate it. But I did genuinely think you might kill me after finding out." You raised your eyebrow at him.
"No need to, if you ever did do something awful I have the best bargaining power for blackmail anyways considering I know your darkest secret and that makes it even less likely that you would betray us," Tommy put his arm on the back of the sofa and your fingers were mere centimetres apart.
You dug your nails into the fabric as he shuffled the tiniest bit closer and his finger touched your knuckle. Tommy looked into your eyes and your lips parted instinctively, Thomas never thought you'd looked so beautiful with your eyes looking into his with curiousity. You weren't scared of him, even when he was about to kill you, you weren't scared of him, Thomas found that it made you so fucking irresistible to him. He wanted to dive over to you and take you in his arms but this soft touch has elicited more feeling within him than any quick fuck ever had. What was it about touching you that sent him so insanely mad with lust?
”*°•.˜”*°•. ˜”*°•. ˜”*°••°*”˜.•°*”˜.•°*”˜.•°*”˜
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