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#thomas shelby x sister reader
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Clementina pt1
A/N: hello! This is my first fic and hopefully you enjoy it. It was originally just a one shot fanfic but I didn’t realise how long it was going to be so I’m thinking it will be at least two parts but if you want it be a full series of how the Shelby’s adjust to clementina then just let me know! And if you already gathered, this is based after the scene in season 5 ep3 when Tommy and Polly visit the nuns at st Hilda’s. Hope you enjoy!. I DO NOT GIVE PERMISSION FOR YOU TO REPOST THIS ON OTHER WEBSITES AND TRANSLATION OF THIS FIC.
Summery: the Shelby family are in for a shock when they find out they have a sister hiding in plain sight. pt2: pt3: pt4
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Word count: 1,567
The early sunrise fills the Shelby manor, the home of Thomas Shelby and his son is strangely quiet considering it is nearing six am on a Saturday. Commonly, the maids would have Charlie up and having his breakfast by now. however, the only noise filling the silence was the ticking of the small clock on the wall behind Tommy's desk in his office. Inside the office, sat Tommy and his aunt, Polly. accompanying the pair were five piles of old folders sitting on Tommy's desk and on the floor beside Polly's discarded handbag, which she placed there no less than seven hours ago. these folders currently hold the information of the young girls who resided in St Hilda's orphanage.
Two days prior, the aunt and nephew visited the nun-owned orphanage after Tommy had received a concerning report, from a young girl who recently left the care of St Hilda's after turning 18, about abuse that was occurring within the walls of the orphanage. after the rushed meeting, Tommy stopped the funding he was providing and Polly requested the folders of every girl in their care so they could place them into new orphanages ran by the Grace Shelby foundation. Tommy and Polly didn't expect was the folders arriving two hours before midnight and there to be nearly three hundred folders. they knew the orphanage was overrun but not that much. For the past seven hours, the pair had been reading and placing the folders into different piles for the different orphanages that they were going to place the girls in. Most of them were in Birmingham but the occasional one was in London or Manchester.
They were getting close to finishing, having only a handful left to read. this allowed Tommy to have another smoke break. he stood by the double-glazed windows, staring out to the fields watching as his horses walked around slowly and ate freshly cut grass. the room was still quiet, except for the reoccurring sound of Tommy blowing out smoke and inhaling every few seconds. However, the sound of Polly gasping under her breath catches Tom's attention, making him turn around, “Thomas” the middle-aged woman whispered, “You need to see this” she states, her voice full of shock.
Tommy frowns as he walks back towards his desk, “ what is it, ey?” he questions curiously, the newly light cigarette hangs from between his lips.
“Just read it Thomas” she sighs, Polly begins to bite her nails. a habit she does when she is stressed. Tommy opens the folder and begins to read the information, which was written in a hurry because the handwriting was messier than the others.
Tommy was confused at Polly's reaction, to him this was just another folder detailing information about an unwanted little girl placed into the orphanage five years ago. that was until he read the section about her parent....he slams the folder down on his desk and puts his cigarette out into his ashtray, he rubs his hand down his face, a sign he was stressed “ fucking hell” he grumbles, staring at the folder.
“ fucking hell indeed” Polly agrees, watching her nephew across from her “It seems you have a kid sister, out there Thomas” She shakes her head in disbelief, she knew Arthur Shelby Sr was known to sleep around but she did not expect to have another Shelby stuck in this world because of him. Polly grabs the folder again and begins to re-read it.“ another fucking Shelby” Polly chuckles under her breath, Tommy was quiet as he thinks about what they should do. he knew that it wasn't a good idea to bring her into the world of crime that the family were involved in but he knew Polly wouldn't let him leave her in the care of an orphanage.
Tommy suddenly stands up, grabbing his jacket “Pol, ring around, tell everyone to be here in three hours” he demands, walking out of the office not telling Polly where he was going and he didn't give her the time to ask either because he was out of the house and into his car in the record time of three minutes.
By the time everyone was around the Shelby manor, Tommy was back from wherever he left. He walks into his office. Polly was sitting on the chair was was sitting on earlier, Ada was sitting on the leather seat by the bookshelf with Karl standing beside her. Arthur was standing by the windows with Finn beside him. They were all waiting impatiently for him
“ thank fuck for that, thought you'd never turn up” Arthur states annoyedly. His hands are in his pockets.
Ada rolls her eyes at Arthur’s language “What’s the emergency that made you wake me and Karl up at six in the morning?” She questions Tommy.
Tommy walks over to his desk, pulling out a cigarette from his pocket “Me and Pol have been sorting through the orphan girls' files” he explains, sitting down at his desk.
Finn frowns “And what’s that got to do with any of us?” No one answers him, he was allowed to come to meetings but he isn’t allowed to contribute to them
Tommy lights his cigarette and inhales then exhales smoke before he begins to talk again “There’s a girl, who might be of interest to us” he looks towards Polly.
Polly smiles slightly “Her names clementine, nine years old” she explains, looking around at the Shelby siblings.
Ada shakes her head “Why would a little girl be of interest to you Thomas” She narrows her eyes slightly, feeling suspicious of Tommy.
Tommy rolls his eyes slightly and leans back into his chair “Her mother died when she was four, she was left with her drunken father, who lasted three months before he dropped her off at St Hilda’s” he repeated what he read in the file, three hours prior.
Pol sighs “ for god's sake Thomas, just tell them” she demands irritated, she sits up straight “Her fathers name is Arthur Shelby sr” she announces. The atmosphere in the office quickly changed, you could hear a pin drop from how quiet it became. Arthur coughs and runs his hand through his hair, confused as fuck as to what was happening.
Ada stands up and walks closer to Tommy's desk “We have a sister? And she’s still in that orphanage after what you found out” she states, taking the folder from Tommy's hand as soon as he takes it out of the drawer in his desk. She shakes her head and walks back over to her seat.
Tommy pours himself a glass of whiskey “Me, Arthur and Polly are going back to the orphanage to get her” he explains.
Arthur frowns “We are? Linda wants me back for dinner” he explains, shifting from his left foot to his right foot, his body language showing he was nervous since he knew what his family thought of Linda.
Polly grumbles “ I’m sure she can wait” she states, her voice filled with venom as she looks towards Arthur “We are saving a little girl from abuse” She stands up and walks over to Arthur “Not just a little girl, your sister, a Shelby”.
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wysteria-clad · 2 years
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The uncrowned Princess.
paring: Shelby Siblings x sister! reader
warning: swearing, mention of blood, gun shots, violence.
summary: A glimpse of your life as the youngest Shelby sister. This takes place during earlier seasons.
a/n: before you read this one, i wanted to say if this fic sounded familiar to you, please don't report me for copying lol i posted this on my old account @pastelxskull before deactivated it.
note : This is more like a head canon / imagine thingy. p.s John never died.
i do not own any of the gifs, credits to the amazing owners/creators. if any of gif is yours, want me to take it down, please contact me.
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● You are the youngest Shelby, one year younger than Finn.
● Don’t even get me started on how protective your brothers are over you.
● Basically, your aunt Polly and your siblings raised you.
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● Your aunt Polly was more like a mother to you and treated you like her daughter.
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● Arthur is not exactly great with words but he would get you lot of dolls for you to play with and spoil you with chocolates. And he would beat up anyone to death if he finds out anyone dared to harm you.
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● Tommy is the most protective of you. He would often hold you till you fall asleep in his arms. Mostly Arthur, but Tommy would too.
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● John is the most fun brother to hang out with. He would play with you from throwing you up in the air and catching you to hide and seek, making you giggle.
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●Ada is more like another mother figure to you due to age gap.
● You had no clue why your brothers are going when they were leaving for war, much to your dismay, you were only three years old.
● You cried first few days when you couldn’t see Arthur, Tommy and John and be with them.
● You would ask your aunt or Ada ‘Where are they?’ 'When are they coming back?’ every single day and getting a reply of 'soon, Y/n’
● They weren’t exactly the same after the war.
● You weren’t the same either. Not seeing or talking for five years will do that to you.
● At first, you were hesitant, you knew they were your brothers but they weren’t openly affectionate as before, and you spent few days clinging to Aunt Polly or clutching and standing behind behind Ada.
● But you knew their care and love for you did not change at all.
●Eventually, you got over your hesitation and fear and started to hang around your brothers more making them happy. You were the light of their life. A pure angel in their sinful lives.
● They tried to keep you away from 'Family Business’ as much as they can.
● You grew up to be a absolutely beautiful young lady, inheriting the Shelby genes.
● As you grew up, they became more protective of you, annoying you most of the times. You weren’t even allowed in the Garrison.
● When you accidentally let it slip about a boy you liked “Ah, young love” John teased you till you got red and blushy until Ada saved you from further embarrassment.
● But Tommy and Arthur did not take it well though, at all.
● Yelling at your brothers cause they always scare the guy away you have a date with.
● Secretly dating your boyfriend with your sister’s help. This is why she was your favourite sibling.
● But you got caught one time though. They were not exactly happy to find out. That's a story for another time.
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● Having a closer bond with Finn as you two grew up together, some even mistaking you for twins.
Often eliciting the statement, 'Where the one goes, the other follows' from people around you.
Despite being just a year older than you, he was very protective of you.
● No one dared to mess with you, the uncrowned princess of Birmingham.
● Being a Shelby also meant you had a lot of enemies too.
● You got kidnapped that one time and the said kidnapper pointed a gun to your head not fully aware of the consequences.
“Let her go” Tommy clenched his jaw, trying hard to keep his calm.
John held back Arthur from trying to attack the kidnapper in fear of accidentally hurting you in the act.
Your enemy pulled the last straw, he slapped your face, making a terrible mistake.
Hell broke loose.
Your brothers showed no mercy at him or his men.
Your lips quivered, your eyes pooling with salty tears. You had knowledge about your family business and you knew what your brothers are capable of, but having a gun pointed to your head, witnessing the whole scene, the blood, gunshots, terrified you.
You sprinted towards whichever brother was near you, Tommy. And ran straight into his arms gripping his shirt handful with your shaking hands.
He quickly handed your quivering form to John, who shielded your view when Tommy shot the kidnapper before him and Arthur beat him to a bloody pulp. Though it didn't help you from shaking much, you appreciated John's gesture nonetheless.
Everyone calmed you down at home, or at least tried their best.
The very next day, Arthur and John began the training, teaching you how to shoot and gave you your own gun.
Polly wasn’t pleased with the idea of you shooting anyone. But she understood why.
● Michael treating you and caring for you like his sister.
● You were a Shelby. It meant more dangers and troubles, but as long as you have your family with you, that’s all it mattered and you would be fine.
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theshelbyclan · 2 years
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Can’t Sleep
Summary: You can’t sleep, but your big brother, who never sleeps, watches over you
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A/N: As you can maybe tell, I can’t sleep right now. So, as I was lying awake, worrying about uni and covid and my baby, I decided to distract myself with some stories. And when even that didn’t help much, I decided to write this one down. Just a short one, nothing special, but I thought I’d share… Words: 773 ***
Thomas Shelby had never slept much. Even before France, he used to be up before the sun and watched as the rest of the world woke slowly. And after that great war, well, sleep just wasn’t for him anymore. He’d learned how to function without it. As he was walking the streets of Small Heath late at night, pondering his latest strategy, he looked up at the house in Watery Lane. Up on the roof, he could just make out a familiar shadow in the moonlight. So, he put out his cigarette, went inside the house, climbed the stairs, and exited the window in the same way his youngest sister had.
You looked up when you heard another stepping onto your roof. Not turning your head all the way, you couldn’t see who it was, but when he lit a cigarette, you knew it was Tommy. Who else could it have been anyway? He was the only one who’d also be up at this hour. Without a word, he laid down next to you. Side by side, you watched the few stars visible through the smoke that never quite cleared out of Small Heath and the moon that shone brightly despite it all. “You see that star?” you pointed upwards but turned to face your brother. He grunted a sort of affirmative reply. “That one’s mine,” you smiled. “Yours, eh?” It sounded like Tommy laughed at you a little. However, before you could get offended or embarrassed, he added, “Do we all get one?” You nodded, “Yes. Do you want one?” “I’d like one, yes.”
So, you pointed at another one, close to yours. The two of them were so close together, you had to squint to even make them out separately. Their light was undeniable though, and you thought that was fitting somehow.
After a few more minutes of silence, Tommy asked, “Can’t sleep?” You shrugged, “I was too busy thinking.” “What does a ten-year-old have to think about that keeps her up, eh?”
Again, you just shrugged. The truth was, you had lots to think about and at the same time, nothing at all, but that was difficult to explain. “Tommy? Do you ever sleep?” “I sleep,” he coughed shortly, “But when I sleep, I dream. And when I dream, I need to wake up.” You softened your voice as much as you could, “I know.” Because you knew. Ever since he got back from France, you knew. Tommy coughed again and then turned to study his little sister’s face. Sometimes, in a flash, it was like you were changing too fast for him. Like he could see the woman you’d become somewhere in your features, like you’d grown up overnight and no one had watched it happening. All these deep thoughts you were having, he thought, it’s too much too soon. So, he took your hand in his and asked, “What do you dream of?” “Sometimes I dream I can fly. Like, I’ll step out of that window just like I did, but instead of climbing up, I’ll fly away.” “And where will you go?” This is what you liked best about Tommy: he was genuinely interested. Nothing you could’ve said would ever prompt him to laugh at you or scoff. He’d just listen. “To my star,” you whispered, “And then beyond.” Tommy looked at you and frowned, “Do you want to fly away?” “Don’t you?” you almost giggled. It was such an innocent question, but your brother nodded in the most serious manner. And that’s when you knew he understood, because he always did. “Do you think I could do it?” “Yes,” you brother answered at once, “I think you can fly away and I think you will someday.” You looked at Tommy and studied his face, “You seem sad.”
He didn’t reply, but it hadn’t really been a question either. After a while he said, “But not tonight. Tonight, you need to sleep.” “But I can’t…” “Come here,” he held out an arm and you scooted in closer, until the two of you laid together in a sort of embrace. It was warm, tucked underneath your brother’s wing. “No more worrying about things, alright? I’m here and I’ll make sure nothing happens to you. It’s safe to sleep now, trust me,” he said. You nodded and found your eyelids getting heavy at his words already, “You’re like my star too, Tommy.” “And you mine.”
Finally, you’d fallen asleep in Thomas Shelby’s arms. And while you peacefully slept up on that roof, he stayed awake and watched over you, until the stars hid again and the sun came up.
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captaincvans · 2 years
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Title: Not a Burden
Characters: Shelby Brothers x Shelby!Sister; Alfie Solomons
Summary: Y/N Shelby is starting to feel a burden to her family, and wanted to do her part in helping the family- except she decided to work with another gangster to help her with her cause.
Warnings: A rotten dude exposing himself to a minor. Please do not continue/read if that bothers you.
Word Count: 5.8k
Author’s Note: This was way longer than I expected, but I'm glad to be able to post it finally. I hope you enjoy a longer fluffy little sister Shelby fic! Also comments/reblogs feeds a writer's soul!
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Y/N wasn’t usually an eavesdropper, but her family was so loud it didn’t really matter if she was trying to or not. She heard only pieces of what they were talking about, but it was clear on what the problem was. The Shelby family was running short on money. With their reputation, there wasn’t much that they needed to pay for, but maintaining that power requires people to be bought.
“We still need to buy Y/N’s medicine and school supplies,” Polly reminded the boys.
“She’s all better- does she still need medicine?” John asked.
“Yes,” Tommy answered shortly. He wasn’t going to let his younger sister suffer just because they hadn’t managed their money well this month.
“If you boys hadn’t put business before her as usual, she wouldn’t have gotten sick.”
Y/N felt her heart sink as she heard her name being mentioned as one of the reason they were short on the money. A few weeks ago, she caught pneumonia after walking home from school. Usually, one of the brothers would drop her off, but they were called away and she insisted that she would be fine. Tommy left a few Peaky boys around the city to keep an eye on her while having her believe that she was walking home independently. When it started raining, she thought nothing of it as she enjoyed the rain and didn’t find it as an inconvenience. That night as the boys got home, she couldn’t greet them with her usual energy as she felt ill. She skipped dinner and went to bed early, and by the next morning her fever almost overtook her. It was an awful few days, and she had to be hospitalized immediately. Tommy paid to make sure she was getting the best treatment, and as she realized, it must have costed the family a fortune. Her lips started wobbling at the thought that she was the reason her family was struggling, but she soon wiped away the tears, knowing it wouldn’t do anything. She made a promise to do her best to help the family. She started with eating less, skipping a few meals here and there to make sure the food can at least be stretched out without her eating it. Next was her school supplies, she was usually a meticulous scholar, having all her notes organized but she now made it a point to make sure she didn’t need to replace her items as quickly. Her final idea was to use some of her old clothes, and turn them into handkerchiefs to sell on the streets. She was a great seamstress for her age, and knew that this was something she would be able to do easily. With a new found resolve, she took a deep breath and got to work.
Y/N has been selling her handkerchiefs for a couple of days now, not earning as much as she wanted to, but at least it was something. She mostly sold them after school under the guise of playing, and would end up staying up to do her homework. This worked out in her favour as she can skip breakfast the next day for more sleep. She was getting quite tired, but her love for her family overpowered her desire to rest and sleep. It was a cold foggy day in Small Heath and Y/N was standing at a different street to attract new customers. She was trying to get the attention of the people walking by, but to no avail. Finally, she saw a man approach.
“Hi mister! Would you like to buy a handkerchief for a lovely lady in your life?” she asked with a huge smile. As the man got closer, her smile drop as she saw his intoxicated state and leery grin.
“Hey there little girl. It’s not safe for you to be out here all alone.”
“I-I’m not alone,” she lied. “My brothers are just at that shop.” She pointed to somewhere behind her, hoping her lie was believable enough.
“Uh huh.” The man got closer, close enough that she could smell the alcohol off him. “That’s a nice hankerchief you have there. Mind if I grab one-“ He plucked it out of her hand without hearing her answer, and stuffed it down his pants.
“Wh-What are you doing, mister?” she asked, as she saw his hand move inside his pants. He was moaning as if in pain, eyes closed. “Mister?”
“Fuck,” he cursed, shoulders dropping in relief. He took out the handkerchief, a white sticky substance staining the once floral pattern. With an evil grin, he grabbed the back of Y/N’s head, trying to stuff the handkerchief in her mouth. She squirmed against his grip.
“No! What are you doing?!” She was pushing his arm away but he was much stronger. He was able to smear the cloth against her cheek before he was pulled off her by another stranger.
“Now that’s not a very nice thing to do,” the man started. “Taking advantage of little girls.” He nodded towards someone behind him, and placed a comforting hand on the girl’s shoulder. “Are you okay, dove?”
She shook her head, unsure of what just happened.
He took another one of her handkerchief peaking out of her bag, and poured what smells like alcohol from the flask in his pocket. He gently rubbed the white substance off her face, making sure there were no traces left behind. “Make sure you clean your little face real good when you get home, okay dove?”
She ignored his suggestion, staring up at his somewhat familiar face. “Who are you?”
“Name’s Alfie Solomons. We’ve met before but you were just a little babe- about yeah high.” He motioned to a little lower than his knee. “You’re Y/N Shelby. Your brothers and I are business partners.”
At the mention of her brothers she lit up, trusting the man immediately.
“Now what is the likes of yourself doing on the streets? Don’t tell me that stubborn brother of yours cut you off from their money.”
She shook her head vehemently. “Tommy would never do that!” She stared at her shuffling feet, ashamed. “I made my family spend too much money so I want to pay them back. They’re not financially in a good spot.”
Alfie raised an eyebrow, unsure that the little Shelby knows what she just did by telling him that. Any of the Shelby’s enemy would yell in glee by that information, knowing that the mob family was vulnerable to attacks because of their lack of funding. Luckily, Alfie was quite fond of the Shelby family, and his new favourite was the one standing in front of him. His cold heart warmed at the thought that she was so worried for her family that she would go all the way to selling her stuff on the street as if there wasn’t a mark on her back because of her last name. “Well then today is your lucky day. I was looking for a little assistant to help me with things as I settle into me temporary home here.”
“Really? What kinda things?” she asked, eyes wide with hope.
The man was surprised at her eagerness, realizing that her siblings must’ve done a great job at protecting her from their world as she was still able to put her faith in people like that. “Just small things- picking up my groceries from the market, and maybe a prescription here and there from the pharmacy for me eye. I can pay you,” he paused, playing with his beard for the extra suspense. “Ten shillings a week.”
“Wow! That’s so much!” She agreed happily to his terms.
“Every Monday I will give you a list of what I need for the week, and I will pay you every week when you make your deliveries.”
“Thank you thank you!”
“Though before I hire you, you need to be better at indiscretion.”
“What does that mean?”
“You can’t go around telling people that your brothers don’t have money- your brother’s got enemies that could take him down with that information.”
Her eyes widened as she realized the severity of what she had done. “I’m so stupid!” she cried, hitting her head with her balled up fists.
“Hey, hey, there's no need for that now.” Alfie has seen grown men with less guilt for putting their family in danger with the information they divulged. “Lucky for you- you just told lil' old me, and I’m harmless.”
Y/N looked up to the London gangster with tears still lining her eyes.
“Don’t cry, dove. I’m sure even if you spent all of your brother’s money, they wouldn’t have the heart to be mad at ya.”
“I would never do that!” she said, taking his jokes quite seriously. “My family means everything to me.”
Alfie nodded, confirming that he made the right decision in hiring and caring for her. He walked her back to the outskirt of Shelby territory, knowing that her brothers would have people around to look out for her.
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It’s been a few weeks since Y/N started her job as Alfie’s errand girl. Both her and the gangster was surprised that her brothers hadn’t caught wind of their relation. Though the two didn't spend more time than necessary together, they became quite close. Alfie was busy with running an organization, and Y/N was busy trying to get her homework finished. She also kept up with selling her handkerchief when she had time between running errands for Alfie, schoolwork, and pretending to be a normal kid in front of her family. She was upset that she couldn’t spend as much time with her siblings as before, but she knew she has to in order to make up for being a burden.
“Y/N,” Finn called, seeing his sister walking to their home after school. “Tommy’s called for a family meeting.”
Her eyes widened, and her heart started thundering with excitement. She raised a good amount of money, and felt like she could share with her family what she’s been up to. “Okay, Finn. I’ll be right there!” She ran to her room, grabbing her shoulder bag full of money and was basically vibrating with excitement while they waited for the entire family to trickle in. She sat in the middle of Arthur and John, ignoring their chuckles at her gleaming eyes. 
“Sounds like it’ll be a breezy meeting if you’re letting Y/N sit this one in,” John commented towards Tommy who was lighting a cigarette. 
“Let’s begin,” the older brother ignored the comment and started the meeting. “As you know-” 
The youngest Shelby’s hand shot out in the air as if she was at school. 
Tommy raised an eyebrow, trying not to show any indication of annoyance at his sister’s behaviour. The second oldest brother was too soft when it comes to matter to sister, and he would rather blind himself than purposely hurt her. “What is it?”
“I have something to share with you guys.” She pulled her out her messenger bag that she carries her handkerchief and the money she collected thus far with.
“What you got for us, girlie?” Arthur asked, peering into her bag to catch a glimpse of her gift to them. 
She took her bag off, and emptied the contents on the table. The Shelby clan’s jaw dropped in shock. They weren’t expecting their youngest sibling to be emptying almost 100 shillings in cash on their table. 
“How in the hell did you get that much money?” John asked. 
“Girl, you better not be stealing,” Polly chastised, eyes narrowing. 
“I’m not! I swear it.” She looked around for her family’s approving faces, but was just met with surprised and curious looks.
“Then you better explain yourself.” 
“I overheard you guys talking a few weeks ago about being short, and I know it was my fault. I stupidly got sick so you guys had to spend money on me, and I felt really bad so I decided to help. I cut my old clothes and sewed them into handkerchiefs- I’ve been selling them on the streets to make the money.”
“You made this much selling handkerchiefs?” Tommy asked, an eyebrow raised in  suspicion.
“Well… no… I wasn’t making much- just a few shillings here and there, but someone hired me!”
“Who?” Arthur asked.
“Mr. Solomons.”
“Y/N!” Polly berated. “Do you know who that is?”
“At first I didn’t, but he said he knew me since I was little. He was a really nice man, and he gave me 10 shillings every week to run some errands for him.”
“What kind of errands?”
“Just picking up groceries and prescription- that’s all!”
“I don’t want you seeing him again,” Tommy said sternly.
“But Tommy- he’s a real nice man.”
“Yea you said that already,” Arthur muttered, unamused by his sister’s connection.
“How did you even meet with the likes of him?” John asked, wondering how his sister got into contact with the mobster.
“Well… one day when I was selling my stuff, this man took my handkerchief and he stuffed it down his pants. I’m not sure what he was doing but he was rubbing it a lot in his pants, and making a lot of weird noises. When he was done there was this white icky stuff, and he wanted to put it in my mouth. I was so scared but Mr. Solomons came and saved me!”
“What the fuck?!” Arthur roared with fury. He jumped out of his seat, John following with him. “Who was this man? What did he look like?”
Y/N’s eyes widened in surprise at her brother’s reaction. “I-I don’t know. Mr. Solomons pulled the man away, and next thing I know the man was gone.” She turned to Tommy who’s jaw was clenched, and his knuckles were white from gripping his the edge of the table. “Am I in trouble, Tommy?” she asked quietly, head bowing down in shame.
“No.” He pushed himself off the table and placed a hand on her shoulder. “You did nothing wrong, but we are going to pay a visit to Mr. Solomons.”
She nodded, following her brothers who were hastily putting on their jackets. She usually held on to Tommy’s hand when they were out for safety, but he had both fists clenched the entire time, making her her believe that she was in trouble. Arthur and John were no different. She thought if they were cartoon characters they would have steam coming out of their ears. It didn’t take them long to get to Alfie's temporary lodging.
“Well well well… if it isn’t the Shelby boys, and the little princess.”
“Hi, Mr. Solomons!” she greeted with a wave and a smile.
“Hello, little one.”
Tommy moved to cover Y/N from Alfie’s gaze which did not go unnoticed.
“Oh relax, would you? I would never hurt a hair on little Y/N’s head. Didn’t you hear? I saved her from an unsightly perv-”
“Did you skin him alive?” Arthur growled. “Did you tear him apart and burn him to ashes?”
“Actually, I’m sure you’d be happy to know, but I have kept the lad barely alive. I figured once the littlest Shelby told you guys what she’s been up to, you lot would pay me a visit.”
“Where is he?!” Arthur grabbed Alfie’s collar, pushing him against the wall.
“Arthur-“ John placed a hand on his oldest brother’s shoulder. “Take it easy.”
“He’s in the barn by the outskirt of town. My men have been keeping him barely alive, but I’m not sure how much longer he’ll have.”
“Tommy-“ Arthur turned to his brother, a short silent conversation happening.
“Go.” Arthur and John didn’t waste another minute and left for the man.
“What are you trying to do, Alfie?”
 “What?”
“Why are you helping us?”
“Correction. I’m helping Y/N. What she chooses to do with the money I give her is her choice. If she decides to spend all that money on the sweet ice cream shop across the street then that’s her choice, and if she decides to spend the money on helping her family, then I really can’t say anything, can I?”
Tommy’s eyes narrowed, and then flickered when Y/N wrapped her hand around his, seeing it was finally unclenched. “You hurt her in any way, and I will end you.”
“Despite your very hurtful assumptions of me, I would never hurt Y/N.”
She smiled at the older man, already considering him another kind uncle.
“I’ll see you tomorrow, little Shelby?”
“8am sharp!” she responded with a little salute.
“Alfie-“
“You can have your men escort her here or I can have my men pick her up and drop her off at your residence. She’s never been alone while running errands-“
“What?!” Y/N exclaimed, surprised at the revelation.
“You think I would let a little Shelby running around associating with me unattended, child? That’s as good as a death wish. I had my men following you to make sure no one would mess with ya.”
The girl pouted, thinking of the bodyguards as babysitters. “I’m not a baby.”
“No, you’re not,” Tommy started, ignoring Alfie’s raised eyebrow, “but you are still a child, and we are not going to take that risk of you running around by yourself.” Not with a target on your back, Tommy added in his thoughts.
As they were heading out, Alfie put a hand on Tommy’s shoulder, stopping the man in his tracks and leaned near his ear. “Girl’s too hard on herself. Now, I don’t what you Shelby boys have been filling her head with but she’s got more loyalty than the lot of you. Make sure you pay her the same respect. She don’t need to be skipping meals trying save y’alls money, but she does it anyways.”
Tommy’s jaw clenched, nodding sharply. “See you around.”
“See you later, brother.”
As they walked out, Y/N tugged on her older brother’s hand. “Tommy, where are we going?”
“We’re gonna make sure Arthur and John do their job,” Tommy simply replied.
“I-I have to see the man again?” she asked, her voice trembling.
“No,” he answered right away. “This man will never bother you again.”
Tommy said nothing as they continued their journey to the barn. In truth he wanted a piece of action in giving the man what he deserved, and he knew he shouldn’t take her with them because this was what he wanted to protect her from, but at the same time he needed her to be physically with him to make sure she was safe. He couldn’t believe in his stress he didn’t check up on her like he should- he didn’t make sure she was safe. The fact that this man was able to even approach her like that was something he thought should’ve never happened. He knew now that she needed more protection- more people to watch out for her. He was more than disgusted at what that piece of garbage did, and he wanted to make sure he paid for his crimes. His sister is pure in every way, and he wasn’t going to let anyone make her feel uncomfortable like that again. He made sure she wasn’t exposed to the dirty life they lead, and if it was up to him he would make sure she never would.
Tommy made sure Y/N stayed in the car, telling her that one of the brothers would be out in a bit to keep her company. He entered the barn, hand already on his gun. He wasn’t surprised that Arthur was still beating the bloodied man up while John leaned on the wall, his fists equally bloodied.
“John, go keep Y/N company outside. Arthur,” Tommy called for his brother’s attention. “Is the man dead?”
“Not yet. I want the fucker to suffer as much as I could,” the oldest Shelby said, spitting at the barely alive man.
Tommy stepped closer, hearing his raspy breathing from the beating he took. He took out his gun, pointing to the man’s crotch. “There’s a special place in hell for people like you.” The Shelby leader kept his voice low, making sure the man wait in anticipation at what he was going to do. He shot the first bullet, the man howling in pain. The two ruthless brothers watched him writhe around before he passed out, then Tommy shot the final bullet to his temple.
Arthur pulled out his lighter from his pocket, dropping it on the man before leaving the burning barn with his brother. Outside, John had Y/N in his arms, the little girl laughing at his animated stories. The two older brothers got in the car and drove away.
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When dinner came around, Tommy watched as Y/N serve the kitchen staff heaping of food on their plate, but only put barely any on her plate. He was reminded of Alfie’s words, and stepped behind Y/N. He grabbed the spoon she was serving herself with and the plate, putting more food on it.
“To-Tommy, I’m not that hungry!”
“There’s plenty of food, so eat.”
“I was planning to eat the leftovers tomorrow for lunch.”
“There’ll be food tomorrow for your breakfast and lunch.” He didn’t miss the fact that she purposely skipped breakfast.
“Bu-“
“You haven’t been eating,” he said, and the little girl froze.
She lowered her head, and Tommy’s heart dropped to his stomach when he caught her glistening eyes, and the reflection of her tears on her cheeks. He immediately put the food down, going down on one knee to see her face. “Why are you crying, love?”
“Tommy, I’m sorry.”
“What are you sorry for, love? I told you nothing was your fault.”
“Everything is my fault though! I can’t do anything right!” she exclaimed, tears running down her face. He pulled her up, carrying her to his office for more privacy and sat down on his couch with her on his lap.
“What’s this all about- why aren’t you eating?” 
“I just feel awful,” she wailed finally, her eyes never meeting her brother’s in shame. “I got sick and you all had to pay so much for my medicine! I tried to eat less to make up the money you guys spent on me, but it didn’t feel like enough-“
“No,” he said sternly. “You are not missing meals or eating less because you feel guilty. You will eat the proper amount, got it?”
“But-“
“Don’t make me tell Polly to monitor your meals.”
“I just wanted to do my part in helping with the family. You guys do so much for me, and I haven’t done anything.”
“Y/N, you are a child. You don’t need to worry yourself with these things. Your big brothers are gonna take care of everything for you.”
“But you’re already so stressed out, and I feel like I’m causing so much trouble. I’m not even worth it-“
“Y/N M/N Shelby,” Tommy hissed. Despite his tone, he gently grabbed her chin with his index finger, forcing her to look at him. With tears lining her eyes, she finally met his soft blue eyes, finding no trace of resentment but only love. “You will never say those words again.”
“Tommy-“
“You are worth everything and more than what we have. If I have to lose everything we own and burn down this whole city for you, I will. You are the most important thing in my life, and I will not hear you say those words again.”
“‘m sorry, Tommy.”
“Stop apologizing. You have done nothing wrong.” She leaned back down, her tears stopping to a few sniffles. “So here’s what we’re gonna do. You will eat to your fill, and tomorrow we will get ice cream after you’ve finished your errands.”
Her head snapped back up at the mention of her favourite treat. “Ice cream?”
“Yes, but you have to finish the food on your plate.”
With a wide grin she nodded, jumping out of his lap to get started on her food. He went over to the family room, finding his family getting read to head to the kitchen.
“Why has no one noticed Y/N hasn’t been eating?” he thundered, glaring at his family members for not noticing her lack of proper care.
“She’s not?” John asked, thinking back to his encounters with her.
“I thought she was just getting conscious about her body,” Polly shrugged. “You know how girls that age are, but I always made sure to put more food on her plate.”
“She has been skipping meals because she feels bad that we’re spending money on her, and I will not let that happen ever again. If anyone sees anything amiss- anything at all, you come straight to me.”
“Y’know,” Arthur started, scratching the ends of his moustache. “When I checked her homework the other day, I noticed that she was writing extra small. Me thinks she’s trying to extend her school supplies as well.” The brothers had long stopped making fun of Arthur for insisting on checking her homework. Everyone knew Y/N was the most educated on paper, but Arthur felt it was his obligation as her oldest brother to see that her homework was done and done well.
Tommy placed a hand on his forehead, wondering how much he’s missed in the last few months. “Fuck,” he cursed.
When the family went to the kitchen, they frowned when they saw Y/N staring at her food without eating a single bite. When she saw them come in, she burst into a huge smile. “I was waiting for you to eat together!”
“Oh silly girl. Your food’s all cold now,” Polly chided.
“It’s okay!” she shook her head. Arthur took the plate in front of her while Polly prepared another plate fresh from the stove, adding a bit more food than what initially had. “Arthur no! You can’t have my cold food.”
“D’n worry, love. It’ll get warm in my belly anyways!” He put both hands on his belly, patting it.
She giggled at the sight, and her eyes twinkled at the sight of her family around her. They all made jokes with her whilst still making sure she was eating so when she cleared her plate, Polly sneakily grabbed her plate while Arthur was distracting her and put a little more food in front of her. To everyone’s delight she ate it all, yawning after all the food was gone and the laughters died down.
“Tommy, can everyone come get ice cream with me tomorrow?”
“You were gonna get ice cream without us?” John asked, hand on his chest as if the thought offended him.
"Never!" she shook her head. "We're all going, right Tommy?" Her brother could only nod at her request with a small smile.
Arthur cleared his throat and got up. “Now before you go to bed, love, we need to check your homework. Perhaps we can clean your backpack as well.”
“Okay, Arthur.” She hopped off her chair, grabbing his hand and leading him to her room where she does all her homework. She took out her notebook, and Arthur immediately noticed the worn out pages from how little she had written in the notebook- it was barely legible.
“Love, I can barely read your writing!” he exclaimed. “You need to write bigger next time- for your dear old brother’s sake, eh?”
“Sorry, Arthur.” She looked down at her shoes. “I was trying to make my notebooks last longer so you wouldn’t have to buy me more.”
“None of that. You’re our little scholar- we need you to be studying hard with all the right supplies or else who’s gonna be keeping Tommy in line?”
She giggled at his jokes, and nodded, relieved that she didn’t have to lie to her brothers anymore.
“Now, read me your answers so your dear old brother doesn’t have to strain his eyes.” He sat on her chair, picking her up to put on his lap just like when she was smaller.
She read him the questions and her answers, pointing them out so there were no spelling errors either.
“Well, we got ourselves a little Shelby genius here!” he kissed her cheek, and she flinched away from his moustache, giggling all the way.
“It tickles!” she shrieked as he continued to rub his cheeks against her soft ones.
“Alright, love. Good job on your homework.”
“Can I go to bed not, Artie? I’m feeling kinda tired?” the littlest Shelby yawned to prove her point, already almost dozing off.
“Tired, eh? What have you been doing to be so tired?” Arthur asked it as a joke, but Y/N avoided his eyes as she thought he was being serious.
“I’ve been staying up late making the handkerchief, and waking up early to sell it so I can do errands for Alfie after school and still do my chores when I get home.”
Arthur’s heart broke hearing how much his youngest sister has been working, and he immediately gave her a hug. “You don’t need to do that anymore, love. Tommy’s got a plan- kid like you don’t need to be working so hard, eh?”
She nodded, almost already dozing off in her brother’s embrace.
“Go get ready for bed, and I’ll come back to tuck you in.”
“Okay!” She left for the bathroom, and Arthur went back to the kitchen where his family had stayed to grab her a glass of water for the night.
He gave a deep sigh, rubbing his forehead and closing his eyes tightly.
“Is Y/N okay?” John asked, his oldest brother’s state putting him on alert.
“Girl’s been working herself to the bone for the last month- staying up late, not eating, and still trying to run everyone’s errands. She’s fucking exhausted and it’s not even 8pm yet where before she would be begging us to play with her until midnight.” Arthur shook his head, filling up the water in the cup and leaving again.
“You tucking her in?” Tommy asked.
“Yea. She asked if she could sleep early- nearly fell asleep on me.”
Tommy nodded, following his older brother to her room. Y/N was brushing her hair, lighting up when she saw her brothers again. Arthur placed the glass of water beside her bed, and came up to her to take the brush from her hand. He finished brushing her hair for her, reminding the siblings of when she was younger and sat on his lap while he tried figuring out how to braid her hair.
“There you go, love. Prettiest girl in all of Small Heath.”
She giggled, but shook her head. “No, Artie- That’s Ada!”
“You both are the prettiest girls in Small Heath, and dare I say the whole world!”
Y/N giggled again, giving her brother a big hug before settling in bed where Tommy was standing by. He smiled as she got under the covers, and he sat down on the edge of her bed, pulling the covers right under her chin. He placed a hand on her small face, rubbing at her cheek with his thumb. He noted how soft and smooth it was, reminding him just how young she was. He leaned down to place a kiss on her forehead.
“I love you, Y/N- so much,” he whispered seeing her eyes droop.
“I love you too, Tommy,” she mumbled before succumbing to her tiredness.
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The next day, Y/N and her brothers made their way to the ice cream shop. Suddenly, she stopped and gasped. “We should invite Alfie!”
The brothers couldn’t stop their sister in time before she ran off to his house, and they were quick to follower her. She knocked on his door, rocking on her feet in excitement. When the door opened, she was surprised to find someone else at the door. She hadn’t noticed but her brothers surely did that his hand was underneath his coat, most likely holding on to a gun.
“Excuse me, is Mr. Solomons home?” she asked before being pulled back by Finn behind her other brothers who had stood in front of her.
“Ah if it isn’t the Shelby clan,” the man muttered.
“Who’s there?” Alfie asked, approaching the door.
“Alfie!” Y/N greeted, shaking off Finn’s hand around her. “D’you wanna come with us to the ice cream shop?”
“Well I can’t refuse a little lady as yourself.” He grabbed his hat, and gave instructions to the man who opened the door. “Be a dear and finish up here, why don’t you.”
The Camden mobster followed the family to the ice cream shop, everyone in the shop immediately ceasing their chatter. Y/N paid no attention to the fear in everyone’s eyes as she ran up to the selection of ice cream they had.
“Mister, I want ice cream for all of us, please!” she ordered. “I can pay for everyone!” She held up her little horse purse that Tommy got her so long ago.
“Oh, there’s no need for that,” Alfie said, putting a hand on her shoulder.
“No, no! I want to treat you guys to ice cream.” As she went back to picking a flavour, the 4 mobster (and Finn) stared the poor owner down, not having to say a single word to get their point across.
“Don’t worry about paying Miss Shelby. Your ice creams are on the house!” he said trying to sound jovial, but tripping over his words.
Y/N didn’t notice his stutter, but beamed in happiness. “Really?”
“Yes- you never have to pay for ice cream here!” 
“Wow! That’s very nice of you, mister!”
Y/N made sure everyone got their ice cream first, having a habit of putting everyone first. When it was time for her ice cream, the man made the mistake of making eye contact with Alfie. His shaking hands didn’t wait for Y/N to grab the ice cream, and slipped form her tiny hands and on the floor.
“Oh no- oh God,” the man immediately muttered. You could hear a pin drop at how quiet it was in the shop. People tensed, waiting for a bloodbath to occur.
Y/n gasped in surprise. “Oh no! Spilled ice cream. I’m sorry mister- I can help clean up!” She narrated the event only like a child could.
“Oh- uh- well- Don’t worry about the mess,” the man sputtered. “It was my fault. I can give you another ice cream.”
“It’s okay mister. You already gave us all ice cream,” Y/N said, trying to hide her disappointment. Her bottom lip jutted out slightly, and her shoulders were slouched. “Thank you though.”
The man could feel the mobsters tearing him up with their eyes. Finally it was Tommy who spoke up. “Here, love. You can have my ice cream. I know it’s your favourite flavour.” Seeing as Y/N wanted to be just like Tommy in every way, it didn’t surprise anyone that they shared the same love for a certain flavoured ice cream.
“But it’s yours, Tommy.”
“I wasn’t hungry anyways.” He placed it in her hand, making sure she had wrapped her hand around it before letting go. “Let’s go home now.”
“Okay, Tommy! Thank you.”
No one dared breath until the gang was out of the shop. However it was made clear in those short moments of two things. One, little Y/N Shelby was one of the most polite and kind kid of her age group. And two, she was also one of the most protected kid in all of England. The hold she has on the two of the most feared gang in England made her a force to be reckoned with.
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tommyspeakycap · 2 years
Text
you can let go
‘you know he’s only hanging on for you,’ that’s what the night nurse said. my voice and heart were breaking as i crawled up in his bed
inspired by this song
tommys dying, but his withering body is hanging on because his heart knows his little sister still needs him now just as much as she ever has…he won’t let go until he hears her words
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“He’s all but gone now, miss Shelby.” The gentle woman says, her heart breaking for both the man laying on the bed - wasting away to little but bones and flesh with a faintly beating heart. He is merely a fraction of the man the country once knew, standing tall in a pristine suit in the houses of parliament speaking for his people. Nothing at all left of the man who’s family once owned the streets of Small Heath, then Birmingham entirely.
Not the devil, just a man.
He has cut, killed, murdered, butchered, maimed and mauled for the majority of his life and now here he is, ravaged by the tumour of tuberculosis in his brain, stretching and reaching into the grey matter of his once brilliant mind.
But not only that, not only is he laying there reduced to the frail outline of the man he was. No that’s not the saddest part for his night nurse. The saddest part?
Only one person hangs by his bedside, sits by him to wipe the sweat from his brow and make sure his heart still beats with a palm over his sunken chest.
Only you.
Only his little sister, the one who has clung to him like a lifeline most of her life. Relying on him, relying on his blood bound duty to love, keep and protect her. You’ve never know a life without Tommy. The war was different, he was gone but yet he was still ever present - he was still there.
Now he will no longer be here.
It has instead been your duty to be his keeper. Blood was never the reason he protected you the way he did. Blood was never a duty to you for Thomas. The love he held for you was his duty. He had the upmost adoration for you.
Nor were you bound to him by merely blood, but by the fact he was your Tommy. He raised you, he loved you, he gave you a life. He let you sail to France to become a nurse, only for him to end up with an illness you couldn’t cure. You had poured over books and articles in every language you could find, reading old dirt stained Romani written potions to cure the ailment he is dying from only to find nothing. Nothing that works, nothing that’ll help. Nothing. Nothing. Nothing.
All you find is nothingness.
Nothingness, like where Tommy is fading to.
It’s poetically heartbreaking, the little Brummie nurse who Tommy ensured would have the world at her feet and insisted would cure every illness known to man and more, cannot find a cure for the one thing that is tearing away everything.
Tearing away Tommy.
You don’t want to hear her words, but they are forced upon you nonetheless. You know he’s all but gone, you’ve seen it a million times before. It’s more of a shock to you he isn’t fully gone already. How he has hung on this long with such a tumour is utterly beyond your wildest reasoning.
“He’s hanging on.” You mumble, more to yourself than to her as she stands with a sad frown. The gentle, sad sigh form the night nurse is one you know all too well - you’ve let it escape with patients and family alike so many times yourself.
It’s a sigh that says barely. A sigh that says not really. A sigh that sounds so much like a pronunciation of death.
“You know he’s only hanging on for you.” She says, resting a hand on your shoulder.
But could love ever be that strong? Strong enough to keep him going? Are you keeping him hear, withering in pain?
Your brain rattled around with thoughts, sending shockwaves of electric busts of pain through your entire being, beginning and ending with your heart. Maybe that’s why they say love comes from the heart. You never understood it.
Maybe now you understand it, just like he said.
“Maybe one day you’ll understand it,” Tommy said lowly, his voice a soft caressing of the love he had just proclaimed to you, sat on his lap in your night clothes as he brushed over your hair with his calloused hands. “But I know you love me, Tom.” You replied, head a little tilted with that childish innocence in your little quirked eyebrow. “I know you do,” he hums in response, “I know you know i love you, but do you know i love you with allll of my heart?” He coos. You scrunch up your nose a little.
“No you don’t, Tommy.” You state, very matter of factly for someone who’s no more than six and a half years old. Tommy frowns. “Yes, I do.” He retorts, but you shake your little head again, looking him straight in the eye. “No you don’t, ‘cause love isn’t made in your heart,” your tiny little hand pats his chest, then both move up to either side of his head. “Love’s made in here, in your brain, Tom. The heart just pumps the blood round, ‘s why it beats you know.”
Tommy curses you for being so smart and wonders where you got it from, because surely it cannot be from anyone in this god forsaken family of his. He knows it’s true, you’re exactly right. The heart beats. However, Tommy also knows that in the dusted out, cobwebbed confines of his hollowed out chest, that battered old organ he calls a heart beats only for you. So in a twisted way, he loved you with all of his heart too, because it pumps blood around his body only for you, to keep himself going only for you.
Just like it does now.
“Suppose you’re right, my clever girl,” he rescinds, “But then i love you with all my brain and all my heart.” He teases, bopping your nose to hear that giggle again. “But Tom-”
“Someday you’ll get it, baby, some day.”
In a sad and maybe twisted way he really hoped you never would get it. Because it’s not as fun as they say it was. It’s selfish and awful but he always hoped you would never have to love someone that much, because when you love someone that much, the pain you are susceptible to is agonising.
Their hurt is your hurt. Whenever you fell, he hurt. Whenever you cried, his heart bled and whenever your heart broke, his stopped entirely, his ceased to beat, frozen in his chest like a shattered glacier. Thomas never wanted you to hurt that much for someone.
He never could have imagined the only person you would ever love that much would be him. The only person who could hurt you that much is him. Because you love him with, despite the fact you don’t use the phrase, with all of your heart. You do, almost half as much as he loved you.
That’s why you understand it now, what they mean when they say to love with “all of your heart”. Because right now, your heart is in pain, actual physical pain and it’s purely because you love him that much. You love him too much to let him suffer, so now you have to show how much you love him by letting him go.
“I know,” you whimper to that poor night nurse who’s stood watching you get lost in your thoughts and your memories of your doting big brother. “Can we…could you-” You choke out, tears slipping down over your cheeks. “Of course. You can have all the time you need.” She closes the door softly behind her.
And you finally know the meaning of a broken heart as you climb up into bed with him.
“I’m so sorry, Tommy.” Your voice breaks with your heart, “You deserve to go, i’m so sorry i couldn’t let you go.” You curl up beside him, one hand on his slowly rising chest to feel the faint thud of his heart and the other stroking his head the way he used to do for you when you were sick. His lips part, open for the first time in days, dry and sticky and too white for how pink and plump they used to be. You have those lips too, and his pretty cerulean blues that steal hearts like Tommy always worried you would.
“I love you,” he wheezes out, his eyes barely open. Simply slits to show he’s there before they close again, voice raspy and pained, “With all of my brain,” he heaved for a breath, “and all of my heart.”
You sniffle loudly, choking on a sob in floods of tears. “I love you too Tommy, with all my heart and all my head.” You whimper weakly, the very first time you’ve ever told anyone you love them with all your heart. “But you can let go now, Tommy. You can let go. I think i’m ready to do it on my own now. It’s gonna be so scary, but you can let go.”
He never acknowledges the words in a physical way, but you know he heard you. You know he felt how much you meant it, because he lets out one last rattling breath and his heart does not beat beneath your hand again. You’ve known that gentle thump since you were merely a baby sleeping on his chest, a child resting there after a nightmare, a little girl with your palm on it to remind yourself he was here and alive after the war, as a teenager with your ear pressed again his chest in his tightest of hugs when you were riddled with fear or put in grave danger. This will be the first time in your life you haven’t felt it. And there is a hole where you vividly remember your own heart once being
And if nothing else, then that is one thing he - your lifeline, the brother who raised, your Tommy - taught you in your life.
Love may be made in the brain, but you will certainly always feel it in your heart.
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pherelesytsia · 2 years
Text
In the Shadow of Somme
Pairing: Thomas Shelby x female/Sister/Reader
Summary: Thomas believes his sister is a blessed woman, never faced war nor the destruction of France, but one day they find out what their sister was up to in 1916.
Warning: mentions of war, death, argument
Word Count: 1.4k      
Thomas Shelby Masterlist
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The words were driving her crazy and burned deep into her skin. Tears veiled her vision, but didn’t slide down her cheeks. Y/N was strong, stronger than the brothers thought, perhaps even stronger than the men together who had found a place around the table on the sofa of dark leather.
Words echoed over and over and the secret almost escaped her lips, but Y/N remained strong, not wanting to be pitied or respected for what she had done as dark messages spread over all lands and drowned golden years. The name of the country which had scarred the hearts echoed hundreds of times, rippling old wounds open and making hatred and tears flow in dark chambers.
No more blood dripped and stained the fields. Nevertheless, when silence reigned, Y/N thought she could hear the cries of the wounded men carried into the tent on makeshift stretchers. The long skirt and the piece of clothing with long sleeves and a high collar made it impossible to discover the traces of France on her body. Deep scars reminded her she was also there, where nobody, woman nor man, should ever be. The deep wounds had long since healed. The blemishes and blueish marks had disappeared many months ago, but her skin ached now and then, and fear clouded her mind when she recalled the gas bomb going off a few steps away from the camp where she was stationed.
Y/N folded her arms in front of her chest and leaned against the frame of the wooden door. Half-heartedly she was listening to her brothers reminisce about the greyed memories of fun days at the front, playing cards in the dark trenches, drinking rum, but with each passing hour, the stories grew darker and darker until they resembled shadows forming into monstrous crashing waves. Tragic stories never crossed Y/N´s lips, not wanting her brothers to hate her for what she had done, had left the land to serve, and wrapped herself in a cloak of silence.
Y/N stared into the distance. Tears no longer obscured her vision, saw sharply and clearly and it seemed as if she was emotionless, not showing compassion, but after watching hundreds of men die, holding the cold hands adorned with dirt and grime, Y/N could no longer grieve nor cry. Winter ruled in her eyes. She remembered the words of men begging for a gentle touch as the spark of life faded away and after seeing children die in her arms, calling for their mother, Y/N grew stone cold. Her heart turned into a block of ice and not even the death of a beloved could make her cry.
Glasses collided with the table again, but Y/N no longer recoiled.
            "Won't you sit at our table, sister?" Arthur joked in a joyful tone.
The tie no longer hung neatly on the white button and traces of wine had eaten into the material.
            "No, thank you.", "She doesn't belong at our table. Those are stories a woman like her wouldn't bear." laughed Thomas harshly.
A dark veil settled on Y/N. She pressed her lips together, forbidding the words to pass and shrugged her shoulders dismissively. The words could no longer hurt her, at least that's what she thought, but suddenly Y/N felt a slight burning sensation spreading through her heart as she realised how low her brother taught about her.
            "Am I not right? The trench I was trapped almost killed me." Thomas said. "And I will not speak of the land mines. I smell the stench of explosives in my worst dreams." the dark-haired man in the suit continued.
John, Thomas and the others' eyes wandered from Arthur to Y/N. A faint smile spread on her lips, had heard those words too often, was able to recite them.
"A woman is not able to face war and danger. While our lovely Y/N, sat here at home on her backside, warming herself by the fire, I risked my life for her safety. That's why she's a mere seamstress. The only danger you will face is that you might accidentally hurt yourself with the needle." Thomas raised his voice.
A mischievous grin spread across his lips. Her blood was boiling. The walls crumbled. Anger mingled with sadness. Y/N gulped and stepped forward, pushed herself off the frame of the door and strolled towards the brothers. Y/N clenched her hands into fists, nails dug deep into the soft flesh. She breathed in and out and tried to calm herself down, but the fire rising in her chest couldn’t be extinguished.
            "What are you trying to say, Thomas?" Y/N asked.
She took a step towards her brothers, focused her gaze on Thomas and ignored the others sitting at the richly set table.
            "Exactly what I said. Women are.", "Shut your goddamn mouth, Thomas." Y/N hissed.
She stopped two steps away from the table. She had heard enough, knew perfectly well what he was trying to say, that she was a mere woman, weak and incapable of defending herself and facing the war.
"How can you be sure I was here? Were you here? How can you be so sure?" asked Y/N in a mocking tone.
            "It's all over your face," replied Thomas dryly, leaning back with his arms folded in front of his chest.
            "Then you are a blind man, Thomas. I was in France. I didn't have a gun in my hand, but I have seen more of the war than you think. Children died in my arms and the men broke down crying. Y/N said.
Eyes widened. Skin paled.
“A bloody bomb went off next to my tent. I would have died that very night. I was in France, in Verdun and Somme in 1916 and later I worked in a hospital in London. Bombs killed more than dozens of my friends. I was on the same train as you, Thomas, when you were taken from France. You were asleep or maybe you have fainted. I stood right by your side and dabbed sweat from your temple and helped you to drink. I had to help you." Y/N continued.
Colours slipped from the faces. Questioningly, the men in suits looked at the sister, but Y/N did not want to answer any of the questions escaping in low tones. Her heart broke. Tears obscured her vision, but Y/N saw clearly. The heaviness fell off her shoulders.
            “I understand you more than you think, Thomas, yet who is the person who drinks to forget? You or me? The war shattered my heart. When you arrived from war, I stayed at your side. I was strong for you. I nursed you, but who was at my side when I needed someone?” Y/N asked.
There was silence. The last of the curtains dropped.
“No one,” Y/N whispered.
“I don't ask anything of you in return. I don't need to hear how great I am, but please stop portraying me as a woman who has been hiding. Please understand me, I didn't tell you all because I knew you would talk me out of it and I knew I had to help the people. I have saved many lives.” Y/N continued.
Her voice broke into hundreds of pieces. She opened her heart, allowing them to hear the story they had never heard before. John's mouth dropped open, unable to trust the words of his older sister, as did the others seated at the coffee table. The alcohol had faded out of their bodies and mist no longer dulled their minds.
"I'll be on my way, the hazardous needles and pins await me and Thomas, your suit is finished. I hope you will like it. I'll bring it in the morning. If you are looking for me, I will be in my room and do the work of a woman. I need to finish the coats. Good night." Y/N said.
Silently the young woman walked away, ignoring the questions crossing the lips like a hurricane, pretending to be deaf to those spoken like crashing waves.
Taglist:
blyanyan fckmini Talessandra9792 1-800-coffee millies0bsimp marvelwhoreunfortunately alessandra9792 smailaway summertimedepression alldaysdreamers elliaze mystic-gnome
kathrinemelissa tedpicklez daynaelizabethclairereynolds
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romeulusroy · 1 year
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Pedigree (Thomas Shelby Oneshot)
Character/s: Thomas
Word Count: 1,211
A/N: Has it been a million bajillion kajillion years since I've written? Yes. Do I feel good about this? Yes strangely enough :P I've been reading a lot, so maybe that's helped. I haven't been feeling good lately, but this makes me feel better. It makes me think I haven't run out of words, that I'm not trapped in this block forever y'know? 💞  Feedback is always appreciated 💜💖💜
FIC MASTERLISTS / TAG LIST 
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You were out for blood. 
You wanted his head on a silver platter. Served to you. You wanted his mouth hung open, gory and gummy, his teeth pried from their sockets. You wanted his eyes, those eyes that bore so deeply into your marrow, eyes that undermined you every time he saw you, bright and cruel. Mocking. Pried wide open, watching his empire fall. The rest of him scattered. Discarded. Did it really matter? It used to. You used to fantasize about the day they brought him to you. All the ways you’d tear him apart, butcher him like he has done to so many. Leaving a single bullet hole, if he was lucky. Often, he wasn’t, not in your care. You wanted him to suffer the same way he has made you your entire life. Since then, you’ve come to a realization: those fantasies, with their theatrics, were childish. The kind of thing he himself would laugh at, call adorable, naive, cute. That laugh. It haunted you now. His head, his eyes, teeth, that is what you needed. He was all bark and no bite. Until then, you wouldn’t be satisfied. 
Once upon a time you worshiped him. He was your world, everything you wanted to be. Demanding, diplomatic, daunting. You wanted to follow in his footsteps, to rule with an iron fist. You did as you were told without a second thought, his toy soldier. You stitched a smile across your face every time he spoke to you, the anger and disappointment reigning in his voice, his words. How sharp they used to be, slicing you to ribbons. You’d be bleeding, hemorrhaging out on the floor by the time his speech was done. And when he was, when the air was thick with dismay, you collected your innards and thanked him, slipping back into the shadows until you were needed again. He spat insults at you from the time you could understand them. A few times you’d dodged a glass of something toxic, smashing into the wall behind you. Shards glittered across the floor, crackling beneath the soles of your shoes. It was your job to clean it up. It was your fault. Everything was. When a scapegoat was necessary, you were the first to come to mind. Given odd jobs beneath the rest. Ones that could have gotten you killed. Should have. Sometimes, you wished it had. Would that have made him care? Mourn your loss? Would there have been any change to his temperament? Probably not. There were always others desperate enough to slink their way into your position, the lowest of the low. Desperate enough to get close to him, to know what liquor he liked, what car he drove, what clothing he wore in hopes that it would rub off on them. Give them the same power. It made you sick. 
To him, you were nothing. Worthless. Incapable. There had never been a softness for you the way there had been for the others. You’d begun to think it was you. There was something wrong with you. Had you said something? Done something? Too many nights you lay awake, wondering what he could see that you couldn’t. There had to be a logical reason, hadn’t there? There had to be something in your flesh, your bones, your muscles. Something structurally, genetically, impossibly wrong. A speck in your eyes. An eyelash out of sorts. A freckle, a scar, a mark on your body that shouldn’t be there. Years you spent looking, watching, waiting for it to be explained so you could fix it and finally win him over. Small acts of kindness. Leaving him freshly picked flowers. Doing everything he said. Being well behaved. You stayed to yourself mostly, understanding things were different than before. He’d changed. They all had. He was monstrous. Hungry. Tormented. Every night you’d hear his screaming, crying out, crumbling from the inside out. In the morning, no one said a word. It’s been many years since then. You wondered if it was your memory distorting things, changing your own behaviors. No, no you were sure you’d been nothing but kind.
Whoever Tommy saw when he looked at you, whatever he saw, was not you. That much was clear. 
He blamed you for her death, Pol. He put that target on your back, on your chest, between your fucking eyes. The silence was the worst of it. The berating, the anger, the destruction, you’d grown used to it. It had become a dance, in a way. You knew all the right steps, all the best apologies, until he’d finally calmed down long enough for you to catch your breath, to straighten out the mess. Not this time. You were dropped from the family without a second thought. Ice ran through his veins. He wasn’t just changed, he was unrecognizable. Your throat was raw from pleading, sobbing, trying to get him to listen. To understand. On your hands and knees begging. You had no part in this, you were being framed. No one could believe you. You’d slipped up, gave out information you shouldn’t have. Thats the conclusion they came to. He didn’t just ignore you, he killed you. Murdered you. Everyone, everyone you ever loved, all the people you considered family, by blood and not, turned their backs on you. You wanted to pound your fists into the floorboards until they bled. You wanted to scream and cry and throw a tantrum. You would have prayed to a God that had never listened before that very moment if that meant he would give you a minute to defend yourself, proclaim your innocence, save your soul. The decision had been made, there was no going back. The Shelby name no longer belonged to you. It never would. If only you’d known how fast that title could be ripped from you. 
They moved on. None of them have reached out, spoken to you in secret. There were no letters, no calls, nothing. You grew a hard shell. Learned to adapt. To be on you own, completely alone. Without them, without him, you came to realize you were never the problem. You had never done anything wrong. You had not been born with a defect only he could sense. You were a child when he’d come back, so young, so fragile. You took his words to heart. All those years spent at the bottom, the youngest of the family, had taught you more than you ever thought. People believed him to be bulletproof. He was indestructible. Godly. You knew though, you knew the weakest parts of him. What kept him up at night. What drove him mad. You couldn’t get back all that time, all those years, your entire life. You couldn’t turn back the clock. You couldn’t make him change his ways. Those, he was too set in, a creature of habit. But you could make him pay. You could make him regret everything he’d ever said and done to you. Make him beg like you’d done countless times, your pleas ignored, berated. You could make him fear for his life. And when the time came, because it always would, you would not hesitate to pull the trigger the same way your brother had.
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ryuzakemo128 · 2 years
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Peaky Blinders (Older Sister Headcanons)
These are inspired by these headcanons and a lot of this is just inspired by the way the user has written them.
Being the fracturnal Twin of Arthur. Older than Thomas.
Being quite tall for being female. Two different coloured eyes, blue and brown. ( Example )
Keeping a journal for what she had to do the day after.
She takes care of the house after the mother died and the father abandoned them. (cooking, cleaning, mending clothes, etc.). Main care taker for her siblings.
(Before the war) Learning how to stitch up wounds and how to treat common illnesses from various doctors. So she can make sure her younger brother safe. (After the war) Learning how to become a better nurse for her siblings.
Going back to her roots to learn how to be a healer.
Putting the safety, health and well-being of her family over her own most of the time.
She doesn't like asking for help most of the time. If she can fix something without telling them or asking them for help. It's that much better.
(Between 1914 - 1919) She worked as a dressmaker while working part time in a factory away from home. Most of her earnings went straight into the care of her older and younger siblings. Even though they were never aware of it. As she never told them at the time.
Her hunger for knowledge was the only thing that motivated her, in terms of giving her family everything and anything. She wanted to make their lives easier. She wanted the best for them.
(After The War) She wanted her brothers ready for when they got back. She did everything and more to make sure the place looked amazing. To the point that she passed out in the living room while she was waiting.
There isn't always a clear difference between her being angry or her pretending to be angry.
A collection of scars from protecting her brothers.
Winter being her favourite season of the year.
Knitting gloves and sweaters for her brothers during winter.
Not remembering what her mother looked like after Finn turned 11.
After saving up so much of her money after her brothers came back home. She bought her own place months later. Just so she could give them more space at their home.
She tried being an artist while she was living at her own home.
Practicing whenever she had the time.
Ada being the only sibling that knows about the house she bought. At least while she was still decorating it.
Her favourite paintings are the portraits of her brothers and the one of her sister.
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Peaky Blinders: The Shelby Master List
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Thomas Shelby
Sparkling White (07/27/22)
Bloody Fight (06/12/23)
Arthur Shelby
John Shelby
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The Shelbys-
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zkvry · 8 months
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Are You Laughing at My Brother? | Shelby Brothers x Sister!Reader
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Summary : 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.
Warnings : cussing, misogyny, death threats, guns, descriptions of violence, racism
Additional Information : > takes place in early season 1 ; Billy Kimber era (minor spoilers) > written in third person perspective (she/her) > 847 words | 6 minutes
Author's Note : decided to use some gifs along the way, might be distracting for your reading - I apologise. My first work on here, please let me know how you find it! Enjoy <3
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"Are you laughing, at my brother?" She speaks, appearing from behind the bar. For the first time since they've dared to enter the Garrison, Billy Kimber and his two men flinched slightly at her sternness. This only lasted a split second. Still, it didn't go unnoticed.
Billy Kimber flashes a cocksure smirk, pleased at the presence of something less dreadful than matter at hand. "And what do we have here,"
John lets out a humourless laugh. "I'd be careful with that one. She's feisty," He warns Billy Kimber with an all-knowing look.
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Billy Kimber rakes his eyes over her physique. "This is no place for a whore - even a pretty one at that," He tuts mockingly, shaking his head.
Arthur inhales deeply as he fights the very last nerve to not cut the cheeky bastard across the face - to not slice his eyes for looking at his dearest little sister. The word 'whore' bounces around in his head. Arthur's lips twitch, knuckles turning white as he grips onto the arm rest for restraint.
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He was waiting for a signal - a sound or nod of approval from Tommy or Her. Hell, he thinks, even John could command it and he would bloody do it. No questions asked.
Nonetheless, She makes her presence known. Almost like clockwork - one of the Shelby brothers stand and holds out his chair. In this moment, it was John. He extends his hand and escorts her to his previously occupied seat with care. Recklessly, he drags a chair for himself from a nearby table beside them, and plops down.
Billy Kimber clears his throat wearily but still as arrogant as before. "Right, he's the oldest, you're the thickest. I'm told the boss is called tommy so it can't be this woman you lot here seem to worship. Then I'm guessing that's you, cause you're looking at me up and down like I'm a fucking tart, " He spits out.
Thomas finally unclenches his jaw, the throbbing pain creeping onto him. He puts on a calm façade. Unmoving, he looks to Her direction.
Only when he saw She hadn't intervene, he spoke. "I want to know what you want. And which one am I talking to, which one of you is the boss?" Thomas breathes out as he takes a puff from a cigarette. His finger darting around from Billy Kimber to the two men that accompanied him.
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Billy Kimber shoots up from his seat, knocking it to the ground. "I'm the fucking boss, alright!? Enough parley, you fixed the race without my permission. You fucking Gypsy scum. I run the races. You fixed one of 'em, so I'm going to have you shot against the post!" He declares - finger pointing threateningly to Thomas.
"Pick it up," She leans forward onto the table, hands intertwined infront of her.
Billy Kimber looks at her flabbergasted, "What?" He furrows his eyebrows, offended.
She stands slowly, the men around her straightening their backs in alert at her movement. She stares at him, unfriendly.
"I said," She continues, leaning forward once more, arms stretched out on the sides of the table, dominating the space at the table. "Pick. my chair. up," She repeats.
Billy Kimber remains stunned, seemingly not knowing what to do. The audacity of such a woman to demand him to pick up a chair? He was shocked to say the least, and outrageously insulted.
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Ready to argue and humiliate her, Billy Kimber opens his mouth but She was quicker.
"You swayed your arse in here like you own the place. Guns out like you're flaunting fuck knows what," She speaks fluently, rage settling in. "We fixed your race, you put a bullet in my ceiling. That's fair, but then you had to run that fucking mouthpiece of yours didn't ya eh?"
"Want to put a bullet in my brother's head, is that it?" Like a predator, She stalks closer to him.
As She approaches, one of Billy Kimber's men crouched down and picked up the fallen chair. Just as the chair was upright, She gathered her strength and slammed Kimber's shoulders down onto the seat and held him still.
"Why don't we put one in yours?" She whispers into his ear, patting harshly on his right shoulder.
In an instant, Kimber's two men draw their guns.
The Shelby brothers lurch forward, in efforts to protect their sister infront of them, moving to draw their own guns as well.
However, the men who were supposedly loyal to Billy Kimber pointed their guns at the man himself. A sinister smile creeps onto Her face.
"Let's do proper business, shall we Mister Kimber? Starting off with your races, " She declares, moving to lower the guns that have been drawn by her brothers and the two men working for Her.
She turns abruptly to face Kimber. "Though, they wouldn't be your races any longer after we're done here, would they? " Her face suggestive of diplomacy, but voice laced with threat.
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Clementina pt4
A/n: hey guys! This is officially the final part of this series. Please do leave your opinions in the comments, leave a like or re-blog. It’s all appreciated so much xx
I DO NOT GIVE PERMISSION FOR YOU TO REPOST THIS ON OTHER WEBSITES AND TRANSLATION OF THIS FIC.
Summery: The Shelby family are in for a shock when they find out they have a sister hiding in plain sight.
pt1. pt2. pt3
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Word count: 1,177
Clementina did not say a word to Tommy, his icy blue eyes pierced through the air, making her feel like he could see into her soul. The man did not smile at her, his face blank of emotion.One glance of those blue eyes told Clementina that he had a lifetime of struggles that hadn't been put into words, much like herself.
Eventually, when the doctors allowed Clementina to be discharged, with the help of Polly the young girl get herself dressed into a dress that Tommy had brought her a couple of days prior since the one she had at the orphanage was ruined by the blood and dirt from the years she had worn it and the previous girls that had it before her.
It had been arranged that Clementina would stay with Tommy since he now had enough money to get Clementina proper education, clothes, food and she would be with other young children, charlie and ruby. Polly did not want the young girl to be alone since she had been brought it up a dozen of other children.
On the way home to Tommys house, Clementina did not say a word. The air was brisk, over night it had snowed, not much but enough to leave a thin blanket of white on the ground. Clementina hadn't seen snow in her young life. She had heard of it in books that she had read but had not seen it with her own eyes.
The young girl adjusts herself in the seat beside Tommy, kneeling as she sticks her head out of the window, she wanted to see and smell the coldness on her face. The weather was a sort of cold that would freeze the blood of those who did not take adequate care to be warm at heart and core.
Tommy glances at the young girl, noticing that she was smiling to herself as she looks up to the sky, the clouds were a dark silver and black, they adorn the sky as if they long to kiss the land. Tommy wouldn't be surprised if it started to snow before the end of the day.
“ you'll catch a fever”  he warns, a hint of worry laced in his voice.
Clementina quickly sits back down in her seat, wrapping the blanket ,that Polly gave her for the ride home,around her shoulders it was the most beautiful blanket she had ever seen. It was woven with a wool as soft as what Clementina imagined the clouds would feel like. The blanket is the colour of lilacs. A stark contrast to the black interior of Tommy's car. The blanket brings together all the colours of springtime daydreams, bringing Clementina a welcoming heat hugging her delicate body.
“sorry” the young girl apologises, feeling a warm glow rise up to her cheeks, the young girl barely knows the old man, the only thing she knows is that he is her brother, but she knew she didn't want to make him angry like the nuns, she was scared that he would react the same way.
“why are you apologising, ey?” he smirks slightly, raising an eyebrow “ Shelby's don't apologise” Tommy shared, his tone light making sure Clementina knew he wasn't angry at her.
Clementina looks towards Tommy, not saying anything. For the rest of the car journey Clementina leans her head back on the seat, watching the trees pass.
As soon as Tommy turns the corner into his estate, Clementina sits up and her jaw drops ever so slightly, her eyes widening in disbelief as an involuntary gasp leaves her mouth quietly “woah”
Tommy chuckles ever so slightly, he drives around the fountain that sits in front of the house, Clementina quickly looks towards Tommy “ you live here” she asks amazed, she had never seen a house quite so big for only one family.
“ indeed i do, and you'll be living here as well” Tommy climbs out of his car, walking across the gravel to help Clementina out of the car. She gently grabs his hand, stepping out of the car. The curtain to Tommys office twitches making Clementina look towards the window as Tommy places his hand on her back guiding her into the house.
Clementina eyes sparkled as she looks at the different paintings on the walls, making the corner of Tommys lips to tug upwards as he guides her to his office. The young girl had been told before leaving the hospital that her other brothers, her sister and her son will be at the house waiting to meet her.
When they get to Tommys office, Clementina held Tommys hand as he opens the door, her heart beats faster in her chest, she could hear the blood pumping through her veins. She was anxious. Her hand in Tommy's begins to sweat as she glances between the group of people as she entered the office.
“hello” she whispers, her voice small compared to the others. She waves slightly, staying close to Tommy as he sits at his desk. Everyone begins to introduce themselves, Clementina immediately getting comfortable with Ada.
Tommy watched as Clementinas curious green eyes slide over her surroundings, observing everyone and everything. Could her really give her a better life? Would she be safe with him?. However, Tommy realised that it was a risk he'd have to take not just for himself but for Clementina. As she speaks to everyone one by one, she felt less anxious and more relaxed. Clementina was stood by Polly now, watching as the last man to introduce himself walks over to her.
“i'm Arthur, the funny brother” Clementina looks down at the hand that Arthur outstretched towards her. She crept closer to him, then shakes his hand gently.
“you have a funny looking thing on your face” she states innocently, pointing to his moustache, causing everyone in the room to laugh. Tommy smiles, chuckling as he shakes his head.
“i told you Arthur, you need to get rid of it” Ada joked, tutting.
Arthur scuffs “ alright.alright” he grumbles, walking back over to the seat he was sitting in.
Clementina walks back over to tommy's desk, going to sit on the seat that he had placed there for her when she sees the most beautiful horse in the field. she rushes over to the window and smiles “ you have a horse” she asks, her whole face glowing from happiness.
Tommy stands up and walks over to the window, standing beside Clementina “i have five” he corrects her, taking a puff of his cigarette “ do you like horses?” Tommy questions Clementina, looking down at her, watching as she jumps up and down on her feet slightly as she observes the horse walking around the field.
Clementina nods eagerly and looks up at Tommy “ they are my favourite animal, i had a toy horse but it broke” she explains.
From the corner of the office, Polly chuckles and shakes her head “unbelievable, we have another Thomas Shelby” she smiles.
“ god save us” Polly mumbles.
A/N: well that's the end of the story about Clementina. i hope you enjoyed it. I actually can't believe i have completed my very first fanfic series.
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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.”
686 notes · View notes
unknowntoyou2205 · 1 year
Text
Never threaten with the Shelby sister (1/2)
Info: Tommy Shelby never believed y/n when she said a guy had threatened her life for something her brother did, but she realizes the truth when it's too late.
Relationship: Tommy Shelby x sister
Masterlist
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Y/n Shelby lived a completely different life to her brothers, when she finished school she went on to college and got a nurses degree and moved on to get an actual job instead of the gangsta life her brothers lived. Growing up y/n was always protected by her brothers, when they came home from the war Tommy did all he could to prevent his sister from seeing the life he had when he was abroad at war. He tried to keep her away from the life he and his brothers lived, but ultimately he couldn't prevent his enemies from knowing that he had younger siblings, and that his prized possesion was the baby of the group, Y/n Shelby. Everyone knew that y/n was the apple in Tommys eyes and that if they even came close to hurting her, they would pay. Though perhaps not everyone did, or some were more daring than the others.
Y/n finished up her shift and started making her way home from the hospital. Rooting through her bags fro the house keys she didn't realize that there was someone behind her until she was grabbed and pulled backwards into an alley way. Y/n tried to dig her heals into the ground to prevent her attacker from taking her when two men came and grabbed her from her attacker, pinning her to the wall and allowing her head to smack against the bricks. She groaned as her vision blurred before clearing, only to see a man come into vision.
"Ahh the young shelby girl, guess th rumours are true when they say you've got the body that men crave." THe man taunted her, coming closer to her face.
"Who the hell are you?" Y/n demanded to know, also moving her head closer to the man only for him to push it back into the wall.
"You don't know me but your brother dure does. I believe his name is Tommy Shelby."
Y/n went to move her knee up to the mans crotch but the man seen her intention and grabbed her leg before she could move, and smirked as he placed it up around his waist.
"Now now, be nice, we just need you to bring Tommy boy a little message from us. Tell him that if he doesn't give back what is mine, his dearest sister will pay the price." The man spoke, bringing a hand up to grab y/ns chin, before moving her head to place a kiss to her cheek.
"Who are you?" Y/n asked again, her voice trembling a bit.
"Doesn't matter who I am, your brother will know when you pass on the message." The man spoke before nodding to the two men who had her pinned to the wall "Let her go."
Y/n gasped as the men pushed her away from the wall and onto the ground, winching upon impact. She glanced up at the men who attacked her as they laughed and left her there to gather herself up and head on home.
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Tommy Shelby sat at the kitchen table with a cigarette in his mouth and a glass of whiskey in his hand as he waited for his youngest sibling to come home. Usually, when he came home late at night, y/n would be in the kitchen waiting for him to get home and make sure he ate before leaving for bed. She would tell him about any troubles she had in her day of work and in turn he would tell her how well they got on with the gambling business that day. Some days he would walk her home from work and they would stop at the stables to see his horses, and y/n would get up on one and they’d go for a short run before heading home to Grace and Charles for dinner.
Today however, none of that happened. When Tommy went to surprise his sister outside the local hospital one of her colleagues told him that she had finished earlier today and had made her way home but when he got home the only people there were Grace and their son. Which is why he was now in his seat at the kitchen table awaiting the sound of the key in the door. But when one hour turned to two, Tommy grew worried and got up to go look for her. He had just grabbed his coat when he heard the front door open and y/n stepped through it, her work dress dirty and hair out of place.
Y/n sat at the kitchen table and placed her hands on her face, sighing in frustration as the tears  began to fall down her cheeks. She looked up at the pot that began to boil as her vision was clouded with tears, afraid for what would happen if Tommy didn’t soon believe her.
“Tommy.” Y/n spoke ,relieved to see him.
“Where the fuck have you been?” Tommy cursed at his sister, and y/n flinched at the harsh tone he used  at her.
“Tommy, let me explain.” y/n stated, hanging up her coat and heading towards the kitchen, Tommy following.
“Please do, why were you out this late. I went to walk you home from work only for one of the nurses you work with to tell me that you finished early today. So imagine my surprise when I got home to see that you weren’t here either. I was expecting the worst till you just strolled in as nothing happened.” Tommy raged to his sister as she filled the pot with water to boil for some tea.
“Oh a lot has happened trust me. This man…”
“Your seeing a man and he made you late is it? Well I want to see this man and…”
“Tommy no, it’s really nothing like that. This group of men attacked me and this man threatened me, told me to tell you that if you don’t give back what’s his than your dearest sister will pay the price.”
So it was a group of men now. I think your trying to cover for where you actually were.”
“No Tommy I’m not. I think this man was serious. Whatever you took from him he wants back.” Y/n stated, moving to lean against the table as she looked at her brother.
“And who was this man y/n? Who threatened your life if I don’t give back what’s his hmm?” Tommy asked, narrowing his eyes at y/n.
“I dunno, he said you’d know who he was when I told you.” Y/n shrugged her shoulders, looking at her brother with pleading eyes.
“Thomas, what’s going on?” Grace asked as she came down the stairs to the kitchen where Tommy stared at his sister.
“Nothing love, let’s head to bed.” Tommy stated, heading towards Grace and following her out of the kitchen.
“Tommy please, I really don’t think this guy is fooling around. He seemed dead serious of what will happen.” Y/n pleaded with her brother as she moved to the kitchen door.
“Right y/n, and I am dead serious, get rid of the man before I find out who your getting involved with.” Tommy stated, pointing a finger at his sister before heading upstairs with Grace.
“I’m not fooling around with anyone.” Y/n cried out but her cried fell on deaf ears.
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Three days later y/n was on getting ready for work. The last few days had been emotional to say the least. Tommy still refused to believe her and as a result, Grace had asked her to leave their house for to allow things to cool down as their conflict was starting to effect Charles. So y/n had returned back to Pollys home where she had consoled in her aunt about what was happening. Y/n feared for what could happen if Tommy soon didn’t believe her and Polly was running out of ways to comfort her youngest niece. Polly couldn’t believe that Tommy didn’t believe his sister, the same sister that stuck by his side at his worst.
Shouting bye to Polly and grabbing her lunch for the day, y/n began to make her way to work for the day. Polly had asked Michal to walk his cousin to work so the young man was trailing behind her to allow her some space. As they turned the corner to the hospital y/n can’t help but stop as she felt someone was watching her. She looked around to see if she could see anyone, and as Michal went to ask her what was wrong a shot was heard. Y/n and Michal ducked their heads as Michal ran towards y/n, trying to get her to safety. He pushed her onto the ground behind a car as a figure came into view.
Y/n looked to the left of the car to see another man from before coming towards them. She hit Michal’s arm to catch his attention as the man lifted his gun towards her.
“Y/n Shelby, I tried to warn you.” The man called out, taking a shot to the ground close to where the duo hid.
“I tried to tell him, he wouldn’t listen to me. Please, leave me be.” Y/n called out to the man with a shaky voice.
“Who is he?” Michal asked his cousin, seeing the look of fear present on her face.
“I dunno, someone Tommy crossed.” Y/n shrugged before flinching as a bullet went through the window above them.
The two covered their heads with their arms as glass showered them and Michal got out his gun.
“Since when do you have a gun?” Y/n whisper shouted at her younger cousin.
“Tommy gave it to me. Told me I was a Shelby so needed one for the family business.” Michal explained briefly as he peaked over the cars bonnet to see if he could see where the man was.
“Yeah, family business is great alright.” Y/n muttered, “Does aunt Pol know?”
“Yeah.” Michal spoke before taking a shot in the direction of the man.
All y/n could hear were bangs continuously going off. Pain encased her body as another shot was fired in her direction, hitting her in the stomach and she cried out, gaining the attention of her cousin. Michal glanced down at the girl his aunt told to protect when he felt something hit his shoulder. He groaned in pain and looked up to see the men fall to the ground as another bang was heard, and Michal turned his attention to his cousin as she struggled on the ground.
“Michal…” Y/n tried to get her cousins attention before a sharp pain was felt on her shoulder.
“What?” Michal asked before seeing the other man.
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Thomas Shelby was a man of many things, and one things that was known was his ability to be stubborn. Never would you hear him apologize for his actions or admit if he was wrong. But this changed when it came to his youngest sibling. Y/n took out the best of him, so after their falling out and y/n leaving the manor, Tommy’s attitude became more rigid. No one was an exception to the hot worded conversations he gave, and his aunt was no exception.
And so, he did. Tommy stared at his aunt for a few minutes before sighing in frustration and grabbing his coat, putting on his cap as he left. Hands in his pockets, Tommy strolled along the back alley towards the hospital where y/n work. But the sight he seen wasn’t one he expected. One-minute he seen y/n and Michal were walking towards the hospital, the nest gun shots were heard and the two were ducking their heads as they ran to a random car for cover. Tommy looked around and seen no one, but grabbed his gun as he moved closer to the scene. Two men came into his vision and his blood ran cold, realizing who it was. Glaring ahead of him, he raised his hand, shooting towards the men, wounding one on impact. Hearing a gasp, he recognized the voice as y/n and instantly ran closer to the other man, causing him to turn and look at the Shelby man who pointed the gun at him.
“Thomas Shelby, I am very disappointed in you. Disregarding your sister like that.”  Polly exclaimed to her nephew as she walked into the manor.
“If this is about y/n and her attitude than I don’t want to hear about it.” Tommy stated sharply, causing Polly to tut in disapproval.
“Oh you will listen to me Tommy, because you and I both know that y/n doesn’t easily become scared, and I have never seen her as scared as she has been since them men threatened her for your stupidity.”
“I’m sure she’s fine Pol, she’ll get over it.” Tommy rolled his head up before lighting his cigarette.
“Go to her Tommy, see for yourself.” Polly stated, staring hard at Tommy.
“Never threaten the Shelby sister.” Tommy stated before pulling the trigger, the man dropping to the ground.
Part 2
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captaincvans · 2 years
Text
Spoiled
Pairing: Shelby Siblings x Shelby!Sister
Summary: Tommy and Ada was on a mission to gather some important goods for the family, and while Tommy scares the life out of the seller, Ada tries to be the voice of reason.
Warnings: More Shelby fluff!
Word Count: 586
Author’s Note: Please accept this tiny writing as I get used to my new schedule, and attempt to overcome writer's block for my Shelby!Sister series. Comments/reblogs feeds a writer's soul!
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“I can give you a list of what we have,” the boy stuttered. He looked no older than 16 year-old, fear in his eyes, and he scuffled uneasily under the gaze of the leader of the Peaky Blinder. 
“No,” Tommy said, shaking his head. Both eyebrows raised as if he was shocked that the boy would even ask such a ridiculous question. 
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“Show me the options.” It wasn’t a request, and he knew that people were slowly making their way out of the shop to avoid any kind of confrontation.  
“Well, Mr. Shelby, most people like this one here, but this one has been the popular choice lately.” The boy pointed to all the options behind the glass encasement, and with sharp eyes, Tommy looked at each of them carefully. 
“Jesus, Tommy,” Ada scoffed, rolling her eyes. “It’s not that serious.”
Tommy turned to his younger sister. “I didn’t realize you were the head of the family, Ada.”
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She rolled her eyes again, turning around to look at the store. It was a dainty place, having just opened up- a family business that proved to be no threat to their own business. Though, there was room for doubt with the way Tommy was dealing with business on their turf.
Tommy turned to the boy in front of him, having come to a conclusion. “I’d like one of each.” 
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“Got it, Mr. Shelby.” 
The leader stared at the boy as he moved around, ignoring the bell of someone entering the shop and his brothers calling his name. He only turned around when he heard his name being called by a high-pitched voice, one that would not be happy until all his attention was on her. 
“Tommy!” The youngest Shelby yelled and jumped into his open arms. “Did you get the ice cream?”
“I did, love.” He pointed to the display with all their options. “Got a pint of everything.”
She gasped dramatically. “You did?! But Aunt Pol said we shouldn’t.”
“Then we shouldn’t tell her, eh?” 
The little one put her finger on her lips. “I won’t tell.”
“Good.” He kissed her forehead, letting her wrap her arms around his neck. “Which flavour will you try first?”
She stared at the choices carefully, eyebrows furrowed in focus. It was that look that confirmed the youngest Shelby’s relation to the rest of her family- Tommy especially. The piercing gaze that she had perfected at the young age of seven. “Chocolate!” 
“Hmm, good choice.” 
“All set, Mr. Shelby.” The boy placed the two paper bags full of ice cream on the counter. 
“Arthur, John, pay the man.” Tommy nodded in their direction, but quickly turned his attention back to his youngest sister. 
“You spoil her too much, Tommy,” Ada commented. 
“That’s rich coming from you, Ada.” Arthur snorted at his sister’s comment. “You bought out the toy store last time she visited you in London.” 
“I wanted to give her a good experience for her first time in London,” she defended. 
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"Oi, behave," Tommy said sharply, knowing if they were to continue bickering, Ada would pull out her gun.
"Yea! No fucking fighting!" Y/N added, having heard her older brother use that phrase. The brother in question could only shrug with a small smile.
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“Well, you heard the lass. No fighting or else fucking none of you get ice cream." Y/N giggled at her brother's words as they made their way out of the shop and back home for a classic Shelby ice cream party.
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Text
Escape to the Eden Club - Sister! reader x Shelby Brothers
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Summary; Emily Shelby wants to spend the night away from the confines of Small Heath and decides to head out to the famed Eden Club of London. All was well until a certain trio arrived and reigned havoc.
Author's Note; I took some liberties with the plot/ location of the Eden Club itself. That being said, this is still meant to be aligned closely with the fight scene from season 2. As always, let me know what you think.
Eager to escape into the cool evening air, Emily wrapped her shawl loosely around her shoulders and took stock of her purse. A small roll of bills, lipstick, a dainty opal hairbrush, and a shining Colt Pocket Hammerless Arthur had given her some time ago. With one last glance to the mirror, she smoothed out her dress and went for her bedroom door, shutting it softly behind her. Seeing as Polly would still be at the church for sometime, she decided it would be best to inform her brother on her intentions. Emily approached Thomas’ office and peered in to see the stout man sitting behind his modest desk. She rapped lightly on the door frame and was beckoned inside by just a flick of her brother’s eyes instead of a word. After only taking one step into the room she spoke in the most clear, confident tone she could muster.
“I’m going out with Ada this evening. I’ll be back by midnight.” Hoping the conversation would end there she turned to leave only to be stopped by her brothers words. Still not looking up from the papers spread across the wood before him he cleared his throat and said,
“Going out with Ada, eh? Why is this the first I’m hearing about this?” Emily rolled her eyes, hoping her brother didn’t see, and replied,
“Because I didn’t think there would be any issue.” Emily didn’t like lying, a quality instilled in her by her Aunt Polly since her youth. Though, as a Shelby, it came naturally. Exhausting Emily further, Thomas continued in his questioning. 
“Where about are you two going?” Calmer this time, as to not arouse suspicion, the girl replied, 
“Just to dinner, in Digbeth.” 
“The name of the establishment?” With more attitude, she replied, 
“The Carriage.” The man sat for a moment, only sparing her one more glance as he searched her face for deceit. He apparently found none. 
“Be back by 11.” Emily offered a small smile and made her way out of the home on Watery Lane, calling over her shoulder, 
“I’ll see you at 11:30, Tom.” 
The night was still young and the chance for her to walk the streets of Birmingham alone and untethered was an excitement of a life time. She wouldn’t just be walking the streets of her hometown tonight, though. After meeting her friend Scarlett by the cut they hailed a cab and set out for London. 
The passage was just under 2 hours before they arrived to the Eden Club just outside of the city. After tipping the cabman and exiting out into the brisk night they set for the front doors of the avant-garde establishment. Scarlet giggled with excitement as they approached the doorman who knew better than to question two striking young women trying to enter the club. The main hall filled was filled with the smell of smoke and sex and the band played on to ring in the young night. It wasn’t often that Emily got to leave the holdings of Small Health, let alone the claws of her brothers. After Ada’s departure, Thomas was more worried than ever about loosing his youngest sister. This fear often manifested into the overarching control of Emily’s every move. He felt it was both an act of love and an act of necessity. Emily knew she was deeply loved by her brother and cared for him in the same way. Yet, at the end of the day, if Tom could have his thumb on the pulse of every member of the family, only then could he ensure their safety, or so he believed. 
“Isn’t this amazing!” Scarlett squealed in Emily’s ear. Scarlett was one of the few friends that Thomas approved of. She came from a respectable, working-class family who raised horses and often did work with the Shelby family. 
“I know.” Emily said back, raising her voice to soar over the loud music. The pair approached the bar and beckoned the attendant for a drink. Soon after, two men approached the women introducing themselves as Paul, a tall man with short black hair in a pressed grey suit, and David, a slightly stout man with dusty blonde hair and rosy cheeks who’s slim black suit made him look taller than he was. Paul explained that Emily had caught his eye from the moment she had walked in and it would be a crime to let a woman like herself buy her own drinks. It was only out of the confines of Birmingham that handsome men would approach her, unafraid of people she was related to. She could speak freely and finally feel a sense of control she was never afforded at home. 
“Would you care to dance?” Paul asked the young woman and carefully took her hand in his. They left their drinks at the table where David and Scarlett sat completely enthralled with one another. He led her to the dance floor just as a new song started over at the bands stage. Spinning around the floor Emily couldn’t help but laugh at the happiness she felt in Paul’s arms. He leaned in close to her face and breathed, 
“You are absolutely stunning.” His breath smelled of bourbon and lust. This was Emily’s dream; to be young and free. Finally she was living it. 
She only noticed the violent outburst taking place across the large room once she heard the crashing noise of a wooden table full of glassware hit the ground. The band cut to a halt and gasps filled the audience. Out of instinct, Paul shoved Emily behind him as he assessed the situation. When it became clear that the men dressed in black meant to do harm he ushered his date back to their table to collect their friends and make a run for the door. Through the crowd, Emily peered over the bobbing heads of patrons ducking and running at the chaos she noticed a familiar jacket fly up as one of the unknown assailants struck another man across the face. As he turned to face another man she saw the face of her brother adorned with a busted lip and small drops of another mans blood. 
“Fuck.” She whispered and made a run for her table. Scarlett and her companion had already gathered their things and stood to meet the other couple. The four of them hid behind the large sofa they had once sat on while they waited for a path to clear to the main exit of the building. Emily grabbed her friend by the arm and swung the girl around to meet her scared face. The two men were conversing anxiously at the best plan of escape while the women spoke in hushed words. 
“It my fucking brother!” 
“What?” Scarlett gasped “Are you sure?” The two women peered over the couch to see the men still going at it near the center of the room. This time, Arthur’s face came into view through the madness. 
“Fuck it’s the lot of them. We need to go. Now!” Emily shoved the other girl forward and the men followed suit. A gunshot rang out through the building and they all dropped to the floor covering their heads. Paul grabbed Emily’s shoulders hovered his body over hers to protect her. When the men quit fighting and stood to see where the shot had come from all became quiet. The four took this opportunity to head straight for the exit. Emily only heard the indistinct echo of Tommy’s voice before clearing the doorway. 
Pouring into the street patrons ran every conceivable direction to vacate the path of anymore possible bullets. After reaching the end of the block Paul spoke, out of breath. 
“Is everyone ok?” Each took their turn affirming that they were not hurt, just a bit shaken. Emily turned to her friend communicating with just their eyes that they all needed to get leave before her brothers had a chance to exit the building. “Alright, I need to get you home.” Paul said and took Emily’s shoulder and David followed suit with Scarlett. 
“No!” Emily said too forcefully, “I - We will get home, I promise. You need to get on your way,” she explained gently. Truthfully, she wanted nothing more than to go anywhere with Paul, that handsome, caring gentleman. He stood firm on his words and said again,
“Emily, really, I need to make sure you get home. I don’t know who the fuck those bastards were.” Scarlett let out a worried laugh at the irony of the situation and still couldn’t take her eyes off the doorway expecting any moment that the men would emerge and see them. Emily took her arm from him though it pained her to do so. 
“Please, Paul, really. You need to get going.” She said urgently. He took a step back and dropped his eyes to the ground, looking hurt. Defeated, he touched David on the shoulder, prompting him to let go of Scarlett’s arm. 
“It was lovely meeting you,” was all he spoke before turning and walking off into the dark alley way. Emily rifled around in her purse and pulled out some small bills shoving them into Scarlett’s hand. 
“Go. Now!” She said before beginning to turn away. 
“What? I’m not leaving you!” Her friend yelled back, grabbing onto her wrist, stopping her movement.
“Scarlett, go! Please. Before they come out.” She pleaded. Even her friend knew that there would be hell to pay if her family found out that she had been running around, getting into trouble with the Shelby girl. With eyes darting between the front door of the Eden Club and Emily’s worried expression Scarlett forced herself to embrace her friend. 
“Please be safe.” Emily nodded in response and they both took off into opposite directions. After quickly crossing in front of the building, the younger Shelby tried her best to hail a cab as many former club goers tried to do the same. Every few seconds she found herself looking over her shoulder praying that she wouldn’t turn to find her brother’s red face looking back at her. After a few failed attempts she saw a empty taxi just across the way parked right next to the entrance of the club. If she hurried, she might just be able to make it before her brothers emerged. With a quick decision she bolted as fast as her heels would carry her across the street and made it just steps the the cab door before she felt the shoulder of a much larger man connect with her own. As she was shoved back onto the hood of the cab she couldn’t help but shout,
“watch where yer’ fucking goin!” Just as any other Shelby would. She watched in anger as that very man climbed into the cab himself and the car began to drive away forcing her to move back onto the side walk. Collecting herself and still cursing the man under her breath she only made it a few steps from her place in front of the club before she heard her name called from behind her. 
It was John. The word pierced her soul like a knife. Without thinking, she swung around to see him standing only about 10 feet behind her as Thomas and Arthur filed out of the door. Without a second to reconsider, she ran. Though slowed down by her shoes and the lingering effects of alcohol, she carried herself briskly down the street. 
“Emily Lenora Shelby!” She heard Arthur roar from behind her. Continuing down the sidewalk shoving between the still clearing crowd she did not stop. Just before she reached the nearest intersection a strong hand gripped her shoulder and spun her around causing her to stumble. She was caught by her oldest brother’s hands of either shoulder lightly shaking her to emphasize each word as they came from his red, blood splattered face. 
“What the fuck are you doing here? Are you bloody mental?” She squinted to shield herself from the yelling as she put her hands to his chest to push him away. He wasn’t planning on letting her go lest she run again until he felt the hand of Tom guide him away from the younger girl. She almost preferred the outright rage of Arthur over the chilling coldness of Thomas, at least with the former, his true intentions were always clear. John soon arrived behind the men and took to consoling Arthur while Thomas pushed the girl to side of the road. Unwilling, she attempted to hold her ground against the man though a stronger grip on her upper arm and a stern look from his piercing eyes encouraged her to comply. She kept her head low has he was still catching his breath from the conflict and subsequent jog to catch his fleeing sister. Finally, in a low, gruff voice, he spoke. 
“In the club, ye?” She nodded her head but still wouldn’t meet the man’s eyes. Instead, she peered past him to see John and Arthur leaned in close to one another talking. Arthur waving his hands around like a lunatic while John tries to calm him down. Out of all her brothers, her and John butted heads the most. Maybe it was the age difference, sitting at just enough years to give them not much in common but enough to argue about. Though, when it was all said and done, she knew John would have her back just as much, if not more, than anyone else. She met his eyes in a quick glance before turning back to Tom’s shoes. Now, the more pragmatic Shelby took in a deep breath to gather his thoughts before continuing the conversation with his sister. 
“Why? Eh?” He said quieter this time. She couldn’t tell if his low voice was an attempt to deescalate the situation or to intimidate her into telling the truth. Well, the truth as it may be, wasn’t that interesting. Emily shrugged and only spared him a small glance up. She went to the Eden club that evening for the same reason as any other girl of her year would; to have fun. 
“You have no business being at those clubs. Getting yourself fucking killed, right?” He said lowering himself to her level, even closer to her face. Her jaw tensed as she thought of a thousand words she could say back to him.
“Everything was fine until you bastards shot up the place.”
“Weren’t you just at the same club, Tom?”
“It’s none of your business what I do.”
Using her better judgment though, she held her tongue. The irony of the situation was not lost on Tommy. He knew that the standard he held for his sister was much different than he held for the men of the family, though he held it steadfast. At the end of the day, he knew Emily was a good girl. Smart, calculated, quick, and usually honest. When the silence hung in the air for too long, he took a gentle hand and guided her face to meet his eyes. 
“Don’t scare me like that again.” He said pointedly with his finger pointed at her face. Emily pursed her lips and gave a curt nod before he pulled her in for a quick but firm hug and placed one kiss on the top of her head. Trying to break away from the clutches are her brother once more she took a step away from Thomas and said, 
“I’ll see you at home,” before attempting to leave in the opposite direction. He let out a sigh once again and wrapped a strong, possessive hand around her arm once more. His lips parted and he eyebrow went up in astonishment, almost as if he was testing her to defy him once again. She looked in his eyes a moment longer, unwavering, before following him back to the other men. Thomas cleared his throat and released the grasp on the girl before speaking, 
“Let’s just go home, shall we.” The four walked in uncomfortable silence back to the car, just over a block away from the fateful scene. As they walked, her oldest brother moved closer to her eventually putting a hand on her upper back and bending down to her level.
“You knows I just want to protect you, right, love?” He offered in a nicer tone than before. Emily knew and nodded a reply. 
“I know.” 
“It’s just you can’t go running around like that.” Before he could get another sentence out, Thomas called out from the front of the group. 
“She knows, brother.”  They eventually made it to the Bentley and it was John that opened the door for his sister to enter the back seat. As she took the less-than-sober step up into the vehicle her brother gently pushed her, just to see how unstable she was.
“Acting like a fuckin’ harlot,” John laughed quietly to chastise the younger girl. Quickly, Emily turned to face him hunched over in the car and raised her purse as if she was going to hit him. 
“Oi, you fuckin’ bastard!” She seethed. Before the two could go at it Thomas darted a look at them in the rear view mirror and raised his voice in a menacing shout. 
“Enough!” Was all it took for the pair to quiet down and sit silently for the rest of the ride home. 
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pherelesytsia · 2 years
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Who did this to you...? -little update...
Hey my dears,
I would like to inform you that for the next few weeks/months I will be posting a new chapter of Who did this to you? once a week ❤️ You need not to worry, I have no intention of ending this series but I have decided not to upload the third part this week due to the fact that it still requires some finishing touches. I hope you can forgive me. Feel hugged❤️
Thomas Shelby Masterlist
Part One
Part Two
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