smoke storm. peaky blinders

𝗧𝘄𝗲𝗹𝘃𝗲

"Good old whiz-bang, reminded me of it the other day," Arthur said, his voice cheering up again after his last sad bought of words. "Said the old boys are taking their medals down the cut and throwing them in, just like our Tommy did."

Danny whiz-bang. The man they'd killed and buried in the city cemetery. She'd seen him once, raging from the doors of the Garrison in a flood of hysterics, the typical sign of shell-shock, as they called it. But if Danny whiz bang is in London, who- or what- is in his grave?

Adelaide dared not hope. She didn't get a second to, before a great, booming voice was interrupting them all.

"It's a boy." Polly Gray's shout echoed through the empty room. It was as painful as a cry, as sharp and angry as a scream.

"Pol? Polly?" Confusion was evident in Tommy's words, his hands held in front of him as the other boys came to grip their aunt's arms, once her wolf rage had been noticed. She reached for him still. "Woah! Woah! Pol!"

"But the police came and took his father away. Don't you dare look at me like that. You liar!"

Words were spat like venom from her lips. Angry tears streamed down her cheeks, carved deep and mournful, as if they'd made the same tracks before. Tommy could do nothing but watch her, realisation slowly dawning on his face as she continued to glare. Polly was accusing him of turning in Freddie Thorne, despite his wife, Tommy's sister, being on the birthing bed.

"You liar," she repeated, eyes like fiery pits. Polly eventually stilled, her shoulders dropping in solemn defeat, and Arthur let her go, John following quickly.

Adelaide continued to watch for his reaction. Tommy was staring widely still, slightly shaken from her shouting, hands still held in front of him in a calming motion. She wondered if he had done it, and what that made of him if he had. Did he think so little of his family, of love? Surely not. But Adelaide was reminded of the fact that she did not know the man who stood in front of her. Not truly.

"Tommy..." she began, voice trailing, not knowing what to say. He had too much to explain, to make up.

"The private room," Tommy said in a voice that was far quieter than normal. It was unsettling. He waited a moment, before looking up, uttering her name slowly, "Adelaide."

For a moment, she waited, until she lead the way into the smaller room, back towards his silent steps. When she could feel his presence looming by the closed door, she finally turned, casting eyes upon a stilled face- now emotionless and revealing nothing compared to the tell-all expressions he'd shown seconds before.

He's innocent in this, Adelaide thought, remembering all she knew of the man. Though it wasn't looking to be such a safe opinion when his own aunt thought otherwise. But as much as he might've been harsh and unforgiving, if there was one thing she'd learned while being in Small Heath, it was that family meant everything to Tommy Shelby. He would not go back on that now. Freddie Thorne was family, whether he liked it or not.

Even if he did do it, it holds no matter to me. This was good for him to trust her. That's what she told herself anyway, when it came to her own intentions.

"You didn't do it, did you?" Adelaide said, levelling her eyes forward to his.

"You believe I didn't do it?"

His hand was on her cheek then, eyes so distrustful yet wanting. She leaned forward, brows furrowed and sure.

"Freddie Thorne is family. You may not like the fact but you cannot change it," Adelaide said, finally out loud. "And from what I know of Thomas Shelby, he doesn't turn his back on family."

Without a seconds notice, Tommy placed his other hand against her neck, and pulled her closer until he was kissing her. It took Adelaide a moment to realise what was happening, before her own hands were snaking towards him, fingers grazing the back of Tommy's neck, sending shivers down his spine. It was surprising- Tommy kissed her like he had no regrets, like he was sure of what he was doing.

Hands were around him, grasping for more, being rewarded when he pushed them backwards, flush against the table of the private room, which was still littered with discarded glasses that Grace had not yet collected. Her hands fell backwards, leaning against the table even as the kiss deepened.

But Adelaide let her hand slip, sending her sliding backwards until she was leaning against elbows to hold her body up, purposefully breaking the kiss. Tommy's hands came to lay either side of her hips, but he could do nothing but stare down at her, waiting for Adelaide's gaze to finally reach his, but she squeezed her eyes shut tighter.

His kiss was still hot against her lips, but she couldn't let it go on. She hated herself. Hated that she'd let it go on for so long, that she'd knowingly fallen into a trap and not fought to get out. Adelaide had wanted this, had craved it in her core, but it should not have happened.

'You've gone soft, Adelaide,' Robert's words were fresh in her mind. What would her brother think? The credibility of her plans would have crumbled, had he found out about her desires. But that was not her only problem...

"Adelaide," he began, but she silenced him but finally opening her eyes.

"Tell me you didn't do the exact thing with Grace the other day," she said, voice barely above a deadly whisper. She had seen them. "At the church."

For once, Thomas Shelby was struck into silence, looking as if she'd slapped him. Adelaide let out a sigh as he pulled away, letting her rose from where she'd fallen against the table.

"That was a mistake, Thomas."

Edited