#and i'm in the middle of new girl and peaky blinders

[justrainandcoffee]

Against all odds (Alfie Solomons x fem!oc) 2x03

Peaky Blinders - Hunger Games crossover

• First part masterlist - Second Part masterlist → 2x01 2x02

Summary: Two months and counting. That's the time that passed between the end of the games and the moment where they were. Everything but good news is all what people living in District 13 receive. || The Capitol finally shows its cards. || Mr. Van Trapp helps Alfie. || It's over midnight when a soldier wakes Campbell up with news.

Warnings: Mentions of death.

Words: 2.2k.

News about the finding of the missing hovercraft, took the victors and friends by surprise.

If it wasn't because of his father, Bonnie Gold was ready to kill Campbell for hiding such information. His girlfriend was dead and president of district 13 was lying to them to keep them happy.

Until Alfie heard what he shouldn't listen to and he spread the word.

That same day, Campbell allowed the Golds, Alfie, Samuel Coldwell go there along with a squad for protection.

The hovercraft was still there, rain helped to extinguish the fire and now it was nothing but a lot of wires and steal completely useless. Both bodies, were just charred corpses. Bones were the only thing that allowed them to know they once were people.

Alfie felt sorry for the kid. Bonnie was just a young boy and probably the girl was his first love. The teary eyes and his father hugging him, while the soldiers were burying her, was enough to leave them alone.

"Campbell is right," Samuel said next to him "Rose isn't here."

"No, she's not. But in middle of fucking nowhere, the only hope I have is that Snow captured her. Why? I don't know. I always thought that he had a soft spot for her…that's before he killed your family."

"Snow has a particular way to show his love for his people, right?" Samuel snorted kicking a rock on the ground. "We better go, Alfie, there's nothing here for us."

After burying both bodies, everyone there left back to district 13, where things weren't much better.

.

In fact, things in district 13 were horrible. For the first time in over a month, they had news from the Capitol. Until now, the faces of the last dead tributes were on tv almost all the time blaming the rebels for their deaths. News trying to calm down the spirits around the capitol were also frequent. But of course they didn't show the massacre committed by the Capitol around Panem. No news about the bombs in district 8 and 12. The killings of the injured people and the innocents. No news about the public executions.

Caesar Flickerman was there that day smiling as always with the lights illuminating his bright hair and white teeth.

Nobody knew who was the boy sitting next to him until Aurora yelled.

"Brad! That's my boyfriend! What's he doing there?! He was safe! They promised me he was going to be safe with our baby!"

The adults around her looked at the girl who was crying. Promises those days had no value, apparently. But that wasn't the worst.

"…no."

The camera showed now that next to Brad was a crib with a baby sleeping on it. It was a girl, around a year old. She was wearing a pink dress and was hugging a teddy bear, unaware of the the war around her.

"Today we can't make a lot of noise," Caesar said putting a finger on his lips to ask for silence. "We have the youngest victor with us and apparently she had a long day, right, Brad? Are you the father of the champion?"

"I am. This is Desirée, my baby."

"I notice that you called her 'my baby' and not 'our', what happened with Aurora, Brad? We all saw her in the Arena and then disappeared, probably with Iacubus Nelson from district 2. Do you think she ran away with him? Do you think she's part of the rebellion?"

"I think," the boy said "he forced her. And probably not just to ran away with him."

Around the tv in Campbell's office, Aurora was crying and sobbing while Lucy was hugging her. Jack Nelson, on the other hand, he was furious.

"I forced her?! I protected her! What the hell is he saying?! I'm not one of those! I'm not!"

"I don't think he meant that" Tommy interrupted, "we need to calm down a bit."

"Calm down a bit? What are you playing at, Shelby? Calm down? That's because your fucking name isn't the one mentioned in the whole country! Like a fucking rapist of a 17 years old girl!"

"He never said that!"

"You don't need a whole dictionary to understand what he meant!"

"Shut the fuck up! Both of you!" Campbell knocked his cane against the floor and they stared at him. "This is not the fucking place to behave like two kids! One thing about this damn interview is sure," he said "we need to rescue the baby."

"That's probably the only smart thing you said in a whole month, Campbell," Lucy said caressing Aurora's hair "She says that he doesn't sound like his boyfriend at all."

"It's true," the girl finally spoke to them. Crying, she seemed to be even younger that she already was. "His eyes, his voice… that doesn't seem to be Brad at all."

"If you ask me," Lucy continued, "the one who's forced to be there is the boy. Maybe he has a script, maybe he's doing that to keep Aurora and the baby safe."

"He's a good dad," Aurora confirmed, "Since I got pregnant and after Desirée was born he helped me at all hours. He could never say that."

"But he said it." Jack left the office towards the Nelson's compartment.

.

Even when the Golds were ready to kill Campbell, they were the only ones who knew the Capitol well enough to know how to infiltrate there. Especially because they knew the underworld of the city like no one else.

Although Aberama was sure that by now, Snow destroyed everything he knew. A month was enough to do it.

But it wasn't going to be easy to enter into the heart of Panem without ending with a bullet in the brain. And if they agree to do it, it was only because of Aurora and her baby. The world already lived enough tragedies and the idea of a reunion between a mother and her child sounded like a balsam healing a wound.

Three more weeks passed.

"I'm worried about him," Nina said during the lunch to her friends. "Alfie is locking himself like a seashell."

"I talked to him two days ago. Or I least I tried," Tommy said "He barely answer to me and as soon as he could, he went to his bedroom again. Samuel told me that he didn't speak with him either."

"We should… no, we must include him when we go out. Alfie is my friend, almost my brother, he helped me more than once. I can't stay still anymore!"

"Campbell won't allow it."

"Since when you care about Campbell's words, Tommy? He's your fucking friend and I know very well that the whole situation pisses you off, too. Fuck him. What's he going to do? Punish us? He knows he can't."

"You're right, Nina," a new voice said and they turned around to see Mr. Van Trapp standing next to them "Alfie can't be alone and he needs you all, but I don't think he wants to go out. And you can't force him, either. That's not what he needs. I will talk to him."

"Alfie won't talk," Nina said, clearly desperate to know what to do.

"They said that my girl wouldn't talk either again," the old man said, "they were right. But it's amazing how even in the worst circumstances, people can communicate. Maybe Alfie doesn't want to talk, but he's still a man. A person. And I'm sure he has something to say, you know, to express himself."

Van Trapp left the group and went in search of the solitary man.

"He's my grandpa now," Lucy said before continuing the lunch.

.

Alfie was in fact in his compartment. Just him and a book they allow to take from the library.

He clearly heard his name, but he ignored. He also ignored the second time and the third one. But he had no other option but to open the door the fourth time.

"Thanks for opening, Alfie," Van Trapp said, "you know, at this age it's hard to walk all the way to my own compartment."

Alfie raised his eyebrow, if something he knew about the man in front of him was that he was on better physical condition than he was. But he said anything.

"Can I sit down?" The man asked.

"I'm not going to forbid it."

"Well, thanks for your generosity, Alfie. You missed the lunch. They feed us with mushrooms and grass," the man chuckled. "I prefer dinner, at least I know you're the one in charge in the kitchens. Anyway, I heard of this book," Mr. Van Trapp said picking up the one that Alfie was reading and left over the table when he opened the door. "1984 by George Orwell. Is it good?"

"Yeah. It's good. A book written centuries ago in 1948. The author imagined a future civilization hyper controlled by the government. Nothing new, but I guess for people living back then, it was new."

"I don't think so. Governments never changed, Alfie. They always tried to control people, always. Some were more successful than the others, but none of them won. No one. Even the most powerful government collapsed. Even before the Roman Empire to a man called Hitler. People love freedom and oppressive systems, even those disguise as liberté, failed."

"Snow didn't create a shit, then."

"No. He just borrowed what others did first."

"Ruining lives."

"Yes. That's what they do best. If you think this is the last time we're going to see a tyrant, you're wrong. Definitely not me, not you and I hope the new kids who were born these last years, either. But humanity never learn and sooner or later, a new one will appear."

"Sad."

"Yes, but inevitable. But for now, we need to be grateful that this one is ending. Or it's about to end." Van Trapp left the book over the table and looked at the younger man in front of him. "Your friends want you to go with them in one of their 'adventures'."

"To do what? Make a soup?"

"They think you're alone here. You don't talk with your brother-in-law anymore, either."

"My brother-in-law…" Alfie snorted "Is he still my brother-in-law? To be my brother in law, my wife needs to be alive. And after two months…"

"You don't know if she's dead, Alfie."

"You don't know if she's alive, Mr. Van Trapp."

"Same way you don't know if she's dead. There's no confirmation. There's no way to confirm that. I don't know her, I never had the chance because all I learned about Rose it was thanks to the Golds who talked to me about her. But you do know her, right? Is she capable to evade Snow for two months?"

Alfie remained in silence. "She seems to be a good woman who can do whatever it has to be done to help you," Van Trapp said.

"Yes, she is. If she managed to spied the Capitol for over a decade, then she can evade Snow. I don't know if I deserve her, but… she's my Rosie."

Georg Van Trapp didn't smile but nodded his head. One more question and Alfie, after 60 days, spoke what he didn't speak that whole time. "Tell me about her, Alfie. How did you met? Was it love at first sight?"

And Alfie told him.

Success. Georg Van Trapp, managed to open the shell in which Alfie had been hiding. Not totally, but enough to help him to start again. Over thirty years taking care of a traumatized woman, gave him the tools to help others.

.

Three days later, it was over midnight and Campbell was sleeping when one of his men knocked on his door.

"Who's there? What happened?" he asked and a man on the other side of the door, answered.

Three words captured Campbell's attention and got out of his bed quickly as he could.

"She's alive, sir! Mrs. Solomons is alive! And she's here. With two other refugees. Well, three other refugees."

At those hours the hallways were almost empty except for those working in the night shift.

How, after two months, it was possible for her to be alive?

Campbell reached the last hallway and could see that the lights in his office were on.

Two women were in his office and one little girl. And a dog. Animals weren't allowed to be there, but that wasn't the best moment to complain about that.

He recognised Mrs. Solomons immediately but he also knew who the other one was. There in front of him was not just the most wanted person (dead or alive) in district 13, but also the black tall woman and victor, known as Aveline Young.

The little girl was sleeping over Aveline, who was holding her like the most precious treasure.

"Mrs. Solomons…welc-"

"Where's he?" Rose interrupted. "Where's Alfie?"

Next

[streetlamp-amber]

GUIDELINES

about the author + blog rules

⤾ NAVIGATION 　　 → MASTERLIST

✧˖*°࿐ABOUT THE AUTHOR

.·:*¨ ailís — 22 — fae/they (okay with girl gendered terms) — bisexual enby ¨*:·.

ꕤ — i’m bilingual, my first language is french but i only write in english (though i might incorporate french in some fics/one shots).

ꕤ — i dropped out of college after the pandemic started but plan on going back to school this fall. i still don’t know if i want to major in photography or art history but i still have a whole year of independent studies to figure that out. however, i do have a job. it's a customer service job but i do have some weeks where i'm working more than others so i'm not making a posting schedule. i'll post when i've completed something.

ꕤ — things i like: blueberry bagels with cream cheese, autumn, concert photography, poetry, music (arctic monkeys, lorde, blur, wallows, inhaler, fontaines dc), movies (studio ghibli, nolan’s dark knight trilogy, irish cinema, french cinema), tv shows (peaky blinders, broadchurch, derry girls, true detective, doctor who, the sopranos, new girl), sports (montreal canadiens, liverpool fc, celtic fc, f1), the colour green, europe (but not england or germany), cillian murphy, david tennant, art museums, batman.

ꕤ — i’ve been writing fanfiction for years (it all started with very poorly written one direction imagines on instagram and wattpad when i was thirteen…), improving both my writing skills and my english vocab + grammar along the way. my earliest works available are from 2021 (on ao3) because i’m too ashamed of anything posted before that (and it was also very bad).

ꕤ — i’m very multifandom and will mostly write content related to my most recent hyperfixations. there’s a list down below with all the characters i read and am interested in writing fanfiction for.

✧˖*°࿐WRITING + RULES

ꕤ — this blog will be mostly dedicated to one shots, blurbs, headcanons, drabbles and maybe short series.

i do write long series on wattpad (and also on ao3 but that one is currently on hold). i’m in the middle of a friends series rewrite with a joey tribbiani x female oc storyline that i’m very invested in (this might be the first multi chaptered fanfic i ever complete). i also started writing a tenth doctor x witch oc au but i’m taking much longer to update this one as it will mostly be original episodes instead of following the doctor who storyline. i also have a tommy shelby x oc fic that’s been on hold for a year that i plan on eventually getting back into writing.

ꕤ — i honestly don’t really care about canon (especially when it comes to stuff like the dc universe). i will always respect identity traits that are important to the character like race, sexuality, disability, etc., but i might get ooc sometimes when it comes to their personalities.

ꕤ — i will try to keep my reader inserts as physically vague as possible except if it’s indicated that the reader is afab. however, i am physically disabled with chronic pain so i might incorporate some aspects related to that in my writing (it will be indicated at the beginning of the post).

ꕤ — i am okay with minors interacting with my sfw writings but if i see anyone under the age of 18 interacting with nsfw stuff you will be blocked. i can’t stop you from reading it but i am not comfortable with you interacting with that content.

ꕤ — requests will be answered once i’m done writing them. i will try my best to do so as fast as possible but i tend to write multiple works at once so if you see me post other things after you sent your request, don’t get deterred. if you send a request i don’t want to write, i’ll reply to the ask to also let others know not to request something similar.

ꕤ — do not translate, copy or publish my work on other platforms without my permission.

!! DO NOT REQUEST !!

major character death (canon or non-canon), underage reader or character, incest, any kink involving fluids, noncon/dubcon, self harm, eating disorders, yandere, abuse, manipulation, butt stuff, cheating/infidelity, a/b/o

✧˖*°࿐CHARACTER LIST

✵ doctor who

⋆ tenth doctor

✵ peaky blinders

⋆ tommy shelby

✵ dc universe

⋆ batman/bruce wayne ⋆ batmom/batfamily ⋆ scarecrow

✵ bridgerton

⋆ benedict bridgerton

✵ supernatural

⋆ dean winchester

✵ broadchurch

⋆ alec hardy

✵ true detective

⋆ rust cohle

✵ harry potter

⋆ sirius black ⋆ barty crouch jr ⋆ fred weasley

last updated 6 august 2024.  　　 divider by @saradika

[coroarchenland]

Me: Ive gotta read everything i need to reread that one series thats 20 books long and start this 200 book series ive been hearing about ooh and that tv show sounds so good oh let me rewatch that old show just let me consume every type of media

Also Me: yeah no i'm just gonna sit here on tumblr for 6 hours instead

[lilahisntsadanymore]

The Shelbys find themselves in yet another war with one of other Romani families. Things get even worse when Michael and a girl from the other family mysteriously disappear one day.

The reader pronouns: she/her

Pairing: Michael Gray x reader

Words count: 3.2k

Tw: swearing, mentions of violence, lightly implied sexual intercourse

I see this happening somewhere in season 2 or 3, but it doesn't contain any scenes from the show.

Y/d/n - your dad's name

«────── « ⋅ʚ♡ɞ⋅ » ──────»

Problematic Sweethearts

(gif not mine)

A loud thud of the door sounded through the Shelby betting shop. Tommy walked in angrily, it could be sensed by his steps. He stopped by the table in the middle of the room, closing his eyes and pinching the bridge of his nose.

The rest of the family was very busy that day. Nobody paid attention to Tommy until he furiously hit the wooden surface with his bare fist.

"Fuck!"

John shifted his gaze from the chalkboard he was standing by to his brother. "What have you done this time?"

There were many options. Most things Tommy did brought trouble to the family. But this time it wasn't his fault.

"Not me, the Lovells." Thomas replied. "They stole a horse of mine."

Well, not entirely his fault, but at some point he could have prevented that by either stopping the conflict or not starting it in the first place.

It started when another pub opened nearby The Garrison. The Shelbys were afraid it might steal their clients, so Tommy's idea was to start spreading lies about the other pub to make people not wanna go there.

It worked. And when the owner of the new pub found out about it, he immediately traced it to the Shelbys. In that moment, a war started. Lovells fired back with sabotaging Shelbys' betting business (this one didn't really work, noticing how much work they still had) and then the Shelbys fired back with another 'brilliant' idea and now it was getting more dangerous.

Everyone in Small Heath, or maybe even in the whole Birmingham, knew how important horses were to Tommy Shelby. The Lovells knew that stealing his horse was going to hurt.

"So we're gonna go cut them now, yeah?" John asked, putting his hat on and walking to the door. He was being serious.

"John," Esme spoke, causing her husband to stop in his tracks, "quit being so rash, it could get you killed one day."

Polly would hate to admit that, but in this moment she thought Esme was right. Nothing else needed to be added, although John protested.

"I'm sick of them fucking with us," he gnarled through his teeth, "we have to do something to stop this."

"Cutting them clearly won't help then!"

The small dispute between John and his wife was interrupted by Michael entering the betting shop. He had a grin on his face. Others noticed that there was something dodgy about him lately.

"Morning everyone." Michael's enthusiastic voice said. He didn't sense the tense atmosphere.

Tommy raised an eyebrow. "What's up with you, eh?"

Michael chuckled and shook his head. "What do you mean?" Looking at everyone's faces, he finally noticed something's off. "What's up with you lot?"

"The Lovells stole a horse from Tommy's stable." Polly told him.

The taut atmosphere was ripped to shreds by laughter coming from Finn and Isaiah. At first, they were whispering to each other, but eventually they couldn't keep quiet.

Everyone's eyes were turned to the two youngest peaky blinders. They couldn't understand what's so funny about that situation.

"What're you two laughing at?" Polly asked.

The boys tried to put on straight, serious faces. They gave each other a look, deciding which one should do the explaining.

"It's just amusing," Finn was the one to speak, "how you are all so caught up with that little war between us and the Lovells, while Michael just sneaks out to shag Y/n from time to time."

Now all heads turned to Michael as he shot Finn a death stare. He didn't know anyone knew about his small affair with Y/d/n Lovell's daughter. It was supposed to be a secret, because otherwise some people could get hurt. Some people, including Michael himself.

" Y/n Lovell? Is that true?" Polly asked.

The question was targeted at Michael, but he didn't manage to say anything before Isaiah spoke.

"We're pretty sure he was so jolly when he walked in there, because he had just seen her."

A loud sigh escaped Tommy's mouth. "Michael, you know what our situation currently looks like. Why are you so irresponsible?"

"We started seeing each other before all this happened." Michael defended himself calmly.

"Seeing each other." Polly's quiet scoff sounded in the room as she lit up a cigarette.

"You have to stop it." Tommy continued. "We don't know her intentions, she might want to use you to investigate the whole company."

"We love each other!" Michael's eyes were looking at Thomas furiously, as if he really meant what he had just said.

"Love!" Polly emphasized dramatically. Her free hand found its way to her head to rub the temples.

"Call it whatever you want, Michael, but you're going to tell that girl that it has come to an end. As soon as possible."

"Y/n has no interest in your stupid conflict and neither do I. I won't end things with her."

"We'll make sure you do end it. But this way the ending won't be so pleasant."

«────── « ⋅ʚ♡ɞ⋅ » ──────»

"They are so going to regret staring this war," Y/d/n chuckled as he took a sip of whiskey from his glass.

"Are we going to return it someday?" His business partner asked.

Both men were sitting in the Lovells' living room.

"Return? Are you out of your mind, Will? We are not going to return it!"

"Horses are living beings, they have emotions, they get attached to their owners..."

"That doesn't matter! That horse is now ours. It is now mine. Thomas Shelby shouldn't have started this conflict."

Y/n returned back home from a meeting with Michael exactly in time to hear the end of her father's conversation.

"What horse?" She asked. "And what does Thomas Shelby have to do with it?"

"We stole his horse. Silly threats have come to an end, now we're getting serious. If that doesn't help, we'll become handsy with his people," the man pulled out a dagger and started fidgeting with it.

"This is wrong. We came here a few months ago and the Shelbys basically run Birmingham, you should accept that."

"Are you telling me to give up? That would be an embarrassment to our family, Y/n!"

"This whole conflict is an embarrassment! You stole a man's horse to show him what exactly? It's like shooting someone in the back of his head! You were a soldier, should know what dignity is."

"Don't talk to your father about dignity," Will interrupted unnecessarily, "especially when you fraternize with the enemy."

Y/d/n looked at his business partner and then back at his daughter, who had confusion written on her face. She wondered, how and when Will found out.

Nobody was supposed to know. Y/n and Michael were always making sure nobody's following them.

"Fraternize with the enemy?" Y/d/n questioned, his nostrils flaring. "What is he talking about?"

Y/n panicked, she began stuttering and gesturing pointlessly. She wasn't prepared for this. Neither she nor Michael have ever thought of making up a spare, fake explanation in case something like this happened. And the girl wasn't very good at making up lies in seconds.

Noticing how Y/n couldn't find any words, William continued. "She's been seen with Michael Gray, a cousin to the Shelbys, Polly Gray's son."

"Were you spying on me?!" Y/n barked at Will. She never liked him and now she at least had a reason to yell at him.

"So you had been seen with that boy, you're not denying it." Y/d/n said.

"Yes, I'm not denying, because it's true. I love him and he loves me."

"Love? Please, what can you know about love? He is an enemy, you have to stop this!"

"The only thing that should be stopped is your stupid war! I will not be a part of this!"

Y/d/n squeezed his glass so hard that it broke in his hand. "Bloody hell," he cussed, "go to your room and don't even dare talking to me again without changing your mind!"

Y/n ran to her room on the same floor - the ground floor, her footsteps barely audible. It was a great skill of her - walking without making a sound.

The girl sat on her bed until late evening. She didn't cry, it wasn't a good reason to waste tears for. Instead, Y/n was making up a plan. A plan that would let her keep seeing Michael while her father thinks they are done.

Y/n's thoughts were interrupted by an interesting sound. Almost as if someone was knocking on her window. At first, she felt disturbed by the sound. Remembering a few books she read - this was never a good thing.

But Y/n immediately calmed down, when she saw Michael on the other side of the window.

Y/n opened the window. "What are you doing here?" She shouted in a whisper, not hiding her astonishment.

"My family found out about us," Michael informed, "they told me to break up with you."

"I was told the same. I don't wanna break up with you, we have to think of something."

"Come with me," the boy offered his hand to his girlfriend.

Y/n was hesitant. There was a voice at the back of her head saying it's a bad idea. "Where? We have nowhere to go, we have no money."

"I have some money! And a gun. I'm bad at shooting, but I'll figure it out. So, are you going?"

Y/n heard sudden footsteps. Fortunately, it was just someone walking by her door, not entering her room. She looked back at her boyfriend and took his hand, so that he could help her walk out of the window.

It was dark outside, the only source of light were lonely street lamps, many feet away from one another. Although, he lovers were still barely visible, because the light was dim.

"Where are we headed?" Y/n asked, lightly swaying her arm intertwined with Michael's arm by their hands.

"To the train station."

"And then...?"

"To the countryside."

In the morning the couple reached their destination, Michael took his girlfriend to the same village he grew up in. Of course, Y/n had no idea he was taken away from his birth mother as a young kid and Michael didn't feel like mentioning this. He just had to make sure they won't stumble across the family that adopted him.

«────── « ⋅ʚ♡ɞ⋅ » ──────»

"Michael is gone," Polly bursted into her nephew's flat, "Tommy, Michael is gone!"

The man had just woken up, it was a very early hour. He didn't expect such sudden visit from his aunt.

"How is he gone?" Tommy asked, his voice even deeper than usual. He decided to lit up a cigarette in the order to wake himself up quicker.

"He wasn't home for the night. It is your fault! First the Lovells stole your horse and now they took my son!" The woman was furious. If it was anyone else than a member of her family, she wouldn't hesitate to cut his throat or put a bullet in his head.

Polly thought they took Michael when he went to tell Y/n this is the end of their relationship. The girl's father could have seen him and hurt him. In the worst case, Michael could be even dead. But Polly didn't want to give up at the beginning. No Shelby would ever do such thing.

And so, a sudden family meeting was called. Every Shelby gathered in The Garrison. Polly told everyone that Michael didn't come home for the night and Tommy proposed a plan. The idea was to locate where Michael could be, if alive, and then just break him out. Maybe they would even manage to get back the stolen horse as well.

Unfortunately (or rather fortunately, because it made them sure Michael is alive), the plan was greatly changed by an unexpected visit. The door of The Garrison opened, revealing Y/d/n Lovell.

"Where is my daughter?!" He yelled, looking around the pub. "How dare you kidnap her?!"

"Oi, no snooping around!" Tommy reminded the man that he can't just walk into a place and start searching it. He wasn't a policeman or anyone of that kind. "Did your daughter disappear?"

"Don't act like you know nothing about this! I know you sent someone to kidnap her. You broke into my house through a window in her room and took her!"

Then it clicked in Tommy's head. It clicked in everyone's heads. Maybe even in Y/d/n's head, but he didn't want it to be true.

"Mr Lovell, I'm afraid it wasn't an abduction," Tommy explained, "our Michael disappeared as well."

"What do you say then, Mr Shelby?" The man knew exactly what his rival meant, but hoped that wouldn't be it.

Arthur stood up. "The lovebirds ran away together."

"Exactly." Tommy agreed. "And we have to work together if we want to see them again in this lifetime."

"Don't be so dramatic, Tommy," Finn chimed in with a chuckle, "how far could they go?"

«────── « ⋅ʚ♡ɞ⋅ » ──────»

Not so far, at least for now. It was the beginning of summer, so as long as the weather wasn't that bad for England, the lovers wanted to stay on the countryside. They would think of another place in the future.

For now, there wasn't a single worry in their minds. There in the countryside they could be themselves and do whatever they wanted.

Michael spotted a small barn he recognized. It had been abandoned for a few years before Tommy came to him and nothing seemed to change. It was a perfect temporary home.

On the day they arrived here, they decided to be lazy. There weren't any urgent things to take care of. In the evening they lit up a small fire nearby the barn and sat down by it.

"Do you really think it was a good idea to set up a fire by a wooden building?" Y/n asked, leaning her head on Michael's shoulder.

"I took all precautions," the boy assured, "I made more bonfires than you can imagine and none ended badly."

Y/n chuckled. "I see, you're an expert."

The couple sat by the fire in a comfortable silence, they didn't wanna talk for a while. Y/n straightened out her legs and as she did that, Michael's hand quickly found its way to her thigh.

Y/n felt goosebumps forming on her skin despite the heat the fire was producing. She turned her head a bit in the other to place her lips on Michael's neck. Y/n started pecking his skin, moving up to his jaw, then along the jawline to eventually end up connecting his lips with hers in a kiss.

Without breaking the kiss, Michael ran his hands to Y/n's waist and helped her straddle him. Then he felt his girlfriend's hands creep up his neck to eventually dive in his short hair, pulling it lightly. That small movement was enough to make him release a throaty moan.

Y/n pulled away for a moment. "Do you wanna take it inside?"

The couple walked into the barn and then up to the hayloft. There was still some hay left, which made them feel more comfortable, more cosy. It was a good replacement for a bed.

«────── « ⋅ʚ♡ɞ⋅ » ──────»

"Michael!"

"Y/n!"

"I'll check the barn, you search the surroundings!"

Y/n slowly opened her eyes, the shouting outside woke her up. She was lying down, her head on Michael's naked chest that was calmly moving up and down as he still slept. That lad was a heavy sleeper.

The girl sat up and stretched her arms. Then, she quietly walked to the hole in the barn's wooden wall that was supposed to be a window. Looking outside, she noticed Thomas Shelby walking their direction.

"Michael," Y/n whispered, lightly shaking her boyfriend to wake him up, "Michael, wake up. They have come for us."

"What? Who?" Michael asked confusedly, his mind only half awake.

"Well, I saw Tommy, but-"

"Tommy? What the hell is he doing here?"

"Looking for us. We have to-"

The girl suddenly stopped talking and put a finger up in a sign for Michael to stay quiet as well.

One of Tommy's first ideas was to search for to runaways in the countryside. After all, that's where Michael grew up, he knew this place well and felt safe there. Too safe, that's why he could have wanted to hide here.

When Tommy noticed the freshly extinguished bonfire nearby the abandoned barn, he figured they might be hiding there.

In the silence, Y/n and Michael heard the ladder that led to the hayloft creaking. The girl mindlessly grabbed the gun that Michael mentioned on the previous day. Or a day before that.

"What the fuck are you gonna do with that?" The boy asked, trying to rip the gun form his girlfriend's hand. "Don't shoot him!"

"Relax, I'm just gonna scare him off!"

"I don't think Tommy Shelby is a person you could scare with a gun," he paused, "I don't think he is a person to get scared in general."

"Good day, lovebirds." Tommy said sarcastically, his head peaking into the hayloft.

Y/n set down the gun.

"Hello, Tommy." Michael replied, putting his shirt on.

"What the fuck are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same question."

"Your mother is worried sick, Michael. You've had your fun, it's time to go back home. Y/n, your father is here. He's been worried as well."

"Tommy, we're not coming back."

"Sure, come down and we'll talk about this," he stepped down the ladder.

The couple looked at each other. Whether they wanted it or not, they had to come down, Tommy didn't give them a choice. But they knew he will try anything to talk them into coming home and even breaking up. That meant they had to fight.

When the lovers got down from the hayloft, they saw four men in front of them - Y/d/n and three out of four Shelby brothers.

Y/n had guilt displayed on her face, while Michael didn't show a single emotion. He looked each man in the eyes, stopping on his girlfriend's father.

"We are not sorry," the boy spoke, "we love each other and won't let your stupid conflict ruin what we have."

"How dare you-" the oldest man reached to his gun.

"At ease, Mr Lovell, at ease," Tommy stopped him, then turned to the boy. "Michael, care to explain? Or Y/n?"

It was a rhetorical question, Tommy wasn't asking. He gave an order. And he expected the order to be done.

"What else do you expect us to say?" Y/n snapped. "We're in love and that's it. Have you ever been in love, Thomas? Have any of you ever been in love? If yes, you would have known it's not a choice. It's a feeling you can't control or get rid of."

Then Tommy understood it. His mind wandered to the time he met Grace, to the time he started falling for her. Y/n was damn right, love is a feeling that cannot be controlled, predicted or prevented.

Arthur cleared his throat. "Gentlemen, I think she might be right."

Y/n crossed her arms on her torso and sent a triumphant look to her father. "Nothing can do us apart. Just think about it, our relationship is a great reason to stop this war. Kind of like Romeo and Juliet, but without anyone dying!"

"We can't forget about our past that easily," the father looked spitefully at Tommy.

"Not forget, but forgive."

"Let bygones be bygones." Michael added, taking Y/n's hand in his.

They were right. It was the time to end the ridiculous conflict. Maybe Y/n and Michael's relationship could even give a beginning to an alliance between the Lovells and the Shelbys.

[brunetteeras]

Unexpected - Cillian Murphy (Oneshot)

A/N: In which a visit to the doctor brings some unexpected news for Y/N and Cillian.

Cillian had proposed to you almost 4 months ago, but you both decided to not rush the wedding planning. With him filming Peaky Blinders, things were a bit hectic, but you were more than happy to wait a bit longer if it meant having the perfect wedding. However, it seemed fate was going to mess up your plans.

For the past two weeks, you had been feeling ill.

"Love, you've slept in almost every day this week, are you sure you're feeling alright?" Cillian asks, kneeling by your side of the bed, brushing strands of hair out of your eyes. It was almost 10am, and you still hadn't gotten up. After living with Cillian for so long, you adapted to his early morning habits and were typically awake by 7.

"I just haven't been feeling good lately", you shrug off.

Truth be told, you had been waking up in the middle of the night with the urge to throw up. And so you did, quietly, in the bathroom down the hall as to not wake Cillian.

"Do you think you should go to the doctor?" He suggests.

You nodded reluctantly, "I guess, this has been going on for a while."

He handed you your phone off the bedside table. You quickly found your doctor's number and called, seeing if she had any availability that day.

Luckily, she had an appointment at 1:00, and Cillian pulled you out of bed to shower and get dressed.

You had to go alone, unfortunately. Cillian had a meeting to discuss an upcoming movie, although he offered to cancel his meeting to go with you.

"It's probably just a bug, no need to cancel your meeting for me", you hushed his protests.

"Okay, but as soon as you know what is going on I want you to call me so I know you're okay," he said sternly.

You kissed his cheek softly, easing his worries, "I promise."

At the doctor's, you explained your symptoms of nausea, throwing up, and an all-over aching feeling in your body.

"You're sexually active?" she asks.

You nodded, blushing like a teenage girl does when they are asked this for the first time.

"I'm not positive, but I want to do a pregnancy test, just to be sure."

You felt your stomach drop, bubbling anxiety rising within you at the thought of possibly being pregnant.

She guided you to the bathroom and instructed you on taking the test, which was really just peeing in a cup. You did as you were told, and went back to the check-up room you were in prior.

You waited what felt like an hour but really was only 15 minutes. Your heart was pounding out of your chest.

A soft knock came at the door, and she stepped back inside. She didn't say anything yet, which scared you more. She sat down in the chair across from you.

"So, the test came back positive. You're pregnant."

You ignored Cillian's instructions to call him right after you left. You sat in your car in the parking lot, still and barely breathing, tears falling from swollen eyes.

You didn't know what to feel.

Som you drove home, hands trembling from fear of having to tell Cillian about this. You sat on the couch, legs crossed underneath you.

"Y/N?" You heard the front door opening and Cillian calling out to you, but you didn't respond.

He found you moments later, sat in the living room.

"Love, what'd the doctor say?"

He sat down next to you, grabbing your hands. He awaited your answer, probably expecting you to say you had a stomach bug or a cold. But instead, you said nothing at first, and then looked up to him.

"I'm pregnant."

Cillian froze like you had done, his hands going limp in yours.

He blinked rapidly, looking down at the floor, then back to you. He looked stunned.

"I'm sorry, Cillian, it's my fault. I know we talked about not having kids yet and I should have been better at keeping up with my birth control, I didn't even kn-" he pressed his lips to yours, cutting you off.

"No don't start with that. This is as much my fault, there's no blame here, love."

You fell into his side, letting your head rest in the crook of his neck. His arms wrapped around you, rubbing up and down your arm.

You looked up at him, "Are you ready to be a parent?"

He laughed a bit, "I can be in the next 9 months."

You smile half-heartedly, as more tears fell from your eyes, "I think I can be ready by then too."

He smiled, kissing your lips with such force and passion, "we're gonna be parents then?"

You nodded, "Yeah, we're gonna be parents."

Suddenly, the moment had shifted from sorrow to joy, knowing you could do this as long as it was together.

[xxblackballoonxx]

The Heart Underneath: Chapter 1

***Let's be real, I love John Shelby and he never got the content he deserves on Peaky Blinders. With so little information about his wife, Martha, I created my own story of their relationship. This fic is being posted simultaneously on FanFiction.net and Ao3. I originally began it in 2016, and then life was life, and now I'm bringing it back because it deserves to be finished! I intended this story to be canon, but I cannot accept the events of the beginning of Season 4, so I'll write it with the ending that I intended.***

Chapter 2

The Heart Underneath

Chapter 1: 4 and 5

John Shelby was five when Martha Connolly moved in with her Aunt Celia down the block.

"You lot be extra nice to her," his mum, Peggy, had told them at supper that evening. "Her ma has just passed and she's only a wee one, Ada's age. She'll be coming here on the days Celia works, I expect you all to look out for her like she's one of ours, you hear me?"

They had all nodded silently and returned to eating. Just what we need, another girl, John had thought to himself, knowing full well that Ada was a terrible playmate with her dolls and ribbons and wanting to play house.

A few mornings later, he made his way down the stairs, Ada close behind him, and stopped short on the last step. A tiny blonde girl sat in his usual chair, propped on her knees, looking hungrily at the pot of porridge his mum was stirring on the stove. She was small, even smaller than Ada, and she looked up at him with big green eyes. Looking back, that was the moment she had him wrapped around her finger, though he didn't know yet.

"Oh good, you two are up. Martha, this is John and Ada. John is five and Ada is four, like you. Everyone sit, porridge is ready."

John sat across from Martha, wondering vaguely why he wasn't mad that she was in his seat, and Ada sat to her right, chattering about the new doll she had gotten last week. Peggy passed around bowls of porridge and put a jar of honey in the middle of the table. John dipped a spoon in and drizzled it over his porridge, always intrigued by how slow the honey would drip down. He looked up to see Martha staring at him.

"Want some?" He asked, pushing the jar closer to her.

"Honey on porridge?" She questioned, her small voice light and pretty.

"You've never had honey on porridge?" He asked, eyebrows shooting up in surprise.

She shook her head, embarrassed, and he scooted off his chair and came around to her side of the table.

"Here, I'll put some on for you, just a bit, see if you like it."

He caught another spoonful of honey and slowly drizzled it over her bowl. He watched the honey, and she watched him, seemingly fascinated by it all. Peggy stood by the stove, her hand over her mouth, hiding a huge smile.

John put the spoon back on the dish near the honey jar and gestured for Martha to try it. She took a small spoonful and her eyes lit up at the sweet taste. She quickly ate another spoonful and he laughed, pleased that she liked it. He pulled his dish across the table and sat in the chair next to her. From then on, whenever Martha was there for a meal, she sat in his chair, and he sat to her left.

They spent the day tagging along with Peggy as she ran her usual errands, picking up supplies for supper that evening and dropping off some clothing items she had repaired for a neighbor. John held each girl by the hand, taking his job of protecting the girls seriously. Ada had run off the year before at the market, and he had been tasked by Tommy to watch her whenever they were away from their block. Martha seemed content to follow him around and her little hand felt perfectly matched for his big five year old hand. Ada, true to most days, was dragging him this way and that, wanting to see and touch everything.

They waited to the side at the grocer's while Peggy purchased some more embroidery thread and other notions. The grocer's wife, Mrs. Averill, always gave John and Ada a treat when they came in, and he hoped she would see them in the crowd.

"John Shelby! You've got a new little friend there, don't you?" Mrs. Averill said, her voice booming over the din.

"Yes, m'am. This is Martha, moved in down the street and I'm supposed to watch her and Ada while we are out." He replied importantly, standing as tall as he could. Ada giggled but Martha just smiled up at him in awe.

"Well then, let's get you all some candy. Make sure to share fairly now. Here you go." Mrs. Averill replied, after filling a small bag with penny candy from the jars on the counter.

John led the girls to the bench outside and sat between them, holding the bag. Ada had a habit of putting her sticky hands in and John wanted the candy to stay nice for Martha. He doled out a piece each to start with, and watched as Martha's face lit up.

"Never had candy either?" He asked, wondering where this girl had lived.

She shook her head and laughed as he handed her and Ada another piece before carefully putting the bag in his pocket. He'd make it last all day, just to see Martha that happy.

"Your John seems smitten with that little one, Mrs. Shelby. I don't think I've ever seen anything so adorable." Mrs. Averill commented, watching from the window.

"And she for him, Mrs. Averill. He put honey on her porridge this morning and that was all it took. Terrible, of course, about Celia's sister, but better for the girl to be out of that workhouse and in a proper home." Peggy replied, watching for another moment before exiting the store.

That night at supper, both Tommy and Arthur had to change seats at the table, and they quietly gave each other a look before sitting down. Martha seemed to charm everyone by the end of the meal. It was nearing dark and time for Martha to go home, a task that Peggy gave over to Tommy, much to John's dismay.

"Its just down the block, Tommy, I'll walk her." He argued, as Tommy picked up Martha and headed for the front door.

"You think you're man enough to walk a lady home?" Tommy asked, tickling Martha, who laughed in his arms and then hugged him tightly. His heart broke a little for the poor girl, and he held her close, feeling protective of her, like he would his own kin.

"I am, Tom. I watched her and Ada all day and nothing happened. Did it, Martha?"

Martha looked down and John and shook her head no.

"Do you want John to walk you home then, little one?" Tommy asked her, laughing when she nodded her head yes.

"Alright then. I'll watch from the door and you go there and straight back, John. It is your job to get her home safe." Tommy said seriously, as he put Martha down, sensing this was important to John.

John reached out for Martha's hand and led her slowly down the street, pointing to different doors along the way and telling her who lived where. It seemed meant to be, in Tommy's eyes, and he watched as John knocked on Martha's front door.

Celia opened the front door and smiled down at the two.

"Hello, John, thanks for bringing Martha home. Did you have a good day?" She asked.

"Oh yes, Aunt Celia. We went to the shops, and we got candy, and we had porridge with honey!" Martha stated excitedly and Celia laughed.

"Well that sounds like a grand day then. Say goodnight to John, you'll see him tomorrow. Its bedtime now."

"Goodnight, Johnny." Martha said, turning to hug John.

"My name is John." He said, feeling like an idiot.

"I'm calling you Johnny." Martha said, grinning at him and he couldn't help but grin back as she threw her little arms around his neck and hugged him.

John waved goodbye as Celia closed the door, and walked quickly back to the house, embarrassed that Tommy had probably seen the whole thing.

"Only Martha can call me Johnny." He huffed as he entered the house, and Tommy laughed quietly to himself. His little brother was in big trouble with this one.

Later that night, as he lay on his cot, listening to Ada prattle on sleepily to her doll, John thought that being called Johnny wasn't all that bad. At least not by Martha anyway. He was already figuring out how many days a week they could go to the grocer's to get candy from Mrs. Averill before she would get mad. He wanted to make Martha laugh like that again.

[musicallisto]

Hello Clara! Congrats on the 800 followers! I was wondering if I could get a vanilla milkshake for Peaky Blinders. For my personality traits, I am introverted bi girl, INTP-T, type 6 enneagram and for zodiac, an Aquarius sun, Cancer moon and Taurus ascendant. I'm an English major who loves learning from anything she can get her hands on and writing down her thoughts and feelings. I am usually pushed to take the lead of my friend group because I'm like the big sister of the group who helps at analyzing things and putting together/arranging our schedule for our days off. I hold my friends close to my heart and are always ready jump in and defend my friends in arguments. I’m stubborn and don’t stand down if I believe that I’m doing what is right

here’s your vanilla milkshake, I hope you like it! I really hesitated between Grace and Michael, but I think I’m going to settle on Michael Gray...

Michael is quite taken with your intelligence from the very beginning.

He has always envisioned America as a land of new opportunities and beginnings, were everything is clearer, brighter, and bigger than his dark, rotten corner of the world, back in Birmingham.

And in some way, he isn’t wrong, because it’s in America that he meets you.

In England, he probably wouldn’t have paid much attention to you, all focused that he would have been on the finances and the gritty business. But New York is a different city, and makes him a different man.

Besides, there is a freshness about you that could only have existed in New York, the land of the free and of the wide-eyed; and he wants to protect and preserve you from the filth that litters the streets, back in his hometown.

He truly admires your drive, as one of the few women who attend university back in the day. Faced with his bewilderment, you explain it in the simplest of terms - “I wanted to study English, so I studied English.”

Sure, he’s heard of cases of women attending university because they damn pleased in England too, but you said it with such levity that he wonders if it’s commonplace in America...

... or if it’s just a striking feature of your personality.

Either way, this determination of yours reminds him of what he’s left behind - it’s comforting, in the sense, just like home... and would make for a damn good Shelby, he knows that.

Honestly, the boy would be completely lost without you.

He can be quite smart and cunning when it comes to big bad boy stuff, dirty money and skeletons in closets, but he has zero interpersonal intelligence - but when you’ve been raised by Polly Shelby, it’s not hard to imagine why.

You’ve never met her, but the tales he tells you of her suffice to make you tremble. That’s one woman you would definitely rather have on your side, and not against you.

Sometimes, Michael surprises you by being pretty charming, but in his own way. It’s a Shelby thing, you reckon - they’re brutish and rough around the edges, but when they care, they do, and they show it in their own twisted ways.

For example, when he remembers all the little details about your past and your family...

... or when he’ll go out of his way to buy you that book that you’ve been ravenously raving about for days...

... or even when he’ll, somehow, pick up the most gorgeous (and probably most expensive) dress you’ve ever seen for you. You don’t really want to know how he got his hands on it, though.

“Michael, you shouldn’t have - this is money from your company!”

“Well then it makes sense that you’d wear it at a Shelby Company dinner, doesn’t it?”

He has to attend or hosts those lavish dinners and parties from time to time, to meet and convince investors or celebrate an economical victory - he thought that sort of thing was reserved for his cousins, but turns out the Americans also love a good evening of drinking and staring each other down.

Surprisingly, he dances, but only with you, of course; and he’s not too bad. Polly used to tell him that no nice girl would ever want him if he couldn’t dance with her.

You’d obviously still love him as much as you do if he didn’t dance at all - but it’s a bonus, a little moment of intimacy and complicity among all these unknown - and unbearable - faces.

More than once, you’ve barged in in the middle of the conversation during a business meeting when the other party started disrespecting Michael. It’s an impulse you can’t control - you have to butt heads with whomever tries to call your husband names.

After the meetings, he always tells you that he had it all handled and you didn’t need to intervene; but from his small smile, you guess that he enjoyed the altercation a little bit.

A woman ready to fight for him is a woman after his own heart - because he feels the exact same devotion for you, and would be willing to die for you if things got rough.

It’s this same protectiveness and fear that paralyze him when he’s called back to England, and you express your desire to follow him across the pond.

“You don’t understand - it’s dangerous, much more dangerous than here. Bad things happen... really bad things. And if something happened to you, I could never forgive myself.”

“No, you don’t understand. I want to go with you, so I’m going.”

Just like you had decided you wanted to study English...

... There was no way he was changing your mind about it.

You already are a true Shelby anyway.

800 follower sleepover CLOSED!