Tommy Shelby tapped the butt of his cigarette against his lip as he looked at her. She didn't belong. Like he didn't belong but in such different ways. She didn't belong down in the filth; she was too bright for that. Tommy had to lie and manipulate and prey on fears of curses and witchcraft just to be left alone in the filth but he never wanted that. He didn't want to be like his Da, Tommy Shelby wanted more and was destined for more, he knew it as did his Aunt Pol, she always said it.
He'd been on his way to check the horses that were going to be sold to the Lees, while they didn't get along, business was business and they paid good money for their horses.
But as he'd turned the corner into Uncle Charlie's yard a laugh had him stopping dead.
Thomas Shelby had never understood why his mother- bright, vivacious, wild and Gypsy to the core Mother had fallen for his bastard of a father, but when he'd been young, cheek smarting from the smack he got for back talking his Da, Tommy had asked her with wobbly lips and watery blue eyes.
"My boy" she had crooned, gathering him into her arms "sometimes, things just can't be explained, you just...you know, you see and you know as if you've been granted a visage from the Gods as if you've been struck by lightning."
"Why'd you wanna be struck by lightning?" Little Tommy had asked with a scrunched-up nose, distaste coating his voice.
"Oh Tommy, my wild horse, it's not the wanting, it's the fact it's gonna happen either way and then you'll never be the same" His Ma had told him with a knowing twinkle "Good or bad, there's no other after your lightning strike."
Tommy had thought Greta Jurossi was his lightning strike, they had known each other all their life but she'd gone to Italy to visit relatives for four months when she had come back well, he'd be struck dumb, she had blossomed into a beautiful young woman. He had gathered quite the crush on her, convinced she was his one.
But thinking wasn't certainty and this, this was certainty.
He didn't know the woman, had only seen her with the horse, chatting to Uncle Charlie and Curley and he knew, knew he wanted to spend the rest of his life by her side. Tommy Shelby had been struck by lightning, left blind with his ears ringing and she was his only salvation.
Tommy Shelby wasn't the same, would never be the same and for a man that yearned for power and control, he was perfectly fine with not being in control here.
He observed her, the pretty woman in the deep blue dress, uncaring that the hem was getting dirty, her sleeves rolled up and a happy flush on pale, milk-white cheeks, red lips, full and inviting. Deep chocolate hair that he ached to run his fingers through, to see if it was as silky as it looked and long lashes framing bright brown eyes.
She was so bright in this dull world, a lightning strike against a dark sky and he felt privileged to see it, it was meant for him. She was meant for him.
But how to approach? Tommy felt his palms sweat, this was the beginning of their story, he couldn't mess this up!
"Tommy! Lad! Get over here!" Uncle Charlie yelled at him, snapping him out of his thoughts and making him fumble his cigarette.
"Uncle Charlie" he murmured moving closer and nervously tugging the brim of his cap over his eyes, peeking at the girl who was staring at him with interest. Her eyes were like the stars, he'd swear it.
"Vi, Lass fetch the grooming gear with Curley won't ya?" Charlie requested and she moved her gaze to him, pretty cheeks flushing and Tommy desperately wanted her eyes back on him.
"Who's she?" Tommy asked his uncle briskly "She isn't a part of business, is she?"
Charlie frowned at him with a knowing gaze "No, Viola isn't she saw the horses and came over to have a look, turns out she knows Pol and Arthur. Came into town yesterday going to be a nurse"
"Oh?" Tommy asked in interest, staring over his shoulder at Viola as she laughed at something Curley said, carrying the grooming gear, her hair now tied up in a low bun, whisps of hair brushing against her cheek, couldn't he be allowed to brush the hairs behind her ear? See that pretty flush, eyes on him and him alone?
"Lad, I've seen that look before," Charlie told him abruptly, eyes sad and knowing "I've sported it, still do, just...be careful and be smart about it"
"I will" Tommy promised, "you sent off that shipment up north?"
"Aye, the Altyre's were very happy with it but Scots don't like doing business with outsiders, be a hard market to tap" Charlie told him with a thoughtful look.
"Oh, trouble in business?" Vi asked cheerfully, looking right at home in the yard though he could see how smooth her hands were, not a lady of work.
"A bit" Tommy answered, tongue feeling heavy "I'm Thomas Shelby, call me Tommy"
"Viola" She replied offering her hand and blushing slightly when he pressed a kiss to her knuckles, oh, he had such bright blue eyes. Like the sun shining through ice on a winter's morning.
"You like horses?" Tommy asked her as he shadowed her over to the Irish cobs they were going to sell.
"I love them, Papa has a couple of stables and owns some racehorses, some for hunting but mine's just for riding" Viola explained to him lighting up and he felt a small smile tug at his lips.
"Not a fan of hunting?" he asked her, thoughts whirring, if she was upper class it would mean work for him to convince her parents to let them marry but he'd see it done.
"I don't mind the thrill of the chase or hunting to feed myself or my family but just for the blood of it...I find it distasteful" Viola admitted to him and he hummed.
"I rather like hunting," Tommy told her, thoughts flinging back to hunting for rabbits with his family, to make sure they're fed "I also like fishing but horses, they're my passion"
"They're stunning creatures" Viola agreed softly "Biscuit is, well, he's rather old now but I used to have such fun racing across the countryside with my older sister Mary, Edith doesn't like it and Sybil only enjoys gentle rides, fitting for such a gentlewoman"
"Those are your siblings? No brothers?" Tommy asked interested in her.
Viola laughed gently and shook her head "No, no brothers, despite Papa wishing for one, though he loves us dearly. Mary's the oldest, she's very...well, elitist but she has a soft heart and she's loving. Then there's Edith, she's very much a middle child, we don't get along very much but I do love her and there's Sybil, my twin, she's wonderful. Very kind and gentle it kind of infuriates you sometimes. What of you?"
"Ah, big family" Tommy said "there's five of us, Arthur, Me, John, Ada and Finn. We were raised by our Aunt Polly and Uncle Charlie mostly"
"That is a lot" Viola smiled at him as they started brushing down a storm grey horse.
"I enjoy a full house" Tommy confessed to her in a playful whisper "but don't tell them that eh?"
"I won't" Viola promised with a giggle "I love my sisters, and always enjoyed a full house but the wars that would start sometimes! I don't know how Mama and Papa dealt with it sometimes"
"Ah, the good thing with boys, we just beat each other up and whoever won was in the right...or got the toy," Tommy said with a huff of amusement.
"We were usually arguing over a piece of jewellery or a dress" Viola laughed gently scratching behind the horse's ear earning a snort of pleasure.
"Not enough to go around?" Tommy teased her
Viola shrugged, moving to braid the horse's hair "Yes but well, you always want the things you can't have"
She shot him a sheepish look over the horse's neck "I suppose that rather makes me seem like a brat, doesn't it?"
"Not really," Tommy said with a shrug "My brother, Arthur got a toy soldier once, I wanted it desperately"
"But you couldn't have it?" Viola asked, well used to her older sisters refusing to give her or Sybil something, though Mary would sometimes pretend disinterest in something and give it to them. She knew for a fact that Mary adored her tea set but when Viola and Sybil had so begged for it, she had claimed that she was bored with it and gave the set to them.
"Oh, I got it, I always get what I want," Tommy told her shooting her a tooth-filled grin "took me a while though, good thing I'm patient"
"I suppose," Viola said with a flush "We usually just ran to Papa and he was happy enough to spoil us"
"Lady like you deserve to be spoilt," Tommy told her matter-of-factly "though not many men round here can afford tailored dresses and priceless jewels."
"It's the thought that counts," Viola told him "Though I've never met a girl who said no to a pretty gem"
"Neither have I," Tommy said with a grin, he leant over the neck of the horse, enjoying the closeness.
"Given many gems to girls?" Viola asked him playfully, tilting her head up at him with a boldness that surprised her. But she was enjoying it.
"Just my aunt Pol, and my sister Ada." Tommy said with a shrug "Hadn't met a girl yet I want to shower with gifts"
"Hadn't?" Viola asked
"I just might have today" Tommy told her before spotting his aunt Pol "I think it's for you" he gestured with his chin and Viola spun and lit up when she spotted Polly, heading over to the woman.
"Hello Polly" Viola greeted the woman, wanting to glance back over at Tommy but was too nervous.
"Hello, Viola, I see you've met another troublesome nephew of mine," Polly said light-heartedly, feeling a deep sense of satisfaction at the longing look Tommy was shooting at the girl's back.
"Tommy? He doesn't seem so bad" Viola said, giving into temptation and glancing over her shoulder, he was already staring and seemed pleased that she had looked.
"The Devil doesn't seem so bad with the looks of an angel," Polly told her dryly as she hooked her arm with Viola and dragged her from the yard and into the town proper.
They spent the rest of the day with Polly playing tour guide to Viola who soaked in the town, eager to get to know her new home. it was a tiring day though fun, she found new curtains to hang, a better couch, groceries for cooking and learnt all the best places to go.
Once they had dropped everything off back at Viola's apartment, men dropping off the couch as they couldn't carry it, Polly helped clean up with Viola, before fixing the girl with a firm stare.
"Yes, Polly?" Viola asked slightly nervously
"You need to get out, have fun and celebrate being young," Polly told her frankly
"You're young as well" Viola pointed out with a wry smile
Polly let out a bard of laughter "Of course I am! And I'm going to enjoy my youth, as will you, meet me at the Garrison at nine understand young lady?"
"A pub...like drinking?" Viola asked with a tilted head
Polly looked at her with exasperation "Yes a pub, drinking, fun, Tommy, be there or I will come and find you!"
"Yes Ma'am," Viola said with a tease, ushering the older woman out of her home so she could get ready.
Viola glanced at the clock, seeing that it was five o'clock she had about four hours to get ready but...Viola frowned at the wardrobe...what exactly did you wear to the pub? Papa had never let her go. She finally settled on a sea green dress with brown boots and minimal jewellery, she piled her hair up into a Gibson girl style and nodded at herself in the cloudy mirror before leaving the apartment locking it after herself.
"Viola!" a rough voice called out for her as she approached the Garrison, nervously biting her lip as she tried to gather her courage. Polly had wanted her to come, threatened her even! Why was she so nervous?!
"Tommy!" Viola replied hand shooting to her hair to make sure it was all in place.
Tommy ignored the snickering of his brothers as he strode over to Viola, nervously tugging on his cap, did it sit right? Did she think it was handsome? Maybe he shouldn't have worn his black single-breasted overcoat, he thought it made him seem older and lined his shoulders well but maybe she thought he looked ridiculous?
"Viola, you look wonderful" he complimented her feeling rather awkwardly, the tops of his cheekbones tinging pink.
"Oh? well, thank you, Tommy, I like your coat" Viola murmured back feeling shy
"Thank you" Tommy said shooting a glare at his brothers who were watching with glee at a shy Tommy Shelby.
"Hello, Vi! How are ya?" Arthur came up to them, dragging a young lad about her age but looking very similar to the other boys, so she guessed he was a younger brother "Settling in alright?"
"Yes, thank you, Arthur. Polly's been wonderful, she threatened me into coming here, do you know where she is?"
"On her way, with Ada and Finn, this is John the third youngest Shelby" Arthur leant in conspiratorially "And the ugliest, thankfully, I got the looks of the family"
Viola threw her head back and laughed striking Tommy dumb for a moment "Arthur! You're awful"
"Awfully good-looking" Arthur nodded solemnly "and seeing as how my two brothers are without gentlemanly manners, let me buy you a drink eh?"
Tommy's hand lashed out shoving into his older brother's shoulder and sending him sprawling to the wet, dirty ground with a litany of curses.
"Oops, he's always been clumsy," Tommy said flatly, stomping on John's foot and shooting him a warning glare before turning back to Viola "Anyway, it's cold let's go inside"
"Sure," Viola said holding her hand in front of her mouth to stifle her giggles.
Tommy kept his hand on the small of her back, gently guiding her into the warmth of the Garrison, tipping his head to some of his men, Harry Fenton spotted him and paled but Tommy ignored him, leading Viola to his private room and helping her settle in. before he walked to the window and knocked on it, Harry opened the door and looked at him.
"Tommy, what would you like?" he asked shooting a look at Viola and Tommy cleared his throat roughly, seems he didn't like people's eyes on Viola.
"Bottle of whisky, my brothers will be by soon, Ada, Polly as well. What would you like?" he asked Viola
"Oh, just a white wine" Viola replied and Tommy nodded
"And a white wine, best you've got," Tommy said before slapping down some notes, Harry's eyebrows raised in surprise at Tommy actually paying for once.
Viola however had become distracted when the door banged open and a tumble of people came rushing in, Arthur and John were play fighting while a young girl- about her age slapped them and Polly walked in after them looking fondly exasperated and carrying an adorable toddler.
"Who's this?" Viola cooed unable to resist getting to her feet and hurrying over to the cute little baby.
"This is Finn," Polly said with a glint of pride, hefting the toddler higher on her hip so Viola could get a good look at him, looking so cute in a suit and cap that matched his brothers.
"Oh, May I?" Viola asked happily and Polly nodded handing the little one over to her.
"Hi, Sweetie, oh, you're a handsome one, aren't you?" Viola cooed at him, gently playing with one hand.
"Hi" Finn babbled back with a cute grin that had her heart melting
"You've been stolen from me already" Tommy interjected into the conversation, blue eyes warm as he looked down on Viola holding his little brother, she'd make a good Ma, one day.
"How could I resist such a face?" Viola cooed planting a kiss on Finn's cheek and giggling slightly at the red mark left behind.
"If I pout, will I get a kiss?" Tommy asked her cheekily leaning down into her space
"Play your cards right and you might" Viola murmured back playfully, feeling an absolute thrill talking to this man that she'd never felt with another. Whether it was the thrill of this man or not she wasn't so sure yet but she had an inkling.
Tommy let out a soft, husky laugh that she found endearing as he pulled back and gestured his sister over "Viola, this is Ada my sister, Ada, this is Viola, she's new here"
"It's a pleasure," Ada said with a glint that convinced Viola that it wasn't "Why'd someone like you come here?"
"To learn" Viola replied simply
"In a pub? Didn't realise you were that kinda woman" Ada said haughtily
"Ada" Tommy hissed at her ice-blue eyes burning with disapproval.
"What?" Ada asked with a shrug "I'm just curious"
"It's fine, I can understand how a woman perusing a higher education can be...difficult for one such as yourself to understand," Viola told her sickly sweet before taking a sip of her wine.
"How dare- "Ada hissed but Arthur quickly grabbed her and ushered her out of the room at Tommy's look.
"Sorry about her, she's...going through things" Tommy apologised.
"She's a teenage girl, I'd be shocked if she wasn't" Viola replied as she focused on Finn who was playing with her pendant, trying to stuff it into his mouth.
"Still" Tommy grumbled, slinging an arm over her shoulder and taking a sip of his whisky, enjoying the burn and feeling incredibly clever when Viola didn't shrug his arm off, in fact, she leant into him! for warmth maybe but still!
"She's protective" Viola assured him "We'll figure it out, it'll just take some catty remarks and icy silences"
"Men just punch each other" Tommy pointed out pulling a face at Finn who giggled, grip still firm on Viola's pendant, which held a lion's head, he tilted his head curious, it was a very high-quality item. Something more in line for a Lady than a middle-class woman, it could be a family heirloom but the metal while polished looked brand-new. As if it had been newly made.
"So, when do you start your nursing course?" Tommy asked her, handing over the white wine she had requested, she took a sip before grimacing and he laughed "It's not the best around here, sorry"
"No, it's me, I've been spoilt" she waved off "and tomorrow actually, I'm awfully nervous"
"Stop apologising for how you've been raised" he chided her fondly "I won't apologise for how I was raised, and you shouldn't either"
"I was raised with love and discipline but secluded" Viola murmured to him as Tommy shifted so that they were enclosed in their own corner, their own world "I asked to come to school because I do want to help, to give back because I've been given so much but also to see outside my gilded cage..."
"It's a noble pursuit" Tommy assured her when she looked up at him underneath her long, long lashes. "Me and my brothers, we grew up wild and free, only following our Gypsy blood, swimming in the cut, pickpocketing others, stealing sweets from the shop, running barefoot through the fields, riding horses...it was fun but I would have liked a little structure"
"Sounds freeing" Viola murmured with some wistfulness.
"Hmm, other times, felt lonely no Ma or Da though Polly made up for it with her scoldings," Tommy said with a soft smile.
"I'm sorry...did they...pass?" Viola asked awkwardly.
"Ma, she- "Tommy cleared his throat roughly "She drowned, in the cut a year ago and Da, well he decided to just leave one day but we've got Pol and I look after my siblings. It's not like he was much use in the first place"
"I'm sorry, that you lost her" Viola apologised and he gave her a soft smile.
"She liked to roam about, it was her Gypsy blood you see, couldn't stay in one place all the time, the longer she stayed with us, the less, the less she was. But when she came back, she was so full of love and life" Tommy told her wistfully.
"She sounds like a wonderful woman" Viola smiled at him.
"She was, when she was her true self, she gave me my first horse- well a snow-white pony," Tommy told her, taking another drink "I named her Snowflake, I'd ride her from dawn to dusk and she'd just sit and watch with Uncle Charlie, looking so proud, so happy"
"I started riding because of Mary" Viola told him "Mary loved riding and when we were old enough to learn, she insisted to be there, she was our big sister so of course, she had to be there to teach us. I used to be scared of them, my father had his old charger Cannon and it got loose and well, went on a charge. Mary though, she was so fearless that I felt like I could do anything as long as she was by my side"
"She sounds like a wonderful sister," Tommy told her
Viola snickered "when she isn't being an elitist bossy snob"
"Much elitism in your family?" Tommy asked teasingly, once again pulling the pendant out of his little brother's mouth and shooting her an apologetic look but she just smiled, pinching Finn's cheeks in delight.
Viola shrugged "Meet my Grandmama and you'll learn where the idea of elitism came from"
"Maybe I will one day" Tommy replied enjoying the flush of her cheeks. "So, who's this Biscuit I've heard about?"
"He was a gift from Papa, but Mary picked him out, he's the colour of a shortbread biscuit, hence his name" Viola laughed, tugging Finn firmly against her "he's a palomino, was used at a riding school before being sold into a nice retirement, where he became mine and I've loved him for the past ten years"
"Oh, not interested in getting a faster, younger horse?" Tommy asked reaching over and tugging on Finn's shoe playfully, making him squeal and hit at his hand in defence. Viola tapped Finn's nose in reprimand making him pout adorably.
"He's my biscuit, he's carried me faithfully for ten years how can I just throw him away?" Viola asked him with wide brown eyes and he felt his heart pound at the show of devoted loyalty.
"I wish I could have a horse but I haven't found any that I feel that connection with," Tommy told her somewhat shyly
"It can be hard to find that perfect horse" Viola agreed "though the horses we brushed this morning were rather lovely"
"They were" Tommy nodded "However, we need the money more right now and it's a good deal"
"Well, to one day, having a stable of horses" Viola offered raising her glass to Tommy, keeping her other arm carefully around Finn to keep him balanced.
"One day" Tommy echoed and clinked his glass with hers, smirking when Finn tried to join in waving his little mug of milk, Viola artfully ensuring he didn't spill over himself or them. Tommy smiled down at his brother and Viola, this, he could get used to. In the corner of his eye, he could see Polly staring at them with self-satisfaction. Keeping his siblings focused on each other in order to give them privacy.
Only now, did he realise he was on a chaperoned date, manufactured by his aunt and he couldn't find it in himself to be angry, only grateful.
"You like kids?" Tommy asked glancing down at his brother who was easily endearing Viola to the Shelby family, he owed his little brother a new toy would he want a train or soldier? No Marbles, he'd choke on them.
"Love them, I'm the youngest so unfortunately not little siblings for me to dote on but I want to have a large family" Viola admitted to him shyly and Tommy began planning, he could make room for a large family.
"I want to have a large family too," Tommy told her "It was crowded with so many of us, but I'd never regret it and I'd love to have a lot of kids underfoot"
"Sounds wonderful" Viola laughed "But you're a businessman, would you have enough time for family?"
Tommy stared at her seriously "Family always comes first to me. Family is everything to me. I love them the most."
Viola blushed "Loyalty to family above all" she agreed "but you have to be careful to keep time, wouldn't want to neglect your future wife, I know Papa can struggle with it at times"
"I would always put my family above some meeting," Tommy told her "but it would be fun, to have someone, maybe you, You waiting at home for me, saying, 'What time do you call this?' it'd be fun eh?"
"Putting the cart before the horse, aren't you?" Viola asked teasingly "You've hardly known me a day"
Tommy shrugged unconcernedly "I get what I want, and you, you're my lightning strike, Viola"
"What's a lightning strike?" Viola asked in confusion
He smirked at her "I'll tell you at our wedding" he promised before looking down at a slumbering Finn, "Come on, it's getting late, I'll walk you home"
"How gentlemanly" Viola teased as he helped put her coat on, taking Finn from her, knowing he could get heavy after a while.
"I'm the pinnacle of a gentleman" Tommy smirked before becoming serious "The streets get dangerous; you'll be safe with me"
"Will I now?" Viola wondered hooking her arm with Tommy, he nodded to Aunt Pol, kicked Arthur and John, pressed a kiss to Ada's cheek and then swept out the room with her, Finn's warm breath puffing against his collarbone.
"I have a reputation," Tommy said with a shrug, sidestepping the reality of what a dangerous man he was "Gypsy magic and all that"
"What rot" Viola huffed "If you had magic why waste it on imbeciles?"
"The raw entertainment?" Tommy suggested, smiling when she fell into a fit of giggles.
They passed the time to her apartment, quietly talking about nothing as Tommy kept a sharp eye out, several men made quick turnabouts when they saw his cap and ice-blue eyes, dangerously challenging them. No one was going to ruin his night. Best to put the word out as well, no one touches his Viola.
By order of the Peaky fucking Blinders.
"Well, this is me," Viola told him nervously gesturing to her apartment door, 221B, Belmont Road, Tommy quickly memorised it, he'd have men on patrol within the hour, couldn't have anything bad happening round here now.
"I had an amazing time tonight," Tommy told her bluntly "And I want to see you again, go on a date again, In fact, I want to court you"
"This was a date?" Viola squeaked out, cheeks flushing red
"To me, yes" Tommy nodded firmly, best tell her straight, get it out in the open now. Hopefully, he wouldn't be rejected, that would put quite the dent in his plans, though he'd work around it.
"But your aunt Polly set it up," Viola said in confusion, a furrow in her brow
Tommy smirked "Polly is never wrong about matters of the heart and you never answered"
Viola had received attention from men, of course, she had but never in such a forthcoming way. Men of her social standing liked to act coy, use double-speak and never committed, not like this. And she liked it.
"I had a fun time tonight" Viola smiled up at him "and I'd very much like to do it again"
At the moment all that she was thinking about, was the fact a handsome man was bluntly telling her that he wished to court her. Not her family or their reaction should she mention she wanted to get to know some Gypsy boy from Birmingham. Hmm, best keep it quiet for now.
"Good" Tommy nodded firmly
"Are you sure?" Viola couldn't help but ask again, she knew she had a fragile heart and she was apprehensive about offering it so freely.
"When I have an important decision, I usually toss a coin," Tommy told her and she blinked at him "But you, there was no doubt, only surety. You're my lightning strike"
"Again, with the lightning strike," Viola huffed with a cute pout
"At our wedding, I'll tell" Tommy teased her "Now, head inside and get some rest"
"Fine, goodnight, Tommy" Viola bid him
"Goodnight, stailc tintreach" Tommy replied, watching her step into her apartment and close the door behind herself, when he heard the lock engage did he spin and start heading back home, shifting Finn to one arm and pulling out a coin to toss. To buy the engagement ring tomorrow or next week? Maybe before their next date. Shameful he didn't have it prepared before their first date but then again, Polly really should have warned him. oh well, he'll make it up by buying the best sapphire he can find, or a ruby? Ah another coin flip needed then.
AN/
SO I have an outline! kinda, sorta, it's blurry but it's a start! we'll be getting into the main story- Downton/ sinking of the titanic in maaaaybe three-four chapters? it's rough.
Anywho! Please comment it means a lot also, I need to update my other fanfics but I only have motivation for this at the minute whoops.
Also, I know Tommy's acting OOC but this is before the war, so he's innocent and hasn't suffered the absolute horror that was the great war.
stailc tintreach- lightning strike. I really like the idea of that, also people say that 'lightning never strikes twice' so I find it a cute ah, parallel to the whole one true love thing.
Also please Comment :)))))