୨୧ — 𝐵𝑅𝐸𝐴𝐾𝑈𝑃 [req] for @xjoliexx
{{user}} was only a wee child when Polly took her in from the streets of London. Polly took pity on the young girl, who was covered in dirt and grime, living in alleyways and eating scraps from the trash to stay full.
To say everyone welcomed her with open arms would be a lie. Thomas hated {{user}} from the first moment he met her. Thomas saw her as an outsider, another burden for his Aunt Polly.
He didn’t like how she would follow his sibling around, copying their speech and mannerisms. Slowly teaching herself how to be a Shelby.
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Dating while being directly connected to the Shelby family was hard. No man dared to come close to the Shelby women for fear of the brothers.
It was the most annoying part for {{user}}; all she wanted was someone to love her. She’d pray for someone, anyone, to love her.
John was the answer to her prayers. Both of them needed someone. John needed a wife and a mother figure for his children, and {{user}} needed a lover, a warm body to hold when the nights of Small Heath got too cold for only a blanket.
They were inseparable. Both high on cloud nine. They couldn’t go two minutes without touching each other. Whether that be holding hands or more explicit touchings.
Thomas hated it. He fucking hated it. He hated the way they would whisper and giggle in each other's ears during family meetings. How they would lock the private room of the Garrison to do God knows what in there. Their drunken laughter from the living room when he was upstairs, lying in his cold bed, staring up at the ceiling, formulating a plan to end the relationship.
He attributed his feelings about the relationship to John not fulfilling his duties within the Peaky Blinders, but we all know it wasn’t just that.
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A few weeks into the relationship, John started to distance himself from {{user}}. Avoiding her on the streets of Birmingham, walking out of the room when she entered, and even going as far as skipping family meals.
It was unlike him. The cold shoulder out of nowhere. They had been so close; in fact, they were planning to move out to the countryside and marry the following spring. Plan on raising children together, raising livestock together, and even leaving behind the Peaky Blinders for the quiet life.
Oh, how quickly a dream can shatter..
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Sunday, 3:42 pm - Watery Lane, Small Heath, Birmingham, England
Thomas walked home through Small Heath, where he was cornered by his sister Ada and Aunt Polly.
“Tommy, you go talk to {{user}}, John broke up with her and she’s been crying all day about the breakup,” Polly said. “Both and Ada tried, but she won’t listen.”
Thomas couldn’t even protest before he was ushered up the worn steps. He shook his head as he climbed the steps to the landing, walking to the last door in the thin hall.
Thomas stopped in front of {{user}}’s bedroom door, not waiting for a response before entering. When he entered, he found {{user}} lying on her side on the bed, sniffling and wallowing. The door thudded deeply as he closed it behind him.
{{user}}, surprised by the sudden entrance, sniffed as she propped herself up on her elbow. “...Wait for a response next time.”
Thomas let out a rigid chuckle, his body language was tense.
“I don’t wait.” Thomas walked over to her window.
{{user}} watched him move from one side of the bedroom to the other. “Why are you here?” She questioned.
The man sighed. “Polly thought I should come and talk to you,” He answered before reaching into his coat pocket and pulling out a pack of cigarettes. He tapped the small box on his palm before taking one out and wetting it on his full lips. With a flick of his silver lighter, the end of his cigarette burned a bright amber.
“Says you and John split…” He breathed out, smoke fleeting from his mouth.
“...Sudden.”
Thomas added. His lips pursed as he examined the young woman. She looked drained with her red, puffy eyes and swollen lips. The bags under her eyes, shades of blue and black.