Time and Fate - Peaky Blinders // Tommy Shelby

Seven

For the rest of the night, Tommy and Bellatrix had spent their time upon the top of the hill, looking out onto the vast expanse that was the city. Looking at the plums of smoke that were being ejected from stacks in wispy silver strands to join the abundance of clouds that hung in the air above them. With the growing night the heat was lost, the only warmth being from the bonfire that was slowly dwindling before them. Yet they continued to sit there on the hill, drinking their respective drinks from the bottles they had taken from the barns, not truly feeling the alcohol wash over themselves, how the world was slowly spinning around them.

It was not until she stood did Bellatrix realises how drunk she had become. Upon standing she felt the world turn, like she had just come off a carousel that was spinning too fast. Tommy instantly laughed at her appearance, at her recognition of her state.

It was a growing thing between them, for him to laugh at Bellatrix's new experiences, to note her innocence to the world. Though with each time a slight pang erupted inside of Tommy's body; maybe she was too good for him, maybe she didn't deserve to be with a man like him. Despite how much he tried to be good, to work towards something in life, he couldn't deny his family's past, how their money was devolved from illegal activity. It was something that he hoped to change one day.

Yet all those feelings seemed to be dispersed as Bellatrix grabbed a hold of his hand, drawing him uneasily to his feet, to feel the intoxication of his won body overwhelm him. It was her smile, her enchanting disposition that sent his mind unravelling. That caused him to not think rationally, to only think about the moment, and about her in front of him.

With the alcohol fuelling her, Bellatrix almost forgot of the times that she was living in. As she dragged Tommy to stand, to spend a final dance with her, she almost forgot that she was back in time. The only recognition that she was in a time that she didn't belong was the roaring bonfire, the cigarette that often dangled from Tommy's lips, the matches that he held in his hand with no thought to anything.

It was nice to live in a world without any worry, without caring and fearing for the future. Everyone around Bellatrix seemed to enjoy themselves at the bonfire, not worrying about anything. It was almost like fear didn't exist in that moment.

As they held onto each other, their stumbling bodies moving in no rhythm whatsoever. Tommy's eyes flashed around for a moment, to see the field, the emptiness that had consumed it. There was no one there, taking care of the environment, of the bonfire of the products. Yet he didn't care, all he longed for was the touch that he was currently feeling.

In the shadows, in the shrubs that lined the fields and in the barns that graced the property there were people still there mingling with one another. In the barn Martha and John were together. Arthur was somewhere with his girl. Neither of them battered an eyelid at Tommy and Bellatrix's figures against the backdrop of the city. Everyone was too drunk, and that was how it was meant to be.

"It's late," Tommy said as Bellatrix forced him to spin her with a giggle, watching as she sent herself flying far too fast, tripping upon the tuffs of grass. "I'll walk you home."

Bellatrix dropped Tommy's hand, despite the world turning around her she noted the emptiness, the sense that no one was no longer there watching over them. That the bonfire was slowly dying. That the night was over.

"I almost don't want it to end," Bellatrix said, a wave of sadness overcoming her. With it, she almost didn't want to go back, to the future, to know that she would never get to experience bonfires, the smell of smoke in hair being a good thing, filled with beautiful memories and not disaster.

"Next week," Tommy said moving his hand in the direction of her, hoping that she would take it. "And I'll invite you again."

"Will you now?" She replied with a laugh, accepting his hand and allowing him to lead her down the hill, the tufts of grass causing her to trip with each step. "Maybe I should just roll down."

"Do it," replied with a laugh, not expecting her to do it, but watching as she pulled away from him, lying onto the ground and wrapping her arms around herself.

There had been a book Bellatrix had read when she was little, it was old, back when one could roll downhill without thinking about the consequences, without being ripped by dry plants or covered in mud. Rolling down hills was something that no one her age had done in 2030. And rolling down that field at night, feeling fear as her body tumbled down the side, hearing Tommy's roaring laugh at watching her body flail towards the city, it made her realise that this was what life was meant to be like, that it was what teenagers had always meant to do.

Tommy ran down the hill towards her, seeing her sit into the ground, her body vibrating. At first, he had thought that she had hurt herself, that the bumps had sent bruises across her body. Yet as he came to stand beside her, he realised that she was in a fit of laughter. That the intoxication, that the evening had truly got to her.

"Maybe I shouldn't have done that," Bellatrix said as she started pulling the grass and leaves from her hair, as she dusted herself off from the soil that had moved upon her body. "I don't always have the best ideas."

"I've never seen anyone do that," Tommy said with a laugh, helping her to her feet once more. "I've seen people fall down the hill after a bonfire, but never, ever, have I seen someone willingly roll down it."

"There's a first time for everything I guess," Bellatrix said, edging towards the city with Tommy, slowly leaving the happiness of the bonfire behind.

Yet, with Tommy by her side, she would soon learn, that she would become happy anywhere. That even in the city with the smoke rising high into the sky, distorting the sun, that she would still be elated, because she had him there, a man that she didn't know well, but had the ability to send her heart jumping.