rose thorn - peaky blinders

one - France

1919 France

Tommy was tired, his body ached. He was covered in mud and filth. He watched as his comrades died in battle. He was sick to his stomach as he walked across the empty battlefield. The war was over. His brigade searched the rubble in search for survivors or wounded soldiers. In one hand, he clutched tags of dead soldiers he had found in the field and although Tommy wasn't religious anymore, he muttered a small prayer in case they were. 

Tommy crouched down at a tiny body, thinking it was a young soldier. Only he realized, someone was hiding below the body. It was a young girl. 

"What are you doing down there, little one?" Tommy asked, staring at the shaking young girl hiding in the rubble. "What's your name?"

"S'il te plait ne me fais pas de mal!" she cried, wincing back from him. (Please don't hurt me!)

"Darling, it's alright. Let me help you," Tommy softly said, reaching his hand out to her and crouching down.

 She stared at him unsurely, before gently taking his hand. He used his strength to pull her out from underneath him. 

"I'm Tommy," he said softly, pointing at himself. The girl reminded him of Ada, his little sister. Her blue doe-eyes stared at him and she trembled.  

"Je suis Fleur-Marie Archambeau," she replied, hugging him tightly. Tommy didn't know what to do or how to react to her tiny arms wrapping around him, so he just patted her head. He also had no idea how to say her name, but didn't want to be rude. (I am Fleur-Marie Archambeau.)

"How old are you, darling?" he asked softly. She tilted her head in confusion at him. He smiled and pointed at himself before holding numbers up. "I'm 29." 

Fleur smiled at him. "j'ai treize ans." (I am 13)

Tommy nodded. "Where are your parents?" 

She lowered her head and Tommy frowned when he saw the tears in her eyes. She slowly pointed at the rubble where a house once stood. Tommy understood and held his hand out. 

- - - 

Tommy stood impatiently, holding her small hand and listening to his commanding officers speak. They were all arguing about what to do with the girl. One man thought she would be better off educated in London while another thought she should be sent to a camp in France where all orphans were being sent to during the war. 

"Tommy," she whispered, tugging his sleeve. He looked down and saw that she was pointing at a small flower that still stood standing despite the grenade that seemed to have gone off there.  

"Fleur-Marie," she said, pointing at herself. Tommy smiled at her. 

"Okay, little Fleur," he said gently.  

"Sergeant Major Shelby," one of the men said. "I'll drop her off in Paris." 

Tommy's head snapped up, before he looked down at their clasped hands. "No...no it's alright. If it's fine I'd like to take her to London. I want to know she's safe." 

The man let out a sigh. "Alright, Shelby. If that's what you wish." 

That is what I fucking wish, Tommy thought.