Peaky Blinders. One shot and imagines

Angel of the trenches - Part 5 - Tommy x Reader

(Y/n) sat at the table by Tommy's side; the pair watching as the revelries went on around them. She had to admit that despite being with the former Sergeant Major, she still felt uncomfortable. She had never been one to drink, especially after seeing what copious amounts of gin had turned her mother into, so as everyone else around her drank, she nursed a glass of water. That, and unlike the rest of the women that were there, who were sporting pretty dresses and their hair done up in the latest style, giggling as the men danced with them and made suggestive comments; (Y/n) was dressed as she would always be, in simple pair of pants and shirt. The woman that had stood in the trenches never liking the idea that anyone might see some of the injures she had received from her last trip into no man's land, if she were to wear anything that was considered feminine.

"Are you regretting asking me, yet? Having to sit here with me........" (Y/n) suddenly asked, as she turned to look at Tommy. The ex-sapper taking a drag from his latest cigarette, before looking at her.

"Why would I be? I was never one for this kind of thing either............"

"Oh, please. Do you remember that strange little French town that we went to after it was liberated? How they organised a party? I do. I saw you smiling as you danced around with that dark haired mademoiselle that had been making eyes at you all day. I don't think I ever saw you smile before that. And neither me, nor the others knew that you could smile until that night............" The former corporal chuckled. Tommy taking another drag from his cigarette, so that he could cover up the smile that was pulling at the corners of his lips. Suddenly recalling that night, and how he had been made to smile on more than one occasion by that mademoiselle, that evening.

"That was then............."

"I'm sure that if the right girl showed her face in here and gave you that same look, she could get you to go and dance.............."

"What about you............" Tommy quickly interrupted, as he stubbed out the end of his cigarette in the ashtray.

"Told you, Sarge. I couldn't dance before the war.............."

"I was talking about the right man.............." Tommy qualified. It had been a question that he had wanted to ask (Y/n) since she had arrived in Small Heath at the beginning of the week; to ask if she had a man in her life that would come looking for her. She certainly hadn't said anything, and it would have been rude to just come out and ask. But as she had sort of brought it up...........

"A man..........? Me............? The fact that I wake up in the middle of the night, covered in sweat after another nightmare like many men do, certainly doesn't seem to have helped me find someone. And I think that most blokes are looking for more in a woman than the ability to break down a Lee Enfield while under artillery bombardment. Or being able to shoot rats on the far side of a trench. So, no, there is no right man..............." (Y/n) replied. Doing her best to not sound as sad as she felt. Doing her best not to blurt out that the one that she saw as the right man, was currently sat by her side, already smoking another cigarette.

Suddenly there was a kerfuffle in the crowd. Shouts going out and then screams, as a few of the man began to fight. Tommy and (Y/n) getting to their feet; the glimpse of crimson catching their eyes..............."

"Fucker............." Tommy heard Arthur shout, before a man ran for the doors of the Garrison. Throwing them open so that he could quickly get away from the men that were following after him.

"You still got an eye for rats..........?" Tommy asked, as he and (Y/n) pushed their way through the crowd. Only stopping as they saw Arthur being helped up from the floor by John; his white shirt covered in blood from the deep slashes to his torso.

"You got a rifle.............?" The former corporal countered. Tommy looking over to the man behind the bar. The bartender pulling out a rifle and throwing it to the head of the family firm. Tommy then passing it to (Y/n). The female soldier pushing her way to the door, placing the butt of the gun to her shoulder before drawing a deep breath and taking aim at the fleeing offender. The slow squeeze of the trigger quickly followed a loud bang, and the dropping of a body at the very end of the street. (Y/n) letting out the breath, as she lowered the rifle to her side.

"Good shot..............." Tommy said, as he came up behind her. (Y/n) doing her best to stop from shaking, as the former Sargeant Major placed a hand on her shoulder.

It had been some time since she had handled a gun. Some time since she had shot a man; but she was glad that she hadn't lost any of her skill since the war. And as the Shelby family had been nothing but kind to her since she arrived unannounced on their doorstep, if someone thought they could come along and harm one of them, they would be sorely mistaken.

"Fuckin hell..........." A voice called out. Tommy and (Y/n) turning to see John holding up Arthur, both of them looking at (Y/n) in disbelief. The pair finding themselves surrounded by the men that had been chasing after the now very dead coward, at the end of the street.

"I might have another job for you............" Tommy merely said to the woman by his side. His lips brushing against (Y/n)'s ear, before he made his way over to check on his brother.