Fall in Line || HP Crossover / Peaky Blinders - Thomas Shelby x OC

II

Tommy pushed open the door to his home on Watery Lane. Polly was puttering around in the kitchen, his aunt turned to him at his entrance, her brows furrowing at him when she looked at the girl questioningly, her eyes slanting when she took notice of the coat.

"Who the fuck is this?" Polly asked. "I thought you took that pretty barmaid of yours to the races."

"I did," Tommy patted the girl's back, and pointed to the chair he pulled out for her. "Pol, this is Miss Calliope Orm. Miss Calliope, this is me Aunt, Pollyanna Gray."

"Call me Pol," Polly told her, eyeing her up and her dirty face and hands. "You look like a child..." her eyes narrowed at Tommy. "Where did you kidnap her, Thomas? Didn't peg you for a man who likes little girls."

Tommy scowled at her. Calliope huffed a giggle. He snapped his gaze to her. "What's funny?" He asked.

"The fact that everyone keeps thinking I'm a child and all you men are into kidnapping me," she had a teasingly little smile.

Polly hummed, eyeing her up. "You need a wash and some food. Then you're going to tell me what you're doing with my nephew."

"I couldn't tell you, Mrs. Gray." She looked at Tommy now. "He's the one who brought me here."

"To get fed and warm," Tommy crossed his legs, stretching them out under the table and leaning back. "You're practically naked under me coat. Didn't feel right leaving you out in the cold."

"Or hogtied up like a prize pig," She quipped.

"Or that," He nodded.

"What are you going to do with her afterward?" Polly demanded.

"Give her a bed and figure it out in the morning," Tommy fished a cigarette from his pocket. He noticed Calliope wrinkling her nose again. "Oi! Stop doin' that, it's a bloody cigarette. Yeah?"

"It's a cancer stick."

"You're still young enough to bend over me knee, eh? Mind your manners, Doll."

Calliope licked her teeth, tilting her chin up. "You think an ass whooping will make me fall in line?" Her nails dug into the table when she leaned forward. "I've been through war too Mr. Shelby. I've been in my whole life. I carry the scars to prove it. If you want to make me bow, you're gonna have to get creative."

Tommy didn't know how she knew he had been in the war but he supposed they all had in some way. He didn't care for that smart mouth tjough even if he did applaud for having the balls that many men didn't when it came to him.

"I like her," Polly laughed, eyes twinkling. "She's got spirit."

"Get her some food, Pol," Tommy inhaled his cigarette and this time blew the smoke right in the bitches face.

She coughed, waving it away. "Now that was just a fucking dick move!"

Tommy grinned at her.

Polly sat a quick slather of butter and jam on toast in front of her with a glass of water. Both of them watched how she practically attacked the sandwich with a starving attitude though it looked like she was trying to restrain herself from not eating it too quickly. They shared a look that she didn't see.

"I'll run her a bath," Polly pushed a piece of cheese and some corned beef at her that was left out earlier from lunch. "Here, sweetheart, have at it. Tommy be fucking nice to the girl. I raised you better than that."

Calliope stuffed the last piece of toast in her mouth with a sheepish blush across her cheeks as she slowly looked up at Polly. Polly didn't need to hear it. She knew how thankful the girl was for some food.