EVELYN - peaky blinders fanfic

one.

There's a saying Evelyn's father once used to tell her. Although, she didn't bother to remember it. Her father was an asshole. Something about parties. Or men. Basically everything that the blonde female had been stuck in at this exact moment. Lots of drunken men, the lingering scent of cigarette smoke and liquor, and the sounds of loud, obnoxious laughter and other noises of joy emitting from the bar. Evelyn had only been there for one reason. One person.

"Evelyn?"

The familiar Irish accent captured the damsel's attention, causing her to turn her head over her shoulder and smile warmly. "Grace!" She cheered, embracing her little sister in an endearing hug, one of which the younger woman returned but gave a look of confusion when they pulled away from each other. "But I don't understand, why are you here?" Grace questioned, brows furrowed as her curious eyes tried reading her older sister's. Evelyn simply waved her hand as if dismissing the question.

"Business. Did Inspector Campbell not tell you? He wanted me here to help you with gathering information on those Peaky fellows. The Arthur man wasn't the leader, he said. Have you found out who is?" Evelyn asked her sister with interest, hoping she had found out something. However those optimistic thoughts blew over when seeing Grace shake her head, looking down at her fidgeting fingers, looking back up at her sister.

"I have an idea of who, but I can't tell you here. Too crowded."

Evelyn nodded, understanding. "Well, I suppose we have all the time in the world to catch up on this little mission." She mused, taking a spot on an empty stool at the bar, watching Grace take her place behind it. "For now, neat whiskey."

"Disgustin'." Grace chuckled, never having of understood her elder sister's love for room-temperature liquor with no flavor in it. Without any flavoring, Grace found the beverage to be distasteful and bland and just straight out disgusting. Like an adult's cough medicine. Evelyn dismissively waved a hand at her sister, crossing one leg over the other. She definitely stood out in the pub she'd learned to be called The Garrison. Everyone in there had been dressed in dark clothing, some with dirt on their faces and grime beneath their nails while the blonde had been in a nice peach dress with white gloves that reached her elbows, white jewelry complimenting the outfit piece nearly perfectly.

"Cute little thing." She commented, allowing her eyes to scan around the shelter with slight amusement sparking like a growing flame with each passing second. "Though not nearly as exciting as the ones in Ireland, for sure." Evelyn snickered, looking down at the round glass of her drink that had been placed in front of her by Grace, who nodded in agreement and leaned on the bartop. "Definitely not. Bloody bloaks here don't give a shit unless you're a damn Shelby, man, or willin' to pay a round for everyone." She explained, both siblings scoffing.

Evelyn had heard of the Shelby family. She knew as much as to the point she picked up that they were feared by both ally and foe; especially the second eldest, Thomas Shelby. Evelyn hadn't known what any of the family looked like, and it surprised her that she had managed to not run into any. Or at least as far as she knew.

The pub had gotten insignificantly quieter, causing Evelyn to down the rest of her drink and look over to the entrance. Walking in had been three men. In the front, a man with strong bone structure and piercing blue eyes that peaked from under his cap that had a slight gleam at it's edge. To his left a more baby-faced male with a toothpick sticking out from in between his lips, wearing a similar cap. However the last man, the one on the right, hadn't been wearing a hat. One could perfectly see his neatly combed back undercut and the thick mustache he'd grown on his upper lip. Evelyn studied that one more intently than the other two.

A sigh escaped the woman's lips, shoulders slouching as she turned her head, a gloved hand going to her mouth. "Oh dear." She breathed, "He's attractive." The people in the pub began to rowdy up once more, Evelyn catching a few stares from men across the room. Normally she might've given them a playful little wink or flash a toothy smile, but this time she'd been more focused on the man she'd taken note of just a moment before.

"That's Arthur Shelby, Evelyn." Grace said in almost a warning tone, her voice hushed as she leaned against the countertop so her sister could hear. She whipped her head around to look at Grace, eyes wide. "That's Arthur? Are the other two Shelby's as well?" She asked, looking towards the trio again, who had been approaching the bar. Grace only nodded in response, pushing herself into a straight posture and smiling thinly towards the men, walking up to them as she grabbed a rag, cleaning out a glass.

Eveyln watched with curiosity, taking notes of each movement the men made. Especially the interactions that happened between the blue-eyed man and her sister. She felt a small tug at her lips. They love each other. The blonde thought to herself, knowing even a blind man could notice their infatuation with one another. Looking back down at the empty glass in thought, Evelyn tapped her index finger lightly on its side before making up her mind and nodding to herself, standing up from her seat and walking over to the group her sister was at.

"Grace, you live nearby, correct? Would you mind if I stay there for a while?" The woman questioned, grabbing the attention of the four. Even of the one with the toothpick in his mouth who'd been looking at all the commotion in the pub had turned to see who had approached them.

"Oh, of course. I've a spare bedroom and everything." Her sister replied, smiling to the woman.

"Mind introducing us, Grace?" The one with blue eyes interrupted, gaze wandering over to the new face, who looked to her younger sister. "Sounds like the right thing to do, Grace." She teased, making the other woman roll her eyes.

"Boys, this is my sister, Evelyn. Evelyn, the Shelby's. Three of them, at least. Thomas, John, and Ar-"

"Arthur Shelby." Evelyn cut her off, a smile growing. "Of course, how could I of not recognized earlier?"

Arthur's brows furrowed in confusion, the younger looking one - John - nudging his side with his elbow and a smirk on his lips. "You know me?" He questioned the blonde in confusion. She chuckled. "Well, I know of you. You've made quite a lasting impression and reputation with your...brawling." Of course Evelyn hadn't known Arthur Shelby at all, she had just been given information of him from Inspector Campbell and she decided to use to to her advantage. If these men were actually part of the Peaky Blinders, the woman would do her best to get close to them and tear them down from the inside. No questions asked; it's what the Crown wants.

"I wasn't aware ya' had a sister, Grace..." Arthur spoke, his gaze never leaving Evelyn's.

"Aw, Grace," Evelyn cried in a playful manner, turning to her sister. "You don't talk about me? Are you envious that I am the attractive sister?"

"Very funny, Evelyn." Grace replied with a roll of her eyes but a returning smile. She turned to Arthur, noticing the spark of interest in his eyes as they never seemed to leave Evelyn. She was going to break his heart.