WARNINGS: VIOLENCE, BLOOD AND HEARTBREAK
1914
"HAVE you written in that diary of yours?" Enzo asked.
Eden nodded, "'Course, can't go a day without it. Helps clear my mind."
Looping arms with her, he teased, "Loverboy upsettin' you again? Feelings mutual, that puttana gets on my tits," he continued despite her strained expression, "You heard 'bout a robbery a couple of weeks ago near Digbeth, Stevie's market stall was trashed."
"What?!" She turned to him in shock, stopping their movements m.
Enzo sent her a wry look, "Edie I love you, but you knew 'bout did it didn't you?"
She continued to shake her head, "I didn't know what happened."
Craning his neck to the side, Enzo took in her shocked expression and concluded that she was telling the truth. It wasn't like Eden would lie to him, he trusted her with his life, he really did, but he just didn't trust the company she kept and was very vocal about that.
Returning from a poor man's peace, he tried to keep his opinions to himself...tried. They instead talked about the plot of land she and her family owned in Jamaica that her mother had only recently inherited after her father passed. Portmore, it was beautiful and Eden hoped to visit soon because England was far too dull for her. Enzo said the same about Italy and even believed his true calling was leaving with his oldest brother and joining the rest of the family in New York.
Ah, their dreams kept them up at night.
"Now you do," he murmured.
"I'm sorry, is Stevie alright?" Eden felt extremely concerned about the man who always showed her kindness, even when it was least expected.
He slowly nodded, "He's making do, only a matter of time before there's a retaliation."
"Fuck," she breathed out, picturing the events that would play out if they didn't come to some sort of truce.
She felt even worse knowing that Tommy started it all because he discovered that Luca injured her, unintentionally but what did that matter?
Enzo's lips twitched, "Alls fair in love and war."
"Well, that's utter bullocks."
"Tell that to your diary."
"Fuck off," she playfully pinched him, just as he looped their arms again.
"Let me walk you home, tell you 'bout why you might not want to come down to little Italy any time soon," he advised, cautious of her safety and how his older brother would react to it, he said the same to Dorris.
"I'll come and visit you," she promised despite his precautions.
"Even bump into Mrs Granberry while you're at it."
Feigning offence, she gasped, "Never wish that on me. Take it back."
From the distance, an angry Tommy stumbled through the streets, after leaving the Garrison with many pints of beer and a few whiskeys in his system.
One week had passed since he'd seen or heard from Eden. Isaiah and Finn's birthdays came and went, and like twins, they shared the day. The junior bandits of the lane were six now and despite the celebration and the occasion Eden didn't speak to him.
Seven days of radio silence from the woman that took over his mind and stole his heart. Get lost, and she did. He wanted to go to her house but didn't want to risk running into her parents. He wanted to visit her job but it was too soon to be near any sick people. He knew if he asked Dorris to help him, she would just tell him to fuck off and Enzo wasn't a fucking option.
So as he stumbled down the lane, he tried focusing his eyes on anything, something that would calm him and settle the fury.
And that's when he saw Eden Dawkins, in all her glory, giggling away, looking happy and healthy... but why?
He froze in his uneven stride when she saw the arms wrapped around her waist, tugging her body closer to the body of the man they belonged to.
Lorenzo fucking Changretta.
Nothing or no one could hold him back, he wasn't wearing rose-tinted glasses, but all he saw was red.
So he ran, despite his state, with one thing on his mind.
Eden's scream seemed to echo through the streets.
Enzo had been torn away from her and slammed on the ground, feeling nothing but sharp fists pound into his face, unrelenting and unforgiving.
Eden's gutwrenching screams just added to the noise that was in Tommy's chaotic mind.
With the blood spurting from Enzo's mouth and the bruises forming on his skin, the drunk Shelby didn't stop.
People peered out their windows to see the commotion, but quickly they drew their curtains fearing repercussions.
"Tommy stop it please!" she screamed, feet clattering over to the pair, but the footsteps approaching made her stop, "Arthur!" she yelled, thinking he would aid in rescuing her friend, but that wasn't the case. The oldest Shelby pulled her back, "Let me go! Enzo I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry. Tommy got off of him!"
She writhed in Arthurs's hold, cursing at the wind, yelling at her boyfriend and praying that it would all come to an end.
"Tommy!" She heard Arthur's voice, it didn't sound nearly as discouraging as she needed it to.
"Why are you doing this?!" Eden finally caught the drunken Shelby's attention, he kept his hands on Enzo's capels as he halted his carnage.
"What was he doing with his hands all over you?" he demanded, tone thick with whiskey and rage.
"Talkin', just talkin' you idiot!" she cried, keep trying to pull away from Arthur.
"That's not what it looked like!"
"But it's what it was!"
He ignored her cries and turned to his brother, who wasn't as intoxicated but recognised his wild side taking over his younger brother, the blood staining his fists as the Changretta painfully sturred on the ground, calling out for help.
But help could not come.
Seeing the look in his eyes and him reaching for his cap, Eden thought fast, trying to not let her emotions take over but it was too late for that.
The alcohol in Arthur's system allowed her to strike his gut with her elbow, resulting in him staggering back and letting her go.
Both Shelby's blue eyes doubled in size and mouths let in a harsh breath as she retrieved the knife tucked underneath her skirt and directed it at Tommy.
The wind blew over the tense silence.
Tears streamed down her face, but her hold remained stern.
"Eden put the knife away, you're gonna hurt yourself, love," Arthur voiced, the sight sobered him up in an instant. If only John wasn't at the betting shop or at odds with Tommy, he would be here to help, no doubt he was making his way, "Put it down."
Eden looked terrifyingly beautiful even when holding a weapon, her hand wasn't trembling and that's what scared Tommy.
She was sure of her decision, despite the emotions coating her face, the anger and pain swimming in her brown pools, she was sure.
"You would use that on me for 'im?!" Tommy spat, glaring down at the groaning man who was in a pool of blood, "You would go against me... for 'im?"
Her emotions are running wild, far wilder than mine, his thoughts blared.
Blood thumped in her ears as she came stalked towards him, wanting him to back away from Enzo, her best friend who hadn't done a thing to him – not directly – Enzo was like her brother and had been there for her through her highs and lows, the man that encouraged her career as a nurse even when she was unsure and when she thought about writing, he made sure to get her a diary every Christmas.
Tommy's anger didn't subside, but his darkened eyes grew slightly lighter as if the guilt of upsetting her was flooding through, he drove her to this. Emotions clouded her judgment yet he was the one to drive her to this.
"You've gone too far Tom," she choked out, watching Tommy slowly stand up and come closer.
"You crossed the line, Eden."
"You crossed it first, you were hurtin' 'im, why Tom, why were you hurtin' 'im? He ain't done a thing to you, not a thing, and you keep attackin' 'im. You realise by hurtin' 'im you're hurtin' me, or don't you care?—"
"Get outta the way, Eden!"
She shook her head and from the corner of her eye, she could see John run over, stunned by what was happening and coming to stand by his oldest brother who also reached out for her.
The cheeky Shelby man never thought a day would come when Tommy was rendered defenceless by a local nurse whom he called his friend.
"Edie... put it down," John tried.
Eden stared ahead at Tommy, "You don't care, do ya? He's my friend, no fuck that, he's my brother, I love 'im, and I love you but... if you come near 'im again, I'll use this," she held up the knife as her voice cracked, "I'll use it against ya, don't make me, please don't make me."
"Put it down Edie girl." John kept trying, before turning to his brother, "Arthur!"
"John, shut up," Eden yelled as her grip slowly weakened.
"All for him?" Tommy nodded to the groaning man in disgust.
Eden's lip quivered, "You hurt me."
"It was for you," Tommy whispered, "All this was for you,"
"Put it down, love," Arthur said quietly, they all watched as she lowered the knife.
Letting out a sharp breath, John silently cheered but Tommy remained stagnant.
"There you go," Arthur went to reach for the weapon but instead she tucked it away once again.
Eden ignored the silent pleas emitting from Tommy's eyes and brushed passed him, rushing to her best friend.
There was a mean gash below his now bruised eyes, that fluttered open and shut. His lip was busted open, which slurred his speech. Blood was like a second layer of skin that stained his flesh.
She could hardly recognise him.
"Oh Enzo," she let out a soft cry.
"Just leave him—" John received a glare as she helped up her injured friend, who could barely see, let alone stand.
But the adrenaline coursing through her veins allowed her to do the heavy lifting.
"I'm so sorry," she continued whispering to the delirious man.
"J-just get me home," he groaned, spitting out more blood at the Shelby's feet.
"I'm sorry," she repeated, struggling in her stride.
The three Shelby brothers watched on, one in despair, one in bemusement and the other in heartbreak. But they all wanted to scream, you do not fuck with the peaky fuckin' blinders...but Eden Dawkins sure as hell did.
Still yearning for the light in her eyes, Tommy stepped forward, "Eden lets go. Leave 'im."
He didn't think she would stop, but when she did she let out a laugh, a laugh of disbelief that contained little to no humour.
"You ignored me when I looked after you and you think your claim over me is still strong? The cheek of you."
And just like that, she set him off all over again.
Tommy jabbed his finger at the Changretta, "The cheek of 'im."
"Oh fuck off Thomas. It's done, we're done — better yet," Eden reached for the necklace around her neck, earning shocked expressions from both Arthur and John, all while Tommy's face fell. She chucked it at the cheeky Shelby, knowing her... ex-boyfriend wouldn't take it, "don't talk to me again."
Snatching out of his brother's hands, he stalked after the struggling pair, with purpose and pride.
"Put it back on now. Eden! Get back here now and put it on!" He yelled, but she didn't stop walking, even if her feet hurt, she needed to help her best friend, even if he wouldn't have any memory of it.
"Don't speak to me like that! You can keep your fuckin' necklace! Stay away from me!"
"Put it back on!" His hoarse voice caused her to blink away more of her tears. She promised she wouldn't take it off, "You promised Eden!"
If John placed a bet on if his brother would ever get his heart broken, he would've bet against it but now, after seeing the torn and broken look on Tommy's face, he would be beaten. Both he and Arthur thought it was unnerving to see as were the tears trickling down their brother's perfectly shaped cheeks.
Tommy always thought he and Eden were made for each other, though, that didn't mean they were made to last did it?
She had always been daring and prideful, and that her rage would only need to be set off by a single match.
....And Tommy just realized that he'd finally started the fire.
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a/n:
this is the end of the first act of until we meet again. how are we feeling? i mean our girl is calling him thomas, not tommy so...
eden finally pulled out that knife and although she didn't put it to use (not really) she took a stand, by defending and protecting someone she loved against...someone she loved.
considering that tommy directly went to enzo (out of jealousy, resentment and more) instead of being sly about his attacks due to his drunkenness/ grieving, he's fucked up, on the biggest scale. eden went as far as to give back his mother's necklace, is there any coming back from that?
also, i took a lot of inspiration from an old film cillian was in called "disco pigs" it's on youtube and it's amazing but also very unnerving.