Secrets And Broken Hearts

Secrets and Broken Hearts

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Chapter 2

Thomas Shelby x (Writer) Reader

Ms. Bennett goes around to look for information. Shall she finally quench her undying curiosity before it eats her alive?

A few days passed, and she spent her time working with William at the shop. They stole kisses and glances from each other even before the shop opened. After a bit, she left with the excuse of having running an errand. When William proposed to walk with her and help, she refused, insisting that she could handle herself when, in truth, she wanted to find new 'inspiration,' so she called. She needed information on what to write next.

With a smile, she walked around town. Everyone knew her as a nice young lady, humbly working at her William's, sometimes even catching he going for drinks here and there. No one could find her doing anything wrong, she had befriended families and neighbours alike, sometimes people wonder how a girl like her could live in a town so sinful as this.

Hearing murmurs around town, the gears in her head began to turn. Making a detour, she walked inside a bar called the Garrison, somewhere she would frequent. She went inside, men and women seeing her yet not paying any attention, she was always here after all. Sitting down in a corner no one would bother her, it was the the early mornings, though it would be preferable to go here at night where men were drunk, their lips as loose as the stitches she would make back at the shop, but she didn't want to risk it, she knew the risk of staying late, especially in a place full of drunkards.

She was good friends with the owner, staying quiet when he saw her at his pub. He made his way to give her a gin before quietly going behind the bar as she thanked him.

"This should be it..." She said, pretending to be busy with writing something on her diary. A few minutes passed by, and all she heard were useless or mundane conversations. Nothing that heed her attention. Sometimes familiar faces would greet her, but nothing more. Smirking internally when one of her acquaintance told her the coppers found a criminal that hid in Small Heath, hiding in a house near the heart of the very town, he even posed as a Baker in one of the market shops. Turns out that man killed his aunt, went to start a new life while his aunt decayed at the house she lived in back in London, the family jeweles being the one reason she was even identified.

"Oh really? That really is something... wait, the bakery down the street?" She said, 'worry' plastered on her face, she was happy that man got arrested, though now she had to act as if she didn't know any of this, unbestknown to the tranquil she faces underneath, the person she was talking just gave a nod. They talked for a few moments before she was left alone once again, nursing the gin on her hand.

When she was about to leave the door of the pub opened, looking at the person from the corner of her eyes, she found out it was no other than Thomas Shelby himself. Holding her breath, she silently watched him take off his peaked cap as he made his way to the bar, throwing the said cap on the bar as Harry approached with a bottle of whiskey.

"On the house Mr. Shelby." Harry said, uncorking the bottle before placing it in front of Thomas with a glass. Thomas gave no reaction. Still, he placed two coins down for Harry.

Deciding to stay, she continued to busy herself. She then saw Thomas and Freddy look at one another before Freddy made his way towards Thomas. This is it. Maybe they know something, she thought.

After Freddy got his drink, he took it and drank. "Cheers, Thomas, good health to you." Getting no reaction, he took the peaked cap on the bar to examine it.

"The crown of a prince. Soon to be king, I'd bet."

"You don't bet."

Finding this conversation fruitless, she bit her lip, nails digging and scratching her thigh above her skirt, a habit she'd come around with since she was a child whenever she was getting restless or anxious The two men kept talking, and finally, after a bit, she heard something useful come out of Freddy's mouth. She rested her head on the palm of her hand whilst re-reading the same lines on her diary to look like she wasn't listening.

"One of my Union comrades has a sister, works in the telegraph office at the NSA factory."

He went on to continue, saying how over the past weeks they'd have messages coming up from London to the brass from Winston Churchill himself. Her breath hitched when she heard, Freddie made his way closer to Thomas, and her voice lowered, but still, she heard him as clear as day.

"Something about a robbery. A robbery of national significance."

She kept her face neutral, letting the information sink in. But Freddie kept talking, saying that his and Thomas' name was on the list. After those words, she didn't listen any longer. Muting everything to formulate a plan to begin her new investigation, risky as it is, her pamphlets earned enough to have her save money for her own future endeavors, no doubt the coppers themselves paid her through the printing shops that would publish her work, thankful that both the coppers and the men at the shop didn't bother knowing her name, that much was enough to keep her going.

Her thoughts were once again interrupted when the door slammed open, a man going hysterical. It was Danny, the woman jumped out of her chair quickly as Danny began to turn and toss everything he could get his hands on. She looked more worried than frightened, those men that fought in war, those lucky enough to come back home, they were no longer in France but different fight brews in their mind. The trauma they have to live with must be difficult. She moved to the side as Thomas And Freddie put him down, when they deemed him back to his own self again, they stood up as Thomas reassured him, saying for him to go home to his wife. When Danny was gone, the woman began helping around to fix the tables. That was the least he could do for her friend Harry.

"Mr. Shelby, you have to do something about him."

Harry said as he pointed at the door with his hand, Thomas and Freddy walked back, Freddy agreeing with Harry. The woman watched them, wondering how Freddy could go around taunting Thomas. He sure does have some confidence in him. Continuing with her thoughts, she frowned when Freddie kept talking.

"Maybe you should put a bullet in Danny Whiz-Bangs head like they do with mad horses... maybe you ought to put a bullet in my head someday, too..."

Having had enough of this already, the woman went to leave. She turned to bid her goodbye to Harry, who quietly thanked her for trying to help. Her eyes locked onto Thomas and then Freddy, she looked uneasy in their eyes, both men thought that she wasn't used to these kinds of things happening close to her. It is ironic as the town itself reeks of such impurities. The men in front of her are one of the many reasons. Oh, how wrong they were. She gave them a nod of acknowledgement before leaving with her diary. Once she reached her flat, she slumped on the chair in the kitchen, grabbing a drink as she thought to herself.

One thing was on her mind. She needed to know about this robbery.

"Surely if it's of national treasure someone competent would go looking for it..."

She picked up her pen, and maybe getting her head stuck in this problem was not ideal? But with the mind of a woman like her, how can curiosity be quenched if something like this is laid on before her? Maybe for her sake, she won't publish the information, write about something else for the moment, still she wanted - no needed to find out.

"Should I start with Mr. Shelby, then..."

Me: Okay, Brain. Think about what happens next in this chapter.

Brain: *Skips three chapters ahead*

Me: No, no. This one, this chapter, the one we are writing right now.

Brain:.......*47 scenes forward*

Me: NO

neil lewis core

Please continue Secrets and Broken Hearts :3

Alright! :DDD I'm still trying to find some ideas, but I'll finish the draft as soon as possible! Thank you for reading!!

the extended version is literally gonna put me in the hospital omg

Secrets and Broken Hearts

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Chapter 4

Thomas Shelby x (Writer) Reader

"I am a woman in love, I wear my heart on my sleeve and smile with not a single thought. I am a woman in love, happily content to where I shall be and where I shall go, as long as I am with him."

Authors Note: I made this story with not much thought, but I wanted to portray the reader and Tommy living their separate lives to have you, readers, have a gist on what its like, to make the character, Ms. Bennett feels real. I don't really know if that makes sense or if I'm doing it correctly, but please enjoy :)))

Two days and six hours, it's been exactly two days and six hours since I've started this investigation that I burdened myself with. All I've been getting are bits of information from the men and women. Women loved to gossip, so much so that they became one of the sources of said information. These missing wives, they had nothing in common with one another. They were just normal working women before they got married and settled down. What would society even do with them? I feel like a jester, juggling my social life together with this secret double life. I never really got used to such taxing activities mentally. This whole investigation, could it be some murderer? Human Traffickers? Surely, this culprit had a motive, a reason, something these women had that they wanted, something these women can give, choice or not.

"Why does everyone call you by your last name?" Andrew suddenly asked, which made me look over at the small child playing by the racks of clothes in William's shop.

Tilting my head, I seem to not know the reason behind it either. Andrew is the son of the man I visited to get close to have more information about the missing wives rather than relying on gossip alone. The child himself was quite entertaining to be around. He spoke so freely about his mother, telling stories of how loving the woman can be.

"Well, if you want, you can call me by my first name," I said with a smile. Walking over to crouch down to his eye level, I gave him a pat on the head, which earned me a smile in return

"Isn't this a sight, hm?" I heard the familiar voice of William from behind. He was at the back with Catherine earlier, presumably sorting out fabrics and dresses.

"C'mon, I've only offered to let this little guy stay here while his father worked, for the assurance that nothing will happen," I said softly though assuming from their reactions, it wasnt taken quite kindly. The statement itself was considered a lie. I lied. Lying straight to the face of the man I love, like how I would every day to everyone, including this child.

"So you don't want me here... Ms. (Y/N)?" Andrew asked me, his face looked sad, eyes like melting glaciers about to fall.

"Of course not, I just meant that I couldn't risk you being alone without your father, even though -"

"So you care for me.. right?" The little child said, hopeful, which made me think, how can he care about my feelings towards him in such a small amount of time we've been together? Children truly are innocent, things to be kept safe from the world we live in. Furthermore, care. To care is to help, a genuine action done out of the kindness of one's own heart. I do that, correct? I think for a moment, my actions, words, and emotions all contradict one another. Both men in the room seemed to take notice of my silence, which in turn made me aware. Aware that they can never know these thoughts, to Bury it, to hide. Breaking from my thoughts, I smiled at the child.

"Of course I do, but later your father will pick you up, I'll have William stay with you since I need to go for a bit, yeah?" Standing back up, I walked over to William. He then wrapped his arms around my waist, leaning against him while I looked back at Andrew. Understandingly, the child nodded, which made me smile.

"Eh? Where will my heart go? Guess she'll leave me alone once again..." William joked, kissing me on the cheek, which made me chuckle.

Seeing the display of affection, the child grimaced and then ran off to play somewhere else, which made me and William laugh.

"I promised you a date. Therefore, you must let me go for a while to prepare," I giggled. Going to dates on Friday was kind of like our tradition, a simple act to show love and to feel it radiate from each other. Feeling his lips on mine for a brief moment, I smiled.

"Alright, I'll pick you up at our place," William smiled. He's always such a loving man, doing more than beyond.

"See you later, love," I said, parting with a kiss before I headed out. Love was something I wasn't familiar with, which sometimes led me to be confused on how to act around William, though lucky enough that he guided me through it.

Walking down the street, I'm greeted with familiar faces. Some I can't remember the names. The smoke filled air, and the mud on my shoes did little to dampen my mood. Suddenly, people started to run about, screaming and shouting.

Confused, I slowed my footsteps. There, on a shop, a lifeless man was dead with Danny holding a bloody knife. My eyes widened, I tried to move, but nothing came out, I held my breath, and though I investigated crimes like this, I never saw a man dead right in front of me. From this day, I'm sure I'll never get used to this.

Someone passes by me, but it can be considered more like shoved. It was Thomas Shelby. He went over, took the knife from the man's hand, and calmed him down. The scene deescalated just as quickly as it happened. Once Thomas got Danny to go away, coming with some surge of confidence, I began to walk towards him with his hack turned to me.

"Mr. Shelby..?" I said softly as to not startle the man, whipping his head back, he looked at me without uttering a word, he simply raised a brow which I took as a cue to keep going.

"What will happen to Danny now..? He just -" stopping myself to look at the dead body in front of us, he followed my gaze and just shook his head. Taking a cigarette, he lit one up and placed it on his mouth, blowing the smoke in the corpses' direction. "Mr. Shelby, I worry for him and his family.."

"Don't stick your nose into others' business, saves you the trouble, eh?" He said, as he was about to walk past me. He took my hand and gave me a few quids, which caused me confusion. Was this for my silence? Though that seems rather odd since a quarter of the town already saw what happened, or was it so I'd stop with being so nosy?

"For the bread."

"Bread? What bread?" I asked, my brows furrowed as I looked up at the man. The more he acted, the more he perplexed me. Seeing his face, he tilted his head as if he should be confused

"You dont remember, again?" I shook my head, remembering what he gave me moments ago, i tried to have him take the money back, but he refused, saying he already gave them, so it'll be no use. In the end, he walked away and left me be, confused, I placed the coins inside my coat pocket before walking home. What did i forget again? No matter what I have other things to do at the moment, I need to get the memory of the dead body out my head.

After preparing for my date, at eight o'clock sharp there was a knock on the door, I smiled and opened it. William appeared with a bouquet and fresh smile, I'm taken back to memories when he was still courting me.

"Flowers for the beautiful lady?" He asked, which I gladly took. Holding up his hand, I held them. I locked the door, and we began to walk towards the pathway to a small restaurant.

"Thank you for this, for everything, Will," I said while we kept walking hand in hand.

"Then I should thank you too"

"For what?"

"For letting me love you"

"Then, you're welcome."

With that, we spent the rest of the day together, I told him about what happened earlier, and he's told me of stories he heard and so on. Everything feels nice. It feels like home as we both made it out to be.

...

That night, Ms. Bennett was content with her lover. Everything played out perfectly. She lived a good life and was happily in love. Maybe fate can say the same for the man she bumped into earlier as he's inside the Garrison, enthralled by the singing Barmaid before him. Surely both Ms. Bennett and Mr. Shelby will live their lives with love found in someone else's eyes.