Naivety // Thomas Shelby

6

 As expected, or really scheduled (by Tommy), Drew waited at the Garrison. Her pen tapped nervously on the table, looking around the pub, looking for the mysterious Peaky Blinder. Drew couldn't lie, she was nervous about their interview. She had done some, but those were just to make sure she got the details right in her sketches. Never something like this, something so prolonged. It made her wonder if she was actually cut out for this type of work.

Drew was so caught up in her own thoughts that she hadn't noticed someone sat down beside her. It wasn't until a hand hovered over her dazed face and snapped its fingers, that she had made it back to reality. Drew jumped and looked into stark blue eyes staring into her deeply.

"Oh, Mr. Shelby!" She said in shock.

"Just Tommy," he said and placed his hand back on the table, still leaning closely. "I thought I lost you for a moment."

Drew waved her hand, flustered, "I-I was just lost in thought."

"I can see that," he said and leaned back in his chair. Drew watched silently as he took out his carton of cigarettes and matchbox. He cast his eyes to her and held out his carton. Drew shook her head with a smile.

"I don't smoke," she said.

He quirked a brow and placed the box on the table, "I was beginning to think everyone smoked."

"It certainly seems that way, doesn't it?" Drew smiled and flipped through the pages of her notebook. "I know that you're usually business, so would you like to get started."

"Where's your mark?" Tommy asked suddenly, completely ignoring Drew's last statement.

Drew's body visibly tensed and looked Tommy straight in the eye. Drew quickly laughed, trying to play it off.

"Mark, what mark?" She said and continued to turn the pages.

"The Mark of Tribe," he said, "every member has one."

Drew sighed, "and you know this how?"

"I do my research," Tommy said simply.

Drew shook her head with a smile, "there's no such thing. Now, first question-"

"I won't answer any of your questions until I see it," Tommy said stubbornly.

Drew's eyes connected with his again and they stared each other down for a moment. It didn't take long for Drew to realize that she wasn't going to win this battle. With a sigh, Drew unbuttoned her coat and shrugged it off her shoulders, leaving her only in her dress shirt. She unbuttoned the cuff and rolled her sleeve up to reveal a scar.

Engraved into Drew's caramel skin were was an arrowhead. The the tip of the blade pointed down to her wrist. Tommy knew the cuts must of been deep when she got the mark, or else it wouldn't show so clearly. He reached out and brushed his fingertips across the scar.

"When did you get this?" He said.

"I was twelve," Drew answered honestly.

"You were still a child," Tommy retracted his fingers.

"As much as a child gets when you're living with no parents," Drew smiled and rolled down her sleeve.

"You had no parents?" Tommy asked, knitting his fingers together on his lap.

Drew shook her head as she slid her coat back on, "no. My brothers raised me. They try their best, with everything they have to do."

"They must be busy, well, with controlling a large part of London," Tommy shrugged.

Drew sent him a look, "I'm sure you understand, Mr. Shelby. Funny, I thought this was an interview for you, but here I am telling you my life story."

Tommy smiled, "I have a way of learning things."

Drew uncapped her pen, "I can see. Now, first question, why did the Peaky Blinders form?"

Tommy looked like he was in thought, "we formed as a kind of protection."

"A protection for what?" Drew said, quickly writing everything he said.

"For my family," Tommy said and leaned close again, "you see, Ms. Atwood, the Peaky Blinders function very similarly to the Tribe. Nothing happens without us knowing. Which is always comes down to me."

"So you take full responsibility of the gang?" Drew said, placing her notebook down.

Tommy leaned forward, "yes, I suppose you do."

"But I thought the Peaky Blinders were a family run business," Drew said pointedly.

Tommy didn't answer and cast his eyes to the side. Now it was Drew's turn to take control of the situation.

"You see, Mr. Shelby," Drew repeated, "the Peaky Blinders and The Tribe are actually very, very different. As you have one man that calls the shots, we have the Elders Four. Those are the four that make the decisions and if one doesn't agree, then the question is left unanswered."

"Takes too much time, doesn't it?" Tommy said.

Drew smiled and leaned on her hand, "we don't need to work fast if the time doesn't call for it. As you can imagine, we like to make sure that everything works as efficiently as possible."

Tommy smiled, "I admire you fascination for perfection. May I ask, who are the Elders Four."

Drew began to scribble in her notebook again, "I have a feeling you know the answer to that."

"I have a hunch, but I want to hear you say it," Tommy insisted.

Drew looked up into his eyes, "are all the Blinders like this?"

Tommy shrugged, "call me curious."

Drew sighed and smiled a warm smile, "Mr. Shelby, it seems the subject has been changed on me again."

"You are a very interesting woman," he said.

Drew sent him a side glance and shook her head, "please, there's nothing interesting about me. Now, onto the rest-"

"Let me take you out," Tommy interrupted.

Drew stopped and blinked in shock, "I-I beg your pardon?"

"A night on the town, show you around our great city," He smirked.

Drew felt her cheeks heat up and she frantically shook her head, "no, no, that won't be necessary."

"No," Tommy got to his feet and held out his hand, "I insist."

Drew looked at him and then to his hand. He smirked, "besides, it would be rude to deny my offer."

Drew sighed and with a small smile. At this rate, he could walk her into the ocean using just his words. She shook her head, beckoning all those thoughts back.

"Fine," she said and placed her hand in his.