XXV. Digbeth Kid.

The morning the Shelby brothers were interviewing men in the Garrison snug, for potential odd jobs within the Peaky Blinders, Maude was dragged along. She was sat in the snug with the brothers, busy with her own work and only making a few notes here and there while the brothers held the interviews.

She heard Finn call for the next man to step in, and when the door to the snug creaked open she glanced up. Her eyebrows furrowed as she eyed the lean and frail-looking man that nervously stood before them. Arthur cleared his throat, most of his attention on his newspaper. "Alright, then. Name?" He asked.

"The Digbeth Kid." The man replied as he fiddled with his hat in his hands, looking between the four of them.

Arthur sniffed as he looked up at the man. "The Dig..." He began to mutter as he glanced at John who silently smoked a cigar in the corner. His gaze returned to the man in front of him and his eyebrows furrowed. "What are you? A boxer?" He asked.

"Digbeth Kid like Billy the Kid." The man explained to them softly and Arthur let out a soft huff before his gaze returned to his newspaper.

"Spend a lot of time at the pictures?" Maude asked him as she raised her eyebrows, putting down her pen before sitting back in her chair, clasping her hands together in front of her. "Cowboy pictures? Tom Mix?" She asked him and he slowly nodded his head, feeling a lot more at ease with her in the room than with the three brothers. "Yeah?"

He nodded again, looking between the men before pushing back his green jacket, hand reaching down for the holster on his hips. "What are you..." Arthur called out as both he and John pulled out their revolvers and pointed them at the man.

"Wait, wait." the man called out as he held a hand up to stop the two brothers. "It's not a real gun," he informed them as he only rested his hand on his holster, hesitant to move any further.

"Let's have a look then?" Tommy spoke around the cigarette between his lips as he stood up and approached the man.

"It's made of wood." The Digbeth kid explained to them as Tommy reached out and pulled the wooden gun from the holster, showing it to Arthur and John who put lowered their guns in response.

Tommy inspected the wooden gun, chuckling before he pointed it at Arthur. "Bang." He pretended to shoot his older brother, who in return lifted his own, very real, gun by his side and pretended to shoot Tommy back. Tommy then turned the gun to John. " Bang." He repeated and John blew out a puff of smoke as he threw his head back, pretending to be dead. Tommy glanced at Maude and she quirked an eyebrow at him, he responded with a smirk before turning to the Digbeth kid. "Very nice." He commented as he handed the gun back before taking his seat again. "Where did you get the gun belt?" he asked.

"My sister made it out of an old blacksmith's apron." He explained softly. "My mum did most of the stitching. She's not my real mum, but..." He spoke as he slowly shrugged his shoulders.

"She does what mothers do," Maude said as she smiled softly up at the man and he nodded in agreement. "So she made you a gun belt." She finished and he nodded again.

"Alright then, mother's boy," Arthur spoke up as he picked up his newspaper again, nodding his head at the door behind the Digbeth's kid. "There's the door. On you go. We're looking for..." He began to explain but Tommy held a hand out to stop him.

"Have you ever been arrested?" Tommy asked the man as he raised his eyebrows at him.

"Yeah." He replied as he nodded his head at Tommy.

"Yeah?" Tommy repeated as he quirked an eyebrow at the man.

The man glanced around the rest of them before slowly shaking his head. "No." He admitted.

"Good," Tommy replied with a nod of his head before pointing towards the man. "You're the first bloke we've had in here today with no criminal record." He informed the man before glancing at his brother. "Arthur, we can stand him up." He insisted before turning back to the Digbeth kid. "Do you know what that means?" he asked and the man shook his head. "The new Home Secretary wants something done about illegal gambling."

"Damn right," John called out as he leaned forward and slapped his hand against the table.

"About bloody time." Arthur agreed as he nodded his head and Maude glanced towards the two with raised eyebrows.

"So we help our coppers make their quota of convictions by having men stood up to be arrested," Tommy explained to the Digbeth kid. "First offence, you'll get a week inside. We'll give you five quid for your trouble." He added before raising his eyebrows. "How does that sound, cowboy?" He asked.

The man was silent for a second before an excited smile slipped onto his lips. "Yeah." He agreed with a nod of his head.

"Good," Tommy said with a nod of his head before grabbing a newspaper that lay on the table. "Write your address down for Finn on your way out." He ordered.

"I can't write." He informed them nervously.

"That's all right, Finn can't read," John replied as he looked at the man.

"Don't worry," Arthur added with a shake of his head as his attention turned back to his newspaper.

"Just tell him your address and we'll send someone around," Maude informed the man with an assuring smile as she nodded her head toward the door.

"If the sheriff don't run you out of town first," John said as he pointed a teasing finger at the man.

The man nervously smiled at them before turning around and leaving the snug. Arthur let out a chuckle as he shook his head, most of his attention still on his newspaper. "I don't know, Tom. Kids these days." He muttered.

Tommy hummed as he looked down at his own newspaper. "They didn't fight. So they're different. They stay kids." He commented softly.

The four saw a few more men after the Digbeth kid before deciding to call it a day. "Come on, let's go to the house." Tommy insisted as he got up from his chair, tossing his newspaper on down on the table. Maude packed her papers in her briefcase before getting up as well, taking the hand Tommy offered her.

The second they stepped foot out of the Garrison, Arthur pulled out his gun and turned to his younger brother. "Hey John, run." He demanded as a big grin spread onto his lips.

"No, you run, Arthur," John replied as he pulled out his own gun and pointed it back at his brother. The two took off running down the street, pretending to shoot at each other.

"I think sometimes those two are still kids as well," Maude muttered softly as a big smile spread onto her face, chuckling as she watched the two Shelby brothers play around, and Tommy hummed in agreement as he took her briefcase from her, carrying it as they walked home.

"Run for the hills! It's the Digbeth Kid!" Arthur called out as they ran around the back of the house, and he burst into Polly's kitchen, surprising both her and her guest.

"Get out of town, kid, or I will shoot your fucking head off!" John screamed back at him before going quiet as his eyes landed on Polly and the young boy standing next to her, watching them with wide eyes.

Maude and Tommy stepped into the house, their attention immediately drawn to Michael and Maude smiled softly upon seeing him with his mother.

"Time's up!" Arthur called out to John, the only one who had yet to notice there was a guest in the house. "You're dead, go down. John!" he insisted as he pointed his gun to the ground, before following his brother's gaze and glancing over his shoulder. Upon seeing the boy, they both put their guns away. "All right then, Polly. Who's this?" Arthur asked as he and John tried to keep in their chuckles.

"Gentlemen, this is your cousin," Tommy informed them and all childish amusement left the two Shelby brothers. "Polly's son, Michael," Tommy informed them and the realization hit them.

Michael stepped forward, politely shaking both Arthur and John's hands. "Pleased to meet you." He said.

"John," John mumblingly introduced himself to the boy, slightly embarrassed about being caught playing in the streets like a child with a loaded gun.

"I'm Arthur." The oldest Shelby brother introduced himself as he glanced around at everyone who stood around. " You've already met me. I used to throw you out of the window, so John could catch you." Arthur informed him.

John hummed with a nod of his head. "I used to put you in a shoebox and kick you down Watery Lane." He added.

Maude quirked an eyebrow at the two brothers before turning to Michael. "I bet you're glad to be back." She teased with a small smile and Polly let out a soft chuckle.

"I don't remember any of it," Michael admitted softly as he looked over at his mother. "All I remember is the day they took me away." He said and Polly's face fell. She approached him, cupping his cheeks for a brief second before wrapping her arms around his shoulders and pulling him into a hug.

When Polly pulled away, Tommy stepped forward and rested a hand on Michael's shoulder. "Well, you're here now, son." He said. "Welcome to the Shelby family."

"Later on, we'll show you the ropes," Arthur assured Michael as he nodded his head and Polly's face fell even more as she glanced between the Shelby brothers.

John hummed in agreement as he nodded his head. "Yeah, we'll show you what's what." He insisted.

Tommy caught Polly's gaze, seeing the reluctance and concern in her eyes, and he immediately knew she would not want Michael involved in any Shelby business. Tommy turned towards his brothers as he pursed his lips. "Let's leave him be for now?" He said before walking towards the door of the shop. "Come on, boys." He urged them as Maude followed after him and so did his brothers.

Maude followed Tommy into his office, closing the door behind them as Tommy went to pour them both a glass of whiskey, putting her briefcase on his desk. "Seems everything worked out." She said as she looked back at the closed kitchen door, smiling softly to herself.

"We'll see how long he stays when he realizes who his family is," Tommy muttered softly as he handed her a glass of whiskey before his arm wrapped around her waist, using the quiet and empty shop as a chance to hold her close.

Maude turned to look up at him, giving him a teasing smile as she shrugged her shoulders. "If I managed to stay with crazy, he'll be just fine." She assured as she tilted her to the side, her smile growing when he quirked an eyebrow.

"Crazy, ey?"He repeated and she hummed as she nodded her head and Tommy let out a grunt as he reached down, giving her butt a slap as she chuckled softly

Soon Maude left for her own office and later that day, she received a quiet knock on the closed office door before it pushed open and Polly slowly entered. "Maude." She greeted softly as she stayed standing near the door.

"Polly, come in." Maude urged, watching as Polly closed the door and slowly approached Maude's desk. "Everything alright?" She asked as her eyebrows furrowed, eyeing the woman who stayed standing, picking at her nails as she shamefully looked around the office space.

"No," Polly replied with a shake of her head as her gaze turned to Maude. "I've come to apologize for my behavior the past few days." She explained as she pursed her lips. "You didn't deserve it." She said with a shake of her head.

"You were hurting, Pol." Maude reasoned as she got up t her feet and rounded her desk. She stood in front of Polly, taking the older woman's hands in her own. "I didn't take it to heart." She assured as she gave Polly's hands a gentle squeeze.

"Doesn't excuse anything," Polly replied with a shake of her head as she shamefully lowered her gaze onto the floor. Polly was truly angry for being kept in the dark about her son, but she knew now it was wrong to keep it against Maude who was only doing as Tommy wanted. She sniffed softly as she looked back at Maude, giving her a small smile. "You know, I've grown to love you very much, Maude."

Maude let out a soft sigh as she smiled, letting go of Polly's hands and wrapping her arms around the older woman. "I love you too, Polly." She whispered as she hugged the woman tightly, all feelings of upset between them, disappearing once again.

The following morning Tommy and Maude were up early to set off to London for business with Alfie Solomon. Tommy was dressed and ready long before Maude and he smoked a cigarette in the living room, waiting for her. Only after he finished did he go to check on Maude in the bedroom.

Tommy stepped into the room, admiring the soft blue, long-sleeved dress Maude wore. "You ready?" He asked as he raised his eyebrows at her, eyes drifting down her legs and onto her bare feet.

"Yeah, just give me a second." She said as she pulled a pair of blue heels to match her dress, sitting down on the edge of the bed and pulling them on. "Do I really have to come with you?" She asked as she looked at Tommy with a scrunched-up face.

Tommy's eyebrows furrowed, taken aback by her question. "You don't want to come with me?" He asked in surprise, as Maude usually took every opportunity she could to join Tommy on any and every business matter.

"I'm not sure how I feel about Alfie Solomons." She admitted as she stood up, straitening out the skirt of her dress as a low sigh slipped from her lips. "He seems unhinged, Tommy." She said.

"That's because he is unhinged, sweetheart." He replied as he made his way over to her, wrapping his arms around her waist as her hands pressed against his chest.

"Even more than you?" She asked as she quirked a playful eyebrow at him, her hands smoothing down his coat.

"Careful." He warned her with a lighthearted tone of voice, giving her hips a squeeze as his arms slipped from her.

"Sorry, my love." She replied with a soft chuckle, patting his chest and pressing a kiss to his cheek before she completely pulled away from him, grabbing her coat and purse before following him out of the bedroom.

Together, along with Henry for protection, they left for Camden Town to meet with Alfie Solomons and enroll the men Billy Kitchen has gotten for them, as bakers. It was all part of Tommy's plan to patrol Camden Town and push into the territory while his men worked the transport. But Maude was skeptical of giving so much power to these men, even if Billy Kitchen was an old comrade.