playing god.... 01x01

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THE BAR WAS ROWDY.

rosalie stood behind the bar, she clapped her hands to match the beat of the song drunken men slurred as she spun in a circle. joyous laughs echoed throughout the bar as her golden locks got tasseled. "c'mon rosie! sing us a song!" billy, one of her regulars and close companions called.

john eagerly agreed, clapping his hands firmly together, "yeah c'mon rosie!" he shouted. her freckled hands quickly covered her face, its pale colour soon turning a beetroot red.

cheers of agreement rose throughout the crowd, she soon shook her head. "not tonight, boys!" she smirked, a cloth in her hands as she wiped down a glass.

"boring" billy complained, winking at the girl.

james sat with the shelby family. his eyes narrowed down at the blonde as she watched her drunken costumers dotingly. it wasn't the first time he had noticed rosalie shelby, yet every time after their first meeting he became even more enamoured with the girl.

thomas noticed. he swigged down his whiskey before clearing his throat. "unless you want to keep your eyes, i suggest you take them off my little sister, james" thomas almost hissed, his voice was low and quiet. james' eyes immediately darted around the room as his posture straightened slightly.

"my bad, tom" he spoke gruffly.

thomas nodded, standing up and walking to the bar. "a refill, rosalie" the man nodded.

rosalie shook her head, "anything for you mr shelby, on the house of course" she glared playfully, grabbing the whiskey and pouring a large glass. rosalie held her hand out, which caused thomas to shake his head and throw a few coins into it.

thomas sighed, his mouth opened as if he was to speak but then shut it again.

"yes, tommy?" rosalie huffed, her hand coming to her hip.

"i want you to stop working here, i've offered you a monthly allowance -" thomas started before rosalie soon interrupted.

"i like my job, i like my costumers and i like earning my own money, thomas. i'm not some stuck up, bitch that will sit around doing nothing all day if the opportunity is at hand, and i am not discussing this - it's the fifth time now" rosalie argued, her hands slammed against the bar as she gripped it tightly.

"rose" thomas warned, watching as the girl quickly removed the apron she had wrapped tightly around her waist throwing it at his chest.

"excuse me but my shift is over" the girl spat, making her way out from behind the bar as she shrugged her coat on.

she walked over to arthur and john, she bend down pressing a kiss to each of their heads. "i'll be off" she smiled.

"where ya' going?" arthur slurred.

"either to bed or a pub, you know yourself" rosalie shrugged, tightening her jacket around her as she waved her brothers off. she braced herself before stepping into the cold air of small health. fires blazed from the factory's.

she felt beady eyes on her as she walked through the town, making her way to watery lane. men slithered into the shadows, scared for their sight as the young woman passed by.

a hand clamped down on her shoulder, her hand instinctively reached for the pin in her hair - where a blade laid tucked in her blonde locks.

the force of the hand spun her around, she let out a sigh of relief as billy stood infront of her. "woah there, rosie. don't take me eyes" he said with a toothy grin.

rosalie sent a light shove to his shoulder and turned around to keep walking.

billy jogged to catch up with her fast paste, his drunken demeanour not helping his balance.

"this isn't the way to your house" rosalie acknowledged.

billy nodded, "can't let a lady walk alone in these streets" he smiled.

rosalie kissed his cheek sympathetically as she reached the house, "the men in these streets wouldn't dare touch me, billy."

his cheeks flushed with a mix of embarrassment and shyness. rosalie was always affectionate with her friends, yet it always caused a twinge in billy's cheeks.

"get home safe, billy" rosalie smiled warmly, turning to enter the house.

polly looked at her with a knowing eye, "billy walk you home again" she stated, and although it may seem like a question it was merely an observation.

"yeah, poor bastard is drunk out of his head but still managed to follow me" rosalie laughed, shrugging off her coat and throwing it over the chair.

"you really have that boy smitten" polly chuckled.

"it's not like that, i love him the same way i love all of you's" rosalie spoke with raised eyebrows, bending down to slip of the small heels that were sure to leave blisters.

"thomas used to look at greta like that, but you may have been too young to remember her" polly sighed. greta gave no time for thomas, but soon he and his ocean like eyes compelled the italian girl.

"i was twelve when she died pol' not a baby, and i could never forget greta... the woman was a godsend, looked at her like a mum for a while too" rosalie smiled, greta really was an angel sent down to their slums. the woman cared for rosalie like no one could, she was a friend and a maternal figure all in one. rosalie loved greta and greta loved rosalie.

"yes, yes how could i forget. you followed her around like a shadow for years, dressed in her clothes too" polly laughed, looking at the blonde girl.

"she was too good for this family" rosalie spoke, it wasn't something that rosalie could admit easily but it was true.

"that she was, now up you go - finn insisted he stay up and wait for you."

rosalie sighed and soon climbed the stairs and made her way into finns room. a small candle illuminated the dark room and a young finn sat with a wooden digger in his hands struggling to hold onto conciseness.

rosalie sat on the edge of his bed and placed a cold hand on his bare leg, causing the boy to wriggle under her touch.

"what did i tell you about staying up when i have work, hm?" rosalie asked with a soft smile and a look of pure adoration.

finn smiled sleepily before replying, "i have to make sure you get home and i don't have to fight any bad guys."

"or is it just because you want me to read to you?"

the boy smiled shyly before tucking down in his bed and moving over so his sister can sit beside him. rosalie placed her bag down on the floor and slipped under the thin sheets before grabbing the book on his bedside table.

"once upon a time, many years ago our grandparents were little children - there was a doctor. his name was doctor dolittle."

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"what was so important that i had to be called out of work for?" rosalie asked as she walked into the room where her family sat around a table.

"take a seat rose" thomas spoke, his hand gesturing the the empty chair that stood beside him.

"there's word on the street, tom. powder tricks and an inspector" rosalie shrugged, leaning over to grab a smoke from the ashtray.

john handed her a flyer as she inhaled the nicotine welcoming the friendly buzz. "if your over five feet and can fight- what the fuck is this?!" rosalie asked bewildered.

"you missed the explanation, darling" ada nodded.

"is there nothing more you need to add to the meeting thomas?" polly asked.

"nothing that's women's business" the man nodded.

"this whole bloody enterprise was women's business when you boys were at war, what's changed?" polly argued.

"we came back" thomas stated.

"don't be a prick, brother" rosalie smirked, feeling his calloused hands on her shoulder.

"everyone out, go on" he spoke, he leant down, "you stay back" he ordered.

"so, what do you need my dear brother" the girl asked with a quirked eyebrow.

"our men found a box of guns, took them instead of our shipment" thomas sighed, running a hand over his face before falling backwards into the chair.

rosalie scoffed, "for christ sake, tommy. please for the love of god- tell me they put them back."

he shook his head, "hidden in charlie's yard" he informed.

"so why have i been kept back from the meeting?"

he sat quietly, "they don't bloody know do they?!" she spat in a hushed tone.

"no, and they won't until i decide" he nodded.

she looked at him bewildered. she loved tom dearly, she looked at him like a father and she would stick by him through thick and thin but god was he a blood idiot.

"thomas fucking shelby playing god once
again..." she sighed, leaning forward she placed her hands on his knees. "i'm glad you trust me enough to tell me, us barmaids are the best secret keepers out there"

a smile crept on his face, one that was very rare and slowly revealed his teeth. "my right hand woman, ay" he spoke softly, his own hand coming to cover her own, patting it before grabbing it tightly.

"i appreciate you, tom" she said softly.

"you too, love.. you too"

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"so who's the new barmaid?" billy asked, he sat on the bar stool across from rosalie as they both sipped on whiskey.

"some irish lass called grace" rosalie shrugged, a cigarette hanging out of her mouth as she threw a glance at the blonde barmaid.

"what?" billy laughed.

"a feeling is all"

"what, gypsy voodoo?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.

"something like that, anyways when is connie arriving.. the florist closed hours ago" rosalie spoke, looking around the bar.

"don't look now..." billy spoke, his eyes trained on a group of lads sat in the corner. rosalie quickly turned her head, connie stood with a hand on her hip staring down at the boys.

her legs moved before her brain could process what was happening. her heels clicked loudly across the wooden floors. billy was up just as fast. as soon as she reached the gang of peaky boys billy's hand grabbed her waist attempting to stop her.

"connie, why are you over here with these pricks?" rosalie asked, not attempting to remove billy's grip.

before connie could speak a peaky boy spoke up, "we weren't bothering you.. were we, love?" it was rhetorical. rosalie could see the look of annoyance on her face.

"hey! maybe little shelby will give you a go james, seems like she's putting out for anyone nowadays" another one spoke up, nodding to james then the arm around her waist.

"i don't fuck losers, especially peaky pricks" she spat, billy's grip tightening against her as he attempted to push her from their view.

james' eyebrow cocked, a light chuckle leaving his mouth as he leaned back against the seat. "ay, no need to be cold, darling" james himself spoke.

"unless you lot want to keep your tongues - i suggest you watch your mouth's" rosalie warned, earning a few low chuckles.

"c'mon connie" billy spoke up, turning around to walk back to his seat at the bar.

"what we're they saying" rosalie asked.

"nothing, just goin' on about my tits and what not" connie shrugged, linking her arm with rosalies as they joined billy.

"i'd have the right mind to cut them myself" rosalie grinned, a sadistic smile taking over her face.

"as if you'd have the balls" billy laughed. the girls mouth opened as she shot her elbow into his gut, the boy doubling over.

"what we're you saying?" rosalie challenged with a victorious smirk plastered on her freckled face.

"my bad, little shelby" billy grinned, his smile nearly reaching from ear to ear.

"alright you two, stop the flirting" connie grimaced, looking down at the drink she held in her hand.

rosalie leaned forward, "would you rather i flirt with you" she teased, a pink tint colouring connie's cheeks as she looked further into the glass of alcohol. "not that i was flirting in the first place" rosalie exhaled leaning back.

billy's lips curved inwards awkwardly as his leg began to fumble up and down.

"well lads? shall we drink, on thomas' tab of course" rosalie cheered.

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the cold air blew her blonde curls behind her drunken body as she stumbled down the cobbled road.

her healed shoe must of gotten caught in a crack because next thing rosalie shelby knew her body had hit the damp stone and a cracking pain shot through her head. she groaned before laughing slightly. rosalie rolled onto her back, small giggles escaping her, the passer byes stared at the drunken girl that laid laughing in the dark streets of small heath, no one daring to stall.

suddenly everything went darker for the laughing girl, the fires from the factory's gone - james sighed.

"c'mon, love" he grumbled, placing his hands under her arms. "up ya' get" he encouraged as he pulled her off the floor.

she laughed as he stood her up, rosalie a head dropping and suddenly her body was in free fall before he quickly caught her.

"how much did you drink?" james asked, his hand resting on her waist.

she shook her head, "just a couple" rosalie slurred.

james raised his eyebrow at the girl, he thought for a moment. "tommy's gonna cut me" he groaned, slowly walking down watery lane with the drunken girl clinging to him.

"if anything he'll cut poor billy" she hiccuped, her fingers grasping his white shirt. "bastard always walks me home and he's passed out in the garrison still" she giggled, her tired eyes fighting vigorously to stay open.

"thought you only fuck men, a fella that can't handle his liquor isn't a man, love" james smirked, helping the girl along.

"billy may be cute but he wouldn't survive in this world, he's a soft chap - therefore i would never fuck him" rosalie stumbled.

"hit the bull in the head with that one" james agreed, slowing down slightly as they came closer to her house.

abruptly she stopped, "no, can't go in the front door, i'll be killed if polly wakes up" rosalie slurred slightly, taking charge as she lead him round the back.

she looked up at the window about five feet up, "boost?" she asked with a grin.

he shook his head, "you'll fall" he disagreed.

"i'll be fine, do it all the time - swear" she promised, a cheeky grin that could make satan himself fall to his knees at her mercy.

"you fall i won't catch you" he warned, removing his peaky cap with a sigh.

"yeah ye' will" she smiled, leaning over and pressing a haste kiss to his cheek. his hands gripped her waist before lifting her off the ground, with another shimmy his hands caugh the back of her thighs as his back pressed against the bricks off the house.

rosalies hands slowly opened the window before she pulled herself up to sit on the sill.

james bent down to pick up his cap, adjusting it to sit rightly on his head. "bye james" rosalie waved.

"g'night, rosalie" he nodded, turning down the dark lane way he disappeared into the smoke and fog that lingered in small heath.

the house was quiet, but thomas' ragged breath stood out in the still home. discarding her coat on her bed. rosalie quietly stepped out into the cold hall, the smell of opium burning her nose. his doorway stood open and thomas sat sweaty and vulnerable at the edge of his bed.

"it's okay, tom" she spoke up, a sad smile painted her beautiful features.

his head didn't move from its position in his hands. she slowly crept closer, coming to sit beside him as he slowly lowered his head to the pillow. "it's just noise, hm?" she whispered, her hand coming to his back comfortingly. he looked at his sister, his hand coming to her face were a trickle or dried blood laid.

"what happened?" he asked, too tired to be angry yet still concerned.

"i fell, don't worry now.. go asleep, i'll stay until then"

it was something she had to do often, with all the boys. although she was the youngest woman in their family she looked after everyone, but them before herself and even if john and arthur hadn't needed it for months - thomas enjoyed the comfort of his little sister, it seemed she was the only one he could let in. she made the shovels go away. it was almost a routine, she'd get in late even be asleep sometimes but she'd always know when something was wrong. polly said it was the gypsy in her, an empathic sense. rosalie thought it was plain and simple love.

thomas eyes had been rested shut for sometime, his breathing evened out and rosalie let out a soft yawn before she carried herself to bed. as soon as her body hit the soft sheets she was out like a light.

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rosalie sat at the table with a cup of tea and toast with raspberry jam smeared across its front. she had a matching skirt and blouse on that rubbed uncomfortably against her skin but the washing hadn't been done and she had no time to go to a wash house.

"finn, are you ready!?" rosalie yelled up the stairs, quickly hearing his feet shuffling and then crashing against the wooden steps. handing him a triangle of toast she quickly ushered him out the door refusing to listen to his complaints.

"if you want to complain, wake up earlier. your lucky shelby is your last name or mrs may would be slapping a ruler over ur knuckles for being late, again - may i add" rosalie scolded, walking fast as she kept a tight grip on his hand.

"it ain't my fault schools shite" he cursed with a sour face.

"watch your tongue, and don't think tommy didn't mention he caught you with one of my fags - your lucky i don't give you a walloping myself" she continued to ramble. she stopped when they arrived at the school gates. she bent down and fixed his shirt and jacked before handing him four shillings.

"for lunch, not smokes" she warned, before bringing his face closer to hers as she pressed a warm kiss to his forehead which he quickly wiped off in disgust in fear his school friends would see.

"go on, ye' moan" she shooed, with a smile watching the boy run towards his classroom.

it was early enough that only few roamed the streets, half of which hadn't returned home from the following night. dark bags covered her under eyes from the little to no sleep she got.

her mind was in other places, away with the fairies her mother would say. suddenly a hand clasped her mouth and she was pulled against a damp wall, the person slammed her against the concrete allowing loose pieces to fall and scratch the edge of her back.

"ms shelby, isn't it?" an irish accent spoke, at first rosalie thought it was the IRA - hear to take out thomas' only weakness but then it clicked.

"inspector" rosalie greeted with a groan as the man shoved her further against the wall.

"what do you know about a crate, filled with guns that is?" the man asked, looking straight into the girls eyes.

"what i do know is that if your men don't remove their hands off of me, i can promise they'll loose them" she groaned, feeling bruises form from their grips.

the inspector paused then nodded to his men who reluctantly released her. she stood straight fixing her coat before she spoke, "i know nothing about a crate of guns, thomas isn't stupid he wouldn't take them let alone tell his seventeen year old sister if he did you tosser"

the man looked taken aback before simply nodding, rosalie hurried past him and down the small lane ways before coming to the betting den. pushing the doors open all eyes looked to her before she went up to thomas with a fire lighting in her eyes.

"office, now" she ordered, the man nodded heading in after her.

"what's this about, rose" thomas asked, taking a large pull from his cigarette. a crimson splatter was still present on his face yet the girl had yet to notice as all she could really see was red.

"tell me why, thomas - i was walking back from dropping finn to school and i get pulled into an alley way by a greasy old inspector and his dogs of men, hm thomas? it's seven in the fucking morning for christ sake, beside a school too - finns school!" the girl raged, her hands coming to grip the desk. anger was seething from every blood vessel in her body and she couldn't contain it.

"i'll deal with it" he nodded, sitting down in his chair, motioning to the one opposite him for rosalie.

"now, you'll hear whispers... whispers that i shot danny whiz-bang in the head by the cut this morning, whispers he killed an italian" thomas began, disregarding their previous conversation.

"why's that, thomas?" the girl asked with a sigh, even if she already knew the asnwer.

"because partially it's true, although danny is not dead - he's on a boat to london. he's one of us now but the italians don't know that" thomas explained, offering rosalie a cigarette which she took.

"thomas shelby, why do you think it's okay to play god?" rosalie asked, striking a match as she lit her and thomas' cigarettes.

"because in this town, i am god"

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AUTHORS NOTE

wow do i hate this chapter. first chapters are always hard for me to write and they always end up shite but honestly we deal. i love rosie so