𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟒
𝐓𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬

Finn and Aurora had been in London for just over a month. It was going well. Extremely well. Aurora hadn't touched Tokyo since the last time she was in Small Heath and she found she wasn't drinking as much as she used to.

Of course, it was a lot easier with the help of Ada who didn't keep out bottles of whiskey that were bound to tempt the girl.

Rory sat beside the window in the living room, a small picture frame in hand. It had a picture of Freddie on. It was the picture from his war file. She picked at the skin on her bottom lip and stared down at it. He looked so different to what she could remember.

The door creaked open and Finn popped his head inside. "I'm going out to the Club that opened up a few weeks ago. You coming?"

Aurora thought for a moment before nodding. She hadn't been out the house all week. Finn smiled slightly and walked back out into the hall to get his shoes on. "Is Ada okay with it?" She asked, joining him. Finn hummed and sat on the stairs to tie his laces. "Yeah. She's just putting Karl up to bed."

Aurora reached up for her coat and shrugged it over her shoulders.

Finn stood and placed a hand on her lower back, leading her out the door and closing it behind him. "We can't show our faces in the Eden Club— Tommy says it's apart of Sabini's territory and they have done something to piss them off." He warned.

Aurora shook her head. "Of course he bloody did."

The pair walked alongside each other until they got to the newly opened Club not too far from the home. It wasn't too lively but still somewhat busy. It was nicely decorated on the inside.

The man on the door wore a Peaky Cap and nodded at Finn when they entered.

"Do we not have to ask for a table?" She frowned as Finn walked them to a booth. He shook his head. "Nah. Not here." He smirked.

As of recent, Finn had found a new confidence. It was strange to see but Aurora was quite fond of it.

He pulled a chair for her and she sat, looking around. "It's nice in here." She noted. Finn agreed and sat opposite her. The moment they sat down, Finn seemed anxious. Aurora had clocked this straight away and watched him cautiously.

He played with his collar and she raised an eyebrow, looking at him funny.

"Is something the matter?" She asked him.

"Yeah— well, not really... but there's just something i've been wanting to talk to you about." He clenched his fists. Aurora leaned back in her chair. "Go on." She nodded. He cleared his throat. Finn took a deep breath. "Spit it out, Shelby." She laughed slightly.

Finn nodded quickly and took another deep breath. "Sorry, I don't know how to—" he stuttered. What he wanted to say was "I want you to be my girlfriend!" but his eyes went wide at the thought of asking. He wracked his brain for something to come up with. All he could say was. "I've got a girlfriend." His heart almost stopped when he said it. Girlfriend? He didn't have a girlfriend.

Aurora smiled slightly. "That's amazing, Finny." She praised. Finn just nodded once and his eyes grew wide. What was he thinking? "What's she like? Is she nice?"

He cleared his throat. "Yeah.." he winced.

He automatically regretted the lie that had escaped his lips. What the bloody hell was he thinking? He didn't have a girlfriend! No, the girl he wanted to be his girlfriend was sat right in front of him. God, how could he be so stupid?

Aurora placed her chin in her palms, thinking. "I'm going to finish school." She said after a few moments.

Finn, thankful the topic had changed, raised an eyebrow. "Really? I thought you hated school." He dug his nails into his palms.

"I do. But— I want to prove everyone wrong. I want to prove that I can do it even though they said I can't. I want to feel like i've achieved something. I want to do what Freddie never did."

Finn listened and looked at her with pure joy. He could tell she was trying her best to make a change. And he was proud of her for trying because not only was she trying, she was doing too.

-

Finn and Aurora sat in the Eden Club at one of the better tables. They were a few drinks in and laughing at the people that danced around like chickens. They were in hysterics. Despite being told they weren't to go to that club because of the risk it could bring them with it being in Sabini's territory, they still went.

Who would pass up the chance of going to a club that held the reputation that the Eden Club did?

"Go on, Finn, your turn." Rory joked, her hand on his arm. Finn held his glass of whiskey and shook his head with a smile. "Not a chance." He laughed. She chuckled and sighed.

"I could never dance like that—" She stared at the people not too far from them. "I'm sure you could." Finn teased. Rory scoffed. "You're joking, right?" She asked. Finn shrugged.

Suddenly, there was a commotion coming from the entrance of the club. Aurora glanced over her shoulder and automatically began paying attention. "Finn—" she spoke, standing and grabbing his arm. "Oh, for fucks sake." He muttered, watching as people stormed into the Eden Club.

"They're peaky blinders," Rory told him. Finn grabbed her arm and pulled her away to the side, unsure where to go.

"Finn take off your cap," She whispered to him.

"What?" He frowned. "Take off your—" she began but as Finn turned back around, a pair of hands grabbed him and punched him in the face. Rory's eyes widened and she gasped, looking around for something to grab.

"Aurora!" A voice called out. She spun around and saw four faces she never would have expected to see: Alfie Jenkins, Mikey Clarke, Charlie Owen and Harvey Cooke.

Harvey was quick to grab the man that was fighting with Finn and sent him to the floor, kicking him harshly.

"The fuck are you lot doing here?" Rory asked quickly as she pulled Finn back to his feet.

"We're Blinders now, Rory." Mikey smiled innocently.

She shook her head and looked at the chaos that had broke out around them. "We need to leave—" she said to Finn.

"Mario!" A voice screeched. Aurora's heart dropped. Arthur. They watched Arthur run after a man and smash a bottle moved his head before dragging him across a bar. "Sabini's day is done, i'll protect you now." He said. "Oh shut up! Stop fucking winging!"

Finn pushed Rory behind him, a hand on her wrist.

"Due to my razor blade and a few complaints from the neighbours about the terrible fucking music—" he dragged Mario up to the microphone. "Do you wanna tell 'em or should I?" He asked. No response. "This place is under new management!"

"Oh fuck—" Finn muttered.

"By order of the Peaky Blinders." Arthur announced.

Finn and Rory shared a glance of weariness. Alfie looked at the pair and patted Finn's shoulder. "Get home. Both of you." He said to Finn. "Get her home." He said.

Aurora looked at her friends and wanted to ask questions but before she could, Finn had led her away from the club. "What the fuck was that!?" Aurora hissed at him. Finn shook his head. "Tommy's orders, i'm guessing." He sighed, shoving his cap into his head again and draping an arm over Rory's shoulder.

She took out a cigarette and lit it, taking a drag before holding it in front of Finn's lips for him to take a drag. She smiled as she watched him, taking it away once he had inhaled.

"Are you hurt?" She asked when realising the slight bleeding on his face. Finn shook his head. "No, i'm alright." He assured her, pulling her in close. Rory knew he was lying. There was no way that those cuts on his face were not hurting in some way.

"I think we should go back."

"To the Eden Club? Are you mad?" She scoffed.

Finn shook his head. "No, to Small Heath." He said. Her face fell ever so slightly and he noticed straight away. "We don't have to—" he said quickly. Aurora looked up at him. "It doesn't sound like too much of a bad idea," she said. Aurora knew she had made progress. She was better in certain way. "Going back won't hurt. Clearly there's going to be trouble here for a while."

Finn smiled slightly and leaned down to kiss her forehead. "Nothin' will change if we go back. You can go back to school, just like you wanted to." Finn told her.

She nodded in understanding and they stopped at the house. She fumbled in her pocket for the keys before pulling them out and unlocking the door.

"You'll have to be quiet." She reminded him.

Finn grinned and walked in behind her.

"So.. this girl." Aurora began again. Finn's heart almost came out of his mouth. "Will I meet her before we go back to Birmingham?" She asked whilst quietly walking up the stairs. Finn thought for a moment and realised he would have to make something up quickly. "No probably not. She's away with her family at the moment."

"Where she's gone— anywhere nice?" Rory asked.

Finn's breath hitched. "Liverpool."

"Liverpool?" Aurora frowned. Finn nodded once. "That's a strange place to go. Is she visiting family?"

"No— er.. I don't know, actually. Maybe." He stuttered. Rory raised a brow and shook her head. "Right." She sighed. "Goodnight then." She said and closed over her bedroom door before he could reply.

Finn with a girlfriend? How? Well, Rory didn't think he was incapable of getting a girlfriend but he was the most socially awkward person she had ever met. And she was unsure if she was jealous. No, surely not. What was there to be jealous about? She didn't know. But it didn't sit right with her.

She wasn't jealous... was she?

sorry for such a short chapter it's a filler chapter