Peaky Blinders Imagines/Preferences

Michael - Singer From Eden

Request from a friend. I made the name up. Enjoy ❤️

Sabini was lucky to have a singer like Vera in his club. The Eden Club had never had so many people inside, waiting for the red-headed beauty to step out and sing. Her voice was like liquid gold, which Sabini took literally. The red head brought in an excessive amount of money, and she too had become well off.

Vera was a simple woman who enjoyed the finer things in live, like jewellery and posh alcohol. But she hadn't always had that life. She spent a few years in the slums of London after her father died, with an abusive uncle who blamed her for never having money. She wished she could laugh in his face now, after all the times he said she would never become something. She had finally made something of herself. The only memories she had of her mother was when she was drunk. Her troubled childhood hadn't effected her career, and she was glad of that. Sabini had found her when she sang to a group of men outside the slums, and he took her in, making her a London star after a few years. Although he didn't know about her bad upbringing, she hadn't seen her uncle since she left.

Vera was currently sat in the dressing room almost ready to go on stage when there was a knock on the door.

"Come in." She yelled as she put an earring on. The door opened to reveal a smartly dressed Sabini, although he always dressed to impress.

"I need you to do your best tonight, we have special guests, I need your voice to make them relaxed so we can talk business after the night ends." His Italian accent breaking the silence she was sat in before.

"Of course, but who are they?" Vera asked, putting her other earring in and turning to face him.

"No one you should worry about, just a group of men who think they can take my title away from me." She nodded and turned around towards the mirror again.

"Which table are they sat at?" She stood up, ready to take her place on the stage.

"Middle left, just pretend to be innocent and sing your liquid gold." He smiled slyly and exited the room. It was a fact, Vera wasn't innocent. Ever since she had gotten involved with Sabini she hadn't had clean hands. And she wasn't afraid to point and shoot a gun if she had to, everyone knew that.

She found herself on the familiar stage, the usual rowdy club filling her senses. She looked for the men Sabini told her about, and she spotted them easily. The four men looked out of place, like they shouldn't be there. She watched as the man in the middle took off his cap and place it on the table, and soon enough, all eyes were on her as the music started. Vera saw Sabini at the back of the club, he nodded at her, reminding her that she would do her best.

And do her best she did, once she had finished singing, the crowd of intoxicated people clapped and cheered, just as they did every night.

She smiled and bowed, and as soon as her body straightened out again she locked eyes with a young man. Her smile fell off her face as she recognised the eyes she was starring into, and she could tell he was feeling the same. No, it couldn't be him. It couldn't be Henry, could it?

She made her exit off the stage once Sabini held his hand out to help her down the steps.

"Well done, my dear. Pure gold." Sabini whispered in her ear, she was aware that eyes were following her as he led her to the bar.

"Gin and tonic please." She told the bartender as she sat down.

"I think you won our guests over," Sabini started. "Lets hope it worked." And soon enough, he had gone into a back room with the men. Vera stayed at the bar, sipping her drink and sweet talking the men who were near.

"Didn't think I'd see you again." A voice spoke from behind her, she didn't need to turn around to know who it was.

"Henry." She greeted.

"It's Michael actually." He corrected her as he sat next to her, ordering whiskey.

"Michael." She corrected her greeting.

"Looks like you've done well for yourself." he gestured towards the big room. She slowly nodded.

"Looks like you have too." She didn't like that her past was mixing with her present.

Her and Michael had been friends in the country village before her dad died, meaning that she had been sent away with a broken mother. She hadn't been able to say goodbye to Michael, and it killed her to leave her only friend behind.

"I'm sorry I didn't say goodbye. If I could have done I would have." She apologised after years of separation.

"It was years ago, Vera, don't worry about it. I understand why you left now." He didn't look at her as he drank his whiskey. She admired that the years had done him well.

"What happened to Henry, anyway?" She questioned, confused at the name change.

"Found my real mother, I was called Michael before I was taken away from her."

"Fucking hell, that's brilliant." She replied, happy that her friend had found his real family.

Silence took over the scene as they sat, neither of them knowing what to say.

"Good to see you aren't stealing apples anymore." Vera laughed, bringing up the old times.

"It was one time! And you were the one who wanted it." He grinned at her. He finally took the chance to look at her properly. Her beauty suited her red hair, and he found himself staring.

"And clearly you were my slave, so you stole it anyway." She looked at her glass, smiling too.

"You couldn't even begin to imagine the scolding I got once I got home. I was told to stay away from you, you know?" He chuckled, they both knew that would have never happened.

Vera laughed at the memory, remembering how close they were. She was confused as to how her life went from happy, to being stuck in London slums with an abusive uncle and drunk mother.

"Where did you go anyway? I hope it was worth leaving." Michael asked.

"Moved into London's slums with my uncle. Definitely wasn't worth it." She mumbled the last part.

"Couldn't have been that bad though, right?" He frowned. Vera lifted her dress up slightly up her leg to show one of many scars. Michael nearly chocked on his own breath.

"Bloody hell, V. Didn't think it would have been that bad." He gasped, using her old nickname.

"It's fine now, I haven't seen him in years." She shrugged.

"Where is he now? If he's still alive he won't be for much longer." Michael threatened.

"Where did this Michael come from? The most violent thing you ever did was kick a ball into the neighbours face." She joked. "And besides, it's better to leave it. Like I said I haven't seen him for years."

"Very funny. And if you insist." He ordered another whiskey and she ordered another gin and tonic.

The pair talked some more, it felt like they hadn't been apart all these years. Vera found out that he was part of a gang now, and that those other men where his cousins. It was obvious that Vera was part of Sabini's, and he understood considering the circumstances.

It was like they were best friends again.

"Come on Michael, time to go." A voice interrupted them, the voice belonging to Thomas Shelby. By the time Michael had stood up ready to say goodbye, his cousins were already walking towards the exit.

"I don't leave until tomorrow, I'll come and find you." He quickly kissed her cheek before following his cousins out of the club.

"Bye..." She said in bewilderment, even though he was already out of sight.