#top RIGHT is them trying to remember how many rooms theres left to fix th light in. forgot to label that

[garlicboyart]

nervous habits

(not pictured: pacing, clutching/picking at their sleeves and tearing leaves to shreds slowly if they have the downtime)

[poptod]

Pretty, Little Doll (Merriel Shelton x Reader)

Description: Merriel makes friends with the pretty little doll serving ice cream.

Notes: jus thinking about ice cream. implied female reader, but this.. is too much. theres just too much here. youve been warned. edit: wait no u havent. the warning is that theres suggestive themes and such WC: 2.3k

+

After working long hours in the broiling sun of the south, what felt best down his parched throat was a beer––a bar where many of his friends and coworkers drank at, and the waitresses wore low-cut dresses with short hems and long stockings. That sight went down wonderfully with several drinks, but what drew his attention today was a newly opened shop.

There was no sign, but the large, pristine windows gave a good view of the inside. Clean, white walls with several tables and chairs to the left, and a counter to order at on the right. Behind it stood you, dressed to the nines in ruffles and bows as you opened up the shop, displaying buckets of ice cream.

Merriel grinned. Lopsided and toothy, and he jogged inside, sweat and dirt still trailing down his skin and clothes. With his shirt slung over his bare shoulder, he met your eye and his cocky smile returned as his chin tilted high.

"Afternoon," he drawled as he approached the counter, barely grazing over the different flavors before returning to you.

"Good afternoon," you said in a much quieter voice, though you did mimic his smile, just more politely. "How may I help you?"

"You new here?" He asked, gesturing generally to the shop.

"Oh, yes," you said. "My grandmother always wanted an ice cream parlor, so.. I thought I could help her."

"That's awful sweet of ya," he said as he leant on the counter, tilting ever closer to you. "This ice cream sweet as you, boo?"

Your mouth fell open, eyes widening as you did a double take. For a moment you were at a loss for words, but you quickly attempted to stammer out a response, a blush burning your face.

"Well, um, we have, uh, strawberry, and um.. chocolate, vanilla, cherry, and uh, banana. And bourbon."

"Bourbon?" He said, a single brow kinked upwards.

"It's my grandma's favorite," you said with a sheepish chuckle.

"Damn, girl. Grandma knows how to have fun," he laughed.

"Would you like to try it?"

Only if I can lick it off you, he thought, his attention drifting to the soft skin of your neck. The thought of it melting down and pooling in your clavicle. While usually he didn't bother to censor himself for anyone, you seemed a little fainthearted. His chances with you would probably be ruined after one too-strange comment.

"Sure," was what he said instead. "Long as it's cold I don't care."

"I understand that. I moved here recently and it's certainly something to try and adapt to the heat," you rambled as you stuck a tiny plastic spoon in the bourbon ice cream, giving him the single bite. "Are you a local?"

"Been here long's I remember," he said, taking the spoon. "What time do ya get off today?"

"Oh, um," you fixed the ruffles on your collar, "I won't be finished till late. We're not all set up yet."

"If y' need some help, I'd be happy to offer my expertise. I do a hell of a lot a' nailin' things ta the wall."

You stared at him again, once more losing your words. He hadn't quite meant what he said, but the fluster he left you in had him grinning, humored by the connotation you'd incorrectly understood.

"That – that'd be very nice of you," you said, wringing your hands. "I don't want to bother you. You look.. busy."

He didn't miss how your eyes raked up his body, from his wrinkled, dusty pants up his bare waist and chest still gleaming with the sweat of morning work. His jaw could cut hearts and he knew that very well; accented it whenever he could as he cocked his chin upwards, watching carefully as your breath froze.

"I won't be busy tonight. How 'bout this." He walked up right to the counter, pressing his hips into the edge of it. "I come after I finish up ma' own job, and I'll give ya' a hand. Don't even gotta pay me."

"Really? But –"

"Don't worry 'bout it. 'S nothin' for a pretty doll like you."

"At least let me get you a cone? It's hot out today," you offered, reaching for the largest waffle cones you had.

The guys wouldn't really take well to him eating ice cream instead of drinking, but he figured they'd eat their words when they saw you.

"Won't say no to that."

As much as he wanted to boast about you, how pretty and sweet you were and how he so easily slid his way into your life, he didn't want his friends finding your shop and vandalizing it with their own dirty boots and flirtatious looks. Only he could do that.

In the evening he returned as promised, having walked from his house on the outskirts of town to your shop on the main street. The build, decorum, and location of the shop screamed rich family to him. No one in his state would be able to afford a business on main street, much less fully renovated and repainted. He could ask you, he decided, about your family, your grandmother, and of course you.

Inside, you were closing up the tubs of ice cream, hauling them out of the display case and into a back storage room. He knocked before he entered, earning a muffled 'come in!' from you.

Before either of you could speak, both the buckets in your arms began to slip, and he ran round to the other side of the counter to help. He took one from you to ease the load.

"Careful, cher," he said, grabbing another bucket in his other arm. "Don't wanna break yaself."

"Thank you," you said, mostly ignoring his comment. "My grandma is in the other room, so just, um.. be polite and proper."

Fat fuckin' chance, he thought in his head, but fortunately did not say aloud as he followed you.

The door swung open into a freezer room, where an old lady stood in the corner, covered head to toe in coats as she stirred.

"I keep telling you to let me do that," you sighed, setting down your container before rushing to her side.

"I can do it quite well myself. I'm not useless, you know," your grandmother said, staring you down with a glare. You hesitated, gauging her carefully, before you relented with another exasperated sigh.

"Fine, alright," you said quietly. "I'll go work on hanging up all the paintings and such."

"Thank you, dear."

You motioned to him as you passed by, pushing open the door and heading out of the freezer. He once again followed you, watching your ass with a grin you never saw.

"We need to hang up these," you said as you brought him to one of the circular tables, each of which carried a small pile of paintings, license plates, or tin posters.

"You got a ladder?" He asked, glancing to the high walls.

"Yes sir," you said, sorting through the different posters. He quirked a brow, intrigued by the possibility of that nickname.

"I neva did get ya name," he said as he leant on one of the tables.

"(Y/N). What's yours?"

"Pretty name for a pretty doll," he half sung, the same, one-sided smile stretched lazily across his face. "My name's Merriel."

"Also a pretty name," you said, picking the largest poster to start with. A pin-up girl in a sailor's suit. "Our ladder isn't all that steady. Will you hold it for me?"

He opened his mouth to offer himself up, but with one look to the ruffled skirt you wore, he shut himself up.

"'Course," was what he said instead.

Everything was a bit of a game––one you were unwittingly a part of, and one where you played your role rather well. A sweet, unassuming little thing, essentially a toy for him, accepting his help and letting him in. He hated to act the predator, but when it came to you he couldn't help it.

That was how he saw it. Hunting you down and taking you for his own at the end of a long chase. However, to any outsider, it appeared in a much simpler way; a young man doing anything for someone he'd developed a crush on. That was how it truly was, though the innocence of his crush was abruptly stripped away as he held the ladder, staring shamelessly up your skirt.

"Merriel?"

"Huh?" He said, broken out of his dreamy trance.

"I said could you hand me another nail," you said, pointing towards the package of nails with your hammer.

"Oh. You sure ya ain't gonna fall if I leave?" He asked with a grin. You chuckled, shaking your head.

"I'll be alright."

"If you say so, boo."

After a little while he supposed he ought to offer some more help than holding a rickety ladder, and took your place at the top with a hammer in his hand and nails in his mouth. As promised, his experience with nailing things to the wall (nails specifically, not women) made him much faster than you, and the entirety of the wall behind the counter was covered within fifty minutes.

"Thank you for your help, again," you said as you put away the hammer and nails.

"My pleasure," he said, the image of your thighs still fresh in his mind. "If y' ever need help.. I'm happy t' to be of service."

"Well, thank you. Come stop by again soon. On the house," you said as he left, peeking your head out the door and giggling.

"You know I'm stoppin' by again, get two things done in one trip. Some'in sweet for th' eyes and the tongue," he laughed, watching your face light up with a blush.

And it ain't just the ice cream, he thought.

Over the course of the coming summer, he left drinking for the evening, and instead visited your shop over his lunch break. You insisted on giving his cones for free considering he continued to help you out, but he usually found ways to sneak you the money anyway. You were not, as he assumed earlier, a very rich family.

His favorite activity, which he found rather early on, was to sit outside on burning hot days, his shirt draped over the back of his chair as he ate. Through the pristine glass, he spied you watching him often.

You couldn't help it either. Most of your life was spent in your family cabin, cutting you off from many teen and early adulthood experiences. People flirting with you was a lot to deal with, especially when it came from someone as pretty as him, the smooth dips and ripples of his lean muscles shining with sweat and dirt from his construction site.

His tongue. Ever since he made that comment on that first evening you met, you hadn't been able to get it out of your mind. How it rolled and drawled between his puffy lips drawn backwards with his teeth, in a very specific method you'd pinned down to 'the Tongue Thing'.

Your heated, embarrassed blush only worsened as ice cream dripped down his fingers from the heat, cleaned up by a sharp and precise tongue. You could hardly breathe watching him like that, but as he caught your eye you turned quickly away.

His bravado had clearly earned a huge boost from catching you mid-drool, prevalent in his step as he waltzed back into your store. You hardly met his eye, pretending to clean up the counter, but that didn't stop him. He walked right up to you, leaning down with his elbows on the stone, forcing you to stop and look at him, which you did with incredible reluctance.

"You been watchin' me, cher?" He asked, close enough to see his reflection in your wide eyes.

"No," you said quietly.

"A' think you're lyin'," he said, leaning in closer yet. "Betta' not do that. Could land you in some trouble."

You raised your brows.

"Are you threatening me?"

"Not with anythin' ya can't take," he said as he raked his eyes purposefully slow down your body. When you appeared to be at a loss for words, he said, "I'll ask ya again. Were you watching me?"

"... and if I don't answer?" You tested carefully.

"Well then, I think there's too much space between us," he said, grinning cockily as he jumped the counter, crowding you suddenly.

You drew in a sharp breath, backing up as he continued to step forwards till he pinned you to the wall with his hips.

"Tell the truth, baby." he drawled, carefully setting his hands on your hips and pulling you in. Something hard poked you.

"I – I wasn't staring, I –"

He half-grinded into you, pressing you tighter against the wall as his hands drew upwards, resting at your waist.

"Such a pretty thing," he mumbled beneath his breath, watching your stumbling reaction closely.

By pinning you with his hips, he had free roam to move his hands, one of which toyed with the hem of your skirt. It was wrong, certainly, and it was also illegal since you were in plain view of main street, but he lost control the minute his fingertips brushed the soft, supple skin of your thigh.

Your breathing hastened, hips yearning for something, though you didn't know what. When the rough skin of his fingers suddenly brushed inbetween your thighs your hands shot up to steady yourself on Merriel's shoulders. He laughed, running a finger through your lips, finding you already soaked and not wearing underwear. Instantly his laugh faded, devolving into a long, needy moan as his hips once more pushed up into you.

"Th – there's someone – someone coming," you said, eyes darting to the front door.

Immediately he was off you, stepping to the side as you straightened yourself out. You walked forward with shaky legs, which he most definitely noticed, and took the mother and son's orders as usual. When you finished you glanced to him, your heart stopping at the sight of him licking your slick from his fingers.

"I guess your ice cream is as sweet as you, boo," he murmured in your ear, giving you no chance to react before rushing back out to return to his construction job.

[ladye11e]

Blades, Trains, Assassins, Thieves pt 12

SFW

Characters: Jacob Frye/reader

Word count: 3553

Tagging @geekgoddess813 ​ @sweet-flash ​ @swiggle-muffin ​ @thank-god-its-fryeday ​ Ooops, I forgot to post this one!😥

Waking up early the next morning shivering violently, you looked up to see that you were now on your side balancing on the very edge of the bed, narrowing your eyes when you realised that Jacob had stolen all of the blanket. Sliding off as quietly as you could, you pulled on your clothes and did them up quickly, rummaging about in hopes that there was some coal left to make another fire. Scowling when you found there was none, you crept back to your room, sniggering when you saw Jacob peeking over the top of the covers.

“What time is it?”

“Seven. Now you’re awake I think we better go before more police turn up.”

Sitting on the edge of the bed and giggling when Jacob grimaced and dropped his head back down, you tugged at the corner of the blanket which only made him pull his legs up.

“Seven? Why is it light out then?”

“It’s seven in the morning, you do realise that the are two of them in the day?”

Tugging at the blanket again, you burst out laughing when he pulled it around him as tight as he possibly could, making just his eyes and the top of his head visible.

“You liar, there’s only one, and this isn’t it. Need. More. Sleep. Come back to bed.”

Winding the corner of the cover around you hand, you yanked as hard as you could, but he had a much better grip on it than you so it ended up with him chuckling as you fell back and landed on your backside with a thud. Clambering up and rubbing your ass, you gave up with an exasperated sigh and put your hands on your hips, glaring at him.

“You’re impossible you know that?”

“Yeah, but you love me, soooo…”

You bit your lip in attempts to hide your grin when he eventually propped himself against the headboard and winked at you cheekily, jumping and turning around startled when the door burst open behind you.

“Miss (Name)? What on earth are you doing here?”

Dropping your gaze to the floor as Inspector Abberline stared at you disapprovingly, your face set ablaze when he moved forward a couple of steps and spotted Jacob still slumped in your bed.

“Jacob. Should have known you had something to do with this. Do you mind telling me why two of my men are tied up outside with lumps on their heads the size of melons?”

Bringing your hand up to cover your mouth as you unintentionally snorted when you remembered the policemen bound by their own belts outside your door, you faked a frown and stared at some invisible thing on the wall instead of meeting Abberlines annoyed gaze.

“Oh Freddie, calm down. You work your men too hard, they looked like they needed a nap. I just helped them get one.”

Your whole body vibrated with pent up laughter as your eyes flickered over to Jacob, who was grinning wildly and not at all caring that he was pretty much naked apart from the blanket draped over his lower half.

“I swear to god Jacob Frye, you’ll give me a heart attack one of these days. And you Miss, I’d have thought you would have known better. Five minutes, and I want you out. Please.”

Picking up the discarded pillow off the floor and throwing it at Jacob when Freddie left and pulled the door closed behind him, you yelped when he leapt up off the bed and caught you in his arms, covering your face in sloppy kisses. Only just able to wiggle free and push him back down onto the bed, you started to collect his clothes up and fling them at him, urging him to get dressed before the Inspector came back.

“He said we have five minutes, there’s alot we can do in that time.”

Throwing his coat over his head and going back into your shop in search of his top hat, you picked it up off the counter and placed it on your head, grinning as you saw his expression when you walked back over to him, which was now borderline carnal as his eyes flickered over you.

“I know what your thinking….” you whispered seductively as you leant forwards and placed your hands on his knees, nudging his nose with your own.

“Maybe if you’re really good, I’ll wear this again, and nothing else.”

Gasping when he quickly pulled you against him and gave you a bruising kiss, you managed to pull back and smirk at him just as he went to tug at your shirt.

“Oh that mind of yours is positively filthy. Wonder what else goes on in that pretty head of yours?”

“Filthy? Me? I’m a good girl.”

Tossing him back his hat when he finally pulled his clothes back on; barely doing anything up, you smiled sweetly and pulled him towards the door, laughing when he shook his head in mock disbelief.

“Henry? I got your note, what did you…. Oh, shall I come back later?”

Poking your head round to the back room of the Curio shop, you grinned as you saw Evie leaning over the desk and examining a map of London, with Henry stood very close behind her, gazing down and smiling warmly. You raised your eyebrows and winked at him when his attention snapped up to you, clearing his throat and taking a step back when he realised just how close he was to Evie.

“Erm, no (name), we were just trying to locate another of Starricks henchmen, please come in.”

“Who you looking for? Anyone I know?”

Walking over to the desk and leaning over to glance over the map, you smiled at Evie when she slid it towards you, raising an eyebrow hopefully.

“Edith Swinebourne, she’s a Templar gang leader.”

Picking up the nearby pencil off the counter, you traced a small circle on the paper, sliding it back to Evie who was staring at it intently as you had marked nowhere near where she had been looking.

“Shes at the Thames, I used to see her there every time I took something to Ned for him to sell. Nasty piece of work, and sneaky as they come.”

Your eyebrows raised in confusion when Evie stared at Henry and nodded, becoming even more bewildered when he went to the other side of the room and roamed around in a cupboard for a moment, before pulling out a small chest and dropping it onto the table carefully.

“This is for you (name). I think you will put it to better use than I, and you definately deserve it.”

Tracing your fingers over the dusty chest, you gingerly flicked the lock and peeked inside, your eyes widening in shock when you saw a bracer fitted with a hidden blade, almost exactly like Henrys.

“Wha… I can’t… For me?!….”

You just stood there staring at it for a moment completely aghast until you felt Henrys hand on your shoulder and squeezing gently, looking back up to see the two assassins with smiles on their faces.

“You have been doing alot to help us with our cause (name) and you have shown many traits of a member of our creed. It seems only fitting that you should have a symbol of your dedication.”

Grinning wildly as Henry pulled out the bracer and handed it to you, you pulled up your sleeve quickly and fastened it around your wrist as tightly as it would go, cocking you head when it slid easily up and down your arm.

“I don’t know what to say, apart from thank you! It is a little loose, would you mind if I got it adjusted?”

Turning your attention to Evie who was now gathering up the maps off the table, she dropped them in surprise as you stepped forward and gave her a brief hug in thanks.

“Erm yes. Well. You should make sure it fits correctly, just assure me that you won’t flit around London creating mayhem with my brother?”

“I won’t.”

Tracing your fingers over the details of the leather, you smiled at Henry who just chuckled and went to help Evie pick up the papers, then you grimaced for a moment when you realised who you would have to see to alter your new accessory.

“Right, now thats sorted, we need to make plans to deal with this newest Templar threat. This afternoon would be a good time, and give us long enough to prepare. Where is my brother by the way (name)?”

“Erm, flitting around London creating mayhem?”

You bit your lips together to keep yourself from laughing when she gave out an exasperated sigh and shook her head, letting a small giggle slip out when you saw that Henry was doing the same expression as you.

Walking down the docks on the outskirts of the City of London, you stood hesitantly outside of the shop that you needed to sort your bracer. Unclasping the blade from it and sliding it into your hidden pocket, you adorned your best fake smile and burst through the door and slammed it loudly shut behind you, startling the middle aged man who had his back to you sat at the counter.

“Charlie, long time no see.”

You snickered when the gangly man turned around in surprise, pushing his broken glasses back up his nose with his arm as he had his hands full with a pile of leather scraps.

“(Name)? What are you doin ‘ere? Looking for a job?”

Clenching your teeth in annoyance as you walked over to his workstation when he chuckled to himself and dropped the load down, you pulled up your sleeve and quickly unbuckled the cuff, gingerly handing it to him.

“No. I do not need a job. I want you to fix this so it fits me please.”

Only just resisting the urge to punch him when he smirked at you, you wandered around the store and fiddled with some of the items he was halfway through making while he examined your bracer.

“Now theres a first. Neva thought you’d be askin me for summat. Who did you pinch this off? I can do it, ave it done by next week.”

Freezing in your tracks, you dropped down the shoddily made knife hilt you were looking at and stared at him in disbelief, knowing that it would never take that long, even as slow as he was.

“Next week?! No, I need it today. Like, three hours from now, and I didn’t steal it, it was a gift.”

“Riiiight… Well you’ve got no chance. Business has tripled since you closed down. What can I say, I’m a man in demand. Though, I might be able to do it, fer the right price.”

Your patience wearing thin, you stormed over to the counter and pulled out a coin bag full of money that you had managed to pocket on your way over here, dropping it in front of him with a thud.

“That enough?”

Crossing your arms over your chest while you watched him tip out the contents of the bag and count up what was there, you clenched your fists tightly when he started shaking his head.

“Not quite. Wha’ else you got?”

“I don’t have anything else! What more could you possibly want?”

You put your hands on your hips angrily while he rubbed his grubby hand against the stubble on his chin, narrowing your eyes when he snapped his fingers and pointed in the direction of his anvil.

“You can ‘elp me catch up. Farrier needs shoes doin, and fast. You do that, I’ll fix this for yer. Deal?”

Turning around to see where he was gesturing to, your face dropped in dismay when you saw a rather hefty crate nearly overflowing with thick metal rods.

“Horseshoes? That’s apprentice work. Where’s yours?”

“Little shit went and done a runner, good job really, weren’t that great anyway. So’s that a yes or no? A'vent got all day.”

Slumping your shoulders in defeat, you pulled off your coat and rolled up your sleeves, picking up the nearby apron with just your thumb and forefinger and grimacing before tossing it to one side.

“You mean he saw sense and got away when he had the chance? Good on him. Fine, I’ll do your bloody shoes, this better be worth it.”

Dunking the curved metal in the bucket of water next to you to cool it down enough so you could examine it quickly, you tossed it on the pile with the others when you decided it was finished. You had given up counting how many you had done when you hit two dozen, and began mumbling obscenities under your breath when you used the tongues to pick up another molten hot rod out of the pit.

“Oi, (name), I’m done. Are you?”

Dropping the rod back down, you pulled off your gloves and scowled when you saw that there were still a few horseshoes left to be made.

“Four left. But I’m refusing to do anymore, I’ve already done a days work in three and a half hours, so thats more than fair.”

Grabbing your coat and draping it over your arm as you were far too hot to put it back on, you sauntered over to the front of the shop, your eyes widened in shock when Charlie tossed you your bracer.

“S'pose that’ll do. I’m takin credit for yer work by the way.”

You waved your hand dismissively as you continued to scrutinise the bracer, pleasantly surprised with the work that he had done. The tan leather had now been dyed black, making the engravings in the hide even more prominent, and the new buckles and straps had been polished to a lustrous shine, matching the bronze and gold adornments on the gauntlet.

“Noone will ever believe that you made those shoes anyway. You’re a great tanner, but a shit blacksmith. And no, I will never admit that to anyone, ever, before you ask.”

Sliding the contraption on your arm and fastening it tightly around your wrist, you fumbled in your coat and pulled out the attachment, laughing at Charlie when he backed away with his arms raised as you slid it into place and flicked your wrist, making the blade shoot out almost silently before retracting it again.

“Oh, if you don’t mind, I’ll be taking the money back. I’ve done far more than this is worth today, unless you’d rather me go to the farrier and recommend someone else to do his orders? Plus, you owe me for stealing my customers from right under my nose.”

Snatching the bag from his now trembling hand when he reached under the corner and held it out to you, you stuffed it back in your pocket and gave him an exaggerated bow, stomping out of his shop with a smug grin at finally being able to get your own back at him after all this time.

Hitching several rides unnoticed on the backs of carriages to the edge of the Thames, you ran as fast as you could the rest of the way, getting to where you had marked on the map just as Evie pulled up in a cart. Pulling your sleeve up when she jumped out and looked at you questioningly, you grinned when she gave you a nod of approval.

“Very nice (name). Now where is that damned brother of mine?”

Staring at the gang of blighters further down the bridge, which seemed to be getting bigger by the second as Evie frowned and looked around furiously, your attention was pulled away to someone shouting behind you, grinning as you saw Jacob leisurely walking in your direction with a hefty group of his Rooks.

“Ah, the two most important ladies in my life. Ready to have some fun?”

Giggling as Evie rolled her eyes and sighed when Jacob draped his arms over yours and her shoulders, you raised your arm to show him your new hidden blade, smirking when his eyes widened in surprise.

“Where did you get that?!”

“Henry. He said I’d probably need it when you get me into trouble again.”

Pulling your sleeve down when he playfully scowled at you, you nudged him in his side and winked at him as he dropped his arm from your shoulders.

“I’m joking. But Henry did give it to me.”

“Right, lets not dally shall we? There are blighters to dispose of.”

Taking a deep breath when Evie pulled out her cane sword and began walking briskly over the bridge, you followed her over when Jacob raised his arm and a flurry of green and yellow headed towards the fight. Sticking with a couple of younger looking Rooks, you pulled out your dagger and advanced towards one of the big brutes, quickly stepping to the side when he lunged towards you, giving you the opportunity to sink your knife deep into his back.

Pushing the body to the ground and spinning about to see three more blighters starting to circle you, you flicked out your hidden blade and ran towards the one in the middle. Knocking her dagger out of the way and leaping onto her chest, you easily disposed of the blighter while the Rooks dealt with the others, quickly killing them while they were distracted by you.

Your attention snapped to the other side of the bridge when you heard a loud raspy voice ring through the air, to see Edith pushing through the crowd and heading towards Evie, who was busy dealing with four blighters of her own. Knowing you were nowhere near ready to take on a full blown Templar face to face, you pulled out two throwing knives from your coat and hurled them in quick succession at the gang members Evie was fighting, making them drop to the ground as they embedded in their backs.

Evie nodded at you when she saw that you had taken out half of the blighters surrounding her after she pushed the two others over the side of the bridge, giving her the opportunity to take on Edith undistracted when she closed in on her.

Watching the rest of the blighters drop their weapons to the ground when they saw that Evie had killed their leader, you cocked your head to the side when the twins climbed on top of the nearest carriage, Jacob raising his arm to call the attention of the remaining gang members.

“Ladies and gentlemen! We are Jacob and Evie Frye! And as of this moment, you all work for us!”

Breathing a sigh of relief when several applauses rang through the air, you scoffed when you saw that Jacob had jumped down and was stood next to a Rook that you recognised, who was busy gushing and flirting with him. As soon as he saw you sniggering at him, he patted her on the shoulder and ran over to you, stopping about a foot away.

“I take it that’s Mary?”

“How on earth did you manage to guess that?”

Covering your mouth with your hand to hide your smile as he put his arms behind his back and stepped closer to you, you tilted your head when he leaned forwards to whisper in your ear.

“I can’t help being sooooo irresistible. Is she watching?”

Glancing over his shoulder to see her gaze was firmly fixed on Jacobs back, you chuckled slighty and nodded when her eyes flickered to you looking at her.

“Uh huh. Why?”

Squealing when he suddenly wrapped his arms around you, swooping you over and kissing you deeply, you giggled at the wolf whistles and cheers from the nearby Rooks as he pulled you back up with a devilish grin.

“You’re evil.”

Pursing your lips together and trying to hide your expression when you saw Mary scowl at you and stomp off in the other direction, you started walking when you felt Jacobs hand at the small of your back, pushing you towards the empty carriage.

“I’m sure she’ll get over me, eventually. Anyway, maybe that’ll stop all the whispers going around.”

“Whispers? What whispers?”

Climbing into the carriage, you picked up the reins and cracked them to get the horses into a slow gallop when Jacob slumped down in the seat next to you and laced his fingers behind his head, with obviously no intention of driving.

“My Rooks have been amusing themselves wondering if we we’re together or not. I think some of them even put bets on it. Which reminds me, I must find out who won.”

Bursting out laughing and slowing the cart to a stop when you got to the end of the bridge, you looked around for a moment before staring at him pointedly, waiting for him to tell you where to go.

“I see, well hopefully we gave them a bit of entertainment. Which way?”

“Where else would we be going after a fight like that?”

Grinning and snapping the reins again, you turned to the left and headed towards the Strand, yelling at some orphan children to move out of the way who were busy playing in the middle of the road.

“Of course, stupid question. First rounds on you.”