peakyfckngblinders

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Gaite Jansen as Princess Tatiana Petrovna in Peaky Blinders

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Peaky Blinders

[peakyfckngblinders]

“All bets are off” - Chapter 3

Ship: Thomas Shelby x Reader

Hey there,

I’m so sorry for not uploading :/ Had a lot of stress but here we go, it’s a really long chapter, wanted to make two parts out of it but since I haven’t been here in weeks, I guess I owe you one.

As always, I’m not a native speaker, so I just got to tell you all how thankful I am to have @sarcastiphonix for helping me with my grammar troubles!

Prologue (x), Chapter 1 (x), Chapter 2 (x)

"I had business to attend to. I’m sorry“, I said, my thoughts remaining in an entirely different galaxy. "I noticed a man brought you home, who was that?“, Jim asked, concern covering his features. There was a moments pause before I answered him. "Oh, nobody. Just a colleague who helps at the stables.“ It was resolute in my mind that Jim didn't deserve to be constantly worried about my safety, so I decided he wouldn't be told that I was going to be working for the Royals of Birmingham. He was just a simple man, with an equally simple job, which he adored. As part of his heritage he acquired a small law firm from his father which he led in a small office downtown. Jim was a youthful and determined lawyer who focused on improving himself everyday. Nothing stood in the way of a bright future and successful career for him, and I intended to keep things that way. "I’m sorry I worried you, Jim“, I said, rising onto my toes and kissing him softly, "It was a hard day and I need to get up early tomorrow. Do you mind if I just take a bath and go to bed?“ The man in front of me was evidently irritated, and suspicious. "Wait, you never usually work on Mondays, love.“ I rubbed my eyes, letting out a frustrated sigh. "I—I just got new clients today. I mean, you know how this works, don’t you? You understand how vital clients to me.“ My boyfriend did not seem to believe my story but I was firm in my mission to spend some much needed time alone. No interrogations, just the hot water and me, alone with my thoughts. "Sure, Babe“, he mumbled, looking a bit disappointed.

I felt almost paralysed as I walked out of the door the next morning. Outside my house stood John Shelby flashing his classic wide grin at me, his car parked in the street. "Mornin’!“, he smirked, "A little friendly bonus for you- from me. Thomas wants us to drive directly to the stables, so I thought I'd just pick you up myself from here.“ "Uhm. Thank you“, I stuttered. We drove for half an hour, right through the city and ended up at the back country of Birmingham. I was slightly unnerved by the fact I had never been there before. "These are our family stables, the Shelby clan has got about six horses, and you're very lucky because today, you get to ride the newest girl in town!“, John smiled, as if I'd be grateful but I still felt unsure of myself around the Birmingham gang member, as if any slip up would result in a razor blade slipping elsewhere. I had problems keeping up with him because he seemed to sprint toward the stables. His movements gave the impression of a boy younger than himself, it was then that I recognised just how young he was- it had been the war that stripped him of his youth. When we approached two boys were mucking out the stables and beginning to feed the horses. They were quickly dismissed by a wave of John's hand which he then moved as if showcasing a prized possession. "Here we go, allow me to introduce you to Grace's Secret." I looked into the deep brown eyes of a grey horse, it's coat reminding me of clear snow which was beginning to thaw. "Hey girl“, I whispered, resting my hand on her neck, "You're beautiful, you know?" I took a look inside the box and could tell that she was strong, already trained well. However, her back revealed that she'd been ridden the wrong way for two, possibly three years. "Grace’s Secret“, I mumbled while checking the animal, „"A very unusual name…“   John’s eyes narrowed. "Oh yeah, it is…“ his voice trailed off. "And after that reaction, I guess you don't want to tell me the story behind it?“ "What?" John asked, startled. "Don’t play the fool“, I moaned, "nobody just calls a horse Grace's Secret.“
The crown prince stared at me and seemed to debate how much to reveal. He let out a reluctant sigh. "Listen, Thomas bought her. And It was Tommy who named her." His answer left me still confused as to what was so special about the name? Who was Grace? And why couldn’t John tell me? Perhaps being direct was the easiest way of finding out. I mean, it wasn't like John would kill me for asking a simple question. Admittedly, he obviously could have. "So, it seems like Mr. Shelby is a big mystery to everybody…“, I tried to needle softly. The smile vanished quickly from John's face. A look of sadness masking his  joy. "If you really want an answer—while Thomas might be a mystery to you, he wasn't to Grace, she was his confidant and first love“, he finally said. I had to gulp, he had made excessive use of the past tense. "I’m sorry for asking.“ Adding up the facts I'd received, I had calculated as much as I could about who Grace had been- an arcane women who had been Thomas Shelby's weakness. This story smelled like it didn’t had a happy end. It was an easy assumption to make, but I felt like I had asked enough questions for today. "I don’t feel like this is something I can tell you about when I’m sober. Come to the Garrison this evening, you can meet the rest of my crazy clan and I can introduce you to everybody, if you like. And maybe, just maybe“, he smiled for a split second, "I’ll answer your questions, after a few whiskeys. I mean, it's not fair if you get thrown into the cold water without a helping hand.“ I bit my lip so I wouldn’t smile too widely. "Thank you very much, Mr. Shelby! I'm beginning to think you aren’t as bad as everybody tells me.“ John laid his head to the side and his expression told me that I wasn’t quite right. All the playfulness that had been on his face seemed to slip away as he stared deep into my eyes. It felt like I stood in front of a whole other person. "Please Alice, don’t ever think that you can believe anyone outside the company regarding what happens inside", he took a deep breath and nearly whispered, "Every thread is pulled deliberately. I’ll help you, not just because I got my orders from Thomas to treat you gentle, but because I execute every fucking order I get. And it's not just me, every single one of us works that way because that's how the Shelby family survives. You’ll learn that principle fast, you’re smart. Just keep in mind that, even though you’re held out of that end of the business, it still exists. And if you ever spread unwarranted word about it, you are our business. And business gets executed, understand?" "And if I want to know everything? You know, if I don’t want to close my eyes. If I want to be“, I looked to the ground, took a step closer to him, "a fully fledged member of the Peaky Blinders?“ Clearly, I was tired of my life. Otherwise, I'd never have said something so foolish but at that moment in time, it felt like the correct question. John Shelby grinned suddenly at me. "You’re already en route, love, no escape anymore“, he smirked, "You know, Tommy told me that you’d fit in here. And that you’d get a taste blood way too soon. But I think even he will be surprised how fast you're trying to jump in.“ "A few days ago I would have been equally shocked", I confessed, "What the hell is happening here, you damn Shelby Brothers…“, I smiled, shaking my head, stunned, still not believing that the King of Birmingham chose me out of thousands of better jockeys. After a brief moments silence John perked up, "Let's go, come on, you gotta' see what you need to do for your money!“, He exclaimed and he began to show me the rest of the stables. For the remainder of the day I began to get to know Grace's Secret more. I decided to just call her Grace after John had left. He had other business to tend to but told me that we’d see each other at the Garrison later. Later that evening Jim enquired as to where I was going, as I went to leave just after returning from work. I lied, telling him it was a dinner with my new clients and that I wouldn’t come home before midnight.

I thought about what John had said the day before. The proposal Jim wanted to perform seemed to belong to another life. But how the hell did the Shelby boys know more about my fiancé than I did? How long had they been watching me? I tried to expel the thought of it from my mind, everything would be fine as long as I worked well. Reflecting, it didn't take long until I couldn’t differentiate the business from any other aspect of my life. Thomas had been right; if I wanted to be part of this company, I had to live with the business at the centre of my focus. And that was what I was determined to do.

After I took my first tentative steps into the Garrison, I was instantly impressed. It was evident that it was a bar under the control of the Peaky Blinders. Everybody here seemed to know each other and every man seemed to were a similar cap. Even though they all were pretty drunk, they treated each other with a familial attitude. "Ally!“, I heard a voice screaming. John ran to me, a cigar in his left hand, his drink in the other. It didn't take long to deduce that he was just as drunk as everyone else, "Welcome home!“ It was a strange comment for John to make seeing as I was only new to the franchise, but when he had called the pub my home, it really did feel like it. It was probably because you felt like you’d be accepted here, just as you were. Because they really would take you in as part of the family. Although, the daggers in the pockets and guns in the holsters of men, spread throughout the room, reminded how they could treat you if you weren't. "Arthur!“, John called, "Come on ya' fucker!“
"Sorry!“, came the sarcastic cry of a tall smiling man. He turned towards me, "Ah! So, you're the famous jockey then! Heard much about ya'. Welcome to the family! Let’s have a drink, I’ll let you have a good one! 'Arry?!“ As fast as he had appeared he was gone. The obscurity of their mannerisms forced a laugh from my chest. John noticed my giddiness and chuckled lightly himself, grabbing my hand like a boy several years younger would have, "I’ll introduce you to the rest, come on luv!“ And as I sat there, slightly drunk, becoming familiar with the close circle, watching the people dancing and laughing, I subconsciously searched for a pair of blue eyes. Goosebumps pricked at my arms as I found them staring back at me.   He stood still in the door frame, smoking and overseeing the chaos. Thomas recognised that I wasn't nearly as far gone as everyone else in the room, still too sober to put on my dancing shoes. I wasn't sure if it was a mirage but I was sure I could  actually see the coldest face of Birmingham smiling at me. Of course he wasn't exactly joining in the fun himself, but he did partake in light conversation and ordered drinks for those he was close to. Something lifted in my chest to see him happy like this. I was ashamed to admit it but Tommy's appreciation was dizzying. The corners of his lips were like hidden secrets that he turned up rarely, often when he thought no one else was looking. Maybe he had always been that way or perhaps it was  part of the act that had to be kept up by the barbaric gangster. But it was more probably that he never found many reasons to smile anymore because he had lost his favourite one.

But as I surveyed him, watching his family have a great time and grinning, I found myself questioning, how could a person like that do such terrible things?' Our gazes met each other again and I found myself grinning at him like an idiot, blood rising to my cheeks. The way he smiled changed. I couldn’t tell what it was, but I had the strange desire to continue exchanging looks for the rest of the night. But instead, Thomas Shelby nodded and made a sign that I should come closer before taking another deep drag from his cigarette. My knees were weak and I felt I couldn't trust my feet whilst my heart rate increased rapidly. With trembling legs I made my way towards an audience with the King of Birmingham. 
He looked over me again for a few moments before blowing out a cloud of smoke away from my face and spoke,
"Let’s take a walk. I don’t want to have to stay the entire time to keep things in check, just because we are the only ones who aren’t fetching up hell tomorrow.“ Thomas could see I was hesitating. He ended up taking my hand without a word and dragging me outside carefully. I prayed he didn’t ask himself why my hands were drenched in sweat, the close proximity unnerving me. It wasn't something I was comfortable asking myself.

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Cillian, Helen McCrory and Steven Knight on the set at today.

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“All bets are off”- Chapter 2

Ship: Thomas Shelby X Reader 

Hey there :)

As always, I’m not a native speaker, so I just got to tell you all how thankful I am to have @sarcastiphonix for helping me with my grammar troubles!

Prologue (x), Chapter 1 (x)

Let me know what you think! 

Chapter 2

"Pleased to meet you, Mr Shelby.“ My voice was strained but I still accepted his offer when he nodded, took out his cigarette case and handed me one. He lit them both up quickly, obviously practised in the act. The head of the Shelby firm took a deep drag and looked over me, almost as if reviewing my figure. I suddenly felt very uncomfortable. "John, give us a minute“, he said and the man who had brought me in disappeared through a door with the letters of his name imprinted on its front.

"Please, have a seat“, he gestured to a table, arranged with two chairs and sat down on one. I waited for small fraction of time before following his example. "If you forgive me asking, Mr Shelby“, I queried, a cloud of smoke escaping my mouth from the drag I had taken, "Why am I here?“ Thomas Shelby didn’t answer me. He sat still, smoking and continuing to cause an uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach. I let out an embarrassingly obvious sigh of relief as he began to speak: "You are well known in your line of work, as am I in mine. I'm assuming I don’t have to lie to you about what us Shelby's are doing besides the betting shop?“ I shook my head slowly. Our eye-contact had not wavered since we had sat down. And I was certainly not going to be the one who gave in. "And the point is?“, I asked, inhaling more glorious toxins from my cigarette. It clearly calmed me down. "Your work won’t ever be mentioned with the other side of the business“, he explained and for a split second the corners of his mouth raised up. It was a strange look but, not surprisingly, alluring. "Your work will require you to ride our horses at the races and you will push them into the upper positions. You don’t need to know our reasons or tactics for your own safety, you don’t want to get pulled too deeply into this. All you need to know is, if you work for us“, he tossed his dog-end in the ashtray, "you will work only for us. And if you only work once for us, you will still always work for us. You become a part of the company and cannot leave its confines.“ As if I had a choice in the matter.
I went to give a retort but he interrupted me. "You’ll be paid well, that's not an issue. I'll see you on Monday for further instructions“, he stood up and headed back to his office. "And what if I decide that I don’t want to work for you?“ I piped up sharply. The most dangerous man in Birmingham stopped in his tracks. He turned around and his eyes seemed to pierce my skin. "And why would you make such a decision?“, he demanded. "In my business I am usually free to do anything I want“, I said with insistence. Mr. Shelby came as close as he could, trying to force me backwards like a cowardly being. But I would not give in and refused to take a step back. He eyeballed me again. "I understand that your mother taught you about independence after your father's death. And that’s one of the reasons why I chose you and not some idiotic prick that isn’t able to see beyond things that happen at the courses. But I won’t repeat myself." He took a step backwards, pointing towards me before continuing, "I want you to know this will be a legitimate partnership; but I am not here to answer all your questions, you need to be careful what you do or say in this company. The only thing you are free to do is to decide how far you fall into this world. Remember that every deviation from ignorance has it’s price“. He paused before informing me more, "You’ll be available any time. Be here on Monday at 10 o’clock, John will take you to our stables.“ Thomas Shelby turned around and vanished in his office. Right after the door was closed, John Shelby opened his. "Believe me“, he mumbled with a cigar in his mouth, "It’s even more stressful to be related to him.“ My eyebrows shot in the air and I was surprised to find myself smiling. "Come on, love! I’ll drive you wherever you want.“ I thanked him and followed him towards the vehicle.

Did I have incorrect preconceptions of the Shelby Brothers? Weren’t they as evil as they were in the stories I'd heard about them? Maybe they handled their business in the same way I dealt with mine. But then I remembered the way Thomas Shelby looked at me. Those disillusioned eyes which seemed to drown in emptiness. They suggested the group had secrets, dark ones. And still, they were the most catching pair I had ever seen.

"Sorry for trying to run from you at the course. I mean, I didn’t know there that we would be working together... or for the rest of my life“, I said to John, muttering the latter part under my breath." John grinned before making a dismissive motion, "Forget it. It's understandable considering our reputation." "So, perhaps we could have a fresh start… I’m Alice.“ I went to give him my hand but after realising what I'd implies I could have easily hit myself again. This was a fucking gangster and I was behaving as if I was on my first date. What the bloody hell was wrong with me? This guy was part of the most dangerous family in Birmingham, it was easy to believe he could kill people, fast and easy. "I—I’m sorry. Forget it, I’m just tired, I had a long day“, I stuttered. My rising heart rate calmed down when I saw John flash me a kind smile. "I know exactly who you are, we’ve been watching you for weeks. There isn’t anything I don’t know about you. From your father's death to your boyfriends heritage and how he's going to propose to you.“ "Fuck. Now I feel naked“, Naturally, I didn't relish the idea of being spied on but there's was something about the way John spoke that made it almost feel like a protective act, that was until the gravity of what he said to be kicked in, "Wait—Jim's going to propose?!" The Shelby just shrugged whilst smirking, offering no further information. John and I walked outside and got in the car. "So you are the youngest one of them?“, I asked as we drove along the Hudson Street. "I'm the youngest lad besides Finn, yes." He explained still staring at the road, "You’ll get to know the rest of the family soon but Arthur is the eldest.“ I frowned, "So why is Thomas running the business?“ John Shelby sighed and bit his lips. "You know“, he seemed to chose his words carefully, "The war left scars. But Tommy came back with a clear prospect of what he wanted. Arthur's wounds are still, infected shall we say. You’ll soon see that this company has clear rules and that nothing is more important than family. Nothing.“ I nodded as he arrived outside my house which he had not needed the directions to, of course. "Thank you“, I stated, stepping out of the car. "I guess I'll see you tomorrow?“ "I guess“, John mumbled and leant out of his window before telling me, "You know, Thomas didn’t tell anybody why he chose you. But it seems his good taste has triumphed again.“ John accelerated the car and left me standing on a beautiful evening in May, asking myself the same question repeatedly. Why the hell did Tommy Shelby pick me to be his jockey? But more importantly; why did I enjoy the prospect of being part in this company so much?

Jim swung open the front door and ran at me before enveloping me in a deep hug. "Oh lord, Ally, where the hell have you been?“, he murmured into my hair. I wasn't sure why but I felt I couldn’t return the embrace. There were so many thoughts and images coursing through my mind. Whenever I closed my own eyes I was haunted by the vision of a pair of sharp blue ones, they always appeared enticing and in them I could see my reflection faltering, slipping into his world.

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Cillian Murphy doing press.

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Tom Hardy and Cillian Murphy on set of Peaky Blinders on March 24, 2017 Liverpool.

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You’re one microscopic cog in his catastrophic plan Designed and directed by his red right hand.

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“- He’s beautiful.

 - It’s a filly.”

[peakyfckngblinders]

“All bets are off”-Chapter 1

Fandom: Peaky Blinders

Ship: Thomas x Reader / Reader x OC

I am not a native speaker so I had three wonderful people that helped me to get over my grammar troubles. Lots of love this time for @sarcastiphonix <3

If you like the story, please let me know! I try to upload at least every week.

Prologue (x)

Chapter 1

"Good boy“, I mumbled, laying my hand on the neck of the huge sorrel I was going to ride at the course today. The eyes of Valerosso were closed and he seemed to enjoy my hands that were resting upon his impressive body. "We are going to relax together after this, I promise. The odds on us are promising today, as are the bets.“ I told him. His rich chocolate eyes gazed calmly at me and for a brief moment I was almost sure he could understood me.

"Ally?“, Jim's voice interrupted, startling me. I turned back towards the horse, speaking softly, "Do you hear that? They're coming to get us now. Let’s get over this hurdle, I promise you, I’ll be with you the entire time“, I whispered in Valerossos ear. "Ally, love, you’re late“, Jim blurted out, showing up around the corner, anxiously pacing. I couldn’t resist it, I had to giggle. After all my years of riding, he still became so nervous whenever I was about to race. The worried young man with raven-black hair and handsome features had kept me laughing everyday for the past few years. Compared to my own past, his life seemed to have always been just as pure as he appeared. You had to look almost microscopically close if you wanted to find his flaws but even then you were left with the feeling that he might be straight out of a fairytale. I closed the gap between us, pulling my arms gently around his neck to give him a kiss. "Keep calm, boy!“, I laughed, "This is my job! And with you, I have my own mojo! Nothing will go wrong!“ Naturally my statement was naive, why did the Lord feel the need to bless me with the greenness of my father? I shall never know. But despite my own unjustified arrogance, not even the smartest man alive could have had imagined how this race would change everything. Jim smiled lightly, placing his hands on my hips. "I love you Alice Humber. And I don’t worry about the course, I worry about all those little fuckers that will try to take a look at you.“ "Oh, they won't get the chance to take one look at me, I’m off the course like lightening once I've finished my race. That’s my structure. I train racing horses, I take the care for them and then I’m off! Would these eyes lie to you, Jim?“ They could. And they just did. Nonetheless, Jim smiled and was soothed by that answer. I truly loved the man but there were things he would not understand. Of course, I never cheated on him but small talk was reserved for my business. After the races you had to be seen to make an appearance in the lodge, new clients would come by themselves then. It was obvious that they were usually rich men who wanted an adventure. They all had to use their fickle minds to figure out that I only intended to ride their horses and not something else. Every one of them suffered from gratuitous arrogance and too much hair wax. Sometimes I felt like a whore when I had to dress myself up after the races. But to remain in the business, games had to be played.

I always took the dress, bundled up in the stable before and went directly to the upper class area for the necessary drinks. While amongst those people I had to remember to repress my inner thoughts and feelings regarding them and their methods of earning money. The key was to constantly keep certain rules in mind while talking to them, acting as a mental bodyguard, concocted from my inner monologue. Never be too interested in their offer, always remember your worth, make them feel like they need you to win, not the other way around. It was almost like an echo of the voice of my father.

As I got out of the car heading towards the track, I could already hear the blare of the narrators. The stands were already filled by several hundred people, the rich distanced from the poor. As expected. Many people were still strolling around the course. Eager children with wide eyes ran across the alleys on their way to the stables. I remembered how enthusiastically I had been on my first visit, not knowing that I would end up in the position I am now. The smell of the fresh cut grass filled the air and diverted the people from the stench smoke that poised their lungs in the streets of Birmingham everyday. The courses were a sophisticated magnet that pulled them away from the grey gaol they resided in. I walked into the stables, changed my clothes and received Valerosso, who had been there awhile and was contently chewing on a carrot. As I stood there, basking in the quiet before the storm, I caught a man looking at me. He stood in the door frame, both hands concealed in the pockets of his long black coat. A silver glint flashed menacingly in the flat cap he wore. He nodded my way and smirked as my face failed to disguise how unsettled he made me feel. 

"For fucks sake…“, I mumbled. What the hell did this prick want from me? I mean, what could the notorious Peaky 'fucking' Blinders need? It was obvious but I still tried to escape my thoughts. Valerosso snorted and I was determined that I first had to do my job before allowing myself to care about other stuff.

The seconds before the start of a race are the worst. You feel the horses growing uneasy, nerves building as they realize where they are. A multitude of cheers from all directions yet all the jockeys focusing intently on the road ahead them. And then there comes a terrifying moment of silence. At least, for one minute, it feels like you're in a world of your own. You notice how the horse sits between your legs, the animals breathing heavy and your breath catching up as you concentrate. So many thoughts run through your mind, voices calling out to you from within, a mirage of worry. But at this moment it all means nothing. Because during it, you aren’t yourself. For this one moment, you are numb, and free. And with the starters gun, you come crashing back down as the haze of anticipation clears from your eyes.

Third place was an adequate achievement for the young age and inexperience of Valerosso. But I found myself unable to celebrate my success. All I was thinking of was how I could leave the courses without falling into the path of any of the Peaky men. Grasping Valerosso's rein tightly, I handed him off to the stable boys. I picked up my walking pace, attempting to make a speedy exit without drawing attention to myself, but my fortune fell short. I had strolled into a man with a distinctive black coat and flat cap. "Damn it! You bloody bastards are everywhere…“, I whined. "Oh, the rumors are true, you really are as charming as they say!“, he smiled at me in dangerous way and I knew it would be wise for me to keep my mouth shut from now on. "May I have the pleasure of escorting you, Mrs. Humber?“ I felt the goosebumps raising at my whole body. He wouldn’t hurt me, surely not in a public place. I mean, if they wanted something from me, they needed me. I told myself to remain calm and vigilant, breathe- just breathe. "Never knew you guys had manners…“, I spat but regretted that directly in the next moment. Fuck, Ally! Why couldn't I restrain myself just once in my life? "Seems like you don’t have any“, he replied but smirked at me. It was hard not to pounce at him for his insults. He was deserving of a few cutting words, he had effectively kidnapped me after all. He took me to a classy black car, making an attempt to be chivalrous by holding the door open for me. Perhaps I was hasty in my judgement. At least he had manners. "Would you kindly tell me, what the Shelbys want from me?“, I asked. "They have an offer for you which you cannot deny.“ Oh. There were clearly two ways he could have meant that. And I guess it was the Peaky Blinders way.

We stopped in front of an average flat in the Watery lane. I soon recognized it as the betting shop of the Shelby Family. My heart felt like it was going to burst from my chest within the following three seconds. "Don’t worry, darling!“, he laughed at me when he saw my face. I sniffed and got out the car, moving to his side. He opened the door to the shop which was usually closed on sundays. Apparently I was a special customer. "Follow me“, he ordered. It seemed to me I was in a central office. Different doors with names ordained on them marked the bureaus of the invincible Shelbys. "Wait here“, the man said, opening the door at the end of the alley, "Our guest is here.“ "Alright, John! Thank you very much.“ I heard scuffles and footsteps, followed by the sound of another man.

I’ll never forget the first time my own eyes reached his. Ice-blue, allowing you to immerse yourself in them every time you had the good fortune to do so. There was, however, darkness contained within them, as if the light of life had ebbed from his gaze. I could only imagine how they would shine when he laughed. My vulnerability only increased when he entered the room, and I knew I was beginning to become involved in something much larger than myself.

[peakyfckngblinders]

“All bets are off”

Fandom: Peaky Blinders

Ship: Thomas x Reader / Reader x OC 

I am not a native speaker so I had three wonderful people that helped me to get over my grammar troubles. Lots of love for @thebakerstreetdragon, @emilysisavath and @sarcastiphonix <3 

If you like the story, please let me know! I try to upload at least every week.

The Prologue 

I've always had a fascination for horses, ever since I can remember.  When I was a child, my mum used to take me to the racecourses.  She didn’t bet. I can't recall a time when she had ever wanted to place her hard earned money in the hands of untrustworthy men.

Maybe it had something to do with my father— by which I mean it had everything to do with my father.  He had been a gambling man causing bills to run high with his card games.  Let’s just say, he never had a winning hand. I was only six years old when he was shot.

I don’t really understand why my mum took me to the racecourses following his death.  Perhaps she had wanted me to see how easily you could lose yourself in the wrong place. Or maybe it was to see how all the people sold their soul, caught in the sweet seduction of winning just once in their life. I guess she just wanted me to stop seeing my father as a naive dreamer.

I could never wrap my head around the greed imbedded in the racing industry. Don’t get me wrong, sometimes it’s the only motivation people have to encourage them to chase their dreams. However, how people managed to lose their composure because of it had remained a mystery to me. It wasn't until the day I slipped into the business myself that it would never let me go again. The people I’ve met, everything they’ve been through                                     and everything they've lost- 

a disrupted family, driven by both greed and unmistakable pride.  Their leader always recognizing that family was his greatest strength.  And even he had to pay for it. Because everything has a price. Call it karma, call it fate; it’s just a fact. I paid my price for falling in love with one of them.

And I would still do everything again.

Sometimes I think that my mum had always known I was going to be a jockey someday.  Maybe she just saw my father in me. Sometimes, I still see him in myself too. She always wanted me to know that the courses were a dangerous place, filled with a lot of horrible people.                                                        Cards were not all people played with here.

It always broke my heart how the horses suffered, so I usually snuck off to the stables after the races. Sometimes I just talked to the horses until I heard the loud commotion of the jockeys and stableboys coming back. There were times I even considered opening their boxes so they could run free. Somedays it is still a tempting thing to do. It's important to acknowledge that I didn't coincidentally become a jockey, the career path began with the death of my aunt who had owned a little farm near Worcester. I was 12 at that time. My mother successfully sold my aunts small home with the profit being enough for my mum to decide to buy me a horse. I wanted her to save the money, but she looked me in the eye and firmly told me that she after experiencing how fast things could change, she didn’t want to regret anything anymore. I believe she lived by that motto until the last days of her life. I fell in love with a black stallion which had been hurt at the races and was on the way to the firing squad. My mum made the offer before they could shoot the lame beast. His name was Deegan, a black thoroughbred with glistening blue eyes as mystifying as the ocean in a darkened light.

There was a definite bond from the beginning which lasted right through until the end.  We trained Deegan to strengthen his muscles on his hurt leg. Our aim was to heal his leg, so he could run free like he did in his younger days. I had known that it wouldn’t be quite the same, but hope, with it's bizarre nature, spurred us both on.

I landed a job at the stables during the war, helping the horses recover from their injuries and preparing them for service. Despite the hurt it brought me to see the injured animals, it was a constant reminder of the necessity of sacrifice.  We needed the money desperately and it was a safe job for the time. A lot of men who had been jockeys during the war fell at Loos, Arras, Somme and the like, the gunfire sparing no man. This led to me finding myself at the racecourse again, age twenty, riding amongst male jockeys as an equal whilst making money for the business I could never really make long lasting friendships with anyone there, due to the continual switching of hands between trainers of both horses and shares in the various companies dominating the area. Although I was often lonely I never really wanted to get in touch with the only constant residents, the Peaky Blinders. I worked at the courses, of course I knew about the bastards and understood the power they held and I felt that they had their hands in things nobody saw and there dealings were not something I wanted to see. 

Besides, it was an unspoken rule that you should never get in touch with them. They’d get in touch with you if they had the desire to. Whether you liked it or not.

[peakyfckngblinders]

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Now you feel what we feel.

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[peakyfckngblinders]

That moment on Peaky Blinders

John : It's fucking freezing in the big room.

Polly : John, mind your language in front of Carl.

Arthur : It's because it's where the fucking booze is kept.

Polly : Arthur, find better words.

Arthur : Yes.

John : When she's drunk, my wife can't speak fucking English.

Polly : John !

John : Fucking right !

Arthur : We go outside and shoot some fucking peasants.

Carl : Fucking peasants !

Ada : Carl ! You can't say things like that.

Polly : Now look what you've done.

[peakyfckngblinders]

[peakyfckngblinders]

[peakyfckngblinders]

Thomas Shelby’s whole life in a nutshell.