#john shelby headcanons

[calummss]

masterlist

requested by the lovely @zablife . thank you for being so patient i feel awful but i hope you enjoy

prompt this was always how it was going to end

‘What is wrong with you?’

‘What’s wrong with me? What the bloody hell is wrong with you?’

‘With me?’ You stopped strutting, stepping towards his face. ‘Me? Are you fucking insane?’

John reached out for your arm, his tight grip making it impossible to walk off, leaving you in his embrace that no longer gave you the same warmth it used to. It was cold and wet, cold and dark. All you wanted was to go home, eat the food your nan had made you and sip a cup of tea by the fireplace as she talked about her golden age. John had apprehended you as you sat inside of the Garrison, patiently waiting for Pete to show up but as the clicking of the clock continued to burn into your head, you had given up and pitifully ordered four shots, all burning the back of your throat and you wiped your lips with saddened eyes.

‘Don’t touch me,’ you tried to pull back, your heels almost making you trip every time you tried to get away from him but he was also the one that saved you from the dirty streets of Small Heath. John had loosened his grip, enough to get rid of the burning sensation on the skin of your arm. His eyes were dark, no joy, no tears, no pain; just soulless.

‘You are mine.’ He growled at you not caring for the people that eyes the scene in front of them.

‘You don’t own me!’

‘You’re mine. Stop going on these stupid dates. Do they know you’re married? That they’re committing adulterous acts against me?’

‘We divorced, John!’

‘There’s no such thing as a divorce, sweetheart,’ he inched his face closer to yours, his hot breath clashing against the cold air. ‘Til death do us part.’

Your eyebrows softened with the released tension of your forehead. Who was he? What happened to John?

‘Pete won’t come.’

‘Why?’ You asked. Each second letting his words settle, his grip on your arm slowly fading as you tilted your head to look at him. Legs barely supporting your weight. ‘What the fuck did you do John? What did you do? Where is he?’

‘Receiving the punishment any man should.’

‘What the fuck did you do?’

‘I shot him in the head and watched all of his blood spill next to him as I watched life leave his eyes, his breathing stop, as he looked at me and realised that the last thing he would see was me.’

You stared at John processing what he said. Going over every word he had just uttered, not realising that your shaking hand had made its way to your lips, anxiously pulling the skin. And then it dawned on you… ‘Freddie, Roy, Kennedy, Albert…they never showed up, they…never returned any of my calls…John, what did you do?…Oh no no no,’ your tears silently fell.

‘Do you think I share what is mine?’

Sobs

‘If you think it was ever going to end any other way you are a stupid girl. This is how it was always going to end. You can run as far away as you want. Date who you want. Kiss who you want. But I will always find you. And I will take back what is mine. Always’

[skxllz]

𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 + 𝐣𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐛𝐲

I feel as if john is the type to display more pda than his brother's. while he isn't too big on hand holding or kissing the back of your hand, he will give you a smooch on the cheek if he excuses himself - or even, to show he appreciates you, he'll slide his hands to your hips and tug you closer before setting his forehead against your own. the way he'd look into your eyes would be enough for anyone to see that you're his and his alone.

now, john is the more flexible one out of his brothers. while arthur and tommy both have a caring side, it takes more effort to pull their loving nature out. for john, I feel, it comes natural - maybe with a bit of a push, but still easier. he's willing to dip you when you the two of you dance, and loves to see that wide smile of yours when he tightens his grip on your waist and pulls you into him. you're kissing him by then, cheeks tinted the slightest shade of red, all while he's cheekily planning in his head on how to made you even redder.

around his family, his acts of affection towards you would come in little bits that you're sure to notice. whether it be a hand to your waist at all times, or him rubbing small circles into your side with his thumb. somehow when you're around, john is just always touching you, but you will never have a complaint leave your mouth about it.

I also see him as the type to pull you close and kiss your temple when he leaves out with his brothers to do some kind of business. It's a sweet and small gesture, but it leaves such an effect on you. he also tends to whisper in your ear how much he loves you, just loud enough for you to hear and you alone - in his line of work, he never knows if he'll make it back to tell you again or not.

in situations where the two of you argue; to make up, john is quick to heist you up by the waist and pin you to the wall. kisses and bites to your neck and chest are his best way of letting you know just how sorry he is, and how much he loves every part of you. later on, he'll apologize in words - explaining, whatever the problem was/is, only to continue to express how much he didn't mean to yell at you and how much he adores your presence.

adding onto that last bit; john will place a hand to your cheek and stroke your soft skin with a back n’ forth movement of his thumb. his touch is warm and inviting, and the act itself is small, yet filled such utter affection for you as he gazes into your eyes. your foreheads will be pressed together; your breathing in sync; his lips hovering just above your own. “ you mean more to me than you'll ever know, ” is the words he always says - and everytime, it soothes your vastly beating heart.

when the two of you are just with one another, john enjoys displaying kisses to your shoulders and over the back of your spine. It always arises laughter from you - and since your giggles are music to his ears, he simply insists he must continue to do so until you can no longer vocalize your enjoyment.

he also loves to run his fingers through your hair. your touch alone reminds him you're still there with him, but to have your soft tresses amongst his fingertips assures him that you wouldn't be going anywhere anytime soon - not as long as he's around.

okay I can think of much more acts of affection for this man, but I'll cut it here just because it's 6:58 am right now where I'm at lol.

[witchthewriter]

𝐁𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝐒𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐛𝐲'𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐞

⤷ female reader, ambiguous race, and any size reader. Requests are open, thank you for reading!  

a/n: thank you to the anon who requested this, I kinda changed it and I’m so sorry it took this long. Love ya 🌻

ESTP

Hufflepuff

Chaotic Neutral

Leo Sun, Gemini Moon, Sagittarius Rising 

SFW🌿

⭑ You first met at your work - the local bakery. 

⭑ The smells from the building hit John like a beautiful ocean wave; pastries, cakes, cookies, pies. (He definitely has a sweet-tooth.)

⭑ And he couldn’t resist the temptations of entering the bakery

⭑ It soon became his favourite place to visit, since the food was good and the service was ... great 

⭑ You bring the Shelby’s fresh baked goods every morning, knowing each of their order; which puts you in everyone’s good books

⭑ They await your arrival every morning, even Tommy, who grumbles that he’s doing some paperwork

⭑ John soon developed a crush on you, which turned into full-on feelings that he couldn’t ignore 

⭑ In your relationship, John shows his love through physical touch. He likes to know that you’re physically near him, and that he can do whatever he pleases with you 

⭑ He’s a loud snorer 

⭑ And when you’re in bed, he’ll end up throwing half his body on top of yours 

⭑ John gets so excited when you bring home left-overs from the bakery

⭑ He gets on well with your family, especially any siblings that you may have

⭑ John is able to bring the energy up in any room he walks in to. That’s one of the reasons why you love him. He can turn any frown upside down

⭑ He probably wouldn’t mind you getting into the family business. But is adamnt that you’re not anywhere near danger, or even potential danger. 

⭑ He gets jealous very easily, and if he sees someone eyeing you than he will literally punch them in the face

⭑ You’re usually the one who wakes up first, and most of the time, you have to wake John up 

⭑ You’re protected because of your association with the Shelby’s. And your business never runs out of customers 

Relationship Tropes:

Dumbass (John) x Oh I Guess That’s My Dumbass (You)

Elusive Chaotic Duo

Partners In Crime

NSFW🔞 minors dni!

⭑ John absolutely loves receiving head; it’s like he’s in heaven. The way your mouth closes around his cock, pushing it further and further down your throat. 

⭑ He whines, not groaning or moaning, but whines. Little whimpers too.

⭑ Very much likes to be dominated

⭑ And would love if you tied him up on the bed and took control

⭑ Will have sex anywhere and everywhere

⭑ “John, your brothers could walk in any second!”

      “So?”

⭑ Doesn’t like sharing and hates the thought of you being with anyone else

⭑ Probably has a corruption kink

⭑ Loves pulling your hair

⭑ And of course, doggy style is his favourite position 

[zablife]

☎️ I wanted to ask if you could give us some headcanons on John as a roommate?🥺💖

Excited to see what you are going to come up with during your celebration, the whole concept sounds phenomenal💕💕

John as a Roommate

*As soon as he arrives on campus, John quickly becomes popular amongst students and professors for his gregarious personality and excellent sense of humor. It seems as though everyone knows John Shelby within a matter of weeks.

*His dorm room is always full of friends. People stop by to say hello all the time making it difficult to get any studying done. 

*His roommate begins living at the library just to find a bit of peace and quiet. John feels badly about this and tries to make up for it by introducing his roommate to pretty girls. It has somehow escaped John’s attention that his roommate doesn’t fancy girls. 

*John is oblivious to many things, but never an incident of bullying. As a Shelby he sees it as his duty to keep the peace and steps in whenever a fellow student is in trouble. 

*Girls throw themselves at John, but are quickly disappointed to learn he is loyal to one woman, Esme. As John spends more time with her he learns the importance of being domestic.

*His roommate appreciates his efforts to be neater, cook and do laundry. For the first time all year, their room smells of spring rain instead of gym socks. And everyone on their hall is genuinely shocked when John begins to bring homemade brownies to study sessions. Although they are laced with drugs. 

*John is not a strong student, but he does put in a decent amount of effort. He can’t stand the thought of letting the family down. His weekend trips to the pub don’t assist his efforts, but it does help him build connections within the community which strengthen the position of Shelby Co. Limited. 

*When he graduates, the family silently rejoices because no one thought the day would come. Further education is out of the question, but his accomplishment is celebrated with much fanfare. 

[peaky1wh0re]

Smash.

[pacifymebby]

Bonjour daddy 😉 can I request the peaky boys with cuddling? Like who’s the big spoon, which positions who’s the most cuddly etc.. me has gotten her period so I’m feeling all 🙍🏼‍♀️

Hahaha a total side note, i made that same joke to b and he just smirked like, if thats what you'd like to believe I won't ruin ur moment haha

Tommy

🌿 Is very big on the standing up cuddle, opening his arms up to you and holding you nice and snug against his body, wrapping his arms right around you, one hand stroking through your hair or cradling the back of your head.

🌿Will rest his chin on top of yours, kiss your parting and close his eyes, breathing in your scent

🌿Is a very doomed man and is always lowkey aware that every hug could be the last time he gets to hold his angel so every hug is savoured. He focuses on memorising exactly how he feels in the moment he's holding you, every detail filed away in his memory.

🌿He likes to be big spoon, but more than that he likes to lie on his back with your body on top of his.

🌿Drawing patterns down your back quietly, again trying to remember every detail. Obsessed with the sensation of your light restful breaths tickling his bare chest

🌿Loves the skin on skin feeling, always chasing purity in love and it makes him feel so connected to you, so intimate.

🌿 When you're on your period he recognises the change in your temper and is very careful with you, he will try not to snap at you or show any sign of irritation because he's aware how easily wounded you are... He makes sure to hug you and hold you even more than usual

🌿Modern! Tommy would make sure you had a hot waterbottle and all the blankets you needed, get you cosy in bed or on the sofa in front of the tv to watch your favourite movie. He'll humour whatever trash you want to watch and lie there behind you, kissing you and playing with your hair, more focussed on you than the tv.

Alfie

🐻 Big spoon always because he just wants to hold you, wants to be able to put his hands wherever he likes.

🐻 Likes to hold you in sexual places in a non-sexual way. What I mean by this is that if you're little spoon he'll hold one of your breasts in his hand, but just that, simply holding it just because he can... And not because he wants anything more than just to hold you

🐻 Also likes to tickle you on purpose with his beard, his stubble brushing your cheek or your neck, making you giggle and squirm rousing you from your sleep for just long enough he can ask for a kiss.

🐻 His favourite place to cuddle with you however is in a rocking chair by the fire, you bundled up in his lap under a blanket, him holding you safe and snug, your head resting on his chest or shoulder. You're the most precious thing in the world to him so he likes to have you bundled up in his arms at any opportunity.

🐻 You could be busy around the house talking to him about your day or mithering and worrying, or asking him about business and he will refuse to talk to you about any of it until you've gone and sat down in his lap. He'll pat his thigh and open his arms for you, "now now zieskiet, whatve I told you eh, if you're gonna come home talkin me poor old ears off about that nonsense you've at least got to let me hold my little girl whilst I listen eh... Take pity on your old man yeah poppet?"

🐻 Very possesive, can't keep his hands off you ever so when you're cuddling he's constantly rubbing his palms over your arms, or holding your thigh, always doing little things to let you know he's there, that youre all his and he's got you.

🐻 Gives big squeezy bear hugs holds onto you so tight, keeps your face burried into his chest, blocks out the rest of the world so that all you can feel his him all around you.

🐻 Alfie's too old to be immature about your period and if anything he feels a little sorry for you, he doesnt like that he can't do much to help you but he always makes sure he's very gentle with you. Even more doting than usual.

🐻 Gives the best belly rubs, like he ubderstands that you need to do more than just rub your hands lightly over your tummy. He'll rub his hands together to heat them up first and then gently massage you until you're feeling a little better.

🐻 Modern Alfie wouldn't be embarrassed about going to shops to get your pads but he also wouldn't be going... He'd be sending Ollie so that you and him could have a good laugh at Ollie expense.

Arthur

🍂 Doesn't realise until one day you climb into bed after him and make yourself big spoon, wrapping your body around his, nuzzling into the back of his neck and kissing down the bumps of his spine, kissing his shoulder too, but he loves being little spoon.

🍂 It makes him feel so safe and loved, makes him feel cherished which is a very new feeling for him, not one he's ever experienced in adult life.

🍂 He loves being able to close his eyes and feel your fingers scratching and massaging his head. You like stroking the backs of your fingers along his jaw where his stubble is.

🍂 He doesnt admit that he loves this for a long time though, and you never ask about it because you know that if you do he'll get embarassed and deny it and then potentially never let you hold him again.

🍂Feels almost ashamed that he likes it because he's the man, so isn't he supposed to be the one making you feel loved and cherished and safe?

🍂 Blushes when you prop yourself up on your elbow looking down at him, leaning down to kiss his cheek.

🍂Will fall asleepy like that so quickly because its the safest he's ever felt.

🍂 He will however insist upon being big spoon at certain times of the month or when youre feeling unwell. He won't know how to deal with your period at all, he'll only know that youre more argumentative and that he has to be careful not to start a fight with you...

🍂 Doesnt like seeing you cry and you cry at everything when youre on your period so he will spend a lot of time hugging you close to him so that no one can see your tears. Leaves those long held kisses in your hair and you feel protected by him for as long as his lips remain pressed to your head.

🍂 Modern Arthur definitely gets embarassed about having to go to the shops for period pads, like, he definitely panics doesnt know what to buy, goes red, feels like he has to say something at the till even though he really doesn't need to.

John

🌼 Favourite way to cuddle you is to start by tackling you to the ground, play fighting or tickling you. Its like he can't just ask for a hug he has to play a game or trick you into it first...

🌼 Because he loves holding you and cuddling you and he loves kissing you too but he doesn't really know how to persue non-sexual affection without laughing it off and being unserious? The boy just wants a cuddle with his flower but he doesn't know how to ask because cuddling is "soft"

🌼 Definitely big spoon. Similar to Alfie, likes to have possesion of you, when youre wrapped up in his arms youre completely at his mercy and he can do whatever he likes to/with you.

🌼 Loves to tickle you and feel how with nowhere else to go you scramble and squirm further into his hold. And if he makes you jump even better because they you flinch and reach for something to hold onto, so you end up gripping his shirt or throwing your arms around his neck and clinging onto him just the way he likes it.

🌼 Isn't very good at tummy rubs alas, but thats because he can't get his head around the idea that pressing on your tummy when its sore, will help make you feel better "won't that just hurt more?"

🌼 Gives you lots of kisses though, will try to tease and tickle you to make you laugh and smile to distract you from the pain. I guess his cuddle style is playful.

🌼 Loves a naked skin to skin cuddle the best, likes to hold your bare body in his arms and draw patterns all over your skin as you fall asleep.

🌼 Lets you bite him very gently on the shoulder mid hug (one for the girls if u know u know)

🌼 9 times out of 10 cuddles with John lead elsewhere... Like, cuddling definitely puts john in a certain kinda mood

🌼 Oh you just wanted a nice sleepy cuddle? It might start off that way but after a minute or two of having his body pressed up against yours his minds wandered to... Places

🌼 Definitely does stuff like "got ur nose" just as you're drifting off and relaxing.

🌼 Surprisingly serious about your period, perhaps he wouldn't have been once, as a younger lad he'd have teased you or told you off for even telling him about that.

🌼 But he's a man now and he firmly believes real men need to take care of their woman, so he'll make sure you have everything you need. Will pretend to be embarrassed about having to go to the shops to get your period pads or whatever but actually doesn't care at all. He's only teasing you, trying to make you laugh at him by pretending to get really flustered about it.

🌼 His favourite thing to do is pick you up, sling you over his shoulder and then throw you down on the bed to cuddle you.

Bonnie

🍀 The cuddliest sweetheart you can imagine, always finding an excuse to give you a hug, always coming up behind you and making you jump when you're concentrating on something else, he'll wrap his arms around your waist and nuzzle into your neck, kiss your shoulder, just rest his chin on your shoulder or have his cheek pressed against yours.

🍀Loves having you sitting in his lap and will always choose a table at the Garrison with not enough seats for everyone so that he has an excuse to pull you into his lap. Really does just like to have a hold on you at all times. Even if you're not talking or interacting in any other way. He just likes to be physically near you.

🍀 Definitely similar to John, play fights, chases around the house/fields always just as an excuse to get his hands on you.

🍀Always pulls you in for a hug when you first see eachother/say hello. Will give you the tightest squeeze and lift you up off your feet.

🍀Loves carrying you, your legs around his waist, you holding onto him nice and tight, dependent on him.

🍀Dreams dreams dreams of the day you've lots of wee kids to cuddle with, the five of you getting huddled up and cosy in mammy and daddys bed for a bedtime story.

🍀When its you and him all cuddled up in bed for the night he likes to either be big spoon or have you asleep on his chest, his hand resting on your back. He often gets worried about the home being broken into or an attack in the middle of the night so he feels most comfortable when you're right there sleeping as close to him as possible. Means he can know you're safe as can be and he can be there to protect you.

🍀Loves naked cuddles, skin on skin, legs tangled, feels so close and warm and intimate and he's so in love with you, so devoted to you that he craves that closeness and only feels complete when he has you in his arms and he can feel your heartbeats sinking up.

🍀Will hold you/spoon you all night!!!! You will wake up wrapped in his arms and if you need to get out of bed for anything in the night sorry but Bonnie will not be letting you go without a fight. Loves to hold your head burried in his chest.

🍀 Probably not phased by your period and if he is he isn't going to show it at all. Doesn't like you being in pain at all and he's very good at giving you back massages and tummy rubs. He also knows that theres another way to help with period pain and he isn't scared of touching you when its your time of the month. (Bonnie and Aberama are the only two peaky men I think would finger you when you're on your period tbh, tommy might but I'm not entirely sure?)

🍀 Modern bonnie sends you a photo of the period aisle at rhe shops because he's confused but determined to get the exact right things for you.

🍀 He's always lowkey dissapointed when you get your period because that means no babies

Isaiah

🐀I think it probably takes him awhile to get particularly cuddly and affectionate. For all I imagine he's a tactile, flirtatious playboy type, I don't think he knows how to just hug it out or have soft sleepy cuddle you know?

🐀You probably initiate most of the cuddles, and he always tries to pull away before you're ready too, so you have to grip him extra tight and put up a fight...

🐀But then he gets a taste for that, feels good how you practically beg him for just a hug... You always ask him "Saiah can I have a hug please?" because unless you tell him you want to be hugged he won't think to do it... But he LOVES hearing you ask for that. "Saiah I wanna hug" when you're tired and whiny. He sometimes denies you just to make you ask again. "Say please love..." "God what am I to you? A fuckin hug dispenser?"

🐀He's always big spoon, because he's a fragile masculinity adolescent... He hasn't grown out of the complex of needing to be the man, so he's always the one cuddling you... He won't ever let anyone think he enjoys all that soft shit...

🐀But when no one is around he's actually very cute and sweet to you. Nose kisses all the time. A secret fan of the penguin kiss (where u rub noses idk?)

🐀I think he learns to be affectionate with you over time and is cuddly but mostly only in private. You have mastered the "hug me" eyes now and if you get them just right and you sit there looking at him like that for long enough he'll say "Right.. You've brought this on yourself y/n" as if you're in serious trouble, then he'll march over and sit himself in your lap squishing and crushing you until you can't breath for laughing. Only then will he give you a proper hug - but the cuddles are worth the torment you have to go through first.

🐀As bad, if not worse than john on the horny cuddler front. Is genuinely so confused about how he's supposed to tangle you up like that, bundled up against his chest so that every part of his body can feel every part of your body pushing against him, and not get turned on... A nice peaceful cuddle can become pretty heated pretty quickly. He'll feign innocence (sometimes he won't and he'll just slip his hand into your underwear and take you buy surprise) all his little caresses and kisses seemingly innocent at first but really, not at all...

🐀When it comes to your period Isaiah pretends he's man enough not to care, he'll screw his face up all "ew no way y/n fuck no..." then crack a grin and make out like he was only teasing you, but secretly he feels really awkward about it and doesn't know what to do. He'll panic at the shop, get annoyed when he buys the wrong thing and you send him back. But he's trying, he wants to be a good boyfriend so over time he'll do his best to learn.

Michael

☘️ Secret cuddler...

☘️ You have to work so hard to get him to trust you but once you secure his trust (once he knows you aren't going to laugh at him or tell his brothers what a sook he is) he will reveal his soft side to you and oh my god is he soft

☘️ He loves cuddling and being cuddled. Bug spoon, little spoon, sitting in an arm chair, picking you up and swirling you round, carrying you to bed for more cuddles, having you lie on his chest, him lying on your chest (secretly his favourite way to cuddle) any cuddling at all, he loves it

☘️ But his favourite is definitely lying with his head to your breast, your hand in his hair maybe giving him head scratches or playing with his hair, your legs closed around his body so that he's completely secure. He could fall asleep here so easily. He loves it. Especially after a hard day at the office or when his cousins are being particularly demanding.

☘️ He loves to cuddle you too, loves being big spoon when you're naked in bed, likes getting to hold you anyway he wants. Your legs tangled together, perhaps one of his hands holding your hands, kissing your shoulder, your neck, between your shoulder blades. He loves waking up in that position after a nap, the two of you nuzzled into one another.

☘️ Isn't awkward about you getting your period as such, he doesnt think its gross but he's very concious of social taboos so if you come right out complaining about period pain or saying that you've accidentally bled on your dress he'll turn such a bright shade of red. You always forget and it always makes you laugh.

☘️ Gets annoyed when you tease him about it

☘️ Is very worried that youre in pain. Worried too that you'll lose too much blood. It takes a lot to explain to him that you're not going to bleed out on your period...

☘️ Tries to dote on you but gets overwhelmed by all the demands and the things you need. Because he's so worried about getting things wrong or upsetting you.

☘️Won't give good tummy rubs or massages because he's too scared he'll hurt you. Will run you a hot bath and wash your hair for you.

[pherelesytsia]

Who did this to you? - 8

Pairing: Thomas Shelby x female/Reader

Summary: Bruised and broken, Y/N, trapped in a loveless marriage, arrives at her best friend's house, desperately hoping someone will help her, aware she cannot return to the estate of her husband.

Warning: fear, anxiety, Angst, swearing 

Word Count: 2.3k

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part6 Part 7 Part 9

The clouds wandered on, a lonely wanderer travelling across oceans and meadows, hills and rugged mountains painted in snow. White greyed, darkened and blackened, turned into pure doom, darker than black. The wind howled, screamed and screeched and the branches, crooked fingers, waltzed in all directions.

Silence blanketed the car driving down the path bordered by fields and trees, but it was not unpleasant, cruel, forcing nonsense to fall to shatter it. Shocked, Y/N noticed with widened eyes they had arrived at the open gates of the estate she called her home. At a rapid pace, the car drove on and on, past other parked cars and parked between them in different shades of the deep ocean. The motor wasn't roaring, turned off and the chanting of the birds sitting in one line on the lowest branch invaded the car smelling of alcohol, petrol and leather. The wind knocked on the automobile. Polly gulped, turned and rested her hand graced by a golden ring cautiously, almost shyly, on Y/N´s lap, but the shivering and shaking woman painted in blue and red, lightened by streaks of purple, did not flinch nor speak her mind. Carefully Polly´s fingers slid across Y/N´s calf and pulled the thick fabric higher to hide the exposed skin. Polly pronounced her name and pulled Y/N out of the dark and dreary thoughts, summoning goosebumps all over her flesh.

            "Thomas is fine. He knows what he's doing. Nothing will happen to him." Polly assured calmly, guessing the reason for the fear in the widened eyes and sweaty palms.

Faintly Y/N smiled.

            "I know, but I'm worried about him. About Poppy. There was blood, too much blood. I thought it was the new wallpaper she had told me about. They, she and her mother, redecorated the house. The pattern, it looked like flowers, large and smaller dots." she replied.

Exhaling, Y/N closed her eyes veiled by tears once fixed on the distance, watching the sun, the rays breaking through the travelling clouds heralding a day full of terror.

            "I'm sure your friend is fine, too. Thomas will take care of her." the woman continued with a gentle, encouraging smile on her features, kissed by the orange rays.

Polly cleared her throat. The smile fainted, and the wrinkles deepened. She didn't need to search for the right words, had already pictured during the ride what she would say to Y/N if their paths should cross, but all Polly wanted to say had dissolved, had lost its meaning.

            "We're home Y/N/N. Ada is waiting, but before we go inside, I want you to know that we are sorry. We have not been good to you, to put it nicely. Please forgive us and I speak on behalf of the whole family. John was the one who opened the door for your friend. After we realised what had happened, we were looking for you. I hope you will give us a second chance even if we don't deserve one. We will understand if you want to leave. We won't hate you for your decision." Polly continued and squeezed Y/N´s hand.

Y/N turned, ignoring the nearly unignorable pain trying to elicit a hiss from her, and turned to face Polly. She wanted to start a sentence; lips parted, but no tone escaped the sore throat. Y/N stared past Polly towards the door, flying back and forth in the fresh morning breeze. Ada ran towards the car as if chased by a ghost, had left the door wide open, ran on tiptoes and hissed and cursed like a witch as the stones dug deep into the soles of her reddening feet. The hem of the dress danced in the breeze. Gasping for air, Ada spread the large checked blanket, usually resting on the floor next to the sofa. The wind painted her cheeks vibrant red, lighter than her evening gown.

            "Come, Y/N/N, we will protect you." Polly assured in a calm, slightly quivering voice, but Y/N heard no falseness, no lie in it.

Y/N could not utter a reply. The air, hinting of winter, invaded the car. The women shivered and balled the hands into fists. Ada hushed a greeting, spread the blanket, glanced at the wounds gracing Y/N´s body, down on the battered feet and the shivering limbs. The pain in her chest deepened at the sight of the shadow of a woman, read in her eyes what she had been through. The lip was chapped. The traces of a fight were evident on her cheek and throat. Ada tossed the blanket over her shoulder, noticing Y/N was covered in one. Wordlessly Ada helped Y/N out of the car. Soft curses blurred with whimpers. Whispering soothing words, Ada pulled Y/N away, closer to the house, kicking the door of the automobile shut and gesturing for Polly to pursue. 

            "I've prepared a bath for you. I'll help you upstairs. If you don't want to bathe, I can put a bucket of water next to the sofa. You can at least warm your feet." Ada said.

With every step, every slight movement Y/N made, the once brilliant white material slipped and revealed more wounds, swellings, and darkening spots not fading in the golden tide of the sun's rays, but grew even darker. Blue turned to green, lit by purple flashes and red veins carrying blue blood. Patiently Ada waited, and stared back at Polly, walking hastily after the women.

            "Thank you. I think the bucket will do. Maybe I'll get in the tub later." Y/N replied meekly, as if speaking to her mother, fearing the answer would enrage her, but none of what she expected happened.

The chilly breeze blew through Y/N´s hair one last time. The door slammed shut, and the keys jingled, chanted a song that faded quickly. All doors were closed and locked. Curtains touched. The first aid box, not battered, holey neither with a worn handle nor dented corners, rested open on the table. Scissors, and spotless bandages lay next to bottles of high-proof alcohol, freshly washed not dried glasses, cigarettes and silver needles drowning in alcohol. Blankets covered the sofa, to which Ada led Y/N and a down pillow. The white porcelain bowl graced by blue vines and flowers was in the middle of the crowded table. Smoke rose from the cup, sweet lavender, and banished the unmistakable stench of blood and gore.

            "May I offer you some soup?" the question was unnecessary, asked out of politeness.

Y/N turned into a tree, rooted deep into the ground, not moving. Her arms swayed forward. Questioningly, the two Shelby's exchanged glances, searching for the reason for the fear in Y/N´s eyes, unable to find it, but then, after a moment that seemed not to pass, Ada took a step forward, let go of Y/N, took the polished pistol and hid it under the table, still handy but out of Y/N´s sight. Polly placed her hands down on Y/N's shoulders, trying not to cause her any more pain, let the blanket slide to the floor and carefully pressed the young woman down on the sofa. Ada wriggled back towards them, took the blanket still hanging over her shoulder and laid it down on Y/N's legs, covering them, reached for the pair of fluffy socks, wiped away the dirt, small stones, dust and dried mud, and put the socks on Y/N´s feet.

            "It's okay." Ada breathed before Y/N could protest.

Smiling, Ada looked up, wiped her hands on her long dress, picked up the bowl filled with soup and placed it carefully in Y/N's lap, handing her the silver spoon.

            "Here, Y/N/N, eat. I'll fill you a bucket with warm water in the meantime. Polly will keep you company. If you need anything, if you feel sick, all you have to do is tell us and we will help you. You are still in shock." Ada said in a calm voice.

Gulping, Ada crouched next to Y/N.

            "We should have taken you into our family. I am sorry, we are all very sorry. It's understandable that you don't want to see us, you have enough reasons to hate us. The only thing I can do is to promise that we will do better. If you need time, I have a friend. She owns a small cottage a few miles away from town. There is a pond and a small forest. It's lovely. I could arrange that you could spend a few days or weeks there." Ada continued.

Y/N merely nodded, unsure of what to say, not knowing how to respond, and kept on smiling. The two women watched Ada as she rose from the ground like a phoenix from the ashes and strode away. Polly leaned closer to Y/N, tidied the blanket and hinted that she should eat, that it would do her good. A soft thanks escaped Y/N, smiled at the women who wordlessly indicated that she should finally start eating and so Y/N did, dipping the silver cutlery into the depths of the bowl whose end she could not see, watching the thinly chopped vegetables slip from the spoon and as the warm liquid flowed down her throat, Y/N realised how hungry she was and ate greedily.

Time had lost its meaning. Y/N had emptied the contents of the bowl. The last piece of sliced carrots had disappeared, yet she did not place it on the table, continued to warm her fingers on the ceramic bowl.

Heels clicked against the dark wood, had put shoes a hue darker than the evening dress. Cautiously, Ada continued walking with her eyes fixed on the troubled waters, fearing the warm liquid was about to spill over the golden rim. A towel, white with a few washed-out stains, hung over her right shoulder, the towel she always used when a brother standing on the edge of the world was carried inside the house. The floorboards groaned, and Ada stopped and noticed Y/N had finished the soup she had cooked for her.

Out of the corner of her eye Polly noticed how Y/N´s eyes were growing heavy and she leaned forward, took the bowl and placed it on the table. The young woman wanted to protest as Polly told her to rest, to say that she had to stay awake, that she wanted to wait for the return of the brothers and her husband.

            "No, Y/N, lay down. You can stay with us or you can go to the bedroom. We will keep watch and if you need anything, you can call us.", "Polly, we should take care of Y/N's wounds first." Ada interjected.

            "That won't be necessary. That can wait. Alfie has taken care of her wounds it's just dirt and scratches. The wounds are not life threatening. Y/N rest, close your eyes. I promise I will wake you up if Thomas is home." she replied.

Carefully Polly pushed Y/N backwards. Her heavy, throbbing head sunk into the pillow. Closing her eyes, Y/N sighed in relief, exhaled as the blanket fell down on her body. Birds chirped, the howling ceased and lulled her to sleep.

            Polly leaned forward happily and noticed Y/N had fallen asleep.

            "Thomas told me that Alfie has taken care of Y/N. No deep wounds or else I would have taken her to the hospital. We can take care of it later." Polly reported.

Ada rose, set the bowl aside on the table, sighed deeply, nodded, listened to the woman and turned to the fireplace, the blazing flames feasting on the wood and fed by the howling air hinting of winter.

            "She was beaten up. I didn't see any bullet wounds. Did Thomas tell you what happened or who is to blame?", "He has a guess, but he couldn't tell me anything specific. It all happened too fast. The gang has Y/N's girlfriend in their grip. At least that's what he thinks. The house was trashed, destroyed, and I think I saw bloodstains on the floor." she breathed softly.

Her eyes kept sliding to the slumbering figure, kept glancing at her right side and noticing with relief that Y/N was still asleep, her eyelids neither twitching nor her lips twisting into a pained grimace.

            "Alfie's going to show up any minute. Thomas called him. He fears someone might pay us a visit." Polly whispered in Ada's direction.

Ada perked up, grinned, felt the weight of her weapon at her side, settled down in front of the blazing flames, gnawing on wood and fed by air on the armchair, threw the pillow to the floor on her side and crossed her arms in front of her body.

            “We don’t need someone to protect us.” Ada stopped.

A soft knock silenced Ada. The women exchanged glances. The rustling, and shuffling of shoes and feet, softly uttered words, the closing of the door and the jingling of keys followed by low grumbles couldn’t awake Y/N from her deep slumber, lying on the sofa, a princess in the shadow of the vigilant dragons.

TagList:

witchymoonbabe secretdreamlandmentality mysticalpandora kittiowolf210 muhahaha303 dreamy-caramel elinalfrida violet-19999 niyah834 watersquirtpewpewboomm piceous21 elliaze heidimoreton literishdegree99 globetrotter28 thecrazytealady regulusblacksimpsblog torresbarnes nightgirl250 sweet-angely05 allthenamestakenwtd

hellomyweirdos mysticalbouquetwolf-posts batmanbiersack02-blog fulla02 regulusblacksimpsblog  smile-sugar calsjack starry-night-reid chlorrox regulusblacksimpsblog 100percentlazybonez kenny-0909 diabolusdevia stuckinmylittlebubble  hobothejuggalo camomiletangeringe v7nt7

kiara-rose-blackthorn rangerelik abaker74 madsothree kittiowolf210 lucyandersons-world marigold-morelli meyocoko angelicwolfyqueen iwanttohitmyself pennywisesstuff batgurl42 sleepymadmess lolcaca yolobloggers lor-16 randomgirlwriting rs-fanfiction-2001 bohemian-lavender-girl woofgocows evilangel1324 mrkdvidal1989 nervousmumbling camomiletangeringe tommystargirl toxicenough deadunicorn159 nnercreationflower liar-or-lawyer optimisticsandwichgladiator comfortzonequeen nctma15 banksmars twistxdx inloveppp answer-the-sirens justanotherficreader nunya7394 lovemissyhoneybee lostgirl219 yourbloodyqueen

[f4iryd1mple]

Alright yall its time for peaky blinders sex headcanons 😟 18+ mdni!

Pls forgive me if this is bad im new at this😭

(Mi numero uno esposo🫦) tommy: -mating press kinda guy (yall saw him fuck grace)

-kinda vanilla ngl but he has a complex and has a praise kink (both ways)

-doesn’t necessarily LOVE doing it with silence in the background but he likes the sounds you make enough to tolerate silence

-this man would kill to have you cockwarm him during meetings (bot family meetings normal ones lol)

-loves head both ways

-69

-kind of an exhibitionist but like to show off that he scored the hot sexy desired amongst all in Birmingham y/n 🤭

-gives hella hickeys

(Mi numero dos esposo pero lo amo tanto <3) JOHN SHELBYYY

[btw if my spanish is ass tell me its been way to long for me]

-BREEDING KINK!!!

-loves the mating press for this reason

-loves the idea of you carrying his child

-fingers you to the end of the earth its

-unless he’s like suuuppppppeeeerrr horny he will try to make you cum on his fingers at least once

-didnt know he liked eating people out until he met you

-i saw this corn video earlier and he fingered the girl and ate her out then did a mating press so that reminded me oh John

-cuddles are mandatory after unless it gets interrupted he enjoys a few minutes of the nonsexual intimacy of cuddles

-gets horny from you in general

Last but not least ARTHUUURRRR SHEEELLLBBBYYYY

-rough fucking is the only fucking with this man

-its just his nature he tries to be gentle but fails

-loves watching you gasp when he fucks you

-above average dick size so its easy to make you scream for him

-this man knows where the clit is🗣️

-he may seen like he wouldnt know on the outside at times but he loves pussy

PLSSS give me some ideas! I do most fandoms

[heavencanbeaprisontoo]

The Other Shelby Girl

Platonic!Shelby Siblings x reader

Headcanon/Imagine for a second Shelby Sister. Explores dynamics with each sibling based on of the reader were their older or younger sibling.

Warnings: Fluff, angst, mentions of war, violence, period-typical sexism, over-protective sibling drama.

Arthur

Older Sister:

You are the third most respected woman in Arthur’s life, which is greater than it sounds. First was Mum, then Polly. To be succeeded only by Polly in Arthur Shelby’s eyes is precious. He’s always looked up to you, but didn’t always show it. After the war, Arthur would come to rely on you heavily for emotional support. There were nights he would come to your home and no be able to speak. Where he would seem to turn back into a little boy, crying into your shoulder as he begs you not to speak of this to the others. When Arthur met Linda, you were one of the few to be supportive. You are Arthur’s greatest advocate, but his pride and Tommy’s influence make it hard to help him. When you have a family of your own, it’ll only make things harder. You often feel like you have to take sides. Still, you do what you think is best.

Younger Sister:

Depending on just how young you are, Arthur might try to put on like he’s your Dad. Arthur doesn’t always know how to talk to you. You’re just a young woman, he doesn’t feel like he can talk to you the way he does with John or Tommy. He wants to tease you and pick on you as he would with Finn, but he can’t. The moment you hit out your bottom lip and look like your feelings got hurt, Arthur is a flustered mess of a guilty brother. You might resist his attempts at being fatherly, or welcome them. Regardless, you can see that Arthur just wants you to know he’s a safe space for you. Maybe if you ask him nice enough, he’ll teach you how to draw horses like he used to. No matter how old you get, Arthur is the brother that still sees you as a little girl.

Thomas

Older Sister:

Before the war, Tommy only saw you as someone who nagged at him. The meddling older sister warning him away from throwing curses at people and fighting with the cops. After the war, you became something far more delicate than that. You became something like his conscience. That pleading voice that begged for peace and forgiveness that grows fainter every year. As adults, you swear sometimes he hates you. The way he disregards you and keeps you at arm’s length. In actuality, he’s only trying to avoid the shame your hopeful gaze gives him. It was you who tried to get the brothers to hide from the draft. It was you who told him getting involved in London affairs would be dangerous. You who told him not to accept anything from the Russians. You were always right. Always good. He also feels he must protect you because you know him when he was soft and weak. Aside from Polly, you’re the last person who ever heard him laugh.

Younger Sister:

He lumps you in with Ada without really meaning to. You and Ada are both younger, and are both girls. As such, you both have similar problems that have his head aching and his trigger finger itching. Two pretty girls tend to attract a lot of scummy men. You’re both so stubborn about not needing anything from him, which is bloody absurd. Of course you need his help. Whatever money you’re making doing legitimate work isn’t going to be enough to keep you safe. You have never gone on a single date without someone Peaky Blinder watching you. Arthur tries to give advice like he’s your dad, and Tommy drops rules on you like he’s your dad. He has absolutely said the phrase, “And where are you going dressed like that?” Tommy will kill your ex-boyfriends if asked, he already knows why you want them dead and he agrees. The only thing he likes more than you accepting his help is hearing you admit he was right.

John

Older Sister:

He is the little brother who reads your diary and eats your food after being told not to. As a kid, John was Hell on legs. As an adult, John is still Hell on legs but with children. Growing up, you spent a lot of time picking John up from police stations and headmaster offices. John stresses you out like he’s being bloody paid for it. But, he loves you dearly and you forgive him more often than you should. John has called you “Mum,” as a joke many times but it’s not quite a lie. As an adult, he is far more respectful towards you. He is one to bow his head when you lecture him about fatherhood and how his drinking is going to harm his children. John respects you enough to take his cap off when he enters your home. However, he’ll still gobble down any treats you’ve left out in the kitchen and have the audacity to say, “What?!” When you shout at him for it.

Younger Sister:

John will not only read your diary and eat your snacks, but he will loudly announce your crush the moment he finds out. Any reluctance Arthur has about picking on you is nonexistent in John. He is a fully grown man who is unafraid to tease you with schoolyard chants in public spaces. Has walked into your room while you were reading just to slap something off of your desk and run. John has spent so long as the younger brother, he has to get his kicks where he can. That said, nobody better say anything rude to you. Ever. One time, a mate of his simply repeated a mean name he had called you and John slugged him for it. Nobody is allowed to annoy you but him. John is obnoxious in an almost biblical sense, but he is the one to see you cry and ask: “Who did that to you.”

Ada

Older Sister:

Yet another sibling to boss her around. Excellent! Ada is one who would resist you trying to take care of her. She doesn’t want to hear your advice! She doesn’t need it! Until her first heartbreak and then she’s sobbing on your bed waiting for you to come home. Ada hates to feel dependent on others, but she does trust you. There’s something special about having a sister. You understand each other in a way your brothers never will. The fear that builds as a man walks a few yards behind you out in the streets at night. How every romance has that bitter taste as you think about all that you’ll lose if you were to get married. Ada gets her best advice from you, but you’re also her security. You were probably the one to start taking her to the movie theater. It’s likely that Ada imitates you subconsciously. When you got your hair bobbed, so did Ada. When you started wearing heels, so did Ada. She denies it, but it’s obvious that she follows your lead.

Younger Sister:

Might be a sad thing to say, but Ada didn’t think much of you until she had Karl. You were just this clinging little sister that everyone thought she was supposed to take care of. All you did was follow her about town and put your nose where it didn’t belong. Tommy probably found out about her and Freddie through you. You don’t mean to be annoying, you’re just lonely. Ada couldn’t see that until she had a child and a home away from Small Heath. The dynamic flips hard when Ada comes back to Small Heath. Ada is all about leading you in “the right direction,” and is very serious about your education. She essentially begs Tommy to set aside money for you to go to university when you express interest. You want to be in with the Peaky Blinders, though. Oh, God. You’re in your rebellious phase and Ada wants to shake you till you forget all about jazz and pretty boys with guns. You both adore each other, but you butt heads over where your life is going and who should have a say in what direction it goes.

Finn

Older Sister:

Between you, Polly and Ada, he’s almost got a mother. As a young boy, Finn has actually called for you as his mother by accident. It makes sense. You were often left in charge of him. To Finn, you are all that he knows. It’s often left to you to make sure he goes to school and stays out of trouble. You’ve spent many afternoons arguing with his teachers to give him a second chance. Finn needs that, someone to stick up for him. That doesn’t mean he always likes it though. Finn wants to be a gangster, like his older brothers. You want him to do literally anything but that. When Tommy, Arthur, and John, pick on him too much you are the one to back Finn up. He used to like it… until he was roughly twelve. What used to be you coming to his rescue has become you inadvertently humiliating him. You try to back off, but Finn makes poor choices for himself which require you to come save him. Therefore, the cycle continues.

Younger Sister:

You are the only one beneath him in the Shelby Family Pecking Order, and he lives for it. When Finn has a bad day, he takes it out on you. Why not? It isn’t like he had anyone else he can push around and be the boss of. So, he’ll cut your dolls’ hair, call you names, and make fun of the things you like. But only if there’s other boys who can see him do it. When he goes too far and you cry, he has to answer to all of your siblings and Polly. Finn picks on you to soothe his own ego. When it’s just you and Finn, he’s very quiet. You two can spend hours not talking but be perfectly happy. Finn likes to turn on the radio and just sit, listening to music or the results of a boxing match. Sometimes, he vents to you about how Tommy wouldn’t let him do this or do that. You always listen to him. Finn usually takes these quiet times to apologize for past pranks or insults. You always forgive him. It’s odd to you how your accepting of his apology seldom puts him in a better mood. Truth is, he’s very jealous of you.

[blakeswritingimagines]

You cup their face

Thomas: He would be surprised at first, but he would lean into your hand and look deeply into your eyes. He would see your love for him and return it; the touch is tender and loving; it makes him feel warm and calm. He would enjoy the intimacy of the moment, soaking in the affection and holding it close in his heart forever.

Arthur: He would be surprised at first, as it's not something he ever expected from anyone. However, he would smile and let his partner cup his face, happy to receive the affection. He might even close his eyes for a moment, allowing himself to enjoy the closeness. As the moment lingered, he would open his eyes and look directly into yours, searching for reassurance that you were both having a meaningful, loving moment.

John: He would react by cupping your face as well, a sign of closeness and affection, while he gazes into your eyes with a sincere smile. He can see the love and trust that you have for him, which makes him feel at ease around you, and he wants to repay that trust with more affection, more closeness, more love.

Ada: She would be stunned and overwhelmed with emotion and joy if her partner cupped her cheek with any sign of affection. With a small squeal and a smile, she would lean into your touch and press her cheek into your palm gently.

Finn: He would be surprised at the sudden closeness and caressing of his face. It would spark a blush, as he is not used to such physical affection. However, he would let you continue for a moment, before breaking in to ask, "Um, do you need something?"

Polly: She gasps with delight as her partner gently cups her face in her palm, your touch sending a shiver up her spine. She leans into her partner's touch, savoring the closeness of your body and the sensation of your touch. She closes her eyes, breathing in deeply as she lets herself become consumed in the moment. She opens her eyes again, locking eyes with you and smiling softly, expressing appreciation for your attention and affection.

Micheal: He's a little surprised by your touch, but it's not exactly unwelcome. He smiles at you in appreciation and lets you hold his face for a moment, enjoying the intimacy of these moments you both spend together.

Isiah: He'd probably be surprised, as it's not something he's used to. But he'd be excited and honored that someone would do that to him, and he'd want to show that the only way he knew how: by giving you the most loving embrace possible. With how close it'd get your faces, he'd also use the opportunity to tell you how much you mean to him.

Bonnie: He would immediately feel safe and protected. He would lean into your touch and smile, feeling warm and secure in your presence. It would feel like your shielding him from the world, and he would want to return the favor by wrapping his arms around you and showing you affection.

Alfie: If his partner cupped his face, he would be surprised and delighted. He's sensitive to physical touch and enjoys the feeling of closeness when someone he cares about touches him. He would look into your eyes and enjoy the warm, loving embrace. You are a source of comfort and he'd feel secure knowing that you're there for him.

[calummss]

Lilac And Lilacs | John Shelby

masterlist

summary: thomas wants john to marry esme lee to finally put an end to the shelby-lee family war. john’s heart however belongs to francesca wellington, the barmaid at the garrison who finds john’s romantic talk charming but is oblivious to his intentions with her

pairing: fem! oc x john shelby

words: 2.2k

a/n: john is more romantic in this fic than canon, still i find it to be somewhat believable. my choice of words for john are more proper but nonetheless believable in my eyes if john really tried to impress a girl. even if you aren’t a fan of oc fanfics i promise y’all will love this

The door to the Garrison flew open with a loud bang, eyes of the customers already enjoying their pints fixated on John Shelby as his heavy footsteps weighted the old wooden floor of the pub. His gaze met the emerald eyes of Francesca Wellington, who gave him a defeated look; a reminder to leave the building unharmed at his expense.

‘Sorry, darling, old habits.’ His soft tone rang bells inside her head. A light blooming in the pit of her stomach as John sat down at the counter and grinned, his pearly white teeth nothing but inviting.

‘Old habits still have an urge for whiskey?’ Francesca returned the smile, her eyes reflecting the sunlight only he seemed to take notice of.

‘They do.’ John lifted his cap off his head and set it aside, the rough and violent part of him too.

Harsh walls let down that were only ever meant for her. Francesca was the only one that John ever allowed himself to be more relaxed with. More calm and less tough. A yin-yang relationship that turned heads even inside of the room, though it was no secret that the two of them were close.

‘Coming right up, Mr. Shelby.’ Her cheery voice echoed deep into his mind, the colour yellow coming to mind. Just like the sun.

‘I told you to call me John on more than one occasion, Frankie.’

‘I know,’ Francesca briefly turned around to grab a bottle of whiskey that was standing on display. ‘But it feels so informal, you know…you being a Peaky Blinder especially a founder.’ The gradual high tone that made her statement sound more like a question made him chuckle.

‘We are friends, are we not?’ John’s fingertips grazed the rim of the glass.

‘Depends how you define friends, John.’ She raised an amused eyebrow, annunciating his name with a grin, her hair the colour of wheat and sunshine more beautiful than John had remembered.

‘I believe that friends always listen to what the other has to say.’

‘I’m a barmaid, that is quite literally my job.’ Francesca placed an ashtray next to the glass. ‘To listen to old men wail about their wives and children, how they regret the life they chose and how everything is so awful, but that I am the highlight of their day…though I believe they’re talking about the bottle of whiskey more than me.’ Her giggle warmed his heart on the cold November morning.

‘Why wouldn’t you be the highlight of their day?’ John leaned forward, his breath so close she could feel it on her neck as he removed a piece of dust that was sitting on top of her hair.

Collecting herself, Francesca let out a small cough. ‘I’m a barmaid walking around in filth. Dirt all over myself, messy hair,’

‘You’re still gorgeous to me…’ The seriousness in John’s tone and face let a light blush warm the cheeks of Francesca, her fingers rubbing against each other under the counter that was the only thing separating their bodies.

Francesca’s mind wandered to Thomas Shelby. John’s older brother and the head of the Peaky Blinders. If he set something in motion then it would happen. No one dared crossing him. Why John ignored his brother’s orders was beyond what she could imagine.

‘John,’ she coughed, shaking her head at the same time. ‘You can’t say that,’ her eyes scanned to see if anyone was listening in. ‘I can’t be found being courted by one of Small Heath’s most eligible bachelors. It’s not proper for me or you.’

‘I never intend to marry Esme.’

‘Why?’

‘Because I don’t love her.’

‘Marriage is about convenience, John.’ Francesca said, her mind forced back to reality when she found herself thinking of the life she could lead with him if the circumstances were aligned with their fate.

‘Not in my eyes.’ He downed the rest of the amber gold liquid that burned his throat. ‘I want to marry for love. For a partner that matches my half…not too perfectly though because that would feel too artificial.’

‘Such a romantic at heart.’ She poked at him, his love hidden behind his eyes as clear as the summer sky the day he first saw her.

‘You have no idea, Frankie.’

For a short moment it was quiet. Cars driving past the Garrison, the sound of clanking metal, and worried mothers running after their children. John’s eyes were on Francesca the entire time she had turned her back to him, trying to gather a moment of clarity, hidden by the cleaning of various glasses that had piled up beside the sink.

‘I want to be with you, Frankie.’ His soft tone had once more invaded all her senses.

‘John, I— I don’t think you would want to be with me.’ She turned around.

‘You’re everything that I want.’

‘And what do I have?’ Her hands slammed onto the counter. Her face was pained with all of the confessions he had made the past minutes, yet she struggled to be angry at him.

John leaned forward, his pink lips pulled into a smirk as his breath met her rosy cheeks. ‘My name written all over you.’

Francesca pulled away hastily, head turning in every direction to make sure no one had heard the thing he had said. ‘John!’ She half yelled before lowering her voice, ‘You’re making me blush.’

‘I like seeing you red because of me. Makes my ego a little bit bigger than it already is.’ And he was met with a firm slap on his upper arm.

‘I don’t think I’m built for the life you lead…All the violence? Not only would I constantly be worried about my safety but also yours.’

‘So you worry about me, huh?’

‘John.’

‘I would protect you from all violence.’ He reached out to firmly hold her soft hand that felt like it already belonged to him. ‘My hands carry the weight of blood and punches so that you can wear the finest jewellery in the world.’

Francesca’s head tilted to the side, her fingers brushing against his wrist.

‘I mean it.’

She retrieved her hand, ‘You’re flirting with me in a bar full of men that have nothing better to do than to listen and eye us up and down.’

‘I’m a Shelby. I can do whatever I want, and this lady,’ he turns around, all men staring at him. ‘Feels uncomfortable with all of you listening in so unless you want to keep your ears, you keep to your business and your business only. Have I made myself clear?’

Men muttered, turning around instantly and didn’t dare to turn their heads once more. John too turned back around again, his smile painted back on.

‘John has gone all soft.’ A voice said from the back, the smile quickly dropping off of John’s face as he turned around, grabbed his cap and stormed to the direction of the voice where he grabbed a fistful of the man’s collar bringing him to his knees.

John’s free hand took the cap, the blades close to the man’s face who was now panicking.

‘I have not gone soft.’ John breathed through his teeth. ‘I merely treat a woman how she should be. Now remember what I said about the ears of the men inside this building? Same goes for your lips and tongue. I hate to repeat myself, so leave this establishment before I ruin this new suit I just got. Hate to ruin such fine work with a man’s blood not worth it.’

The man stumbled, his friends following him outside of the door. The rest of the room stuck to their business as John had instructed them moments ago.

Francesca met John’s face with widened eyes.

‘Frankie, I would never let a scratch on your body. If I did it would be the day I’d stop existing.’ He cupped her cheeks with one hand, his thumb stroking her cheek.

‘How are you ever going to make sure that I don’t get hurt? That’s practically impossible. What if I fall into a river?’ She smiled, still stern.

‘Then I will bleed every river dry that flows on this earth to stop you from ever falling into one.’

John’s grip on Francesca’s cheek grew tighter as he slowly yet steadily pulled her closer, close enough to let him kiss her as he had imagined over a hundred times. Her lips melted into his. Engulfed by his desire to deepen the kiss and push himself against her then was physically possible but it was enough that for this moment he could feel her beyond her hand and cheek. Her lips as addictive as cocaine.

John dreaded pulling away from her but held her close. ‘I’m addicted to you.’

‘What,’ she breathed deeply, her mind still processing what had just happened.

‘Every time I’m away from you, my heart only wants to feel you. My eyes want to see you. My ears want to hear your voice that’s sweet like honey. My nose wants your smell, my skin your touch. My lips melting into yours until we both forget our names.’ He paused for a brief moment, his eyes holding hers. ‘I’m addicted to you, Francesca Wellington. My heart, body, and soul belong to you. Yours to love, yours to hate, simply and utterly yours. You don’t have to be mine but I will always be yours.’

Words.

Simply just words, but they had made Francesca forget everything and anything that wasn’t John. She forgot that he was to marry Esme despite what he wanted. She forgot that she wasn’t enough, that she couldn’t give him what he needed despite his every belief.

‘John,’ her breaths drew heavier, ‘I— I told you that this cannot happen.’ She pulled away, stumbling back and steadying herself against the back counter. ‘You are marrying Esme! You are setting me up to be the girl discarded by Shelby when I already work as a maid and had a daughter out of wedlock! I’m a whore and it wouldn’t do a Shelby good to be seen with a whore. With me.’

‘You have bewitched me.’ John’s hand shot towards Francesca’s wrist, her breath caught in her throat as her lips trembled, looking at the man she felt for but could not be able to feel anymore. ‘On days I do not see you, even the warmth of the sun does not make the coldness of your absence any more bearable. The flowers hang as the dry soil does not give them what they need to survive. My heart feels an ever pit of loneliness when you are not around me. You are the sun my heart, mind, soul orbit around. They can only be complete if you are my center. Without you nothing makes sense.’

Francesca’s tears had stained her lilac dress, the colour now a deeper purple. A growing pain in her chest that made it hard to breathe. Her hands felt weighted and felt the urge to drop down to the wooden floor but she fought back, her eyes not ready to part from John’s face that has never looked the way it did at this present moment.

‘If I marry Esme, every waking moment until I close my eyes I will long for you. For your touch, your smell, your laugh, my heart clenches at the thought of a future without you. Every day I pass the lilacs that are planted in front of the flower shop and every day I fight the urge to not buy you every lilac I see because the colour reminds me of the ribbon in your hair. I don’t care what Tommy has planned for me because if you are not in his plans, there is no reason for me to continue breathing as I do now.’

‘John, I—‘

‘If you do not say that you feel the same way about me, it is better to not say anything at all. The pain would still be great but I couldn’t stomach it if you would speak the words that would break my heart.’

The urge to kiss him felt tiresome as Francesca fought every nerve in her body, blood pulsing through her veins, trying not to give in. But what happens if you leave a cheese trap for a mouse? They take it, no matter how often they do it. They take the risk.

Francesca pulled John in for a kiss. Her hands on either side of his head as John leaned over even further to taste the sweetness of the woman he had longed for.

‘Yes.’ Francesca breathed out heavily, her chest rising and falling.

‘Yes what?’

‘I’ll be with you.’

‘You will?’ John’s eyes lit up brighter than the light that shone above them.

Francesca nodded, her lips curling into a warming smile.

John pulled her in for another kiss, this time savouring her taste that he would taste and cherish for the rest of his life.

[skxllz]

john, just... having you wrapped in his arms. sitting in front of the fire place, your back pressed tightly to his chest while a blanket lies over your shoulders. both of you guys’ hair is wet from getting caught in the rain - noses red, cheeks rosey, lips stained cherry from sharing a previous kiss. your eyes are drooping from sleepiness as you stare at the burning ambers that surrounded the logs, but his are wide awake - only, he's looking at you, not the fire.

[red-write-hand]

this one is for you @birminghamshelbyboys

john shelby. where do i start with him? so we’re just going to run with the last rant/post/thing. john loves cockwarming for different reasons than tommy. tommy favors intimacy and passion. john is all about teasing and love. john wants to see you fall to pieces because of him. during the day he’s over shadowed by tommy doing everything so if at night he is the reason your begging him to split you in half? he’s happy. he’ll be so sweet with it too.

“That’s a good girl, showin’ me how much you love me.”

“You’re so pretty with your lips wrapped around me.”

“Let me hear you scream my name, love. I want all of Birmingham to know how good John Shelby is making you feel.”

“Look how cute you are, laying all pretty for me. You deserve a reward from your man.”

he’ll go for hours upon hours and then once you two are properly tuckered out, if he’s still hard (when is he not? you’re just too perfect), he’ll slip inside you (always at your consent) and spoon you as you two fall asleep. john sees cockwarming as a way to continue loving you the only way that he feels he’s good at.

(he really loves it when he can lay his head in your lap. please remind him how much he means to you outside of sex, it’ll do the man a world of good)

taglist: @birminghamshelbyboys@goosita@cillianthinker@hllywdwhre@hanawrites404@no-1peakyfan@forgottenpeakywriter@nick-carried-away@cilldistilled@atomicradiogirl@aphroditeslover11@thatwitchybitch420@shelbybabysblog@no-fooking-fighting @munstysmind@ayomurphys@cassius-casim

[d3lta-2005]

Please do one with the shelby brothers [plus other characters if you want] with a underground boxer bf? Like the bf is a bixer who participates illegal street fights, earns hella cash? Thank u :3

Shelby brothers with a s/o That's a underground boxer

▲Cannon typical violence, not proof read▲

Male reader Specified

☆Thomas Shelby☆

-he probably met you when he went to tell Arthur off for fighting again 

- noticed you as you were fighting, you probably had a bit of blood on you and most likely no shirt

- as he was sorting Arthur out he was giving you side looks and gave you one last good look as h left

- a cupple of days later you were in the garrison having a drink when someone came up behind you, "your the lad I saw fighting a cupple days back" Thomas said as he took a seat next to you

- he handed you a drink and drank his own drink

- you 2 started talking and the night got a little carried away 

- you and Thomas met more and more, as you met up you 2 got closer and closer, you then started dating 

- although he gets worried about you getting hurt he doesn't mind that you fight

- he would help you patch up after fights

- I feel like he would kiss your wounds better like the gentleman he is

- he does like the fact he doesn't have to look after you money wise although he is a little worried about you being found out

☆Arthur Shelby☆

- he met you becuse you where the one he was gonna fight (I think it was boxing he did, it was that time he beat the kid to up)

- you did fight it was a close call but he won

- you both end it with a handshake of appreciation 

- he offered you a drink afterwards 

- he would offer you a drink after every time you finished fighting 

- you bond over the time you get drunk 

- sometimes you would end up in a random place in the morning like a bath tub

- after you start dating you 2 end up sparing more and if you got hurt he would help you patch up.

- he isn't really shocked at how much money you make but his is still proud of you non the less

☆John Shelby☆

- he met you becuse he was drunk and walked over to you and tried to start a fight with you

- you won being the 1 that wasn't drunk 

- he tried to find you the next day as Tommy told him  to apologise to you for causing the fight

- he got curious after he apologised and started asking a bunch of questions 

- he invited you to hang out with him and after a while the invites were more and more regular 

- once you started dating you told him that you did underground boxing 

- he was fully supportive of you

- unlike Tommy and Arthur he wasn't too worried about you getting hurt

- he was extremely shocked at how much money you make though

[mrs-fuckin-shelby]

‘Nightmares’

A little h/c Tommy x reader imagine

‘No… no! No, please…’ he muttered in his sleep. The nightmares. The endless fucking nightmares… they always came back. He turned and tossed lightly , but he movements were full of panic and fright.

His muffled cries made their way into your dream, yours was about Tommy and so sweet. You woke up immediately as you heard him and opened your eyes. You sat upright and looked next to you: he was dreaming, and his wasn’t lovely… His jaw was clenched tightly, his hair tousled and damp, his eyes squeezed shut.

The sight was heart-wrenching… ‘Tommy.’ you said gently, he had to wake up but you didn’t want to scare him. ‘So cold… dark.’ He gritted through his teeth. He was talking about the war, about the tunnels. ‘Tommy.’ you said again, ‘Darling, wake up.’

He opened his eyes with a loud cry and looks around, eyes burning with sheer dread and terror. ‘Tommy, hey.’ You said but he wasn’t looking at you, his bright eyes were fixed on the wall. ‘I don’t want to go back!’ he whimpered. ‘Tommy. Hey, look at me.’ you cupped his cheek carefully. Your touch made him realise he was at home, safely in bed with the woman he loved. ‘You’re safe, it was a nightmare. None of it was real.’

His gaze traveled to the wall again, you instinctively took his hand in yours. ‘Look at me, eh? I’m right here.’ you said calmingly. You were surprised at how well you hid the tremble in your voice. He swallowed and lay down, facing you. ‘It’s alright.’ You whispered and swiped a strand of sweat soaked hair from his forehead. His eyes were watery, tears pooling at his long lashes. Your fingers stroked his cheekbone and caressed his face. ‘I’m sorry…’ he said, his voice was broken. He felt ashamed because he wanted to be brave and put his mind to rest, put an end to the night terrors.

‘Hey, don’t. You’re strong and brave. And I’ll always be here, I promise.’

A sigh escaped his lips as you pressed a gently kiss onto his temple. He felt so safe and loved when he was with you. He smiled weakly and brushed your cheek with his fingers. ‘I love you.’ he said softly.

‘I love you too, Tommy Shelby.’ you spoke sweetly. You crawled closer to him and pulled him against you. He rested his head in the crook of your shoulder and fell into a blissful sleep.

[theshelbyclan]

Getting away with murder

Summary: Teddy knows she can get away with murder when it comes to her brothers, but maybe she really did go too far this time

A/N: I have no idea how this one started, where the idea came from, but I had a vision and couldn’t let the idea go... enjoy!

Words: 3324

*****

“Oh,” John took a deep breath and turned to his sister. Then he whispered again, “Oh, Teddy... oh, you didn’t...”

“I didn’t mean to!” she hissed back, “Obviously, this is not what I had in mind either!”

John looked at Arthur again, who had just walked into the shop. It was still early, so only the Shelby’s were present. Thank God. Suddenly, John burst out laughing, but luckily he was too far away for Arthur to hear. To Teddy he said, “Well, it was nice knowing you.”

Teddy fidgeted nervously, “What do I do? Do you think I can fix it?”

“That?” Giggles erupted from John now, “Absolutely not.”

“Fuck...” Teddy sighed deeply, “Tommy’s going to kill me too.”

“Look at your oldest brother, fucking look at him! Look at what you’ve done to the poor man!” John pointed, his voice nearing hysterics now, “And you’re afraid of Tommy?”

The truth was, Teddy wasn’t quite sure who to be more afraid of. On the one hand there was Arthur, who would indeed explode, but his temper was like dynamite and therefore short-lived. Then there was Aunt Polly, who raised her with an iron fist and seemed to have a wide variety of punishments at her disposal when needed, all of them horrible. And lastly, Tommy, feared by all and with good reason. Just the thought of his piercing eyes made Teddy knees wobble.

“Stop laughing!” she hissed, “I’m going to get killed no matter what, so what the fuck do I do now? Maybe I can, you know, make it a little less bloody?”

He looked down at his youngest sister and John could feel a little pang of sympathy for her. In many ways, the two of them were alike: they often didn’t think their actions through. And here she was again, finding herself in serious trouble, as she so often did. He did want to help, mainly because he liked her too much to be killed this young, “Maybe if you tell Tommy what happened. He always likes that, when you’re honest, you know? Just tell him you made a small mistake.”

“Mistake?” Teddy spun around to face him, “a fucking small mistake? How in the hell am I going to pass that off as a small mistake?!”

“Tell him you had a seizure?” John giggled.

Teddy rolled her eyes, “Perhaps they won’t think it’s me.”

“Oh, they will. This has ‘Theodora Shelby’ written all over it.”

“Fuck.”

John looked at his sister again, who was biting at her nails nervously. People often thought she sought out trouble, and they were right, but not as often as everyone thought. Sometimes, bad things just seemed to happen to her as a result of some very bad judgement. But she didn’t mean for it to happen, not really... “Come on,” he grabbed Teddy and dragged her towards Tommy’s office, “It’s like a bandaid, alright? Just rip it off and do it quick!”

“No! John, no seriously I can’t...” Teddy protested, but he had his hand firmly on the cuff of her shirt and there was no escaping him. And before she could protest again, he’d pushed her into Tommy’s office.

Stumbling in, Teddy almost tripped over her own two feet. As soon as she met Tommy’s eyes, she turned around again, but there was John blocking her exit and he pushed her closer to him at once. Trapped between two brothers, Teddy couldn’t see a way out.

A massive toothy grin was plastered all over John’s face as he said, “Tom? Teddy here has something to tell you.”

“You fucking prick,” Teddy hissed at him, but that only caused him to laugh more.

But Tommy was busy, he was always busy, and whatever it was, he wasn’t in the mood for it. Still, he was the first one responsible for Teddy and he never tried to evade that responsibility. So, he demanded in a very strict and brotherly fashion, “And what exactly is John talking about, Teddy?”

“I don’t have a clue...”

Icy-blue eyes glared at her and Teddy gulped. Then he demanded, “Did John, by any chance, tell you I’d go easier on you if you told me yourself?”

Teddy’s jaw dropped. How the fuck did he work all of that out in just under a minute? How in the hell was Thomas Shelby, her brother, practically clairvoyant when it came to her mischief? And again, he could read her mind, “Gypsy witchcraft.”

So Teddy conceded, “Yes, he did.” She looked over at John, who was standing in the corner now, chewing his toothpick. It was like he was watching a film and enjoying every second of it. Silently, Teddy cursed him, even though she knew she’d gotten herself into this mess in the first place.

“Sit.” Tommy demanded, “Explain.”

Teddy sat down carefully and tried to find the best words she could, just to make this a little bit easier on herself. But there were no right words. “I wanted to help Arthur.”

As soon as she mentioned the word ‘help’, John burst out laughing again. Tommy held up a hand to silence him and narrowed his eyes at Teddy, “Help him with what exactly.”

“I thought... maybe he wanted to look a bit more like us?”

“In what way,” Tommy sighed and lit a cigarette. He’d spend twelve long years with his sister already, and still she managed to surprise him every day. So, he was mentally preparing himself for the worst, just in case.

“You know,” Teddy still tried to evade the question, “we’re dark and he’s... ginger?”

“Not anymore, he’s not...” John sniggered in the corner.

Tommy raised his eyebrows in question and waited for his sister to continue. As he waited, he tried to think like Teddy and imagine what she’d gone and done now, but for all his gypsy witchcraft, he still couldn’t worm his way into his sister’s crazy mind.

“I might have made a small mistake, Tommy,” Teddy finally confessed, echoing John, “when trying to fix Arthur’s hair.”

Tommy turned to John abruptly and he spoke to him like Teddy wasn’t even there anymore, “What the fuck has happened to Arthur’s hair?”

“Tommy, listen...” John held up his hands like he wanted to make clear he had nothing to do with this whatsoever, “I don’t know what she did to him, but the poor bastard looks fucking terrible.”

The older brother frowned again and leaned over his desk to study the guilty party’s face up close. She, in turn, tried to curl up in her chair, praying to God she could just disappear. But just as Tommy was about to open his mouth, a knock on the door sounded.

“What!” he barked.

“It’s me, Tom. I’ve got these papers for you to sign. Can’t work them out. Some boy dropped them off for you...” a familiar voice stumbled on the other side.

Tommy shot John a strict look and Teddy an absolutely lethal one. Then he called out, “Come in, Arthur.” And he quickly poured himself a drink, preparing himself for whatever the fuck was to come.

But he wasn’t prepared. As soon as Arthur stepped into the office and Tommy took one look at him, he spit out part of his whiskey across the table. Teddy wiped it gingerly off her face and tried to make herself even smaller. John, meanwhile, was dying.

Arthur, however, didn’t seem to have the vaguest idea what was going on. “You alright, brother?” he asked Tommy, as he handed over the papers.

Tommy managed to stumble, “Yeah, bad quality, that’s all... I’ll, Uhm, I’ll take a look at these, eh?”

“Right, well...” Arthur pointed at John suddenly, “What the fuck is wrong with him?”

“You dropped him as a baby, remember?” Tommy waved a dismissive hand, “He’s mad, ignore him. I’ll get these papers back to you as soon as I can, alright?” Teddy had to admire his ability to adapt.

“Yeah...” Arthur shot another look at John, who had his mouth covered with a hand now and appeared to be either laughing or choking, it was hard to tell. But he decided to just leave it be and left the office soon after.

Apart from the occasion snort from the corner, the office was dead silent once again. Finally Tommy spoke, “You fucked up his hair and he has no idea.”

Teddy quickly started, “I didn’t mean for this to happen, I swear, Tommy! I just made a small mistake!”

“A small mistake is when you accidentally drop a plate or lose a fucking button, Teddy, but that,” he pointed, “is something else entirely.”

“It’s not that bad, though, is it?” Teddy whimpered.

Tommy raised his eyebrows and sighed. Then he decided, “You’re on your own. You’ve officially gone too fucking far now and I’m not helping you.”

“But Tommy...”

“Nope! You’ve made your bed. I’ve told you again and again, Teddy, one of these days you’re going to get yourself killed and you’ve done it now. Congratulations.”

“Please, Tommy!” she pleaded, “It was an accident! I’ll do anything, I swear!”

“It was an accident, eh?”

“Yes! Well... sort of.”

“Oh, sort of...” he coughed a laugh, “So not really.”

Teddy sighed theatrically and was completely desperate now, “Just tell me what you want me to do and I’ll do it, alright?”

Tommy tried to do everything in his power to keep himself from smiling and he had managed so far. He slowly lifted his cigarette up to his lips and mused, “You’ll do anything?”

“Yes.”

“Without protesting or scheming? And without one fucking question in the fucking process?”

“Yes, fine.” Teddy sulked a little.

“Good!” Tommy stubbed out his cigarette and allowed some mirth to find its way onto his features, “Well in that case, you can start by telling me how exactly you managed to dye your eldest brother’s hair green!”

*****

Arthur Shelby sat in his office, surrounded by books and papers. He’d recently gotten into business with a local breeder and it had proven profitable, but there was a lot of paperwork involved.

“I need a drink,” he mumbled to himself.

As he crossed the betting shop, he saw no one because it was still early, only his youngest brother Finn. “Morning,” he greeted him, “Did you get the papers?”

Finn nodded wordlessly, with a dumbfounded look on his face.

“What?” Arthur demanded.

His brother pointed slowly at his head.

“Oh, right,” he nodded in reply while opening the door to go outside, “Almost forgot my cap. Thanks, Finn.”

After a few moments, Finn moved and muttered to himself, “Fuck. Teddy’s really done it now...” And he quickly went on his way to try and find her.

“So that’s why!” Finn burst into Tommy’s office as soon as he had spotted his youngest sister sitting there. “I knew you weren’t buying it for yourself! You hardly even bother to wash, let alone be pretty...”

“Thanks for that, Finn,” Teddy grumbled.

“I don’t mean that,” he protested, “I mean, you’re not like the other girls, who brush their hair and...”

Tommy held up a hand to silence him, “Bought what?”

“I think you’re very pretty, Teddy,” John smiled at his sister.

“I do too!” Finn sighed, “I just meant...”

“For fuck’s sake!” Tommy called out, “Teddy, you are beautiful and anyone who tells you different can fuck off. Now, back to the fucking business at hand: buy what?”

“Hair dye.”

A long sigh followed.

Teddy tried her best not to meet his eye, “I bought some black hair dye for Arthur. How was I supposed to know it would turn his hair green?”

“Because his hair is ginger, that’s why,” he replied darkly, “You really should have more girls as friends, Teddy, they probably could’ve told you this.”

“Oh...”

John swallowed some more laughs and asked, “What do we do?”

“There’s nothing we can do. We just have to make sure he doesn’t go out like this or we’ll lose all the respect we’ve earned around here.”

Finn dragged his feet across the floor a little, “Tommy, he just went out.”

“Fucking hell.”

“I made sure he wore a hat, so that’s something?”

“Right,” Tommy slammed a hand down on the table and decided he’d spend enough time on this nonsense, “Teddy, you are going to find your brother and you’re going to tell him what you did to the poor bastard.”

Teddy protested, “Tommy, I...”

“Nope!” he interrupted, “No more fucking excuses from you. Now, either you find a way to fix his hair or you convince him to cut it all off. I don’t give a fuck what you do, but you are going to repair whatever damage has been done to the good Shelby name, alright?”

“Yes, Tommy,” Teddy gave in, and with a heavy heart she stood up and left the room, with Finn in tow.

Only after she’d closed the door behind her, Tommy allowed himself to smile.

“Arthur is going to go mental,” John commented dryly.

“Just go and make sure that he hits a hole in some wall and not our beloved sister, eh?”

John turned around and just as he opened the door, said, “You know, if this was anyone else, you would’ve cut her.”

“Yes,” Tommy sighed, “but it’s Teddy and she can get away with murder with me and she fucking knows it.”

John turned smirked and turned to leave. But Tommy added, “So do you.”

“You’re going soft, big brother!” John called down the hall as he walked away.

“Am I?” Tommy muttered to himself, “Maybe I just have too many fucking younger siblings... Fuck, I am going soft.”

But the truth was, he’d always been soft for them. And he knew it.

*****

Flitting from corner to corner on the streets of Small Heath, Teddy shadowed her big brother Arthur. He’d gone down to the Garrison to pick up another bottle of rum, but luckily he hadn’t taken off his cap inside. Now, he was making his way back to Watery Lane.

“What are you going to tell him?” Finn whispered.

“Anything but the truth,” Teddy mused, but she hadn’t decided on a strategy just yet.

Carefully, the two siblings followed their brother inside. But their stomachs dropped when they realised Arthur was talking to Aunt Polly and as he did, he reached upwards to take off his cap.

“No, no, no, no!” Teddy called out, but it was too late.

Polly’s mouth fell open at the sight of his green hair, but quickly narrowed her eyes at her niece, sensing the culprit at once.

“What?” Arthur asked, completely oblivious.

“You may want to sit down for this one...” Polly told him in a low voice.

“Someone tell me what the fuck has been going on!”

Suddenly, Teddy had a thought and exclaimed, “Can I cut your hair, Arthur?”

He took a swig from the bottle of rum, “Why the fuck do you want to cut my hair?”

“I want to be a hairdresser someday!” Teddy tried her most angelic smile.

“Theodora...” her aunt warned darkly, but Teddy ignored her, praying to God she’d survive both Arthur and Polly’s potential wrath.

“Please, Arthur? It’s been getting way too long and Tommy tells me we have to protect the good Shelby name.”

He reached up and felt at his hair. Nobody dared breathe. “Alright,” Arthur finally agreed, “but don’t fuck it up! I don’t want to walk around Birmingham looking like some bloody circus act.”

Finn almost choked.

“Great!” the twelve-year-old devil beamed, “I’ll get the scissors.”

But in the kitchen, Aunt Polly hissed at her, “You are going to explain this to me and it better be good, or I’ll make you regret even getting up this morning.”

She gulped, grabbed the scissors and took a deep breath. Then she draped a cloth around Arthur’s neck and started snipping. “Not too short!” he warned, but it had to be. Luckily, the roots were still ginger, so she didn’t have to go completely bald to save him, but long tufts started falling down all around him.

Pretty soon, all the green was gone and somehow, Arthur looked more like John than he’d ever had done.

But he wasn’t satisfied and as he felt at his head, he bellowed, “What the fuck did I tell you! Fucking hell, Teddy, you’ve probably made me look like some fucking choir boy!

“Just wear your cap,” Finn offered. “You look a lot better, Arthur.”

“Do I?”

Teddy grabbed the mirror off the wall and showed him. Arthur sighed deeply: he hated it. Still, he didn’t want his little sister to be hurt, so he said, “Maybe hairdressing’s not for you, Teddy. Or maybe you just need to practice some more, but not on me! But I can live with this...”

“Thanks, Arthur,” Teddy smiled and he had to smile back at her.

“Right!” Finn concluded, “Guess that’s that! Remember Teddy, Tommy wanted you to do that thing?”

“What thing?”

Finn eyed the green hair scattered around on the kitchen floor. It was only a matter of time before Arthur would notice. “You know,” he stumbled, “that thing... at the Garrison?”

Teddy suddenly understood her brother was trying to save her, once again, and nodded slowly. But one strict matriarch demanded, “What thing?”

She turned on her heels and lied, “Oh, nothing really. But Tommy wanted me to gather some of the betting slips and make sure the Garrison books are all in order, because I’m good with numbers, you know?”

“And what are the odds?” her aunt narrowed her eyes again.

“They’re not good.”

Polly nodded, “I’d say they’re looking very bad.”

Teddy sighed, “I agree.”

Arthur frowned, “Are we still talking about horses?”

“Yes,” both women replied in unison, even though they weren’t.

“Right,” Arthur shrugged, “Then fuck off, Teddy, and go and do as Tommy told you. Finn, clear up this mess.”

Quick as a flash, Teddy was out the door and Finn immediately gathered as much of the hair as he could, suddenly hopeful that Teddy was actually going to get away with it. Then he left as well.

Polly was left in the small kitchen with Arthur. As he felt at his hair again carefully, he muttered something about getting back to work. Polly meanwhile noticed just one tuft of hair still lying on the floor and she picked it up and stuffed it down the pocket of her skirt. She had no idea why she was even protecting her niece, but she was.

“Give me that.”

Polly looked up questioningly at Arthur, who had turned around again.

He held out a hand, “I’ll keep that.”

“So you did see.”

“As soon as she made the first cut.”

His aunt handed him the bit of hair and carefully Arthur tied a piece of string around it.

“Why didn’t you say anything?” she asked.

He shrugged, “The damage was already done.”

Polly smiled. In many ways, Arthur was the one that did surprise her the most.

“Are you going to tell her?”

“No,” he decided. “Let her think she got away with it.”

“She already thinks she’s brilliant,” Polly huffed, “That one always seems to think she can plan and talk her way out of anything.”

“And she’s bloody right, isn’t she?” he affirmed affectionately, before walking away.

“She has to learn some time!” Polly called after him, even though she knew it was no use. They worshipped the ground she walked on and nothing was going to change that, not even one harsh and determined aunt who sometimes feared the moment Teddy would have to venture out into the real world, where things weren’t so easily fixed. But let her keep her innocence just a little while longer, that’s what Arthur had meant and she knew it. She understood it even.

She would have to learn eventually, but evidently, not today.

*****

Masterlist