soft!tommy shelby alert

im obsessed with peaky blinders help

—

Yours and Thomas' arms brush from time to time as you walk, sunlight beams sweeping your bodies and the countryside.

Surprisingly, it hasn't rained in a while so the grass has dried out, turning a browner shade, but your dog seems to enjoy it just as much as if it had been silky and green. The black labrador happily bounces around, coming back to you every now and then.

"Good girl, Dottie" you whisper, gently stroking her between the ears as she already starts running away.

Tommy just gives her a fond glance, having his hands occupied with a gramophone he's insisted on carrying. Needless to say that Thomas Shelby had to be extra till the end, especially when it came to you.

He looks appeased though, light grey eyes focused on the road and lips curved into a trail of a smile. He's wearing a plain white shirt tucked into his brown trousers, which makes him look very informal and somewhat soft — he'd only ever allow you to see him this way. Since you got married, he's shown this part of his personality more and more.

"Where are we going?" you ask, giving him a subtle smile despite guessing he probably wouldn't tell you anything until you get to the exact place he's planned to take you to.

"You'll see" the young man's gaze doesn't shift. "But we're close."

"You're lucky I trust you" you fondle his shoulder, affectionally teasing him.

"I know" this time, his iris set on you. He smiles too, a small truthful Tommy smile lightened up by tiny freckles the sun spread all over his face and arms, his skin visible thanks to rolled up sleeves. "Just wait for a little longer, eh? We'll be there soon."

You resist kissing him on the cheek, reminded how lucky you were to have him. Thomas might not appear as the most affectionate nor most caring person at first, but he had his own way of loving, his strangely sweet behaviour that you wouldn't change for the world.

A quarter of an hour later, the brunette nods towards a spot of land sheltered from sunlight by some large trees, their shadows darkening the floor, and Dottie immediately rushes towards it to find a nice place to settle, panting from her non-stop running. A few apples are scattered on the ground so she begins kicking them, entertaining herself while waiting for you to arrive.

Tommy follows the dog, then sitting down next to her and placing the gramophone against a trunk. He rubs her back while you imitate him, resting the packed lunch you had prepared on the grass in front of you.

"Here we are. Do you like it?" Thomas' attention focuses on you. As he sees you nodding, he carries on. "The program is, we eat our sandwiches then we dance."

You smile lightly, rolling your eyes. He really had to always have a plan, no matter the circumstances. "I can't say no to Tommy Shelby, can I?"

He chuckles, already unpacking the food.

Thomas hands you a sandwich and opens the bottle of wine, pouring each of you half a glass while your labrador tries sniffing everything, excitedly wagging her trail. However she eventually decides there isn't anything much interesting and lies down between the two of you, resting her chin on her paws. You take five solid minutes to pat her together.

During lunch, you make Tommy laugh a couple times. He has always been rather quiet, but with you he would feel comfortable enough to open up, sometimes even sharing his feelings. Today, fragile rays of joy seem to radiate off him — he's healing, you realise. It has taken many efforts that you couldn't even imagine, but he was getting through. He was standing at the gates of hell, almost about to step out.

By the time you're done, he's lain down next to Dottie, staring at the sky through little gaps among the wide green leaves. You watch him for a moment, buds of warmth blossoming inside your stomach just at the sight of him being untroubled; if only he knew how proud you were of him.

"So, what about that dance?" you end up whispering.

Tommy's face softens and he gets up, heading towards the gramophone to turn it on. A harmonious yet catchy music begins playing, intriguing Dottie who curiously lifts her head up. The young man comes back to you, offering you his open palm.

"Y/n, will you dance with me?"

You take his hand, feeling the reassuring contact of his skin. "Yes, Thomas Shelby."

A smile tugs at the corner of his lips, his other hand setting on your back, and he tenderly presses his forehead against yours.

He's never properly told you, but you've brought his worn out heart back to life, somehow tempering the agony of his nightmares. You've tamed the shovels, replacing them with the warm sound of your voice. And even though they could never go away for good, you helped making them less terrifying. When Tommy slept beside you, the war was less scary to relive.

He makes you spin, smiling at your giggle, and your feet move with fluidity, your bodies knowing they belong to each other. As you seem to have fun, your dog decides to join in as well and jumps around you, barking joyfully.

"Dottie!" Tommy laughs, trying to tell her off. "Not now my girl, I promise you we'll play later."

You smile at them, this little family making you the happiest you've ever been, and keep dancing. Your fingers run all the way to Thomas' neck and through his hair, and he kisses you, passionately, pressing his thumb against your cheek.

"You make me feel things" he confesses, still moving to the song's rhythm. Your pupils meet his ethereal, rain-coloured ones "You make me feel things I used to feel before the war."

"You're the strongest man I know, Tommy" you cup his face in your hands, kissing him once again as your lungs swell with passion. Him mentioning the war would always break your heart.

"I just," he buries his head into the crook of your neck, holding you so close it turns the dance into a tight hug. "I just think we can be happy again." He caresses your back, leaving a new kiss above your collarbone.

All you want is to give him peace.

You want to assure him a night devoid of flashbacks, devoid of the whistling of bullets and devoid of the screeching of soldiers. All you want is to build something new for him, a place where he'd feel safe and would never have to wake up bleeding again. You can be Tommy Shelby's home.