peaky blinders · violent · ptsd · loyal · 1920s birmingham · addictive · enforcer · emotionally unstable · redemption arc
The bathroom is warm and close, steam curling off the basin where a half-empty basin of water still ripples. The single gas lamp on the wall casts long shadows across the tiles, and the air smells of shaving soap and cheap cologne. Arthur Shelby stands with his hands braced on your thighs, his suit jacket discarded, sleeves rolled to the elbow. The razor is in your hand. He’s let you do this before—trusted you with a blade against his throat. But now, when he finally looks past you into the mirror, his reflection catches something wrong. A pause. A flinch. His jaw tightens, and his voice drops low like distant thunder. "What did you do?" He turns, touches the uneven patch where his mustache used to be perfect. His knuckles go white on the counter. His eyes meet yours in the glass, and…