Peaky Blinders Imagines

[Alfie Solomons] - Chrysalism

Chrysalism: noun; [Cris-al-isum] the tranquillity of being indoors during a thunderstorm.

Thunder and lightning, rain and mist, the streets coated in a veil of thick fog. Times when the skies were shrouded with dark clouds, the overcast weather a stark contrast to the feeling of warmth inside shelter. How the fire warmed a room as the rain clattered against window panes. This was your favourite type of weather. 

Ever since you were younger, you had sought solace in the sounds of thunderstorms, finding the noise relaxing. When there was bad weather, you loved being inside with a warm drink, seating yourself on a windowsill or a chair to watch. Being caught outside in it was not your cup of tea, however, but when you were out of its reach, that was where you felt at home.

Camden Town, and the rest of London for that matter, was not what one may call a sunny hotspot. It was dreary at the best of times, the summer months being the only time there was any colour, any true light outside. London saw its fair share of wind and rain, but thunderstorms were rather a rare occurrence; when they did happen, though, you were in your element.

Such a time, it seemed, was at hand.

The time must have been midnight, perhaps past that, but the sounds from the sky had roused you from the bed, not that you had minded. You had made yourself a warm beverage and taken place just in front of the bedroom window. Eyes focused entirely on the trees as they thrashed around in the wind, the melody of hail hitting the pane of glass in rhythm filled your ears. Sighing contently, your body leant against the frame, knee resting on the low ledge inside. 

"Now, why am I not surprised?" A gruff, sleepy voice brought you from the trance you were in, and you giggled to yourself, still keeping position. "I roll over, expecting to find the person I love, yeah, and instead I am greeted with Cyril."

"My apologies, my love," you replied, hearing him chuckle lightly. Alfie's feet shuffled on the floorboards, and felt him stop just behind you. "I hope I didn't wake you."

"Nah, this fuckin' weather, wonder what's goin' up there for this." You almost laughed aloud at how angry he seemed. Alfie liked his sleep, as rare as it came, and did not like to be woken. "Why you up, anyway, love?"

"I love this weather," you spoke softly, hands making tight grip around your cup to savour the warmth. "I always watch the thunderstorms, as well you know."

"Right I do, strange little thing ain't ya?" He mused, wrapping his arms around your waist as you leant back into him. He buried his face in your neck, and one of your hands ran itself through his hair. 

It was like that you stayed for a good couple of minutes, Alfie occasionally pressing a small kiss to your neck. Neither of you had spoken, the sounds of outside surrounding you instead, until Alfie spoke up.

"Well, as much as I am enjoying this, I do need me rest. You planning on joining me, love, or are you gonna spend it with the wind?" Alfie smiled into your neck and you spun around the face him.

"Now that," you started, leaning up to kiss him briefly. "That is just mean, Alfie; you know you're far better company than the rain."

"But not by much it seems."

"No, not by much, but you are." 

You poked his sides and he caught your hands, pulling you into his chest as he held you to him. 

"That, Y/N, that is just mean." Alfie mocked you and you pulled back with mock sadness, pretending to wipe a tear from your eye. Stomping your feet on the ground, you turned back to the window once more.

"Then maybe I will stay here," your tone gave away your humour, and Alfie laughed. A genuine, honest laugh, and you spun round in shock. He laughed, that much was true, but never quite as proper as that. Usually, it was a small huff, or a repressed chuckle, but when you got a laugh from him, it warmed your heart.

"Fuckin' impossible, you are, eh. Fuckin' impossible."

Alfie held his hand out for you to take, knowing that you would. And you did. Leading you back to bed, Alfie opened his arms for you and you snuggled close against him, the warmth emanating from him welcomed in opposition to the cold chill you hadn't realised was in the room. 

"Goodnight, Alfie." Your voice was heavy with sleep now you were back in bed, the storm taking your mind off how you were feeling. He chuckled to himself , arms tightening around you a little more as he placed a kiss atop your head.

"Yeah, g'night, Zeus."