MIND: arthur shelby.

chapter nine.

SEASON TWO

It was a warm day, for Birmingham weather at least. Jules sat in The Garrison once again, waiting for Thomas Shelby to finish whatever business he was attending.

Her eyes scanned the newly decorated room in a boredom, the new paint spell beginning to give her a headache. Jules admired the colour, helping Arthur to choose it after Thomas finalised buying the pub just a few months ago.

"Do you ever go home?" She heard, Arthur running out from the back with box's of cigarettes in his arms.

"Do you ever go home?" She asked back teasingly, moving to take off some of the boxes to ease the weight he carried. "Thank you love." He muttered, quickly moving back into the back room, Jules following swiftly behind.

"Just put them there." Ordered Arthur, cigarette dangling from his lips. He was a sight for sore eyes, and Jules couldn't help but admire him as he shuffled around the office.

She could heard Arthur chuckled as he noticed her staring. "You do like to stare don't you?" he asked rhetorically, throwing Jules a packet of cigarettes.

Jules caught the packet swiftly, a light blush coming to her cheeks. The woman didn't know why she admired Arthur so much, refusing to admit that it is attraction she actually feels.

She walked over to him slowly, assessing him. It was now Jules' turn to chuckle as Arthur gave her a confused look. "You look different, but I can't pinpoint it."

Arthur thought for a moment as to what could possibly be different about him, suddenly sighing in relief as he thought of an answer. "I'm wearing a new suit." He spoke proudly, chest puffing out in pride.

Jules ran the tips of her fingers across his shoulders, feeling the soft, expensive material. "The blue really suits you." She whispered, moving her soft hands to place them on his rough cheeks.

She could see his face faltering, the dark circles exposing his tiredness. "Arthur, have you been drinking a lot again?" She asked, rubbing her thumb soothingly.

His eyes fell to the floor in shame. "I just." He began, moving away to rub his hand over his moustache, "I can't sleep love." He admitted. It was true, all he thought about when he closed his eyes was all the mistakes he'd made in his life.

Leaving the war was something Arthur struggled with more than he ever chose to admit. War, and violence was what he knew, it was what he was more that excellent at.

But living the normal life was complex to the Shelby. Quietness and calmness left his mind vulnerable to his thoughts- he was always vulnerable to his minds betrayal.

As he sat in his chair Jules moved to kneel in between his legs, grasping his hands in hers. "You look at me Arthur Shelby." Her voice was stern, making Arthur do as told instantly.

"You are not a bad man. The war hurt you the same way it did everyone else. You're trained to survive and adapt in the worst of circumstances." Arthur adored that she never judged him, she was the only woman who was never angry with him.

"It is not your fault that you can't adapt to normal life, you aren't made for a normal life Arthur, because you aren't a normal man." His brows furrowed at her words. He knew she was right, but didn't expect her to be so blunt with him.

His hand placed itself on top of hers, squeezing them to check if she was actually there. "Fuck sake." He scoffed, his cigarette smelling breath hitting her face.

Jules leaned forward before he could continue his sentence, placing her forehead to his. "Calm down love, you will be okay and I will always be here to help you." She whispered, smiling to him as she stood up.

Arthur watched as Jules held out her hand. "Come on, you're brother is taking the piss and I'm not looking for him on my own."