Peaky Blinders. One shot and imagines

School teacher - Part 15 - Tommy x Arthur x Reader

Tommy came back to the room with all the things that (Y/n) had asked for. Stopping in the doorway, as he saw the former school teacher sat on the side of his brother's bed; one of her hands holding Arthur's limp, clammy palm, while the other, brushed his longer, unkempt hair away from his face.

Despite still believing that Arthur didn't deserve someone like (Y/n), it was obvious from this scene, that she still cared for his brother. That there was something quite intimate about the whole thing; and if Arthur had been awake, he would probably have told him to fuck off and leave the pair to it. Though Tommy still couldn't help but think that bringing (Y/n) back to Small Heath, might end up hurting her again, which was something that he didn't want.

"I got everything.........." Tommy suddenly announced. (Y/n) almost jumping from the bed, as he walked into the room and placed the bowl of hot water, soap and towels on the bedside table.

"He moved...............?"

"No.........but he's still breathing, so that a good thing...............Mister Shelby...........?"

"(Y/n), its Tommy. And what is it...............?"

"Do you blame me for this.....................?" (Y/n) asked, as she looked up at the head of the family firm.

"Blame you..............no, (Y/n). I don't blame you for any of this. Arthur is big enough and ugly enough to have done all this to himself. Everything that has happened, is only one person's fault.............." Tommy replied, as he placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. Tommy moving a little bit closer, as he looked into her eyes. The school teacher feeling the breath catch in her throat, as he moved closer still. A sudden groan from the man in the bed causing the two to move apart.

"Th-thank you. Um............perhaps you could help me strip Arthur to the waist? I don't think that its appropriate for me to go any further than that; but his coat, jacket and shirt, they aren't.........they aren't good. They're dirty and well........they smell." (Y/n) said. Smiling again as Tommy nodded. The two pulling Arthur to a seated position so that they could undress him.

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(Y/n) watched as the door to the room closed behind Tommy. The former school teacher still not sure about what had nearly happened between her and Arthur's brother, if anything. (Y/n) believing that it perhaps had something to do with the fact that it had just been a very long day for both of them, and she was reading more into the situation than there was. That her focus, at least for now, should be on Arthur. For despite what she had said about only coming down because of Charles and the other children, she knew that she had wanted to see Arthur just as much; and she hated herself for it.

Reaching over to the bedside table, she grabbed the facecloth and pushed it into the hot water, soaking it before rubbing on the soap. Carefully brushing the soft towelling over Arthur's forehead. She was still surprised to see him like this; to see how far the mighty had fallen. (Y/n) finding herself wondering what might have happened, if Polly hadn't pulled her away from him that night.

"Why have you done this to yourself, Arthur? Has anyone ever dared to tell you, that you are a self-destructive idiot; and that no matter what you might think about yourself, no matter what you might think your life, there are so many people that care about you; that love you. And god help me.............I'm one of them. So, you have to stop all this foolishness. You have to stop trying to hurt yourself. If not for yourself, then for your brothers, for Ada. For............for me............." The school teacher told the still very unconscious Arthur. A soft, sad chuckle leaving her lips, as another groan came from him.

"I'll take that as a, yes you are right, (Y/n); and I will stop being so bloody stupid. Now, let's get you cleaned up as best we can." She continued, as she wiped the cloth across his chest.

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Arthur groaned. His head..........he was sure that there were pick axes digging at the inside of his skull. It feeling as though rats were gnawing at the back of his eyes. The last thing that he could recall was making his way into the worst pub in town; the rest of them already having thrown him out and barred him, even though they knew who he was........or because of it. Yet there was something else, one more thing he could remember. A figure.........a figure that he was sure had been sent from heaven. But it couldn't have been her. She had been gone for nearly two years; Tommy had refused to find her, and no matter what he had tried, he had not been able to get any information on her whereabouts. Arthur sure now that he would never see his school teacher again. That he really had lost the one and only beautiful thing in his life.

Slowly, Arthur stretched out. His body aching as much as his head. He knew the long nights; the alcohol and the drugs were taking their effect. That eventually, they would kill him. All he could hope for that it would be sooner rather than later.

Once more, and reluctantly, he moved. His heavy eyes suddenly opening as his hand fell on something. His fingers carefully moving as he realised that they were entwined with soft hair. Arthur slowly sitting up; sure that his heart would stop as he saw the face of the woman, whose head lay on the bed next to him.