Letters // [thomas shelby / peaky blinders]

1,550

"G,

Soon.

Tom."

That was all it said.

And that was all it needed to say.

It was his second letter, saying that he thought it was all almost over, this torturous game of waiting for him to come home.

Those two letters were what I've been holding onto every single day for the past six months. I didn't know when he'd be here.

Just soon.

My shifts at the Garrison have been getting longer and longer as men start to slowly drift back into Birmingham, scarred from the war without jobs.

But not my boys. Not my Shelby men. Where the fuck are my Shelby men?

It was late by the time I had booted the last man out, kicking him off the step and quickly bolting the door shut after myself to let them know we're really closed for the night. Just for a few minutes, Pol or Martha are due to get me any second.

I fill the bucket and get my mop, doing a quick wash of the floor and scrub it over. There's a knock at the door and I undo the latch.

"I know I should be done!" I wave behind myself as the door opens. "I'm just finishing. William Caldwell is back. Had to wait until he finished his last pint then booted him off the step-" I turn and see that it's not Polly or Martha.

It's my Tommy.

"Don't give a fuck about William Caldwell." He mutters and we both rush to each other, meeting in the middle of the wet floor, embracing each other. "You don't understand how good this feels."

"Oh, I think I understand." I whisper and grip him tighter. "Can't believe you're real."

"Come here." His hand cups my cheek and our eyes meet. "Never leaving you like that again." He shakes his head. "Ever, got that?" He says and I nod.

"Fucking kiss me, Tom." I whisper and he presses his lips to mine, igniting my skin in flames in one swoop.