When the King meets the Queen (Peaky Blinders)

Oppression

(Adira's P.O.V.)
"I don't like it. You shouldn't have to fucking go alone" Ruth snapped as she paced back and forth in front of me. Meanwhile I was just leaning against the wall behind me. We are about a block away from the Garrison but we could see it as clear as day, well actually night. I puffed out some smoke from between my lips "well deal with it" I responded. She looked up at me with narrowed eyes. "Adira. They are the Peaky fucking Blinders!" she said as she pointed at the Garrison. "And we are the fucking Leviathans. So bloody act like one" I snapped back at my right-hand. We had a small staring contest but not long after she looked away with a sigh. "You sure you'll be fine?" She asked with a softer tone. It was her mother instinct getting the better of her. I smiled a soft smile at her and put a hand on her shoulder. "If I didn't trust it. I wouldn't go alone. You would be by my side". She nodded and she stepped back waiting for me to leave then eventually go to her hiding spot, where she and some others could help out if needed. I took one last smoke of the cigarette before throwing it away and walking towards the bar with a confident step in my stride. I arrived and opened the door stepping inside. I looked around, seeing no one except for one young male. He spotted me and stood up from his seat in the booth. He may be taller than me but that never intimidates me. "I'm sorry ma'am but the Garrison is closed for the evening" he kindly informed me with a cold stare. I smirked. "Luckily I am not here for a drink, not necessarily atleast" I responded looking back into his eyes. He raised an eyebrow. "I have a meeting here at 9. And seeing as it is-" I said and grabbed my pocketwatch to look at the time "almost 9. I kindly request you to bring me to the meeting. Instead of waisting my fucking time" I ordered him with a demanding voice. He narrowed his eyes annoyed at my tone but leaded the way none the less. He opened a door for this private room. I couldn't see the occupients but I could clearly hear them. "What is it Finn?" A low voice asked, "they are here" the young lad or Finn answered. Finn stepped aside and motioned for me to walk inside. I saw the familiar faces of the three men from a couple of days ago. The infamous Shelby brothers. None of them stood up, this irritated me. I'm used to be greeted properly by people. "Is this how you greet a person?" I asked looking at all of them. Finn looked at his brothers wanting to know how they would react to my statement. Two of them laughed while looking at each others. While the one with piercing blue eyes just silently watched me, trying to figure me out. "Sorry Love" the oldest one said with a smirk as he leaned on the table, "we want to talk to the leader. Not some random assistant. So run back and get him for us". I chuckled and shook my head. "Two things" I said and looked at him and narrowed my eyes. "One. Don't call me Love, Love" I said using the same nickname he had given me. "And two. You are talking to him" I snapped placing my hands on the table. It was silent for a while. "So which one of you boys has been taught some goddamn manners and is going to tell me who is who". To my suprise the blue eyed man stood up and put his hand out for me to shake. I took it in my hands. "Tommy Shelby". Ah the leader. "Those are my brothers, Arthur and John" he said pointing to the other two males, "and that's Finn" he said pointing behind me. "Adira Shaw" I responded as we let each others hands go. Tommy motioned for me to sit as he sat back in the chair himself. I took of my jacket and immediatly John and Arthur grabbed their guns and pointed them to me.

This was expected because I had a gun in my shoulder belt. I held my hand up and carefully took out my gun. Before placing it down on the table and nodding to the two males to basically do the same. Their eyes quickly looked over to Tommy waiting for an order. He simply waved his hand and both of them put the guns on the table as well. I sat down on the chair and crossed my legs. "Wan' a drink?" Tommy asked as he held a bottle of Irish Whiskey in his hand. "Yes. Thank you" I responded as I retrieved the glass and taking one sip from it. Tommy cleared his throat. "So let's get right fucking to it, aye. Why did you kill one of my fucking men?" He asked as he placed a cigarette in his mouth before lighting it. His eyes bored in mine waiting for an answer. "Female oppression" I simply stated not missing a beat. His eyes slightly narrowed, probably expected me to tremble from nerves or fear. But that emotion is long gone. "What has female oppression have to do with a dead man?" Arthur asked not catching on as he looked at his brother. "It's quite simple" I said and reached for the drink, "His wife came to us seeking protection from her controlling and abusive husband. We threatened him. But as per usual the threat doesn't take. So a simple bullet to the head does wonders" I said and smirked as I looked down at my gun. "Doesn't give you the right to kill a man" John replied shaking his head, "and I assume that men have the fucking right to abuse their wife" I snapped at him with anger. "Woman are the only oppressed group that stays in an intimate relationship with their oppressor" Arthur whispered shaking his head, "oh fuck you!" I said raising my voice at him, "don't fucking talk to me like that!" He yelled standing up and slamming his fists on the table. I was quick to follow his move. "We all fucking know that when a man is oppressed it's a fucking tradegy. But when it comes to us it's like a fucking tradition! So don't you talk to me about females who stay with the goddamn oppressor!" I snapped angry at him. Arthur stayed silent and we both fought for dominance waiting for the first to sit down. Tommy sighed "what do you want us to do about it?". "Keep your men in line if you don't want to start a war" I said and pointed at him and eventually sat back down. "Doesn't really give us anything good, innit" he responded. "Doesn't give you any dead men". "There is always a chance of a dead man in this line of work. So give me something I can use" he said taking a hit of his cigarrette. "I did some homework and found out that you do good work with transportation" he informed me. I moved my head to the side, intruiged with him. Yes, he had done some homework on me but yet he doesn't know everything. Thomas sat forward and put his arms on the table and folded his hands. "I will personally make sure that my men will keep an eye out for your females. Call it protection if you will. In return we can use some of your transportation routes" he explained to me. "The legal and illegal routes" he said with a small smirk. Telling me he knew about my illegal bussiness. I thought for a moment. To have protection from someone as powerfull as the Peaky Blinders could benefit me. And giving him access to the transportation routes can give me the opportunnity of having a potential business partner. "You will inform me if your men saw someone being abusive but also when they are abusive to their wives and you will let us handle it. Do that and I won't ask what goods will be transported. Legal or illegal" I said giving me some more benefits of the deal. He looked over his brothers and they nodded. Confirming that they liked the deal as well. "Seems we are partners" Tommy said stretching his hand out for me to shake, "business partners. I aint your wife" I reminded him. His eyes sparked slightly. But I couldn't tell you what it meant.

(Tommy's P.O.V.)
So the female I want is the powerfull leader of the Leviathans. We shook hands to confirm the deal. "Seems we are partners" I responded. "business partners. I aint your wife" she said with a playfull yet disapproving look. Yet. You aint my wife yet but I will make you mine. I know she still doesn't trust me fully, why would she? She just talked about female oppression so maybe she has expierenced it as well. But what kind off oppression I don't know. But hopefully I will find out because she is some female, a true Queen you can say. She is one of the rare once. So effortlessly herself. She's badass with a good heart. Soft but strong. Unapologetic and honest. She's the type of woman you go to war beside because she doesn't care if she started it or not. She will fight for her people. She's the type of woman I want to marry.

Published: 23rd of July 2020.