You're Just Not Him-Tommy Shelby X Reader X Arthur Shelby

You're Just Not Him-Tommy Shelby x Reader x Arthur Shelby

(GIF credit to @mutlulugumhayallerim)

Tags: @captivatedbycillianmurphy @jenepleurepasbaby @amirahiddleston @bloodorangemoonlight

Requested by anonymous: ‘Could you write a Tommy x Reader x Arthur in which she is the oldest of her siblings and a family friend who Tommy likes, Tommy grew up seeing Reader’s eyes shine for Arthur, her head whipped when he entered or was mentioned, her touches that lingered on him and after nothing of that changing with the war, Tommy makes his move as he thinks that Arthur takes her for granted but turns out that she is mentally unavailable and prefers only being their friend despite her feelings for Arthur.’

Characters: Tommy Shelby x Reader, Arthur Shelby x Reader, John Shelby x Reader (platonic), Polly Gray x Reader (platonic), Ada Shelby x Reader (platonic), Finn Shelby x Reader (platonic)

Meanings: (Y/N)=Your name

Warnings: Swearing, alcohol, jealousy, heartbreak, arguing, angst

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Polly and Ada walked beside each other as they made their way to the Garrison. One of Tommy’s plans had gone through, the Peaky Blinders were once again successful, and had earned themselves even more money. The women were dressed up, secretly taking a liking to flaunting their nice clothes (but they would never let Tommy know that).

“Where’s (Y/N)? Is she meeting us there?” Ada asked.

“Of course she is.” Polly said.“Tommy made sure of it.”

“I wish he would just ask her to dinner already, it’s been going on since we were kids.”

“Thomas fucking Shelby, leader of one of the most ruthless gangs, can’t even admit his feelings for a woman.” Polly scoffed, holding the door open for Ada as they entered the pub.

As usual, it was alive with chatter and music, it was packed and everyone had drinks in their hands. Some people were past it, drunk beyond what they could handle. The pair waltzed through the crowd as it parted for them, and they entered the Shelby’s private room. The Shelby brothers (including young Finn) were sat there already, a bottle of whiskey and four glasses on the table; everyone but Tommy were playing some sort of card game, but paused it as the women walked in. Tommy also looked up, sighing when he didn’t see (Y/N) with them.

“What a charming greeting Tommy.” Ada rolled her eyes as she sat down.

“Eh, leave the man alone.” Arthur smirked, looking down at his cards.“He’s pining after a certain someone, isn’t that right Tom?”

Tommy didn’t reply, taking a drag of his cigarette. Everyone chuckled under their breaths. It wasn’t often they saw this vulnerable side of him.

“Don’t worry Thomas,” Polly smiled,“she’ll be here. She always is.”

Right on cue, the door opened again, and there she was. Her hair was perfectly curled into waves, rosy cheeks with a faint red lipstick, and her eyelashes accentuated her big, doe eyes. It was as if an angel had walked into the room. (Y/N) smiled as the Shelby boys hollered, nodding to Ada and Polly as they greeted her in a calmer matter. She glanced around to see where she could sit, finding that there was only one beside Tommy.

It wasn’t that she didn’t like Tommy, they were close friends, almost family. But she had been hoping to be beside Arthur that night, perhaps pretend to not know how to play the card game, and get him to teach her; it had been sad how she imagined him whispering hints in her ear, leaning in and peaking at her cards, which she would giggle at. There was such a thing as too much imagination.

“Fashionably late again.” Tommy said, offering her a cigarette.

She kindly took it, reaching for her lighter when Tommy already had his out. She leaned towards the flame, watching the end of her cigarette be lit before she pulled away, feeling a rush of blood to her cheeks. She knew Tommy’s actions were intentional, she knew how he flirted, and she had seen the women who fell for it, only to spend one night with him (though for some women, that was all they needed, one of their fantasies had been fulfilled). Time after time, she told herself that she needed to address the problem, tell him that she could never be interested. However, she also couldn’t being herself to break her best friend’s heart.

“What did I miss out on then?” (Y/N) asked as smoke drifted out of her mouth.

Tommy couldn’t help but watch her pursed lips as she exhaled, and as she took another drag of her cigarette. He knew that he wanted something serious with her, he would never just use her, but when she was looking like that, his mind took over, imagining what they could do if they were the only two in the room.

“Arthur is fucking loosing to a sixteen year old!” John chuckled.

(Y/N) looked at Arthur, smiling when his eyebrows furrowed, frowning at his brothers.“So are you, you idiot.”

“What are you even playing?”

As she started a conversation with Arthur across the table, Polly saw Tommy’s static demeanour return, the light that was in his eyes suddenly gone as soon as (Y/N) took interest in his older brother. She knew that Tommy could treat her right (or at least she hoped he would), but there was nothing to say that (Y/N) felt the same. She could see her as part of the family, she could see (Y/N) standing by Tommy’s side, the beautiful Mrs Shelby that all the men gazed at secretly. Her and Ada had many conversations about it.

“You know I’m not understanding a word you say Arthur, especially since you’ve been drinking.” (Y/N) giggled.

“You shouldn’t be able to understand me most of the time then!” he laughed.

Tommy was becoming frustrated. All he wanted was to speak to (Y/N). He had tried countless times to make sure it was just the two of them. He would invite her for private drinks when the Garrison was closed, 'catch ups’ during the times they hardly see each other, and taking her out for lunch after she had been through a hard week. On the rare occasion she did come, he wouldn’t get the result he wanted; she still wasn’t reciprocating his feelings, but Tommy had made it up in his head that she was scared. Even though she had a tiny taste of what life was like with the Peaky Blinders, it would be completely different if she were to be with him.

(Y/N) put out her cigarette as she stood.“Right, I’m getting myself a drink.”

Tommy resisted jumping out of the chair as she left, glaring at his elder brother. Arthur was in his usual state, already on the way to becoming drunk, messing around with his other brothers. What did she see in him? Tommy had so much more to give to her. Why would she wait for someone who would be out every night for no good reason, when she could have him? Yes, there would be times where he too would be away, but he would be dealing with business, meaning he could return knowing she would be safe and happy. Finally rising from his seat, Tommy also got rid of his cigarette, avoiding all gazes as he exited.

(Y/N) leaned against the bar, thankful that people recognised her as a close friend of the Shelby’s, someone who shouldn’t be bothered. Harry appeared to serve her, pouring a large glass of wine, which she didn’t oppose to. Like every other time, she went to pay, but was told to put it away. She smiled, thanking him before turning around, only to be met by Tommy.

“You don’t need to offer to pay every time.” he smirked.

“It’s courtious isn’t it? I’m just being polite.”

“No need to be like that around here.” his body moved closer to her, hand on her lower back.

(Y/N) let it remain there, surprisingly happy with the action as she had noticed some men leering at her.

“Tommy, I-” her words halted as Arthur appeared, grinning at the pair.

He approached them, leaning against the bar. Although Tommy’s hand was still lingering on her, she had turned to face Arthur, watching as he ordered his usual.

“You could have used the window Arthur.” Tommy said, wondering why his brother had come out here.

“Gotta experience the atmosphere Tom!” Arthur exclaimed, clinking his glass against (Y/N)’s.“You got to admit, this is the happiest this place has been in a long time, including us!”

He nudged Tommy’s shoulder with his glass, winking at him before disappearing again, not noticing the look in (Y/N)’s eyes. He chuckled under his breath. Finally his brother had decided which girl was his, the one that would more than likely end up with a ring on her finger. He was happy with that. Tommy always drove himself insane with business at the shop and the gang, he deserved this. Arthur also liked (Y/N), well he loved her like a sister, it would be a perfect match. Now all Tommy had to do was grow some balls and make the first move.

The next morning, (Y/N) woke up with a terrible headache. She had drank a lot more than she could handle. Her mind flashed back to the shots she took with Arthur, just to seem like a fun person, and the drinking contests they held against each other. If she had seen any other woman desperate enough to get themselves drunk to impress a man, she would have tutted at them; look at her now.

As she sat up, she realised she was wearing a coat (along with the clothes from last night), though it wasn’t her own. She sighed as she realised it was Tommy’s, and that he had done this one purpose. It hurt her to think that he would do this to ensure that they would see each other, but she also knew that he did it out of kindness. It suddenly came back to her that he walked her home, wrapping her up in his coat to keep her warm, and battling with her stumbling legs as she giggled, eventually collapsing into bed.

Once she was dressed, and satisfied that she didn’t look a total mess, she grabbed her own coat, intending to head to Tommy’s house, to return the coat and inform him that nothing could happen between them. She would have eaten to give herself a stronger stomach but the thought of food itself made her want to throw up. Her sunglasses perched on her nose, despite there not being too much sun, and the cold air was like a bitch slap to the face. Every noise was extra loud, her sensitive ears begging her to go back home, lay her head down and stay under the covers all day.

As she knocked on Tommy’s door, her nerves started to build up. She wasn’t ready for the Sadness in his eyes, the frown that would appear once she told him to stop with his advances. Tommy had been through a lot more than most people, and he somehow always kept his head high, never showed his true pain. (Y/N) had experienced one break down, it was after the war, and she never wanted to see her friend in that state again.

Tommy answered the door, the only thing missing from his usual look was his blazer.

“I came to return this.” (Y/N) said, holding out his coat.

He stepped back, opening the door further, a gesture for me to walk inside. Holding back a sigh, she stepped in, pushing her sunglasses on top of her head. (Y/N) hanged his coat on the bannister, turning around to face him as he shut the door.

“Thank you for taking me home last night. I’m sorry if I was a handful.”

“You never have been able to handle your drinks.” he said, a slight joking tone to his voice.

“No, not like you lot anyway.”

They stood in silence, and it was verging on the uncomfortable side.

“(Y/N)-”

“Tommy-”

They spoke at the same time. Each of them thought about how much harder this was going to be.

“I wanted to ask you something last night.” Tommy continued.

(Y/N) said nothing, waiting for him to speak.

He slowly inched towards her, his steps small.“How could you love a man like Arthur?”

“W-what?”

“Arthur. Why would you fall for him? I know he’s my brother but…what has he ever offered you?”

“Tommy I…I don’t want to talk about that-”

“Then when will we talk about it? It’s causing a pain in me I don’t wish to have.”

“I don’t want to put you through any pain Tommy. I would never do that. But…Arthur and I connected after the war, and from there I…I’ve not been able to stop thinking about him.”

Tommy was silent as he brushed past her into the living room. She followed continuing his explanation.

“He was so broken, and I understand you were too Tommy, you all were but, but the way he spoke to me, for a moment the old Arthur came back. He was so loving, so open about his feelings.”

“Is that what you want? Someone who expresses their feelings all of the time?”

“I…” she shrugged her shoulders.“Tommy, all I can say was that there was a connection. But now I know that nothing can happen.”

“(Y/N), I can give you everything you want.” Tommy said, nearing her again.

“I’m not interested in valuables or money-”

“I’m not talking about that. I’m talking about my love for you.”

“Tommy, my head isn’t right. I go after Arthur because we suffer from the same things, he would be able to understand.”

“And I wouldn’t?” he wasn’t getting defensive, he was more upset, and his soft tone reflected that.

“I just…after last night I realised how stupid I had been. Going after someone who will never be interested. But I kept perusing him because it was a different thrill. It was something to distract me from my mind.”

“What is going on in your head?”

“A lot. A fucking lot Tommy. But no one wants to speak about it, only Arthur. I suppose that because he was easily able to talk about it and help me, I fell for him. But I understand now that I need to put myself first. And it’s embarrassing that a drunk night out made me realise that.”

“I could look after you.” he breathed out.

“Tommy, you’re never there. I know you’re busy with all this shit, and I could never put that stress on you. And…”

“And?”

Tommy was inches away from her, his hand slowly coming up to his cheek. He was so gentle. It was as if he had calculated his movements, making sure not to startle her as he made the boldest move. His head leaned down, lips so close that they could brush, but his heart shattered into a thousand pieces as (Y/N)’s head ducked down.

“And I don’t love you Tommy. I’m sorry.” she whispered.

They were frozen, with Tommy’s hand still on her cheek. (Y/N) had the courage to glance up into his eyes, but regretted it as soon as she saw him staring back. There was nothing behind them. The hope and lvoe had all but vanished. His hand slowly dropped, and he backed away.

“Tommy, you’re still my family-”

“Just go.”

“Tommy-”

“Go!” he yelled, causing her to flinch.

(Y/N) hesitantly left, pulling her gaze away from him. This isn’t what she wanted. This was what she had been avoiding. She didn’t want to be the one to break Tommy Shelby. What if he went off the rails? He could make an irrational decision because of his Fury and it would all be on her. She was so stupid. But she couldn’t make up her feelings for him, not when her head was in that state. The hangover that had been presented had all but disappeared, instead, the dragging guilt was on her mind; she slumped towards her home, ready to hide underneath her duvet covers forever. (Y/N) had broken Tommy Shelby’s heart, and that was one of the most awful things she had ever done in her lifetime.

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arthur shelby - S4E6