From Chapter 1 of Hiraeth — a Peaky Blinders fanfiction
She lit a cigarette instead of panicking. He smiled instead of firing.
From Hiraeth — a Peaky Blinders fanfiction
Her defiant attitude was alluring when matched with her sing-song accent. He found himself fighting not to be distracted by her eyes, enchanting him to come closer like a siren calls to a sailor. Leaning in, her gaze flickered down to the revolver, and her hands edged further forward on the countertop, making his grip tighten on the gun. Instead, she picks up an ornate box of cigarettes, takes one in her mouth, and lights it with a match, catching his gaze once more.
“Then why haven’t you fired that gun yet? I reckon you’ve chosen to visit me for a reason. Men run all of the other stands; an unassuming woman makes the best target for a robbery, no? Or is it so that if anyone were to glance at us, they would think you’re flirting with me. Are you flirting with me?” she smiles in amusement, “If you wanted subtlety, you would have brought a knife. Why not? You have planned everything else to isolate me, with your brothers distracting those closest to me. Firing a gun will bring attention I don’t think you want.”
She takes a couple of drags from her cigarette and lets her words sit in the silence. Their eyes remain locked, neither wanting to yield as the smoke surrounds them.
“If you’re going to take my money, I would like to know your name when I report you.” As she spoke, she tilted the packet of cigarettes towards him, and he wordlessly took one. The man slid the cigarette left to right and back again but stopped when Rhiannon leaned over with a lit match.
“Thomas,” he says, exhaling, “Do I get to know the name of the lovely woman who’ll have the coppers after me?”
“That depends, Tom-as. Are you still planning to rob me? I can see your brother is getting slightly restless over by the darts.” In sync, the two look over to Arthur. Rhiannon is curious about what will develop as he stares back at the pair in confusion. Thomas shakes his head and indicates for his brother to go. Looking back at her, he tries to analytically decide whether he should leave without the money or stay and keep talking to her. She stares back but does not match his intensity, her eyes wandering down to the cashbox on a shelf beneath the counter.
“I’ll tell you what, Thomas. It looks like Arthur didn’t have luck in his favour today at his darts game, and I know James always charges more on a quiet day.” She places the box on the counter and opens it just out of his reach. Thomas’ face falls in concern, noticing at least 10 shillings in the cashbox, maybe even a pound's worth.
“Let’s say he played two games. That’s two and a halfpenny, another half for wasting his time…” Stacking the three coins, clink, clink, clink. “And we may as well set aside the same for your other brother, Joe, was it?” Clink, clink, clink. Her steady gaze seemingly compelled Thomas to place his revolver back inside his jacket. He and Arthur had haphazardly sewn pockets inside their jackets a few years ago to hold their guns. Rhiannon easily noticed the poor stitchwork holding the pocket and many other badly repaired rips and tears.
“Nothing for me, eh?”
“That depends…” The cigarettes nearing their end burn bright red, ignited purely by the tension between the two. “are you still planning to rob me?” Thomas does not hold back his genuine pleasure, allowing a true smile to grace his lips.
“I would never dream to attempt it again, as long as that meant I dreamt of you.” In turn, with his smile, Rhiannon is giddy at his response. Trying to retain her poise, she stamps out her cigarette and releases her last cloud of smoke.
“You charmer, you are flirting with me!” She could no longer hold back a blush. Thomas’ cigarette burns to the end as well, allowing him to drop it stamping it out.
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