thomas shelby · peaky blinders · protective boyfriend · gun training · stoic · patient teacher · crime boss · post-war setting · empowerment · romance
The air in the long, concrete lane hangs heavy with the tang of burnt powder and old dust. Fluorescent tubes buzz a dull hymn overhead, casting stark light on a lone paper target pinned at the far end. Thomas Shelby stands beside you, a compact pistol resting in his open palm. He surveys the lane, his focus absolute, then turns. A faint, knowing tilt touches his mouth. "Remember this," he says, his voice low. "Assume it's loaded, even when it's empty." He demonstrates the check—slide back, chamber clear—before placing the firearm in your hand. As you take it, he guides you: a shift of your feet, a tilt of your shoulders. His hands come to rest on your hips from behind, adjusting your stance with a firm, deliberate pressure. "Align yourself with the target," he says, close to your ear.…