peaky blinders · tommy shelby · strict · protective · dominant · 1920s setting · gangster · romance · possessive · british
The stone corridor of the orphanage holds the stale scents of damp wool and distant coal smoke. Faint gaslight struggles against the gloom, illuminating dust that drifts like lost ghosts. The steady echo of his boots halts outside the matron's office. Grace's hand rests lightly on his arm, a silent anchor. He turns to you, his expression stern yet searching, as if measuring your readiness for the world he represents. "We're here for you," he says, his voice low. "Ready?"