"It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop." Confucius

Seamus was not as cheerful as he had initially hoped he would be tonight. He still had that bittersweet taste down his throat at the mere thought of what their grandfather was planning for Adele. He couldn't believe their mother was finally right. This man was a fucking snake.

Nonetheless, he was a Peaky Blinders first and foremost. Or, at least tonight he was again. Just like John predicted.

Hence why he proudly walked towards 6 Watery Lane to boost the morale of one of his comrades. Finn had contacted him by letter to tell him about Arthur's descent into hell. This moron had seriously screwed up! He had killed a kid.

A fucking kid!

A kid hardly younger than him.

Sometimes Seamus wished he could have remained as innocent as Adele thought. Unfortunately he hasn't been innocent for a long time. He had done things during Adele's absence that would make her turn pale. He had earned his razor blades after all. He had only agreed to put them away for the sake of his sister's health. She had enough to deal with back then. With the war and the death of Gretta.

But now she has changed. Just like him.

He didn't really want to go back to his old ways. He loved his wealthy life and easy money. He worked with dignity and took full advantage of the pleasures that the easy life gave him. He spent a good deal of his time between the books of accounts and the beds of pretty young ladies far too sentimental for their own good.

Seamus knew he had turned out to be a bastard but he didn't really care much about it at this point. In a way, he looked more like his sister in this respect. The feelings were for the weak. It made him stupid and blind. He was losing sight of his goals. And they couldn't afford to love in a world as hard as theirs. Birmingham was a rough place and messed up on all sides. It was like a sharp razor blade. Smooth on the outside and deadly on the inside.

He listened to the sound his boots were making along the damp cobblestones before removing his hands from his pockets as he pulled up to Watery Lane. He pushed open the Shelby's door sharply without even bothering to knock before removing his cap as he made his way down the hall.

"The fuck you're doing, Arthur? Get your lazy ass up!" He nodded as he rushed over to the older one to put his hands on his shoulders."It's a time for booze and a good fuck!"

"Go away fucking pos'h!" Arthur growled as he fled his touch.

Seamus looked up to meet Finn's worried and strained gaze before letting out a sigh as he removed his hands from his shoulders. He leaned against the cabinet containing the family plates before thrusting his hands into the pockets of his tight pants. Then, he snorted."You've messed up, Arthur. Badly."

Arthur hunched over the blazing fire in the fireplace as he stared into the flames with his elbows resting on his thighs."What the hell it can do to you, eh? You're living the perfect little country life now."

"C'mon, Arthur. You know he's one of us." Finn defended.

Seamus gave the kid a jaded look. He'd been fucking grown up since the last time he'd seen him. And yet there was still a kid. He could still see the remnants of youthful plumpness around his cheeks. He was going to be eaten by his brothers. He had better learn sooner rather than later what it really meant to be a Shelby.

He shook his head slightly at the thought before returning his eyes to the still whining shrew.

Arthur snorted as he nursed his glass of Irish whiskey apathetically, depressed."Yeah? Well, Tommy just has to take him up the ranks again. He doesn't want me there."

"Oh for god's sake, Arthur!" Seamus growled."How much longer are you going to sulk? You look like a fucking pussy right now!"

Arthur suddenly clenched his jaw before slowly turning his head toward Seamus, dangerous."What did you just say?"

Seamus suddenly sat up with a bad feeling. He gave Finn a side glance before returning his gaze to Arthur, clearing his throat in discomfort, suspicious. He could feel Finn hopping nervously in place in apprehension.

However, he didn't have time to fully realize what was happening as Arthur suddenly jumped up from the chair he was occupying before violently throwing his glass into the fire.

Seamus stiffened in anticipation of his attack before unwillingly tripping into the cabinet he had been leaning on as Arthur threw himself at him with his hands around his neck to scream in his face, a mad look in his eyes."What the fuck did you just fucking say?"

He immediately put his hands on Arthur's wrists to keep him from strangling him before he met his blank gaze despite the adrenaline pumping through his veins.

"I said, "What the fuck did you just say?" Shouted Arthur, mad with rage.

"Arthur! Arthur, stop!" Finn barked as he rushed at his brother to try and pull him out of Seamus."It's Seamus! He's with us! He's fucking family, Arthur!"

Seamus glanced at Finn urgently as a growl left the back of his throat at the sensation of Arthur pressing down on his air pipe before turning to the man to use their proximity to his advantage. He brought Arthur closer to his face, butting his forehead against his before yelling in his face."Snap out of it! Fucking Hell, Arthur! Look at you! A fucking mad dog!"

"Arthur! Arthur, it's Tommy who told me to get you!" Finn barked with a grimace as he could feel the tension running down his muscles in response to the fight his crazy brother was posing.

It wasn't long before the duo were surprised, however, as the mention of Thomas was enough to pull him out of the raging madness he was encountering. He rolled his eyes up to Seamus' closed face, fucking pissed before letting go of him abruptly, taking a step back in the commotion. He raised his hands in front of his face as if he had just seen a ghost before abruptly sitting down in the chair he previously occupied with one hand raised above his head.

Seamus cleared his throat loudly in an attempt to force the pain down his Adam's apple before readjusting the collar of his overshirt in frustration as he returned his worried eyes to Arthur. He looked like a broken shell. It was sincerely painful to see.

He shook his head before turning to the cabinet to hit the table with his foot in irritation."Shit, Arthur!"

"You've seen me?" He snapped in response."I'm staying away."

Seamus turned sharply to his feet in indignation at the whining whore before looking up with his narrowed eyes on Finn. The latter grimaced with a slight uncertain shrug of his shoulders.

Seamus sighed before straightening the now wrinkled jacket of his overpriced suit. He then raised his hand to take a small blue vial from the handkerchief pocket of his jacket to give it to Finn.

He took it with a shake of his head before turning to the edge of the wall to retrieve the nearest mirror. He put it down on the table, effectively calling Arthur's attention as he turned his head to follow his movements in confusion.

"I told both of you to get away."

"Shut your fucking trap, Arthur and listen to your kid brother for once." Seamus growled as he leaned back against the dinner cabinet to watch Finn's actions.

He was well aware of the effects of the little magic powder. It was like stepping into a whole new world. A sort of dust disinhibiting all the senses. It was nothing like what he had tasted before. Nothing like opium.

The little powder gave him hell and made him ten times better in bed. If Adele knew he was taking this sort of thing, she would have his head. Still, that didn't stop him from taking a line or two from so much to another.

He was not afraid of Adele. He was her brother after all. He was supposed to be the one in control, not the other way around.

Now that he thought about it, she would probably need a small dose of powder. At least she could relax a bit and let go of all the bad feelings that she seemed to constantly hold onto.

Finally, Adele was just like all those sentimental girls he fucked. She was still his sister. And he had immense respect for her and her intelligence, but she was still sentimental. Even though she was trying to hide her feelings. He could read through her like an open book now. He had caught his sister pining for Tommy enough times to know she still wasn't over him. Sadly he also knew she was a power-hungry ambitious bitch. She was a fucking dude deep down. She liked the freedom their grandfather gave her.

Seamus was fucking jealous that Gerald gave her a lot more confidence than he did sometimes. And then, he always ended up thinking. It was the descent of the powder. If there was anyone who could get them out of the shit it was Adele. She was kind of what Tommy was to Arthur to him.

"Sometimes ..." Finn whispered as he adjusted himself to the rickety chair before lining up a coco rail on the mirror."... when we boys are feeling blue, this is what we do."

"It's called Tokyo." Supplied Seamus with a nod.

Arthur gave Seamus a brief look over his shoulder before returning his eyes to his little brother. The latter used one of the razor blades on his cap to break up the powder before fine-tuning it into a perfect, straight line.

Arthur put his glass on the table to take the small vial between his fingers in tense silence.

Finn looked up at Seamus in question, letting him nod in Arthur's direction. He nodded before turning to his brother again.

"It is good stuff, Arthur, it will help you." He cleared his throat."For special occasions."

Arthur distractedly toyed with the vial between his fingers as he glanced temptingly between the powder and his little brother before looking at Seamus again.

The latter only arched an eyebrow with a haughty snort before smiling broadly as he watched Arthur snort his first rail.

"This is it, Arthur!" Boasted Seamus as he stepped forward to hit Arthur on the back."Now bring your ass! We have a bar to empty!"

Unsurprisingly, Arthur was high as a kettle all the way to the Garrison. He couldn't help but scream at the top of his lungs and pull Seamus to his side as if their last encounter never happened.

Seamus didn't hold it against him. It was already forgotten.

He jumped up with the old man in an equally festive mood. He was going to get drunk tonight. It was his night. Just like in the good old days!

"My fucking Garrison!"

"Seamus!"

"Lizzie!" Hailed Seamus as the brunette threw herself on him to embrace him lasciviously before placing a large kiss on his cheek, leaving a bright red mark on his skin. He let out a hoarse laugh before slamming her ass as he walked past her to the bar."Arthur, give me your best juice!"

"Right away, you fookin' bastard!" Arthur yelled visibly excited.

Seamus shook his head with a laugh as he turned his back to the bar for support before scanning the newly renovated pub. There was a bomb attack a few months ago. Obviously the Peaky Blinders took the opportunity to renovate the entire establishment.

It was worthy of the London clubs now. Despite his already high spirits, Seamus thought how much his sister would have liked this place. It was very different from the old pub they had once been around.

There was gilding all over the place and big red velvet sheets draped all over the place. They had even set up the back room creating a kind of a little more intimate place for activities a little more explicit.

Seamus decided at that moment that this place was going to be his new stronghold. He didn't give a damn about his sister's admonitions. She was going to have to live with it. He wasn't meant to act like the perfect haves all the time. He couldn't act as well as her. After all, there was still some fucking tinker deep down.

The music was in full swing, leaving Seamus to have his drink before rushing towards John, Isaiah, Finn and Esme.

His sister might be damned tonight as long as he cared because he was going to get drunk.

Ada let out a wide gaze of wonder as she readjusted her son in her arms before taking more into the Garrison. It had nothing to do with the old pub of her childhood at all. It was now distinguished and worthy of the best clubs in the country. Maybe even from New York.

No matter how fucking irritating her brothers could be, they knew how to play on their folly for grandeur. It was sumptuous.

She couldn't help but think how much Adele would have loved this place. It was exactly her style now. Rich, elegant and oversized.

Ada curved her lips in a smile at the thought of all the crazy nights she could have with Adele.

Unfortunately, hearing a familiar laugh soon distracted her from her original course of thought.

"Ada." Chuckled Polly as she rushed towards her, drunk."I didn't know you were coming."

"Hello, aunt Polly." Ada smiled as Polly hugged her to her side before giving her a kiss, the smell of gin strong all around the matriarch. It wasn't long before Ada turned to Esme as she hastened to grab Karl for a hug."Look at this, Karl!"

"Oh, Ada, why don't you come home?"

Ada turned to Polly again just to catch sight of Thomas approaching their duo."Hello, Ada."

Almost immediately, Polly stopped speaking before she passed Thomas without even giving him a look.

Ada raised her eyebrows at her brother before approaching him to accept the drink he offered her."Tommy."

"What do you think, eh?" He asked with a slight proud tone along his mask of impassivity as he turned to the crowded pub.

"It's very, um…"

Thomas pursed his lips derisively."Gold?"

"Yeah." She snorted with a smile.

"Hello, Ada!" John saluted as he rushed over to her for a hug.

Ada immediately hugged him back, genuinely grateful to be with her family again before giving a mock warning about her brother."Hello, trouble, how are you doing?"

John rocked her lightly in their embrace, nearly spilling her glass before calling their other brother."Hey, Arthur, look who it is."

Ada let a small smile curl her lips before taking a deep breath at the sight of Tommy approaching her again.

She gave Polly a worried look. Her drunken laughter echoed in the pub again."So what do you want me to say to her?"

"Just talk to her."He exhaled, tense."Nobody can get through to her. Tell her I have no choice." Ada turned to him again, nodding her head in understanding."I appreciate this."

However, it wasn't long before the duo were interrupted by a tense throat clearing.

A large cloud of smoke flew towards them as Seamus pulled his cigarette from his lips to greet them."Tommy. Ada."

Thomas cleared his throat loudly and suddenly stiff as he gave a short nod to him with his jaw clenched."Seamus."

Seamus barely hid his smirk as he took an envelope from the inside pocket of his jacket before handing it to Ada. He didn't miss Thomas's gaze dwelling on the familiar handwriting.

"Here. It's for you."He said with a slight huff."Apparently I'm her fucking delivery man now."

Ada rolled her eyes with a tight little smile. She gave her brother a brief sidelook before accepting the envelope."Thank you, Seamus. You look well. And drunk. Does she know you're there?"

"What do you think?" Seamus asked as he took his cigarette back between his lips and spoke around it."When does she not know what I'm doing?"

"You better be careful that she doesn't hear you then." Chuckled Ada as she laid her hand affectionately on his shoulder before passing him to join Polly at the bar.

Seamus spun around on his heels to watch Ada walk away with an almost brotherly smile on his lips before turning to the table where Finn and the others were.

He was about to join them when he heard a familiar hoarse, gritty voice call out to him."How is she?"

Seamus removed his cigarette from his lips as he turned around again with his eyebrows raised at the sight of Tommy leaning against one of the pillars painted in gold. He wore his usual ice mask, a simple smile with closed lips as he peered at him like some kind of insect under a magnifying glass.

Seamus would be lying if he said he wasn't mildly intimidated by Thomas fucking Shelby. He was certainly disturbing as a type. He just had that blood-curdling ease with one look and Seamus knew enough to know when to stay in his place.

Taking another inhalation of tobacco, Seamus rubbed his nose with the two fingers holding his cigarette before making his way to Thomas. He put some distance between them as he leaned on the pillar in his diagonal. He saw the clan leader's gaze hover over Ada and Polly at the bar before shrugging his shoulders.

"She's doing well."He replied, calling Thomas' attention back to him as he took a clean drag of his cig, his eyes riveted on the Garrison's floor."The business world fits her like a glove. The devil in disguise. Gerald's business partners certainly didn't expect that."

Seamus almost felt like he saw a semblance of a smile on Thomas's face only he could never really be sure with him. So, he just looked away again with his deceptive silence. It was almost as frustrating as it was when he was with his sister. She denied it everything she wanted, Seamus felt like he was dealing with a mirror copy of his sister.

Thomas withdrew his cigarette from his lips to stare at the smoke consuming the paper with a slight crease between his eyebrows."Is she seeing anyone right now?"

"She went on a date or two with this guy from London. William. He's part of the old man's associates board. So far she doesn't seem really interested. But that's hardly surprising. This weirdo suddenly took it into her head to ridicule all the businessmen in Birmingham by being successful in whatever she sets out to do."He explained with a scoff before adding after a second thought."Pretty sure that the old man is trying to marry her though."

Tommy nodded with a slight twitchy grin."Marry her, eh? Sounds dangerous."

"Ha, you would know." Scoffed Seamus as he gave the man a sidelong glance.

Surprisingly, Tommy let out a genuine smirk this time as he straightened up to turn to face him. He took a long puff of his cigarette as he carefully observed the man Seamus had become before releasing the smoke from his lungs in silence.

"And you ... did you find yourself a wife?" He asked with a nod of his head."One of these wealthy girls."

"Well… let's say I'm actively researching." Smirked Seamus, taking a snort from Tommy.

"And you take Tokyo now." He deadpanned. Seamus instantly diminished his smile."Does she know?"

"Some things have to be kept hidden. For her own good." Seamus replied with a defiant look.

For a moment, Tommy thought he saw Adele.

He cleared his throat as he held up the gaze so similar to her in silence, defiantly before running his tongue along his dry lips."You've become a man, Seamus. I'll give you that."

"You know I could kick your ass, right?" Suddenly stated Seamus, serious, insolent. Thomas crossed his hands with his raised eyebrows, almost in awe."You slept with my sister. And you broke her heart."

"I broke her heart, huh?" Thomas repeated, nodding thoughtfully. Seamus watched his reactions carefully. He really didn't let anything show. And yet he had been able to notice the slight noticeable tic along his jaw. His sister had marked him in a way as well."Looks like she's doing pretty well for someone with a broken heart."

"It's Adele." Seamus replied. "She'd rather cut her finger with a damn butter knife than admit she was in pain. She doesn't know how to deal with her feelings."

Thomas swallowed as he brought the rest of his cigarette to his lips again as he analyzed his words before attempting to ignore the emotions threatening to resurface.

He was not easily smitten. He wasn't torturing himself over a simple girl. But Adèle was not a simple girl. She was a real woman. A fucking bullet. She pierced the skin, tore the entrails and stayed forever lodged under the skin even after coming out. She didn't have to put a bullet in his head but it was just like. No matter how hard he tried to erase her from his mind, she always came back to haunt him at night. The feel of her skin, her smell. None of the distractions he had tried compared to her.

She was just one girl among many, Polly had said.

Thomas could feel the bitterness along his tongue at the mere thought. He almost wanted to laugh. Even Polly knew she was lying.

Seamus watched in suspicion as he nodded before resting his hand on his shoulder with his unreadable expression back into place."Don't take that long to come back next time, Seamus."

Seamus didn't have time to say anything else since like any good businessman, Thomas soon changed his focus. He pulled away from him, letting Seamus follow his tense shoulders and annoyed expression.

He followed his gaze across the room just to snort at the sight of Polly making a bite out of a good family guy.

The little venard was going to spend a hell of a night.

Hi guys,

So this is a chapter mostly focused on Seamus' pov. I thought it would be interesting to see things through his eyes as well. I really want to give each of my characters a specific place in this story. It's not just a matter of copying and pasting the series.

Also, I picture the older version of Seamus as Ben Barnes.

Don't forget to tell me what you think.

Xxo, Imagine-write-and-love