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orionwhispers · 4 years

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Tear In My Heart // Alfie Solomons

(A/N - hehe im back. im working on a bucky oneshot and a tommy series but both of them are super long and i wanted to take a little breather. this was supposed to be a drabble but you know me... ive got a few more ideas for shorter imagines like this with tommy and alf, requests are open! hope you enjoy. pls reblog and comment. love u see u soon xoxxo - also this is like the smuttiest thing ive written even though its not explicit but wow who am i)

warnings: violence, mention of fights and blood, protective alfie, heavily implied smut, lots of terrible language.

You knew something was wrong when Ollie practically crashed through the door. He took off part of the frame and made the hinges tear from the wood, nails and screws clattering onto the ground. The afternoon had been wonderful, perhaps too wonderful, and as always, real life found a way to shatter your rose tinted glasses.

It was starting to fall into autumn, the air chilly but comfortable, the streets slick with rain and the leaves turning into a sweet, buttery caramel all around you. The house was silent save for the birds singing in the trees and the rattling whip of the wind against your windows. The quiet was a perk of having house out in the country, far away from anything and anyone. Just the way he liked it.

Because to him, all he needed was his girl.

Well, and his dog.

The sun had barely risen when you got up - much to your husbands protests. You felt him stirring from beside you, a solid wall of warmth as he snaked his arms around your waist and pressed sleepy, half drunk kisses onto your spine. You laughed tiredly as his hands curled over everything they could reach, long calloused fingers roaming against your bare skin. He grumbled as you swung your legs from under the duvet and onto the floor, throwing on his white cotton shirt and letting it fall to your knees, trying to ignore the threats he was mumbling about what he was going to do to your boss for making you come in so early.

He made one last feeble attempt to grab you, exhaustion clouding his brain so he could do no more than swipe at the top of your thigh, making you laugh at his wandering hands.

“Stay.” He said, voice raspy and muffled by his pillow.

“No.”

“Yes.”

“I can’t.”

“You can.”

“Alf.” You sighed playfully, grabbing your strawberry slip dress and beaded heels and fur coat, darting into the bathroom to wash up and change. Through the noise of the running water you could hear the bed springs creak as he shifted, the entire frame groaning almost as much as him. Cyril watched you with his big chestnut eyes from the doorway as you fluffed up your hair and patted on coffee coloured lipstick, pinching the apples of your cheeks for a little flush.

You rummaged through your handbag as you made your way to the bedroom door, lost in your thoughts until you heard him speak, all low and gravelly and sending shivers up your spine.

“Oi. C’mere you.”

You rolled your eyes but walked into his outstretched arms, his body completely slumped and covered in thick duvets and pillows, just his tattooed skin and coarse, tousled hair poking out from underneath. He pulled you close into him, smelling like green apples and rum and sex and sea salt, like home. He mumbled something that you couldn’t quite make out, the sun starting to shine through the cracks in the curtains and as you started to get up he tugged you in tighter, placing messy, sloppy kisses down your throat and onto your collarbones.

You smacked his shoulder, grabbing his jaw and holding it still, placing a kiss on his lips, feeling him smile against your mouth.

“Bye, my love.”

“Hmph.”

You made it halfway down the hall before you heard: “Fred is driving you. Don’t even bloody think about walking alone at this time.” Followed by grunts and groans and finally deep, throaty snores.

———————————————————-

You accompanied your boss to a few meetings, taking notes and helping him check stock. After a few hours filled with cinnamon lattes and finger cramps and ink stains, he took you aside at the office and gave you the rest of the day off. You were a little suspicious, and had a feeling his good deed might have had something to do with your slightly intimidating husband, but you accepted it nonetheless and headed to Camden after lunch.

The air was brisk and you pulled your scarf tighter around your throat, dodging puddles and fat droplets of rain as they dropped from the trees. You stopped off at a little cafe on your side of town, buying turkey sandwiches, a garden salad and a platter of seasonal fruit, ignoring the fried sugar donuts and sausage rolls and thick, crispy cuts of bacon. A routine check up to the doctor had lead to Alfie being told that perhaps a healthier lifestyle would benefit some of his ailments, so despite his grumbling and childish ways you were doing your best to make sure he was eating his five a day - no matter how much he protested.

But at the last second you grabbed a cherry jam donut. His favourite.

The rain had become torrential by the time you left, the clouds morphing into a block of ashen, sooty grey, teetering on black. Once upon a time the impending storm would have made you feel nervous, the rattling trees and flashes of lightning had been the reason for many sleepless nights when you were a child, but now you looked forward to it.

Because now it meant something different. You, Alfie and Cyril curled up in bed, the fire roaring and flickering a brilliant orange gold. Your husbands arms tight around you, squeezing softly every time there was a clap of thunder, his kisses warm and protective across your throat, knowing that he’d never let anything hurt you. Drinking tea spiked with rum and playing cards, listening to the rain against the windows, feeling the white burst of lighting every time it struck the sky. Falling asleep next to each other, Alfie always waiting for you to doze off first, unable to sleep unless he knew you were alright.

You had once hated storms, and now you wished for them.

Your umbrella was totally battered by the time you got to the bakery. The bottom of your dress was damp from puddles and your shoes were on their last legs, the satin ruined and black with mud, but you didn’t care, walking through the side entrance with a smile bigger than the moon. A few of the old boys saw you instantly, straightening up and grinning at you, welcoming you with whisky soaked aprons and calloused hands. Back when you and Alfie started dating he had all but forbidden his staff from looking, talking, or even thinking about you, but over the years you had formed a close relationship with his workers - something about your warmth and light easing up the darkness. At first Alfie huffed and puffed about it a little, but he couldn’t exactly blame his men for loving you - he was a perfect example of how you brought a strong man to his knees after all.

“Is he upstairs?” You asked George, one of the distillers. As soon as he nodded you left, your heels clicking against the cool basement flooring. You didn’t bother knocking as you approached the big, intimidating door to his office, instead just grabbing the brass lion head knob and twisting it, hearing the hinges whine in protest.

“What the fuck?” His voice was as deep and rumbling as a low tide, his tone so dark and sharp that it might have scared you, if you didn’t know him as the man who fed the ducks fresh bread at the park and cuddled Cyril when the vets had to give him an injection. “How many fucking times do I have to ask you lot to fucking knock. I mean it’s a - ”

He stopped short when he saw you, eyes going wide and lips twitching upwards just a little. He slipped into business mode whenever he sat at the leather chair behind his desk, but you always managed to chip away at his foundation.

“What the bloody hell are you doing here?”

“Nice to see you too.” You laughed, walking around his desk to see him, his legs naturally opening to let you stand in between them, his eyes following every curve and line of your face, settling on the natural rosebud flush of your lips.

“You’re a sight for sore eyes.” He mused, ring clad fingers darting around your waist and pulling you in. He toyed with the buttons on your dress and the jewellery around your neck, his fingers rough and large and as hot as a fire. His day had been shitty so far, but seeing the sparkle in your eyes and the loose curl of your hair had made everything much, much better.

“Hmm.” You said, leaning into his touch, batting away his hand as it slipped somewhere a little too low. “Marcus gave me the afternoon of so I thought I would come and surprise you.”

He blinked up at you, all wistful and love drunk and making your knees turn into blackcurrant jelly. “Did you now?”

“Yep.” You smiled, brushing your nose against his before pulling back and teasingly shaking the paper bag of baked goods in your hand. “And I bought gifts.”

“Yeah. Yeah. In a minute.” He barely registered them, instead dragging you into him, pressing kisses to your lips and letting you wash away any thoughts from his brain, not stopping until he was totally, completely drowning in you.

——————————————————-

That was how you ended up cross legged on the sofa, devouring your new novel and sipping on the rose and oolong tea Alfie kept in the cupboard for when you visited the factory. You could hear the rain pattering down the windows around you, mixed with the scratch of Alfie’s fountain pen and the sound of him rifling through his papers. It was fun to watch him as well as listen to him, the way his eyebrows raised when he read something he didn’t like, the twitch of his nose and the way that he ran his fingers through the coarse hair of his beard, moulding it to a peak at the bottom of his chin.

He watched you as well. When you got so into your book that your brows furrowed and your nose wrinkled. The way your hair was loose and wild, your stockings a soft pink under the stormy sky, your eyes wide and frantic, desperate to read as much as you could. He smiled at the way your leg bounced, how you tried to pick the stems from your strawberries with one hand but then accidentally squished them, the juice running down your wrist. He especially liked the way you were using his winter coat as a blanket, drowning in the fabric like a child, the collar snug around your chin.

Everything was perfect.

Until it wasn’t.

You heard Ollie before you saw him, the crash of his laced black boots thundering up the stairs, the way that he collided with the door rather than opening it first. You and Alfie stood up at the same time, his eyes immediately darting to you, gesturing for you to get behind him.

“Eric’s here.” Was all the boy said, and you watched the colour drain from Alfie’s face.

“Eric?” You said, “Eric Martin?”

Your question lingered in the air as the two men walked around one another, gesturing wildly and talking under their breath; Alfie completely frantic and flustered. You had only heard of Alfie’s new business partner in passing, the two of them had spent the better part of a year talking through agreements and shipments and trying to manoeuvre a deal where the two of them could co exist happily - Alfie’s rum and Eric’s stolen goods sharing a boat so that the city checks would be easier. Alfie had never been particularly quite when it came to business. He liked to include you and get your opinion on things, he trusted you most of all anyway, but he had been secretive when it came to Eric.

You had heard through Ollie and rumours at the club and whispers in the factory that this “Eric” was a man not to be trifled with. Apparently he was unpredictable and violent, and he belonged to one of the major crime gangs in Cambridge. None of this scared you though, many people thought the exact same of the man you shared your bed with, and you knew a side of him that nobody else saw. The gossip was barbed and cruel though. They said he was conniving and underhanded, and that his last two wives had been admitted to hospital with broken and fractured bones.

So Alfie tried cutting him out as much as he could, never wanting to say his name or talk about him in the safety of his home, not with you around. Your home was his solace, and he wouldn’t taint his life with you in blood red - you were too important. You never thought much of it, but watching his reaction, his sudden overprotectiveness and stern frown and rattled demeanour, made you just a little bit frightened.

“What the fuck does he want?” Alfie snapped, pulling your coat over your shoulders frantically and starting to button it up, then helping you tug on your boots and lace them.

“He’s pissed about the Brighton shipment, he says his liquor didn’t get there on time.”

“Stupid fucking...” Alfie’s voice trailed off like smoke, something downstairs on the factory floor clattering loudly followed by distinct, angry shouts. “We told him it was too risky with the police there, he should have fucking listened. We were due a meeting next week, tell him to fuck off and come back then.”

“He won’t listen.”

“Make him.”

“I...” He started, but Alfie cut him off again, standing next to you and taking your face in his large, calloused hands.

“Right, pet. Stay here for a little bit, and when it clears up, Ollie will take you out the back, alright?”

“Alfie...” You started to protest, before exhaling and sighing as he turned to his protégée.

“You got that, Ol? Nothing is to happen to her.”

You were getting a little hot with being ordered around, but the visible anxiety swimming across their faces like the midnight sea was enough for you to close your mouth. Instead of agreeing with his boss, Ollie shook his head, sucking on his lower lip as he tried to think of a way to convey the sincerity of the situation.

“He’s really angry, Alfie. You need to go down, now. Before he decides to come up.”

“Yeah, alright.”

Your fingers clenched, and you darted out to tug on the edge of his sleeve before he left.“Alfie. Please be careful.”

There was a smog of anxiety in your stomach and warning signs ringing like alarms in your mind as he pressed a tender kiss to the top of your head, his lips brushing your hairline. You chewed on the edge of your lip as he left, and you wondered how your blissful afternoon had turned into this: your body shaking with nerves as your husband descended down the stairs and into the belly of the beast.

Ollie reached out and touched your shoulder, trying to help you feel calm but his face was the colour of tepid dishwater, paling by the second.

“He’ll be fine.”

You crossed all of your fingers and toes.

———————————————————————

About twenty minutes passed, and the shouting had gone from ear piercingly loud to a low hum, which you found oddly comforting despite everything. You watched as Ollie fiddled with his pocket watch, the two of you waiting until it was safe to head downstairs.After a moment you heard the sound of the giant metal door opening, the one right at the front where the workers came in and the bakery goods were delivered, a clear indication from Alfie that Eric was leaving.

Ollie leapt up and smiled faintly at you, edging you towards the door as you swung your handbag across your chest. You scoffed a little as you walked, turning to face him.

“If Eric is gone, why can’t I stay?”

Ollie merely rolled his eyes, his hand migrating to your lower back as he all but pushed you forward. You might have been able to get away with ignoring Alfie’s orders, but he certainly wouldn’t. “You know Alfie won’t want you here after that. There’s no use fighting him about it, he’ll want you back at home.”

You sighed but conceded, allowing yourself to be guided down the staircase. At least at home you could distract yourself and have Cyril with you, his big treacle eyes were the perfect remedy to a bad day.

You were right beside the back door and ready to leave when you heard a voice cracking like thunder from behind you, something as sharp as a knife and as loud as a church bell. You both froze instantly, every nerve in your body feathering, your heart aching to know that Alfie was alright.

“You little fucking liar.” Cut around the room like barbed wire. “How long were you planning on hiding this shipment from me?” There was another crash, and you could hear liquid trickling and dribbling into a puddle, followed by the sweet, sour smell of alcohol.

“You don’t know what the fuck you’re on about mate.” It was Alfie speaking now, his voice lowered to a dangerous octave, and you could picture the lightning like anger on his face. “Calm down.”

“Calm down? Calm down? You’ve been sending things off without my knowledge!”

“I said. Fucking calm down.” The sound of a hand slamming down on wood, as fierce as a slap on the face. “You don’t want to make an enemy of me.”

There was another scuffle: rapid footsteps on the floor, the crack of knuckles and the smell of ash. A couple of the boys darted in from the other room, their shirts untucked and hands turning red. You watched them curiously, stepping forward on unsteady heels to try and pinpoint the commotion. You felt Ollie's hand reach for you but you leapt out of his grasp, at the same time a body flew from the next room and landed in a heap next to barrels of aged rum and whisky, the wood heaving from the strain.

You glanced at the man on the floor, his body oddly contorted, his bald head glistening with sweat and his body reeking of putrid alcohol and cigarettes. This was obviously Eric. Your eyes widened in disgust at the drunk, violent man taking swings at whoever he could, wanting nothing more than to get away from him. You saw Alfie emerge from the shadows, his gaze flitting straight to you, his hands swollen and his face flushed with visible anger at the man sprawled on the ground.

Before you could retreat, Eric’s wide, black eyes landed on you, practically bulging out of his head with adrenaline and anger and excitement. “ You know, Alfie.” He asked through bubbles of saliva, scrambling to his feet as best he could, lunging for you. You saw Alfie and a few of his best men move forward, hands ready like cocked guns to strike if they needed to. Eric ignored them, wanting to pack as many fatal blows in whilst he had the chance. “Everybody at the club talks about your little whore of a wife, Solomon’s.”

The room fell deadly silent. His words didn’t affect you at all, but you felt a pool of dread settle in your gut and you stepped backwards, warning him with your eyes. He was at the back of the room, but you could still feel the anger vibrating from your husband, and you heard him smack his lips as he tried to calm himself down.

Eric ignored your alarmed glare, spitting onto the concrete and looking you up and down with pure disgust and shameless lust. “You know that people only do business with you to get to her?”

“Don’t. You. Fuck - ” Alfie’s boots thundered like a stampede, his voice as dark and raspy as midnight, his words sharpened like butchers knives.

“Maybe I’ll have a go at her. Maybe it’ll teach you a little respect. If I have a go at that smug little whore and slap her around a little and....”

He didn’t finish his sentence, Alfie’s cane smashing against the side of Eric’s head with enough momentum to send his teeth flying, small milky white canines lying a few feet in front of you in a pool of sticky blood. He made some kind of noise from on the floor, his hands coming up to protect what was left of his face, his polished shoes desperately trying to grip onto something to help him up. There was a second hit. And then a third. Each accompanied by ear splitting cries, and the sound of flesh against stone.

“Don’t you ever, ever, speak about my wife like that again.” You could just about make out Alfie from the darkness, his silhouette mighty and terrifying, leaning over the shattered body on the floor, filled with a hatred that seemed to overpower him.

“I - ” Eric tried to speak but only blood pooled from his mouth, his body weakened and damaged from the attack. He tried to cover himself with his hands but failed, another ear piercing crack echoing around the room.

You lunged forward, wanting to stop your husband before he went too far. “Alfie! Stop! You’re going to kill him!”

He blinked up at you, his pupils swallowed by black. His gaze lowered from you onto the wailing man on the ground, his words playing on a loop in his brain, digging their nails in every time the record restarted.

He had said those evil things about you.

He glanced at Ollie, finally opening his mouth to speak. “Take her home.”

You struggled in Ollie’s grip, desperate to see your husband and knock some sense into him. Your heart hung heavy in your chest, equal parts terrified that he would either end up hurt or in a more dangerous situation than the one he was already in. You fought hard but Ollie’s hold was tighter, his fingers squeezing you tightly. He tried to be kind but forceful as he pulled you out into the alley, your heard turned back to face your husband, watching as him and the shadow on the floor faded to a dull, awful, obsidian.

—————————————-

You were certain you were going to make holes in the wood. You had been pacing back and forth the living room floor for almost an hour, and Cyril had abandoned his mission of trying to cheer you up, and instead watched you protectively and cautiously from his wicker basket beside the sofa.

You had chewed your sunshine yellow nails down to the wick, and your heart hadn’t stop thumping since you had left the warehouse. Ollie had left you to your thoughts, keeping watch outside to make sure nothing harmed you, and also that you didn’t harm somebody else.

Dealing with hysterical women wasn’t really his forte.

There had been no word from Alfie since you had left, and so you watched the teal wall phone endlessly, hoping that it would ring and you would know he was alright. You were greeted with nothing but ice cold silence, and so you resumed your pacing, biting down on the skin of your thumb until you could taste blood.

Right before you were about to lose all control and demand Ollie take you to see him, you heard the crunch of the gravel outside, and saw lemon headlights flash against the wall. Cyril’s head lifted quickly, and his tail began to thump, but your feet turned to concerted and you were unable to do anything other than wait.

You were as still as a spectre as you stood facing the door, your body prickling with anxiety and adrenaline. A car - you assumed Ollie’s - coughed and spluttered over the rocks and into the road, leaving you alone with Alfie. You heard the key in the lock, practically felt the metal ridges running over your spine as he pulled and twisted and finally came inside, the sky a gloomy, smoky grey, rain falling so harshly it was almost hail.

He was shaped so strongly, his figure so barbed and brawny and beautiful. You felt totally mortal beside a man like him, and he looked even more so like a God when you saw him under the icy white lamp light in the hall.

He was covered in blood. Soaked in it, really. It was matted in his hair and in ugly brown splotches across his once pristine shirt and under his fingernails and smeared across his boots in a shade of red you had never seen before. It was obvious he had tried to clean himself up judging from the uneven patches and water marks, but he had given up, deciding to risk everything and drive through the streets like an abattoir worker, just so he could see you as quickly as he could.

You let out some kind of noise and stepped forward, he caught you effortlessly, the way that he always would.

“Alfie.” You said, wide eyed and innocent and good, and he felt like a sinner holding something so angelic in his arms.

“I’m alright. I’m alright.”

There was blood in his beard, and a plum sided bruise turning nightshade on his upper arm. “Oh God, Alf.”

He shook his head, pulling you in and smelling the orange and cinnamon of your shampoo and the vanilla perfume on your neck and felt the softness of your hair and the curves of your body. The day had been bad. It had started so wonderfully and ended up shattered and splintered into something so awful and malevolent, and now there was nothing he wanted except you, his home.

“We need to - ” You started, but he frowned, his arms engulfing you and tugging you in. He pressed his lips to whatever flesh he could find, open mouthed and desperate, sucking and biting and aching for you.

“No. No.” He whispered into your neck, his voice so small and desperate that your heart throbbed. “I need you, my love.”

You knew what he wanted. How we got when he was like this. Touch starved. Greedy. Insatiable. How he wanted nothing else but the feel of you under him, the weight of your ribs and the feel of your body and love consuming him until nothing was left. Fuck his back and his cane, he needed to claim you and mark you and show you just how badly he needed you. He needed to find religion at the alter of your pliant, yearning body. Show you how much he loved you on the cold kitchen tiles with the rain casting grey shadows and his lips biting your own as the thunder clapped above.

————————-

The tap was still leaking.

Alfie had promised to fix it weeks ago and yet it still dribbled lukewarm water continuously, you didn’t mind for once though, the soft noise it made as it bounced into the water was somewhat calming.

His legs around you were as thick as tree trunks and covered in curly, coarse hair. His arms were tight around you, and you played with the jewels on his fingers as you both relaxed, letting the hot steam cover you both. You were cradled in front of him despite your instance that his back would hurt and it would cause more harm than good. He simply got in the water and dragged you on top of him, letting the pink bath salts do their job.

You hadn’t really spoken since you’d made love like teenagers on the kitchen floor. Afterwards, he tugged you on top of him and held you close, the two of you skin to skin, letting your pulses synch and breathing calm all whilst he stayed warm and throbbing inside of you. Needing to be joined with you for as long as he could.

Then you ran a bath and filled it with all of the expensive lotions and potions you had stockpiled. Cherry and rose and sweet mint and chocolate and lime, things that might have clashed but would easily cover the smell of sweat and sex and thick, coppery blood. The two of you sat in the water, not speaking but filled with love, despite all of the unspoken tension in the air.

You felt him shift behind you. His huge body sent water and bubbles lapping wildly over the tub edge, coating the floor in marshmallow pink. You giggled softly, and the sweet, angelic noise gave Alfie the final push to tell you everything.

“I know what you want to ask me.”

“Hmm?” You murmured, letting round, iridescent bubbles fall through the cracks in your fingers, knowing exactly what he was about to say but feigning innocence anyway.

“You want to know if I killed him.”

You didn’t say anything, but you didn’t need to, he continued anyway.

“I did.”

The bathroom fell silent again and Alfie could feel you stiffen under him. You knew from the moment he swung his cane across Eric’s head that he would be buried six feet by the end of the day, but it still hit you like a punch to the windpipe to hear the words aloud.

“Does that bother you?” He asked after a moment, the words thick and raspy, as though they had been stuck in his throat like congealed honey.

“I’m not sure.” You said finally.

It was the truth. You weren’t sure.

You knew he had killed people before. You knew what the war had made him do, what it had turned him into. You weren’t stupid, either. You knew that he often came home with dirt under his nails and blood splattered on his boots and that glazed look in his eyes that made your stomach tie itself in knots. You knew because you had been there through it all, cleaning him up and disinfecting his wounds, talking him down when the memories of gunshots and trenches got too loud, listening to him tell you all of the secrets that lingered in his mind like flies around a carcass.

But if you were being honest, you didn’t care that he had killed. You never judged Alfie or his choices, you understood the way his brain worked and how he made his decisions. Most of the men had been awful. Abusers and violent thieves and con men with dirty intentions. This was the business you had signed up for when you fell for the six foot man with questionable morals but a heart of solid gold. There was no way you were turning your back on him now.

It wasn’t murder that scared you, it was the possible repercussions that led you to sleepless nights and bloody, bitten lips. You were terrified that one day everything would catch up to him, and it would be your husband that ended up in a coffin. He was so powerful and dangerous and magnificent, but he wasn’t invincible.

You were about to say as much but he continued, the water sloshing around the two of you. “Don’t let it bother you. I’d do it again. Kill a fucking million men if I had to. If anyone talks about you like that - if they even think it. They’re gone. Bloody scum. The lot of ‘em.”

You sighed, shifting up and grabbing his hand under the water. You rubbed circles across his palm, conveying your love through actions. “I don’t want to be the reason you have blood on your hands.”

“I’m a big lad right, I can make my own decisions.”

“I know you are Alf, but you know how I worry.”

“Listen to me, right.” He muttered, the candles flickering clementine, his fingertips pressing gently onto the bare flesh of your hip. He cleared his throat, feeling the rise and fall of your chest against his belly. “After the war I had nothing - and then I met you and fuck me you changed everything.”

He paused, reminiscing internally about how you met and your early dates, thinking of toffee kisses and giddy, pure love and fucking in back alleys and winter walks and finally feeling something after the war had shot everything right out of him. “And you are my wife. I’ll never let anything happen to you.”

You tugged on his big toe, making him wince and playfully hit you, the air lightened just a little bit, but enough so that the two of you could breathe. “I don’t care that you killed them, Alf. I never have. But God, if something were to happen to you! What if the police start looking? What if...”

A million fucked up scenarios of your beloved in silver cuffs and a bullet in his head made you feel completely nauseous, but he held you tight, grounding you back to reality.

“I’m not going anywhere. And for the cops - they should be thanking me. Got rid of a lot of nasty criminals without them getting their hands dirty.” He pressed kisses to the back of your neck, the tip of your spine, the crook of your ear. “I promise you, my love, everything will be alright.”

The future was uncertain, but you knew that when you married him. Some days were just bad.

Clouded in darkness and tinged with blood and rust. Your relationship had always been a little unconventional, a little rough around the edges and at times, like a small wooden boat on a rough sea. But despite everything your love had been unwavering, as solid as a steel, the kind of dreamy infatuation that people longed for. For every bad day and every fight and every knot that wound itself in your belly - there was also so much good. Sleepy kisses and pillow talk and sharing the parts of yourself that no one else saw. A language without words, the safety of his arms, the home in your hips, domestic mornings and a love that could last through anything.And in that moment, with the storm starting to ease and the sky starting to lighten and his arms around you and Cyril starting to whine for his dinner downstairs...

It was enough.

Because you weren’t just the girl he would kill for. You were the girl he would live for.

#alfie solomons imagine #alfie solomons headcanon #alfie solomons oneshot #peaky blinders oneshot #peaky blinders imagine #alfie solomons x reader #writing #alfie solomons hc

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wonderland-in-bloom · 4 years

Text

around the bonfire [pt.1]

in which the reader and the fellow first years decide to do a...chilling...activity at the beach under the moonlight as it becomes later by the minute.

this is part one of a two part series! this is one of my posts for the summer beach bash writing collab held by the amazing, the one and only @nonsensical-twistedriddles 💙i hope you all enjoy this story :))

love, a♕

dive deep into night time summer activities with the first years of night raven college under the cut!

THE sun sank just below the horizon as the once blue sky was engulfed by the amethyst and navy blue blend of the night sky. the waves crashed against the golden sand of the beach while the wind started to howl. you shivered, inching closer towards the bonfire in front of you, being the only source of warmth in the once boiling hot beach to a now cold and chilly one. you rubbed the sides of your arms, trying your best to keep yourself warm. maybe wearing a tank top at night wasn’t such a good idea. all of a sudden you felt something warm be draped over your shoulders. “i figured you might be cold…” jack rubbed the back of his neck after he placed his jacket on top of your shoulders. “thank you.” you giggled, causing your fellow first year friend to blush. sebek sighed while throwing a branch to the fire, making the fire grow much larger.

“it’s oddly quiet…” deuce commented. truth be told, it was. aside from the ear piercing sounds of the ocean and the wind, it was quiet and you could probably hear a pin being dropped into the sand. you were currently huddled up with your friends which consisted of ace, deuce, grim, jack, epel, and sebek. your seniors were nowhere to be found. “alright then, i got an idea!” ace suddenly cheered, which changed the atmosphere completely. “what about...scary stories around the bonfire~?” you all paused for a while, processing the information in your head. “heck no.” deuce retorted. “hah! just say you’re scared, juice-kun~” ace teased as he poked deuce’s cheek. “that’s actually a good idea! the great grim-sama isn’t scared of some story.” he proudly beamed while he sat in a more comfortable position on your lap. “ya know...it might be fun, actually.” epel added on. “i’ll protect you if you’re scared, human.” sebek pointed out, causing you to roll your eyes but you had a smile plastered on your face. jack stayed quiet but went along with it anyways. “ALRIGHT!!! who’s first?” you all eyed ace. “what?”

“shouldn’t the one who suggested this whole idea go first?” this time it was deuce’s turn to tease him. “tch. fine, fine. i already have one in mind anyways.” he cleared his throat. “sit back, relax, cuddle up closer, make sure there’s nothing behind you...and let the story begin.” you gulped a little loudly and scooted closer to the fire. “my story is based on a true story, that none other than i experienced.” ace continued. “one stormy night, the wind was howling and rain slammed itself against the windows of heartslabyul.” deuce’s eyes widened, causing you to chuckle a little. “the lights were all off as it was near the witching hour, and aLL OF A SUDDEN LIGHTNING BOOMED ACROSS THE SKY!” ace screamed, causing you and the other boys to flinch. ace chuckled when he saw the reactions he expected. “there i was in my room, close to falling asleep, but then...i heard a sound. it was a low, unnatural sound. like a growl almost. i sat up from my bed and listened closer to the sound, and it was still there. i got up and headed down the hall, but that sound managed to follow me!” epel gulped, he started to shift his position closer to you.

“it was so loud it sounded like it was right beside me...but no one in heartslabyul was awake…so i followed the sounds all the way to the kitchen, and it stopped.” all of you were hooked onto ace’s story. what was this deep, guttural growl-like sound that kept following him? “but suddenly...it GREW LOUDER THEN EVER BEFORE!” he screamed again, causing grim to scream in return and collapse back on your lap. you and the others were a little shaken up (due to the eerie, cold, dark atmosphere of the beach as well). “so i looked around the whole kitchen. from the tallest shelves to the lowest cupboards. but i concluded that the sound stopped when i opened the fridge. sitting there was a red glazed tart, basically calling my name, and when i had laid my eyes on it, the sounds stopped.” wait. something clicked inside your head. was the weird, low sound that followed ace….? was it just his stomach grumbling?! “but that’s not even the scary part...when i wanted to take the tart to investigate it, an ungodly, horrible, scary voice came from behind me, sending chills down my whole spine.” ace cleared his throat. “ah~my, my, ace. what are you doing up this late? and what are you doing with that tart? you know it goes against the rules.”

you all froze. “...wait was the story actually that scary?” ace was having too much fun retelling his story that he failed to realize that there was another voice which was interlapping with his own. “u-uhh.. a-ace…” you stuttered, raising a shaking finger and pointed behind him. “haha! oh (y/n), is this your best attempt at scaring me?” however ace was taken aback and was visibly shaken when he heard a chuckle from behind him, causing the hairs on his arms stand up straight. “i see. an ‘ungodly, horrible, scary voice, huh? well how about this? OFF WITH YOUR HEAD!” you all screamed when a familiar heart-shaped collar was chained around ace’s neck. “WHAT?! NOT AGAIN!” he groaned. “HAHAHHA, POOR ACE-CHAN!” cater laughed after ending the recording on his phone. he managed to record the whole story. “it was your fault you skipped dinner for doing something stupid.” trey added. the three seniors from heartslabyul joined your little circle. “MY HORROR STORY CAME TRUE! ARGH!” ace cursed to himself. “well, continue the stories, fellow juniors.”

“uh...alright? who’s next?” you asked the five remaining boys. “...i’ll go.” jack sighed and replied with a hint of hesitation in his voice. “this story is one i heard from a lot of my extended family growing up.” jack started. “they say in one of the deep forests in the land of pyroxene, a beast haunts the grounds and the lake.” a nearby bush rustled, causing them all to snap their heads in that direction. they all dismissed it as being the wind and jack continued. “it says that the beast was a demon. forever set to haunt anyone who dares venture through the forest at night. it has typical pointy teeth. sharp claws always bared, dripping with blood. and at night, if you hear it’s cackle, it means you’re doomed.” with the howl of the wind, you all heard laughter along with it. “uh, hey...did someone laugh just now?” cater gulped. “nah! one of you must be doing that!” grim tried to assure himself. “it must’ve just been the wind then…” trey tried calming everyone down before they heard another laugh.

“i’m sure it’s nothing” you tried to brush it off, hiding your own fear. “it also said this demon is able to shapeshift and take a form which allows it to breathe underwater.” without warning, a splash could be heard coming from nearby. “this is getting way too suspicious...” riddle muttered. “my uncle once said that there once was a girl who went to this forest at night. she heard a splash come from the lake behind her, then a growl.” as soon as jack’s sentence stopped a growl was heard from behind you. no one seemed to notice except you. you quickly snapped your head back...but of course, like typical horror movie fashion, there was nothing there. “she was found missing the next day...” you flinched to feel a weird sensation around your neck. something sharp. you then felt something lean down beside you and whispered in your ear. “ah~ hear that, prey? you’re my dinner for tonight~” this voice..! “what a delicious dinner you’ll be, koebi-chan~” you shrieked. you eyed the figures behind you before falling back into the sand.

behind you were two, all too familiar figures who decided to mess with you. “leona-senpai! floyd-senpai!” they chuckled. “were you scared, koebi-chan~?” leona extended his hand to help you up. “not gonna lie, a little bit.” you smiled. they sure did scare you. “and the laughing was…” three more figures popped from behind the bushes. azul, jade, and ruggie. “that was a good one.” ruggie chuckled to himself, azul, and jade agreeing. “that was indeed an interesting story, jack-san.” azul commented. “allows us to mess with all of you…” jade chuckled. so they all joined your little circle as well.

the wind seemed to become much more alive, as it’s howls and groans grew louder than before. the ocean decided to join along and became more aggressive as the tide started to rise. although there were more people together with you, you felt much more unsettled. perhaps it was the eerie atmosphere, already tainted with two stories which managed to make you shiver. or perhaps it was the wind and the ocean, which seemed to resemble monsters, ready to swallow all of you whole. or maybe...it was because of more stories to come around the bonfire...

♡

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laughinglion · 7 years

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Adventures on Kangaroo Island: Laughing Lion Gear Tested Down Under

When we first told people that we were traveling to Kangaroo Island, many people thought we were using a nickname for Australia. That is not the case. There is a wonderful island just off the coast of Adelaide in South Australia. It is Australia's version of the Galápagos Islands with massive amounts of wildlife and beautiful landscapes. With less than 5,000 people and over 80,000 marsupials, you truly are a guest in mother nature's backyard.

Laughing Lion prides itself in testing our gear in all environments. From high to low, cold to hot, we want our gear to be durable for any adventure. Kangaroo Island is one of the most remote places in the world, and we recommend it for everyone. If you are heading to Australia, make sure to stop on KI. We can definitely say that our dry bag is KI proof and we certify its durability for all of your KI adventures.

We spent a week on this great island, and we could've easily spent a month. There are so many beautiful places to visit on the island, and we could not make it to every corner. We hit some of the highlights for you below.

Vivonne Bay

Vivonne Bay is on the south central coast of Kangaroo Island. Looking towards the water, you feel a cool breeze and icy water. It shouldn't be a surprise. There is no land mass in between you and Antarctica. While it can be a little chilly, the air is fresh and the water is tremendously clean. The beach at Vivonne Bay has been voted the most beautiful beach in Australia multiple times over the past ten years.

Look to your left, then look to your right. You will not see another soul for miles. It is relaxing, and it feels like you've stumbled upon a lost island. There are no hotels near it. Barely a cellular signal. No restaurants. The surrounding area is filled with private residences, and a few miles away there is a single hostel. Even the gas station on the main road is out of operation.

For the testing session in Vivonne Bay, we stayed at a private residence that had many wild birds and goannas. The waves were dangerous at times, but the dry bag held up without any hiccups. The sea has a strong undertow, so it is not advised to venture into the water unless you have a strong swimming background.

Seal Bay Conservation Park

Not too far east from Vivonne Bay is yet another magical place. The Seal Bay area holds the third largest sea lion colony in all of Australia. Since the 1960's it has operated as a national park that protects the sea lion population.

[caption id="attachment_146" align="aligncenter" width="447"] On Kangaroo Island, this seal was mesmerized by our dry bag.[/caption]

They are very active animals. Our team saw countless sea lion pups running around while many of the adults slept on the beach. Sea lions are great hunters, and they work on a 3 day on/3 day off schedule. For 72 hours, they will hunt for food, and then after all of that work, they will come ashore to rest on the beach.

For anyone traveling to KI, this is a must visit. The experience is one of a kind. We also got the Seal of Approval from one of the little sea lion pups.

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Flinders Chase

Hiking is a great way to have fun on Kangaroo Island. The best place for hiking is on the far west portion of the island in Flinders Chase National Park. You need to make sure that you are fully stocked with food, water, and fuel. It is extremely desolate, and the restaurant at the main entrance is only open for limited hours. Making sure you have enough fuel is important because it is possible to drive two hours without seeing another vehicle while in the park. Don't run out of fuel.

With all of those disclaimers, Flinders provided an amazing time for our team. There are many trails and paths to hike, and they are suitable for every experience level. From beginner to extreme, Flinders has you covered. Our favorite hike was Ravine des Casoars. Located in the northwest corner of the park, you will stumble your way through a forest trail and then be surprised by a beautiful beach surrounded by caves. At low tide, you can even sneak into the caves...just make certain it is low tide so you can easily get escape.

Just imagine going on a long hike through a blistering and humid forest, and popping out to this:

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Flinders Chase is home to one of the most interesting pieces of nature, the Remarkable Rocks. They are located only a short drive from the main entrance. They have been formed by wind, sea, and erosion for over 500 million years. Be careful when you get there because the winds are intense, and if you were to fall, it is a 200 foot drop into the below sea. The formations are each unique, and many of them resemble wildlife. One of the most famous rocks resembles a bird of prey.

Not too far from the Remarkable Rocks is Admiral's Arch. You can hike from the Rocks, or you can hop into your car for only a short drive to the parking lot near Cape du Couedic Lightstation. The drive between these two landmarks is stunning, and you won't lose adventure points if you decide to drive rather than hike.

From the top you can see and hear a large New Zealand fur seal colony. You will see them playing on the rocks and water below. To get to Admirals Arch, you need to climb down the stairway for a few minutes, and then you will see this view:

We visited on a cloudy day so the arch is a little muted. On a clear day, around sunset, you will get an amazing view through the arch.

These are just a few of the highlights in Flinders Chase National Park. You could easily spend weeks adventuring and exploring its many trails. If you love beautiful vistas and great wildlife, Flinders is a must.

Hanson Bay

Hanson Bay is one of the lesser known beaches on Kangaroo Island, but it is also one of the most beautiful and serene. The water is a little chilly, but the local fishermen will tell you it is great for fishing. If you peer out, you can see sea lions, dolphins, and the occasional shark fin poking out beyond the big waves.

The dry bag held up well in the rough waves of Hanson Bay. We also got to experience the local animal sanctuary's nocturnal tour. Most of the wildlife on Kangaroo Island is nocturnal, so you don't always see them when you adventure in the daylight. For a low price, the Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary offers a two hour nocturnal tour where you will see all of the regulars: echidnas, wallabies, kangaroos, koalas, and other animals. The sanctuary also offers great cabins that overlook Hanson Bay.

Stokes Bay

The best beach on Kangaroo Island. Stokes Bay is located on the northern coast of KI, and it has much warmer water when compared to the southern coast beaches like Hanson Bay and Vivonne Bay. Our tests showed a 10F degree difference when compared to the Hanson Bay water temperatures. The northern coast seems to get more sunlight too, so you definitely want to have sunscreen.

Stokes Bay beach looks odd when you first arrive. There are many signs directing you to a beach, except all you see is a large rock formation. Yes, the beach is hidden. After ducking and diving through the cave for five minutes, you pop out and see this:

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The waves are decent for surfing. While the southern coast has much bigger waves, the northern waves are a lot safer. In the distance we were able to spot a few dolphins playing about 200 meters off shore. There are no trees, so protective shade is non-existent. Be sure to bring a pop-up tent or beach umbrella because the sun can get brutal.

The warm water and great weather at Stokes Bay beach make it a definite stop for anyone coming to KI. While the southern waters were great for fishing, the northern beaches are great for surfing, beach fun and kayaking.

Dashwood Bay

On the north coast between Stokes Bay and Emu Bay is a little beach called Dashwood. It is not on every Kangaroo Island map, so you might have to ask a local about it.

Many tour operators offer expensive dolphin swim tours, but if you want to save some money, you can head to Dashwood where the dolphins love to play in shallow waters.

When we visited Dashwood, the weather was stormy and rough so we weren't able to spot any dolphins. Although, based on the video below, Kangaroo Island locals can see and play with them on a regular basis.

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Emu Bay

Emu Bay is where you go when you don't want to get too far from civilization. Located not too far from the main town, Kingscote, and the airport, it provides a relaxing environment where you can still get a cellular signal.

The water at Emu Bay is the calmest we saw on Kangaroo Island. The beach is packed down so cars drive along it like a dirt highway. This makes it much more of a BBQ and hang-out beach rather than a relax in the sun beach.

After the day closes, many locals use the beach at Emu Bay as an outdoor happy hour. Music playing and relaxing by the water, locals chat about the day and observe the wildlife. A local flock of pelicans make Emu Bay their home and they were quite interested in the humans.

Summary

Kangaroo Island is an incredibly difficult place to adventure. There are two ways to get onto the island. The first option is an expensive ferry that can take a half-day from Adelaide. The second option is a flight from the Adelaide airport. Due to the small airport in Kingscote and a lot of fog, the thirty minute flight might take all day. Both on the arrival and the departure from KI, our flights were delayed 3-4 hours due to problems with fog.

While there are tour operators that offer 1 and 2-day tour options, it is ridiculous to think you can get a feel for this wonderful island with less than 48 hours of exposure. Our team spent a week, and we could have spent a month. It is an amazingly beautiful and remote place. With a 20 to 1 marsupial to human ratio, it is hard to not enjoy the wildlife. However, they love to play at night, so it is important to not drive between dusk and dawn. We had a great time and luckily never hit any of the wildlife. The Laughing Lion team loves to test all over the world, and this is one of our favorite spots. For an adventurer looking to get back to nature, there is not better spot in Australia. We cannot wait to return.

Originally Published Here: Adventures on Kangaroo Island: Laughing Lion Gear Tested Down Under

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