Rebound // Alfie Solomons

3. You make my head hurt

On their way home from the funeral their pub was blown up. Polly jumped out of the car and ran to the ruble only to be stopped by an officer.

'tommy?' Polly questioned looking back at the mess. "What the fuck?'

'ma'am it's not safe, the area has not been cleared yet!' the officer yelled but tommy stopped him.

"What happened?' tommy asked watching polly carefully.

'It happened at 7 this morning. No one saw anything, patrols weren't in the area... mr. Shelby you got any idea who might have done this?'

'I'd say it has something to do with the gas,' tom said handing over a wad of cash. 'it's just been fitted.'

'Who put confetti all over our pub tom?'

'Go.' Tommy told the officer.

'Who did this to us?" Polly asked looking up at the mess.

++

Tommy made his way to a bar as he waited for the meeting he knew was coming with the woman that blew up the Garrision. Only to see Cora drinking away at the bar.

'Funny seeing you here, considering you said you had work in London.' Cora looked up from her drink. What the fuck was he doing here? She glanced over at him before downing her drink and ordering another.

'I always need a drink after I talk to you.' Cora reminded him.

'Irish whiskey.' Tommy said and the bartender nodded as he sat down next to Cora.

'Irish whiskey,' she repeated with a chuckle. 'wasn't that your last wives heritage...' she chuckled a bit tipsy.

'How many have you had?' Tommy questioned.

'Fuck off, you're not my anything anymore Tommy,' Cora reminded him as the bartender put down their drinks.

'It doesn't mean I stopped caring.' Tommy told her and she scoffed.

"If you gave a damn about me you wouldn't have fucked half of Birmingham.' Cora countered with all the sass she could muster.

'Cora-'

'Keep it coming until I look like I don't want to punch this man in the face.' Cora said sweetly to the bartender he nodded filling it up again. Tommy let out a sigh taking a sip of his drink.

'I heard there was a bit of a bang on your part of town.' The bartender said.

'gas and electric don't mix, who'd have thought they would eh?' Tommy's eyes kept drifting to a tipsy Cora.

'A bang?' she questioned.

'Garrision. It went boom.' Tommy told her.

'I wondered why you were at this shit hole.' She remarked and Tommy chuckled.

'hows business otherwise mr Shelby?'

'You know something? In these times of hunger and hardship business is surprisingly good.'

'I'm sure it is,' Cora echoed lazy eyes looking to him.

'Cora you need to go, go to my home, alright you are too drunk and its not-' Suddenly a little boy came barreling down the stairs.

"Which one of you is the peaky blinder devils?' he asked and Tommy finished his drink standing up. "Her too.' The boy said and Cora rolled her eyes.

"I'm not a peaky or a devil sweetie.' Cora told him.

'You're a Shelby.' The boy remarked.

'I'm Cora.' She told him her eyes slowly finding him staring down at her. 'I'm not associating myself with that name at the moment.' She told him wavering on the stool.

'Come on,' Tommy told her, leaning close to her ear. 'Everything is fine, just follow my lead.'

"Sober me doesn't listen to you, what makes you think drunk me will?" Cora countered and Tommy grabbed her arm pulling her along.

'Lets do this.' He followed the boy for a while Cora walking staggered steps as Tommy pulled her along.

'You have always been a lightweight.' Tommy remarked as they moved.

'Sssshut up.' She slurred and Tommy couldn't help but chuckle.

'Is seeing me that bad?' Tommy mused.

'Not just you.' Cora told him leaning against him, everything spinning as they walked. 'Your family. John and Arthur... they make my head hurt.' Cora informed him.

'Good to know.' Tommy told her savoring her body up against him. He wrapped an arm around her as she stumbled on her heels, legs criss crossing as she walked, before he was finally brought to the meeting location... and man handled. They were checking for weapons patting tommy and Cora down, not so gently.

'Fuck off!" Cora yelled as a mans hand slide up her skirt. "What the fuck are you looking for?" she shouted kneeing the man in the stomach.

'Bitch,' he muttered grabbing her arm roughly but tommy stepped between them.

'We just came from a funeral,' Tommy told him. 'She doesn't have anything on her.' Tommy knew that was a lie, Cora always had something deadly on her, just in case but he didn't want anyone touching her, not even for a pat down. He wanted it to be his hand and his alone. Cora crossed her arms over her face glaring at the man, he nodded his hand still at his stomach, once convinced they got all the weapons the men put a bag over Tommy and Cora's heads and dragged them away.