METHOD OF MADNESS ━ 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐬 𝐒𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐛𝐲 ¹ (Under editing)

𝓋. 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓇𝓉𝓎: entrust

ᴺᴼᵂ ᴾᴸᴬᵞᴵᴺᴳ : make up your mind - florence + the machine

⇄ ◃◃ ⅠⅠ ▹▹ ↻

v. thirty: ❝entrust❞

✵✵✵

Small heath, Birmingham

Crossing the threshold of the Garrison that morning felt like dragging her own weight through a mire for Marianna James. An ominous churn at the pit of her stomach gnawed at her, a premonition she could neither ignore nor shake. The relentless clamor of inner voices, unbidden and insistent, left her no respite, haunting her all morning long.

"No bother, Roy." Marianna managed, her smile faltering like a flickering candle, betraying the weariness etched into her lips.

Harry, who hadn't shared a room with her for weeks, had unexpectedly been assigned to work with her. Marianna's unease grew as she realized Grace had been absent since their last meeting, her whereabouts shrouded in uncertainty.

"Marianna." Harry said, his voice heavy with unease as he approached her at the work surface. His elbows rested on the counter, and his gaze was laden with worry.

"Oh, Harry, what's the matter?" Marianna inquired, her tone instinctively calm as she tried to parse the gravity of the situation.

"My brother in Digbeth just said the police are coming down from Deritend, in numbers." Harry disclosed, leaning in closer. His hesitation was barely veiled as he added, "Asking for Tommy Shelby, by name."

That was it. The gnawing sensation in her gut, the insistent whispers—it was all a warning of imminent danger, centered around Tommy.

Just then, the duple doors of the tavern creaked open, drawing Marianna's gaze. Her eyes locked with the cerulean intensity of Thomas Shelby as he strode in with his characteristic poise. She watched him intently, her eyes tracing each deliberate step he took, never straying even when he moved toward the rear room.

Thomas's eyes met hers with a silent call, and she gave him a subtle nod, shifting her focus back to her duties before following him inside.

Inside the private confines of the room, Thomas exhaled heavily, grateful for the comforting, familiar scent of Marianna, a brief solace amid his mounting stress.

"Mari, I'm gonna have to lie low for a while." He said, urgency sharp in his voice as he cut straight to the point, knowing that he only had a bearing of minutes before the coppers could burst in looking for him.

"Why? What's happened?" Marianna asked, concern threaded through her voice.

"I lost my bargaining power. This copper, it's just me and him now." Thomas explained, his eyes roving over her face as if trying to draw strength from it. "When I get back, I wanna tell you some things."