°•°FIREFLY°•° (Thomas Shelby x Male Reader)

part 11- Wire Cutters

A boy walked into the betting shop and went up to Ian, he was confused but smiled at him "hey boy, come here to bet?" He nodded expression not changing "alright, give me your pay and pick one you have the most trust in" he said gently before the boy gave Ian his quarter and picked up a piece of paper before ' ' leaving ' '

Next was a blond man who rushed up to him "I was here on time" he said before looking at the clock "fish" Ian told him as he looked up at "I had a tip off, I need this bet"
"The races started already" Ian told him firmly "Please!", "No!" The man huffed with frustration before pushing off the hat with money in it "Fine!" Men walked up to him
"Get rid of him...we said no, now get out" Ian said firmly with some aggressive, after being there for so long he's learned to harsher quickly to bettors that won't let up
"Alright alright, I'll leave"
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"It's a good day" Polly said as she grabbed her hat "where's John?" Tommy asked her "John's at the Garrison" Tommy sighed "said he wants a meeting about a family matter" she put on her hat "after he said his peace he'll come back and take his place with Scudboat"
"Scudboat, John will be back in 10 minutes, Ian you're coming with us" Ian and Tommy looked at her a bit surprised "Finally letting me into the family meeting shindig?" Ian joked as he got up from his seat cain in hand, after a while he got a better one, and went to grab his coat "John wants you at this one" Polly told him Ian nodded "Alright" as Tommy walked to the two stopped at Scudboat "five" he said before the trip left the betting shop and Scudboat locking it up after they left
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Polly, Thomas, and Ian entered the snug where John and Arthur sat
Polly sat between John and Ian and Tommy went to stand between John and Arthur
"Alright John, there's only one ma-no" he said rejecting the alcohol Arthur offered him "there's only one man guarding the house, what's troubling ya?"

John cleared his throat before speaking "alright, uh Polly, you know what's it been like since Martha died" he said quietly
"God takes the best first"
Ian had met Martha a few times, she seemed alright for John so he was a bit saddened when he heard that she had died while they were at war

"Truth is my kids have been running bloody rings around me, running barefoot with the dogs until all hours" Ian gave him a sympathetic look, he could how hard it was for him hell on rare occasions Ian and Lorraine helped him when they could, Tommy rubbed his face "poll, give him 10 bucks and some new shoes is that it John"
"Thomas let him speak" Ian told him firmly Tommy sighed, Ian understood he was a bit anxious with only one man at the house to guard it but he wanted to hear what John actually wanted
"What is it Johnny" Ian said lightly wanting him to continue, John nodded to him showing he appreciated that
"What the kids need is a mother, so that's why I'm getting married"
Ian and the rest of the Shelby family were a bit surprised "does this poor girl knows your going to marry her or you're gonna spring it on her all of a sudden" said Polly, John looked at her "I've already proposed and she-she said yes" Ian smiled at this he was happy for John
"I think there's a shell about to land and go bang" said Tommy as he lit the cigarette in his mouth, Ian rolled his eyes before looking at John "congratulations John, who's the lucky girl?" He asked him

"She's uh.. she's Lizzy Stark" Ian's smile turned into one of him trying not to laugh as did the others but it failed "J-John I'm sure Lizzy Stark's a strong woman and I'm sure she provides a fine service for her customers" Polly said after she let out her laugh
"I Won't hear the word, understand do not use that word" John said in anger at his family and friend "what word is that John?" Asked Tommy clearly knowing the answer "you know what word it is", "everybody bloody knows" said Arthur he was laughing as he spoke
"Now everybody can go to hell"
"Whore? That word or prostitute how about that one?" Said Tommy he was mocking his brother a bit
"Right, I want it know if anyone calls her a whore again I will push the barrel of My Revolver down their throats and blow the word back into their hearts"

"Men and their cocks never ceased to amaze me, John Lizzy Start never did a day's work vertical" Polly said and Ian let out a laugh at this not noticing Tommy looking at him with admiration and letting slip a small smile at him

"She's changed!" John yelled as he hit the table before standing up, "Alright! people change like-like wi-with religion" he tried to reason but it wasn't doing much "Lizzy Stark's got a religion eh?" Tommy said
"No no, she doesn't have religion but she loves me now listen Tommy" John said as he turned to his second older brother "I won't do it without your blessing, but of all the people in the world I-I want you to see it as brave"

"Oh it's brave alright" said Arthur as he took a drink before Ian chimed in finally
"Arthur, Brave is doing something no man has done and I'm sorry John but with Lizzy Stark that's something you won't be doing" he said trying not to laugh at the end so did Polly and Arthur

John huffed in frustration at him before looking back at Tommy "listen Tommy, welcome her to the family but as someone who's had a hard life alright because I need someone...alright the kids need someone"

It was quiet for a few seconds before Finn barged in "Tommy we've been done over!" As they quickly left Tommy turned to Ian "Ian stay with Finn until I tell you it's all clear, alright?" Ian nodded quickly before following after Finn as he tried to pretend he wasn't on edge

"Hey Finn! Mind if I join ya for a while?" He said enthusiastically to the young boy, Finn seemed happy with this as they started walking
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Not long did they find Tommy's car "can I go pretend to be Tommy?" Finn asked him, Ian felt uneasy with this but he chalked it up to him being worried about what happened at the betting shop "sure, need help getting in?" He asked as the two walked up to the car "no thank you!" Finn said before hopping into the drivers side and Ian just stood next to him outside the car resting his arm on the open window the other still his cain
"Where you off to Tommy" Ian said pretending Finn was his older brother, "I'm off to...cut up the bloke that stole from me" Finn said all serious and trying to have a deep voice, Ian chuckled at this as Finn turned the steering wheel, soon though Ian noticed Tommy walk up to them and instantly sensed the fear off of him "Finn?"
Tommy raised his hand and Ian gave him a confused yet worried look "Tom what's wrong?" He asked quickly "everything is fine Ian, Finn stay exactly where you are"
Finn didn't exactly get at the sudden tension that was rising "I was pretending I was you" Tommy moved closer slowly and without looking at Ian he asked "Ian which door did he open to go in"
"He didn't, he climbed in" Ian told him quickly Tommy nodded as he moved to the other side of Finn and Ian "alright, Finn I want you to climb out exactly the same way you climbed in ok?" His voice went into a whisper as he spoke to his younger brother

Ian stepped back quickly as Finn opened the door and climbed out to Ian "No No Finn!" Tommy yelled before he quickly grabbed the dynamite and before throwing it he yelled "CLEAR"
Ian grabbed Finn and ran a bit away from the bomb and crouched in front of him to shield the boy, Tommy quickly ran to them and hugged the two as the dynamite went off
Thomas' arm was around Ian's head holding it close to his chest and held Finn closer to Ian, Tommy's face was in Ian's hair as he discreetly kissed his head and mumbled "you both alright?", "yeah..yeah we're okay"
As they got up Ian and Thomas separated and Finn held Ian's hand as they walked to the front Thomas had Finn turn to him and held his head "that's why you should never pretend to be me okay? Okay.." he said as Finn nodded