The Darkness Within (Peaky Blinders) Thomas Shelby

20. Ferocious

Got a big plan, his mind's set, maybe it's right...

...but the slip turns to terror and a crush to like

when she walked in he froze up, leave it to fright

It's cute in a way, till you cannot speak

And you leave to have a cigarette, knees get weak

- Tear You Apart, by She Wants Revenge

"Alright, that's it. What's wrong?" Thomas turned to his wife once they were alone, Arthur, John and Finn all having gone up in the Ferris wheel while Tommy and Kiara waited for their basket.

They had continued on to the fair after seeing the gypsies as planned and they had taken the horse with them, leaving it in the truck that transported it with some food and water until they were ready to leave.

"What's wrong?" She spun on him.

"Yeah, we've been here for an hour and I haven't seen you smile once." He stated before the carny ushered them forward into the empty basket that was ready to take them around.

"I wonder why that might be, Thomas." She spat back as they took their seats in the cage and the door was closed before they began to go up. The cages fit four people, two on each seat that faced each other, but Thomas had of course insisted they be alone. He had entered the cage first and sat down, but due to her anger towards him, Kiara had sat in the opposite seat, distancing herself.

"This was supposed to be a family outing, K." Thomas stated as he sat back and lit a cigarette.

"Yes, one you turned into a god damn battle field when you started a war with the Lee's and my bloody family by association. And you wonder why my uncle never approved of you." She growled as Thomas refused to take his eyes off her while he lowered the cigarette from his lips, breathing out smoke. "Would you stop that?" She growled.

"Stop what?" He asked calmly, his eyes still trained on her.

"Stop looking at me like your entire goal of the day has been to make me mad."

"The goal of the day was to make you smile at the fair... but I have to admit, seeing you angry always gets me going. There's just something in that ferocious look of yours." He explained, the hint of a smile playing on the corner of his mouth as he lifted the cigarette up once again.

"Well this look isn't going anywhere for a long time, Thomas." She always called him Thomas when she was mad, always. She leant over, her blazing green eyes boring into his in that "ferocious" way she knew he loved, and snatched the cigarette he held between his fingers before sitting back and breathing in the toxin. She turned to look out of the cage from the great height they had now reached to the view of the country  "And I don't give a damn how it makes you feel." She spoke again, not looking back at him. "You're not getting any, any time soon."

Tommy continued to take her in for a few more moments before sighing and leaning forward, propping his elbows on his knees for support.

"Hey," He said softly to grab her attention and she turned back to look him in the eye, "it's all part of the plan." He stated, now picking up her hand that didn't grip the cigarette to hold between his.

"What plan?" She spat.

"We started fixing races... it'll catch the attention of Billy Kimber. Billy Kimber is at war with the Lee's himself and if we are as well he's more likely to strike up a deal to have extra men at his back."

"I know Billy Kimber is at war with the Lee's because my uncle fights for them, Thomas, therefore when you shoot your guns at them you'll be hitting him. So forgive me if I'm not overly happy with your grand scheme that's only end is to line your pockets with more cash."

"They're your pockets too." That ferociousness swelled ten fold as she ripped her hand from his grasp and turned to face back out at the view once again. "It won't get to that." He then spoke. "On my mother's side, the Lee's are my kin. Eventually I'll try and strike up a deal with them. Kimber is the end game, K, but I need to get in with him first. Your uncle won't get hurt... I promise." She said nothing, only continued to stare out at the view that was now coming to an end as their cage was coming to a stop at the bottom. "When have I ever broken a promise to you, huh?" He questioned.

Kiara finally glanced over at him, saying nothing as the door was opened for them to exit the basket.

"You and Lizzie Stark seemed to do a pretty damn good job of breaking your wedding vows. I'd say that's a pretty big broken promise." She spat before taking her leave of the cage first and heading straight to where Arthur and John stood with Finn having already been let off.

They had been able to tell she was in a bad mood since the business with the Lee's, but right now they could see it was a thousand times worse and in that moment even Arthur was a little scared of her fiery look as he took a step away from her. Tommy had remained in his seat for a few moments after she'd exited until he finally slowly stood and got out, lighting another cigarette as he did and walking over to his family.

"Alright, that's it for today. Let's go home." He said, not looking at them, just speaking as he walked past. "That horse is still waiting for us." He said, using it as an excuse as he powered ahead.

Arthur ushered Finn along behind Tommy while John waited for Kiara to start walking.

"Everything alright?" He asked as they walked a few paces behind the others, out of earshot.

"Everything's fine John. It's just business, right?" She stated before picking up the pace.