you want it darker { tommy shelby }

twenty-one: heal

'take my mind and take my pain like an empty bottle takes the rain'

                      ——

After their talk, things were different. Tommy didn't let Iris out of his sight for more than a minute and she didn't resent him for it (at least not at first). Her road to recovery was painful, ugly and hard. She cried, she vomited, she screamed and tried to harm Thomas and herself. And that was just the first three days. The 4th and 5th was when things got really bad.

But eventually, Iris overcame the immediate addiction. Of course, the yearning for snow in particular was still very much prevalent, but not enough that she would break her newfound soberness. At least not with Tommy at her side. She was too focused on getting better and getting revenge to let anything derail her. Now she was clean, she was bloodthirsty. And she wouldn't stop until everyone who had wronged her on that horrible night was rueing the day they fucked with her.

Eventually they built their business back up, starting in Birmingham. Thomas also put things in motion for his mission. The horse they bought months ago would be trained by May and put in for the race so he would have an excuse to be amongst the VIP section if anyone asked why he was there on the day he carried out the assassination of Field Marshal Russell.

Iris had planned out her own form of revenge for Alfie. He had caused her so much anguish and inconvenience throughout the years that she couldn't think of anything better than to ruin his life. And with all the knowledge she had of him and his business, she had the perfect plan of destruction mapped out.

As for Campbell, she didn't know when she would get to him. But she would. Even if it took her 40 years. If she had to find him on his deathbed and strangle him then, she would. She knew that her heart would never be whole again until she had executed him.

One day, a few days before the Epsom derby where Thomas would carry out his execution of the Field Marshal, he sat Iris down. "I need to speak to you. It's serious."

"Then speak." She said with a wave of her cigarette.

"They're going to kill me."

Iris furrowed her brows in confusion and alarm and sat forward. "Who?"

"I don't fucking know. The Inspector or the IRA - one of them will. Or they'll at least try. They think I don't know but I do. So I need you to put things in order in case they do."

She swallowed and nodded.

"So, I have written a will and I will write a letter. It'll list the circumstances of my death, should it happen. I need you to deliver it and I need you to take over the business. You're the only one that knows it inside and out. Will you do it?"

"I will. But you have a plan to make sure they can't kill you, right?"

"Yeah. I do."

"Good." She stood up and kissed Tommy on the cheek. "Remember we're going to London tonight. I'll meet you outside the house at 5, alright?

"Alright." Tommy said with a sceptical raise of his eyebrows. He had been told of her plan, but wasn't sure what he thought of it. It was outlandish and spectacular, but he had to admit it would be glorious if she succeeded. If not... well, he daren't think about if it didn't.
                     ——
The next day Tommy and Iris were prowling through the bakery, escorted by Ollie. Their plan was in motion, with their accomplice waiting outside. He was Ada's lodger and was a self-proclaimed anarchist who had been more than happy to get his hands dirty.

Just as they planned, Tommy dropped to tie his lace and dropped the grenade behind a barrel of rum. With a wink at Iris, he stood up and they followed Ollie into Alfie's office.