Rising | Thomas Shelby

grace

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As I was working along with Harry setting up the garrison for the day, Tommy was getting yelled at by Arthur about being seen doing the powder trick on Monaghan Boy. He's planting the seed, this is what we want.

The more hours that went by, the more people came in to bar. The Garrison was filling up nicely, not as many people as I thought were asking questions. Few of the men couldn't keep their eyes off me, trying to figure out if I was same girl they had lost years ago.

One of my old mates, Freddie Thorne, was here sitting at a booth with some other friends. He was shocked, to say the least to see me but a brief explanation saying it was just a big misunderstanding and a hug later he left and hadn't said a word more. I was scrubbing glasses when I saw Tommy strolled in, opening both the doors as he made his way into the bar. All attention on him, to me there was nothing more fun than to watch everybody squirm under his gaze. Power and intimidation are things I find extremely attractive.

He arrived up on my end of the bar where I grabbed him some Irish whiskey, always had been his favourite. Pouring him a glass. "On the house Mr Shelby" I looked up at him. He sent me a wink in appreciation and despite me saying, placed money on the counter. I let him be as I carried out my other jobs when I saw Freddie saunter up the counter asking Harry for a refill. I saw him pick up one of Tom's coins and sliding it over to pay for his own drink. I hadn't quite known what happened between the two, but I assumed it was something to do with Freddie's new lifestyle as a communist.

I didn't listen in to their conversation, I had always been taught that it was rude and Thomas Shelby didn't like to be listened to when you were no part of the conversation. However, when Freddie mentioned 'something about robbery' now I was intrigued so I fiddled around the end of the bar to keep an ear on what was being said. I silently cursed Tommy when I heard he was already on the speculation list of people. This was a spanner in the works, nothing too compromising but she had a feeling it was going to cause some stress.

My heart broke slightly when I heard Tom admit that he too had wished Freddie allowed him to take the bullet in France. Whenever I thought of war it broke my heart. Tears instantly building I walked away from the pair, going out from behind the bar to clear some of the tables, when I heard a man screaming. Suddenly tables were being pushed over and the man accidentally back handed me in his outburst. I fell back towards to bar, catching myself so I didn't fall completely on my arse. Pressing a finger to my cheek, one of his rings must've caught me as some blood started to arise from the cut.

Harry quickly made his way over to me whilst Tommy and Freddie work together to settle down Danny. "Harry, I'm fine seriously. Go make sure the customers are alright" I smiled at him.
He didn't want to leave but I persisted, after he'd left I looked towards Danny. I felt for him, I'd seen many reactions like this from the men in the hospital tents who turned on the nurses. Danny was sick but there wasn't a cure for it, just needs people around him to calm him down and make him see that they weren't still fighting, that they were home.

"Did I do it again?" In that moment my heart really hurt for Danny, he didn't know what he was doing he had no power over it. Danny was profusely apologising to Tom, but Tom didn't blame him for it, he knew how fucked they all are after France. Tommy told him to go home and once Danny left, he rushed over to my side taking my face into his hands. "Shit love, you alright?" he asks looking at my cut. "I'm fine Thomas, Danny isn't though Tom"

Harry and Freddie then piped up about the fact Tommy needs to deal with Danny, which pissed me off. He evidently couldn't help it, the answer is not always to put a bullet in anyone that causes slight havoc.
Tommy wasn't listening just watched me send daggers to Harry and Freddie, slightly smiling at me for being so understanding of Danny and what had happened.
Tommy has made sure I was alright and didn't need to go home which I replied by laughing and pushing him away. "You think I can't handle a little manhandling, aye?" I rolled my eyes at him.
"Oh I know you can handle it, I just don't know if i can let it happen love" He says close to my ear before  walking towards the exit. "Send the bill to the Peaky Blinders" and without a second look back, he was gone.

~~~~~~~~~

Days went past,  I didn't start work until later on so I pottered around the house. There was a knock at the door, I looked down at myself only in my night slip so I grabbed a blanket from the chair near me wrapping it around myself before opening the door. I was greeted with Tommy who gave me a one over and looked up at me, I stepped back allowing him into my home.

He removed his hat as he walked towards the sitting room, I offered a drink which he accepted. I poured us both a drink whilst he lit two cigarettes one for himself and one for me. We sat on the same sofa, I turn my body slightly toward him bringing my knee up to rest in front of me. He eyed my exposed thigh and slightly coughed before starting to speak.

"I just spoke to Pol, I told her about the guns. She reckons I should throw them in the cut or put them where no one will find them." I slowly nod, signalling him to carry on. "Arthur mentioned at the family meeting about a copper coming for Belfast, I told them I think he's clearing out the communists but I have an inkling he might be sniffing about trying to find the guns"

"I have a feeling this copper is going to be a pain in the arse" I say, making Tommy chuckle. "I agree with the hiding of the guns but not so much getting rid. I think they would be useful leverage. If this copper comes round sniffing, it might be useful to have something he wants. It's just finding the spot to hide them, it needs to be somewhere the copper won't dare to look" My mind starts racing of all the possibilities of the hiding spots.

"Hey, don't worry about it I'll figure it out. Are you working today?" Tommy changes the subject quickly. "Yes, I'm going in at 1. It's St. Andrews today. It'll be a busy one" I sighed, mentally preparing myself for the rowdy men and tricky questions. Tom left then, giving me time to get ready. Wishing me luck for the noisy day ahead.

~~~~~~~~~

I was getting bottles out of the back as Harry swept the floors. When I heard an Irish woman speak "I'm here about the job as a barmaid" she announced. She was beautiful and confident it seems. "Are you mad?" is all Harry could spit out. He couldn't believe his eyes, she looked way to posh to work in a place like this. Harry turned her down but she didn't let that stop her. Why was she so persistent to work here?

Before I knew it the girl was singing whilst clearing away the spittoons, she was good but it only made me more wary. Who was she? and why was she here?
After she had finished, I started to clap. She was startled by my sudden appearance not realising anyone else was there. "Very good, pretty and can sing? You have me beat. What's your name?" I questioned. "Grace... In Ireland my singing used to make them cry and stop them fighting" I looked at Harry who was looking at me, silently asking me what I thought so I decided to answer for him. "Well I hope you know a lot of songs" I politely smiled at her. "Come on, Ill show you how things are done around here" I gesture for me to follow me.

Once we were in the back, she started to speak "how comes you're not too pretty to work here?" I stifled a laugh "these men here know only touch me if they have a death wish, I grew up here. They all know me and I sure as hell can throw a punch" Grace just nodded along, "Are you nervous?" Grace looked at me before replying "You're not the only girl who knows how to fight!" she smirked up at me.