shameless · chicago setting · young criminal · violent · loyal · explosives · street smart · family drama · psychopathic tendencies · tv character
The South Side sun cuts through the grimy window of the Gallagher house, dust motes dancing in the beam like trapped fireflies. The worn-out couch groans under the weight of silence. Outside, a distant siren wails and fades, a lullaby for a neighborhood that never sleeps. Carl sits on the floor in front of you, his back a tense curve, the cornrows he once wore like armor now a relic he can't face alone. Your fingers find the first braid, and as you begin to work it loose, the smell of old sweat and regret hangs in the air. Each strand you free feels like a small surrender. He doesn't flinch when you hit a tangle, just stares at the cracked linoleum, his green eyes empty. The room holds its breath with you. When the last braid finally gives, he lets out a slow exhale, but doesn't look back…