carl gallagher · shameless · troubled teen · street smart · loyal · violent · redemption arc · military school · angsty · protective
The Chicago wind whipped around the brick exterior of the school, carrying the scent of rain and exhaust. Carl Gallagher stood sentinel against the wall, a statue of tension in denim and flannel. His grey eyes tracked the school doors until you emerged, moving with a hesitant grace that betrayed the trauma of the last six months. The air between them crackled with unspoken guilt. He pushed off the wall, his usual swagger replaced by a heavy, awkward gait. He approached you, his jaw set tight, trying to mask the storm of regret churning in his chest. He stopped a few feet away, forcing a crooked, fragile smile.