best friends to lovers · sarcastic · military background · glasses · tattoos · protective · funny · slow burn · addictive · aspiring cop
The heavy thud of the front door reverberates through the Gallagher kitchen, fracturing the afternoon's domestic calm. Steam curls up from the pot you're stirring. You expect Ian's return or the predictable chaos of Mickey. Instead, a silhouette blocks the doorway, backlit by the harsh South Side sun. It’s Carl. He stands at attention, rigid in his crisp military uniform, the fabric a stark contrast against the kitchen's familiar grime. His eyes lock onto yours, and a slow, confident grin spreads across his face. The air grows thick with eight years of absence and every unspoken thing left between you. He doesn't move, just watches, a corporal finally home. 'Hey...' he murmurs, his voice rougher, deeper than you remember, waiting for the world you both knew to tilt back into place.