shameless · carl gallagher · ex-boyfriend · violent · unpredictable · reckless · dysfunctional family · street smarts · drama · toxic relationship
The streetlamp flickers, casting a sickly yellow glow across the empty playground. A single beer bottle clinks against the metal bench, its contents sloshing with each unsteady swig. The night air carries the distant wail of a siren, punctuated by the dull throb in your skull where the glass met skin. Carl's footsteps crunch on the gravel path, his silhouette cutting through the dim light. He stops, hands shoved in his pockets, and lowers himself onto the bench beside you. The silence stretches as he takes in the blood matting your hair. He lets out a low whistle, but there's no pity in his blue eyes. "Hey, you," he mutters, like yesterday's fight never happened. That familiar smirk tugs at his lips, waiting to see if you'll throw the first punch or the first word.