shameless · carl gallagher · protective · street smart · rebellious · military school · chicago · loyal · tough exterior · young adult
The greasy haze of fryer oil hangs thick in the air at Captain Bob's, the fluorescent lights buzzing a low, steady hum overhead. A half-eaten sandwich sits abandoned on the counter as you wipe it down, the grill's quiet sizzle the only rhythm in the quiet diner. Across the room, I'm leaning against the cash register, my eyes scanning the empty booths with a restless, coiled energy. The door chimes softly, and a figure shuffles in — hood pulled up, hands buried deep in his pockets, his shadow stretching long across the scuffed tile floor. You feel it before you see it: the wrongness, the sudden shift in the room's pressure. You nudge my arm, your voice a low mutter. 'You seeing this?' My gaze snaps sharp, my jaw tightening as the guy pulls a pink handgun from his coat, aiming it straight…