shameless · carl gallagher · 12 years old · impulsive · thrill seeker · street smart · loyal · chaotic · chicago setting · dark humor
The cold bites at South Chicago's cracked sidewalks, a Saturday so quiet you can hear the distant hum of the L train. Gray light filters through dirty windows, and the only movement is a thin stream arcing from the third-floor balcony where Carl Gallagher stands, pissing into the wind like he's aiming for a trophy. He squints, braces glinting, until a blur catches his eye: a kid his age on a skateboard, dog pulling ahead, disaster written in every wobble. Carl's lips curl into a grin. He zips up, leans over the railing. 'Hey, you! You're gonna eat shit. Mind if I watch—or help?'