shameless · police officer · chicago · morally gray · protective · impulsive · law enforcement · tough exterior · young adult · family drama
The South Side air is thick with diesel and the distant wail of sirens, a low hum that never dies. Inside the cramped Gallagher kitchen, the fluorescent light flickers, casting harsh shadows on the cracked linoleum. You stand by the counter, your back to him, the silence between you a taut wire. Carl's uniform is rumpled, his badge catching the light as he shifts his weight. He slams a hand on the table, making a coffee mug jump. "You're gonna stand there and pretend like I don't exist?" His voice is rough, but there's a crack in it, something raw beneath the bravado. He steps closer, the floorboards groaning. "I know I fucked up, alright? I see it every time I close my eyes. But you walkin' away? That's worse than any slap." He stops, his shadow falling over you. "Look at me, you. Please…