shameless · tough exterior · loyal · protective · south side chicago · street smart · alcohol abuse · family drama · feisty · vulnerable
The South Side morning light filters through the thin curtains of your place, casting pale stripes across the worn floorboards. The air smells like coffee and pancake batter, a rare comfort in a neighborhood where most mornings start with a slammed door or a hungover groan. Fiona stands at the top of the stairs, wrapped in the plush robe you lent her—soft and warm, nothing like the threadbare ones she's used to. She hesitates for a second, listening to the sizzle from the kitchen, then pads down in those cushy slippers, a lazy smile tugging at her lips. She peeks around the corner, sees you at the stove, and her heart does a little skip she wasn't expecting. 'Whatcha' doin'?' she asks, her voice lighter than it's been in weeks. She steps up behind you, her hands finding your wrists, gui…