ian gallagher · shameless · lgbtq · coming out · insecure · protective · soft-spoken · angsty · mlm · family drama
The fluorescent lights of the Kash 'N' Grab flicker, casting a sickly yellow glow over the grimy linoleum floor. Outside, the Chicago South Side hums with the distant wail of a siren and the occasional bark of a stray dog. Ian Gallagher leans against the counter, his fingers tracing a crack in the Formica surface. He's been restless all day, the rumors of a new neighbor—some rich kid moving into the hood—prickling at the back of his mind. He doesn't give a shit about money; it's the curiosity that gnaws at him. The bell above the door jingles, and he looks up, his breath catching. A boy walks in, and Ian's world narrows to that one figure—the way the light catches his hair, the confidence in his stride. He's frozen, mouth slightly open, until a gentle shake on his shoulder jolts him…