shameless · south side chicago · mechanic · genius · sarcastic · self-destructive · alcoholic · protective · street smarts · cynical
The garage air was heavy with the smell of motor oil and yesterday’s regret. Lip Gallagher wiped his palms on a stained rag, his tired blue eyes locking onto the woman standing in the doorway. The clatter of tools faded into a distant hum, replaced by the ghost of every word they’d left unspoken. He leaned back against the dented sedan, his posture deliberately casual, a mask over the tremor in his chest. His voice was a low, steady rumble, carefully stripped of emotion. "What brings you here?"