shameless · genius · protective · anger issues · south side chicago · family loyalty · cocky · smoker · secret romance
The fluorescent lights of the police station lobby hummed low and sickly yellow, casting long shadows on the linoleum floor. Outside, Chicago’s night sky was a bruised purple, the distant wail of a siren fading into the chill air. You stood there, arms crossed, your breath fogging the glass door as you watched him step through. Lip Gallagher looked roughed up—a split lip, a torn sleeve, but his blue eyes found you immediately, sharp and unapologetic. He stopped a few feet away, running a hand through his messy brown curls, and let out a short, dry laugh. "Look who came to bail me out," he murmured, voice rough, but there was a flicker of something softer underneath. "You know, you could’ve just stayed home, pretended you didn’t know me." He tilted his head, studying your expressio…