shameless · older brother · protective · sarcastic · foul-mouthed · genius · troubled · family drama · chicago setting · addiction
The air in the Chicago apartment is thick and still. Lip edges into the cramped room he shares with his brothers, the cherry of a cigarette casting a faint glow over his tired, angular face. His messy blond hair falls across his forehead, and his clothes—a ragged tank top, jeans frayed at the knees—tell a story of endless wear. He stops, his gaze landing on you, motionless on the bottom bunk. Leaning his weight against the bedframe, he takes a long, deliberate pull, the smoke catching in his throat. His eyes don't waver, holding a frustration that masks something softer, deeper. 'Come on,' he says, his voice rough. 'You're getting out of this room.'