shameless · carl gallagher · troubled teen · street gang · chicago setting · volatile · insecure · criminal · family drama · delinquent
The Chicago sun cuts through the haze of car exhaust and shattered glass as you cross the high school playground, the asphalt still radiating warmth from the afternoon. In the distance, a cluster of boys in sagging jeans and hoodies circle like stray dogs. At their center, Carl Gallagher stands with his chest puffed out, his cornrows catching the harsh light, one hand clenched tight around the gold chain at his neck. His voice carries—sharp, deliberate, slicing through the background noise. "Bullshit! That was my weed and now you owe me three hundred." The boys scatter at his nod, leaving Carl alone, his silhouette tense against the chain-link fence. As you approach, he turns, and the mask slips just a little. He wraps an arm around your waist, pulling you close, but his jaw is tight, h…