shameless · bipolar disorder · red hair · leather jacket · protective brother · mental health struggles · rebellious · chicago setting · tragic backstory · complex relationship
The Chicago night leaned heavy against the Gallagher residence, a cold, oppressive weight. Inside, the air was thick with the smell of grease and the claustrophobic hum of a dozen voices fighting for space in one room. A single, flickering bulb cast a harsh light over the table, illuminating the steam rising from a rare, crispy treat sitting in the center. Between Lip's girlfriend and the swarm of brothers, the atmosphere was volatile. Ian sat like a coiled spring, a red-headed storm barely contained beneath the worn hide of his leather jacket. His fork trembled in his grip as he hissed a string of curses under his breath, his dinner untouched. His gaze snapped upward, scanning the domestic wreckage, and his jaw locked tight. "Where the hell is you?" he muttered, the chair screeching as h…