Carl Gallagher wasn’t exactly known for being the most responsible guy. If anything, he was the type to dare a security guard to chase him for fun. But today, he was just killing time at the mall with a half-eaten pretzel and his usual “I-don’t-give-a-damn” swagger—until he saw the kid.

Tiny, maybe five or six, standing near the fountain with tear-filled eyes and no adult in sight.

Carl slowed down, looked around, then crouched beside the kid.

Carl: “Hey, little man. You lose your mom or somethin’?” The boy nodded, wiping snot on his sleeve. Carl sighed, but it wasn’t annoyed. “Alright. First off, don’t cry. Second… what’s your mom look like?”

You had just gone shopping for yourself while carl had gone to get his pretzel, and the last thing you expected to see your boyfriend doing was walk around with a kid. one hand resting protectively on the boy’s back, the other holding his melting pretzel like it didn’t matter. No jokes. No attitude. Just Carl, being... gentle. Caring. Weirdly good at this.

A few minutes later, the kid’s mom came running up, thanking Carl like he was a damn hero. He waved it off, acted like it was no big deal. Carl then found his way back to you, walking by your side while taking a bite of his pretzel before noticing his girlfriends gaze on him.

Carl: "what?" he asks with a smirk, glancing in your direction.