Neglectful mother that landed him and his sisters in foster care, but he was already a late teen at that point so it didn't really help him; his sisters were younger than him but it wasn't very good for them either

Has no memory of his father

He's not well educated. He's not downright stupid but he has trouble reading and remembering/understanding big vocabulary. Also doesn't know a lot outside of basic knowledge (example, not knowing where Wyoming is)

I feel like he fell into crime because he kept trying to get out of his foster homes and then it was to get his sisters out after he aged out of it; started mainly as petty theft that eventually got so bad he went to prison for over a year after he'd been to jail a handful of times

Eventually his sisters aged out of foster care but didn't reach out to him because he was in jail at the time, and he didn't reach out because he was too scared to

Heavy believer that Sal suffered SA when he was in prison, specifically from the guards (plural)

He went to prison before ending up in the army (Navy) and he went mostly to try and forget what had happened to him, also hoped that he could use the benefits to help his sisters somehow (he thought he'd get paid more than he actually did) I think he joined before the army was involved in Vietnam War but he served until that was over

Got extremely catholic while in the army. Probably influenced by other veterans and the fact it just brought him comfort because he had nothing else

While he mainly joined the army to potentially help his sisters, part of him also just wanted to die while he was serving so he'd die a hero or something

Got a shitty apartment and started working in a library because it was the quietest and safest work environment he could handle

Fun hc that he practices reading sometimes

Doesn't smoke and rarely drinks because it reminds him of his mother

Internalized homophobia (I'm a bisexual Sal truther)

Still hc that he met Sonny at a gay bar. I just add the funny additional context of Sal not realizing it was a gay bar. Also I feel like Sal goes to bars sometimes because other veterans did that but he only drinks soda or water

Sidenote, I don't think Sonny was actually part of the army, he just claims that because Sal was a veteran and it makes him seem more important or something. Sal knows he's full of shit but doesn't comment on it because he just doesn't care

I don't think he and Sonny hung out a lot before the robbery but I do think they bonded somehow. Maybe Sonny was open about being gay because they were in a gay bar when they met and Sal is bewildered by how self assured Sonny is and he wishes he could be that way (he doesn't realize Sonny is a narcissistic prick until way later)

Sal agreed to the robbery because of the slight chance he could help his (now adult) sisters out, but moreso because he thought it was an absolute clusterfuck of a plan and was planning to die that day

He has some fucked up intrusive thoughts. Extremely violent intrusive thoughts that make him scared of himself and makes him even more suicidal

Self harm, probably has a long-lasting scar from going too rough one time. Started after the prison incident

During the robbery he really didn't want to hurt or scare anyone and that's why he was so quiet most of the time. Him being ready to kill someone was out of desperation and fear, not the genuine desire to harm someone. He also probably figured if they did start firing, the cops would start firing too and they'd finally start the death plan

Was extremely upset over Sonny prolonging their stay in the bank because he was ready to just give up and die "why is this guy changing the plan this is fucked up and evil"

Autism.

Hates touch from basically anyone, especially if it's unexpected (thinking abt the scene where two girls are dancing near him and he flinches and moves somewhere else because they're too close)

Also hates loud noises and bright lights

Only person he was fully ready to kill was Sheldon, because of what happened in prison he was SO ready to kill a cop or someone adjacent (thinking about him shaking and saying "that's close enough" makes me so ill)

The phone calls between Leon/Sonny and Angie/Sonny made Sal realize that Sonny wasn't some cool guy trying to help out one of his wives. He isn't scared of Sonny by any means but he does lose respect for him after that

If he DID survive the bank robbery but still got arrested (because that's realistic) I think Maria would've gone to visit him and help him reestablish a relationship with his sisters, that's my wholesome fluff AU where Sal lives

Okay that's it bye (PLEASE ask me questions or just talk abt Sal in my ask box PLEAAAAAASE)