Home - Nouis

Chapter 3

Niall kept his gaze focused on his notepad, though the tension in the room was nearly suffocating. Simon was in full force, his voice sharp and unrelenting as he laid out a list of demands for the upcoming tour. It was supposed to be a routine meeting to review the tour itinerary, but with Simon's usual "suggestions," the meeting had already run over time, and the atmosphere was anything but routine.

"Louis," Simon snapped, narrowing his eyes, "I want no slip-ups this time. Your last album underperformed, and this tour is about redeeming that. You're the one under contract, so I need you on every radio spot, every interview, and every stage—doing exactly what you're told. Clear?"

Louis's jaw tightened, his gaze fixed on the table in front of him. Niall could see the tension in Louis's shoulders, a tension that seemed almost permanent by now. Despite his calm façade, Niall noticed the slight shake in Louis's hands as he clenched them into fists under the table.

"Understood," Louis replied, his voice flat, devoid of its usual bite.

Simon didn't seem to notice—or care. "And for God's sake, don't give any of those smug answers to reporters. I don't need you charming people on some casual level. I need you marketable." He gave Niall a brief, dismissive glance, as if Niall were little more than a set piece. "Do your job and keep him on schedule. And make sure he stays in line."

Niall forced a polite nod, even as a knot of anger twisted in his stomach. He wanted to say something, but he knew better than to start a fight his first week on the job. Instead, he kept his expression neutral, jotting down notes that he hoped might help him make this tour a little more bearable for Louis. When the meeting finally adjourned, Simon breezed out of the room without a backward glance, leaving a tense silence in his wake.

Louis released a slow breath and straightened, his expression carefully neutral. Niall had seen that look before—one he recognized as a defense mechanism, a mask that allowed Louis to maintain his composure.

"I'll walk you through the final schedule tomorrow," Niall said quietly, meeting Louis's gaze with a gentle steadiness. "We can see if there's any way to make it more manageable."

Louis's expression flickered, a hint of surprise breaking through his guarded demeanor. But he quickly looked away, feigning indifference. "Doesn't matter," he muttered, though his voice lacked conviction. "Simon's made it clear what he expects. We'll just do what he wants and get it over with."

Niall nodded, but he didn't fully accept that answer. He could see the exhaustion and frustration simmering beneath Louis's calm exterior. Despite the walls Louis had thrown up around himself, Niall felt an urge to do something, however small, to ease the burden he was clearly carrying alone.

Over the next few days, Niall made a quiet effort to implement subtle changes, tweaking the schedule to give Louis a bit more breathing room wherever he could. It wasn't much, but he managed to secure an extra hour here and there between radio interviews and press stops, small reprieves that he hoped would ease the relentless grind.

He also noticed that Louis rarely had a moment of privacy, always under the watchful eye of handlers, photographers, or Simon's representatives. It was as though any space Louis occupied was immediately filled with someone else's demands. Niall, however, started finding ways to deflect the attention, subtly shielding him from prying eyes whenever possible. He began arranging for Louis to use alternate exits to avoid the paparazzi or blocking off a small corner backstage where Louis could take a few minutes for himself.

One afternoon, after a particularly grueling day of interviews, Niall had arranged for a break. He watched as Louis slumped into a chair, his face etched with fatigue. Without saying anything, Niall quietly brought over a cold bottle of water and a light snack, setting them on the table beside Louis without fanfare.

Louis looked up, surprise flickering across his face. "What's this for?" he asked, his tone skeptical.

Niall shrugged, leaning casually against the wall. "Figured you could use a break. Long day and all."

Louis's eyes lingered on him, as if searching for some hidden agenda. When he didn't find one, he nodded, his expression softening, though he remained guarded. "Thanks," he mumbled, twisting the cap off the bottle. He took a long sip, seeming almost suspicious of Niall's gesture.

"Look, I know I'm the new guy," Niall said, breaking the silence. "And I'm not trying to overstep. But I want you to know that you don't have to go through this alone. I'm here to make things easier, not harder."

Louis didn't respond immediately, his gaze shifting back to his drink. After a long pause, he finally spoke, his tone hesitant. "I've heard that before. It's usually just... words. Empty promises."

Niall nodded, understanding the skepticism. He didn't push, didn't offer reassurances that would sound hollow. "I get it," he replied simply. "But actions speak louder, right? So I'll just keep doing my job and, if you need anything, you know where to find me."

Louis's mouth quirked into a faint smile, though he quickly masked it. "Guess we'll see, won't we?"

In the following days, Louis began to notice the subtle ways Niall was looking out for him. Niall never drew attention to it, never asked for gratitude. Instead, he simply made Louis's life a little easier in small, practical ways that required no thanks.

At a press event, a particularly invasive reporter tried to probe into Louis's personal life, pushing questions that clearly crossed the line. Before Louis could respond, Niall stepped in, gently redirecting the conversation back to the music. "We're here to focus on Louis's latest work," he interjected smoothly, his voice friendly but firm. The reporter backed down, and Louis glanced at Niall with a look of surprise and reluctant gratitude.

But despite these gestures, Louis remained cautious, wary of letting his guard down too soon. He had been disappointed too many times, had watched others come and go, each one professing to care but ultimately letting him down. He didn't know if Niall was any different, and he wasn't about to open himself up to another betrayal.

One evening, as they wrapped up a day of rehearsal, Niall caught up to Louis, who was packing up his things.

"Hey," Niall said, his tone light. "I'm heading out. Need anything before I go?"

Louis shook his head, a polite smile on his lips, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Nah. Thanks, though."

Niall nodded, sensing the wall between them but refusing to press. He'd learned quickly that patience was key with Louis; he would need time, space, and consistency before he could begin to trust again.

"Well," Niall said, a small smile playing on his lips, "if you ever need a real break, I'll make it happen. Just say the word."

Louis raised an eyebrow, a hint of a smirk finally breaking through. "You're awfully persistent."

"Part of the job," Niall replied, flashing a grin. "Good night, Louis."

"Good night," Louis said softly, watching as Niall walked away. For the first time in a long while, he found himself feeling something other than exhaustion, something that felt almost like hope.