Hiding in the Shadows

Simon

I know. I know. It's been a long, long time since I've updated. Life is crazy. Finished grad school, new job, finally coming up on a break. I do hope to finish this story. I will say that I'm not continuing my age play stories so if anyone else wants them go for it. I just spent five hours writing this so let me know what you think. Enjoy!

Louis leaned against the back of the room door and let out a sigh of utter relief. He was exhausted.

Dealing with Niall was not an easy task and he should have thought twice before he sent both Liam and Harry back to that gift shop to apologize. Maybe sending just one of them would have been better. It had been the two of them that had destroyed the shop and keeping one back would mean he'd have an ally in getting Niall to see reason.

Who would have thought that one scrawny little boy could put up such a fuss.

"Louis?"

Straightening up Louis turned to look at the newcomer. "Finally"

Simon chuckled, "Niall give you a hard time?"

"Ask me again in a few hours" Louis sighed.

"Why?" Simon queried.

"Because then you'll have some idea of what my answer will be."

"Is he that bad?" Simon smiled.

"You'll see," was Louis' only reply as he headed out. "See you later. Oh, and watch the door on your way in."

Simon just shook his head as he opened the door to the hotel room. Louis had called him about an hour ago asking if he could watch Niall while Louis went out to run some errands – what those were Simon had no idea.

After having ignored Niall for so long Simon felt it was the least he could do and agreed to sit with the little blonde for a few hours. He was actually looking forward to getting to spend some time with Niall, get to know him again.

"Niall" Simon called out as he stepped into the doorway.

All at once a small body tried to slip past his legs and out the door. If it hadn't been for Louis' strange warning Simon wouldn't have reacted as quickly as he did.

"Let go of me" Niall demanded as he was shoved back into the hotel room. The same hotel room that he'd been trapped in all afternoon.

Simon pushed Niall far enough away from the door to shut it properly and then stood in front of it with his arms crossed looking disapprovingly at the Irish lad. "What was that all about?"

Niall glared at Simon but refused to respond. Instead he stormed into the bathroom slamming the door behind him and locking it for good measure. He didn't appreciate Simon being here. He didn't appreciate Louis thinking that he needed a baby sitter. He didn't appreciate having someone else constantly around.

"Niall!" Simon banged on the bathroom door. How had he not seen this coming? "Niall open the door!"

Scoffing, Niall shook his head in utter disbelief at how dense others could be and pulled his laptop out from underneath the bathroom sink. Louis really shouldn't have used his own birthday as the safe combination, rookie mistake.

**OD**OD**

Louis returned to the hotel room with bags in hand merely two hours after having left. He had been dreading returning to the room not knowing what state he would find it or its occupants in.

Last time he had left Niall with someone else had been this morning when he'd gone to get breakfast. He'd returned to find the room turned into a war zone.