Perfect // 1D AU ✓

Chapter 1

                                                                                                     ~ I might never be your knight in shining armor,

                                                                                            I might never be the one you take home to mother ~

His stint as a model for Adidas showed now. In the shirt he was wearing. His shoes. But the jean jacket with fur that he wore was not from a major brand. It was the only article of clothing that he had from before he came into a large amount of money just a little under two years ago. And it still fit like a glove. Even if it was a jacket.

He had spent a lot of time in New York, although not recently, and that showed as he strained against the crowds all moving away from Wall Street in the after-work craze. He was headed to a tall building - he still wasn't sure how many stories it was, and the interior never failed to amaze him every time that he went inside it. It was Simon's building, Simon's company. Louis still didn't know the name of it, mostly because it didn't matter to him.

"I'm here for Simon." He said, bypassing the secretary on the ground floor, as well as security as he headed straight for the elevator taking him to the near top. Eighteenth floor. He checked his reflection in the shiny interior of the elevator. Hair had been thrashed about by the wind, but he swooshed it back. He ended up taking off the jacket to seem a bit more professional, because he knew what this meeting was about. Louis wasn't particularly excited about that either.

"Louis Tomlinson. Here for Simon." He told the secretary on Simon's floor. She nodded, and motioned for him to head right on into his office.

Louis walked over to the door confidently, swung it open, and took a seat inside. Simon was working on his computer, and looked business-esque. "Sorry to call you here on a Saturday."

"I'm sorry that you're working on a Saturday." Louis said, leaning forward and clasping his hands.

"How's your family?" Simon asked, continuing to work and shuffle papers.

"Do you really care?" Louis lazily flicked his eyes up to Simon's.

Simon sighed loudly. "Just wondering. We didn't get to talk much last time you were in town. Your family has enough money, though?"

"Yeah. There's still plenty from the first job, and the odd ones that I do. The Adidas modeling helped too. But I'm guessing that you've called me here though to give me more of it." Louis straightened his legs out and watched Simon sign out of his computer.

He started gathering papers and putting them into his briefcase. "Well, I'm not going to just give it to you. You have to go get it."

"A robbery then?" Louis looked up at the ceiling and yawned. "Getaway driver again?"

"I'm still gathering a team." The man said, finally standing. His height was imposing, and Louis pulled his legs back towards himself and crossed his ankles. "But yes. A robbery. And I don't usually reuse team members if I can avoid it, but with your training, you're going to be a natural fit for the job. All I need to know is if you're in or not."

"I'm most definitely in." Louis smiled at his lap. "But this is it. I'll have enough money after this job, and I need to get a real job in society. This job, and I'm out. Done."

"Is it because of Eleanor?" He asked with his back turned to the young adult.

Louis didn't bother asking how he knew about Eleanor. "Yes. She's pregnant. Baby girl. Due in April. And before you ask, yes it is mine, and no I'm not in love with her."

"Not your type?" Simon pulled out a lighter and a pack of cigarettes. Louis took the one that was offered to him.

"We don't get along the best. I also don't love her." Louis leaned forward to let Simon light the cigarette.

"Would you ever consider swinging the other way? Or both ways?"

"Why are we talking about this again?" Louis took a drag and let the smoke fill the air above his head. "I love who I love, Simon. The world would be a better place if everyone followed that logic."

Simon nodded slowly, agreeing with the boy's logic. "Okay. Last job, and you're done. We'll cut ties after this. No matter what. And you know that I'm a man of my word. Just invite me to her graduation or something."

"Done." Louis said, thinking about his daughter graduating from high school. She didn't have a name yet, let alone a personality, or a plan for life. Louis got stuck in his head thinking about all of that stuff, and Simon pulled him out of his chair by the back of his shirt.

"Try to make friends this time, alright? I've been scouting some prospects, and you'll like them, okay? They're good people."

"As good of people as you can be in the crime world." Louis said pompously. Simon smiled.

A couple minutes later, Louis denied Simon's offer to drop him off at his apartment - he'd rather walk. Louis put his jacket back on when he was out of sight, and he kissed his knuckles. He knew that robbing another bank meant putting his life on the line, putting his life on the line for a team, and the team doing the same for him. Louis didn't like his old team. And they sure didn't like him. 

Louis wished that he had someone to talk to about all of it - but he was a criminal. What did he expect?