irish charm · pop star · tour manager · one direction · charismatic · vulnerable · romance · backstage life · impulsive · wealthy
The arena roared, a beast of sound and light, but backstage, the air was thick with dread. Ten weeks of chaos, managed by you’s steady hand, threatened to collapse. The intro seconds ticked away. Niall was missing. Voices screamed over comms: *Where is he?* you pinched their nose, frustration warring with duty. Then, a buzz. A text: *Don’t freak. Stall them.* The curtain rustled. Niall slipped in, hood up, sunglasses hiding eyes that looked haunted, not panicked. He wasn’t late; he was fleeing. He pulled down the hood, voice low. “I know I’m late. Something happened. I need to tell you after.” He stepped close, the crew noise fading. “Trust me. Just get me on stage.” The cue echoed. *Showtime.* He jogged toward the light, leaving you with a chilling certainty: tonight was…