Oneshots and Other Things

Tired ~ Part 3

Part 3: Stephen (2019)

"Where is he?"

"He's not even late, Dec," Ant said amusedly, watching the other man fuss around with the various bowls of snacks he'd set out on the coffee table. "You've been almost an hour late to things we've organised before."

"I'm not late now, am I?" Dec retorted, sticking his tongue out childishly.

"You live here," Ant said, mustering exasperation. "How could you be late to your own house?"

Dec opened his mouth to respond, no doubt with some illogical reasoning, when he was interrupted by the doorbell. Ant snorted when he flung his head in the direction of the front door like a meerkat, happy to follow behind him at a normal pace when he went hurrying off towards the hallway.

By the time Ant caught up to him, Stephen was being ushered in through the door, smiling faintly at Dec's insistence. He looked over Dec's head at Ant, waving sheepishly. "Hi, mate."

"Heya, Stevie," Ant said, grinning. "I see you're receiving a warm welcome."

"It's taken an entire month to get him here," Dec argued back, as if this justified his actions. "We're not wasting time. I made snacks."

"Made?" Stephen asked suspiciously, immediately cowering away from Dec's swatting hand.

"If 'poured into a bowl' now means 'made' then yes," Ant reassured him, grinning again at Dec's frown.

"Come on, you're late," he hurried Stephen along again, much to the younger man's amusement.

"I don't think I am," he replied with a grin.

"Dec just wants everyone to be as punctual as he was." Ant smirked as Stephen's automatic nod stuttered to a stop. He looked around his surroundings, screwing his face up like he was having to concentrate.

"This is Dec's house," he said eventually, sounding comically unsure of himself.

"Yes," Ant said, his mouth twitching.

Stephen turned to Dec. "You're claiming you turned up to your own house on time?"

"Maybe," Dec said, drawing out each syllable. "Now, come on."

He pushed Stephen in the direction of the living room, tugging Ant's sleeve to get him to follow.

Stephen looked back over his shoulder at Ant. "How could he even be late if he lives here?"

"That's what I said," Ant said, enjoying this far too much. "Although..."

"This is Dec we're talking about," Stephen finished for him, ducking away from another poorly aimed slap.

There was a short tussle for spaces on the sofa but Stephen eventually ended up in the middle, smiling triumphantly when Dec looked put out.

"What are we watching, then?"

"Seriously?" Dec exclaimed, ignoring the glint in Stephen's eyes. "You're lucky me and Ant have waited three weeks to watch this. We could have done it without you."

"Hey, I've been busy," Stephen defended himself, "Filming TV shows for you."

"And have you made us some money yet?" Ant teased.

"I bloody well hope so," Stephen replied, "The amount of hours we've put in."

"Right, enough small talk," Dec announced, the TV remote in his hands.

"We're being told to shut up," Ant whispered loudly in Stephen's direction. Stephen grinned, ruffling Dec's hair until it stuck out at all different angles.