I would start a riot

The Final Hurdle ~ May 2015

It didn't take long into their hour break before the show for Dec's repeated sighs to become noticeable. They tended not to talk too much beforehand, storing up some energy to play off each other in front of the live audience. Sometimes though, Ant made exceptions to their routine, watching the older man as he lay on the sofa with his eyes trained on the ceiling.

"What's wrong?" he asked, choosing to get to the point and save Dec the trouble of pretending he was fine. Fortunately, that didn't seem to be the older man's intention anyway and he glanced over, the answer written across his expression. "Stephen?"

"I don't know how to make him feel better," he murmured, looking downtrodden and far from his usual adrenaline fuelled self before a show. "He was better. And today he's just – quiet again. He'd normally be in here with us, wouldn't he?"

"Maybe he just needs a bit of space," Ant said patiently, determined to stop Dec from beating himself up over it. He knew this would only make Stephen feel even worse than he already did. Dec wasn't accepting his suggestion though and shook his head firmly, sitting upright and fixing Ant with a convincing expression. Ant already knew what was coming, knowing Stephen well enough to realise what was going on.

"That's the last thing he needs," Dec replied, echoing Ant's own thoughts. "He's just stubborn and bloody determined not to ruin everyone else's last day. Added to the fact that he doesn't want anyone to know how terrified he is because of all the press and attention he's already getting." He groaned frustratedly and went to cover his eyes before remembering that they'd already had their make-up done, settling for grumbling under his breath. "Typical... the idiot."

Ant wondered sometimes if Stephen let himself see how viscerally Dec felt things when it came to the two of them, how much it tore the older man up to see Stephen upset. Stephen definitely knew that it happened but he didn't seem to like to acknowledge that there were people who valued him so highly.

Ant's moves to comfort Dec were interrupted by a knock on their door. He raised an eyebrow, watching the other man hide a hopeful expression behind painfully forced exasperation. He was determined to be annoyed at Stephen, that much was clear, even though in reality he was borderline distraught. That was how Ant knew Stephen definitely didn't want space because Dec would respect that if it were true. His desperation for Stephen to confide in both of them was palpable.

Dec had made his way to the door and opened it, his posture only faltering a little at what he saw. Ant craned his neck to see the doorway, smiling when he saw Emma. If there was one person who could get Stephen back out of his shell when he refused Dec, it was her.

"Look at you two!" Her smile cut through the heavier atmosphere in the room despite her cheeriness being undercut by a simmering concern as she embraced Dec. She'd texted Ant the morning after the bad show, asking after both of them. Even now, as she pulled back under the pretence of appraising Dec's suit, her aim was clearly to discern how the other man was doing.

"We weren't expecting to see you until later," Dec said, the smile he mustered at least genuine. He tilted his head towards the interior of the room to invite Emma inside. Ant had stood up and hugged her as well, feeling her head shift against his shoulder as she looked around the room. They all knew who she was looking for.

"Stephen?" Ant asked unnecessarily.

"I came here first because I assumed you'd all be in here," she said, her gaze flickering over to Dec and his tumultuous expression.

"He's locked himself away," he glowered at the floor, his anger clearly directed at the man who was responsible for putting a dampener on a usually upbeat week. Like Ant, Emma saw through his frustration easily, knowing he wasn't putting Stephen down for distancing himself but also knowing that Stephen was creating that distance unnecessarily.