Awake

Hi! This is the first part of the next work on from Sleep! I wanted to leave that fic as it was because I didn't want it to stray too much into new territory, but this follows directly on from the last chapter, and will get a little more intense.

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Ant flicked the kettle on, itching for something to do as Dec faffed around in the bathroom. He leant against the wardrobe that flanked the sink area, arms folded, and banged his head a couple of times against its door.

"Fancy a coffee?" He asked through the door, which was sitting slightly ajar.

"Eugh, no thanks," Dec replied with a mouth full of foaming toothpaste, "I can't take any more of that stuff." He spat it out.

"What's wrong with Nescafé?" Ant picked up a one of the long sachets fanned out in a little pot on the table and played with it, the packet pleasingly inflated when he pressed it between his fingers.

"It's rank, man. I'll get something there."

"Suit yourself." He flicked through the other options. "Not even Nescafé Gold?"

He could feel Dec rolling his eyes. He launched himself round the doorframe and threw a handful of sachets into the air.

Dec gurgled his mouthwash and spat it out into the sink, then turned round to survey Ant, who was already looking boyishly sheepish.

"No!" He wiped his mouth, laughing. "Gonna pick those up? You maniac."

"Someone's changed," Ant retorted, using Dec's own frequent riposte against him, as he crouched down to gather his coffee confetti. "Too good for instant."

Dec turned the tap off.

"I'm used to the finer things in life, now, darling. Green tea. A- arabica beans," he stumbled.

"Arabica beans?!" Ant laughed inredulously.

"Arabica beans! What are they, are they good beans?" Dec asked, making himself laugh.

"They're standard beans, mate. Aim a little higher man," Ant replied, now sitting cross-legged on the bathroom rug, arranging the sachets into different shapes on the floor.

"Oh my g- eurgh, get up, man!" Dec exclaimed, incredulous. Ant grinned up at him and Dec held a hand out, rolling his eyes, as Ant balled up the sachets in one hand and took his in another. He heaved him up.

"Thanks, man. Gonna be much longer in here, then?" Ant asked, immediately bored again.

"Why don't you just wait for me downstairs?"

"That," he walked back through to the bedroom, "would be an admission of defeat." He flopped onto the bed.

Seconds later, Dec came out of the bathroom with his hands up, his hair fluffy and towel-dried.

"Alright, I'm ready."

"Good."

"Where are my shoes?"

"Oh my god." Ant pulled a pillow over his face.

"I've got them! I've got them. Two ... Seconds ... Let's go."

Ant hopped up from the bed. He looked over to Dec and smiled.

"That jumper looks nice on you." Dec smiled back, and looked down to see which one he was wearing. It was navy, just one of his old ones.

"Thank you," he replied, patting himself on the stomach. When he looked back up, Ant was yawning into the back of his hand. "Hey," he looked concerned. "You weren't awake all night, were you? Did you sleep okay?"

"Oh no, I'm fine! I slept very well, pet." Ant assured, looking him fondly.

"Good." Dec reached out, giving Ant's hand a quick squeeze, and they exchanged a smile.

"Come on, then!" Ant pushed the door.

"Come on, then."

Ant ushered Dec out the room and closed the door behind them.

"Hm. Which way?" Ant asked, looking up and down the corridor.

"This way, I think," Dec replied, trying to remember which direction the stairs were in.

"Oi oi, boys!"

They turned back round to see Alesha, personal assistant at her side, and glammed up already, walking towards them in five-inch heels.

"Alesha!" Ant grinned, dragging out the vowels for effect. "Good morning."

"Good morning to you," she replied, in her irresistibly gravelly London voice.

"Morning, Amy," Ant nodded to the young woman beside her. She grinned, attempting to hide how delighted she was that he knew her name.

"Morning!"

"Morning!" Dec piped up. "Did we need another one?" He grinned, looking round at them comically. Ant gave a quick, affectionate eye roll.

"What's going on here, then?" Alesha gestured towards the door with her head.

"What do you mean?" Dec asked, placing his key card back in his wallet.

"Are you in the same room?" She asked, in a genuinely inquisitive tone. As if she was about to unlock another piece of their lore. She was equal parts besotted with and fascinated by how they were with each other, and had never been able to completely pin it down. She absolutely loved them.

"Oh! No," Ant chuckled lightly. "I just stayed over."

"Oh, right," she nodded, satisfied with his matter-of-fact answer, and Ant realised he could just say anything. If he'd told her they'd cuddled all night, that Dec had kissed him to sleep, she'd probably have reacted the same way. Well maybe not the kissing part. He scrunched his face tight for a second, trying not to think about it. The feel of his mouth on his neck, his arms warm around him. Falling asleep half-hard.

"We were up late gossipin' about you lot," Dec teased.

Alesha gasped; mouth wide open.

"And what, may I ask, were you saying?"

"Wouldn't you like to know?" He grinned and winked at Amy, who hoped that her dark skin would conceal the blush she could feel forming. She could never tell who was going to make her feel star-struck.

Alesha turned her body towards Dec and leaned her head in, flicking her long hair behind her, voice low.

"Was it about Simon and Amanda?"

Dec looked at her and honked with laughter, throwing his head back. He looked over at Ant, who had his hands clutched to his chest, and they made brief eye contact. Ant smirked surreptitiously; they had actually exchanged a whisper or two about them in the wings. Dec composed himself and leaned back towards Alesha, adopting a conspiratorial tone.

"No seriously, what is going on there?" Alesha flashed him a mischievous grin.

"I knew it!" She opened her mouth to say more, before Ant clamped a hand down on Dec's shoulder and interrupted.

"Come on! You're a shameless gossip, Donnelly. I want some toast."

"Oh, you spoil sport," Alesha pouted.

"Alright, alright. Alesha," Dec turned back to face her, "see me later," he said with a cheeky grin, as Ant dragged him along by the arm.

"See ya, boys."

Alesha waved them off, turned to Amy and shook her head. "Those two." Amy grinned. "Right. I've completely forgotten where we were going."