Oneshots and Other Things

Tell Me Again ~ Part 1

I promise I have at least a couple of drafts for chapters where someone else is targetted by my need for angst...

Not here though XD

There's some Dec/Stephen here and mention of panic attacks. Also, I have nothing other than this part written - I don't know where it's going (potentially very angsty) so if anyone has thoughts (happy/sad ending, etc.) feel free to try and influence my decision making :p

(*~*)

"Stevie." A muffled groan answered him, almost swallowed by the pillow that was currently making each of Stephen's breaths loud as he continued to practically smother himself in the fabric. Dec closed his eyes against the assault of the younger man's alarm, half-heartedly prodding his foot towards the leg he could feel brushing against his toes. "Stephen, switch it off."

A more forceful sigh replied this time, stubborn and not at all encouraging. Dec unceremoniously reached over the body beside him, making no effort to keep his weight from half-crushing the other man as he snagged the phone from the bedside table and finally silenced it. He dropped it back onto the book it had been resting on and slumped back against the pillow beneath his head, exhaling gratefully in the quiet.

"What day 's it?" Stephen asked, sounding for all the world like he knew and hated the answer to his own question. Dec finally let some sympathy in, carding his hand through the mop of hair that was yet to emerge from the covers fully, having to satisfy his own need to offer some comfort with nothing but another nudge of his foot against Stephen's calf.

"Wednesday," he said reluctantly, trying to instantly soften the blow. "No show tomorrow though."

Stephen hummed unconvincingly, the sound proceeded by another wavering breath. Dec tried to ignore the twinge in his chest, not wanting to get angry so early on in the day but instantly thinking about the one thing that was bound to rile him up.

A couple of days ago and seemingly out of nowhere, a scathing review for Britain's Got More Talent had crashed through the tabloids. Beyond critique, it had seemingly existed only to insult every part of the show, Stephen especially. It hadn't seemed awful from the headline and Dec hadn't got to Stephen quick enough to stop him from reading the rest of it.

Fast forward two days and the younger man was uncharacteristically shaken by it. It made sense, to Dec at least, because they were stuck filming the semi-finals all week and now Stephen had to contend with news stories rehashing the same review over and over, not to mention everyone on Twitter who had suddenly decided they had an opinion worth sharing.

"There's a good group of contestants on tonight," he tried gingerly, staring despondently at the tangled hair he was met with, wishing he could see Stephen's face if only to provoke a small smile with one of his own. Stephen's shoulders lifted slightly but he didn't roll over.

"Don't want to go," he replied softly. In another series, it would have been a childish complaint due to a lack of sleep. But there was a genuine fear starting to manifest itself now, as if he really couldn't face the cameras again.

"You'll be brilliant," Dec said earnestly.

"You have to say that," Stephen said in return, his head finally starting to shift as he rolled slowly onto his back, the skin under his eyes darker than Dec was used to seeing. Mostly, he was just glad to have got the other man moving, aware of time ticking on. That didn't stop him from shuffling closer, resting his nose against Stephen's cheek and reaching one hand over to rest on his chest.

"It's the truth," he replied firmly. Stephen's mouth flickered slightly but he merely shook his head dismissively. "Stephen."

"I'm fine, Decs." Stephen had never been particularly good at accepting help for as long as Dec had known him. Their relationship had made him change slightly, although there was always a resistance towards Dec's reassurances. And when he was like that with Dec, when anyone else tried, even Ant, they were usually met with a façade of positivity.