Ant and Dec One Shots

Stresses

Stephen had been putting off this conversation for days - maybe even weeks. He'd always seen Ant and Dec's playful teasing as part of their friendship, a familiar rhythm of banter that brought laughter and lightness. They were his best friends, practically his brothers, and he'd never thought twice about it before. But recently, something had shifted. Late at night, when the world grew quiet, he'd find himself replaying their jokes in his mind, picking apart their words. A laugh here, a playful jab there - each one seemed to leave behind a trace of doubt, like little threads of insecurity weaving their way into his thoughts. He kept telling himself it was silly. They'd known each other for years; they were his safe place. But still, he couldn't shake the feeling.

As the days passed, the laughter they shared came tinged with hesitation on Stephen's end. He started catching himself holding back, choosing his words more carefully, as if afraid of adding to the weight on his shoulders. Ant and Dec noticed, of course. They always noticed. At first, they'd exchanged subtle glances whenever Stephen seemed quieter than usual, their eyes mirroring concern. Dec's hand would linger a little longer on Stephen's shoulder, and Ant's gaze softened, searching his friend's face for something unspoken. Yet, Stephen had done his best to brush it off, keeping up appearances to avoid worrying them.

But it was impossible to ignore anymore. One morning, he stood in front of the mirror and saw the dark circles under his eyes, a stark reminder of the restless nights he'd been spending, unable to quiet his mind. He realised then that he couldn't keep pretending everything was fine. He needed to talk to them.

That evening, he caught them as they were wrapping up a long day of filming and paperwork at the studio. The room was dimly lit, the last rays of sunlight filtering through the window, casting a warm glow over the familiar faces of his friends. Stephen took a deep breath, his heart pounding. "Guys, can we chat for a minute?" he asked, willing his voice to stay steady.

They instantly paused, turning their full attention to him. Ant set down his pen, and Dec leaned forward, concern evident in his eyes. "Of course, mate," Dec replied, his tone gentle. The two exchanged a glance, as if they'd both been waiting for this moment, sensing his unease long before he was ready to talk.

Stephen ran a hand through his hair, trying to gather his thoughts. "Look, I know you two mean well," he began, his voice wavering slightly. "The jokes, the teasing... it's always been part of what makes us, well, us. But lately..." He paused, choosing his words carefully, not wanting to hurt them. "It's been keeping me up at night. I can't seem to shake it off, and... I guess it's just been wearing on me more than I realised."

He looked up to find Ant and Dec watching him with wide eyes, the expressions on their faces shifting from concern to sorrow as his words sank in. Dec reached out, placing a reassuring hand on Stephen's arm. "Stephen, mate, we had no idea," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "We thought... well, we thought it was all just in good fun."

Stephen nodded quickly, wanting to ease their guilt. "I know. I don't want you to feel bad or to stop entirely. I just... maybe it could be a little less? I don't know what's going on with me lately, but it's just... been a lot." His words were barely out before a wave of relief washed over him, a release he hadn't realised he needed until now.

Dec was the first to react, pulling him into a gentle hug, his grip warm and comforting. "I'm so sorry, mate. I can't believe we didn't see it sooner," he murmured. His voice was thick with emotion, each word conveying his care and regret.

Ant quickly joined in, wrapping his arms around both of them, holding them close as if trying to mend the hurt Stephen had been carrying. "Yeah, we'd never want to make you feel that way, Stephen," he said softly. "You mean the world to us." His hand came up to rub gentle circles on Stephen's back, a small gesture, but one that spoke volumes.

In that embrace, Stephen felt the weight on his chest lift. He closed his eyes, leaning into them as he allowed himself to simply breathe, surrounded by their warmth and affection. It was as if the exhaustion from all those sleepless nights melted away in their arms, leaving him with a profound sense of safety and belonging.

"We'll tone it down, promise," Dec murmured, his hand moving in soothing strokes across Stephen's back. "And we'll make sure you know how much we adore you, every single day."

Ant nodded, tightening his hold. "Every single day," he repeated, his voice steady and reassuring. "You're not just a friend to us, Stephen. You're family."

A soft smile found its way onto Stephen's face as he relaxed fully, the exhaustion finally catching up with him. His eyes grew heavy, and before he knew it, he'd drifted off, cradled securely in their arms. Ant and Dec shared a quiet smile, their expressions filled with warmth and a silent understanding that they'd do anything to protect him, to make sure he always felt loved.

As they sat there in comfortable silence, holding Stephen close, they both knew that from now on, they'd go out of their way to show him just how deeply they cared. They'd find little ways to remind him - the soft pats on the back, the supportive words, the gentle reassurances. In this moment, they silently vowed to keep his spirits lifted, to be his safe haven, just as he'd always been theirs.