Ant and Dec One Shots

Autistic

Stephen trudged back to his flat, each step feeling heavier than the last. His stomach twisted, partly from the unusual foods he'd been "challenged" to eat all day, but mostly from the uneasy thoughts swirling in his mind. Ant and Dec, his best mates-his family, really-never seemed to run out of prank ideas. They found his reactions hilarious, laughing as he winced and grimaced through their culinary dares. Most people would probably laugh it off, but for Stephen, who was autistic, those pranks weren't just playful inconveniences. Textures, tastes, even smells could overwhelm him, triggering a tension he found hard to express.

He hadn't told them he was autistic, hadn't told anyone since his parents found out and started ignoring him when he was nine. The idea felt daunting, exposing a side of himself that was private and vulnerable. To Ant and Dec, he was just "quirky" Stephen-the friend with the funny reactions, the unique preferences. But as he walked home, his stomach still queasy and his heart heavy, he couldn't shake the thought: Do they really know me?

Once he finally reached his flat, Stephen kicked off his shoes and sank into his couch, closing his eyes for a moment. The familiar weight of his couch cushions grounded him, easing his senses after the intensity of the day. He focused on his breathing, trying to settle his mind. But the feeling lingered-an ache that was more than physical, a loneliness that only surfaced when he thought too much about it.

His phone buzzed, breaking the silence. He opened it to see a message from Dec.

"Hey, mate! You alright?" the text read, followed by a string of emojis. Stephen's gaze lingered on the message, feeling the familiar tug of reluctance. He didn't want to make them feel bad, didn't want to ruin the easy, fun dynamic they all shared. But this wasn't about a small inconvenience; it was about his comfort, his peace. Maybe, he thought, it was time.

Finally, he typed, "Not really. I actually wanted to talk to you and Ant about something."

The reply was almost instant. "We're on our way."

He barely had time to process those words before he heard a knock. When he opened the door, Ant and Dec stood there, their expressions softening into concern the moment they saw him.

"Stephen, what's wrong?" Ant asked, his voice gentle, and stepped inside. Dec followed, placing a reassuring hand on Stephen's shoulder as they settled on the couch together.

For a moment, Stephen's nerves flared. The words felt tangled, too complex to voice. But looking at their concerned faces, he took a breath, grounding himself by rubbing his thumb over his fingertips-a small habit that helped him focus.

"It's about today," he started quietly. "All those...weird foods and stuff. It's not just that I don't like them, it's..." He trailed off, searching for the right words. "I'm autistic," he said finally, his voice barely above a whisper.

Silence fell between them, but it wasn't the tense kind he feared. Instead, he saw only empathy and a touch of guilt in their eyes.

Ant spoke first, reaching out to gently clasp Stephen's hand. "Stephen, we didn't know. We thought...we just thought you were particular about food, like, you know, one of your unique preferences. We never meant to make you feel uncomfortable."

Dec nodded, his expression full of apology. "Yeah, mate. We're sorry. If we'd known, we'd never have done it. We thought we were just sharing a laugh with you. We didn't realise it was so hard for you."

Stephen let out a long, slow breath. The weight on his chest lightened, having been terrified to lose his two best friends, but he felt his cheeks flush as he realised how vulnerable he'd just been. "I know you didn't mean to. I just didn't know how to tell you without it sounding...like I was overreacting or something."

"Hey, never," Ant said, scooting closer and wrapping an arm around Stephen's shoulders in a warm embrace. "You could have told us anytime, mate. This doesn't change a thing, except now we know how to look out for you better."

Dec joined, leaning over to give Stephen a gentle pat on the knee. "Honestly, you're family to us. Nothing changes that, and if anything, we're sorry we didn't understand sooner. We only want you to feel comfortable."

A soft smile formed on Stephen's face, relief washing over him as their warmth and sincerity filled the room. "Thanks, lads. I didn't want you to see me any differently."

"Differently?" Ant raised his eyebrows playfully. "We see you as the friend who's officially in charge of choosing our meals from now on. No more weird foods, promise."

Dec chuckled, lightening the mood. "Yeah, from now on, you call the shots. And we'll check with you first-no more surprise challenges. We want you feeling happy and safe with us, always."

For the first time all day, Stephen's heart felt light as he looked at his two best friends. He pulled them both into a hug, feeling a quiet peace settle over him. The three of them sat like that for a moment, wrapped in the warmth of their friendship, knowing they'd come to understand each other in a way that words alone couldn't express.

And as Stephen closed his eyes, he felt truly seen and understood.