Ant and Dec One Shots

Reassurance In The Silence

Stephen's hands trembled as he climbed the last flight of stairs to Ant and Dec's office. His breath hitched, heart racing in his chest as he tried to silence the dreadful thoughts swarming his mind. It had been days since either of them had answered his messages, days of silence that had turned his uncertainty into panic. He could hardly focus as he knocked on their door, his legs feeling like jelly.

The door swung open, and Ant and Dec looked up, surprise flashing across their faces before softening into concern.

"Stephen!" Dec said, getting to his feet immediately. "Hey, what's going on?"

Stephen couldn't get any words out, his breathing quick and shallow. He could feel his heart thudding in his throat, and his eyes brimmed with tears he didn't want them to see. Ant quickly crossed the room, his hand gently settling on Stephen's shoulder, and he led him to the couch, his movements slow and careful.

"Take a deep breath, mate. You're safe with us," Ant murmured, rubbing his shoulder soothingly.

Dec crouched in front of him, his voice as gentle as a whisper. "We're right here, Stephen. Just breathe, yeah? In... and out."

With their calming voices and reassuring touches, Stephen focused on matching his breath to theirs. Bit by bit, his breathing slowed, the tremors in his hands easing. He let his head fall onto Ant's shoulder, finding comfort in the warmth and steady heartbeat against his ear. Eventually, he closed his eyes, exhaustion overtaking him as he drifted off, still nestled against Ant.

Dec quietly brought over a soft blanket and draped it over Stephen's shoulders. Ant's hand remained on Stephen's back, lightly rubbing in gentle circles as Stephen slept.

For the next couple of hours, Ant and Dec worked quietly, keeping an eye on their friend as he rested peacefully. When Stephen finally stirred, blinking himself awake, he found Ant and Dec smiling at him warmly.

"Hey, sleepyhead," Dec grinned, holding up a pizza box. "Hungry?"

Stephen sat up slowly, rubbing his eyes. He could smell the pizza, and beside it, they'd laid out fizzy pop and a spread of his favourite snacks.

They all settled around the coffee table, each of them grabbing a slice. When Dec finally broke the comfortable silence, his voice was soft and kind. "Do you want to talk about what happened, Stephen?"

Stephen hesitated, his cheeks pinking slightly, but he nodded. "I thought... I thought I'd lost you both. You didn't answer any of my messages, and I kept worrying that... maybe I'd done something wrong. I was so scared."

Ant and Dec exchanged a quick look, frowns tugging at their brows.

Dec gently squeezed Stephen's hand. "We never got any messages, mate."

Stephen's brow furrowed, and he quickly pulled out his phone. As he scrolled through his recent texts, his heart dropped as he spotted the words "Undelivered" under every message he'd sent them. He let out a shaky laugh, half-relieved, half-embarrassed. "Oh... looks like there was a signal issue or something."

Ant wrapped an arm around him, pulling him close. "You'd never lose us, Stephen. We love you to bits."

"Absolutely," Dec added, giving Stephen's knee a supportive pat. "You're like a little brother to us. We'd never just disappear on you."

Stephen felt a weight lift off his chest, a warm wave of relief washing over him. "I... I'm so glad. I don't ever want to lose you both."

Ant smiled and ruffled his hair affectionately. "You never will."

As they finished their pizza, Dec pulled out a deck of cards, suggesting a few games they all loved. Soon, the room was filled with laughter and teasing, the worries of the morning fading into memory. They spent the rest of the afternoon sharing funny stories, recalling memories of the chaos they'd gotten into together over the years.

And as the day wore on, Stephen felt the warmth and joy of their friendship settle deep in his heart, reassured and loved in a way he hadn't felt in a long time.