Ant and Dec One Shots

Ant's Tattoo Promise

It had been a quiet day on set, the crew bustling about while Ant and Dec stood by, waiting for their next cue. Ant had been feeling good lately-really good. He had been sober for months now, and the weight of that felt like a constant hug around his shoulders. But there was one thing he hadn't shared with anyone yet.

When Ant had gone to the tattoo parlour a few weeks ago, he didn't tell anyone. He didn't feel like making a big deal about it. After all, he wasn't the type to draw attention to himself these days. But it was something that had been on his mind for a while, a permanent mark on his skin that would serve as a reminder of the man who had stuck by him through everything-Dec. The tattoo was simple but meaningful: a heart with an arrow through it, inked just on the side of his wrist where Dec always stood. He wanted it to be a constant reminder of his promise.

It wasn't just a heart, and it wasn't just an arrow. It was a commitment-a symbol of his love for Dec and a promise that he would never again let his addictions tear their bond apart.

Ant kept it hidden from everyone for weeks. Even when they worked together or hung out, he kept his wrist tucked beneath his sleeve. But that day, as they were getting changed in their shared dressing room, Dec caught a glimpse of it.

"Oi, Ant, what's that on your wrist?" Dec asked, eyeing the fresh ink.

Ant froze for a moment, quickly looking down to see his sleeve had ridden up, revealing the heart with the arrow piercing through it. He instinctively tried to cover it, but Dec was too quick, already walking over with a raised eyebrow.

"Is that a heart?" Dec teased, a grin spreading across his face. "You've gone soft on me, mate. Never took you for the tattoo type."

Ant chuckled nervously, but there was something deeper in his eyes as he met Dec's gaze. "Yeah, it's a heart," he admitted quietly, pulling his sleeve down to cover it again. "But it's not just any heart."

Dec's expression softened, though his teasing smile didn't fade. "What, is it for someone special then?" he asked with a knowing look.

Ant paused for a beat, his voice lowering as he spoke with more sincerity than he had in a long time. "Yeah, it's for you, Dec. It's for us, really. It's a promise."

Dec's grin faltered for a moment, replaced with something more tender. "A promise?" he repeated, his voice gentle.

Ant nodded. "Yeah. The heart represents... well, my love for you. For everything we've been through together. And the arrow? That's the promise I made to myself-to never go back to what I was. To never hurt you like I did when I was caught in my addictions. I don't want to damage your heart, Dec. I can't. I won't."

Dec stared at him for a moment, the weight of Ant's words settling in the air between them. There was no teasing now, just the unspoken understanding of their bond. "You've already proven that to me, Ant," Dec said quietly, stepping forward to place a hand on his friend's shoulder. "I know you're not that guy anymore."

Ant's eyes softened as he looked at Dec, the bond between them stronger than ever. "I needed a way to remind myself, Dec. Every time I look at it, I'm reminded of why I need to stay clean, why I need to stay for you-stay for us."

Dec smiled warmly, his thumb brushing against Ant's shoulder in a gentle, comforting gesture. "You don't have to prove anything to me, mate," he said. "But I get it. And I'm proud of you. Always have been."

Ant's heart swelled with emotion, his voice thick with gratitude. "Thanks, Dec. That means everything to me."

Dec pulled him into a brief hug, the unspoken promise between them echoing in the silence. "And I'm always here for you, mate. Always."

The tattoo wasn't just ink-it was a symbol of their friendship, their journey together, and the promise that no matter what happened, they would never let go of each other. The arrow had pierced the heart, but it was a love that would always remain intact, stronger than any addiction, stronger than any obstacle they faced.

And as Ant looked at the tattoo again, he knew that no matter what, Dec would always be right beside him.