Ant and Dec One Shots

Unspoken Bonds

The quiet hum of the office was almost soothing, a familiar backdrop to the soft rustling of papers and the gentle tapping of keys. Dec and Stephen had fallen into a comfortable rhythm over the past few months. With Ant taking a break to recharge, the two of them had spent more time together than ever before. Their days were often spent curled up on the couch in Dec's office, the warmth of their shared space offering a rare moment of peace in their busy lives. As Dec worked, Stephen would sit beside him, always within arm's reach, their quiet conversations flowing like a river-gentle, easy, and filled with inside jokes only they understood.

"Remember that time you tried to prank Ant with the whoopee cushion, and he got so mad he nearly kicked the table over?" Stephen asked, a playful grin tugging at his lips.

Dec chuckled, his gaze softening. "Yeah, he nearly broke the camera setup too. That was the best part-his face when it happened."

"I think you two are secretly the same person," Stephen said with a light laugh. "It's like watching a mirror, but one's a little more... grumpy."

"Hey!" Dec laughed, nudging Stephen lightly with his elbow. "I'm not that bad."

They shared a smile, a comfortable silence settling in between them, before Stephen resumed scrolling through his phone. Their bond had grown stronger in Ant's absence, a subtle yet undeniable shift. Stephen had always been part of their trio, but now, with Ant stepping back for a while, it felt as though Dec and Stephen were inseparable. They found themselves confiding in each other more, filling the gaps left by Ant's quiet retreats. Their inside jokes were endless, and it felt like they had developed their own language-a language that only they could speak, understood only by the two of them.

But while Dec and Stephen grew closer, Ant, from his quiet retreat, began to feel something stir deep within him-a gnawing worry that he wasn't ready to face. He had been keeping an eye on the little moments he could catch between Dec and Stephen-through online comments, clips on TV, and the occasional social media post. Their interactions were filled with warmth and ease, an unspoken bond that seemed to be growing every day. It wasn't just in the moments when they were alone, but in the way they spoke about each other, the jokes they shared, the simple ways they comforted one another.

And Ant couldn't help but worry that he was losing the connection he had with Dec, a bond that had been formed from childhood, one built on years of friendship and laughter, shared experiences, and quiet moments that only the two of them understood. What if, when he came back to work, he'd be the odd one out? What if Dec had found someone who could fill the space he'd left behind?

He pushed these thoughts deep into his mind, burying them under layers of distractions whenever Dec called him, or when they visited together. But the worry never went away. It lingered in the back of his mind, like a shadow that never fully left. Every time he saw Dec and Stephen interact, he couldn't help but feel more distant, like a ghost standing in the periphery of a world he didn't quite belong to anymore.

When Ant finally returned to work, the anxiety hit him like a tidal wave. He walked into the office, unsure of where to place himself, unsure of where he fit. Dec and Stephen were already deep in conversation, laughing about something he didn't understand. The flow between them was effortless, their words sliding into each other like a perfect dance. Ant stood there for a moment, silently watching, his heart heavy. It was as if they had created their own world, one that didn't have a place for him anymore.

He felt it acutely. His voice, once so easy and familiar, was now hesitant, almost non-existent. He said little as he watched them, his mind racing with thoughts he didn't know how to express. The space between him and Dec seemed too vast to cross, and the more he tried to force himself into the conversation, the more he felt like an intruder.

The silence hung between them like a wall. Dec's eyes occasionally flickered to Ant, but he said nothing, sensing the distance that had grown between them. It wasn't the same. It was never the same when Ant was around.

Then came the day when Stephen had an important meeting, leaving Dec and Ant alone in the office. The quiet between them was unbearable. Ant couldn't stand it any longer.

"I... I just don't get it," Ant finally blurted, his voice barely above a whisper. "You and Stephen... You're so close now. It's like you've built this whole new world, and I'm not a part of it."

Dec's expression softened, and he stood, walking over to Ant and gently placing a hand on his shoulder. "Ant, listen to me," he said, his voice steady but filled with warmth. "Stephen and I-we've always had a bond, but it doesn't take away from what we've built, what we've shared. You're my best friend. You're my brother, and no one will ever change that."

Ant looked up, his eyes filled with doubt. "But what if I'm just... I don't know... replaced?"

Dec shook his head. "No one can replace you, mate. No matter how close I am with Stephen, no one will ever have the place you do in my life. You're my partner in all this. You always have been."

The words settled around them, hanging in the air like a promise. Dec squeezed Ant's shoulder, giving him a reassuring smile. "You don't have to worry about that. You're always going to be the most important person in my life. No matter what."

Ant let out a breath he hadn't realised he'd been holding. It felt like a weight lifting off his chest. He nodded, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "I just... I don't want to lose you, Dec."

"You never will," Dec replied softly, his eyes meeting Ant's with a warmth that melted the lingering tension between them. "You never will."

And for the first time in what felt like ages, Ant finally felt the connection between them settle back into place-secure, unbreakable, and as strong as it had always been.