Ant and Dec One Shots

Protective

It was another busy day backstage at Britain's Got Talent, and as usual, Ant and Dec were in their element. The atmosphere was electric, a whirlwind of excitement, anticipation, and the organised chaos of the crew preparing for the live show. Amidst the buzz, there was one constant: the three of them-Ant, Dec, and Stephen-laughing together. The trio had grown incredibly close over the years, and today was no different.

Stephen sat between the two of them, his laughter a genuine, carefree sound as Ant cracked another ridiculous joke. His eyes sparkled with amusement, the way they always did when Ant and Dec were around.

"Oi, little brother," Ant teased, nudging Stephen with his elbow. "You've got more hair gel in that hair than a doll's head. I'm surprised it doesn't start talking any minute."

Stephen let out a laugh, shaking his head. "Yeah, well, it's the price of fame," he said, smoothing a hand through his styled hair with a dramatic flair.

Dec smirked, joining in. "I bet you could slick it back, throw on a leather jacket, and pretend you're in a 50's teen movie."

Stephen laughed harder, rolling his eyes in mock exasperation. "Seriously, you two are ridiculous," he teased, his tone affectionate. "I could never be as cool as you, not with my hair looking like this."

"Oh, please," Ant said, brushing a hand through his own hair as if to demonstrate his own impeccable style. "You've got more style in that gelled-up mess than I'll ever have."

The three of them shared a hearty laugh, and Stephen felt a warmth spreading through him-a feeling of home. It was these small moments, filled with humour and affection, that made him feel so secure. He loved the way they could joke around without ever crossing a line, the way they were always there for him, protecting him with their humour and care. It felt effortless-like a family, not just colleagues.

But as the day wore on, something shifted. Stephen was walking toward the set, lost in thought, when he overheard one of the new crew members. The man, who had only recently joined the team, was laughing with some of the others, his voice dripping with mockery.

"Did you see how Stephen's hair looked today?" the crew member sneered. "It's like he stuck his head in a wind tunnel and hoped for the best. I mean, who dresses like that?"

Stephen froze in place, his heart sinking. The words hit him harder than he expected, especially coming from someone who wasn't part of the tight-knit team. He could hear the laughter of the others as the man continued his cruel remarks, and with each word, Stephen felt the familiar warmth of his smile slowly fading away. The teasing was different now-sharper, colder, more isolating.

He tried to shake it off, but the sting lingered. The atmosphere around him, which had once felt like home, now felt oppressive. The air seemed to shift, and his confidence began to crack. He looked down at his feet, hoping no one would notice the way his shoulders slumped. He couldn't shake the feeling that something had changed, even if just for a moment.

From across the stage, Ant and Dec immediately noticed the shift. They had always been able to read Stephen like a book, knowing when something was wrong even before he said a word. Ant's gaze softened, his instincts kicking in as he saw Stephen standing there, his usual bright smile nowhere to be seen.

"Oi, Dec," Ant murmured quietly, his voice full of concern. "Something's off with him."

Dec, ever perceptive, glanced over, his protective instincts flaring up. As soon as his eyes landed on Stephen, he saw the change-the subtle slump of his shoulders, the lack of his usual energy.

"What's going on?" Dec asked, his voice low, full of worry.

They quickly moved toward Stephen, weaving through the bustling crew members. As they neared, they overheard the tail end of the cruel remarks.

"I mean, it's not like anyone expects him to look good, right? He's just the backup, not the star," the crew member sneered, laughing with his colleagues.

Ant's blood ran cold, his protective nature instantly igniting. Without hesitation, he marched over to the man, his face hardening with anger.

"Oi!" Ant snapped, his voice cutting through the laughter like a knife. "Don't you dare talk about him like that."

The crew member froze, his smile faltering as he met Ant's furious gaze. "What?" he said, clearly taken aback.

"He said, don't talk about him like that," Dec stepped forward, his voice firm and dark with fury. "You don't come into our world and make him feel like crap. He's one of us. He's family."

Stephen, hearing their voices, felt a mix of relief and sadness. The warmth of Ant and Dec's presence was comforting, but the pain of the words still lingered. He lifted his gaze just enough to meet their eyes, but they were filled with hurt, his confidence shattered for the moment.

Ant's anger flared even hotter as he pulled Stephen into a tight hug, wrapping his arms around him as if to shield him from the world. "You're amazing, you know that?" Ant whispered in his ear, his voice soft and reassuring. "I love you, Stephen. Don't ever let anyone make you feel less than you are."

Dec's jaw was clenched, his hands balled into fists at his sides. He turned toward Simon, who had been watching the exchange unfold.

"This guy?" Dec asked, his voice low but steady with anger. "Fired. Now. Before I commit a crime."

Simon, always an ally and supporter of Stephen, glanced at Dec's fierce expression and nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation without a second thought. Within moments, the crew member was gone.

Dec returned to Stephen, his anger still simmering beneath the surface but tempered with tenderness for his little brother. He pulled him into another embrace, his hand rubbing Stephen's back gently. "You're loved, Stephen," he whispered. "You're so special, and don't you dare forget it. I'm proud of you. So proud."

Stephen, his eyes slightly red from holding back tears, wiped at them with the back of his hand and managed a small, weak smile. "Yeah, I'm fine now. Just... didn't expect it, I guess."

The four judges moved forward slightly, freezing a little at the overprotective glare Dec gave them, his eyes softening a little when he noticed, knowing that none of them would hurt Stephen, because they treat him well always. "You okay, Stephen?" Alesha asked softly.

"I am now," Stephen said softly, running his hand up and down Dec's back to calm him down. Once the judges left, Ant and Dec took Stephen back to their changing room, making sure he felt safe and cared for. They wrapped him in a soft, cosy blanket, the warmth of their love enveloping him.

"I'm so sorry that happened," Dec said, his voice soft, brushing a strand of Stephen's hair from his face as he spoke. "You mean the world to us, little one."

Stephen, now feeling the weight of their love and support, pulled Dec onto his lap and ran his fingers through Dec's hair in a gentle, comforting gesture. "I'm okay now, Dec. Really. Thank you."

Dec exhaled deeply, his tense muscles finally relaxing as Ant whispered in his ear, "He's safe now. Nothing can hurt him. We've got him."

And with that, they all settled in, the tension lifting as the warmth of their love filled the room. The laughter and joy from earlier slowly returned as they shared quiet moments of reassurance. In this room, surrounded by the family who would never let anyone hurt him again, Stephen knew that he was safe-his heart healing, piece by piece.