Spotlights. Ant & Dec | ✔️

Chapter 16: Lights Camera Action

"I'm sorry Declan but I have to be in the studio office in 5 minutes so Ian's gonna drop me off first." Said Stephen, as though Ant wasn't even in the car.
"Do you mind getting him home? You are still booked in for the pop idol accommodation so if you wish to use it..." Ant shot Stephen the dirtiest look as he suggested Dec sleeping separately but then he seemed to lose the will and his body sagged against the door realising that Dec had every right not to stay with him, he was a mess.

"I doubt that'll be necessary Stevie but thank you." Replied Dec placing a comforting hand on Ants knee. Ant turned to him with confusion dancing in his eyes.

"Right well, see you soon. And for gods sake Anthony get yourself together before the rehearsal tomorrow, Simon will be picking you up at 9." And on that final note Stephen climbed out of the car and Ian began to drive. Dec retracted his hand from Ants knee causing the younger Geordie to panic.

"Decky I'm so sor-"

"Not here Ant, we'll talk back at yours." Interrupted Dec, continuing to look out of the window and clear his thoughts. He was no longer mad about before, it was a small fight, they happen. It was the way Ant had handled it that was playing on his mind. Who the hell gets smashed because of a little fight? Ant had always seemed so strong and yet now he seemed to have inhibited a vulnerability that I haven't seen before. Stevie said he struggles with failure... That would explain why he works so hard... it doesn't explain why he'd snap like that, was he ready to give up so easily? Was this his way of showing it's better if I left?

Dec was pulled from his thoughts when the car came to a stop outside Ants large Chiswick home.

Ian climbed out of the car to open Ants car door, being correct when he assumed his boss was in no state to step easily out of the car. Dec got out of his side and moved dutifully to Ants side as he stumbled weakly from the car. "Thank you Ian, see you soon."

"Goodbye Sir."

Anthony's shaky hands fumbled with his keys, "Fuck!" He half exclaimed, half growled. Dec rolled his eyes and pulled the keys from his drunk boyfriends hands and unlocked the door as the other leant heavily against doorframe.

Dec closed the door behind them after shoving all their luggage into the large hallway. Ant instantly moved to sit defeatedly on the stairs, elbows of knees, watching his small boyfriends movements with a guilty look; like a child about being scolded for stealing cookies from the jar.

Dec didn't say anything at first, just watched Ant with a solemn expression, they hadn't been dating long but he had always felt like he could read the other man, he'd always felt like he understood him but right now Ant was a mystery and he blamed himself for that, for not seeing that something was wrong sooner because he was so desperately in need of fixing.

Ant opened his mouth as if to speak but quickly decided against and closed it again, rubbing a hand over the back of his neck and looking to the floor. Dec thought he seemed to have sobered up a little now they'd gotten into the house but he was still swaying a little in his drunken haze.

"Why'd you do it?"

"What?"

"Oh i don't know, empty out a whole drinks cabinet and complementary bottle of champagne maybe?" Dec retorted angrily.

"I don't know." Ant mumbled like a child.

"You don't know? You honestly don't know what was running through your mind when you were trying to give yourself alcohol poisoning?" Ant looked up at Dec, the vulnerability in his eyes had the smaller Geordie completely taken aback. Tears were forming in the taller mans eyes. He looked so broken and lost. Dec felt a tug at his heart strings as he stood in the corridor, close to to tears himself.