Spotlights. Ant & Dec | ✔️

Chapter 28: Twist of a knife

A/N: So it feels like the previous 20 something chapters were just preparation. This is were the story gets deep. I don't know whether I portrayed what they are feeling very well but hopefully it makes sense 😬

"So you're meeting him tomorrow?"

"We've sent out a message and will wait in the board room. Whether the bastard shows up is another thing." Anthony grumbled, helping himself to a slice of pizza and sitting back on the sofa, automatically lifting up his arm so Declan could slot into his side.

"D-do you want me to come with you?" The singer suggested, taking Ants hand in his and pulling the pizza towards him so he could take a bite.

"Oy! there's plenty of Pizza Decky."

"Yours tastes better." Dec mumbled with a small smile, over the pizza in his mouth. Ant rolled his eyes but couldn't hide the affectionate smile at the smaller man's cuteness and placed a loving kiss on his boyfriend's hair.

His life had changed dramatically since that day at the auditions when the universe finally decided to give him a break and place a small, cute, stuttering singer beneath him in the middle of the corridor. Before that, he had been isolated and grumpy... he couldn't imagine being that lonely again. He'd gotten used to having Dec around, always there for him and always tucked tightly by his side. It was like he'd finally found the last piece of the puzzle, the piece he couldn't live without.

With all that said he knew, something in their paradise was broken. He could feel it.

Dec was still perfect but he couldn't help that feel something had changed. That day Dec had talked about getting back to 'the old us' but had barely touched him beside cuddles and the occasional kiss- things that Ant would initiate. The presenter hid his pain but could feel it tearing him apart inside. The worry that Dec didn't love him the same way he had... the worry he had become to Dec what Jason had been all those years ago.

A monster.

Ant pushed past the negative thoughts and put on a smile- the fake mask he'd painted on for the past week. He still cared about Declan and would show him all the love in the world, for as long as the gorgeous man would allow.

"I don't want you coming Decky, stay at home ey? I wanna get this over and done with so we don't ever have to see that guy again. I don't want you suffering anymore than you already have." Declan hid his head in Ants arm pit while his heart tugged at the kind gesture.

Ant had known something was off but he didn't realise the extent of how bad Dec's health had gotten. For example; The smaller Geordie knew he deserved to go through that suffering, in his mind he was evil for tricking Ant into thinking otherwise. it was thoughts like these that slowly started sending Dec into a dark depression.

The hidden feelings and lies had festered in the past week and it was starting to take its toll. Both boys were waiting for a relief. Something to make the pain stop. Both held out a hope that it would come today.

Dec managed to hold back the tears with the blissful thought that as soon as Ant had paid the money and Jason had backed off, everything would go back to normal. They would go back to normal.

Ant seemed to register the drop in his lovers mood because he ran his hands through the older man's hair, wanting to comfort him, something he hadn't done enough of lately because Dec hadn't let him. He wanted Dec to love him again, trust him again.

Holding his breath Ant gave it one more try, another try to fix what was broken.  "How about I take you out Ay? When all this is over and done with. Let me take you on a date, a proper one." Dec's head perked up at the suggestion, nodding his head quickly.