Oneshots and Other Things

Small Spaces ~ Part 2

It seems I am incapable of writing ONEshots at the moment (does this currently have at least three parts? Maybe?)

A bit more comforting than last time but still a panic attack and some claustrophobia so be warned XD

(*~*)

Thought number one: David was really going to regret everything once he got out of there.

Rather more pressingly, thought number two: David didn't know about Stephen.

Ant wheeled around from the door to the small storage cupboard, chastising himself for not remembering quicker when he was greeted by a pale, silent Stephen. Yelling through the door and plotting revenge on David would have to wait.

"Stephen?" he said tentatively, not much happier when the younger man met his eyes, his own wide and unblinking. "Hey, we're in here together, alright?" He floundered for a moment. "I know that technically means there's less space but you're not on your own, okay?"

Stephen shut his eyes for a moment, sitting down blindly on the floor, not looking around for anything to act as a chair. Ant followed suit, crouching down but keeping his distance. He didn't want to crowd Stephen into the corner he'd chosen to hide himself in.

"Stevie, talk to me," he coaxed, "Let me keep you distracted."

"Why is it always here?" Stephen mumbled eventually, scraping a hand over his eyes. "I swear I never get stuck anywhere unless we're filming the auditions."

"You need to stop getting on the nerves of people who like to trap their victims in small spaces," Ant retorted lightly, pleased when Stephen smiled faintly. "Now, do you want me to stay over here or get a bit closer?"

"Stay there," Stephen said swiftly, wincing at his own tone. "Please."

Ant settled himself down, avoiding the urge to reach over to pat Stephen's outstretched leg supportively. He also pushed down the tempting idea of going back to bash on the locked door again, wanting nothing more than to tell David that Stephen was claustrophobic and that this wasn't the funny joke he imagined it might be. He thought Stephen wouldn't thank him for the lack of discretion though.

"You haven't had anything like this since the lift, then?" he asked eventually, trying in vain to think of anything else to say that didn't involve bringing up the claustrophobia. Unfortunately, he found himself completely preoccupied by those thoughts, having buried them after the incident several years ago.

Stephen hadn't been awkward about it exactly, but he'd definitely got embarrassed once he'd come to his senses a little more. Dec had simultaneously told Ant to leave it and looked as if he wanted to sit Stephen down and have a proper conversation about the things that made him panic to those extremes. As a result, they hadn't ever talked about it again.

"I haven't got stuck anywhere," Stephen said, eyes trained on the locked door, rather than Ant's searching gaze. No amount of staring was persuading him to glance over. He hadn't even answered the question either; even if he hadn't got stuck, he could have felt claustrophobic. And even if he hadn't felt claustrophobic, he could still have had a panic attack.

"You really could have talked to him about them, you know?" Ant found himself saying, finally managing to surprise Stephen into looking in his direction. "He meant it when he offered."

Stephen smiled slightly, even if he looked hot under the collar. "Do you actually tell each other everything?"

"Nah, I just know him well enough to know he'd have said it," Ant replied simply. "He used to get them all the time. It took me ages to figure out how to actually help when he was in a state."