Jaylor One Shots

CWF Panel

Joe makes it back to his hotel room finally, after one of the longest days of his life. Well, not the longest, but definitely a painful day nonetheless. Something had happened that Joe had been warned about, for years - most often when he began dating Taylor. He'd always thought the constant questions weren't too bad, but this was too far. Despite having handled it well externally, a part of him had crumpled and his mood had been thrown off for the rest of the day. 

As he drops his bags on the floor, his phone starts to ring. Taylor's calling. He's so happy he gets to hear her voice now. 

"Hey! How was your day?" Her voice instantly perking him up. He sits down on the end of the bed, pulling off his shoes as they begin their conversation. 

"Hi, it was alright I suppose. How was yours?" He isn't sure when it happened, but he's somehow decided he doesn't want to tell her what had been said today. It'll do nothing but dampen her mood and she doesn't need that right not.

"It was good, crazy busy though. As always." She laughs breathily at that. "How was your panel today? Any interesting questions, or just same old?" Joe sighs, having hoped she wouldn't ask about that. 

"Um..." He pauses, "No, it was fine." He feels guarded, but he's not really trying to be. 

"Did something happen?" Her voice filters through the phone. She's always been good at reading him. "Something you're not telling me?" He sighs, runs his fingers through his hair. 

"Yes." He says shortly. "But I don't want to tell you what it was." He knows it'll bother her if he tells her, he doesn't want to bother her when they can't be together for it. The line is silent for a moment, he can tell she's confused and he isn't quite sure whether or not he's annoyed her.

"Are you okay?" He hears her ask softly through the phone. His heart melts a little. She isn't prying, but she's worried about him - that much is clear. 

"Not really. It stung a little, but I will be okay." He says honestly, laying back on the bed. He hears her sigh a little.

"I wish I could give you a hug." She murmurs gently. Joe closes his eyes for a moment, breathing deeply.

"Yeah. I could use one." He mumbles, honestly really wishing she were here. Something just isn't sitting right and he's feeling a bit unsettled. She's always been good at bringing him back to normal.

"Oh Joe...I'm sorry you had a rough day." Her voice makes his heart clench. 

"It's okay, don't worry about it. Tell me something good about your day instead." He says after a moment more of silence. 

"Well, I finished re-recording three more songs today, and I got to come home earlier than expected, and the cats actually greeted me at the door." Her voice is still soft, he can tell she's still worrying about him. 

"That's so good Tay. I'm glad you had a good day, and I'm glad the cats are treating you well." He always likes knowing that she's thriving. He remembers all those years ago, when they first got together, every phone call they had was her trying to cover up just how badly she was hurting. He'll never forget the day she broke down into tears while trying to convince him she'd had a good day. 

"Y'know you can talk to me." Taylor's soft voice breaks him out of his thoughts. "I won't judge or get upset or anything."

"I know I can talk to you, always." He sighs again. "I just...I don't think it'll help."

"Try me." She murmurs, her voice disarming and sweet. 

"I think it'll just unnecessarily bother you, and I don't want that. Not when we're so far apart." There's silence for a few more moments, and Joe can tell, once again that she's trying to figure out the best way to say what she wants to say. 

"If it's bothering you, then let it bother me. We can share it, it makes it easier to deal with when you're not alone." 

"You're relentless, you know that?" A smile is on his face, he likes how sweet she is. He's never been with anyone who's so desperate to help another person in the way she is. She's too fucking good for this world.  

"I just love you a lot, and I want you to be okay." Her words have made him emotional now, he can feel it in his chest. She makes him want to spill his feelings. 

"Um...the panel was thrown out to an audience q&a." He mumbles, "Some guy got up and asked me if I was interested in becoming a serious actor and not just your boyfriend." There's silence for a while, and he's slightly worried he really shouldn't have told her. 

"Holy shit." She whispers after a while. "I'm sorry Joe." 

"No. Don't you apologise." It isn't her fault, as shitty and frustrating as the question was, it's not her fault - it never will be. 

"I'm just sorry you had to go through that. And so publicly too, in front of your co-workers." She sighs down the line. 

"It just sucked because clearly he'd come in purely with the intention of hitting a nerve. He just completely disregarded my work, and how hard I've had to work to get where I am. I mean, I know obviously a lot of people only know me because of you. But my work is my own, directors choose me for me. It was just a bit much." He bites his lip, hoping he isn't coming off as an ass. 

"You do work hard, you're your own person. You deserve to be recognised as such. It was just a dick move." He knows she's overthinking now, this is why he hadn't wanted to tell her. 

"It's not your fault, you know that right?" He's trying his best to make sure she knows he doesn't blame her. God he wishes they could be together right now, wishes they could have this conversation curled up together on the couch, or in bed. Anything but alone, thousands of miles away from each other. 

"It partly is, neither of us can really deny that here."

"I can deny it. It's a result of the press liking to cook up stories about people who are just minding their own business, and a man who probably hates me for no reason and decided to try and humiliate me. It's not your fault love." He says firmly. 

"I just hope you're not letting one stupid man get you down too much." He can tell she's brushing past her own feelings, he chooses to let her drop it for now. 

"I'm doing my best." He murmurs. 

"That's all anyone could ever ask." A silence falls over the couple for a while, both probably trying to process the same thing. 

"I love you Taylor." He murmurs, clutching his phone as though it would bring him closer to her. 

"I love you too. I always will." Her voice is soft, emotional. "I'll have a really big hug waiting for you when you get home." The way she says it sends a tear sliding down his cheek, his heart almost bursts. 

"I'm looking forward to it." He whispers, wishing more than anything that he could gather her up in his arms right now. 

"It must be late for you, are you tired?" She asks softly.

"A little." He's exhausted, but he really just wants to keep talking to her. 

"Do you want me to let you go sleep?" 

"Not really." He mumbles. 

"Okay."

They keep talking for a while, moving on to happier topics and funny stories. They talk for ages, until Joe really can't keep his eyes open any longer and his speech is slurring. He hears Taylor tell him she loves him before wishing him a goodnight. He can't remember if he returned the sentiment, because the next thing he knows, he's deep asleep - thinking of the funny stories Taylor had told him, not at all focused on that stupid question anymore. 

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I know I said I wouldn't be updating for a while but I got inspired again! I wrote this really quickly because I really have zero time, I hope it's okay :)