Taylor x Travis: In Every Life

sore throat - no not like that you dirty minded people

November 26th, Sao Paulo
Taylor's POV

I hit the mat with a thump, groaning as I rolled over. The special effects flickered above me as the stage made it look like I was swimming underneath, and I shuffled to the edge of the mat and jumped down onto the ground. My body groaned at me as I forced it to move. I'd pushed it to the absolute limit for the last Eras Tour weekend of the year, and I was so exhausted I was glad I had lots of time to recover. 

"How're you holding up?" Tree asked as I started to change into my Midnights outfit, one of the backstage girls helping me.

"My..." My voice came out croaky and I swallowed. "My voice is killing me." I felt like I was getting a cold as well, but that wasn't the problem tonight.

"Can you make it through this last bit?" Tree looked concerned, but I nodded. "Okay, here, try this." She handed me a steaming cup. "It's peppermint. Maybe it'll help get you through these last few songs and we can get you some proper treatment afterwards."

I smiled gratefully at her as I forced down a few sips, still trying to get changed. Once I was dressed, I handed it back to her and then dashed off to my mark. The tea had helped a little, but I knew whatever damage it had repaired, it wouldn't last long. I threw my all into this last section of the show, and tonight would be no different. 

I made it through Lavender Haze, Anti-Hero, and Midnight Rain well, but by the end of the third song, I was feeling it in my throat. Vigilante Shit wasn't my best, but it went as well as it could have. The next two songs nearly drained me, but I still pretended like nothing was wrong, and they came out fine. By the time I reached Karma, I didn't know if I could produce any sound. But I reached deep inside, pulled out the willpower to try, and lifted the microphone to my lips.

As much as I loved to perform it, I almost sighed in relief when the song was over. I walked down the stage, smiling and waving, blowing kisses to a few of the fans waving their arms at me. They were screaming, cheering, clapping, jumping up and down as I passed. I made my way down to my mark, did the final bow, and then sunk down underneath the stage.

"Well done Taylor, you pulled it off." Tree helped me down onto the ground and into a nearby chair. "Doing okay?" I nodded, reaching down to pull my boots off. A groan slipped past my lips as I eased them off, my feet throbbing. "When you're up to walking, Travis is waiting for you." She told me, and my head snapped up. Travis was here? Tree chuckled and nodded. "He said this was more important than the game. He arrived just before the show."

I smiled to myself and nodded as Tree moved off. Travis was here. He was supposed to be playing a game today and we'd planned for me to fly to Kansas City and stay with him for a little while since I had until the Grammy's to take a break. But he was here. I was more important than the game. 

I stuffed my feet into some soft shoes and stood up, stifling a wince as I hobbled off. Security fell into step behind me as I made my way out from under the stage, forcing myself to walk normally as I came into view of the crowd. They started screaming when they saw me, waving their bracelet clad arms in the air. I waved back, smiling to myself. I loved them so much.

Travis was standing outside the tents, talking to Kam as he waited. When they saw me - or heard me because of the crowd - they both turned around. Kam patted Travis on the shoulder and then went inside, and Travis' eyes landed on mine. He looked at me like I had everything he ever wanted in my arms, like he'd never wanted to be anywhere else. I smiled, and then, like an idiot, I tripped over something on the floor and quite literally fell into his arms.

"Whoah, careful!" Travis laughed as I tumbled against his chest and he caught me. "Little excited to see me huh?"

I smiled sheepishly, opening my mouth to reply, but no sound came out. I frowned, mouthing the words, but still nothing came out. Annoyed, I swallowed and tried again. Nothing.