TNT Short Fics

One last kiss then catch your flight

Taylor and Travis decide to close out his time on tour with her with just the two of them. It's not that they don't love having friends and family at the show, they do. But there is something so special about them taking this time together. Just them leaning on each other for a few shows before they say goodbye for a month.

He sweeps in Monday mid-morning, fresh from Tahoe, and hugs her tightly, standing in the middle of the kitchen of the cottage, swaying her back and forth. Though they haven't spent much time here, preferring to travel between shows, it still feels so normal for them to be here together. As she makes breakfast and they chat about the week, it feels just like LA, just like home, and even just like that morning in New York when she first made him French toast before he headed out to beat the Jets.

They spend their last couple of free days making plans. They need to figure out the holidays this year and decide when to celebrate Christmas since they'll be in Pittsburgh for most of Christmas Day. They review the final plans on Taylor's laptop for the recording space being built in the walk-out basement of Travis's house—one side for podcasting and one side for music. They also venture out to a few spots in London she's wanted him to see: the tea shop she used to frequent, her favorite record store that lets her slip in the back and puts up the "Closed for Lunch" sign whenever she wants to browse, and Hampstead Heath in the early evening. He holds her hand and kisses her in each place, replacing old memories with new ones.

When they get to Germany, he goes with her to the stadium rather than wander the city or stay back at the hotel. He stretches out on her dressing room sofa while she soundchecks and meets with the crew. He's brought his playbook and spends the time pouring over it, prepping for training camp and the season. When she comes back and sits for hair and makeup, she quizzes him on plays. It reminds her of last year when they'd sit on Facetime some evenings and do the same for each week's game. Lorrie jokes that Taylor better add Chiefs' offense strategy to her NDA as she swipes highlighter perfectly across Taylor's cheek.

He watches amused as she warms up, always trying to hold in laughter at the sillier noises and faces. He only breaks her concentration once when he can't quite contain a giggle. She sticks her tongue out at him before getting back to work

Rather than sit on the floor for these shows, Travis chooses to sit in one of the high suites. He wants to absorb everything—to take her in. It reminds him of that very first show in Kansas City, watching her in awe from up high. Yet he also feels all that's come since then here in this space between them. All the things they've grown together coloring his view. He knows with certainty that this isn't the last time he'll ever see her on stage. There will be many more performances and tours that he'll be there for. However, there is something about capturing this tour, the one that brought them together. The one that deepened their love over this summer, that he doesn't want to miss. And while yes, he can (and does) get great videos from the team, he still pulls out his phone from time to time, wanting to be able to look back at his own viewpoint of her in all her beautiful glory.

After Wednesday's show, they sit on the balcony of their hotel room and eat takeout. Somehow they've lucked into some of the best Thai food they've ever had in Germany of all places. They trade containers back and forth and good-naturedly bicker over which TV show they're going to watch next. They always pick a show to watch together when they're apart so they have another point of connection. Taylor's gunning for a Lost rewatch but Travis begs her to not make him have to think too hard after running sprints in 90-degree heat and humidity. The debate is settled, when he learns she's never seen Ted Lasso. He thinks it might just be the perfect show for those lonely times apart.

Both are sad that their time together on the tour is ending, but they're also excited for Travis to return to what he loves just as much as she loves music. There's a sweet nostalgia about Travis being back at training camp, where their first tentative steps of communication took place last year. All the flirty early texts, the nervous first call, and Facetimes where he had to sneak out of the dorm so no one would ask who he was talking to happened in St. Joe. Taylor teases him to not get caught by Andy out late at night again this year. And he asks her if she's going to laugh in his face like she did the first time she saw the mustache. At her look of mortification at that reminder, he finally tells her that he's pretty sure he fell in love with her at that exact minute. Her high laughter sealing his fate forever.

After the second show, they walk back into Taylor's dressing room to find the band and dancers gathered around. Paul steps forward and hands them both a glass of champagne.

"We all decided we should do the post-city toast a night early since one of us has to leave early."

Travis and Taylor look at each other speechless, touched by such a thoughtful gesture.

"Thanks, man," Travis starts before having to clear his throat. "It has been an honor getting to witness all this team does. To get to be just a tiny part of it."

He turns to Taylor as he says, "To watch you shine up there."

She pulls his arm around her at those words, hand to his face to keep him close.

"Tay, you want to do the toast?" Kam asks. They all raise their glasses.

"To the First Gentleman of the Eras tour!" Taylor jokes, mainly to keep herself from bursting into tears both at the looming goodbye but also for all the love and friendship this group of people have given so freely.

"Here, here!" everyone cheers.

A blush runs bright across his cheeks much to Taylor's delight and she reels him in for a kiss to even louder cheers.

Later that night, they force themselves to go to bed rather than stay up all night talking. She's got another show to put on and he has to be ready to hit the ground running on the field this weekend. Despite this, they wake up early. In the grey light that slowly blooms into pink and orange and then into a bright sunny day, they whisper about all the things they plan to do next and what this time together has meant to them.

"This summer, I know it was crazy, but it's the best summer I've ever had." she shares. "Thank you for coming with me."

"Nowhere I'd rather be, Tay," he says, as he runs his hand slowly through her hair and down her back over and over.

"I know. Right to the end even," she replies, thinking about how he's chosen to cut it close on when he needs to be back in KC. 

"Nah, it's just the beginning."

When it's time to go, he leaves her standing in the kitchen like it's any normal day for him heading out to practice, right down to a container of poptarts for Andy under his arm. As she kisses him, she runs her hand across his hair and thinks about how short it will be the next time she sees him. He leans back in to kiss her again on her cheek and stays for a moment with his forehead pressed to her temple.

"Love you, girl. I'll see you at home in a little bit," he says rather than goodbye.

She nods, tears threatening to spill down her cheeks but still his words make her smile.

"I love you. I'll see you at home," she promises.