Requested by: @USMCRules
The excitement for the first game of the season was buzzing in the air, an electric current that flowed through the entire stadium. Travis felt it, every pulse of adrenaline settling into his bones. Today wasn't just any game—it was the beginning of another long, grueling, and hopefully victorious NFL season. He had his routine down to a science: wake up early, breakfast with Taylor, a quick pep talk with his teammates, then game mode.
He'd been seeing Taylor Swift for a year and a half now, and despite the whirlwind of their lives—the tours, the paparazzi, the fans—it had been the best year and a half of his life. Balancing their very public personas with private moments hadn't been easy, but they made it work. Taylor would usually come to his games when she wasn't busy, sitting in one of the suites with her friends, family, or her security team, always there to cheer him on.
Travis reached the stadium and made his way through the familiar tunnels, nodding to the stadium staff who greeted him along the way. With his duffel bag slung over one shoulder, he felt ready. He was focused, locked in, and prepared for anything.
Anything except what he was about to find when he opened his bag in the locker room.
He set the duffel down on the bench and unzipped it. His cleats were at the top, along with his gloves and compression gear. Everything looked normal. But then, something moved—a flash of white fur beneath one of his jerseys.
Travis blinked and paused. No way. His heart sank for a second before he reached into the bag and pulled back the jersey.
"Benji?!" he exclaimed, staring down at the fluffy white Persian cat curled up in his duffel bag. The cat blinked up at him, completely unfazed by the fact that it had stowed away to a professional football game.
Benji stretched his little paws out lazily, giving a long, casual yawn as if he hadn't just hijacked Travis's entire day. His purring filled the otherwise quiet locker room, and Travis just stood there, mouth open, utterly dumbfounded.
Of all the ridiculous things that could happen, Taylor's cat showing up at the stadium in *his* bag was at the very bottom of his list.
"What the hell, man?" Travis muttered, rubbing a hand across his face as he crouched down, staring at the cat. Benji rolled onto his back, offering his belly up for a scratch like this was some kind of vacation for him.
Travis pulled out his phone, quickly typing out a text to Taylor.
**Travis:** "Your furry little demon is in my bag. At the stadium. Like, right now."
It didn't take long for the typing bubbles to appear on his screen.
**Taylor:** "Benji? Are you serious? How?! 😳"
**Travis:** "I was hoping you'd have the answer to that."
He could almost hear Taylor's laugh through the phone as she responded.
**Taylor:** "I was rushing out the door this morning to the studio! He must've snuck in while I was packing your breakfast. He does that sometimes. 😩 I'm so sorry! What are you going to do?"
Travis sat back on the bench, looking down at Benji who had now decided to make himself even more comfortable, nuzzling into one of his jerseys like it was a luxury cat bed.
**Travis:** "I have no idea, Tay. You need to come get your cat. I can't have him in the locker room. The guys will never let me live this down."
**Taylor:** "Okay, I'll be there soon. I'm already on my way to the game, I just have to make a quick stop, but I'll swing by the locker room before I head up to the suite. Keep him safe for me? He's got separation anxiety, poor baby. 🐱💖"
