Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce (Tayvis) One-Shots

3.1: panic at the vmas (tw)

TW: PANIC ATTACK-ISH

requested by: Reputaylorenow

taylor was at the vmas, and everything was going okay until she noticed one of the cameras was aimed directly at her the entire time. it wasn't like the usual shots they took throughout the night, this one felt like it was constantly zoomed in on her, catching every blink, every little movement. it was starting to make her feel really anxious. she was used to cameras, but this felt different, like it was too much.

as the night went on, it was harder to ignore. the noise, the lights, the feeling of being watched, it all blended together and started to close in on her. it was starting to feel like she was trapped, nowhere to go. and to make it worse, her corset felt way too tight, squeezing her chest, making it even harder to breathe. she needed to get out of there, just for a minute.

during an ad break, she decided to slip backstage, hoping to find a quiet corner where she could gather herself. as she moved through the crowd, a few people tried to approach her, calling her name or reaching out for a quick word. her bodyguards stepped in, creating a barrier to keep anyone from getting too close.

"taylor, just a second, please!" a person called out, trying to get close.

another person called out, "taylor, we love you! can we get a picture?"

she gave them a small, apologetic smile, feeling bad for not being able to stop and chat like she usually would. "i'm sorry, i just need a little space right now," she said gently, trying to keep her voice steady.

they seemed to understand, stepping back with a nod. her bodyguards guided her toward a quieter area backstage, away from the crowd. once she was out of sight, she let out a shaky breath, her hands trembling slightly.

"tree," she called softly, spotting her publicist, "can you grab my phone for me, please? i need to call travis."

tree nodded immediately, her expression full of concern. "of course, taylor," she said, hurrying to get the phone and handing it to taylor.

with shaky fingers, taylor dialed travis's number. it only rang once before he answered.

"hey, tay," he said, his voice calm and steady.

"hey," she replied, trying to keep her voice from shaking, "i'm at the vmas, and it's just... it's a lot right now. there's this camera on me the whole time, and my corset's so tight, i can barely breathe. it's just making everything worse."

he was quiet for a moment, then she heard him take a steadying breath. "i'm really sorry you're feeling like this, tay," he said, his voice full of concern and warmth. "you're doing the best you can, and that's all anyone can ask for. i'm right here with you, even if it's just over the phone. just focus on your breathing for now, one step at a time."

"i know," she said, her voice breaking a little, "i just... i can't seem to calm down. it feels like everything's squeezing me."

"hey, listen," he said, his tone calm and grounding. "close your eyes and tune out everything else. just focus on me, alright? deep breaths. in through your nose, out through your mouth. you've got this."

"okay," she whispered, closing her eyes, trying to block out the tightness and the noise.

"good," he continued, "breathe in... and let it out slow. one breath at a time."

she did her best to follow his lead, matching her breathing to his words. with each slow inhale and exhale, the tension in her chest started to ease a little, the panic slowly fading to the background.

"that's it," he said, his voice steady, "you're stronger than this moment, remember that. i'm so proud of you for pushing through it."

"thank you," she said, her voice still shaky but a bit steadier now, "i just needed to hear you. this corset's making it so much worse."

"yeah, it sounds like it," he replied gently. "listen, i know you have backup outfits with you, in case something like this happens. maybe it's time to change into something else, something you can actually breathe in. you don't need to stay in that thing if it's making you feel this way."

she nodded, feeling a bit of relief at his suggestion. "you're right, i should probably change," she admitted. "i can't go back out there like this."

"exactly," he agreed. "take your time, switch into something that makes you feel more comfortable. you're in control of this, remember? you don't have to push through in something that's making things worse."

"thanks, travis," she said softly, a little more at ease now. "i'll do that."

"anytime," he replied. "just take care of yourself first. everything else can wait until you're ready."

"thank you so much, travis," she said, feeling a bit more at ease now. "i really needed that."

"anytime, tay," he replied, his voice softening. "remember, you're in control. take care of yourself first, okay?"

"i will," she nodded, feeling a little more grounded. "i'm going to change and get back out there. love you."

"love you too," he said warmly. "i'm always just a call away. take it easy."

she hung up, feeling a wave of relief wash over her. she turned to tree, who was standing nearby with a look of concern.

"tree, i need to change," taylor said, her voice steady now. "i can't breathe in this corset, it's just too much."

tree nodded quickly. "of course, taylor. let's get you into something more comfortable," she said, leading taylor to her dressing area where her backup outfits were kept.

taylor quickly changed into something looser, a dress that allowed her to move and breathe freely. as soon as she slipped it on, she felt a weight lift off her chest. she took a deep breath, the first one that felt normal all night.

"you look great," tree said encouragingly. "and more importantly, you look comfortable."

"thanks," taylor smiled, feeling more like herself again. "i feel so much better."

with a final deep breath, she made her way back to the main area of the vmas. this time, as she stepped out into the lights and noise, she felt ready. the camera was still there, but now it felt manageable. she could enjoy the rest of the night without that crushing feeling in her chest.

———

requests are open since i'm dealing with a bit of writer's block right now! i'd love to hear your ideas. also, please feel free to leave comments, I love reading them, and they really help inspire me to keep going. hope you enjoyed this story!