TNT Short Fics

We'll be rocking 'til the sun goes down - Part 1

The warmth of the fire has Taylor feeling pilant and relaxed. So much so that it's almost like she's in a dream—as if one of her secret gardens has come to life. The past few months she's started to break the hold of what has felt like a frigid lake dragging her down, down, down. Her shoulders have eased from their constant state of anxiety of the last few years. And the last eight weeks? It's like she's broken the surface, and can finally see the sun.

A big part of that sunlight is here with her. His arms wrapped tight around her, chin on her shoulder as he talks to Dre beside them. The energy and excitement from the game yesterday zings between them. Smug in the knowledge that everything is out in the open now. And with it, the closeness between them has expanded tenfold. Like somehow both of them needed to see how the other reacted to being public before they could break the final wall between them.

And the way they are both holding each other, it clearly shows her that they've passed that barrier with flying colors.

Trav's friends move off to grab drinks, and he turns to kiss her neck. He's always there with a kiss or a touch to her side or hips. Their constant touching doesn't feel like a new relationship thing. Rather, she's starting to realize she's always craved a partner like this. Has always appreciated closeness. She's just tamped it down to match someone's energy or worse, stifled it so as to not appear "clingy." The way Travis always pulls her closer has slotted back something inside her, has grown her confidence in wanting and showing affection.

His voice breaks through her thoughts as he asks, "Cold?"

Taylor shakes her head. Between the fire, the wine, and his arms around her, she's feeling toasty and serene here in this space with him.

The song from the outdoor speakers changes and as the first notes of the song begin to play, she turns to him with a grin.

"I used to jump on my bed and sing this song at the top of my lungs when it first came out."

His eyes light up at her words and as he starts to recognize the song he replies, "Oh man, Tay. This was 11-year-old me's jam!"

He hugs her close and in her ear, he sings, "Cause I'm just a teenage dirtbag, baby."

She draws back slightly, her eyes locking on his. People don't often sing around her, or they joke about how they shouldn't. But Travis is just Travis, not afraid to be himself. He smiles and she can't help but match it as he keeps going in his slightly off-key voice, so she jumps in on the next line with him.

His smile widens and the corners of his eyes crease with amusement when she does. She reaches forward to grab his arms, needing something to ground her from the light-as-air feeling that bubbles up inside of her.

Cause I'm just a teenage dirtbag baby, listen to Iron Maiden baby with me.

They keep going and she loves that they both gravitate towards kicking up the theatrics. She's sure all his friends are staring, but she doesn't care.

This is the most fun she's felt in years.

He pulls her close, his green eyes looking deep into her as they sing,

She's walkin' over to me
This must be fake
My lip starts to shake
How does she know who I am?
And why does she give a damn about me

The look he's giving her, god she can feel a lyric just start to hit the back of her mind. However, she sets to the side. It's a new feeling to want to just stay here in this moment, be in the present. It feels like an old friend coming back and she realizes it's herself. She wants to be in the world, in his orbit, rather than lost in her mind.