Chapter Text
They are professionals first and foremost. It’s not the first time they’ve been working with important people. A snapshot of their CVs would reveal jobs and assignments all over the world with clients in all industries - from artists and athletes to tech billionaires and royalty.
Now however, the majority of them have been security to the world famous singer for almost ten years. They have signed contracts to never reveal their clients name, to never talk about her. So they never utter the words “I’m Taylor Swift’s security guard”.
What they actually do is to travel the world with her. They’ve spent winters in Nashville and New York, summers in Los Angeles, months on months in London and, in total, years on tour. It’s not an easy job, it’s not the most difficult either. The biggest challenge is to find a balance with the homelife, family and friends. Most of them do have a partner, a few have kids.
Ten years working at the same workplace is a long time in any field. No matter how professional the relationship is, it’s hard to not get to know a person quite well during that time span. So yes, they know much about each other and they know more about Taylor than most.
It’s actually a vital part of their job to know Taylor. What her routines are, the names of her friends, where she will go on vacation and who will join her on said vacation. To protect and ensure she is safe, they need this information.
What’s not as vital is how she likes her eggs, why she suddenly starts to go to the gym so often, what her brother got her for Christmas, that she sometimes cries in the car and if she’s happy in her current relationship. Still, they know, because they are always around.
One day in mid March 2023, while on tour, they get the information that there will be less traveling to London. New York will once again be Taylor’s home base.
“If there is an issue with relocating more permanently to the US, please let us know and we will have a discussion.”
A woman from Taylor’s team had gathered them for the meeting. It’s an early morning at the venue in Glendale and the entire security team is seated in rows of folding chairs in front of the main stage. Usually, these kinds of instructions are communicated more discreetly, but now they are at the start of the tour and everything is a bit chaotic.
Taylor has not arrived yet and will probably won’t until late afternoon. That’s how it’s been for the past days, or month honestly. That’s how Drew and the rest of the team had known something was off long before today and why they’re not at all surprised.
When Taylor does arrive just after 2 PM, it’s with no makeup, some loose fitting jeans and a gray hoodie. She keeps pulling at the strings of the shirt for the entire rehearsal. Restless or nervous habits, it’s hard to tell. Maybe it’s both.
When they leave with her later that night she doesn’t make any small talk. Just smiles politely and pulls the hood of her shirt up and scoots into the car.
While they drive the short distance to the hotel, Drew can’t help but think that he hopes that she will get back some of the color to her face. That they will hear her laughter more. Because even though what they have is a completely professional relationship, he can’t help but feel a little worried.
The worry only increases the first time he lets the guy from some band sneak into her building in New York. Not that he should care. He respects her choices. But really?
When it’s out in public he can’t help to ventilate to his mom in their weekly Sunday call.
“I just don’t get it. She’s too good for him.” He sighs. Of course he cannot share any details of why he feels that way, what he’s seen or heard. But he asks his mum to google the guy and from some few videos, she agrees with him.
“She probably just needs to get over the guy she thought was the one, that’s never easy.”
He knows it is probably right, just hopes that Taylor will do it sooner than later. It’s not easy to watch from the outside. Some days the light in her eyes is back and some days they are darker than during the devastating last trip to London.
One week in May, Taylor doesn’t leave her apartment at all, they don’t see her for seven days. He doesn’t see the guy either and assumes it’s over.
The eight day of not leaving her building he suddenly gets the instruction to get her safely to the studio. When she steps out of her apartment, something is different. He can’t pinpoint what it is at first. Then, maybe, she looks a bit lighter, like she did many, many months ago.
“Hi, Drew, what’s up”
The smile she sends his way almost reaches her eyes. He responds with a smile himself and leads her through the main entrance. As he jumps into the car following the one Taylor is in, he nods to no one in particular. She’s getting there.
As the tour continues he realizes that, yes, she’s most definitely getting back to her old habits. Which for his and the team’s sake results in more traveling, late nights at bars, early mornings in the studio and new people to identify and keep an eye on.
Slowly he’s also turning into her photographer. Taylor even compliments him during a dinner with some close friends.
“Have you ever thought of changing careers, Drew?”
She zooms in on a picture of her and Gigi laughing at something, Gigi’s daughter looking at them in awe.
“I might want to frame this one, it’s beautiful.” She turns the camera towards him to show it.
The next morning Taylor is headed for some 4th of July celebrations and Drew will not be a part of the crew heading there with her. He will not join them in Kansas City either and be back for Seattle. It’s his first vacation in a year and he’s excited, even got his own camera to capture the memories with.
The Eras Tour is only getting better and better, he realizes when he is back. Watching the confetti fall after the Karma performance in Lumen Field. Everyone in the crew, from dancers to security and other staff can clearly see it. Taylor knows it too.
They have some quiet time until the Los Angeles shows and before his shifts start the 26th of July, he’s chatting with a colleague that was responsible for security in Kansas City.
“Have you ever heard of Travis Kelce?” the man asks.
“The family is a big fan of the other Kelce brother, Jason, what about it?” Drew glances sideways while concentrating on driving. He sees the other man smirk before lowering his voice, not that anyone could hear them anyway, the only two in the car, but neither of them is usually the one to gossip.
“Had to deny him to meet Taylor at the show at Arrowhead, he’s crazy tall” the guy shakes his head. “He looked disappointed but was polite about it, seems to be a great guy.”
The traffic lights turn red in front of them right then and Drew,a bit slow in his reactions, has to push hard on the brakes.
“Everyone wants to meet her at this point, makes our jobs more difficult for sure.”
They nod in agreement and as they advance towards Taylors Los Angeles estate any thoughts around the Kelce brothers disappear.
The usual practice is to give Taylor as much space as possible when they cover security at her home. They have a small place to rest and sleep and a routine they follow. However, they start their shift by knocking on the front door - letting her know they have arrived. They let themselves in and as they do, Taylor’s face pops out from the kitchen area.
“Hi, might be some cinnamon rolls for later if you want.”
She seems a bit distracted, her phone buzzing non stop in her hand. Her eyes are moving back and forward scanning the texts on the screen.
Drew and his colleague say their “Hi” back and retreat towards the garden. Right before they close the door they hear steps behind them.
“Oh, can I ask you two something?” Taylor leans her head a bit to the left, looking pensive. They both nod.
“Of course”
She takes a breath and then “Do you know anything about Travis Kelce?”
Drew is a nano second from actually laughing. What are the odds that he would get the same question two times in the same day. He keeps a straight face though.
“NFL player for the Kansas City Chiefs, has a brother that plays for the Eagles.” Drew speaks up first. Always try to stay to the point when on the job.
“Met him briefly once, seems to be a great guy.” The other guy chips in, not really as successful in keeping a straight face. Probably thinking about denying Travis to meet her a couple of weeks ago.
“Any specific reason you’re asking?” Drew can hear the curiosity in his colleagues' voice.
Taylor blushes a bit then, that’s new. She looks down, cheeks pink before she looks between both of them.
“He said something on this podcast, about the tour, about me, just..” She takes a breath. “Never mind.”
With that she smiles again and moves towards her kitchen, letting them get back to work.
When Drew is back in his temporary apartment many hours later, he can’t help it. Laptop on the dining table, New Heights latest podcast streaming. There's Travis praising the Eras Tour and, in a humorous way, describing how he got rejected.
Seems like a funny guy, this Travis Kelce.
August comes with a hectic tour schedule, glittery crowds, sunset shows and, with what can only be described as a giddy Taylor Swift.
Her phone rings when they sit in the car on their way back from the second Los Angeles show. Drew is in the front seat and momentarily glances back. They haven’t set up the divider yet so he can see her hesitation when she looks up, then she swipes across the screen.
“Hi you” She says quietly. Softly.
Drew can’t hear what is said on the other side of the line, but whatever it is, it makes her laugh. She blushes. Again.
He thinks that this is not for his ears, so he turns around and puts the divider up to give Taylor some privacy. It doesn’t cancel out what’s said in the backseat, it still muffles it a bit.
“I’m on my way back now, can I call you when I’m home?”
It’s quiet for a few seconds.
“I can’t wait,” she giggles. “Bye”
The same thing happens after all the following shows. And even though he’s not trying to eavesdrop, sound travels fairly well in the car. Taylor likes talking to this person, he can tell. After the last show she seems very happy, and doesn’t take long until he knows why.
“There’s no better place than New York in August, I promise.” She’s on the phone again, and has already excitedly described the highlights from today’s show to the person she’s talking to.
“I was thinking dinner at my place, maybe?” Followed by some mumbling.
“Oh no worries, just call me later, Trav”
Trav. No it can’t be, he thinks - not the NFL player. There are other Travs out there, must be one of them.
Anyway, the following day, when they are getting ready to leave for New York, there is the answer laid out. In front of Drew, neatly folded and ready to be put down in the only bag left, is a red shirt with the writing “CHIEFS” visible.
“Didn’t know you were a Kansas City Chiefs fan,” he says while turning towards Taylor.
He expects the blush this time. She reaches out and trails the letters with her finger.
“It was a gift, but don’t tell my dad, he's an Eagles fan you know,” she jokes lightly, not denying it.
That’s it then. He wonders how long until Travis Kelce will make his first appearance.
It takes exactly three days.
“Hi, I’m Travis, thanks for helping me get in.”
He’s got a firm handshake, Travis Kelce.
He is also, according to the briefing earlier this week, a friend of Taylor’s. A friend carrying a bouquet of flowers and a friend that, honestly, looks really freaking nervous.
Drew knows a “friend” when he sees one. But it’s neither his job or in his interest to ask any questions.
He does his job and when Travis leaves a day later, he knows that it’s the first of many.
So as summer turns to fall, to winter and to spring - Travis is still there.
When the big announcement comes in early fall 2024, together with a picture from the summer in Como, Drew almost feels proud. Now, he's not just the security of Taylor Swift, but also an official engagement photographer.