Austin Butler Imagines 🍒

Interview gone wrong...🤦🏻‍♀️

AUTHORS NOTE: This is a request from @DenisszaV, hopefully it lives up to your expectations and you enjoy :)

~CONTEXT~

Recently, you and Austin wrapped filming a movie that you've been working on for around 3 years now. Due to the genre being fantasy, all of the costumes took forever to make, editing also took a hell of a long time and the overall process was just extended due to everything that needed to be done. However, it was all worth it in the end as you believe the movie's turned out fantastic, as does Austin. 

Since the movie has finished filming, you and Austin have been doing a press tour along with other members of the cast; doing red carpets in different countries, several movie premiers and god knows how many interviews, all promoting this new movie. Despite it being a long and exhausting process, you're incredibly proud of the movie and can't wait for people to see it so you quite enjoy doing all of this, and having Austin by your side throughout the whole thing just makes it so much better. 

The two of you met during the audition process, and almost instantly the two of you got along, so it was amazing when the pair of you found out that you'd been given the parts you'd auditioned for. Over the span of the 3 years, the two of you interacted a lot both on and off set, leading to the both of you becoming incredibly close friends. Whenever you weren't needed for filming, you'd either be texting him if he was on set or if you were both off then you'd be out doing things together, your friendship blossoming into something beautiful and meaningful to the both of you. It's been a great experience, and both of you appreciate one another so much.

~CURRENT~

As promotion for the movie, you and Austin have been called to do an interview together. At this point you've done several, so you're in your element and really enjoying doing all of this promotional work. When you accepted the interview, both you and Austin had your spirits high and you were sort of looking forward to it - little did the both of you know that it was about to go downhill very quickly. 

Sitting in your assigned chairs next to one another, you and Austin are opposite the interviewer - typical set up for these kinds of things. To start with, the interviewer introduces themselves and shakes hands with you both, asking how you are and how this whole process has been, to which both you and Austin give positive answers; you've both enjoyed the process, shared a lot of laughs and smiles, filming was one of the best experiences for you and the promotional stuff has also had its upsides. So no complaints from either of you. As the interview continues, the questions get more and more personal, sometimes drifting WAY off from what the movie is about or anything related to it, which confuses you but you don't want to question someone on a job you don't do, so you choose not to focus on it and just brush it off as nothing. However, that swiftly changes when the interviewer crosses a line.

Interviewer: "Austin, your career has seen a real incline over the last couple years; of course your fame increased when ELVIS came out and quite rightfully so, your performance was brilliant. Ever since, you've been hired for many films and movies, and you've been booked an busy. As far as this movie goes, it's probably one of your biggest roles, besides when you played Elvis, and it's most likely going to turn out to be one of your best performing movies too. Your success has just been absolutely amazing, and we're all proud of you. My question is, how do you feel knowing your mother will never get to see you succeed so well in your field?"

It doesn't take long for this question to affect Austin; almost immediately he goes silent, swallowing thickly as he fights back tears, trying his best to stay composed for the cameras, not wanting to be unprofessional. However, you can evidently see the struggle he's having, and your heart just shatters. He was so excited to do this interview, to talk about this movie and to delve into the character he plays and the plot of the movie, and instead he has this devastating question thrown at him - which is quite frankly disgusting on the interviewers part. Not wanting to make him uncomfortable, and also being slightly frustrated at the interviewer for asking the question to begin with, you take Austin's hand in yours, running your thumb over his knuckles, his eyes flicking to you the second he feels the contact. As your eyes meet, you can just see the pain behind his gaze - that question affected him more than you had originally thought. Without wasting another second, you shift into action, wanting to whisk Austin away from this situation and comfort him.

Y/N: "Can we stop the interview, please?"

Without hesitation, sensing the distress of the situation, the camera crew turns the cameras off and the interview is stopped, security leading you and Austin out of the room - your hand on Austin's back to provide him some minimal comfort as you exit, walking into an empty room and shutting the door behind you, leaving the two of you alone. Austin sits on one chair and you crouch down in front of him, taking his hands into yours.

Y/N: "It's okay, we're out of there now" 

Without saying anything, he pulls you into a hug; holding onto you tightly as he breaks down, crying into your shoulder and pouring all of his emotions out. Your arms engulf him in a warm embrace, caressing his back as you just let him get it out, giving him all the comfort you can, whispering reassuring words into his ear.

Y/N: "It's oaky, I'm here"

Y/N: "Let it all out, I've got you"

Y/N: "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry"

After roughly 20 minutes, he pulls away from your hug and settles back into the chair, once again taking your hands in his, still needing that comfort from you. He sniffles, wiping his eyes and cheeks to rid of any tears, your warm hug having helped him a great deal. Looking up into your eyes, he looks like a small wounded boy - you want nothing more than to just take him under your wing and shield him from the world, keeping him safe. 

Y/N: "Do you feel better?"

Austin: "Yes, thank you"

Y/N: "You don't need to thank me, I just did what any good friend would do"

Austin: "I appreciate it, more than you know"

He sniffles again, wiping his nose with a tissue he keeps in his pocket before looking back up at you, looking evidently relieved to be out of that interview.

Austin: "I could've just left the interview, you didn't need to end it all together you know"

Y/N: "No, I'm not staying to talk to someone like that. They were out of order asking you that, they shouldn't have even bought it up. I don't care if you could've just left by yourself, I wasn't going to stay and have a conversation with someone that talks to you like that and brings up sensitive subjects that everyone knows you don't like talking about"

Your words warm his heart, a small smile taking place on his lips. You'd always been an amazing friend to him, and this just adds onto the list of things you've done for him that make him love being your friend even more. If it came down to it, he couldn't ever ask for a better best friend even if he tried, you're the best of the best, and he loves you so much.

The two of you stay in that room for a little while, not leaving until Austin finishes crying for good - absolutely no signs of tears or distress at all. Once he's back to his regular self, you leave the room and decide to go and grab coffee together, needing to get over and forget about the...

Interview gone wrong...