speculation | jaafar jackson
pairing: jaafar x actress!reader
word count: 8,5k
summary: where y/n and jaafar do the wired autocomplete interview
a/n: first ever fic for a real person, pls be nice đŤśđť michael really has me in his trance and so does jaafar help i can't think of anything or anyone else (i was so immersed in this story i even made some bonus content at the end!!)
warnings: extensive use of Y/N Y/L/N because it's an interview, reader plays lisa marie presley but her looks aren't described, reader is a bit goofy
Jaafar's hand is warm on the small of your back as he leads you into the room. Immediately, you are greeted not only by bright, radiant lights from the multitude of softboxes all around but also by staff members bustling through the room, hurrying to make some final preparations for the interview.
Michael 2 has finally been released in theaters and the press tour is just really starting to pick up. The last few days have been packed with red carpet appearances, interviews, photo shoots, morning shows, even more interviews. Just yesterday, you had an entire day dedicated solely to interviews, which you've never done before, especially not so many in a row.
You love every second of it. After all, this is what you have always dreamed of; a radiant, rising star on the path to success. Little you would be incredibly proud, and you, in turn, are proud that you were able to make that little girl's dreams come true and that you are well on your way to becoming something far greater than you ever dared to dream.
One reason you love all of this so much is definitely your cast members. Every interview allows you to get to know them anew and from a different side, even though you saw each other daily for months. Your face hurt from all the grinning and laughing during interviews yesterday when you had to collectively decide on your favourite Michael Jackson song. Colman, Nia, Juliano and especially Jaafar make this whole experience to what it is.
The fact that sparks are flying between you and Jaafar could potentially also be a reason why you're enjoying it so much.
Officially, you are co-stars. You are not in a relationship, but the numerous dates you've already been on (which have garnered considerable interest from the press) speak for themselves. Unofficially, you are more than just co-stars, yet neither of you is ready to take things public, especially not during such a stressful time. However, the feelings you harbour for one another are rather difficult to conceal, which is why rumours have already begun to circulate.
And the fact that you are playing none other than Lisa Marie Presley in the second installment of this global blockbuster certainly doesn't help to quell those rumours; if anything, it only fuels them. And the public hasn't even really seen your scenes together yet.
The sparks are burning hot, on and off screen.
You catch yourself looking at him, staring a little too long for your own good. There were several moments already when you thought to yourself that the press was going to have an absolute field day with it. Somehow, you get the feeling that this interview isn't going to help hide the obvious tension between the two of you. After all, it's the first interview featuring just you and Jaafar. Colman and Nia will be interviewed later on.
Speaking of which, as soon as you enter the room, the producer approaches you both with a smile and greets you.
"We're so glad you're here", she says and begins to explain the interview's format though you don't really need the explanation since you've watched just about every single one of them.
"We're going to ask you some of the internet's most burning questions", she explains and you look over at Jaafar beside you, who nods shyly and smiles back. You know that expression all too well, he is simultaneously nervous and excited. Even though he is already accustomed to it from the first film, it's still thrilling every single time.
Even more thrilling when you're the one at his side and he has to stop himself from grabbing your hand or looking at you for too long.
The producer motions for you to take a seat on the two chairs positioned in front of a white background. Jaafar lets you choose and then sits on the chair to your right.
"This is so exciting!", you say in awe, looking around with interest as you try to catch a quick glimpse of the familiar boards.
Jaafar, on his part, only has eyes for you, wearing that gentle smile on his lips that always makes you melt. "What?", you ask softly, smiling, doing your best not to blush.
"Nothing. It's just so sweet how excited you are", he whispers, resting his arm on the armrest in such a way that your hands brush against each other in the space between you. Subtly, he hooks his little finger around yours, a gesture that makes you grin.
When the producer suddenly announces that they are ready to begin, you sit up straight as if struck and let go of Jaafarâs finger. However, the producerâs gaze along with her knowing smile tells you that she definitely saw it. You glance down at yourself and smooth out your clothes, ensuring everything is in place for the interview. A man steps in front of the cameras, holding a clapperboard, and snaps it shut. The sound is music to your ears; for both you and Jaafar, it serves as a cue to slip into your professional roles as actors.
"Hi, my name is Y/N Y/L/N", you wave at the camera and smile sweetly.
"I'm Jaafar Jackson", he introduces himself, also waving to an invisible audience behind the camera.
"And today we're going to do the Wired Autocomplete Interview!", you both say in unison and not a second later, Jaafar is already handed the first board.
"What is Jaafar Jackson?", he reads out the search bar at the top and you can clearly see that he's not yet sure what to think about this interview. It's definitely different from the ones you've done before and he doesn't know what to expect.
"Yeah, what even is Jaafar Jackson?", you giggle teasingly, looking directly into the camera. Jaafar joins in your giggling and then reveals the first question by peeling off the white strip, holding the board between the two of you so you can both see it.
"What is Jaafar Jackson known for?", he reads out, obviously surprised these Google searches aren't as messy as he thought. "I'd say I'm best known for my portrayal of my uncle, Michael Jackson, in his biopic."
"Which is still insane when you say it out loud like that!", you laugh, waiting eagerly for him to reveal the next question.
"What is.. Jaafar Jackson's relationship with Michael Jackson?", he laughs a bit as he basically just answered that question already. "I'm Michael's nephew. My father, Jermaine, is one of his brothers."
"Did you spend a lot of time with him?", the producer suddenly asks from behind the camera as Jaafar was about to move onto the next question. He lowers the board onto his lap, lightly tapping on it with one hand while he puts the other one on his jaw in deep thinking.
"Not as much as I would've liked, to be honest. He was the King of Pop and even though he always took time for his family, it still wasn't a lot", Jaafar starts to explain, his gaze switching between the camera and his lap. "I remember how much fun we always had at Neverland. It was basically a paradies for kids and he would always play hide and seek with all of us. It's a very fond memory I have of him. Oh, and I loved watching him dance! I'd immediately go and try the moves myself."
You coo in response. Of course he has already had to answer countless questions like this. That is the price of portraying his uncle, yet you still hope that he will also get to answer questions about himself as Jaafar and not just those related to his surname. Nevertheless, these questions make perfect sense. Naturally, people want to know everything about the new talent from the Jackson family. And, after all, you are here to promote your film, so he is happy to answer these questions. Especially when faced with questions like these, you notice just how much all of this means to him.
You see the producer nod her head and write something down but not before motioning for Jaafar to continue. The next few questions are about his age, height and zodiac sign.
"What's.. Jaafar Jackson's workout routine?", he reads out next, immediately feeling a little shy about the fact that someone would even like to know about that.
"Oh, do tell! I'd love to know that one too", you tell him excitedly, leaning over to bat your lashes at him.
"You'd have to ask my personal trainer who I worked with for both parts. I just do what he tells me to do", Jaafar answers with a shy smile, preferring to look at you rather than speaking into the camera. You would be lying if you said you haven't already seen all the workout videos his personal trainer posted on his social media accounts.
"What I can say is that it was extremely exhausting. But only through such an intense workout do you stand any chance of even remotely learning Michael's dance skills", he explains further and you nod in approval. You know how hard he has been working for both films and there were days during filming when he wanted to give up. He would come into your trailer or take you somewhere quiet when you were watching him perform and you would comfort him to the best of your abilities. On some days, your words were all it took; on others, however, even those weren't enough. At the end of the day, much like his uncle, he is a perfectionist.
"I promise you will not be disappointed once you go see the movie!", you cheerfully say, wanting the audience to really know how much work and effort was put into all of it. Jaafar smiles at you, his eyes radiating so much gratitude before he reveals another question.
"What is Jaafar Jackson thinking? What am I thinking?"
"Yes, what's on your mind right now?", you help him, leaning back slightly in your seat, having realized that you were sitting quite close to him. You cross your legs so that you can tap your foot.
"Mhm, that I'm having a good time doing this interview and I'm glad to be here with my beautiful co-star", Jaafar says with a slight smirk on his lips. Yeah, so this interview is certainly not going to help dispel the rumours. It also doesn't help that the last question on this board is asking about his relationship status.
"I'm single", he answers truthfully after reading the question aloud. You are glad that he doesn't have to lie about it, which he's terrible at. Truly terrible. Every lie is written across his face before he even opens his mouth. Either way, you have to bite the inside of your cheek to keep from smiling.
It's the final question on his board and Jaafar glances around the set helplessly once he's done, still holding it out in front of him like someone is supposed to come collect it.
"You gotta throw it!", you chime in immediately. That earns you a deeply confused look.
"What?", he lets out a short laugh, clutching the board tighter. "Iâm not throwing it."
âYes, you are. That's part of the interview!â Jaafar looks around the studio like you've completely lost your mind. You laugh, reaching over and snatching the board from his hands before he can protest.
"I'm so sorry", you say directly to the camera with mock sincerity. "He's simply too chronically offline for this."
"I am not-"
Before he can defend himself, you fling the board dramatically across the set. Both of you watch as it clatters to the floor.
You turn back to him, trying - and failing - not to laugh as you see his jaw slightly dropping.
"See? The people love it", you mention, extending your arms to point to all the people, which, in this case, are the staff members that actually don't bat an eye on what you just did. "Me. I'm also people."
One of the crew members quickly hands you the next board, this one labeled 'what Y/N Y/L/N'. Out of the corner of your eye, you catch Jaafar pressing his hand over his mouth in a failed attempt to hide his grin, still far too amused by your dramatic board toss from seconds ago. His eyes crinkle as he shakes his head at you, clearly not over it.
He absolutrly loves doing interviews with you for that exact reason. Where he tends to be quiet, measured, and a little too aware of every camera pointed at him, you make everything feel lighter, easier. You pull him out of his shell without even really trying, turning his usual restraint into soft laughter and quiet confidence. You truly bring out the best of him.
"What is Y/N Y/L/N's age", you read out your first question after pulling the white sticker off. You playfully roll your eyes, clicking your tongue.
"How boring", you say, quickly answering it to get to the next, hopefully more interesting question.
"What is Y/N Y/L/N's favourite colour?", you read aloud next, fiddling with the peeled strip of tape between your fingers. You glance over at Jaafar. He's already looking at you, a soft, almost fond smile lingering on his face. "Do you know?"
His eyebrows lift slightly, clearly caught off guard that you're directing the question at him instead. His Adam's apple bobs as he swallows, and he instinctively straightens in his seat.
"Of course I know that", he says, sounding almost offended that you'd even question him. He names your favorite colour without hesitation. Quickly, you fire back his favourite colour.
He points at you immediately. "Exactly."
A laugh slips from your lips as you turn toward the camera. "See? We could probably answer all of each other's questions at this point."
Jaafar lets out a quiet laugh beside you, his shoulder brushing yours as he leans back in his chair. "That just shows how much time we spend together", he adds, still smiling his beautiful smile at you. "Filming a movie really brings people closer together."
Your lips twitch as you force yourself to keep a neutral expression. If only people knew how close.
Long nights on set that turned into longer conversations in his trailer. Quiet dinners after filming wrapped. His hand finding yours under tables. Stolen kisses far away from any flashlights. Close was certainly one way to put it.
"Next question!", you rip off the white strip a little too aggressively this time. The board nearly slips out of your hands.
Jaafar reacts instantly. "Here, let me hold that for you." He reaches out before you can fumble it completely, gesturing for the board. You hand it over with a shy laugh and he holds it in front of him so the camera can capture it. This gives you enough room to peel off the strips without struggling.
It's such a small gesture, but painfully domestic in a way that makes your stomach flip. You look at him and basically forget every coherent thought you've ever had.
He looks entirely too beautiful. His curls frame his face perfectly, his eyes warm and attentive as they flick between you and the card. Distractingly breathtaking. Dangerous, really.
"What music video is Y/N Y/L/N in?", he reads aloud after realizing you've gone suspiciously quiet. Your eyes snap back to the board. He's the one having to hold back a grin now.
"I was in 'I Feel It Coming' by The Weeknd", you answer quickly, hiding the sudden nervousness that took over you. "That was actually one of my first acting jobs."
You shrug lightly. "Acting is a bit generous though, really. I was mostly modeling."
That earns a quiet laugh from Jaafar.
"I was really young", you continue, settling back into a more professional tone. "And it's funny because back then, nobody ever asked me about it. No one recognized me and no one cared. Obviously, I mean The Weeknd was right there."
You glance at the board in Jaafar's hands, reaching for the next strip. "And now people are apparently digging through the internet and finding everything I've ever done."
"Naturally people want to know what you were doing before Michael", Jaafar nods in understanding, picking at the edge of the cardboard.
"Which is flattering", you admit. "And slightly terrifying." You peel off the next strip with far less aggression this time. Your eyes scan the question while you read out: "What movies has Y/N Y/L/N been in?"
"Ooh", Jaafar hums excitedly, his eyebrows lifting as he turns toward you. "That's a good question."
"Well, I was in Michael 2, obviously. Go watch it in theaters!", you add with an exaggerated promotional smile toward the camera, earning a laugh from the crew. "Before that, I did a lot of smaller projects. A few films like Do Revenge or Top Gun: Maverick, but they were mostly brief appearances, nothing huge. I literally was only in the background and maybe got to say one line."
You pause, mentally flipping through your rĂŠsumĂŠ.
"Television is where I have a little more to offer, though. I had a recurring role on Grey's Anatomy for a few episodes and I also had smaller roles in Outer Banks and Daisy Jones & The Six. So maybe you've seen my face on there."
"So, this is your first lead role?", the producer speaks up from behind the camera.
You glance toward her, not being able to really see her because of all the bright lights, and nod. "Yes."
"How does that feel?"
"It feels like everything I've worked for", you admit honestly and feel a rush of emotion come over you. "It's what I've dreamed about for years."
Quietly, you exhale and if you didn't know any better, you'd swear Jaafar almost reaches for your hand, his body subtly shifting toward you before he seems to remember where you are. So instead, his hand curls tightly around the edge of the board and he offers you a small, grounding smile that somehow feels just as intimate.
"But it's also overwhelming sometimes. It's exhausting and there's definitely pressure that comes with suddenly having so many eyes on you. People start recognizing you overnight and your life changes really fast", you explain to the best of your ability, Jaafar nodding in quiet understanding.
He knows that feeling better than most. From the first Michael film alone, his entire world had shifted overnight. Sure, growing up as part of the Jackson family meant he was no stranger to public attention. But stepping into the spotlight himself, with the entire world suddenly watching him, was something else entirely and, additionally, he had such huge shoes to fill.
Fame had found both of you faster than either of you expected. And through all of it you had somehow become each other's safest place. Your anchors. The people you reached for when everything else felt too loud.
When you glance at him, he's already looking at you. And somehow, that steady look says everything neither of you can say out loud right now.
"I think people only see the glamorous side of achieving your dreams", Jaafar says thoughtfully. "They don't always see the pressure that comes with maintaining them or how isolating it can feel at times. But I think you've handled all of this with a lot of grace."
You blink at him, momentarily caught off guard as your chest tightens. God, he sounds so composed when he speaks like that, so intentional with every word. It's one of your favorite things about him.
How much you would like to kiss him right now. The fact that you can't is costing you a great deal of strength.
The silence that follows is brief, but warm until Jaafar breaks it with a small, almost teasing exhale.
"Alright", he says, tapping the edge of the board lightly. "Before we both get emotional on cameraâŚ"
"Next question", you laugh softly, grateful for the reset as you reach for the last strip. "What does Y/N Y/L/N love? What do I love? I love many things."
Unfortunately, saying Jaafar Jackson on camera doesn't feel like an option you're willing to risk today. So you settle for something safer.
"I love the cast of Michael", you say instead, smiling toward the camera. "I love how much fun we're having together."
Without missing a beat, you reach out and take the board from Jaafar, who had already been politely holding it out for you, and toss it backward over your shoulder. It lands somewhere off-camera with a satisfying thud. You clap your hands once, just as the crew steps in with the next board, this one for Jaafar again.
"Wait", you say quickly, reaching out before he can fully grab it. "I'll hold it for you, too." His fingers brush yours before he lets you have it, sending an electric tingle through your body.
"Jaafar Jackson", you read the search bar at the top, your tone slipping into something deliberately teasing. With a small, resigned shake of his head, he reveals the first question. It says 'What inspires Jaafar Jackson'.
He leans back slightly in his chair, thinking his answer through in his head for a moment.
"I think.. people who stay kind, no matter what they're going through. People who work hard even when nobody's watching", he states, his hand rubbing across his chin. "Music as well, of course. And my family. Always."
His eyes flick toward you for half a second and your heart makes a tiny jump that he looks at you specifically when he talks about family.
"Yeah, my family has been a very big inspiration for me as well as my co-stars", he finishes with a small smile and you nod in approval, waiting for him to reveal the next question.
"Jaafar Jackson.. favourite MJ song?", you read slowly, already letting out a small, dramatic huff before he even answers. "That's a tough one."
Jaafar immediately nods like he agrees with you. "Yeah, that one changes like.. every day."
"Every hour, even", you laugh.
"Favourite song, favourite song.. That's so difficult. Favourite music video would be easy, but song?", he murmurs.
"Your favourite music video is.. Smooth Criminal?", you guess and he immediately breaks into a bright smile.
"Hands down", he nods without hesitation. "What's your favourite song and music video?"
You pretend to think about it very seriously as if it's a life-or-death decision. "Favourite music video is definitely Thriller. It's iconic. The concept, the storytelling, the choreography.. everything. My favourite song has to be Dirty Diana."
With those words, you turn toward the cameras now, lowering your voice dramatically like you're sharing a secret meant only for them.
"If you weren't already convinced to go see Michael 2", you say, pointing straight at Jaafar for emphasis, "you need to go solely to see this man's amazing performance of that song specifically. You're going to lose your minds, I promise."
You're absolutely certain of it, because you definitely lost your mind the first time you saw it. You lost a bit of your mind at every take you saw recorded directly in front of you.
Jaafar lets out a small, shy laugh, ducking his head a little so the cameras can't capture the obvious red tint creeping onto his cheeks. He rubs the back of his neck and clears his throat, still slightly flustered, then looks back at the board in your hands.
"Right", he says, trying to regain composure. "My favourite song is probably Man in the Mirror. But that could change in a few hours."
"Solid choice", you nod in agreement, gesturing for him to move on to the next question.
"Jaafar Jackson..", he reads, peeling the white strip off. "Striped pant- Oh my god."
You immediately drop the board onto your lap, clapping your hands once as you burst into laughter. "Oh, finally! Finally, we're getting to the really good questions!"
Jaafar's head drops forward, shoulders shaking as he tries, and terribly fails, to keep it together. He mutters something that kind of sounds like 'Why is this here?', laughing into his hand.
You lean back in your chair, absolutely delighted. "No, no, this is important. The people want answers!"
"Okay", he says, rubbing his forehead, still smiling despite himself. "So.. the performance of Human Nature in the first Michael was honestly one of the most exciting things to film. Because it's such an iconic moment in his career and trying to capture the energy of it was a challenge in the best way."
You're still grinning at him, clearly enjoying how seriously he's trying to recover.
"And the striped pants", he adds, a little more shyly, glancing down for a second, playing with one of the rings on his fingers. "Theyâre definitely part of that. Actually, my uncle didn't even like them that much and gave them to my uncle Randy. We thought, however, that it's a cool look for the scene so we stuck with it. But it's really about the movement and the emotion of the performance."
"You are far too sweet for this world", you beam at him, your eyes sparkling as you desperately try to shove the mental image of him in those striped pants out of your head.
Lives were changed by that performance back then. And, quite frankly, lives were changed again when you watched him recreate it.
"We do need to bring back the pants though", you add, winking dramatically at the camera. Jaafar, on the other hand, just groans quietly beside you, dragging a hand down his face as the crew laughs. You lean away as he reaches for the next strip, mostly to remove yourself from the scene of your own crimes. Then, deciding you've embarrassed him enough for one day, you scoot back closer until your shoulder brushes his again, silently letting him know you're done tormenting him.
"What is next for Jaafar Jackson?", he reads, his foot tapping lightly against the floor as he thinks about his answer. "I donât know how much I'm allowed to say. But what I can say is that I definitely plan on continuing acting.â
His voice softens slightly. "I really love it. It challenges me in ways I didn't expect, bringing out new sides of me, and I feel very grateful that people have connected with my work enough for me to keep doing it."
Your heart practically swells in your chest. You know far more than the public does: the auditions he left feeling unsure about, the roles he narrowly missed, the callbacks that kept him awake at night, and the ones that changed everything. His career is only beginning to accelerate and once they'll see him as a literal Disney prince on the big screen? It's over. For all of you.
You couldn't be prouder.
"Can't wait!", you say cheerfully, unable to hide your excitement. He glances at you with a knowing smile, already peeling off the final strip on the board. It reads 'Jaafar Jackson perfect'.
There's complete silence for a second, Jaafar obviously at a loss for words. Meanwhile, you blink at the board before looking at him like the answer is painfully obvious.
"I mean", you start slowly, turning toward the camera. "Have you looked at him?"
The entire crew behind the camera has to conceal their laughter. Jaafar immediately folds in on himself, covering half his face with his hand as his shoulders shake.
"No, genuinely", you continue, now pointing between him and the board. "Why are you googling that? The answer is right here."
Jaafar lets out a strangled laugh, wanting nothing more than to shut you up but also give you the biggest hug at the same time. Before anyone can protest, you snatch the board from his hands.
"And because I refuse to hear any opposing opinions-", you launch it dramatically across the room. It once again lands with a loud thud somewhere off-camera. Proudly, you dust off your hands. Jaafar stares at you like he doesn't know whether to laugh harder or hide under his chair. Or kiss you right then and there.
At this point with how the interview is going so far, you two will never beat the allegations anyway. So why should he even try to hide it any further? Kissing you in front of rolling cameras probably isn't all that smart and, above all, not very professional, even though he would really, really love to. It will just have to wait until later. Until you're alone and have a quiet moment to yourselves.
A staff member quickly steps in with the next board. This time, they hand it directly to Jaafar before you can weaponize it.
"This is the last one for the interview", the producer announces from behind the camera. "We still have to get Colman Domingo and Nia Long in here too."
"Oh, right", you laugh. "Wouldn't want to keep everyone waiting because we keep oversharing."
"We?", Jaafar repeats. You ignore him.
"Let's see what else people want to know about me", you sigh, straightening in your seat as you peel off the next strip. You reveal the question and read it aloud: "Who does Y/N Y/L/N want to act with?"
Jaafar's brows lift in interest, balancing the board on his knee.
"Ooh, I would love to work with Zendaya", you say first. "I think she's insanely talented. Or Florence Pugh, too! There's so many I'd love to work with."
"Those are good ones", Jaafar smiles beside you. He vividly remembers how excited you were when you met Zendaya. You wouldn't stop talking about her for days. He almost got jealous.
"And, this might be a very obvious answer considering our current situation, but working with Jaafar and also Colman and Nia has been incredible", you add quickly. "They make everyone around them better."
You grin before immediately turning the question around. "What about you?"
Jaafar exhales through a smile, already thinking as he leans forward, elbows on his knees but still in frame as he spins the board in his hands.
"I'd love to work with Morgan Freeman someday. Even though that probably sounds very unrealistic", he finally answers. "I admire how much presence he has on screen. Angela Bassett is also a strong contender. She's incredible."
"She is incredible", you agree in an instant and peel off the next strip, Jaafar angles the board slightly so you can read it more comfortably. "Who is Y/N Y/L/N in Michael 2? I play none other than Lisa Marie Presley."
Jaafar nods beside you. "And she's amazing in it, by the way."
You glance at him with a smile, patting his knee. "I paid him to say this, thank you."
"It's true", Jaafar says into the camera with so much conviction that your heart makes a jump. "You impersonate her really well."
"It was honestly a little intimidating at first. I really wanted to approach her with as much care and respect as possible", you tear your gaze away from Jaafar and realize that your hand has remained resting on his knee, so you inconspicuously pull it back.
"How did you get into the role?", the producers speaks up from behind the cameras.
"I watched interviews, read articles, studied her mannerisms by basically viewing any existing footage there is", you explain, glad to be able to share this journey. "And I was actually very lucky because I briefly worked with Riley Keough on Daisy Jones & The Six."
Jaafar leans back, turning toward you to give you his full attention even though he already knows all of this.
He absolutely loves the way you carry yourself. You are so self-assured in front of the cameras, literally beaming. But he also knows your other sides, all those facets that the public never sees: how shy you become when caught off guard, or how incredibly patient you are. Filming wasn't always easy, yet even when things between you blossomed into something more than mere friendship, you never pressured him. You waited, expecting nothing from him, until he was ready to give it of his own accord. You complement him precisely where his weaknesses lie. And he does the exact same for you.
"So I got to ask her a little bit about her mom", you explain, noticing how mesmerized Jaafar looks at you right now. "Not in an invasive way or anything. But hearing small personal things about how she carried herself or how people close to her remembered her was actually really helpful."
"That's really special", Jaafar says softly, but you're honestly not sure what or who he means with that.
"It was", you agree. "It made the whole thing feel a lot more human to me. I'll forever be thankful for this opportunity."
Jaafar nods, knowing perfectly well how it feels. The two of you are carrying a similar weight by portraying people who are no longer here to speak for themselves, balancing respect with authenticity while knowing the world will inevitably dissect every little detail. In the end, it's not up to you to decide whether you managed to do them justice.
"Who is Y/N Y/L/N's celebrity crush?", you read aloud next, absentmindedly crumpling the peeled strip between your fingers. Honestly, you're a little surprised people care about things like that. Then again, you understand it perfectly. Not too long ago, you were on the other side of this, searching up interviews of your favorite actors and wanting to know every insignificant detail about them.
"Currently?", you say thoughtfully. "I'd probably say Pedro Pascal." You shrug with a laugh. "Which is basically the entire world's answer at this point."
Jaafar slightly snorts at that and a staff member across the room can't hold back a chuckle. You're just too damn likeable.
"And as a child, I had the biggest crush on Robert Pattinson", you continue. "Like.. devastatingly bad. Peak Twilight era."
"Of course", Jaafar murmurs under his breath. You don't miss the way he shifts slightly in his chair while you explain yourself further, trying very hard to maintain his calm interview composure while you casually discuss other men.
Jaafar is very far away from being the jealous type. He's not jealous. Not really. At least not enough for anyone else to notice. But you do.
You notice the tiny flicker of jealousy he's trying so hard to disguise right now. The way he suddenly becomes very interested in the board resting in his lap, flipping it over once, then again, glancing around the room like maybe concentrating on literally anything else will stop him from hearing you praise Robert Pattinson.
It's ridiculously endearing.
"And Jaafar Jackson, of course!", you add sweetly, fully aware of what you're doing. His reaction is immediate. His eyes widen ever so slightly as he looks at you like you've genuinely lost your mind.
You bite back a grin as you reach over to place a hand on his biceps, attempting to tug him a little closer to you but he's not having it.
"Next question", he says quickly, cutting you off before you can make things worse for the both of you.
Trying not to smile too obviously, you let him move on while he peels off the next strip. A grin slowly pulls at the corner of his mouth as he reads the card silently to himself for an extra second, entirely on purpose.
"Jaafar", you warn.
He finally reads it aloud: "Y/N Y/L/N married?"
"No ring yet", you cheerfully say, immediately showing your left hand toward the camera. There are rings on your fingers, just none sitting on the finger everyone is currently searching for. Your answer is innocent, but it leaves just enough room for interpretation because does that mean you are in a relationship? Your media trainer is either going to love or hate you for this.
Beside you, Jaafar presses his lips together, very clearly trying not to react too much to your wording. He can't hide a little smirk though.
"Alright", you say brightly, reaching for the final strip. "Last question!"
But the second your fingers move toward it, Jaafar smoothly lifts the board farther away from you. You stare at him in disbelief and try to reach for it once more, but he extends his arm farther back with an annoyingly triumphant smile, teasing you. Clearly, this is his revenge for your teasing throughout the whole interview.
"Oh my God", you laugh under your breath. "You're impossible."
You continue to fight him for the board and lightly flick the tip of his nose with your fingertip, a fleeting little gesture so instinctive and affectionate that umistakably shows how close you are to each other. Closer than co-stars should be.
You can already picture the headlines this interview is going to create once it's released.
Barely holding back laughter now, he lowers the board again and gestures for you to continue.
"Thank you very much", you say pointedly, lightly shoving his shoulder as you take it from him. He barely moves, obviously far stronger than you, but he lets himself sway anyway.
"Y/N Y/L/N moonwalk", you read aloud before gasping theatrically. "Oh! So this is what the people yearn for. I understand now."
Before anyone can stop you, you jump up from your seat.
"You're lucky I wore sneakers today", you announce proudly. Jaafar is still sitting there watching you with the softest smile imaginable when you suddenly point at him.
"Come on, bâ", you catch yourself at the last second. "Jaafar. You have to do it too."
His eyes widen immediately as he starts shaking his head.
"No."
"Yes!"
He hides his smile behind his hand, already laughing quietly. You know this about him by now. How shy he gets about things like this. He doesn't like showing off, no matter how naturally talented he is.
He literally played Michael Jackson, spent months mastering every movement and mannerism imaginable, and yet somehow still gets embarrassed doing a simple moonwalk in front of a camera. He knows he will do the moonwalk better than you so he doesn't want to expose you like that. Jackson genes.
As the two of you continue arguing back and forth, the cameraman quickly adjusts the angle to fit you both fully into frame.
Since you refuse to accept defeat, you grab Jaafar's hand and pull him up from his chair.
You look up at him, softly pressing his hand, and give a small, reassuring nod, one that silently says: It's fine. You'll be fine. We'll be fine.
"Please don't compare my moonwalk to his, though", you plead dramatically to the camera as you position yourself in the middle of the set. Then, with all the confidence in the world, you attempt your best moonwalk across the floor. It's not horrible - you made Jaafar teach you - but also not great.
"Your turn!", you say, turning to him expectantly, ignoring the applause from behind the cameras.
"There's too much pressure now", he complains with a smile, but steps forward anyway and casually does the perfect moonwalk. You could watch him do it all day long. It looks so smooth and the way he carries himself while doing it, with so much confidence, makes it even more attractive.
The crew in the room applauds him and so do you, jumping up and down in excitement. The second everyone reacts, Jaafar's demeanour changes back to his usual self and he ducks his head with a shy laugh, trying to wave it off.
"If you want to see more of these moves, then don't miss out on seeing Michael 2!", you announce, proud of the smooth transition you came up with on the spot.
"Thank you, WIRED, for inviting us. Michael 2 is now playing in theaters everywhere", Jaafar adds warmly, clasping his hands behind his back like he's seconds away from politely bowing.
With that, the interview is technically over. The crew has already started moving around the set, gathering equipment and talking amongst themselves. But then your eyes land on the abandoned board still resting on Jaafar's chair. Immediately, you grab it and hold it out toward him expectantly. The moment the crew notices what's happening, several people pause mid-conversation, not wanting to miss this interaction. The cameras, of course, are still rolling.
"You have to do it. At least this once!", you insist. Jaafar plants his hands on his hips, glancing back and forth between you and the board. His tongue presses against the inside of his cheek as he tries not to smile. He studies your expression for another second, clearly searching for even a tiny hint that you might let this go. Unfortunately for him, you look completely serious.
Eventually, he exhales through a laugh and takes the board from your hands. With all the natural gentleness Jaafar seems physically incapable of turning off, he tosses it into the air behind him. The board clatters harmlessly onto the floor. The second he does it, a ridiculously proud grin spreads across his face.
"You were right", he admits, laughing now. "This is fun."
Your own laughter only gets worse. "You're welcome", you say proudly, like you've personally changed his life for the better.
You have absolutely no idea whether any of this will actually make the final cut considering the interview officially ended at least thirty seconds ago. But maybe they will put it at the end anyway. This is definitely a monumental moment the public shouldn't miss.
Still grinning, you wave toward the cameras in farewell. "Bye!"
Jaafar joins in beside you with an amused shake of his head. "Bye, thank you."
That finally seems to signal the real end of filming. Almost immediately, the room bursts back into motion. Crew members weave around the set adjusting equipment while the studio lights dim slightly overhead.
The producer approaches the two of you with the expression of someone who knows they may have just struck gold.
"That was great!", she says warmly, shaking both your hands. "Seriously, thank you so much for taking the time."
You exchange a quick glance with Jaafar. This interview might have spiraled out of control and did nothing to fight the allegations about the two of you having a thing. Who knows how the remaining interviews with just Jaafar and you will go.
After how this one went you can guarantee for nothing.
You briefly speak with the producer. She compliments both Jaafar's and your's portrayal in the film as she's already seen it before excusing herself, needing to check that everything is ready for Colman and Nia.
Jaafar and you thank the other staff members, say your goodbyes, and leave the room. An assistant escorts you to a lounge where you can wait until your next interview with W begins.
The lounge features two vanity tables with brightly lit mirrors, though your makeup artists are nowhere to be seen to touch up your makeup. At the back of the room stands a couch, along with a table laden with various drinks and snacks.
The moment the door closes behind you, the noise from the studio fades into something muffled and distant. Only then do you realize how much adrenaline is still rushing through your body, your skin practically buzzing from the interview and everything that came with it.
You exhale dramatically and walk over to the table to grab two bottles of water. Jaafar follows behind you, hands in his pockets.
"Thanks", he smiles softly when you hand him one bottle. Without even thinking about it, he twists the cap open and passes the bottle back to you before taking the unopened one from your other hand instead.
The gesture is so automatic that it makes your chest ache a little. Always taking care of him. Always being taken care of in return.
His smile right now is the same as the one he wore during the interview, full of love and affection.
God, he's beautiful.
"You need to stop looking at me like that", you giggle, placing a hand against his chest to playfully push him away. He doesn't budge. Instead, he simply places his hand over yours while taking a sip of water, his eyes never leaving your face.
"Like what?", he asks innocently, knowing perfectly well what you mean. As if he hasn't been looking at you like that for months now.
"Like that", you say, pointing an accusatory finger at his face as you pull your hand from beneath his. "The internet is definitely going to think we're dating now."
"They already think that", he shrugs, placing the bottle back on the table.
"But we shouldn't give them even more fuel!", you tell him, sounding more like both of your managers than yourself and not at all convincing. Because the truth is, you couldn't care less if people figured it out. If anything, some reckless part of you wants them to. Wants everyone to know that he's yours and you're his, even if neither of you has officially said it out loud yet.
Jaafar lets out a soft laugh through his nose and leans back against the table behind him. "You called me your celebrity crush", he states matter-of-factly.
"You were sulking!", you shoot back, grinning tiredly up at him.
"I was not", he denies, tinged with shyness because he knows perfectly well that you caught him.
"You literally started fidgeting", you chuckle. That finally pulls another real laugh out of him.
"You almost called me babe", he says in return, quietly. Your entire body heats instantly, redness rising to your cheeks. Jaafar's smile widens just slightly.
"I did not."
"You did."
You hide your face in your hands immediately while he laughs softly. "I saved it though", you mumble through your fingers.
"Barely", Jaafar smiles, finding your sudden shyness adorable. When you finally peek back up at him, he's looking at you with so much fondness it nearly knocks the air from your lungs. Somehow in private, you suddenly switch roles. He becomes much more confident because he feels comfortable while you feel comfortable enough to show your soft side to him.
"Don't act like you were so subtle", you counter now, regaining your confidence which is really difficult when he looks at you like you hung the moon.
"Maybe I don't want it to be subtle anymore", he mumbles, his eyes flicking down to your lips for half a second, reaching for your hand, fitting it into his naturally. "I don't like having to pretend and hide in front of the cameras. I don't like having to think about where I stand or whether I can hold your hand. I'd much rather everyone knew you belong to me."
Your heart skips a beat.
"I mean, officially I don't", you tease, gently squeezing his hand.
"Well, would you like to?", he asks sincerely and doesn't avert his gaze, his big doe eyes looking at your very soul. His thumb brushes across your knuckles.
"Are you seriously asking me this in the back of some random lounge?", you laugh nervously, not expecting him to just say it out loud like that. You weren't prepared. But that's what you love about him - somehow he manages to catch you off guard and it thrills you.
"I'm not, I just want to know we're still on the same page", he states, scratching the back of his neck while his other hand is still holding yours in a firm grip. "Once they know, they are going to go crazy about it. Everything will be about our relationship and nothing else. They won't back up. I know how relentless they can be."
"I know. But I think we can handle it. Because at the end of the day, it's us against all of that. Not the other way around", you say with firm determination, and Jaafar lowers his head, shaking it once with a smile.
"Okay", is all he says, gently tugging on your hand. Before you know it, you're standing between his knees where he's perched against the edge of the table. Instinctively, one of his hands settles at your waist. Like he's been stopping himself from doing it all day. Your own hand, in turn, finds his jaw, his skin soft and warm beneath your fingers.
"You wouldn't believe how much I wanted to do this in there", he murmurs, smiling sweetly like you're his whole world. Your stomach flips. He laughs quietly before finally closing the remaining distance between you, gently kissing you.
Your free hand wanders to the collar of his shirt, clutching the fabric as he pulls you even closer against him, his hand firm against your waist. Your heart pounds in your chest and you are certain he can hear it. It only goes to show what he does to you. And the thrill intensifies since someone could burst in and catch you at any moment.
That would definitely not fight the rumours.
Jaafarâs kisses eventually begin to wander from your lips to the corner of your mouth, then your jaw. A soft, breathless laugh escapes you. He can't get enough even though he had you all night.
"Jaafar", you warn, but he doesn't react. "Youâre going to ruin my makeup."
He immediately pauses as soon as you ever so slightly pushed at his chest. You lean back just enough to look at him.
"Your makeup artist can fix it later", he smirks and before you can argue further, he steals another kiss. You smile against his lips and let him cherish you some more.
When voices suddenly echo from somewhere out in the hallway, both of you freeze at once. His hand drops from your waist like he burned himself. You take a hurried step backward while he straightens quickly.
No one comes in. The voices continue past the room until all that's left is the sound of your own slightly ragged breathing. For a moment, neither of you moves. Then you both burst out laughing at exactly the same time.
"This is getting ridiculous", you glance up at him, mesmerized by the way the light hits his soft skin from all the right angles. He's so beautiful it's unfair.
"I know", he nods softly, smoothing down the front of his shirt where your hands had wrinkled the fabric earlier.
"Maybe after all the premiere stuff", you start quietly, getting a bit closer to him again as your body is not physically able to stay away from him for long. "After things calm down a little, we can make it official."
Jaafar reaches for your hand again, intertwining his fingers with yours. "I like the sound of that", he admits with a soft expression on his face.
The smile that spreads across your face feels impossible to contain and Jaafar can't help but admire it.
"Can you imagine if somebody had walked in just now?", you murmur. "That would have been so awkward."
A grin pulls at Jaafar's lips. "Maybe."
"Maybe?", you raise an eyebrow.
"At least they wouldn't have to speculate anymore."
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bonus:
youtube comments beneath the interview
headlines after the interview was released















