Safety Net 》Reuban Finch

Chapter 5

Reuben had finished training for the day and was planning to go visit Jia on set when Mickey asked what his plans were.

After hearing about the visit, Mickey insisted on coming as well, never missing an opportunity to visit a set.

Unfortunately for Reuben, the others had heard as well and couldn't pass up the chance to see Jia in her element. Most of them still couldn't believe that Payback had managed to get someone like Jia Mancini.

(Phoenix could only roll her eyes at their comments, knowing Payback was a catch and anyone would be lucky to have him. She was quickly coming to the conclusion that Jia was the same.)

So Reuben sighed before giving everyone the address he was told to meet her at. (Jia had told security that morning to expect him, but they certainly weren't expecting an entire group.)

"Hi, I'm Reuben Finch. Jia Mancini is expecting me." The security guard nodded as he checked his list. Looking up, he saw the rest of the group coming forward. "This is the rest of my team in the Navy. They wanted to surprise her."

The guard he was talking with turned to his superior in question. The superior needed to check military IDs just to be safe, but once everyone was cleared, he let them through.

"Green room is where you'll be waiting. It's down the hall and to the left. First door on your right is the one you're looking for."

Reuben thanked the man, leading his rag-tag team to the room. What he did not expect was someone there to greet them.

"Well, it's about time you got here."

Benji Reyes was standing in front of a set of tv monitors, waiting for the arrival of his friend.

Reuben smiled, hugging the man with a call to his back. Mickey did the same, although Reuben did scan the room for fire as they did so. (He found none, thank god.)

"Everyone," he gestured to the team. "This is Benji Reyes. He's one of Jia's closest friends and another certified badass."

Benji mockingly bowed for everyone at his introduction. "I'm just here to do my job. The people are the perks." But the mischievous smirk on his face told everyone he was just joking.

"No, but seriously, welcome to our set. This is the green room, not named for the decor. Not sure why it's called that, but basically, this is our waiting or relaxing room. We come here when we aren't needed on set." He points to the monitors behind him, as the crew see what's on them. "It's also where we can monitor what's happening on set, especially to see if our next scene is coming up."

A few people wander closer to the screens, wanting to see some of the action taking place.

Down below, a series of explosions are set off, various people fighting alongside them.

Benji points out where Jia is. "This person right here, on the car roof? That's our girl."

Now able to follow Jia's movements, they watch as the car she's standing on spins, like it's been hit with something, and she tumbles off of it, popping right back up. She then proceeds to stalk around the front of the car, now smoking, before she is tackled from behind. The other stunt man she is fighting freezes just before he 'bashes' her head into the car.

Quickly, Jia moves from the shot, allowing the lead actress to step in so they can splice together the actress and her stunt double in editing.

The scene quickly picks back up, with the actress now 'bloodied up' using makeup and prosthetics. It goes on for a minute or two, the stuntman reaching down to lift her before everyone freezes again.

Jia is quick to retake her place before action is once again called. She is lifted in the air by her fellow stunt man but before he can throw her, Jia manages to wrap her legs around his neck and, with his assistance, flip them so he lands on his back and she's standing above him.

She stays in her crouched position, waiting for the actress to match it before moving behind the camera as the scene finishes.

The minute the director yells, "Cut!"Everyone cheers. The stuntman Jia was fighting is giving her a hug, high giving both her and the actress for their work today.

Benji looks to the aviators, all of whom have stunned looks on their faces. "This was one of the bigger fights, as this ten minute sequence has taken us four days to shoot."

By the time anyone can wrap their heads around just how much went down behind the scenes (and I mean, come on. They're barely scratching the surface.), Jia has made her way to the green room.

"Oh, you're all here. I wasn't expecting everyone." She waved to them all, still in the process of wiping off some of the special effects makeup.

Mickey looked absolutely giddy. "That was awesome, Ji. Loved the flip kick maneuver to take him down."

Benji smirked. "It was her idea to add it in."

Chuckles of disbelief rang through the room. “I'm stealing your girl, Payback," Phoenix called out. "You're gonna see it coming, and there's nothing you can do to stop me.”

Jia felt her face burn slightly, not used to such forwardness towards herself. But it all went away when Reuben quickly wrapped his arms around her waist.

"No can do, Phee. She's mine, has been for years."

They all laugh as Jia presses a kiss to his cheek. But he is quick to notice how much she is resting on him. "Are you done for the day?"

Jia nods, "Yeah. That was the last scene on the slate. Tomorrow will be much easier now that the hellscape sequence is finally shot."

With that statement, she goes to give her goodbyes to Benji as Reuben and Mickey work on getting the aviators to leave as well.

It's ultimately the reminder that they, too, have had a long day and another long one tomorrow that finally get people moving.

But the main question still remained.

Just how did Payback end up with such a badass woman?

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Word count: 1,044

This was so much fun to write. Literally had no clue how I wanted to showcase this chapter but I think I made it work.

Once again, not a professional stuntwoman, this is all made up in my brain. Nothing is factual or correct, just how I imagined it would be.

But we finally got to meet Benji! More to come from him, I promise, so see you next chapter. Bye guys!!!

(Gif by me)