When two worlds collide

Chapter 2

The set had calmed down after the adrenaline of the earlier stunt, settling into that familiar lull between shots. Y/N had finished a few more takes, each one progressively more intense, but nothing they couldn't handle. They were back to their usual routine—quickly resetting, stretching out sore muscles, and keeping the atmosphere light with dry humor.

The sun had climbed higher in the sky, and the temperature on set had started to rise. But just as Y/N was about to kick back with some water and a joke for the crew, things took a turn.

They were hanging out by the edge of the lot, tucked in between two trailers, scrolling through their phone when they heard a commotion from the production tents. It wasn't the usual kind of commotion—the kind that comes with directors barking orders or a sudden camera failure. No, this had a different energy.

Curiosity piqued, Y/N slipped the phone into their pocket and made their way toward the source of the noise. As they rounded the corner, they caught sight of a huddle of crew members, all looking in the same direction, eyes wide with nervous energy.

"What's going on?" Y/N asked, their voice cutting through the murmurs.

One of the crew members turned toward them, face pale. "Something's up with the pyro rig. It's—uh—kinda glitching. The charges went off early during rehearsal, and now it's acting all—"

BOOM.

The ground shook beneath their feet, and a small but sharp explosion erupted from the set, sending a shower of sparks and debris into the air. The crew scattered like startled birds, and Y/N could feel the heat even from where they stood.

Before anyone could react, another loud crack followed, this one sounding even more intense. One of the scaffolds, weakened by the blast, started to wobble, its structure groaning under the strain.

Y/N's instincts kicked in immediately. Someone was still up there.

Without a second thought, they sprinted toward the chaos, weaving through the fleeing crew. From the corner of their eye, they saw Wanda—who had been giving an interview nearby—freeze in place, her eyes locking onto the collapsing structure with an intensity that Y/N could practically feel.

But there was no time to think about that now. As they reached the base of the scaffold, Y/N could see a grip operator clinging to one of the metal bars, his face a mask of terror. The whole structure teetered dangerously, groaning as it leaned further to one side.

Y/N didn't hesitate. With practiced precision, they scaled the scaffolding, every movement quick but controlled, despite the way it trembled beneath their weight.

"Hold on!" Y/N shouted as they reached the operator. "We're getting you down!"

The man nodded, his knuckles white as he gripped the bar. Y/N hooked an arm around the main support beam, reaching out with their free hand. "Trust me, okay? I've got you."

For a second, the operator hesitated, but then the scaffold gave another lurch, and he didn't have a choice. He reached for Y/N's hand, gripping it tightly. In one swift motion, Y/N pulled him closer, wrapping an arm around his torso before pushing off the scaffold and swinging both of them down onto a lower platform.

As soon as their feet hit solid ground, Y/N hustled him away from the structure, just as the last metal joint gave way and the entire thing collapsed in on itself with a deafening crash.

The two of them stumbled a few feet away from the wreckage, hearts pounding in sync with the fading echoes of destruction. Dust and smoke hung heavy in the air, and for a few moments, everything was eerily still.

The operator looked at Y/N, still shaken but grateful. "Th-Thank you. I don't know how—"

"No sweat," Y/N said, brushing some ash off their jacket. "Just another day at the office."

The crew had started to regather, cautiously making their way back toward the set now that the immediate danger had passed. The director was on the phone with someone higher up, already swearing about the faulty rig, while others scrambled to assess the damage.

And then there was Wanda.

She stood at the edge of the chaos, her eyes locked on Y/N like she was seeing them for the first time. Her brow furrowed slightly, and her expression held a kind of intense curiosity—almost concern—but she didn't move. Not yet.

Y/N took a breath, running a hand through their hair as they turned to make sure the operator was being taken care of. The medics had him now, and with the situation under control, Y/N figured it was time to slip back into the shadows. No need to make a big deal out of it, right?

But as Y/N began to walk away, they heard Wanda's voice behind them.

"Y/N!"

It wasn't a shout—it wasn't even loud—but it cut through the noise like a blade, and for some reason, Y/N couldn't help but turn around.

Wanda was striding toward them now, her gaze unwavering, and for the first time, Y/N felt just a hint of nervousness prickling at the back of their mind. Not that they'd let it show.

"Hey," Y/N said casually as Wanda approached, as if they hadn't just thrown themselves into a collapsing scaffold like it was no big deal. "Saw the explosion? Not bad, right?"

Wanda didn't smile, though there was a flicker of amusement in her eyes. She stopped a few feet away, crossing her arms. "You realize you could have been seriously hurt, right?"

Y/N shrugged, leaning against a nearby railing. "Eh, I've been through worse. Besides, you gotta keep things interesting on set, right?"

She raised an eyebrow, her gaze still intense. "You could've used your powers to get him down safely, you know. You didn't have to do it the hard way."

Y/N chuckled. "What can I say? I'm a bit of a traditionalist."

Wanda's expression softened, though she still looked at them like they were some kind of puzzle she couldn't quite figure out. "I don't get you," she said after a moment. "You keep throwing yourself into danger like it's just another job. Do you ever get scared?"

Y/N's smile faltered for just a second, but then it was back, just as quick. "If I told you yes, it would ruin my mysterious vibe. Can't have that."

Wanda tilted her head, a small smile finally tugging at the corners of her lips. "You're more than just mysterious, Y/N."

Before Y/N could respond, one of the producers called out to Wanda, reminding her of the interview she still had to finish. She glanced back at them, looking slightly torn before she nodded and started to walk away.

But just as she was about to leave, she turned back one more time. "By the way," she said, "I'm not done figuring you out yet."

Y/N raised an eyebrow, amused. "That sounds like a challenge."

Wanda's smile widened slightly. "Maybe it is."

With that, she turned and walked back toward the production tents, leaving Y/N standing there in the aftermath of the explosion, watching her go with a mixture of intrigue and something else—a spark of something new. Something unpredictable.