When two worlds collide

Chapter 6

The set was alive again—crews moving swiftly to check the rigging, replace damaged cables, and reset the scene. But beneath the normal hustle of a film production, there was a palpable unease. Word had already spread about the incident, whispers running through the cast and crew like wildfire.

Y/N sat on a low metal case near the edge of the soundstage, nursing the shallow burn on their arm from the rogue cable. A medic had already bandaged it up, but the dull throb was a reminder of how close things had come to going really bad. Wanda hovered nearby, her expression unreadable as she watched the crew work.

"So," Y/N said, breaking the silence between them, "we stopped the immediate threat. Any clue as to who—or what—was behind it?"

Wanda shook her head slowly. "Not yet. I can trace the magic, but it's faint. Whoever—or whatever—did this was careful to cover their tracks. It's going to take time to figure out."

Y/N sighed, leaning back and letting their head rest against the cold metal. "Great. So, we're just sitting ducks until then?"

Wanda frowned, her gaze turning thoughtful. "Not exactly. I'll reinforce the protections around the set. Whoever is doing this won't be able to pull something like that again so easily."

Y/N glanced at her, brow raised. "You can protect the whole set?"

A small smirk tugged at Wanda's lips. "You'd be surprised what I can do."

Y/N chuckled softly, shaking their head. "I'm starting to get the idea."

But despite the light banter, there was a tension in the air that neither of them could shake. Something was coming—something dangerous—and they both knew it.

The moment of calm was interrupted by the approach of the film's director, a tall man with graying hair and an air of authority. He looked stressed—more so than usual.

"Y/N," the director said as he came to a stop in front of them, his gaze flicking between them and Wanda. "I've got to talk to you."

Y/N straightened up, already sensing where this was going. "Let me guess: I'm being pulled from the stunts."

The director hesitated, his lips pressing into a thin line. "Listen, you've been incredible—everyone knows that. But after what happened today... the studio's concerned. This isn't the first incident, and they're worried it won't be the last."

Y/N could feel the anger bubbling up beneath the surface, but they kept it in check, forcing a smile instead. "So, what? They want me on the bench? You think pulling me out is going to solve anything?"

The director ran a hand through his hair, clearly uncomfortable. "It's not about you. It's about safety. We can't afford any more accidents—especially not ones like this. They've asked for a full investigation. Until we figure out what's happening, you're off the set."

The words hit harder than Y/N expected. They had faced injuries, setbacks, and all kinds of challenges before, but this... this felt like a punch to the gut. Stunt work was their life, their passion. Being pulled from it, even temporarily, felt like losing a part of themselves.

"And what about the rest of the crew?" Y/N asked, their voice sharp. "You really think sidelining me is going to stop whoever's doing this?"

The director grimaced. "I don't know. But I do know that I have to follow orders. I'm sorry."

Y/N clenched their jaw, holding back the urge to snap. This wasn't the director's fault—he was just following the studio's lead. But that didn't make it any easier to swallow.

Wanda stepped forward, her expression calm but resolute. "I'll work with Y/N. We'll figure out who's behind this."

The director looked at her, his expression softening slightly. "I appreciate that, Wanda. But the studio's already sent in their own investigators. I don't know if they'll want you involved."

Wanda's gaze darkened, and Y/N could feel the temperature around them drop a few degrees. "With all due respect, director, they're going to need me if they want any hope of solving this."

There was a beat of silence before the director sighed, nodding slowly. "Fine. But Y/N is still off the stunts for now. If you want to investigate, be my guest—but be careful."

With that, the director turned and walked away, leaving Y/N and Wanda standing alone again.

Y/N exhaled slowly, rubbing a hand over their face. "This is ridiculous," they muttered. "I'm the best damn stunt person they've got, and now I'm sidelined because of some magic I can't even see coming."

Wanda placed a hand on their shoulder, her touch grounding. "It's temporary. You'll be back. But we have to figure this out before anyone else gets hurt."

Y/N nodded, but the frustration still simmered beneath the surface. Being sidelined wasn't just a blow to their pride—it was a reminder of how powerless they felt in the face of this unseen threat. Magic had always been something distant, something they could brush off as part of Wanda's world. But now, it was their world too, whether they liked it or not.

"Alright," Y/N said after a long pause. "If I'm off the stunts, then I'm all in on this investigation. Let's find out who's screwing with us."

Wanda gave them a small, approving smile. "I knew you'd say that."

But before Y/N could respond, one of the crew members approached, looking nervous. "Uh, Y/N? Someone's here to see you."

Y/N frowned, confused. "Who?"

The crew member gestured toward the edge of the lot, where a figure stood waiting—a tall, broad-shouldered man in a dark suit, sunglasses obscuring his eyes. Even from a distance, Y/N could feel the tension radiating off him. Something wasn't right.

"Who the hell is that?" Y/N muttered, glancing at Wanda.

Wanda narrowed her eyes, her expression hardening. "I don't know. But I don't like it."

Y/N stood up, shaking off the lingering frustration and focusing on the present threat. "Let's go find out."

As they approached the man, he straightened up, his posture stiff and formal. When they were close enough, he removed his sunglasses, revealing sharp, calculating eyes that sent a shiver down Y/N's spine.

"Y/N," the man said, his voice cold and clipped. "My name is Agent Carr. I'm with a special division tasked with investigating incidents like the one on your set today."

Y/N crossed their arms, already on the defensive. "And what kind of 'special division' are we talking about?"

Agent Carr smiled, but there was no warmth in it. "Let's just say we handle the things that most people don't like to talk about—magic, supernatural threats, that sort of thing."

Wanda stepped forward, her voice icy. "And why are you here?"

Carr's gaze shifted to her, but he didn't flinch under the weight of her glare. "Because this is more than just a rogue spell or a malfunctioning rig. There's something bigger at play here, and we have reason to believe Y/N is at the center of it."

Y/N blinked, the words hitting like a punch to the gut. "What do you mean, 'I'm at the center of it'? I'm just a stunt double."

Carr's expression didn't change. "Not anymore. Whatever is happening on this set—it's following you. And until we figure out why, you're going to need our protection."

Y/N's stomach dropped. This wasn't just about magic—it was about them. Something—or someone—was targeting them specifically. And the consequences of that were more dangerous than they had ever imagined.

Wanda's magic flared up instinctively, red light crackling around her fingers. "If Y/N's in danger, then I'm not letting you drag them off to some secret facility. We'll handle this our way."

Carr's smile widened slightly, his confidence unwavering. "You don't have a choice. Y/N's coming with us. Now."