When two worlds collide

Chapter 10

Y/N tossed their duffel bag into the backseat of the beat-up old truck, the metal frame creaking under the weight. The dust from the studio lot still clung to their boots, and the adrenaline from the past few hours hadn't completely worn off. They took a deep breath, glancing over at Wanda as she stood by the truck's passenger door, her fingers absentmindedly playing with the sleeve of her jacket.

"Sure you're ready for this?" Y/N asked, their voice laced with a mix of humor and seriousness. "No turning back once we leave the land of craft services and green screens."

Wanda gave them a sideways look, one corner of her mouth curling up into a half-smile. "I think I'll survive without the catered meals for a while."

Y/N chuckled and climbed into the driver's seat, the worn leather seats squeaking beneath them. "Alright then. Off the grid it is."

They pulled out of the studio parking lot, leaving the chaos and bright lights of Hollywood behind. It was surreal—just a few hours ago, Y/N had been in full stunt mode, coordinating dangerous sequences for the latest Avengers flick, and now... they were on the run. Or at least, hiding out from some twisted version of themselves that wanted to take over their life.

It was mid-afternoon by the time they hit the open road, the city skyline fading in the rearview mirror. Y/N kept the windows rolled down, the warm breeze brushing against their skin as they drove further away from everything familiar. The truck rumbled along the highway, the sound of the engine and the wind their only companions.

Wanda sat quietly for most of the drive, her eyes scanning the horizon as they left the sprawling urban landscape behind. She seemed calmer now, though Y/N could still feel the tension radiating from her.

They drove for hours, the scenery shifting from the tall buildings and busy streets of the city to the quiet rolling hills and open fields of the countryside. By the time they reached their destination, the sun was beginning to set, casting a golden glow over the old cabin they had decided to retreat to. It was tucked away in a secluded spot near the edge of a thick forest—a place that seemed like it had been forgotten by time.

Y/N parked the truck in front of the cabin, stretching as they got out. The air here was different—crisper, cleaner. It was quiet, with only the sound of leaves rustling in the trees and the distant hum of insects filling the space between them.

"This is it," Y/N said, walking around to the back of the truck to grab their bags. "Not exactly five-star accommodations, but it'll do the trick."

Wanda followed, her gaze sweeping over the small cabin and the surrounding forest. "It's perfect," she said quietly, almost as if the peace of the place had already started to settle over her. "No one will find us here."

Y/N slung their bag over their shoulder and started toward the cabin door, but they paused and looked back at Wanda, who had stopped to take in the view. The orange and pink hues of the setting sun reflected off her face, and for a moment, Y/N could see a softness there—an openness that they hadn't seen before.

They set the bags down by the door and walked back over to Wanda. "You okay?"

Wanda nodded, but her expression remained thoughtful. "I've just never had this...quiet. Not in a long time."

Y/N leaned against the truck, crossing their arms over their chest. "Yeah, the world kind of gets loud when you're in the middle of saving it."

Wanda chuckled softly, a rare sound that made Y/N smile. "You could say that."

Y/N hesitated for a moment before asking, "So...what do you do when you're not, you know, saving the world or dealing with cosmic threats? Like, how do you unwind when things are quiet?"

Wanda glanced over at Y/N, surprised by the question. She considered it for a moment, then shrugged. "I used to watch old sitcoms. Growing up, my brother and I... we'd watch them together. It was our way of escaping everything that was happening around us. After everything... I guess I kept doing it. It was like holding onto a piece of him."

Y/N nodded, understanding. "I get that. When things got rough for me as a kid, I'd sneak into the movie theater. Didn't matter what was playing—just sitting there in the dark, watching someone else's story for a while, it felt...safe. Like nothing bad could happen in the middle of an explosion on screen."

Wanda smiled at that. "I always liked the explosions, too."

There was a comfortable silence between them for a moment, the kind that didn't need to be filled with words. The sun was almost fully set now, the last rays of light disappearing behind the trees, casting long shadows over the ground.

Y/N finally pushed off the truck and nodded toward the cabin. "Come on, let's get inside before we lose all the light."

Inside the cabin, everything was simple. A small kitchen, a couple of old chairs, and a couch that looked like it had seen better days. But it was cozy, in a way that felt removed from the chaos they'd left behind. Y/N dropped their bags by the door and flicked on the light, the dim glow filling the room.

"I'll get a fire going," Y/N said, moving toward the small fireplace. "It's going to get cold tonight."

Wanda wandered around the room, her fingers trailing over the worn surfaces. She seemed more at ease here than she had back at the studio, like the weight of the world wasn't pressing down on her shoulders for once.

As Y/N worked on the fire, Wanda sat down on the couch, tucking her legs beneath her. "You said you did stunts because you liked pretending to be the hero," Wanda said, her voice thoughtful. "But... is that really why you do it?"

Y/N glanced up from the fire, surprised by the question. They paused for a moment, then shrugged. "I guess it started that way. But now? I think I do it because I like the adrenaline. The challenge. There's something about pushing yourself to the edge and knowing that you're still standing at the end of it. It's like... proving something to yourself."

Wanda nodded slowly, her eyes distant as she thought about that. "I think I understand that. Pushing yourself, even when you're afraid of what might happen."

Y/N looked over at her, their gaze softening. "What about you? You're always so in control. How do you handle that kind of pressure?"

Wanda looked down at her hands, the faintest glow of her magic lingering on her fingertips. "I don't always. But I've learned to live with it. I think that's the hardest part—knowing that no matter how much power you have, there are some things you can't change."

Y/N finished tending to the fire and walked over to sit beside her on the couch. "Yeah," they said quietly. "I get that, too."

The warmth from the fire filled the small cabin, casting flickering shadows on the walls. Y/N leaned back, letting the comfort of the moment wash over them. Here, in this quiet place, with the crackling fire and Wanda beside them, the weight of the world felt just a little bit lighter.