When two worlds collide

Chapter 18

The safe house had an eerie calmness to it, like the eye of a storm. Y/N sat on the edge of the old wooden table, idly toying with a small gear from a dismantled piece of tech. Their mind was racing faster than they could handle—thoughts of doppelgängers, collapsing dimensions, and the impossible task that lay before them.

Across the room, Wanda stood by the window, staring out into the darkness. The silence between them was thick, but it wasn't uncomfortable. It was the kind of silence that spoke of shared burdens, of the quiet before they'd both have to push forward again. The kind that said, "we're in this together."

Finally, Y/N broke the silence. "So, you ever think about just... walking away from all this? Forgetting the whole doppelgänger apocalypse thing and disappearing somewhere quiet?"

Wanda glanced over her shoulder, her lips quirking into a small smile. "More times than I can count," she admitted. "But then what? Let the world crumble because I got tired?"

Y/N chuckled softly. "Yeah, doesn't sound like your style."

Wanda turned back to the window, her smile fading as her thoughts shifted. "Sometimes I wonder if we're really making a difference," she said quietly. "No matter how many times we fight, how many battles we win, there's always another threat. Another monster. Another disaster waiting around the corner. It feels endless."

Y/N let the gear slip through their fingers, clattering softly on the table. They looked at Wanda, understanding etched across their face. "I get that," they said. "It's like every time we take one step forward, something pulls us two steps back. And I'm not even a hero—just some stunt double who got tangled up in this mess."

Wanda turned fully to face Y/N, her expression serious. "You're more than that now," she said firmly. "You've stood your ground against things that most people would run from. You're fighting for something bigger than yourself, even when it feels impossible. That's not nothing, Y/N."

Y/N smiled faintly but shook their head. "Doesn't mean it's not terrifying. But you know what? I've realized something." They paused, meeting Wanda's gaze with steady resolve. "I might not be a superhero, but that doesn't mean I'm going to quit. Not when the stakes are this high."

Wanda studied them for a moment before nodding slowly. "That's what I admire about you," she said softly. "You're scared, but you keep going anyway."

"Yeah, well," Y/N said with a self-deprecating smile, "I guess that's just stubbornness at this point."

Wanda's smile returned, but there was a weight to her gaze, a deeper understanding between them now. "It's more than that," she said. "You're dedicated, Y/N. And that's what's going to get us through this."

Y/N stood and walked over to the window, standing next to Wanda. The night was still outside, stars twinkling faintly above them. For a moment, it seemed like the universe had forgotten about the chaos threatening to tear it apart. But they knew better. The doppelgänger was out there, gathering strength, waiting for the right moment to strike again. And when it did, they needed to be ready.

"We've got a long road ahead," Y/N said quietly, more to themselves than to Wanda. "But we're not alone. That counts for something, right?"

Wanda nodded. "It counts for everything."

The next few hours were a blur of preparation. Doctor Strange had sent word through magical channels that he was getting closer to pinpointing the source of the doppelgänger's power. But they couldn't just wait around. They needed to be ready—physically, mentally, and emotionally.

Wanda worked on honing her magic, practicing control and precision. Every flick of her wrist, every conjured spell was sharper, more deliberate. There was no room for mistakes now.

Y/N, on the other hand, took to the makeshift training area in the safe house. They pushed themselves harder than ever, going through the same fight choreography they once used in their stunt work but with more intensity. Punches, kicks, rolls—all executed with a purpose that wasn't just about performance anymore. Every move needed to count. Every strike needed to be precise.

Sweat dripped down their brow, their muscles screaming in protest, but Y/N didn't stop. They couldn't stop. Not when the fate of the world—of multiple worlds—rested on their shoulders. And even though they weren't a superhero, they were determined to rise to the challenge. No matter what.

Wanda watched Y/N from the corner of the room, her eyes filled with a mix of admiration and concern. She knew what it felt like to bear the weight of impossible expectations. She'd carried that burden herself, time and time again. But seeing Y/N, someone who had been thrust into this life without warning, fighting so fiercely—it stirred something in her.

After a while, Wanda crossed the room and stood in front of Y/N, who was in the middle of practicing a particularly complicated move.

"Hey," she said gently, placing a hand on Y/N's shoulder. "You need to rest."

Y/N wiped the sweat from their forehead with the back of their hand, breathing heavily. "Can't rest," they panted. "Not when we're this close."

Wanda shook her head, her voice firm but kind. "Pushing yourself to the breaking point won't help us. We need you strong, not burned out."

Y/N sighed, knowing she was right. They dropped to the ground, sitting cross-legged as they tried to catch their breath. "It's just... hard to slow down, you know? When everything feels so urgent."

Wanda sat down beside them, her own exhaustion evident in the way she leaned back against the wall. "I know," she said softly. "But dedication doesn't mean running yourself into the ground. It means knowing when to fight and when to conserve your strength for the moments that really matter."

Y/N looked at her, their expression thoughtful. "You're right," they admitted. "I just... I can't shake this feeling that if I don't do everything I can, we're going to fail. And failing means losing everything."

Wanda placed a hand on Y/N's knee, her touch gentle but reassuring. "We won't lose everything," she said with quiet determination. "Because we won't stop fighting until we win. That's what dedication is—never giving up, no matter how hard it gets."

Y/N met her gaze, finding strength in her words. "You're not just saying that for my benefit, are you?"

Wanda smiled, though there was a seriousness behind it. "No," she said. "I believe it. We're going to stop this doppelgänger, Y/N. And we're going to do it because we refuse to let anything else happen."

For a moment, the weight of the world seemed lighter. It wasn't gone—far from it—but Y/N felt like they could carry it a little longer. Not because they had to, but because they were ready to. Because, like Wanda, they were dedicated to seeing this through to the end.

"Alright," Y/N said with a grin, standing up and offering Wanda a hand. "Let's go over the plan again. We've got work to do."

Wanda took Y/N's hand and pulled herself up, a renewed sense of purpose in her eyes. "Let's do it," she agreed.