And now for what may be Benny's biggest screw-up yet.

DISCLAIMER: I own Derrick Bolris. This Misfitverse belongs to Red Witch, and so does Benny Barumpbump (I think he does, at least). The characters of G.I. Joe belong to Hasbro, and everything else belongs to Marvel.

Chapter 3: Meeting of the Witches

Nico had just seen her room. Although decorated with ghoulish busts, it seemed to work for her. Molly, however, was another story.

"Okay, for this wall, I'm thinking…video arcade!" Molly said.

"Don't push it, Mol," Nico said. "This isn't our place."

"But it's so freakin' creepy!" Molly retorted. "How does Doc Strange live here without getting monsters under his beds?"

"I don't think he sleeps here, Molly," Nico replied. "Besides, I don't think it's that creepy. And there aren't monsters under the bed."

"Did you check?" Molly asked nervously.

"I checked," Nico smiled, patting Molly's head. "Nothing to be scared of, unless you count Benny."

"Why was he all drooly and stuff?" Molly asked.

"I think it's because he's already become obsessed with me," Nico responded. "Did I ever tell you that one of the boys from the orphanage Captain America sent me to was obsessed with me?"

"No," Molly answered. "Not on the night we met at that James Dean statue for the second time, anyway."

"Come on," Nico said, "I'll tell you how I got him off my back while we check this place out."

Nico and Molly left the room, entering the hallway, and just as they turned the corner they were met with the sight of Wanda Maximoff. All three girls were surprised to see each other, but Wanda recovered first.

"Wait, I think I know you guys," Wanda said. "You're two of the Runaways, right? Nico Minoru and Molly Hayes?"

"Yeah," Nico said, becoming suddenly wary of Wanda.

"Hey, you're Scarlet Witch from the Misfits!" Molly cried. "Awesome! We got to team up in LA!"

"Which was just fine until one of my hexbolts and your friend's light ball caused an explosion," Wanda sighed. "So, uh, how are things with you?"

"Why do you want to know?" Nico asked.

"It's called 'being friendly'," Wanda said. "Uh, by the way…Spyder and Trinity didn't wreck your hideout too badly, did they?"

"Well, there's a big black spot from where they set something on fire," Nico sighed, "and they destroyed Gert's parents' time machine, but other than that our place is fine."

"Good," Wanda sighed. "If Wavedancer wasn't on a trip with Toad and Xi in Japan, she'd kill to know about you guys."

"Why?" Nico asked cautiously.

"Well, uh…how about we talk inside?" Wanda stammered, gesturing to Nico's room.

"Okay!" Molly said.

"I guess it's fine," Nico shrugged, and the three went inside. There, Wanda sat on the bed next to Molly and Nico.

"So, I guess I owe you guys some explanations for why we came to LA in the first place," Wanda said.

"Yeah," Nico glared, reaching into her pocket for the switchblade Chase had given her, "you do."

"Okay," Wanda began. "Around that time, a guy from S.H.I.E.L.D came and brought you guys to our attention."

"S.H.I.E.L.D?" Molly said. "We got Old Lace back from them when we ran away from the foster homes!"

"Yeah, they weren't too happy about that," Wanda smirked. "The guy—Nick Fury—gave us a mission to bring you guys in and—"

"Knew it," Nico said, preparing to prick herself with the switchblade.

"Wait!" Wanda said. "I really don't want to fight you. I actually kind of identify with you."

"How?" Molly asked.

"My dad's Magneto," Wanda explained simply.

"Wow," Nico said, honestly surprised. "And I thought we had messed-up parents."

"The only one out of all of us who actually wanted to capture you guys was Wavedancer," Wanda explained. "The rest of us wanted to recruit you or at least get to know you."

"Wait, we've only got one mutant, two if you count De—our new guy," Nico said, barely keeping herself from speaking Derrick's name. "What would a bunch of army mutants want with three humans--one a sorceress--a dinosaur, and an alien?"

"Hey, we've got Arcade, and he's human," Wanda shrugged. "Plus Xi doesn't have an X-gene, since he's a Cobra-created mutant."

"Wait," Molly interjected, "if you were after us, why didn't you come after Trinity and Spyder left?"

"Because they deleted the location of your hideout from their teleportation watches," Wanda explained. "That would have let them go back any time they wanted."

She smirked slightly.

"You should have seen Wavedancer after she heard about that," Wanda said. "She was practically pulling her hair out!"

"What about you?" Molly asked.

"Well, I was a little disappointed," Wanda admitted. "But, some time later, I figured it out. Trinity and Spyder are smarter than their craziness would make you think. They wanted to protect you guys, and even though I've never outright said it, I agreed with them."

"You're not just saying that so we think you're cool, are you?" Nico asked.

"Nope," Wanda shook her head. "Honestly, you guys have reason to not trust me yet, especially after what happened with your parents. Besides, we actually figured out that what Cap did to you was probably the stupidest thing he could ever have done, contrary to his belief."

"So...are we all friends now?" Molly asked.

Nico paused for a moment. And then she smiled.

"Guess so," she said.

"Thanks," smiled Wanda. "So, who's your new guy?"

"Someone who doesn't really like the Misfits, X-Men, and Magneto very much," Nico said.

"What, don't want to tell me?" Wanda asked.

"He made us swear to not let you know about him so that you couldn't try and recruit him or me," Molly explained.

"Sheesh, he must be paranoid," Wanda groaned.

"Living in New York does that to a mutant, I guess," Nico shrugged.

"Nico, I won't tell a soul in the Misfits," Wanda swore. "Honestly, if he's so set against being recruited, then we won't do it. At least, I can try to convince the other Misfits not to."

"Okay, fine," Nico sighed. "His name's—"

Before Nico could mention Derrick's name, Benny Barumpbump burst into the room.

"NICO!" yelled Benny. "I'm here to win your heart through song!"

All three girls stared for a moment as Benny began to sing, making a complete fool of himself via the nonsensical lyrics of his song.

"Will you go out with me?" Benny sang. "I'll buy you pink hearts and candy! Will you go out with me? We'll just be fine and dandy!"

"Allow me," Wanda said, her hand becoming surrounded with a blue aura. A blue bolt of energy launched from her hand, striking Benny in the stomach and sending him out of the room.

"Thanks," Nico said. "As I was saying…our new guy's named Derrick Bolris."

"Derrick Bolris?!" Wanda repeated. "That electric guy who fried Wavedancer in New York?"

"Bingo," Nico said.

"So…mind if I ask about him?" Wanda asked.

"Fine," Nico sighed. "He's probably going to electrify my staff or something for telling you about him, anyway."

"A little sensitive, isn't he?" Wanda said. "Anyway, why does he hate G.I. Joe so much?"

"His parents were military scientists," Nico explained. "And three years ago, when they found out their son was a mutant, they experimented on him."

"Seriously?!" Wanda cried. "Geez, even Magneto didn't do that to me or Quicksilver! He just locked me in a mental institute!"

At that moment, a ghost-like version of Doctor Strange appeared through the floor.

"The remaining guests have arrived," explained the astral projection of Strange. "Please come to the foyer."

"Guess that's our cue," Nico said upon the departure of the astral projection. "Let's go."

****

Doctor Strange, with Benny by his side (the latter still drooling over Nico), surveyed the cast of magic users before him. Nico and Wanda were up front, with Molly by Nico's side.

"Welcome, sorcerers and sorceresses, magic users all," Doctor Strange greeted. "I am Doctor Stephen Strange, the Sorcerer Supreme."

Benny was still drooling and staring at Nico, much to the girl's displeasure.

"And the boy with little control over his saliva is my apprentice, Benny Barumpbump," Doctor Strange groaned. "We are here today to learn both of each other and from each other. So take as much time as you need to learn about your fellow magic users."

After this, the room became abuzz with speech. Benny immediately rushed to Nico.

"I'll impress you this time, I swear!" Benny vowed. "Watch!"

He cast out his hand, magic flowing from it and into the air. The magic swirled around and became a dark blue, forming a dark blue disk. Doctor Strange noticed, and his eyes went wide.

"Benny, NO!" Doctor Strange cried, but it was too late.

The disk grew larger and larger, and after growing to roughly the size of a person, smoke erupted from it. And then, the disk seemed to explode. In its place stood a being dressed in a dominantly red and purple cloak, but his most noticeable feature was his flaming head.

"At last!" roared the being. "I, the Dread Dormammu, am free to conquer this planet!"

"Yeah, I'm real impressed," Nico said sarcastically, glaring hard at Benny.