DISCLAIMER: I own Derrick Bolris and the Skrull who has issues with Xavin (seen at the end of the previous chapter). The Misfitverse this takes place in belongs to Red Witch, the characters of G.I. Joe belong to Hasbro, and everything else belongs to Marvel.

Chapter 14: Alex Wilder 101

One week passed after the Runaways' battle with Noh-Varr. The Kree super-soldier had disappeared, presumably hunting the mysterious Illuminati. As long as he never strayed into Los Angeles, the Runaways didn't care where Noh-Varr went.

At present, the team was returning to the Hostel after yet another fight against yet another supervillain. This time, a woman in a white-and-yellow costume calling herself Moonstone attacked Los Angeles. Although Karolina and Moonstone attempted to outmatch each other's energy beams, Nico and Xavin quickly ended the fight with their own abilities.

The Leapfrog once again landed in the Hostel, and the Runaways piled out. Most of the team went to do various tasks, but Derrick approached Nico.

"Hey, Nico?" he asked.

"Yeah?" Nico said.

"Look, uh," Derrick said, nervous for the first time in recent memory, "you think sometime we could…I don't know…go for a movie or something?"

Nico stared for a moment before looking away.

"I…I don't know, Derrick," Nico said. "I'd like to, I really would, but…after the last guy—you know, the one who betrayed us so he could cause the end of the world—I just…I don't know."

"Oh, okay, that's…that's okay," stuttered Derrick.

Nico blinked solemnly for a moment before she turned to him again.

"When you met X-23 back in New York," she said, "didn't she say you might feel better about something if you talk about it?"

"Yeah, she did," Derrick nodded.

"M-maybe I can try," Nico said.

"Nico, you don't have to—" Derrick said.

"No, I want to," Nico interrupted. "Come on, I owe you some explanations."

Nico led Derrick to a room with only one notable feature, namely a wall covered in photos. One photo had the Runaways on it, along with a dark-skinned boy with glasses and a rather untidy afro.

"This was taken about a year before we ran away," Nico said, gesturing to the photo.

"Really?" Derrick said, tilting his head to the side. "That girl with the glasses next to Gert is you?"

"Yeah, I wear contacts now," Nico said. "Anyway, see this guy in the middle? The one with the afro?"

"Yeah, what about him?" Derrick said.

"His name is Alex Wilder," Nico said. "He's the first boy I ever kissed, and also the one who betrayed us."

"Ouch," Derrick winced.

"Alex was called a prodigy by some people," Nico said. "He was a real genius when it came to stuff like strategy and tactics…maybe too much of a genius."

"How so?" Derrick asked.

"That year before we ran away," Nico began, "Alex discovered what the Pride really did at their annual gathering. Most of us thought it was a fundraiser or something. Turns out it was really Alex's parents stabbing a little girl and my own parents stealing her soul and sticking it in a jar."

"That's just sick," Derrick spat.

"Tell me about it," Nico nodded. "Alex saw that a year before the rest of us did. But he didn't tell us…somehow he thought his parents were heroes."

"Did he get dropped on his head as a baby?!" Derrick cried.

"That's what Chase thought," Nico said. "Alex manipulated all of us. He brought us to where he saw our parents kill that girl, and we all saw them kill another one. He led us to Gert's basement, where we found Old Lace. He knew that Karolina and her parents were aliens, and made it seem like he came up with the concept on the fly. He led us to Chase's parents' workshop, where we picked up Chase's first Fistigons."

"First ones?" Derrick asked.

"Yeah, they got destroyed," Nico explained. "The ones he's wearing now are spares. Anyway, Alex finally brought us to the Vivarium."

"I know I'm asking a lot of questions, but what's a Vivarium?" Derrick asked.

"It's where our parents offered up the souls they took to these big guys called the Gibborim," Nico explained. "Alex brought us there, and then he finally told us the whole story...after everyone but me was knocked unconscious. He offered me to be one of the six who survive after the Gibborim wiped out everyone else on the planet, along with himself, his parents, and my parents."

"Obviously you refused, seeing as everyone's still here," Derrick said.

"Actually, I punched him in the jaw," Nico said. "But, yeah, it was meant to be taken as a 'no'."

She sighed.

"I loved him," Nico said sadly. "I loved him then, and even after all he did, I…I think I still do."

"GET AWAY FROM ME, YOU FREAK!" Molly roared from outside.

"Chase must have tried cheating at a board game," Nico shook her head.

"Before we go…you feel any better?" Derrick asked.

"A little," Nico smiled. "Thanks."

The two went outside, but what they found was not Chase cheating at a board game. What they found was a large pillar of stone with a large hole at the bottom. While Xavin merely glared, Gert, Karolina, and Chase were staring down a foe that they had seen before. Their foe was a brown-haired teenager who was holding Molly down with his foot.

Lance Alvers, also known as Avalanche from the Misfits.

"What's up?" Lance said.