This chapter's a lot longer than the last one. Might be the longest one so far.
DISCLAIMER: I own Derrick Bolris and Ri'ann Parrn. The Misfitverse this story takes place in belongs to Red Witch, the characters of G.I. Joe belong to Hasbro, and everything else belongs to Marvel.
Chapter 18: Runaways VS Avengers
"Come on, Vic!" Jorge said to his friend as they watched their school's football team play. "What's a few metal detectors?"
"Don't know," Victor shrugged. "My mom just wants to move."
"Dude, you just got here!" Jorge cried. "Who am I gonna room with when we go to college?"
"Jorge, I don't think you get to choose your roommate at college," Victor said. "Besides, I…whoa."
"What?" Jorge said, his gaze following Victor's into the sky. "Holy crap!"
The Leapfrog crashed down onto the playing field, scattering the football players, Jorge and Victor glued to their seats. The Runaways piled out of the Leapfrog, and any remaining students fled.
"Nice reception," Gert said.
"Okay, so, which one is Victor Mancha?" Nico asked.
"Uh, that's me," Victor said, raising his hand. "What do you need?"
"You wouldn't believe us if we told you," Derrick said, "unless of course you buy into stories like 'future-version-of-our-friend-comes-and-tells-us-you'll-turn-evil-and-kill-all-the-heroes-on-the-planet'."
"What?!" Victor cried. "Are you serious?"
"Hey, Vic's not gonna turn evil or any crap like that!" Jorge said. "At least I don't think he will."
"Hang on, who are you guys?" Victor asked.
"You familiar with the term 'the Pride's kids'?" Chase asked.
"Wait, you're the Pride's kids?" Victor asked.
"Even though two of us have no connection to the Pride whatsoever," Derrick said, rolling his eyes.
"Even so," a voice said from the sidelines, "we need you all to step away from the student."
Most of the Runaways tensed: they knew that voice. Derrick and Xavin, however, were somewhat clueless. And then they turned.
There, standing firmly a short distance away from them, were Captain America, the Vision, Iron Man, Hawkeye, She-Hulk, and Morbius.
"Captain America," Nico said, narrowing her eyes.
"Got a lot of guts, huh, Cap?" Chase snarled. "Doesn't look like they match your brains!"
"What are you talking about?" Captain America asked.
"Are you kidding?!" Derrick cried. "You're standing next to Morbius, of all people!"
"Believe me, I wish myself to be here no more than you do," Morbius sighed.
"Ms. Minoru," Captain America said, "I don't want to believe that S.H.I.E.L.D.'s director is right about you, and that you're only trying to take over Los Angeles the same way your parents did. Please, prove me wrong by stepping away from Mr. Mancha."
"Can't," Nico replied, pricking herself once again. "When blood is shed, let the Staff of One emerge!"
Captain America whispered something to the Vision, who phased through the ground in response, before turning to the Runaways again.
"Don't do this," he said sternly. "You're too young to throw your lives away fighting supervillains."
"Correct me if I'm wrong," Xavin growled, "but are Multiple of the X-Men and Trinity of the Misfits not younger than most of us are?"
"You don't seem to have a problem with them running around and saving the day, Captain Hypocrite," Derrick spat. "Some hero you are."
"Jerk," Molly added.
"Kids have a point, Cap," Hawkeye chuckled.
"Why won't you listen?" Captain America said, ignoring Hawkeye's comment. "I'm only trying to do what's best for you."
"THE HELL YOU ARE!" Chase roared, losing his temper and firing a stream of fire straight at Captain America, who deflected it using his shield.
"Are you crazy?!" Victor cried. "That's Captain America!"
"Have you been paying any attention in the past five minutes?" Gert asked him. "Captain America put us in a ring of hell that makes the Technarchy's invasion of Bayville look like Disneyland."
"What?" Victor asked.
"Foster care," Gert replied.
"Your foster homes can't have been that bad, Ms. Yorkes," Captain America said.
"Drop the 'Ms. Yorkes', old timer," Gert said as Old Lace growled. "I'm no senior citizen, and not one of us is as helpless as you think we are."
Unknown to the Runaways, the Vision phased through the bleachers where Jorge and Victor were sitting, and grabbed onto him, attempting to take him to safety. This plan was cut short, however, when electricity began erupting from all sides of Victor's body the second Vision touched him. Both Victor and Vision began emitting a high-pitched squeal as both teams attempted to block the electrical onslaught.
"What's going on?!" Captain America cried as he deflected the bolts with his shield.
"How should we know?!" Derrick shouted as he absorbed the bolts directed at the Runaways. "Vision's your robot!"
"Morbius, separate Vision and Victor!" Captain America ordered.
"Very well," Morbius sighed, flying towards the electrified pair and pulling the Vision away from Victor. "Vision, what on Earth happened?"
"I…I do not know," Vision stuttered.
"Holy crap, again!" Jorge cried. "Did you see that, Vic?!"
Victor gave no response. He only stared at his hands.
"Wh-what am I?" he asked.
"Told you so!" Molly chanted.
"Y-you guys…might be right," Victor said. "If I…have powers like this…maybe I will grow up to be evil."
"Don't think like that, son," Captain America told him before turning back to the Runaways. "You kids need to stop this. Please, just come quietly and—"
"Never," growled Xavin. "I will not let you imprison them as you did before."
"You're that Skrull the Fantastic Four mentioned, aren't you?" Captain America asked. "Why are you helping them?"
"Karolina is my betrothed," Xavin explained. "I stay by her side no matter what happens or what foolish enemy she comes across."
"What?" Captain America cried. "She's too young to be married!"
"Not on the Skrull world," Derrick said, electricity sparkling through his hands. "Now go away."
"Well…I'm sorry, but you've given us no choice," Captain America said. "AVENGERS ASSEMBLE!"
The Avengers suddenly scattered, charging at the Runaways.
"About time," Chase smirked, Fistigons blazing.
Derrick fired bolts of electricity at Iron Man, who simply dodged them by flying through the air. The armored Avenger fired a laser from his palm at Derrick, who avoided the attack by an unusual method. Derrick shoved his own palms to the ground and fired lightning from each one, launching himself up and into Iron Man.
"This might hurt," Derrick said, discharging electricity into Iron Man. The attack overloaded Iron Man's armor, causing the two to fall to the earth in a heap.
"Why are you…helping them?" Iron Man asked weakly. "You helped me and Giant Man take down Ultron some months ago."
"Maybe, but that's only because I was there," Derrick said. "And here's a little bit of reality for you: I don't listen to hypocrites like your wing-headed boss. End of story."
At another part of the field, She-Hulk and Molly stared each other down.
"You're the strongest of the Pride's kids?" she asked, as if the concept were entirely ridiculous. "Were the guys who wrote the files on you drunk or something?"
"Nope," Molly said, swinging her fist into She-Hulk's stomach.
Nearby, Karolina, Xavin, Gert, and Old Lace were faced with Morbius the living vampire.
"I remember you," Morbius said, looking at Karolina. "You are that girl whose very skin burns with sunlight."
"And you're a fake vampire," Gert said.
"I am a living vampire! Living!" Morbius cried. "What is your problem?!"
"Try the fact that Captain Inconsiderate thought it was a good idea to put us in separate foster homes," Gert said, "even though we 'Pride kids' can only rely on each other."
Karolina then promptly blasted Morbius with a beam of sunlight, and the screaming She-Hulk being flung into him (courtesy of Molly)added insult to injury. Not all the Avengers, however, were focused on taking down the Runaways.
"Ooh, nice throw," Hawkeye commented, sitting next to Victor as he watched the fight.
"Uh, sir, aren't you supposed to be helping your teammates?" Victor asked.
"Don't call me 'sir', kid," Hawkeye said. "As for your question, Cap and I have a lot of differences. Our views on the Runaways are just one of those differences."
"Back off, Mrs. Roboto!" Chase cried, attempting to hit Vision with his Fistigons.
Vision, contrary to the other fighters, made no response. Instead, she simply phased through Chase, becoming tangible long enough to kick him in the head. Vision, however, did not notice Derrick grabbing onto her foot until he began to drain power from her, which is when she became intangible again and phased out of his grip.
While the male Runaways were dealing with the Vision, Nico and Captain America faced off.
"You were safe in Father Flanagan's, Ms. Minoru," Captain America said. "Why did you run away?"
"Got a few hours?" Nico said before pointing her staff at the Captain. "Oh, and by the way…stop hitting yourself!"
"What?" Captain America said before he found his arm—and attached shield—repeatedly slamming into his face. "Ow! What's happening? Ah! Make it stop! Ouch! Hawkeye, I could use some help here!"
"Guys, grab Victor and let's go!" Nico cried.
"I cannot let you—" Vision began.
"Shut up," Derrick said, blasting Vision with a lightning bolt.
"Look, I'm all for knowing what the heck's going on," Victor said, "but why should I go with you?"
"You'd rather take your chances with them?" Derrick said, jabbing one thumb to the Avengers.
Victor looked, and saw a partially-burnt Morbius, an unconscious She-Hulk, a groaning Iron Man, a damaged Vision, and Hawkeye trying to get Nico's spell on Captain America to wear off.
"Know what?" Victor said. "You've got a point."
"Ow, my aching head," Captain America groaned as Hawkeye pulled on his arm, attempting to keep it from hitting him again. He then saw the Runaways leading Victor into the Leapfrog. "Wait!"
"What?" Hawkeye said, accidentally letting go of the arm and allowing it to deliver a knockout blow to Captain America. "Oops."