After Alex informed Nico that the building site was no longer under surveillance, you and your friends entered."Hey, you guys," Nico called out, earning you and the other's attention. "We don't all need to go."
As he walked up to Nico and Gert, Chase nodded. "Yeah. You're right." Chase turned to look at Gert and she gave him a look of shock. "If we get stuck, you can't defend yourself," Chase explained.
Gert faced Nico. "You told me not to bring Old Lace."
"Because she's not the most predictable creature, and we've all got our hands full already," Nico replied.
"You need to look out," Chase stated. "To text us as soon as someone shows up."
"So you want me to stay out here alone and defenseless, knowing that a hundred armed guards, Jonah, and possibly our homicidal parents could show up at just any minute?" Gert questioned, drawing a few concerned looks from the group. Gert gave a proud smirk. "Yeah, I got this."
Chase cracked a smile while Nico nudged you. "You can come with Gert too. Protect each other while we go to the hole."
You nodded and walked out of the dig site with Gert. You and Gert scoured the area until you found a building from which you and Gert could keep an eye out for Jonah and PRIDE. You used your powers to lift yourself and Gert up causing her to grab your arm. "Oh, geez." Gert gasped as she lowered her head.
You and Gert landed safely on the roof and looked out over the building site, where Nico, Karolina, Molly, and Chase could be seen. "Good luck, guys..." You whispered.
"You fly with such ease." Gert beamed, causing you to turn to her and smile. "Karolina's a great teacher." You looked down at the road to see whether there were any vehicles approaching the construction site.
"Hey, since we're probably going to be in here for a while..." Gert spoke up. "I don't want to pry, but... how's things between you and Alex?"
You blinked twice in confusion as you turned to face Gert. "Sorry, what?"
"The way you two look at each other? Come on, you two look like you're married even if you both are not in the boyfriend-girlfriend stage yet."
You scoffed a little and shook your head in denial as you looked away. "Why are so many people asking the same question? Um, no. Alex and I aren't a thing. I'm just a friend to him."
"And what is he to you?" Gert asked as she tilted her head in wonder.
As the breeze caressed your skin and hair, you wondered for a moment. You were completely unaware that the sun had set and that the moon had appeared in the sky. You smiled as you looked at Gert. "I guess he's more than a friend to me."
You and Gert suddenly flinched after hearing distant ethereal shrieking sounds from the hole in the construction site. "What the hell was that?" You asked in shock as you and Gert looked at where Nico, Molly, Karolina, and Chase were.
When Gert saw Jonah's vehicle approaching the construction site, her eyes widened. "Shit!" She instantly opened her burner phone and texted everyone to let them know Jonah had arrived. As soon as Gert sent the text and Jonah parked the car, you suddenly heard a voice in your head. "Karolina." In your heads, you and your friends heard Jonah's voice. "Get out of there now."
You groaned in annoyance as you rolled your eyes. "One voice in my head is enough, Jonah." You muttered angrily, making sure Gert wouldn't hear what you said.
"This is dangerous." Jonah continued. "You have no idea what you're dealing with."
You grabbed Gert's arm when you spotted PRIDE arriving at the construction site as well. "Shit, shit." You whispered as you and Gert glanced at each other. "What do we do?"
As you and Gert stood there watching your parents converse with Jonah, you suddenly felt the ground begin to shake. "Oh, God, not again." You inhaled deeply as you clung to Gert. While looking around, Gert held you in her arms. "We gotta get out of here."
You narrowed your eyes when you saw people coming out of the hole. Karolina, Chase, and Molly were the ones who had shown up. When you discovered Nico wasn't with them, your stomach churned and your heart dropped. "No, no, no." You shifted your eyes to Gert. "I'm gonna go get Nico."
"(Y/n)!" Gert attempted to stop you, but you jumped down the building and used your powers to lift yourself up. Just as Karolina, Chase, and Molly landed on the ground, they saw you arriving at the scene. Tina and Robert, along with the adults present, witnessed you land with one knee on the ground and a troubled expression on your face. Geoffrey, who was hiding with Alex nearby, faced his son in surprise. "Your girlfriend's a poser."
Alex clenched his jaw when he saw you walking towards Karolina. "We need to go out there." He expressed his concern for you and his friends in his statement.
Geoffrey shook his head. "No, son. I'm keeping you here. Safe."
"Karolina!" You called out, running past PRIDE and ignoring Tina and Robert, to approach Karolina. You and Karolina held each other. "Where's Nico? Where's my sister?"
"Karolina." With a smile, Jonah sighed.
Leslie smiled as well. "You're safe." She said.
"Molly." Molly was approached by Dale and Stacey. "We're so glad you're okay."
Molly took a step back in response. "Not another step." She warned.
"Dad." Chase was shocked by the fact that his father was still alive and well. Victor smiled as he headed toward Chase. "I got your message..." Victor breathed. "...from the future."
Chase stared at him in confusion. "What?"
"I know you haven't said it yet, but you will, and it's so moving."
Chase blinked in more confusion. "Not the weirdest thing I've heard today." He said until his father brought him into a hug. Victor began to whisper. "I'm gonna need you. Wait for my signal."
"(Y/n)." You and Karolina were approached by Tina and Robert. You took a step back after snapping your head at your adoptive parents. "You're okay." When Robert saw you were unharmed, he breathed a sigh of relief.
"Where's Nico?" Tina asked you and Karolina.
"I've got to go back for her," Karolina replied, her gaze falling on you. She moved away from you and was ready to return to the hole when Jonah stepped in front of her. "Not a chance."
You tilted your head at Jonah, narrowing your eyes and clenching your fists in anger. Jonah was instantly confronted by Leslie. "We can't just leave her down there." She stated.
"I'll kill you right here, Jonah." Robert threatened as he and Tina stood beside you. Jonah warned Robert by pointing his finger toward him. "You stay right where you are. You know what I can do."
Your eyes glowed brightly as your fists clenched, generating two spheres of psionic energy surrounding them. "And you don't know what I can do." Your Sokovian accent returned slightly as a result of your rage, forcing Jonah to gaze at you. Tina grabbed your shoulder and pulled you back. "(Y/n), you won't be able to handle him. You'll only get yourself hurt."
"If that's what it takes to save Nico from that hole, then so be it." A wind howled behind Jonah and Leslie just as you were about to fire a shot at him. When the wind in the hole became stronger, you all took a step back. You tried to peek at what was going on while shielding your eyes. Your eyes widened when Nico emerged out from the wind and successfully exited out of the hole. You exhaled a sigh of relief, Karolina smiled, and Tina wore a pleased expression on her face.
Nico landed safely on the ground with the Staff of One and you quickly ran to her side. "Nico!" You cried out and rushed over to hug her. Nico returned your hug with a gentle peck on the side of your head.
Alex smiled from his hiding spot. "Wicked Witch of the West was always my favorite. I guess the Minoru sisters are witches and posers." He gave Geoffrey a quick glance before sprinting away, causing his father to pursue him.
You and Nico ran towards Karolina as Nico hugged her girlfriend. Karolina kissed Nico on the forehead. Gert arrived at the scene after seeing Nico was safe, ignoring her parents who she had just passed by. "Gert!" Dale gasped. "Sweetie!" Stacey cried out.
Alex passed by his mother, causing Catherine to gasp. "Alex!"
Alex ignored his own mother and picked you up as he hugged you, which brought you and the others into a complete surprise. You were reluctant due to your confusion, but you hugged him back. Catherine tore her eyes away from her son when she spotted Geoffrey, who she had been searching for days. "I-I was worried sick!" She exclaimed at Geoffrey before hugging her husband.
You pulled away from Alex as you stared at him. "What was that all about?" You whispered.
"Just felt like I needed to do that." Alex sighed and leaned his forehead against yours, a small chuckle escaping from his lips. "And it was worth it."
"It's a lovely moment," Jonah stated to Leslie. "Isn't it?" He turned to face PRIDE and the Runaways. "Families reuniting. That's what it's all about."
Jonah turned to face his daughter, who was still standing alongside Nico. "Karolina, all of the preparation, everything I've done, is so that you and I... can have a future together." He held his hand out to Karolina. "Come with me."
You looked at Karolina, who seemed surprised and furrowed her brows. "What?" She asked Jonah. "You want me to go with you?"
"The entire universe... is yours."
"Why did you wait until now to tell me this?"
"Because I didn't know it was gonna work. But now it has, and... we can be a family."
"She has a family," Leslie made a remark, prompting Jonah to turn around and stare at her. "Who won't allow her to be what she is. I'm the only one who understands her. She belongs with me!"
Leslie shook her head along with Karolina. "I may not know who I am or where I belong, but I'm gonna find out here," Karolina stated as she looked at Nico lovingly. "With the people I love."
The two females shared a smile, and Karolina looked back at Jonah. "I'm not going anywhere with you."
Everyone clung to one other as the ground began to quake violently. "Earthquake!" Dale let out a shriek as he and his wife clutched each other. As you froze in terror, you gripped Alex's hands. "Jonah, you said there wouldn't be any quakes!" Janet yelled.
Jonah shrugged a little bit. "Yeah, I may have lied about that one." Jonah returned his gaze to his daughter as everyone exchanged glances. "Get on the ship... and you will live. You stay here with your... friends, and you will die. The choice is yours."
-•-°-•-°-☆
Shit's about to go doooown