(Quick FYI before we start. Most of my knowledge of the runaways is based on the show, wiki articles, and what Necessary_Chaos tells me. This story is basically my own take on runaways)

Nico Minoru was afraid, not she'd ever admit that to the others if they were here. The Wiccan girl stood alone on the floor of the room in the house she grew up in. The room had been plaguing her dreams in recent months. Every night it was the same dream. She was back where everything had happened. Where she had killed herself. She didn't have to turn around to know her dead body would be on the bed behind her.

Nico sat slowly on the floor beneath her. She pulled a knife from her pocket and quickly cut her palm. "When blood is shed, let the staff of one emerge" she held her hand before her chest and grabbed the staff as it emerged from between her breasts.

Nico held the staff out before her. "Get me out of here!" She yelled. Less than a second later Nico shot out of her sleeping bag

Nico gasped before coughing violently causing most of the others in the clearing to awaken abruptly. "Nico? You alright?" Molly rubbed her eyes as she sat up.

(There's almost no fan art of Molly based on. The show)

"Yeah I'm fine" Nico whispered as she nodded. "Go back to sleep"

"You sure?" Karolina asked as she also sat up. "If you'd like I could make a killer nightlight" the girl quickly began glowing.

"I'm fine" Nico spoke louder this time. "Go to sleep"

Karolina stopped glowing and she and Molly lay back down.

Nico sighed as she got out of her sleeping bag quietly. She stood up and walked away. The group had been walking through the forest for the past day and they had stopped in a clearing for the night.

Nico walked slowly as she wrapped her arms around herself. She knew she wasn't going to get back to sleep tonight. She had no idea why these memories had come back so long after they happened.

The Morning

(Y/n) (l/n) sat in his psychology class with a smile. It was the last day of the boys time in highschool. Most classes would give this day off but not the psych teacher. (Y/n) didn't mind though, psych was the only class he actually enjoyed even a bit. He rubbed a bruise on his face as he watched the teacher stop writing on the board.

"Alright class" the teacher nodded as he glanced at the clock. "Bye" everyone quickly left the room, it was always a rush to get out of the parking lot before traffic started backing up.

(Y/n) stood a little after everyone else had left the class. He walked over to the window. He nodded at the teacher before jumping out.

(Y/n) quickly fell into a tree before climbing down it. (Y/n) got to the ground and quickly ran to his car. He grimaced at the pain that running caused him due to a healing sprained ankle. He needed to be home as soon as possible.

Once in his car the boy sped the entire way home. His mother wouldn't appreciate him being home late. May as well keep her happy if he could help it.

Once the car was parked (y/n) turned he car off and got out. He locked the car before running to the front door, ignoring the pain, and put his key into the lock. He opened the door and walked inside cautiously. "I'm home" he announced in a voice loud enough that his mother would hear, yet not loud enough to annoy her. He had spent a lot of time perfecting that tone of voice.

The boy waited a moment but was met with silence. He shrugged, it probably would have been more surprising if she actually had acknowledged him. He walked slowly into the kitchen and looked around to confirm she wasn't inside.

(Y/n) walked over to the refrigerator and opened it. It was empty other than a few bottles of various types of alcohol. (Y/n) grimaced at the sight of the stuff and closed the door. "May as well go get some food" he muttered. He grabbed a post it from the counter and a pen. "Going to grab groceries" he spoke as he wrote it. He opened the refrigerator again and stuck the note onto one of the bottles.

Once back outside (y/n) decided to walk to the store. Gas was to expensive to waste on small trips like this.

(Y/n) arrived at the store a little less than half an hour later. He noticed a little girl in a red hat shake a vending machine angrily. "That's one strong kid" he muttered to himself before watching as she kept shaking the machine until some cookies which had only partially fallen down when she had paid for them fell down the rest of the way. She stuck her hand into the machine and pulled the bag out.

"Molly!" A girl in all black with a lip piercing ran up to the little kid. "Not in the open" she glanced at (y/n) as he began walking again and silently entered the store.

(Y/n) grabbed a basket and walked down the isles of the store and picked out what he needed. He was putting a box of crackers in his basket when he noticed the two girls from outside walk into the store. The black dressed girl glanced over at him as her friend ate her cookies.

The older girl began walking towards him and (y/n) held his hands up. "I didn't see anything" he spoke as she stopped in front of him.

"Good" the black haired girl nodded as she crossed her arms. She tapped one of her boots against the floor as she stared at him intimidatingly. "You tell anyone-"

"And you'll kick my ass. I get it" (y/n) nodded as he glanced over at the girl he knew now as Molly. She was happily nibbling on a chocolate chip cookie.

"Looks like someone beat me to it" (y/n) turned back to the girl before him and noticed her looking over his face. "What's with the bruises and cuts?"

"I'm trying them out for a week. If I don't like them I can return them" (y/n) shrugged as he grabbed some bandages from a shelf and put them in his basket. She raised an eyebrow. "What?"

"You expecting a fight or something?" (Y/n) shook his head before walking farther down the isle and grabbing some more bandaids. "Your girl beat you?" (Y/n) shook his head again. "Your guy?" (Y/n) shook his head yet again. "Then who?"

"Who says anyone does?" (Y/n) asked as he crossed his arms.

She shrugged. "You haven't denied it yet" she walked up to him again. "You're not the first person I've met who gets beaten. Although unless you've burnt down your house you're already one step up from the last guy"

"Believe me I've thought about it" (y/n) smiled at the thought. "But no. Haven't done it"

"So your dad then?" (Y/n) shook his head. "Mom" (y/n) nodded. She was about to say something when she was interrupted.

"Nico!" The two turned to see Molly run up to Nico. "Can I-"

"You spent the last of your money on those cookies. That one's on you" Molly sighed and nodded. She then noticed (y/n). "Who's Scarface?" (Y/n) and Nico both laughed at the nickname.

"(Y/n)" the boy replied with a nod. He grabbed one last thing from the shelves before sighing. "I've got to get home. See you around" he turned around and walked away.

"Poor kid" Nico muttered before turning once again to Molly. "Wanna do me a favor?" Molly raised an eyebrow and Nico went on and told her her plan.

Half an hour later (y/n) arrived on his street. He turned around once again and looked around. He had the strange feeling that he was being followed. He didn't see anyone so he turned again and continued walking.

Soon enough the boy opened the door only to quickly close it again when he spotted a bottle flying at him. He opened it again when he heard the bottle break. "Where were you?!"

(Y/n) pointed down to the note in the glass littering the floor. "Like I wrote, I went to the store. We were out of most food" he held up the bags in his hands.

His mother nodded, satisfied with the answer. She turned and left the room. "Fucking prick" (y/n) muttered. He walked to the stairs and quickly ran up them and to his room. He was not expecting to find Nico in there laying on his bed.

"Very noisy down there" she spoke as she smiled at him.

"Yep. You followed me home?" (Y/n) wasn't even surprised or upset.

"Well actually I had Molly follow you and then I teleported to her. Makes her feel special and there's less walking that way for me" Nico spoke casually enough that (y/n) almost believed her. "You always have to dodge flying vodka bottles?"

"Not always" (y/n) replied as he pointed to his bruised face. "Sometimes I let them hit me. You know, to mix things up. Add some variety" he sat down against the door with a sigh, the bags by his side since he had forgotten he'd even been holding them. "Why're you here?"

"Was curious how bad it is" Nico shrugged. "You need to get out of here"

"No thanks" (y/n) shook his head. "I may not know much but I do know this has to be better than being homeless"

Nico smirked. "Don't knock it till you try it" she got off the boys bed and walked over to him. She held out her arm to him. "Come on" (y/n) sighed before taking her gloved hand and she quickly pulled him to his feet. "My friends and I are making our way to New York. I'm sure they'd be happy to have you come with us" she smiled at the boy gently.

"I-" (y/n)s hesitation caused Nico's smile to drop. "I can't. I mean you're cute and all but I don't know you" (y/n) shook his head as he pulled his hand away from the girl and wrapped his arms around themselves. "All I know about you is that you can break into my home"

Nico shook her head determinedly. "You'd rather stay with that abusive alcoholic downstairs?" She stared at the boy and crossed her arms.

"Better the evil you know. You know?" (Y/n) shrugged as he walked over to his bed and sat down.

"You're kidding right?" Nico looked at him like he was an idiot.

"No. I can take a little more pain, but like I said I don't even know you" (y/n) shrugged. "You could just be waiting for a good time to harvest a kidney for all I know"

Nico shook her head. "You don't trust people, I get that, but you have to realize how stupid you're being right? How many more days until she finally hits you the wrong way? Knocks you down and you hit your head a bit to hard against the ground?"

(Y/n) was silent for a moment. "Who cares?"

"I care!" (Y/n) jumped and backed away when she yelled. "Sorry! Sorry" Nico gave him an apologetic look as she slowly moved closer to him. "Look- I had an abusive mother too. I also had a sister and now she's dead, my mother drove her to suicide" Tears fell slowly down Nico's face as she remembered the look on her dead sisters face when she found her. "I can't have another death on my conscience"

"You really do care?" (Y/n) asked quietly causing Nico to nod. "Fine. I'll go with you, just please don't make me regret this"

"You won't" Nico smiled as she slowly sat down on the bed beside (y/n). "Thank you"

Word count: 2107

(You may have noticed I rarely write happy families in my stories. That is because I find those unrealistic and overdone. I roll my eyes every time I read a story on this app with a happy family because it always seems fucking ridiculous to me... I should probably see a therapist instead of ranting here)