Chapter 7 - Ch. 7 The Flame Alchemist

Marcoh stared at her sadly when she told him the name of the man who did this to her. "I'm so sorry, Nova… I knew him… he fell into darkness in Ishval…" he spoke quietly and offered her the glass of water. "I know nothing I can say will mean much, and I can't understand what you went through, but I can only image what he forced on you, and I'm so sorry." He saw a girl filled with so much kindness and potential, only to be beaten down again and again. Nova pressed her lips together as he spoke, honestly feeling her heart breaking for this man. "He.." She murmured, balling the sheet in her hand.

"There's nothing he did that measures up to what you've been through.." She murmured, shaking some. "Mark Ross is my father.. The child, Lillian Ross who suddenly went missing-" She murmured softly. "was me." Marcoh smiled softly at the girl, her spirit was strong as well. When she mentioned her name, his eyes went wide. "He talked about you a lot… but never that you were missing, he told us you had died, but often acted as if you weren't…" he told her softly. "You are a strong girl, Nova. Be proud of your strength, even if it came at a price. I can tell you're a bright girl. But you shouldn't have been treated as you have been by a man like him." He motioned for the water. "Its just water, have something to drink, I don't know how long its been since you've placed something in your body."

Nova glanced at him and offered him a light smirk. She nodded lightly and carefully picked up the glass of water and drank slowly from it. She wanted to see Edward, and Al. "Hey, doc.. What happened to me? Why, aren't we in Xenotime?" She asked wearily. "From what your friends told me, you separated from them and was in a chamber filled with the toxic gasses of that Red water that was being experimented with… from what little they've told me and from what I gathered when I inspected you, you were part way through the veil…" he explained with a soft smile. "Would you like your friends? They're staying in the next room. They'll be happy to see you so well."

Nova lowered her eyes, figuring what he meant. She would've died of not for this man.. She nodded and looked up at him with a small smile. "Thank you, for saving my life." She said. "And, I'd like to see them, yea." She smirked some. Marcoh chuckled at her, glad to see her so lively. "Thank them and Belsio." He stold from the chair, patting his pants down before going to the door and opening it up. "Come on in, your friend is awake." Ed had dozed since they left Nova with the doctor. Hearing the doctors voice, his eyes snapped open and he scrambled, along with Al to get up, watching as the doctor wisely moved back as they entered. "You're awake!" Ed stared at her, much like he had the first time she came back to them.

"We were so worried about you!" Al chimed in, the brothers unaware of the doctor's soft smile.
Nova smiled softly at the boys. "I'm sorry to have worried you so much.." She said quietly, then got out of the bed and hugged Edward tightly. Edward sighed as he held Nova tightly to him. "Never do anything like that again." He scolded but it was half assed. "We saw you change…" he whispered into her ear. "Are you okay?" he asked in concern. Al wrapped his arms around both of them, holding them close, feeling beyond relief that everyone was safe. Nova shook her head lightly. "No promises.." She murmured quietly, blinking when he spoke about her changing.

Her eyes widen in panic and she pulled back from the boys. "D- did I hurt anyone?" She asked wearily. "You growled at me at first, but after finding my scent, you were fine. Don't worry, you didn't hurt anyone, maybe nipped at the fatty's ankles, but that's only because he was trying to run." Edward assured her, pulling her back into a hug, giving her a squeeze of reassurance. "Everything is fine. You're fine." Nova sighed quietly and returned the hug, nuzzling into his shoulder. "You weren't supposed to find out about it like that.." She murmured. "I talked to Al a little, when you were talking with Belsio, but.. I wanted to tell you too, before it happened." "It's fine, it was a surprise, but I knew if was still you. I never doubted that for a second." Ed told her softly. "I will always know it's you, no matter what form you take." He promised her and pulled back slightly with a smile.

"How are you feeling?" he asked in concern. Nova smirked some, happy to hear his words. She glanced at Marcoh with a small smile, then looked back at Ed. "Better, all thanks to you two, and Dr. Marrow." She said. "I want to go home, Edward." She murmured quietly, knowing the boys would have to report back to the colonel. Before the kids left, Marcoh gave a note to Nova to look at later. If anyone could help him get rid of his aweful research, he trusted it would be her. She had suffered so much..

The trip back to Central was quick for the kids and when they finally got back, Ed stretched his arms out with a sigh. "Want us to meet you at the park?" he asked curiously, looking over at her. They didn't know if the Colonel would be in or not, he didn't say when he was expecting him, but he never did in the end. It was all so troublesome as he thought about everything that happened. He would skip what happened to Nova when at Command Center, no one needed to know what happened who wasn't involved with her.

Nova shook her head lightly. "After everything that happened, I think it's time I met with your Colonel." She said quietly, wearing a small smirk. Edward stifled a small smirk. "Are you sure? He can be a real.." "Brother!" Al scolded, knowing exactly where he was going with his thoughts. "What? You and I both know he can be a real pain sometimes. I just don't want him provoking Nova." Edward spoke, obviously annoyed just by talking about him. Nova smirked some. "I can handle myself." She said. Edward gave her a worried look. "He's a man of his word, but he doesn't know how to beat around a bush." He explained.

Nova offered the boys a light hearted smirk. "I'll just have to depend on you a little longer, then." She said as a tease, but the boys could tell she'd need help with dealing with the colonel. Edward knew him, more so than Al since he couldn't always be present when they spoke. The boys nodded and began their trek for headquarters.

It didn't take them long to reach the building, amd Edward glanced at Nova when he felt her hand around his. He gave her hand a light squeeze as he walked in front of her, and Al walked behind Nova as they entered the building. No one took a second glance at the boys as they walked through the halls, and Edward knocked on Roy's office door. "Colonel, I'm coming in." He said before opening the door and entering the room. Al closed the door behind them. Edward looked at the man as he lifted his head, and noticed another man lounging on a couch in the office. "Fullmetal, I was surprised when word was sent about you leaving the mining town." He spoke.

Edward stifled a frown. "Something came up, sorry for not telling you. The stone that the mining town was a fake, and it was making the townspeople sick. Nova got sick and needed a doctor, that took priority." He said, pausing after watching Roy's eyebrow rise. "I already know what you're thinking, Colonel, so don't." He said, relaxing some as he felt Nova's hand around his. Nova poked her head out from behind Edward. Roy slowly rose. "You came on your own accord, after giving us one hell of a chase?" He asked. Nova gave Edward's hand a light squeeze before steppinging out from behind him.

"It's not like you gave me much choice." Nova said quietly. The other man sighed some and sat up, putting down the file he had down on the table. "She's right you know, we've been chasing her all over the city." He spoke calmly. "You and I discussed her file the other day, Roy." He spoke calmly as he stood and slowly approached the girl. Nova shifted her attention to the man, slowly taking a step back. Edward held her hand, seeing how tense she was. "Easy, we just want a chance to talk." He said calmly, talking in a manor he would with his daughter. "I'm Lt. Colonel Maes Hughes." He spoke. "My friend over there is Colonel Roy Mustang, he's been overworking himself and doesn't know how to delicately address the matter at hand. We don't want to hurt you." Maes explained.

"All we know about you is what's on the file we were given, which isn't much. It says you're a dangerous convict, but all I see is a scared kid." Maes spoke calmly. Roy sat back down and folded his hands together. "A convict wouldn't be running from us, they'd most likely try to fight us head on." He spoke. Nova knit her eyebrows some. "So what does tell you, Colonel?" She asked quietly. "It tells me that the higher ups aren't telling me what I need to know, and I plan on keeping you out of their hands until I know what they want with you." Roy spoke, causing Nova to blink.

Maes sighed some and offered the girl a small smile. "Nova, right?" He asked. Nova glanced at him and nodded hesitantly. "What he means is, you're just a kid, about the same age as Fullmetal here, and it looks to me like you know each other." He said, keeping his voice calm. Edward glanced at him. "Then you understand why I couldn't just bring her in?" He asked. Maes offered him a sheepish smile, but before he could say anything, Roy spoke. "It would have been nice to know that you had at least seen her, instead of going behind our backs, Fullmetal, but yes, we more or less understand the situation." He said, then glanced at the girl. "What can you tell me, that isn't on your file?" He asked.

Nova glanced at the men before her, and gave Edward's hand a squeeze. "Depends on what's on my file.." She mused. Maes sighed at the banter between the two. "Thing is, there isn't a whole lot on your file, as Roy mentioned. We want to help, but clearing your name is going to take some work." He explained, and Roy leaned closer to his desk. "Answer me this, does the name Mark Ross mean anything to you?" He asked, having glanced at the old file on hand and noting some similarities. Nova bit back the urge to bite her lip and gave Edward's hand a squeeze. "If I ever see him again, I'll be the last thing he ever sees." She promised quietly.

Maes shared a look with Roy, then glanced at the kids. "Why don't you come stay with me, and my family?" Edward blinked. Maes offered the kids a warm smile. "Think about it. I'd feel better myself knowing you were safe under my roof. My wife would love to have you over, you can meet my daughter." He said. Edward glanced at Nova, who nodded lightly. "I'll give you a chance." She murmured quietly. He had a family, most likely a little girl with how he talked to her. She wanted to trust him. "I'm sorry this is happening so suddenly to you." Maes added.

"Let's give them a chance to breathe, Lt. Colonel." A woman spoke, causing Nova to jump some. How did she not notice someone else in the room? She glanced at the woman who had bern standing there the whole time. "First Lt. Riza Hawkeye, but you can call me Riza if you'd prefer." Riza spoke calmly. "This must be a lot for you to take in." Hearing the option of being able process things sounded good, Edward looked over at Nova, and gave her hand a squeeze. "Do you want that?" Nova nodded lightly.

Roy ran a hand through his hair and glanced at the trio. "Take your time, just don't go too far. Lt. Colonel Hughes will be accompanying you, from a distance." He voiced, sitting down in his chair. Al bowed respectfully and followed his brother and friend out of the office for a breather. Maes smiled at the trio, giving them a wave as he slowly followed them out, keeping a good distance from them. He was a father after all, he could tell how Nova was feeling, remembering all the times his little Elicia started getting fussy and cornered. Edward kept his hand wrapped around Nova's as they walked down the hall. "What do you think?" he asked her softly.

Nova shook her head some. "It's overwhelming.. But taking Mr. Hughes's offer to stay with him and his family, sounds a lot better than anything else they could've come up with.. I guess going home will have to wait." She murmured, stealing a brief glance at the man following them before glancing at Edward. Al wore an invisible smile at hearing their conversation, thankful that Nova was willing to also trust Maes. Even him and his brother didn't know him well, but he seemed like a really good guy. Once they were outside, Nova slowly inhaled the fresh air through her nose and she looked up at the darkened sky. "Smells like rain." She murmured, loving the smell. It helped her relaxed even more.