Chapter 14 - 14 Hired Bookworm

Nova turned to them when they shouted and held a finger to her lips, before looking back down at the ash and rubble of the ruined library. She faintly recognized Scar's scent, but failed to recognize the other scents lingering. "Scar was here, and two others.. but i can't recognize the scents.." She murmured quietly. Ed and Al shared a look as she told then who she smelt, frowning more. "Why would they be here at the library and why would it be burnt then?" Ed asked, pondering on that. Whatever happened, it seemed that the battle was long and severe.

"Do you think they're still alive?" Al asked worriedly. Nova shook her head. "No idea.." She murmured, glancing at Al and smirking some. "Considering i don't smell burning corpse's, i am going to say that it's safe to assume that they got away safely." She offered, muffling a cough with her jacket sleeve from the smoke and dust starting to mess with her. "He may be injured.. His scent is stronger than the other two." She murmured. "So, he's still alive then…" Edward murmured softly. "We probably won't be able to find him if he's on the run…" He raked a hand through his hair a bit. "Come on, let's see if we can find someone who used to work at the library, give that nose of yours a bit of a rest from all this." He offered, but knew he would have to talk with Mustang at some point about that.

Nova nodded lightly, a part of her relieved that he was alive. Hurt, probably, but alive.. But she also knew that would probably cause Edward grief in the future, since he was after State Alchemists. She muffled a cough into her sleeve and carefully walked through the ash and rubble to join the boys and stumbled a bit, feeling a little light headed. Ed sighed a bit, wondering how they could find out information from Doctor Marrow now. " I guess we'll have to see if anyone knows who worked here." He offered Nova a hand to get down from the rubble and bent down a bit for her. "Come on, I'll give you a piggy back, you don't look too good." He told her softly. Al pondered a bit on what they could do. "I can ask at the office and see if they know anything, I can meet you two at the park." He offered, knowing Nova wouldn't want to go to Headquarters and Ed wouldn't leave Nova while she was like this.

Nova easily took his offered hand and sighed inward some. The smoke and ash was fresh, so of course it would mess with her. She shook her head at his offer and pat his shoulder. "I'll be alright, just give me a minute." She murmured with a small smirk, turning to Al. "We can all go, it's fine." She said calmly, weary about the imposter trying something with Al if they were still around. The brothers nodded their head and moved away from the wreckage, heading towards headquarters. Luckily they wouldn't have to go far inside, just to the receptionist desk. Nova followed the boys quietly, her hands in her pockets as she allowed her mind to wander a bit, as they walked.

Headquarters wasn't very far so it didn't take long for them to arrive, and she kept her head low as they headed inside. Ed and Al both stuck close to Nova as they talked with the receptionist, getting a name and address of someone who worked at the library, but hadn't been there when it burnt down. The brothers thanked them and the trio left, heading to the apartment. Nova felt uneasy in the building, more so than usual. She relaxed as they left and headed to the apartment of a woman who used to work there. 

Edward had noticed how tense Nova was, but didn't ask her about it, figuring it had something to do with the military being after her. It took them some time to find the apartment and get to the door. He knocked lightly, waiting for a reply. Al looked around the empty hallway, wondering if the woman was even home, they did come without warning after all. Nova noticed at look she had gotten from Ed and shook her head lightly. It wasn't just about the military.. Something felt off and made her uneasy every time she set foot in the building, only now she actually paying attention to it. When they finally made to the apartment, she tilted her head after Edward knocked. "Hello? Ms. Shezka?" She voiced, blinking when she faintly heard a female voice calling for help and she panicked. "Someone's definitely in there, i think she's in trouble." She said, glancing at Edward. 

Ed merely nodded his head, leaving it at that. When they heard the muffle cry for help, the brothers immediately barged into the apartment. To both their amazement and horror, the place was filled from floor to ceiling with nothing but books. "Miss Shezka?" Ed called out, and the moment they heard another muffled cry for help, they had a feeling she was buried. "Come on! Let's help her!" Nova wasted no time in starting to remove books from a collasped mountain, where she could figure she was buried. With the three of them working together, it didnt take long to fred her and the petite woman thanked them several times. "I was trying to reorganize my books and i guess i piled them too high.." She explained sheepishly. 

"Man, you have a lot of books though…" Ed commented, staring at the place. "Hey, you used to work at the library, right?" he asked the woman, once they all got settled comfortably and began making a path through the books. "We were wondering if we could ask you something, if you don't mind." Al added in. Shezka blinked when Ed asked if she used to work at the library, and lowered her eyes. She explained why she was fired and glanced at Al when he spoke. "Is it about a book? I remember every book i ever read." She beamed some, then blinked and glanced at Nova. "You're Nova, aren't you? I remember getting a glance at a file with your name and picture on it." She murmured. Nova blinked. Every book? That was some memory she had.. She glanced at the woman when she spoke to her and nodded lightly.

Edward grinned at her. "Perfect! We're looking for anything by Tim Marcoh. Do you know if you crossed paths with something like that?" He told her, hoping she knew what he was talking about. He already planned on paying her for her help, because it would give them another lead. Al looked at Schezka hopefully, knowing anything she might have could help them out, or least help point them in the right direction. Schezka blinked and glanced at Edward. "Tim Marcoh?" She repeated, and took a moment to rack her brain. "Oh yeah! He had ten books that he wrote, why? Did you need them? I can happily recreate those books for you." She offered with a grin.

Nova went to go stand outside in the hall, feeling a little claustrophobic in the small apartment.

"That would be great, thank you!" Ed told her, relieved to hear that she had gone through them already. Schezka clapped her hands together. "I'd be happy to! But I'll need a few days to copy them all." She explained sheepishly. Ten books was a lot after all.

Al noticed her head out and went to join her, knowing his brother would be focused on getting the book. "Are you alright?" he asked her softly.

Nova leaned against the wall some when he came out. "Small spaces, you know?" She murmured softly and rubbed her arm a little.

"I understand, but at least it's only books in there." The younger Elric offered.

Ed nodded his head and took out a piece of paper, writing the number of their hotel on it. "Let me know when you're finished, we're staying here right now, and we don't have any plans on leaving." He gave her a grin. He thanked her again before heading out to meet up with Al and Nova. Schezka promised to do so when she was finished.

"So, she says it'll take a few days to get everything copied… we have lots of time to spare." Ed told them.

Nova blinked when Edward joined them and nodded. "I'm glad you found a lead." She murmured, then started walking down the hall.

"It was your idea to go to the library." Ed teased her lightly. "So thank you, for the lead, Nova." He smiled at her as the three of them began walking down the hall. "We're lucky you remembered about Doctor Marrow." Al added in with a laugh. Nova rubbed the back of her neck some and smirked some. "I'm glad i could help.." She murmured sheepishly. What now, though?

The upcoming days while waiting for Schezka were filled with the trio just going out of and spending time outdoors and chatting sometimes going to restaurants or cafes. Today they were in the park just relaxing under a tree while watching people go about their day. Ed was laying on his back, staring up at the sky through the leaves. Al was sitting under the tree, just happy to be with his brother and Nova. He was hoping they would get the books soon. He was curious to find out what the doctor had written.


Envy snuck to the surface without Father or Lust spotting him. He was curious about the girl, Nova. While he knew she was needed for the plan, he knew she was different, and not just because of her genetic anomaly. He had the appearance of a cat and spotted the trio, frowning as he began climbing a nearby tree. He didn't understand why she was so close to the two sacrifices as she was.

Nova was leaning against the tree next to Al as the boys lounged and adjusted her beanie some. They hadn't heard from Schezka yet. She was happy to be getting some time with the boys, especially on a nice day like today. Al smiled as he looked over at Nova. "Think we should head home to visit Granny and Winry after we've found out whatever we find out?"

Envy watched the trio, frowning as Edward began falling asleep, and the tin man just idling sitting there. He was trying to figure out how to lure Nova away from them, but was coming up with very little. The brothers were always around her, and there was very little he could do to lure out with someone she was comfortable with. This caused a growl to erupt from him.

Nova blinked when he spoke, her thoughts scattering. She glanced at him and nodded lightly, offering him a small smile. "That sounds nice." She said quietly as Edward began to doze. Al smiled, nodding as he looked over the park. "I'm sure they will be happy to see all of us again." He giggled softly.

Envy continued watching before jumping out of the tree and slowly made his way over to their tree and climbed that tree to watch them better, a small plan hatching in his head.

Nova smiled some. "They're always happy to see us, even if Winry scolds us for being strangers." She chuckled quietly. Al giggled softly at that and nodded. "Yeah, but its always nice to visit home." He spoke softly.

Envy scoffed at the conversation, it was so mundane and boring. Deciding to have some fun, he dropped from the tree on top of the tin man's head. He let out a kitten cry of pain before tumbling off the armor, landing on his stomach and faked not being able to get up with a pitiful meow.

Nova blinked when the cat suddenly fell from Al's armor and gently picked him up into her arms. "My goodness, where did you come from?" She said softly, concerned about it hurting itself and tried to get a look at him. Envy looked up at Nova, large blue eyes staring at her as he let out another whimper, trying to get up again. "Oh no! I'm so sorry little guy!" Al said panicking and tried to pick the kitten up only to watch as it whispered in fear of him. Nova craddled him gently as she examined him. "Shh.. It's okay.. It was an accident. He won't hurt you." She murmured softly, then glanced at Al as she slowly stood.

"Stay here with Ed? I'm going to try to find his owner." She said quietly, offering him a small smile, having noticed the collar. Al nodded a little. "Stay safe." He told her softly, watching as she left. Nova nodded lightly before walking away. She glanced down at him and smiled softly before glancing around to keep up with where she was going. Envy buried into Nova's arms, smirking to himself. His collar gave a random location that would get her away from the brothers. They were so foolish, how could they fall for this, especially after Nova fell for his trick last time. Envy purred in his arms as he watched as she got father and father away from the brothers. He would wait a little longer before springing his trap.

Nova frowned some as she walked and gently ran a hand over his back. "Are we lost?" She murmured wearily, not knowing Central all that well. "No, just far enough away from those stupid brothers." Envy replied with a laugh as he began morphing again, this time he took the form a teenage boy with black hair and violet eyes, with a single white streak. "You're a hard one to get alone, Nova." He smirked. Nova blinked and stepped back as the cat spoke, and began transforming into a young man. "Who are you.. ?" She asked wearily. "And why did you want me away from them?" She asked. "Because you're better than them." Envy told her, waving a hand dismissively. "And… you can call me Vee." He told her with a lazy grin.

Nova wanted to run, how did he know her name? "I'm no different from those boys." She murmured wearily, then blinked. "Vee..?" She murmured quietly, remembering one of the other prisoners that had escaped when Scar helped her escape. "You.. You were one of the prisoners.." She murmured.