2. East City

The next day, Winry had finished her maintenance work on Ed's automail and wiped a bit of sweat off her forehead. "So, where are you guys going next?" She asked.

Nova had come into the room to sit with them, watching as Winry did her work. She was curious after all, and maybe if she could learn a few things, she could help him with his arm if they couldn't get to Winry for a minor repair.

Edward blinked at her question and rubbed the back of his neck. "Naturally, we go to East city to report to the Colonel. Our lead was a bust." He murmured. Winry nodded some. "Just be careful, alright?" She said quietly.

Nova felt her ears lower some and she slowly came into the room. "I'm coming too." She said, though her voice was a little shaky. East city was where she held prisoner in the lab all those years, but she was determined to be at their side.

Edward blinked and glanced at her, and nodded some when he noticed the look in her eyes. There was no convincing her otherwise. Winry however wasn't sure. "You're sure? You were in pretty bad shape when they found you.." She murmured wearily.

Nova nodded. "I'll be mostly recovered by tomorrow, as far as my strength and physical heath." She said calmly. Edward nodded. "We'll wait until tomorrow to get the tickets then." He said, making Winry feel just a little better.

The rest of the day passed uneventfully, with the teens reconnecting and Nova watching Winry work on other automail projects she had, and when it was late enough to call it a night, Nova poked her head into Ed and Al's room.

"Ed.. You asleep?" She asked quietly. Edward slowly sat up when he heard her and shook his head. "Nah.." He murmured. "Can't sleep?" He asked, and she nodded lightly.  He chuckled quietly and moved over some before patting the bed next to him. "C'mon, I remeber when you used to sneak into bed with me when you couldn't sleep. It's okay." He said quietly, a small lazy smrik on his lips.

Nova flushed at the reminder, and slowly approached the bed. "You're sure?" She asked softly, and he nodded before lightly taking her hand and tugging her onto the bed. He draped his arms around her and held her close to him. "Positive." He murmured softly. Al wore an invisible smile as he watched the two, having 'woke' to their voices and the movement.

It didn't take very long for the teens to fall asleep together, and by morning Edward still had his arms around Nova as he held her close to him.

Nova woke early, her skin warm from recovering from the trauma and abuse she recently escaped from. Edward was still asleep, his arms wrapped around her in a comforting manner. He gave her a light squeeze when she shifted before slowly opening his eyes. "Morning." He murmured quietly. Nova glanced at him and offered him a small smirk. "Same to you." She murmured.

Edward slowly sat up and yawned, brfore standing and stretching. "Should we go and see if breakfast is ready?" She asked curiously. He nodded and offered her his hand. Nova offered him a small smile and gently took his hand, and he lightly pulled her to her feet. Then they headed downstairs.

When it was time to head to station, Winry walked with them and saw them off. She gave Nova a hug, and Al promised they would keep her safe before they boarded the train.  

It was a long ride back to East City, and Nova had comfortably fallen asleep against Al with her head on his cool armor. It was nice, honestly, it showed the boys how much she still trusted them, and it made them feel pretty good that he could bring her some comfort even in his metal body. Edward couldn't help knitting his eyebrows together as he thought about what she told him. "I wonder if he's looking for her.." He murmured.

Al glanced at his brother. "The Colonel?" He asked curiously. Edward rested a hand under his chin and moved his eyes to outside. "Of course. He's an alchemist, so why wouldn't he? Besides that, I don't doubt that the military will come looking for her." He said quietly. Al glanced at the sleeping teen. "Brother, it bothers me how long she's been on the run, alone. This is probably the first time she's been able to relax like this." He said quietly. Edward glanced at him. "Yea.." He murmured, glancing at her. Together, they would make sure she wasn't alone. It was something that didn't need to be spoken.

The rest of the ride was quiet, the brothers allowed Nova to rest. At some point, Edward leaned foreward to brush her hair out of her face. His flesh hand brushed against her forehead and he paused at the warmth. She had a fever? Why didn't she say anything? Better yet, how did he not notice? Al glanced at his brother, noticing the hidden worry. "Brother?" He asked. Edward blinked and slowly leaned nack in his seat. "She's warm. I'm pretty sure she's got a fever." He murmured.

Al glanced at Nova and wore an invisible frown. "Is that why she's been laying against me?" He asked quietly. Edward shook his head. "Course not, she's more comfortable with you." He said, offering him a small smile. Al nodded lightly. "She always followed you around though." He teased, causing the older teen to flush at the memory. "We were kids.." He murmured. Al chuckled quietly.

Nova slowly woke when the train pulled into the station, and got up to follow the boys off the train. Edward walked in front of her, with Al behind her as as body guard.

She walked between them until the Eastern Commamd Center building came into view, in which Nova paused and rubbdd her forearm. "I can't, Edward.. I thought if i came with you, i could get over myself but.." She said quietly. Edward paused and glanced at her. "It's okay, Nova. I'm not gonna force you. There's a park nearby, want us to meet you over there?" He asked, wanting her to know he didn't blame her for not wanting to deal with HQ.

Nova nodded lightly and glanced at him. "Sounds good." She said, trying to let him know she'd be alright. She then turned and started walking off in the direction she remembered the park was in.

Ed and Al watched her walk away for a moment, wondering if she'd really be alright on her own, before heading towards the large building to meet with Roy Mustang.

--

Envy had been put in charge of trying to get Nova back within their grasp after she escaped the eastern labs. Only because he had used a disguise to get close to her as she was held prisoner, under their Father's orders. He was closest to her, and knew her the best. And while he wanted to protest, none of them were stupid enough to argue with the man. The guise he used was a boy named Vee who could shape shift into a small black cat.

He had been out stalking around east city, just wanting to get away from his siblings, using the guise of a small animal. East city was the last place anyone saw the runaway, and even he knew she wasn't stupid enough to stick around, especially with the military after her. He was conflicted, really, when it came to her, and it was a strange feeling. Envy hated humans, but she wasn't human, not entirely.

Envy paused when he spotted her and tilted his head, wondering why she was there, until he noticed the Fullmetal pipsqueak. He should've known.. They all should have really. The fact that she knew the Elric's wasn't all that surprising. Why was he leaving her alone though? The thought struck a nerve, knowing how much at risk she would be in the middle of the city. He watched her walk off in the opposite direction and followed her, remaining in his guise.

Nova pulled her beanie down some out of a nervous habit, and sat down under one of the large trees in the field near the walking park. The park had a couple of benches to sit, a path to walk and see the many breeds of flowers that were planted in cement planters. It was nice, not having many people around so early in the morning, but it wasnt enough to help her relax. They were still there, and she was still in East City.

Envy had climbed a tree, and jumped between tree limbs until he was in the tree where Nova was sitting below. He was distracted by her scent, and the expression she was wearing, and lost his footing as he climed down a bit. Distress. He ended up falling right into her lap with a high pitch mew, causing the teen to jump some. She blinked and glanced down at the small cat, and sighed some before delicately ran a couple of fingers over his head. His scent seemed familiar..

"Are you alright?" She asked softly, studying him as if looking him over with her eyes. Envy mewed quietly and rubbed his head against her hand. She smiled some, partially releaved. "That's good, you surprised me." Nova murmured, lightly rubbing him under the chin. He sounded a purr and raised his head some, revealing a white streak on his throat. She paused and gently tilted his head to the side.

"Vee..?" She murmured softly, slowly lowering his head. Envy's ears perked some at the sound of the name, and he glanced at her. She remembered after all, it seemed. Tears brimmed her lower eyelids and she gently picked him up, and leaned against the tree brfore setting him down on her chest and lightly resting het hands around his body, as if to give him a hug. "I'm so relieved you made it out.." She murmured. Envy mewed quietly as he curled up in her hands, making himself look like a small ball of fluff.

After a moment, he uncurled himself and lifted his head before lifting up some to rub his head against her neck. "What're you doing back East? If ths military finds you, you know what'll happen.." He voiced quietly. Nova shook her head. "Don't you worry about me, I haven't been caught yet." She murmured, gently stroking the top of his head. Envy sounded a purr, then lightly pawed at her hand to get her to stop. "That's besides the point. Eventually they're going to catch you if you keep up." He warned, truly meaning it. He wasn't sure what he felt around her, but it wasn't like how he felt around other people.

Nova offered him a small smirk and lightly scratched the top of his head. "I'll be careful." She murmured. Envy continued to purr, and rubbed his head against her hand. "You know.. I really am relieved you made it out.. I was starting to think I'd killed everyone.." Nova murmured quietly, slowly bringing her knees up just a little. Envy glanced up at her, hating to see her like this. She usually had so much fire..

He uncurled himself and hopped down before stretching. "C'mon, let's go someplace more private." He said, glancing at her. She didn't need to be here. Nova tilted her head and slowly lowered her hand, opening her hand some. "And where are we going?" She asked. Envy went over and rubbed his head against her hand. "My place, away from the people." He answered casually. Nova smirked some and slowly stood, then followed the small cat away from the park.

"I have to be back to meet my friends, or they'll worry.." She murmured, and Envy bobbed his head in acknowledgement. He wouldn't say how displeased he was with her being so close to the Elrics, feeling she was better than them.

--

Edward was inside Roy's office, telling him about the Liore fiasco and how the stone was a fake. He had a feeling though that the Colonel was only half listening as he watched the man study the papers on his desk. "Hey, are you even listening to me? Colonel!" He spoke, clearly annoyed.

The dark haired man picked up a report and looked at him. "I have another lead for you to look into." He said with a small smirk and Edward snatched the file from him before sitting down on the couch and beginning to read the report. Roy watched him as the teen remained calm, but he wasn't stupid. He saw the subtle signs, though remained quiet.

The report was about the runaway wolf teen, only having a picture and a briefing on how she escaped the Eastern 'Prison' which was really the lab, but that intel was in another file neither of them had. It was mentioned that she was dangerous, and unlike anything they had seen. She wasn't completely human, but to what extent was left out of the report. "You think she's conmected to the stone?" Edward asked, standing and placing the file back on his desk.

"It's possible." Roy said with a shrug, earning an annoyed look from the teen. "Only one way to find out." The man smirked. Edward stifled a frown. "She was last seen headed West, which could give you a reason to head to Xenotime. A mining city that's been using red water, and it's making the townspeople sick." Edward blinked. "Red water.." He murmured, then turned and began to the leave the office. "Thanks Colonel, if we see this girl we'll bag her!" He called back as the door closed behind him.

"Al! We're heading West to a mining town!" Edward called to his younger brother, smirking as the tall suit of armor quickly follwed him out of the building. "Alright.. She was going to the park, so let's meet up and buy our tickets." He said, stretching some before leading his brother towards the park to meet with Nova.

The file he read had him worried though, and confused. They didn't seem to know her name, but the military was definitely looking for her.. And why did the Colonel seem to think she was connected to the stone? It didn't make any since..