A few houses away, Nova materialized—fully dressed, his sleek motorcycle beside him, and a pair of Jiro's panties dangling from his hand. He glanced at the undergarment with a smirk that faded into a thoughtful expression. With a flick of his wrist, he stored them away in his system space, then mounted the bike and revved the engine to life. The low growl of the motor echoed briefly through the quiet street before he sped off into the night.
It wasn't long before he reached the modest apartment he had rented. The building was unremarkable, tucked between two convenience stores, but quiet enough for his purposes. The unit itself was small—three rooms and a single bathroom, just enough for comfort and discretion.
Unlocking the door and stepping inside, he was met with the soft hum of domestic calm. At the dining table, one of his Echo Echo clones sat patiently, gently spoon-feeding a small girl with silver hair—Eri. Her wide, cautious eyes turned to him the moment she heard the door click open.
She froze, spoon halfway to her mouth.
Nova offered a soft smile, lowering his posture slightly to appear less intimidating. "Hey, Eri," he said, his tone warmer, gentler. "I'm back."
The girl stared at him in silence for a moment, clutching the edge of her chair. The wariness in her gaze hadn't fully disappeared, but there was no panic—just the quiet, instinctual fear of someone who had seen too much. Still, she didn't cry or flinch. That was progress.
"…Welcome back," she murmured, barely audible.
The Echo Echo clone gave Nova a nod, its expression neutral but efficient. "She ate most of the food," it said. "No signs of discomfort."
Nova walked over, not too close, and crouched to meet her eye level. "Thanks for eating, Eri. That's really good." His voice carried quiet reassurance, like someone trying to tame a wounded animal without startling it.
Eri gave a tiny nod and returned to her food. Her shoulders remained slightly tense, but she didn't shrink away when Nova stood up and moved to the kitchenette.
Nova grabbed a glass and filled it with water from the tap. He took a sip, glancing back at Eri, who was now poking at the last few spoonfuls of food with her fork. She kept sneaking glances at him, as if unsure whether she should say something—or whether she was allowed to.
He decided to break the silence first.
"You doing okay?" he asked gently, walking over and sitting across from her at the table. He leaned forward on his arms, keeping his posture relaxed.
Eri hesitated, then gave a tiny nod. "Mm-hmm…"
The Echo Echo clone stood up silently and walked toward the hallway, fading into light as it returned to the Omnitrix. Nova didn't react to it—he didn't want to draw attention away from her.
"Good. If you ever feel weird or scared or... anything," he said, tapping his chest lightly, "you can tell me. I won't get mad. Promise."
She looked up at him. "Even if I… don't smile?"
He blinked, then smiled softly. "You don't have to smile, Eri. Smiling's not a rule. Just… eating, sleeping, being safe—that's enough for now."
She glanced down at her plate again. "I don't want to hurt anyone anymore…"
"You won't," Nova said firmly but not harshly. "You're not hurting anyone. Not anymore. You're safe here. No one's going to use you like that again."
Eri's fingers clenched slightly around her fork. "But I have… bad things inside."
Nova leaned closer, lowering his voice. "You're not the bad thing, Eri. What was done to you—that was bad. The people who hurt you? They're the bad ones. Not you."
Her red eyes shimmered faintly. "You're… strong. Like him. But you're not scary."
He tilted his head. "Not scary?"
She shook her head slowly. "You glow sometimes. But it feels… warm."
Nova chuckled, touched by the honesty. "Guess I'll take that as a compliment."
She nodded again, more confidently this time, and resumed eating. Though her movements were still small and uncertain, there was a flicker of calm in her presence now—something fragile but growing.
Nova stood up and ruffled her hair gently, careful not to make it feel like control. "I'm gonna fix up your room a little more later. If you want anything, let me know, okay?"
Eri's voice was a whisper. "Can I have… a nightlight?"
He smiled. " Don't worry, your room will have the brightest light ever."
With a calm hand, Nova took the fork and fed Eri the remaining bites of food. She hesitated at first, but accepted them quietly, her eyes never straying far from his. When the plate was cleared, he set it aside, then gently scooped her up into his arms.
Eri went rigid at the contact, her small body tense. But Nova didn't rush. He held her steadily, warm and calm. After a few heartbeats, her fingers loosened their grip, and she slowly leaned into him, resting her head on his shoulder. Her tiny breath tickled the side of his neck, and her weight felt even lighter than he expected—like she never truly relaxed in anyone's arms before.
They sat in that peaceful silence for a while, until Nova softly asked, "Hey, Eri… do you have a wish?"
She pulled back slightly and looked up at him with puzzled eyes. "What's… a wish?"
Nova smiled, brushing a few silver strands from her forehead. "A wish is something you really want. Food, toys, something fun—something that makes you smile. Anything at all."
Eri tilted her head with that curious expression that hit Nova like a tiny sledgehammer of cuteness. "Even if it's not… normal?"
"Especially if it's not normal," he replied with a wink.
She hesitated. "Can I have… red apples? The crunchy kind, not the soft ones."
Nova grinned. "Done."
With a snap of his fingers, a quiet shimmer of golden-blue light sparkled in the air nearby. A small wooden basket appeared on the kitchen counter—filled with fresh, shiny red apples that looked like they came straight from a storybook. The scent of sweet fruit drifted through the room.
Eri blinked. Her eyes widened as she looked between the apples and Nova.
He gently set her down and walked over, grabbing one. "Go ahead. Try it."
She took the apple with both hands, hesitantly bringing it to her mouth. The first crunch echoed in the quiet apartment.
Her lips twitched into the tiniest smile.
Nova knelt down to her level. "You can make more wishes if you want. I can grant them. That's one of my abilities."
"Really?" she asked, half-whispered in awe.
He nodded. "Only if they're your wishes, though. That's the rule."
She thought for a moment. "Then… can I have a drawing book too?"
He snapped his fingers again.
A soft leather-bound sketchbook, perfectly sized for her small hands, appeared on the table alongside a box of colorful pencils and markers.
Eri gasped softly, then looked up at him with wide, shining eyes.
"Thank you," she whispered.
Nova smiled. "You're welcome, Eri. Anything to help you feel safe."
She stepped forward and hugged him—just for a second—then retreated quickly, as if realizing what she'd done. But the moment lingered in Nova's chest like a quiet sunrise.
----
Eri clutched the sketchbook to her chest like it might vanish if she let go. The colored pencils and markers sat neatly on the table, untouched but radiating promise.
Nova smiled gently and took a seat beside her. "Wanna try drawing something now? I can help."
She hesitated, glancing up at him with a flicker of uncertainty. "I… don't know how."
He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. "That's okay. You don't have to be perfect. Just try. I'll draw something too."
Eri climbed onto the chair beside him, slowly opening the sketchbook to the first blank page. Her fingers hovered over the pencil box before carefully selecting a soft pink one.
"What should I draw?" she asked softly.
Nova tapped his chin. "Hmm… How about something you like? A flower, a star, or maybe an apple?"
She blinked. "An apple…"
Nodding, she bent over the page and began sketching—tentative lines forming a round shape. It wasn't symmetrical, and the stem was a bit wobbly, but the concentration on her face made it perfect.
Nova picked up a pencil himself and started drawing beside her. With practiced ease, he outlined a simple cartoon version of her apple—but with a smiley face and tiny stick arms.
Eri glanced over—and giggled.
"You made it alive," she said, eyes lighting up.
"Of course," Nova replied, grinning. "It's a magical apple. He's here to protect the others from the mushy ones."
She covered her mouth, laughing quietly again.
Encouraged, she began drawing another apple next to it, this time giving it big eyes and a tiny bow on top.
Nova leaned in slightly. "Looks like we've got a whole apple family starting here."
Eri paused, then looked at him shyly. "Can… we keep drawing tomorrow too?"
"Every day," Nova said, ruffling her hair lightly. "Whenever you want."
She gave a small, content nod and returned to her drawing. The night outside deepened, but the little apartment felt warm and safe, lit by soft light and the gentle rustle of pencil on paper.
For now, the world was quiet, and Eri was just a little girl drawing apples with someone who made her feel like her wishes mattered.
---
After a while, Eri's head began to droop mid-sketch, the pink pencil slipping from her fingers. Nova glanced at her and chuckled softly—she was still sitting upright, but her eyes were fluttering shut in intervals.
"Alright, little artist," he said gently. "Bedtime."
Eri blinked up at him, clearly fighting to stay awake but losing fast. "Can… can I finish later?"
"Of course," Nova said, lifting her into his arms again with ease. "Your apple family will be waiting for you."
She gave a sleepy nod and rested her head against his chest without hesitation this time.
As he carried her down the short hallway, he made a quiet snap with his fingers. A soft, warm glow blinked to life in the corner of her room—a glowing nightlight in the shape of a smiling star, casting a calming golden hue across the walls. The shadows that had once made her nervous were gone.
He gently laid her down on the bed. She squirmed slightly as he tucked the blanket up to her chin, then stilled. Her eyes opened one last time, looking around the room, then settling on the nightlight… and finally back to him.
"You made it… not scary," she whispered.
"That's the idea," Nova said, brushing a few strands of hair from her face. "Scary doesn't belong here."
Eri hesitated. Then, almost too softly to hear: "Are you… staying?"
Nova gave a small smile and knelt beside the bed. "I'll be right in the next room. If you need anything—just call. I'll come."
She nodded faintly, her eyelids drooping again. "Okay…"
He waited until her breathing slowed and her little hand relaxed its grip on the edge of the blanket. Then he stood and quietly stepped back, letting the star-shaped light keep watch over her.
As he gently closed the door, Nova exhaled slowly.
Another piece of her trust.
Another promise to protect.
XxxxX
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