Chapter Text
When Nova arrived back at the house on Wallowridge after her less-than-relaxing day at HQ, all that awaited her were empty rooms and a note on the kitchen table.
Visiting Ace, be back soon
-QB
Nova rolled her eyes at the little crown above the initials and the kiss mark left on the corner of the small piece of paper. As her eyes scanned the note a feeling of dread settled in her stomach. Nova hated when the anarchists visited Ace without her. She didn't like being gossipped about, especially to Ace, rather than being treated like a member of the group.
Knowing they should probably discuss plans going forward after her most recent mission, and needing the walk to clear her head she decided to go down to the catacombs and join the meeting.
–
Walking through a hallway full of rotting skeletons was never an enjoyable experience for Nova but she understood Ace's need for the dreary hiding place. Just as she was nearing the entrance to Ace’s dwelling she heard muffled voices through the curtains of bones.
“I didn’t save her for nothing Honey Harper!”
The angered voice belonged to Ace. Nova’s brow furrowed, not knowing who he was talking about.
“I know Acey, and she’s been very valuable but I think it’s time we accept that she’s too far gone. She cares too much about the Everhart boy.” Honey's voice dripped with disgust at those words. “Im starting to think you should have let her die with your traitorous brother.”
They were talking about her. Nova’s breathing quickened as she tried to stay quiet. Her mind raced as she tried to comprehend the words.
“Well, we can’t just abandon her.” This voice was Leroy’s and somewhere in all the confusion, she was thankful for him.
Ace spoke again. “Well if she truly becomes a threat to us becoming the kings and queens of all of this I suppose we could…. get rid of her.” He sounded reluctant to say those words but not in the way Nova would have expected. No, he spoke more like that would be too much of a chore. Her stomach churned. Her mind reeled trying to make sense of everything.
“Right,” Leroy said, and Nova could practically hear the eye roll that accompanied his words. ”Just like you did with the rest of her family.”
Nova’s breath hitched as tears filled her eyes.
“Well it’s not exactly ideal,” Honey drawled “It would be a shame to lose our little nightmare, but it seems like she’s getting ready to switch sides…..”
“We could use her death to lure the boy right to us,” Ace suggested.
“Oh a big hero act, how romantic. Maybe he’ll even race in dawning his sentinel armor. Like a fairytale.” Honey said it all like a joke. She seemed delighted by the idea, like they were pawns in a game. Honey began to laugh even more. “And we can have Phobia push him off a building so he can die just like his mother trying to save the Artinos.”
–
Stumbling around in the darkness of the night, Nova felt like she couldn't breathe.Tears were streaming down her face. She had run up to the surface when she decided she couldn't listen anymore.
She needed to get out of there before the Anarchists ended their meeting, but she didn’t know where to go. She certainly couldn’t go back to the house on Wallowridge. Snippets of what she had heard were still swirling around her brain as she tried to steady her breathing and think straight.
I didn’t save her for nothing. Very valuable. Dawning his sentinel armor. Your traitorous brother. Just like you did with the rest of her family. His mother. Get rid of her. The Everhart boy.
Adrian. Nova thought back to the night of the gala. Holding Adrian as he cried. She wanted nothing more than to curl up in his arms and let herself be comforted by him, but she couldn’t go to him. Could she?
Of course not. She thought to herself, but the pain was becoming too overwhelming. Still not quite thinking straight, and knowing she had to get out of there as soon possible, she began to make her way to the Mayor’s mansion.
–
The walk to the Everhart residence was a blur, it was almost midnight and it had started to rain pretty heavily by the time Nova got there. Her tears had all but subsided on the walk over.
As she went through the security system dread settled over her. She really shouldn't be here, it was so late, not to mention these people would probably gladly throw her in prison given the chance.
By the time Nova had come to her senses enough to realize she should absolutely turn around, she was standing on the porch watching as one of the huge doors swung open.
To her dismay, it was Simon who opened the door. He was dressed in a bathrobe and slippers looking like he had just tumbled out of bed.
“Nova it’s the middle of the night, what are you-” he cut himself short upon seeing that she had been sobbing and was soaking wet with rain. His brow furrowed with worry.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah,” no “Um is Adrian home.”
“Yeah, he is. I’ll go get him, I think he’s still awake.”
Just as Simon turned around to get his son, they heard a voice.
“Nova?” Adrian.
Nova’s whole body relaxed upon hearing his voice. Adrian was looking at her with so much worry she had to fight not to break into a sob, though she wasn’t very successful.
Simon seemed to take this as his cue to go. “I'll be in the kitchen,” he said, giving her one last sorrowful look before walking away.
“Nova,” Adrian said again coming towards her, and this time her knees buckled. Nova fell into Adrian’s embrace and sobbed.