He startles a little at first, and then...smiles, that tiny unpracticed smile because it's...nice? And interesting to watch!

The teens seem content to sit relatively peaceably for the rest of the car ride.

Nova settles a little as well, not relaxed, but certainly less tense than he was, somehow, and mostly tries not to draw attention to himself.

Eventually they come to the police station.

Sheriff Cook nods respectfully to the teens. "Alright, are you all going to the shuttle station to get back to Whateley?"

"Unless you need us for paperwork," Archangel says blandly.

"No, we'll handle all that mess." The sheriff grins. "Specifically, Officer Serrano will handle all that, because he grievously mishandled taking your report, and we don't appreciate that."

Archangel nods sharply. "Glad to see you take discipline seriously. And you know where to contact us if you need us again, so... ciao."

Nova is a little uncertain what he's supposed to do, but the teens had said he was supposed to go with them, so he...stays close, and hopes that the police officers don't decide that he shouldn't.

The teens lead him to the shuttlebus station! And Wiz Kid gestures, and instead of the odd stretchy fabric they were wearing they're now dressed in approximately normal human clothes.

"So, uh, re-introduction time, since we're no longer superheroing! I'm Harry. Harry Dresden."

"Gareth Van Akkeren, nice to meet you properly."

"Jojo Weiss." Jojo bows shallowly.

"Anya Christina Emmanuella Jenkins. Generic pleasantry."

"Ah- um- nice to...meet you? Again?" (Was that what you were supposed to say in this situation? He has no idea.)

"Yes, good, exactly that sort of generic pleasantry. I'm glad we're on the same wavelength."

"Be nice, Anya."

"You've almost certainly known me long enough to know that was me being nice."

Anya's response does appear to have reassured Nova somewhat? At least that he hadn't entirely messed up that interaction. "I- it- I didn't--mind?"

(Never mind that if that wasn't nice it was still far nicer than he was used to.)

"Anya sometimes comes off as sarcastic without meaning to be," Jojo says. "I was worried you might think she was making fun of you."

"Which I was not."

"Probably. I never know what's going on inside her head."

"Oh." He pauses, obviously thinking. "Ah- thank you?" he directs at Jojo after a moment. "But ah- you don't have to- it would've been okay? I can- take it?" (Even if she was making fun of him, that was normal.)

"I try to only make fun of people who enjoy when I make fun of them, or whom I personally dislike. You fit neither category, as far as I can tell, although I have been surprised by people's reactions to me making fun of them before."

...That does not quite seem to compute, but he nods again. "I- see? Okay. Ah- thank you?" (He feels a bit stuck with those words, but they seem to be the only ones that fit, and if in doubt, gratitude had rarely got him in trouble.)

"You are confused. I am bad at explaining. Jojo, help?"

Jojo winces. "I was saving this one for later. Um. Nova, have you been introduced to the concept that most people don't want other people to suffer?"

He blinks at them. "Ah-" He isn't sure how to answer that. "I don't- Yes?" (He doesn't sound very sure.) "But-" that doesn't apply to me.

He twists his fingers together, feeling the fire pushing against the inside of his skin.

Jojo inhales, then pauses. He looks at Anya, and something passes between them.

Something that appears to irritate her!