"Never had apple pie? That's insane!" Maes blurted, but a grin soon formed on his lips still. His eyes lit up just at the ideas that were running through his head. Gracia would love the chance to make friends here, especially with the kids. Maes tended to adopt the stray ones, like the Elric brothers and Winry and anyone else who had stumbled into his life in the process. It was just the sort of man that he was and nothing else could change that. Not even facing death could change that in Maes Hughes. He did tilt his head, however, when the kid said it would be just as colorful as flowers if everything goes right. He looked at the strange kid, confused for a moment, but it didn't seem like the kid was going to try anything malicious at this time.
He saw that familiar expression on the kid's face then. Edward had that expression at one point. A kid who had the weight of the world on his shoulders. And Maes' expression shifted before he could help himself when the kid said that last line. Whatever Touji had lived through before, it couldn't have been pleasant. "Not here to cause any harm," Maes held up his hands as though he were warding off a stray animal. "I promise! Now, why would I want something from you for you to try my Gracia's apple pie?" He was going to take the overly friendly approach, guessing that this might be beneficial here.
"It's absolutely delicious. People would come from miles just to try some back home. I promise! And for Alphonse, it was the first thing he wanted to try when he got his body back. I wonder if he ever did get some...oh, he probably has now that he's here and whole again." Maes grinned brightly. He did turn serious a moment later, though, the intelligence officer picking up on the fact that this kid might need more convincing. His smile dropped and his eyes glinted in the sunlight behind them. "I don't need anything, Touji, except perhaps if my lovely daughter Elysia were here. But, we can't control that, so...there you have it. I want nothing at all. I get to spend more time on this world with my darling wife Gracia and that's the best gift the universe could ever give to me. Not even alchemists have that kind of power, you know?" Maes shrugged, stuffing his hands into the pockets of his blue uniform.
"Funny thing, alchemists. They think they have all the power in the world, but even they are contained to equivalent exchange. I won't say I understand it all, but I understand that much behind it. You'd get along well with Ed, that's for sure." Maes chuckled quietly. "You've got a good heart, Touji, that much is clear. It's time the world gave you a break, don't you think?"