[Center][h1][color=f26522]Caleb Walker[/color][/h1][/center]

Rowan spoke rather quickly regarding what had happened with Ken, Caleb didn’t even need to bother to lean on his intuition to see through that attempted deception. It was clear that he had found a clue as to what was going on. Maybe Rowan knew enough to help him control it. He was fine with just getting rid of the fire shit. The healing ability was something powerful. It would give him leverage into gaining real power, which of course was cash. That is, if he could figure out how to stop it from hurting him so much. He noticed though, with some devilish delight, that Rowan also did not say no to him continuing his advances towards him. The brief exposure of a more forceful personality coming to surface was quite interesting as well, even without the suspicious circumstances. For now though, his time was better spent waiting for when they could find a moment alone. 

Elysia seemed too shy to directly answer his question as her cheeks grew flushed and she rapidly shook her head. Caleb found the action adorable and considered she might be fun to flirt with later on, but he didn’t want too many irons on the fire. The woman pulled out some art supplies and began sketching the scene around her. Caleb tapped the table gently to get her attention, rose from his chair to flex his arms and shoulders for the piece. [color=f26522]“Val, back me up.”[/color] Kalama also looked interested in Elysia’s art before commenting about an already complete sketch, Caleb glanced at it curiously and his eyes widened in surprise. [color=f26522]“Hey, are you a fan or something? How’d you know I was a boxer?”[/color]

Something shifted as Kyle spoke up, a sense of alarm rang through his body, a sudden knowledge that there was danger nearby. He heard everything that Kyle said, but couldn’t yet process it. His eyes darted around the table looking at each of them for a fraction of a moment, making the briefest eye contact with Kalama who had the same fearful look in her eyes mixed with something else he couldn’t quite place, before finally landing on Val. At that moment Caleb just knew, knew from the bottom of his heart, that the fire was going to come again. He lunged forward and pushed her out of her seat, away from where the flames were no doubt going to burst forth. He could taste the smoke in the air and the smell of burnt fabric and rubber mixed with cooking flesh… except it wasn’t real, just a memory. Caleb blinked and calmed down suddenly, Val was on the floor, her hand scuffed where she had caught herself looking no doubt confused.

[color=f26522]“Oh shit, Val I’m so sorry! I thought uh... I thought that um… here let me help you up.”[/color] Caleb reached out a hand and pulled her back into her seat. Caleb put his face in his hands just trying to make sense of what had happened. He was off balance and out of control, this wasn’t like him. So fucking jittery and timid. How long was the situation with Daria going to haunt him? He hadn’t even known what he was doing! He had no reason to even consider hurting her so why had it happened. If his healing ability hadn’t begun working right after pulling her out of the car, he would have never have thought he had been the cause. But now he was making scenes in public out of nowhere, just suddenly overcome with alarm. The conversation he could hear finally began to push through the boundaries of Caleb’s guilt into his mind and he looked up to see the insects on Rowan’s hand and hope bloomed in his chest.


[color=f26522]“Normally I would say the both of you are crazy or trying to sell me something, but… I’ve been having the dream and can do things too. Val if you don’t mind.”[/color] He reached out one hand and lightly touched Val’s hand. The mental effort came easily given all the practice he had been forced to take on with Daria. The minor abrasion on her hand from where she had caught herself faded, as well as the bruising along her biceps in way of an apology. Caleb winced slightly and on the same part of palm where Val had been injured a sudden dark red discoloration of his skin blossomed outward mimicking the exact shape of her wound, before fading quickly back to his normal skin tone. His biceps too, visible due to his tank top, briefly had a lighter shade of red where Val had her bruises.

[color=f26522]“I can heal people, it hurts like fucking hell, but I can do it. Also, ...I think I can make fire, but I can’t control it.”[/color] Caleb began speaking more rapidly, but softly as to not be overheard by any other listening ears beyond their table.[color=f26522] “It’s only happened once, but I couldn’t control it and it didn’t go great. I’m sorry Val just all the sudden I just thought it was going to happen again, I don’t know why, and I didn’t want you getting hurt.”[/color] Slowing down, he stopped to breathe for a moment. [color=f26522]“Do any of you know what I am talking about? Or maybe help? Do you feel the same pull towards each other I do?”[/color] His heart was thumping rapidly in his chest now, his guilt near overpowering at the revelation of his ability.