[attr="class","sf_text"]As a student, Callum had often marveled at the responsibility carried by the staff and alumni at Aurora Academy. Since the very beginning Gifted students and people alike have always been threatened. In some cases the struggle is so subtle most people miss it, but after all that had happened in the last two years Callum knew very well there was never an end to the suffering of people like him. The TA had vague aspirations to see a day where gifted children and families could grow outside of havens like those created at Aurora, and live without the few of being hunted.

It was unlikely he would see the world change so much in his life time, but Callum was taking slow faithful steps in the direction of this new future. For now it was his job to watch over the youth at Aurora, most of them so blissfully aware of the slaughter that had taken place only a few years before. Swiping his staff ID, Callum passed from the male wing into the female dorms, nodding a warning to the few students he came across. At this hour, everyone was in bed, or should be in bed, but the alumni left any curfew related discipline to the R.A.

The only reason for his solemn patrol was to ensure the safety of the students, a job he took very seriously. Callum had long-since removed his contacts in favor of the bright multi-colored eyes he so frequently relied on. They were his first line of defense and given their unpleasant nature he often found they intimidated most students into compliance.

As he wandered through the halls, Callum made sure to keep his head about him. The faint giggles behind closed doors and the sweet smell of perfume were enough to cause him to speculate, but none of those seemed particularly pertinent to his current task and therefore made them irrelevant.

Trekking up the endless floors, Callum felt a twing of satisfaction. Everything appeared to be in order. There was the odd lippy student 'concerned' a male teacher shouldn't be wandering the girl's wing at night, but a smoldering stare had but and end to that argument before Callum opened his mouth. If the girl's didn't feel comfortable having him here, they could take it up with the headmaster and waste less of his time complaining over things he had no control.

When Callum reached the roof, he hadn't expected to find anyone there. Sure, the odd group of kids thought it would be fun or romantic even, but when the chill set in most of the students had enough sense to go indoors. Shouldering on his jacket, Callum closed the door behind him. He didn't give the stars or the moon a second thought because they had very little to do with why he was hear.

In fact the moment his ears caught wind of singing, he didn't give the stars or the cold a second thought. Moving soundlessly towards the voice, Callum came to a suddenly halt when he walked into what felt like a wall. The sensation wasn't that of something solid, but a definite shift in the atmosphere that made the man instantly wary.

The last ability he'd absorbed had nothing to do with seeing auras, and he wondered for a moment if he'd stumbled into some sort of telepathic field.

Dipping his hands into his pockets, the TA listened to the soft voice. That kind of song didn't sound like it was coming from someone who would give him trouble, so he interrupted her without much thought. "Shouldn't you be in bed? There's a curfew here, you know." With his presence announced, Callum took a few cautious steps forwards, his multi-colored gaze settling on the form with a rather bland expression.

[attr="class","sf_text"]The voice sounded oddly familiar, something like a distant memory he ought to remember. Offering the pale sky an indifferent look, Callum shrugged his shoulders. "If you want to get an early start, I suggest you do it elsewhere. Babysitting is such a burden." Despite the dreary sigh the young man gave, he didn't mind it as much as he seemed to say. In fact he was studying to become a babysitter...a paid babysitter, who also happened to give lectures, but still.

Thumbing the zipper on his jacket, Callum slowly advanced until he stood next to the student. "Students aren't permitted on the roof outside of school hours." There was really no need to explain why, although Callum couldn't fathom why students would ever be allowed up here. School roofs and rooftops in general seemed to be a recipe for disaster.

He cast the girl a side glance, about to offer a final warning when he really caught sight of her. The fairness of her features and the soft, thoughtful look was one that struck such a strong chord of emotion within him he almost forgot to breathe. "Artemis." The name came out like a flat, dull statement. It was meant to be an exclamation coupled with an open mouth stare and an expression akin to shock. But all she got was a cold, almost uncertain 'Artemis'.

"Go back inside." For a moment he was sure he made a mistake, namely because it couldn't really be her. Callum kept all thoughts of Artemis Nike locked deep down in a very special place in his heart. Though seldom visited, the TA wasn't sure to express what he felt as he gazed at the familiar face, or if he was able to feel anything at all.

Brushing his arm across his eyes, Callum glared at the student as though this were some form of trickery. It could be a form of mind tampering perhaps, maybe this kid was just trying to fuck with him. Already his right eye was glowing brighter than it had been before, the dull red leaped to a violent crimson color. It would of course attempt to absorb whatever ability was at play and hopefully end the spell that was too far fetched for his reality.

[attr="class","sf_text"]Why wasn't it working? A frown settled on his face, and Callum now found himself standing across from the only woman he'd ever dreamed about. Her words, though no colder than his own, hurt. Wasn't she happy to see him? Wasn't he happy to see her?

He was! He had dreamt of this moment despite his desire to burry her forever. But this wasn't how Callum had imagined their encounter. It had always been a happy reunion, maybe something with a sheepish smile and a desperate hug, not this cold exchange of emotions. It was like they were strangers again.

He flinched at the unexpected thought, the red eye slowly returning to its normal, dark hue. Callum couldn't bring himself to say anything at first. A thousand questions bubbling over in his mind. How did she get here? Why was she here?

As Artemis began to back away, her apology seemed to opened up old wounds for Callum. He knew he couldn't have Artemis and remain the person he was now. But the Callum she knew would never be strong enough to protect anyone other than himself.

What are you standing around for? Go after her King Blue Callum could picture his old friend all too clearly, standing their with a look of both disdain and annoyance etched into his perfect features. He wasn't sure when he had started to drag Dartz around in his mind, but somehow thinking of the other often coaxed him into doing the things Callum never felt brave enough to do before.

"Artemis, wait!" Callum suddenly sprang forwards, darting after her. Now that she was running, he couldn't even be sure she was real. Maybe this was all just a ploy of his own mind. Maybe after all these months he was still caught up in Artemis and Dartz, and she was also a figment of his imagination.

"Wait!" He repeated as his lengthy strides caught up to her. If he were to succeed he would wrap his arms around her waist, nearly pulling her off her feet as he drew her against his chest. One hand would travel up to her neck, but not to threaten her. Instead, a single finger would search for a real pulse, until his head would drop onto her shoulder, muffling his soft murmur. "You still smell like strawberries. "

[attr="class","sf_text"]Artemis still smelled like strawberries, and she was still short. The thought cast a shy smile on Callum's face as he realized he still had to stoop to hug her. "We're going to need to get you a step ladder if we're going to do this more often." It was all fine now in the spring of his youth, but one of these days his back was going to give out.

Untangling his hand from her hair, Callum realized she had not only succeeded in making him feel warm inside, she had completely shattered his indifferent facade. He knew it was probably impossible to completely forget Artemis, but now that she was here he wanted to do nothing more but to melt in her embrace, become the boy she used to know.

Resting his forehead against hers, his discolored gaze lingered dangerously close to hers before he closed his eyes, focusing on the fruity smell of strawberries, the soft sound of her breath, and the light rhythm of her heart that beat soundly against his chest. "I missed you." He admitted quietly.

It was a miracle that she was here, and that she had been able to find him. His mind was racing as he tried to comprehend how she had known to look here for him....unless she really hadn't been looking at all. A quiet, cruel thought slowly wormed it's way into his head, something he should have payed more attention to before that brought a look of horror across his face.

"Wait, are you a student?" He pulled away from her suddenly, drawing his arms back to himself. It had only just occured that maybe Artemis hadn't meant to find him here. Maybe she was just...here, and this had all just been chance.

[attr="class","sf_text"]What did it matter? Callum arched a brow, his crimson gaze studying her carefully. It wasn't just a casual glance, rather his eyes seemed to be taking in everything she had on display with a guarded scruntity. "Why are you still in school?" He finally said, a look akin to frustration crossed his face before vanishing behind a cold stare. Clearly it mattered...a lot. Arte wasn't much younger than he was, although her lack of academic achievment wasn't the real problem here.

Callum crossed his arms, putting up a physical barrier between them as he dismissed his earlier question, "Actually, nevermind. It doesn't matter." The question as to why she was still a student lingered, but it wasn't the most important thing on his mind right now.

"You're a student, and I'm a Teacher's Assistant. From now on you and I will always be at least six inches apart at all times. That matters." He growled. After finally reuniting with Artemis, he wanted nothing more than to pull her into his arms and never let go, now he couldn't even brush arms with her without violating some damn rule.