[ Fitz turns, leaning back against the worktable to better regard Cain, though it’s an intentionally casual scrutiny — dialling back his characteristically. too intense focused, arms crossed. ]

No, trust your instincts.

[ what Cain thinks, felt, saw. For his part, Fitz waits to suggest a repeat experiment. A few considerations float to the top of his mind. As they do, he speaks neutrally. ]

An old friend thought powers weren’t random — but not in the way that many of our own theorise the power matches the person. [ shaking his head (and ignoring the way the memory makes his chest tighten) ] He always said they filled evolutionary needs. [ followed up with a quick explanation: ] Balancing or counteracting something else in the universe, in this case. [ a shrug of shoulders, as if to suggest he doesn’t know if he believes it, even now. ] Could be tied to the lack of growth on Mars, if we follow his thinking.

[ We, always. ‘Course that’s a little too neat for a guy like Fitz, who believes the universe is cosmos and chaos both. A beat of hesitation, where bites the inside of his cheek. Has to decide whether keeping his thoughts inside his head would spare Cain or help him. ]

Or... could be related to something that happened in the dreams, given the timing. [ motioning between them ] Why should the world alone change, when we were at the heart of the alteration process?

[ but change in yourself is far more frightening, he thinks, gaze locked on Cain. ]