[Bruce is quiet for a moment, looking at Aqua's portrait again as he toys with the charm in his hands. He hadn't really ever looked at it much, feeling like he really didn't deserve her kindness and her gifts and... everything, really. She was far too good of a person.

(Just like Betty.)]

...it was painful to see them. [A beat, and then Bruce elaborates further.] Captain Eide and Cherryblod. They were so desperate to believe otherwise, but I kept pushing anyway. Even though I knew it probably wouldn't end well.

[Even now he remembers Sigrun screaming at him, the pain and disbelief in her voice. It reminds him of... many other things.]