Bruce remained silent for several moments. The only sound in the room came from the medics tending to their injuries.
[color=0072bc]"It's complicated."[/color] he said, harboring a slight hope that Jenso would let the matter go. He felt that to tell him would be intruding on a subject that should be Luke's to divulge.
When it became clear that Jenso wouldn't drop it, he let out a sigh and, against the protests of the medical staff, pulled himself up into a sitting position.
[color=0072bc]"There's a reason Luke leads his group against injustice from underground,"[/color] Bruce said, keeping his voice even. He felt angered each time he recounted the tale. [color=0072bc]"It was before he met me, but he wasn't always so wary of established cities. He used to believe that most people were similarly minded to him, that only a few possessed whatever it is that makes people commit evil acts."[/color]
Bruce paused, listening for any sign that Luke might return. He knew that there was only part of the story that the renegade leader was truly sensitive about.
[color=0072bc]"Thus,"[/color] he continued. [color=0072bc]"When someone, I don't know their name, from a wealthy city and a certain clout amid that society's military met Luke, he befriended him immediately. Luke never doubted for an instant that this man was genuine in his sympathy with Luke's cause, that he'd fight with him and persuade his superiors to pool the city's vast resources to strengthen and fortify the renegades' own power."[/color]
Bruce took a deep breath to steady his pulse- he had reached the point in the story that always incurred his anger.
[color=0072bc]"So imagine, for a moment, just how much it pained Luke when, once his friend conferred with his superiors and found that instead of improving the lives of many, they wanted greater luxury for themselves. How better to achieve that than fight a war against an enemy they felt sure to win against?"[/color] Bruce said. He grit his teeth. [color=0072bc]"The city's army fell upon the renegades, led by the one Luke had thought his ally and close friend."[/color]
Bruce let his eyes close and his head fall back against the bed's headboard. There were more details he could give Jenso, but he preferred not to delve any farther into it, and he'd managed to address Jenso's question anyway.
[color=0072bc]"You know how deeply Luke is set in his ways,"[/color] Bruce said, eyes still closed. [color=0072bc]"It's why the vast majority of the people you see here arrive as refugees."[/color]
Bruce opened his eyes and glanced over at Jenso.
[color=0072bc]"I can't say what it might take to persuade him to extend his trust like that again."[/color]