Bruce's nerves and muscles flared into tension. When did he get into the chamber? 

He didn't move- more precisely, his instincts were shouting at him to remain still while his mind struggled to avoid going into shock at having his back taken so [i]easily[/i].

[color=0072bc][i]'Focus.'[/i][/color] Bruce barked at himself, re-establishing his sense of awareness as the chill that had permeated his back finally faded. [color=0072bc][i]'No sudden movements.'[/i][/color]

Vale's own end seemed imminent- thinking on what he'd just been told, actually, silence or attempts to combat Yzeira with assassination techniques would be worthless, granted that he was as all-seeing as Vale claimed.

Sakki had quieted significantly, though Bruce felt seething in the back of his mind. 

[color=0072bc][i]'He is a predator. The kind that can afford to eat only when hungry.'[/i][/color]

Bruce slipped the hairband off his wrist, carefully gathering his hair into the ponytail he'd forsaken not days earlier. He'd spoken the truth for Vale- he wanted to earn his right to be alive. When his end came, he had his doubts about whether or not he'd go to the same place his Lucille did.

He was not going to take the chance that she didn't recognize him if they [i]did[/i] meet again.

That done, he exhaled slowly, his breath matching the withdrawal of his blade from his sheath. Two fingers ran across the blade's edge, and a familiar red streak seeped into the golden Ki. 

He flipped the blade in his hand so that the blunt end ran up his forearm, seeming to pull another identical sword out from an excess flow of Ki at its hilt that he wielded in his other hand. 

It was only then that he heard Alvios.

[color=mediumorchid][b]"You."[/b][/color]

Despite the sheer pressure of the situation and the gravitas attached to it, and maybe because of it- or perhaps having one of his allies there simply made him a bit braver, Bruce smiled a little.

[color=0072bc]"I appreciate you playing chaperone, Lightbringer."[/color]