His pulse is already pounding beneath Bruce's fingers, but it's the palpable absence of compulsion that makes his heart skip.

It's more stunned relief than true surprise - he hasn't forgotten that the obedience wasn't even part of the original deal - but it shakes him all the same; for a few moments he just sits with that, leaning into that gently dangerous grip.

Then he pulls back just enough to do what he was told.