"It almost certainly is," Tseng concedes. He doesn't like this, the lack of strength in Rufus's hands. He wonders if this is what the future holds for him. Imagine that, with no reassurance that it will ever get better.

Or not. Tseng does not want to think about that. It's why it is imperative that their pact holds.

He presses his fingers to Rufus's throat. They clench, just for a second, while Tseng's eyes remain focused on his face, completely void of emotion.

"Do you see how vulnerable you are?" he asks, smoothing his fingers over the places he was just grasping, almost as if in apology.