"I'm telling her you said that," Seoraj says, reflexively, which doesn't count as hiding behind Hasi's skirts when a) she probably won't be wearing any and b) he'd only be back there to look at her arse. Taking the time to make sure Bruce understands that he's going to be held to that and that he can anticipate a repeat performance of Seoraj and Hasi ganging up on him doesn't stop him from catching that click and reacting physically, an easy step back from the dragon and it isn't a threatening stance that he falls into but it's-- ready, loosely coiled rather than tense, prepared to move in whichever direction he's going to need to in the next few moments.

Sod's law is multiversal.