[ He's not lost to the way he trembles in his arms, minute as they are. It's hard not to feel them when he's holding onto the kid as close as he is. Nor is he lost to the words that accompany that feeling and the tone it sets if not only in the vocal fear. It's enough to get him frowning even as he lets Jim have his space again, lets him look around to prove to himself that it's just them. That nothing's followed them- and nothing has. He's checked. They're safe far as he knows. But he can't blame Jim.

It's only when the cadet looks back at him, when he ducks his head like that as if ashamed and says that- that's when Zack acts again. That's when he reaches out a hand and gently ruffles his hair with a softer expression. ] We're in the clear. I checked it out before you got here. Nothing's gonna bug us tonight. You eat anything lately? [ He honestly doubts it. Fear has a habit of making appetite a lost cause which might be why he's already going for his pack.

Besides, Jim seems like he could use as many distractions as possible at this point. ]