Yeah, it's that "just in case" that had Zak worried. He carried nothing--mostly because he'd been forbidden to take any pipe bombs outside of Garden. Oh well. He had his feet, at least.

"I'm probably lucky I can leave Garden now. Or they trust that you two SeeDs can keep one unruly cadet in line, right?"

He tried to paste a goofy grin on his face, because he was joking. Well. Mostly. But it probably came off as more nervous than anything.

"I don't think I gave you guys adequate congratulations, by the way. I'll have to make it up to you at some point. Or pay for dessert, I don't know."