[He'll sit there like a good boy, enjoying the strokes through his dark hair. It feels good and it's soothing his antsy energy too. He'd been about ready to go crack some more thug corsair skulls (can't sit for a long while!!) but he could sit a while longer.]

I wouldn't want you to break a knuckle for me, but yeah. You get it then.

[Hearing G'raha's laugh even with the wheeze from the pain has Zack nodding. He better take it easy...]

I've seen a lot of people that I care about get hurt before. There's been too many times that I've done everything I can to protect them and they still get hurt somehow. I can't let it happen, anymore. That's why you should let me protect you.

[So it's a bit of trauma for him as well. Things he wishes he did better, regrets and what ifs...]