The step doesn't go unnoticed, nor does it do anything to help with the panic. Skulduggery is large and intimidating - maybe not bulky, but tall like how Kaito is tall and lithe. He doesn't want anyone to be near him because he doesn't know. He can't be positive he isn't compromised, because it isn't like he thought he was compromised before.

His attempt to tell Skulduggery to leave him alone again falls flat - nothing but a wheezed out whimper from lungs rebelling against him in his continued panic. It's too much. Too much. Toomuchtoomuch. He thought he could handle this war, but he can't. He's too weak. He's not made to be a strong person.