He'd been called cocky (among a lot of other things) by not a few people—confidence wasn't something he lacked. It hadn't taken him long to learn even appearing sure of yourself went a long way (even in Wonderland).

With Alice, however, his confidence evaporated.

When Ratter brought her in, soaking wet, he was quite the cock-of-the-walk.

Facing Dodo—well, it wasn't the first time he'd stared down the wrong end of a gun barrel. (There was a reason he wore body armor.) It was the first time he'd done it for a girl, however. Of course, he didn't actually expect to get shot. (No one ever does.)

Hell, he'd even willingly put himself out there to draw in a Jabberwock. (It wasn't his fault it liked the smell of Alice better. She was just lucky he could land a punch.)

But looking at her in the firelight, knowing she was going to save her Jack and leave Wonderland (leave him), left him despairing. And determined not to show it.

He'd just make the most of what he had. And if Alice changed her mind about Jackie-boy?

All the better.