Nel glanced sharply in Szayel's direction, but he seemed to be oblivious. What they didn't need right now was Szayel sticking his oar in and upsetting Kadaj further.

She moved slowly and carefully around the table to get behind Kadaj, keeping a respectable distance so as not to set him off, and making sure not to move too suddenly, so as not to set him off.

He was holding on by the skin of his teeth, by her reckoning. If he let it out verbally, things should be okay, but Hojo had demonstrated a knack for being as oblivious as Szayel, so far, to the possible consequences of him running his mouth.