[What should he even do? There's nothing impressive there, if you ask him: he messed up, he wasn't good enough, but crying over it instead of just trying to be better... it wouldn't help anyone. She's the one who knows how they died and he will probably not share it again unless something forces him to.

Instead he steps closer, bringing his hands to her shoulders should she allow the contact.]

Then build new ones. I know we're in a difficult situation, but where a dream ends, we can build another if the old one is unreachable, right? [Too positive? too much. he knows that. But he's trying his best and he can't sound too smart.] I'm sorry your ambitions are out of reach now, but I'm certain your efforts were not for naugh. For what it's worth... thank you for trying your best.

[He knows nothing of titans or such, but he has the most positive impression of her and... he would rather *not* dimish her efforts. that being said, perhaps he can give her some extra motivation by accepting her help in this?]

Well- [A wink and a smile as he forces his own distress down.] I would love to have a person like you 'on the case' so to speak. I'm not... good at protecting them. The fact they're here is proof of that. But... I'm at least good at working with other people.