[He ducks his head and nods. He'd like to save tears for being in private, so it's best he not try to verbally return the sentiment right at this moment. But he squeezes her hand. If it's hard enough to hurt, it's out of anything but malice.

When he trusts his voice, he switches topics. Other things to catch her up on.]

I, uh. Have something of a protege. May have passed on the old name to her. She had some real terrible ideas for hero names.