Ha. [He breathes out a laugh, the smallest smirk pulling at his lips.] Don't give yourself too much credit. I was doing it first.

[There's no need to apologize and it feels weird thinking that. Their past has been tied together with aggravation and exasperation yet nothing felt wrong. They were comrades. Frustration was part of the job description, wasn't it?

A silence stretches between them now and despite the clear awkwardness of the situation, Jean feels calm. They're on the same plane, just moving different ways. It was how it had always been. The one part of this whole universe that was, really. There's a comfort there that makes Jean move a hand, tentative and slow, around the back of Eren's neck.]

Hey. I know I'm not that good at this stuff but. Uh.

[He doesn't think about it, just bringing Eren down against his shoulder and taking a deep breath.] I'm sorry. That I wasn't there to protect him.