To her touch, she'd find the fabric of the cape soft and velveteen, comfortable against the skin. The wearing of one was a near constant in some form or style on Krypton, and in his time here, he had not quit the habit.

"Those aren't skills I can teach you safely, as much as I would like to." He learned to fight and how to defend himself from Zod, but here those skills are limited in application, and ones he is hesitant to put to use now, in the aftermath.

The likelihood of severely injuring or killing her in the process, if he did try, would be nearly guaranteed. Even without powers, accidents happened.

As for her grumblings...

"While not everyone uses methods you like, they're trying because they care for you."