She may see that about herself, but what he sees is the little archer he chose to teach to shoot like a Centaurian. She's stronger than she knows and as determined as any old war vet. He'd practically told her as much before she went under but it's doubly obvious now.

"You're a good girl, you know that?" Yondu states the blatantly obvious just because he's overwhelmed that she's trying to be so brave for him. In this whole nightmare fuel hellscape, this little pocket of pinkness and light standing up to her fears.

"You don't gotta hold my hand the whole time, it's fine. I ain't the only person that's gonna need support, especially if ever'body's gettin' this." Who the hell knows what Madoka will. "This is just somethin' I've been tryin' real hard not to think about." And, unfortunately, a defining moment. One where he had to turn around and say those that would cross him would come out with nothing, not even their lives, and no one would benefit from his defeat. He wouldn't even leave his ship to be taken by someone else.

"Alright, well since you're bein' so brave, how about you lead the way. Just don't look back." Don't look at them, and what they never deserved to have happen.