But he did have to explain, because he kept pushing things Aoba didn't want. Whether it was for the man's own good or not, Declan still felt guilty about it. Especially since there was at least a nugget of ulterior motive there. He instantly felt disgusted with himself for thinking those thoughts, anyways.

"Guns don't mean killing," he added after a moment of thought. "You can fire warning shots, you can wound superficially just to give yourself time to get to cover. I don't want you to have to do anything you find morally challenging, either. If you're ever unsure, I make an excellent shield," the Titan pointed out, thumping a fist on his chest with a half smile and tilt of his head.

"And I can erect an actual impenetrable shield as well. So best case scenario, we never see combat and worst case scenario, you fire a warning shot and run. Either way, safety is important, so a quick rundown at the range is necessary. But after that, if you feel confident running, I leave that choice up to you. I'll defer to your judgment, Aoba. I promise, I won't force you to do anything, ever. Really, that includes carrying the weapons, if you're genuinely against it."