Aoba was quietly thoughtful in response, his own hand reflexively grabbing onto a bit of strapping on Declan’s gear as the Titan shifted his own arm. Desire had some things to grumble there, but the gold didn’t press forward just yet.

“I’m going to do my best,” Aoba agreed, nodding gently. “And I think…that’s something I really owe you for. Even Ren was angry and suspicious the first time that ‘split’ appeared, and he’s been with me for years. But you—even when I lashed out at you, you forgave me. On top of everything else I’ve been going through with this ‘Chosen One’ stuff, it’s just….”

He trailed off, thoughts meandering. Losing that particular train of them, he picked up another with a soft sigh.

“…You’ve been everything I’ve needed, when I needed it, right from the moment I wound up in that bar’s restroom.”