He can't help but to be relieved when the tears cease.

It does not show in his expression; only the stoicism that Rocket has come to expect from him. He watches as she rubs at reddened eyes and pulls herself together, inclines his head in somber agreement with her words.

"Sooner or later, most of us are forced to make a choice. If it were between your life and his, would you have hesitated?"

Such had been the circumstance of Gavin's first... but it had not been the League agent who'd threatened him with death. It had been his partner in crime, so to speak, ordering him to strike to attest to his loyalty. And he had, because there had been no choice.

"Understand that I will never ask you to kill if you're uncomfortable. But death is unavoidable in Rocket, and you'll have to face it one way or another."

This time, her dismissive tone is not met with disapproval or retort. Though the underboss was cold, demanding, the situation at hand necessitated a gentler approach. This he understands, at least.

He expects this to be the end of it, pushes off from the wall only to pause when she speaks.

It's a long moment before he answers.

"I think that if they were eager to aim a gun at a child," for Plank is still a child to him, child soldier or no, "then they wouldn't have hesitated to point one at me, and I would not have hesitated."

He has not forgotten about the grunt laid up in the medical bay with a bullet in his shoulder. Though uncertain if this is the answer peggie vela is looking for, it is Gavin's truth; he will not lie to her, not for this.