A/N: This one has a mention of rape in it. Nothing explicit is said of what happened, but please be wary.
"There's something I've got to get off my chest. I'm... sorry. Sorry I wasn't there for your father."
Cor's apology came as a surprise, except to Nimue. She knew he didn't have anything to apologize for, because it wasn't his fault that Regis had died. No, there'd been traitors to the Kingsglaive that had set it up for Regis to fall. Perhaps it would've been different if they understood Regis' motives a bit better. Nimue knew it had to have been hard for him to give up the areas to Niflheim, but he was only doing what he thought was right... even if it didn't seem so to the ones he allowed to become a part of his Glaives.
"I swore an oath to protect the King, but I wasn't strong enough to uphold it."
"Even if you were there, ain't nothin' gonna stop them Niffs from gettin' what they want." Cid said, walking over to sit on the couch. "It wouldn't have made a difference."
"I'm inclined to agree, Cor." Nimue spoke up. "I understand the weight of the guilt you're carrying right now, but I don't think the King would've blamed you. I'm no expert, but I have a feeling he would've rather you continue to survive. After all, there's a reason you're called Cor the Immortal, isn't there?"
"You may be right, but I still broke my oath."
"Cor." Noctis was the one to speak up next. "I doubt my father would've given two shits about you breaking your oath. You're generally where you're needed the most, and he's always said you'd be guiding me long after he was gone. And... I'm glad you weren't there, because who else would've come up with the strategy to deal with the Imperial Blockade?"
"I'm sure Ignis would have." Cor pointed out. Ignis covered a slight laugh with a cough and shook his head.
"Noct's right, you know!" Prompto chipped in. "We're pretty grateful for your help, all things considered."
"And it ain't like you can't pick up the broken pieces of your oath." Gladio pointed out. "Just forge 'em anew."
"I'll have to agree." Ignis stated. "Until recently, I hadn't seen live combat so the strategy you gave us helped in the long run."
Cid laughed. "Looks like you got a talkin' to, Cor." His tone turned somber. "But you, *Prince Noctis*, need to understand what you mean to those boys and girl by your side."
"I do." Noctis said, looking to Cid.
"Even if they can't solve your problems, you can't hide what's goin' on from 'em." There was a pause as Cid mumbled to himself, shaking his head just slightly as he sat there on the couch. Leaning forward, he continued. "Remember, those ain't your bodyguards- they're your siblings. Trust in 'em, always."
Trust in them. Cid was including her in this, probably having heard about how she'd helped them out for a while now. Swallowing thickly, Nimue looked away. If they were to trust her, she had to trust them with the truth of what was going on with her. Trust them not to look at her any differently, or like some sort of crazy axe murderer like the stereotypes tended to portray people like her as. Though they meant well with their concern, she had been overly concerned. Nimue just hoped they were... receptive to the information.
Cid got up from the couch, taking a glance at her and inclining his head towards the boat before walking off. Taking that as a sign he wanted her to follow him first, she walked after him. Boarding the boat, it was there that he started to speak to her.
"The Prince told me you were new, but eager to prove yourself. The fact he's lettin' you stick around speaks miles about how much he trusts you." Cid stated plainly as he made sure everything was in order. "And that doesn't come lightly. Now, I know there's somethin' goin' on in that noggin of yours, so when you get the chance... you tell 'em what's goin' on with you."
"...I was planning to on the way to Altissia." Nimue said. "There's a lot going on with me, and I have to trust them with the information... and trust that they won't look at me differently."
"That ain't gonna happen. Those boys may be a bit thick-headed at times, Noctis in particular, but they ain't gonna treat you any differently. Just tell 'em."
"...Right."
When footsteps started to approach, Cid called out. "Waitin' for an invitation? Get your asses on board!"
The sky was clear, with a shining sun, and the ocean was all around them. There was no turning back from here. Nimue sat on the second sofa-like seat, with Prompto close by. It took a bit for her to gather her courage to speak about it, but she finally cut in.
"Guys, I... have something important to tell you." Nimue started.
"What's up?" Gladio asked. Ignis pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose, giving her a knowing look.
"You can tell us, y'know." Noctis said, leaning on the back of the seat.
"Yeah! Though, I'm guessing it's time you finally reveal that secret of yours?" Prompto asked.
Nimue nodded. "...I've been afraid of telling you guys for the longest time. Back where I'm from, what I have is generally demonized and the people who have it are stereotyped. And it was always a bad thing to tell under pressure. A few years ago, after a very traumatic incident..."
They were listening, as attested to by the silence except for the boat. Nimue took a deep breath and continued. "I kept a brave face on, trying to deal with the aftermath of what happened to me. But I kept waking up with little memory of what happened, and notes left for me from classes I didn't remember attending. The worst part was when I met the boy who... hurt me. I blacked out, and it felt like I'd been shoved off a cliff just beforehand. And when I came to, I had his shirt collar in my hand and my fist was... bloody. His face was bloody. I'd beaten him within an inch of his life."
"Holy shit!" Prompto exclaimed.
"How badly did he hurt you?" Noctis asked.
"...Very. He..." Nimue glanced away. "...he raped me... and it was orchestrated by Karen."
The tension in the air was thick at that, and Nimue shifted uncomfortably in her seat. Gladio cracked his knuckles, and Prompto put a hand on her shoulder. Ignis looked absolutely infuriated and Noctis looked like he was about to kill someone.
"No one's gonna hurt you like that again." Noctis said.
"If I ever meet him..." Gladio trailed off, but the intention was clear.
"We're here for you, okay?" Prompto said, trying to relieve the tension in the air. "We're friends, after all!"
"I'll be sure to have a few words with whoever tries hurting you in the future." Ignis stated plainly, the intention also clear in his tone.
Nimue gave a nod. "...Thanks, you guys. I... did try, for a while, to pretend everything was okay. Unfortunately, that didn't work. It wasn't until two months before the convention I was going to that I figured out why it was all happening, though. The blackouts, the lapses in memory, the notes and the blood on my fist.. I went to therapy, terrified of what was happening, and I got diagnosed with Dissociative Identity Disorder."
"You mean... like, that's the reason you've been acting like Ignis and a more crass, ruder version of Gladio?" Noctis asked, getting straight to the point.
"It makes sense." Ignis pointed out. "There were a few instances where she acted quite differently from what we were used to. I'd already figured it out the second time it happened."
"Man, you figure everything out before we do." Prompto slumped in his seat.
"Good to know, though. Now we don't have to worry about it being random daemons that somehow possessed your body." Gladio gave a smirk.
Nimue looked at the four of them individually. "...You mean, you don't think I'm a crazy axe murderer or need to be institutionalized?"
"Why the hell would we think that?" Noctis asked bluntly. "Regardless of whatever's going on with your head, you're our friend, Nimue. This doesn't change things, it just adds more to what we know about you."
There was a murmur of agreement, and Nimue slumped in her own seat, covering her face with her hands. It took her a few moments to compose herself. Peeking through her fingers, she smiled.
"Thanks, you guys. That... really means a lot."