Ignis reached out and clamped Caius’ shoulders. For a moment, panicked instinct almost caused Caius to lash out. But his last dregs of rational thought stopped him, and his shoulders sank, hands slumped to his sides as Caius seemed to sober up in that moment. In his panic, he had completely forgotten that Ignis was even there. He had tried to keep a level head at first, but the more that the realization sank in, the worse it got. Caius had prided himself in being able to remain the level-headed one in any situation, able to keep calm and handle things objectively and logically. They were some of his best tools in becoming an excellent mercenary, in his opinion. But Caius wasn’t trained for, nor had the means to handle what was going on right now.

All of it was just… Too much. And perhaps Caius hadn’t helped his situation by spending all these years trying to help fix other people’s personal problems instead of looking inward and making a serious effort to tackle his own. He had been able to anchor many others while on Zephon, but in the end, he didn’t know how to anchor himself. Caius refused to admit it, but he had needed help for a very long time. But nobody around him had been able to provide that. Especially when it came to problems on Eos, he had been the one trying to solve everything and help others sort through it all. He was, technically, the older one. He needed to be the mature and level-headed presence who helped guide Noctis and Prompto in their endeavours, and ensure their prison break went smoothly. But Caius didn’t have anyone who could do the same for him when he struggled. Even with all the people around in, Caius had, in a sense, always been on his own – to fight those inner battles alone.

Noctis had tried to help, or at least had once everything went completely to shit, and he had appreciated it. But Noctis was just as lost as he was.

Caius stared at Ignis as his breathing began to slow with the realization of where he was. Following his lead, Caius tried to better regulate his breathing, in and out in more steady bursts instead of the rapidfire pace it had been going at. His hand moved to his left shoulder, which he hadn’t even fully processed until now had been hurting. It was also when he realized that he had been shaking like a leaf.

Eventually, Caius would sit down where he had been guided to of his own volition. His free hand had latched onto Ignis’ arm at some point in all this, and while he was embarrassed by it, he didn’t know if he wanted to let go either. But eventually his breathing started to hit slower levels, and his grip slacked until his hands fell onto his own lap.

“I’m sorry.”

It was the first he had spoken since Ignis had intervened. Caius was deeply ashamed of himself for what he had done. Ignis needed and had earned all the needed care in the world after what had been done to him, and here he was completely losing it. And a blind man, in pain himself, had to help him. Likely at great pains to himself.

“Bed is directly behind you, soft 180 angle.”

The voice that came out was weak, soft and quiet. But there came that side of Caius who was used to being the one to care for others. Who had to be the one to step in and help others wherever he could. His instruction came between breaths, but at least it was a sign he was starting to come down. As his awareness continued to rise, as did his shame, Caius took a deep breath while simultaneously wiping his face. It was a disgraceful way to be in the face of someone like Ignis, who had done so much. He held out an arm, then, to ensure Ignis would be able to return to his bed properly without losing his way or swaying and hitting something. Only lowering the arm when Ignis had found somewhere he was comfortable with, bed or not.

“I…”

How did he explain any of that? How did he explain that disgraceful display, any of it? Ignis barely knew him, and here he was having completely broken down. He didn’t know what to say, much less what to do. But Ignis was owed an explanation, so he had to try.

“I am a member of the family Lucis Caelum. I’ve known for about a day. We tried to commune with the Kings to beseech their aid. It didn’t go well, and it triggered a lot of lost or repressed memories. The… Prophecy – said Noctis will be the last King, the last of the Lucian line. My mother had lived a quiet existence in the Citadel for some time, but the deaths or disappearances of most of the Lucian line could not be ignored. In a desperate attempt to save my parents and their children, King Regis…”

It was still difficult to talk about, even when this was the third time now. Caius hesitated, as if speaking it would mean acknowledging it. But it had to be done. Ignis was owed that.

“... We had to disappear. Out of the public eye, like we never existed. But the fates made sure even that was in vain, my family was tortured and killed nonetheless. With none around to save them. There used to be people who showed up sometimes, talked to my mom for a bit, never bought anything. In hindsight were probably there to check in occasionally, but none visited anymore once the treaty was drafted and Lucis pulled back. My family died alone, slowly and horribly, by the hand of brigands a few years after the darkness came. Hired by one my father had made enemy of while in the King’s employ. And I myself was not safe from the fate intended for my family -- even after Lucis was saved. But I went of my own choice, knowing that as the prophecy dictated, Noctis would guide Lucis and its people into the future. I accepted that.”

He clenched his hands into fists, teeth gritted, but did take a deep breath as he tried to keep himself from going back to that place.

“Finding out they had intended Noctis to die too – averted or not, I just…”

His hands fell. He chewed the inside of his cheek. It went unsaid, but the fact he had mentioned “a day” meant he hadn’t had time to process any of it before Ignis had accidentally dropped that second bombshell.

“... I don’t know.”