Rinka's more 'cringe' reactions were really just. Teenagers being teenagers and her being a pain. Really, she couldn't be happier for her mom.

But that did lead her to ask.

"Why did it take so long?"

Her bicolored eyes leveled at Nyx. He didn't squirm under her gaze, as intense as it was, but he certainly had to cough suddenly and rub the back of his neck awkwardly.

"Uh. Well. Full disclosure. I was an idiot. Thought I had more chances than I did, flubbed the chances I did get, sat on my ass for entirely too long and nearly lost out entirely until that night when we brought Prompto here. That was the kick in the pants I needed, but then I got stuck on a bunch of missions because my CO was salty about using the Glaives to find one civilian kid."

"Who just happens to be the princes' best friend. You really got shit for that?"

"Sure did. Drautos is a hardass on the best of days. Anyway, I finally slapped down a time off request just so I could come here and actually have a conversation with Rox, and, well..."

"You were shirtless in our kitchen the next morning."

Nyx laughed and held his hands up in an amused shrug.

"More or less."