Chapter Text
No… no… no… no it wasn't 4c, 4c would never betray him. Nom heard wrong. That was it! He just heard wrong! No… no he didn't… he… didn't…. Why? Why did everyone betray him? It… oh…
They betrayed him because he was him. A weapon, someone who never listened, someone who said they understood but didn't really mean it, the one who victimized himself before he ever saw anyone else as a victim. It was his fault. 4c was scared of him. 4c was… scared of him. That's why he lied. That's why he made the tunnels. So then why… Why did Nom still want to strangle him till he fell, why did he want to dig at the wood below himself and swing what was beneath it at 4c until the slime stopped moving and just accepted death. 4c was like his brother, was his brother, but all Nom wanted to do was hurt him. This is why 4c didn't tell Nom the truth… Nom is a weapon. That's all he'll ever be good for.
“Nom… please… I lost things that day too, I lost-”
“Go…”
“What?
“Just get out… give me… give me a chance to think… anything… please…”
“... Are you su-”
“I SAID GET OUT!”
“... Okay…”
Katie…. Was this why Katie left? Was he too much? Was he too aggressive? Was he not good at protecting her? Kitty had said those words before… that he didn't do a good job of protecting her. And how had he responded? That Katie was like a horse who refused to be led to water. Was…… Katie deserved a family that wasn't a violent monster. 4c… 4c should have never come back to the blue kingdom with him, he would have been safer that way. They wouldn't be the victim of Nom’s inability to regulate his horrid emotions. They wouldn't be the victims… they wouldn't be the victims if he was never their older brother. If he… if he was never their brother… maybe then they would've been able to become happy. Nom looked at the floor below him, wood the color of the path ways Scott had burrowed into the Kingdoms grounds. Walls that had the colors of Owain's red scarf and the dark wood of the house trims that 4c and Mae had built from nothing and garbage. Owain knew about his broken oath. Scott probably knew too. Mae… he had no clue what Mae knew and didn't know, if 4c had told Katie about his oath then what was the likelihood he had told Mae too. Gracie…. Oh Gracie… Gracie hadn't told a soul, his only real friend in this kingdom and he ruined it by trusting a “brother” he'd scared into silence over her. The one who'd watched him and Katie grow up, the one who knew him better then even 4c did. He ruined everything… Nom ruined everything…. Was this why his parents abandoned them?...
—---4c---—
4c stood on the little piece of sand and stone separate from the beach unsure of how to feel. Nom had never yelled at him… he doesn't even think Nom had ever been truly mad with him. Not before today, not ever. Was this his fault? No! No, it had been an accident! It was an accident! Nom had to understand that right? It had just been an accident! But… but Nom had trusted him, Nom himself told him that he was the only one he could trust. He failed to tell Nom the truth and what happened, He and Gracie hate each other and it was 4c’s fault. He had the chance to tell Nom, he had! But… what had 4c done instead, hide the truth in fear. In fear of what? When he'd asked Nom about everything, what was it he had said? That someone who had told Katie on accident was a coward for not telling him immediately. Not that he'd be mad at the person, just that he wished they would have told him. 4c knew that, and yet didn't confess right then and there. Didn't confess even after speaking with both Gracie and Katie. Didn't do anything even after Katie had seemingly caught on that Nom had broken his oath.
But it had been an accident! It was truly an accident…
Nom was silent, 4c couldn't even hear if he was breathing. He'd told him to get out, but… but what if he was hurt? Was he okay? Really okay? He was silent, 4c couldn't even tell if he was still there. I mean last time someone had talked with him about his oath he'd run out before Katie could finish speaking with him. 4c sighed then breathed in deeply before slowly coming down from the top of the rock. He'd just check and leave the moment he knew Nom was at the very least alive and down there at all. 4c carefully let himself sink below the water until he swam to the entrance, going invisible just in case. Inside Nom was there, good, okay 4c could-
He was sobbing… how had 4c not heard?
He was curled up in a ball, shaking… 4c, 4c should leave. But… but what if Nom needed him? What if he was the reason Nom was crying? What if Nom needed him!? 4c shook his head and carefully slipped inside the hideout, his invisibility fading in the light, “Nom?...”
No response.
“Nom?”
Nothing
“Nom, please I'm sorry… would you want a hug?”
……… “... Mhm” Nom nodded ever so slightly that 4c almost missed it.
4c sighed and walked over taking the large knight into his arms. Slimes were always quite the short creature, so maybe that was just 4c rather than Nom actually being large.
—---Nom---—
Nom didn't know why he was letting 4c hug him but… but Dear Knight God did he need one, he wrapped the slime in his arms and just cried, gods how long has it been since he cried?
He could breathe again, he felt the tears stop mostly and his body wasn't shaking against his will anymore. He looked forward.
“Nom?”
“... 4c…”
“I-”
“I'm sorry.”
“... What?”
“I'm sorry, for everything, for yelling at you, for scaring you, for pushing you to stop telling me things and making you avoid me, I'm sorry.”
“... Nom… oh Nom… I'm sorry, I'm sorry too,” 4c shook his head and hugged Nom again.
—---
It was a few minutes before the two had actually managed to pull themselves up to leave and when they did Nom had made the choice to grab his morning star on the way out. 4c had looked at him with a worried look but hadn't spoken a word. When they reached the mountain to start climbing it was then a small few words was asked, “are we good? Are we going to be okay?”
Nom nodded, “of course, of course, we'll be good!”
4c didn't seem sure and Nom even less so, but they both scaled the wall and when they reached the top 4c pushed a bunch of fabric into Nom’s hands, “th-the Cloak… for betraying my own..”
Nom’s eyes widened and his lip seemed to quiver, “no, no, you keep it.”
4c shook his head, “no, you should have it,” his voice was soft and there were probably things left unsaid.
Nom caught his breath and slowly took the cloak, “wha-… what do I do with it?”
“Wear it silly?” 4c giggled so softly that it was hard to tell he was laughing.
“But I-”
“I'm serious, you can wear it, here, I'll even help you put it on,” 4c took the cloak and pulled it over Nom’s head as he took off the shoulder guards Nom wore so it wouldn't tear into the fabric, “there, see? You needed a touch of blue!”
Nom’s breath hitched and he started to laugh, “you're an idiot!” He hugged 4c a third time in the day.
“You're the one who saved me! Tis you're fault I stay by your side!”
“Shut up.”
“Noooooo, you shall never silence the great 4c!”
Nom let go of the slime, “wouldn't dream of it!”
“Hey Nom?”
“Hmm?”
“Could I stay with you? I don't know if I really want to talk to the others about the other stuff yet.”
“... Sure, I'll probably have to take the couch until we get you a bed, but I wouldn't mind.”
“Thank you…”
—---
It was a few hours later after the two had snuck into the blue kingdom and to the well that there was a knock at the door of Nom's underground house. Nom sighed, holding his breath as he slowly chose to go answer the door. When he swung the door open Scott was on the other side. Nom's breath hitched before he greeted the mage, “hi- hi Scott.”
“Nom… so?”
“How'd the election go?”
“We weren't having it without you and 4c, now how'd your talk go?”
“... Please”
“If you don't want to go I can tell the others, but please… tell me what happened.”
Nom, sighed, moving out of the doorway and gesturing for Scott to come inside. He walked to his room, “4c, you okay with me telling him?”
4c nodded and then turned invisible. Nom sighed and turned back to the king who'd only be monarch for the next few minutes as he started to explain everything.
—---
“Right…. Okay then, well you two are good now, and 4c admitted to the ice and tunnels?” Scott asked.
“Mhm, didn't even think that was the thing I was mad or worried about, he genuinely was just trying to do a fun prank and the tunnels were… a safety precaution I guess,” Nom shrugged back firmly pressed into the couch.
“... 4c?”
Silence
“4c I'm not mad, but I would like to speak to you as well.”
The slime disabled his invisibility, “okay..”
“Look at me… good, now, 4c I want you to understand why I was concerned about the tunnels and ice prank okay?”
4c nodded
Scott continued, “the tunnels led far, far too closely to red kingdom, and when we caught you speaking to Katie in those tunnels it became even more worrying considering how loyal Katie is to red kingdom, you making a place you feel safe is a good thing, you using that space to hiddenly have conversations with Red Kingdom members isn't, even if you aren't talking about anything bad, dose that makes sense so far?”
4c nodded again.
“Okay, good, the other concern regarding the tunnels was the fact it came up right where the throne is, which I'm sure you can understand can be worrying with the other information?”
4c gulped and nodded.
“Hey, hey, I'm not mad, I'm just… I'm not mad at you, I was just so… worried, concerned, confused on why you didn't trust me. I know trust can be hard, Nom has told me plenty about his own issues with trust, and I mean you've seen Owain and how closed off he can be, I just… I thought we'd grown past distrust even if you didn't trust me.”
“We Did! We did! I'm… I'm sorry,” 4c yelped, rubbing at his eyes.
Scott stood up holding out a hand to 4c, 4c looked up and took it gently, Scott hugged him, “it's okay, it's okay, you'll be okay,” Scott held 4c gently as Nom watched.
“Okay…”
“Why don't you skip on the monarch stuff?”
“... Okay..”
“Nom?”
Nom looked up more closely, “yeah?”
“Are you coming or staying here with 4c?” Scott spoke softly as if speaking to a scared animal.
“Umm, I… I'll go, that okay with you 4c?” Nom turned to the slime.
“Mhm, you go,” 4c nodded and rubbed at his eyes again.
“Okay, okay, yeah let's go Scott,” Nom turned to the mage.
The mage nodded and the two left, closing the door softly behind them.
—---
Everyone was in the throne hall now and the poll to enter in as possible future monarch opened. There was silence and seemingly no one had entered, Nom sighed and slowly pushed his mind into the poll and he could feel the spirits accepting his soul as an option for the throne. It felt wrong, it was wrong, but… but maybe if he led the kingdom he could undo his wrong doings. If he could just undo the things he'd done wrong maybe he'd be able to bring everyone some peace. So after a few minutes the lights of the spirits began to flash, only Nom’s face was shown. He cringed slightly and looked away from the others.
“Nom? You, really?” Scott asked softly.
“I could kinda tell no one else had put their own name forward and it didn't want you to be stuck with the crown so…”
Scott laughed, “pff- thank you.”
Nom nodded begrudgingly, “I'm just hopeing I don't fuck everything up.”
Mae shook her head, “I don't think you will! Though can I ask where 4c is?”
“He wanted to sit this one out, it's been a bit of a long day, he'll be a bit more talkative tomorrow, but I'd say give him a bit of space for now,” Nom shrugged.
Mae’s face flashes with concern, but looking around at the people near her she nodded, “okay, I'll check on him tomorrow.”
And with a final flash the crown Scott wore appeared upon Nom’s head. The flowers seem to wilt as soon as the crown touches his head. Nom frowned, great, not he had rotted plants on his head, that totally helped with his image. Nom sighed and Scott patted his shoulder, nodding towards the throne. The knight now king nodded and slowly walked to the throne and slowly as unsure as a knight can be sat upon the throne. He breathed in slowly, then breathed out even slower, “ehem, I…” Nom had no clue what to say.
Owain stepped forward, “what is your first decree my Leige?”
Nom looked up and gave Owain a small smile, “my first decree is… is to… well I wouldn't really call it a decree as much as it's a request, but I think it would be nice to maybe incorporate some of people's homelands into the kingdom, I know Shan and Scott weren't from here, Owain you've only been here a few months from before the last large battle and 4c I brought here myself almost half a year to two years ago, so I thought maybe we could incorporate some of the places we call or called home outside of blue into blue, it's just a suggestion though.”
Mae jumped up, “no,no I like that idea, we should do it!”
Nom smiled, “thank you.”
“I'm assuming your phrase for your reign is going to be Well-Well-Well?” Eloise tilted her head to the side.
“You bet,” Nom nodded.
Owain had fallen silent but now spoke, “if that is what you ask of me, then I'll see what I have of my previous home in my memories.”
Nom grinned, “wonderful! Well with that settled I'm assuming we are still waiting for Legundo to return from the Red Kingdom?”
“Mhm, it's been a while but hopefully he will return soon,” Shan answered.
“Okay… umm… any suggestions?” Nom felt awkward sitting above them and it felt horrid.
“Perhaps a question? What are your plans for the war with red,” Gracie’s voice was cold in a way that chilled Nom’s bones.
“...... Do what is necessary to protect each other and ourselves but we don't need to strike first, and hopefully we won't need to strike at all, but if they attack us we finish it, I don't know how to create peace between the kingdoms but I will endeavor to avoid war at least any war started by blue kingdom,” Nom rubbed his arms scratching ever so slightly.
“Honor, you will never start a war but you will finish it, I can appreciate that my lord,” Owain bowed and nodded.
Nom sighed with relief, even if Gracie was still upset with him, having Owain's approval helped with his worry inside, “of course, and Owain you don't need to call me a title, I'm still Nom, even with a crown.”
Owain nodded, “of course m- Nom, I can endeavor to do that.”
“Hello? Am I interrupting something?” a voice called from the entrance.
“No, come in Legundo!” Nom called out.
The elf walked up the stairs to the throne room, “hello, I have an announcement to share? I see you've already done your new monarch ceremony.”
Nom nodded, “yes… hi.”
“Well my new king and former king, it is my pleasure to announce that the order shall be allying with the Blue Kingdom!” Legundo smiled as he announced the news.
Nom grinned, “that amazing! Thank you for the support!”
“Of course, now… I should probably go and give Red the bad news…” Legundo looked to the exit of the castle with concern.
Nom couldn't help but find amusement in those words, “well I wish you luck, I can sense that my sister has become queen so have fun with that!”
“Oh right before I go, where is that slime fellow I had a gift for him,” Legundo turned back to Nom.
Nom sighed, “he's a bit tired and already retired for the day but I can bring the gift to him, I know where he's staying.”
“Wonderful! Here it's a short letter and that turtle helmet he kept trying to steal. I wanted to give it to him anyway since I don't really need it and it seemed to make him quite happy!” Legundo quickly walked up to the throne offering the gift with our stretched hands.
Nom stepped down from the throne and took the two items holding them close, “mhm, I'll take these to him, I'm sure he'll love it.”
“Good to hear! Now I'll be off, have a good evening your majesty and former majesty,” Legundo bowed to both Nom and Scott before leaving the room.
Nom pressed his lips tight before turning to the people of Blue, “I guess… meeting over.”
They nodded and quickly started to leave, Nom looked at the box of supplies Legundo had left for them, “Owain.”
The lion knight paused from where he was about to leave, “yes m- Nom?”
“I leave you in charge of the supplies, I'm sure you'll be able to know how to delegate it,” Nom offered.
“... Of course, I'll take I with me then,” Owain approached the box and carefully lifted it upon his shoulders before turning to leave, “stay safe Nom.”
“Always,” Nom waved.
Scott sighed, “I suppose you'll be going to give that to 4c then?”
Nom nodded, “yeah… yeah I'll be going to do that, though, Scott, I have something I'd like you to enchant if it's not too much?”
Scott nodded, “of course whatever you need.”
“Follow me,” Nom said as they made their way back to the well.