[Amal listens to this with patience and a familiar ache. This story really does sound familiar. He had his fair share of horrible names lobbed at him, too-- and sometimes still did, when he was in especially backwater places. Eorzea was accepting of same sex couples but there was still so much to be done about prejudice against those born of two races... It sounded like Fortuna was a little of the same.]

There's just no pleasing people who are determined to hate you. Struggle against the labels they give you, and it doesn't do a thing. Fail them, and you're only living up to their expectations...

No child should ever deal with that. While I can't say my experience was the same, I think I understand what you went through.

[He steps forward, and only now does he reach out to clasp Nox's shoulder. But if there's any flinching he'll back off. As someone who's relatively touch-averse himself, he knows the importance of boundaries.]

There's power in giving up. Hear me out:

The moment I gave up convincing people that I was something other than their misconceptions, that was the moment I freed myself from all of it. Because... in the end, the only person you need to convince is you. If you work hard to be a better person then you'll become one. If you fight to protect people, you'll learn how to be a guardian. If you want to make the world around you a better place, it will happen.

I think you've figured that out already, though. The Nox in those old memories went through some shite, but so have you, and you're kind and considerate and completely dedicated to keeping your kids safe.

That's all you. That was the path you set for yourself. No one can take that away from you.