What's that thing they say about a rose by any other name?

Chapter 10: The Little Gorgon is in a love triangle

At Pantalone's manor in the guest bedroom

Yumie's P.O.V:

I was getting scolded by some of the healers in the guest room, with Capitano talking to someone in the hallway and the healers changing my bandages. I hiss in pain from one healer pulling my ear a bit too hard.

"Are you listening to me? You are lucky that you're alive! I don't understand why Lord Capitano even wants you healed. You're just a product of a monster making another monster."

I flinch at that word and nod as the healer sighs before she finishes changing my bandages and putting new ones on. She's right... I am a monster. I don't deserve any kindness. The healer wrapped my side and walked with the other healers following her before I looked out the window.

"You shouldn't let them talk to you like that, Miss Yumie," I turn around to see Childe standing there with Capitano behind him. I looked at my hands and sighed. "I'm sorry about the agents that were assigned to you."

When I hear about Igor and the other members, I grip the comforter tightly. They didn't deserve that. They should have been in the city enjoying their vacation, and I should have been collecting flowers.

"Tartaglia, leave now. I need to talk to... Miss Yumie alone."

"Yes, sir! See you later, Miss Yumie!"

I know Capitano will yell at me, but I can't bear to look at him. I started to cry silently, gripping the comforter so tight that my knuckles turned white.

"Viper-"

"I know... It's my fault that they died. If I wasn't here, maybe they would still be alive," I said, closing my eyes and trying to stop my tears from coming down, but I couldn't. I should've-

"It's not your fault, Yumie. You didn't know that the Traveler would be there. We just got news about them three days ago. Your mission was to get information, not fight the Traveler. Those agents were doing their job, protecting you." I turned to look at Captiano and saw he was next to him, holding his helmet in his right arm. He had an X-shaped scar on his face, his deep blue eyes looking at me, and his black hair was in a ponytail. I loosened my grip on the comforter and touched his scar before I knew it, but he grabbed my wrist gently before speaking softly. "Don't. You must understand this isn't your fault. The scar on my face resulted from when I was a soldier and learned two things that day. One, I will never let anyone get the drop on me again."

I nod, and he lets go of my wrist before he looks into my eyes. I look at him with my snakes coming out towards him. "And two?" I said quietly, and he put his helmet back on before gently petting my snakes. He whispered this in a voice that made me shiver. "If the world is going to be cruel and heartless toward those who truly need help, then I will burn the world to save even one person."

"I know the world's cruel, but I don't want to burn it down. If you burn the world down, who will be left to show people the kindness and mercy they deserve?" I said, looking at him, and he moved his hand away. We kept looking at each other before he got close to my face, and I blushed deeply. He's so close to my face.

"We will, Viper. You can fight, but only when you have no other choice. I will ask the Jester to let me train you so this doesn't happen again. You didn't fail your mission." He said, gently touching my cheek before walking out of the room. As my snakes gently nuzzled my cheek, I felt my face burning. He was being nice... but why? I thought he hated me. And he called me by my name.

Captiano's P.O.V:

I was walking quickly out of the manor and saw the carriage before entering. I nodded to the agent and let her drive us to Northland Bank. I have to tell Regrator what happened to the Viper. I was fuming with anger, and I knew why. That Viper got hurt by the Traveler and Diluc. I rolled my hand into a fist, and the carriage started moving. I knew I shouldn't be angry, but I saw her face. She was scared. She was scared of fighting, but she did it anyway to protect that Vanguard.