America the Mysterious (United States of America #1.5)

The Guilty and The Innocent

I forgot to add the Vietnam War to the Through My Eyes one-shots, so I'm going to put it right here.

They stared at one another, saying and doing nothing. There was no contempt in their eyes, but rather pity and traces of sorrow and exhaustion. Their bodies were weary, being covered with dirt and specks of blood here and there, and their clothes had seen better days as a result.

The both of them said nothing to each other for many long minutes, though they didn't need to. There was simply nothing they could say.

Though eventually Vietnam couldn't take the silence anymore.

"Why America? Why did you have to get involved? This had nothing to do with you!"

America's expression didn't change, though when she spoke up, Vietnam could tell the other woman was more tired than she looked. "Do you believe I wanted this Vietnam? That I wanted to send boys who were no more than eighteen out to a war that will scar them for the rest of their lives? Cause chaos in both of our worlds?"

"Well, no, but--"

"I don't expect you to believe a word I say Vietnam, because frankly none of us have the right to, and you know it."

"What?" Vietnam never thought her voice would sound so weak to her ears, much less around this woman. She didn't hate America, rather she feared her. The woman clearly couldn't care less about most of the nations, and Vietnam was pretty sure she was on that list, and the former had no problem in killing said nations if they proved to be a problem for her.

"You should know as well as I do Vietnam." America stood up at this point. "No matter how much we try to consult ourselves, nothing will change what we have done. I don't care how you use this information, but remember this: No one is innocent here, not you and certainly not me. Remember that."

America then walked away without waiting for a reply from the Asian woman. In fact, said nation tried to say something, but no sound would come out.

Still, Vietnam wanted to scream out to America that she was the innocent one here, and not her, but couldn't. Her heart was screaming for her to say those words, but her mind did otherwise, no matter how much it hurt.

In the Vietnam War, who exactly were the innocent and guilty people? She didn't know, but Vietnam at least knew the answer to one part of it.

She and America were not innocent in this, of that much America was certainly right about.