Castalia

It's established that Rook and Viago have a loving but disgruntled relationship. Viago is the type to bully the crap out of Rook and pick apart everything about them, but if anyone even dared to do the same he'd set out a hit on them. The type to groan whenever they enter a room, to criticise them...but if anything happned to Rook he'd be inconsolable.

That's the reality. But often, being on the end of a relationship such as Rook's, it's hard to realise that type of person DOES love you. Maybe you know deep down, but with the whole 'professional' context surrounding their relationship. I can imagine Rook does feel like an 'investment' to Viago and nothing more. That anything remotely affectionate, might just be Rook being hopeful or making it up in their head.

And the state of their relationship in Veilguard is this. Rook went against orders, maybe even Viago's direct orders. In order to save some people from the Antaam. As a consequence, Rook was essentially exiled from the Crows.

You just know Rook and Viago said some horrible things to each other before Rook left. Things both of them probably regret but that they'll never bring up again. Viago was most definitely, furious with Rook. And Rook can potentially feel like they did let Viago down, or betrayed him. Even if they don't regret what they did, even if they know it was the right thing to do. Rook might regret what it did to Viago.

Even when Rook comes to Treviso, and Teia tries to reassure them that Viago has missed them. Rook immediately doesn't believe it. That is VERY telling of the type of bond Rook and Viago have.

So when Rook is fighting the dragons, and it feels like the day might be lost. the fact it is VIAGO, that comes to rescue Rook. Must've been reassuring for two different reasons. A) The day is not lost B) Viago came himself to save me.

Viago: No thank you. I never let anyone walk behind me. Seven out of ten attacks are from the rear.

Crow!Rook: Okay. Well, that still leaves a thirty percent chance that I’ll attack you from the front.

Viago: Yes, but it’ll be easier to stop. I can always block the blow, or I can counter it-