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

Chapter 7: falling for the Regrator, what's the worst thing that could happen?

No One's P.O.V:

Capitano was in Dottore's lab, getting the antidote from Yumie's snakes, and Dottore wasn't happy with what Capitano did to her. "You had to test Yumie's fighting skills," Dottore snapped. "Not how to get killed by her! You're lucky that a Fatui agent saw the whole thing! You could have died from that venom!" Capitano lets Dottore lash out at the anger that, Dottore has been holding towards him. "This is not the first time I have been attacked, nor will it be the last time I barely left a scar," He said as Dottore let out a snarl before he put the antidote in a syringe.

"I need you to roll up your sleeves. I have to give you the antidote," Dottore said as he made sure that the syringe didn't have any air in it. The next time you want to train with Yumie, have a medical staff nearby. Her snakes are Black mambas. They are highly aggressive if they are threatened or cornered." Capitano rolled up his sleeves, looking at Dottore, as Dottore put the syringe against the vein on Capitano's arm.

It might explain why she was more aggressive when I told her that I was going easy on her in training. Capitano thought as He felt the needle in his arm and sighed. " I will say that she knows how to fight. But it doesn't make sense why she doesn't fight. She has warrior skills but prefers to be a florist."

"Not everyone wishes to fight. A few test subjects refused to give me the information I need." Dottore said before taking the syringe out and throwing it away. "She's my daughter, but She has no desire to beat the gods. I wonder if it has to do something with her mother." Capitano sighed and left the lab, leaving Dottore alone in his insanity.

"Um...Capitano, are you okay?" Capitano turned to see Yumie rubbing her arm, and she looked worried. Oddly, I thought she would not talk to me after what happened on the training grounds. Capitano just nodded at her and started to walk away toward his office, but he heard her following him.

"I wanted to apologize for earlier. I didn't know that I attacked you." Capitano stopped and turned around to look at her to see if she was lying to get his guard down, only to see that She was honestly apologizing for what had happened. "I am not angry about what happened. I am more surprised that you fought with such venom, Viper. Why is it you don't fight with that same passion you have about your flowers?" Capitano asked as he looked at her. She pulled the sleeves of the black turtle-neck sweater she wore.

Yumie's P.O.V:

"I suppose it's because flowers are more peaceful than fighting. I know that fighting is a part of life, but it doesn't mean I have to like it." I said as I felt Capitano's gaze on me, and I kept pulling my sleeves. I hate how he's watching me like I'm a monster. I know I am, but I can still hate it.

"I see. I know that the Tsaritsa wanted to see us both after I wrote my report about what had happened on the training grounds. " Capitano said before he grabbed my wrist gently, thankfully, and started to walk to his office. But why is he being more gentle with me? I thought he would hate me after what I did to him.

"W-why does she want to see me? I didn't think She wanted to see me after she saw my snakes." I said as I tried to keep up with Capitano, besides being dragged by him. "Is she going to put me in prison for hurting you?" Capitano stopped walking, and I bumped into his back as he turned around, grabbing my chin and making me look at him. I gulp as he let go of my wrist.

"No, she's not. She wants to see if you will help us with our mission. " Capitano said as he got close to my face, and I could almost hear a growl in his voice. " You must know that the Tsaritsa isn't going to hurt you unless you fail this mission. She will ask Pantalone or me to punish you if you fail." He let go of my face before walking away, and I followed him quickly.