"Oy! Wake up!" She could hazily make out a familiar voice even through her grogginess. Half awake, her eyes fluttered open to the nostalgic scene of her old room. Her sister, a tiny girl with short messy blue hair excitedly called out her name, while starting up her usual wake-up combo.

"Vi! Wake up! Vander made breakfast. Wake up!" The little girl continued her efforts with another volley of pushing, pulling, and light slapping.

"All right! All right! All right! Jeez! I got it Powder. Now stop slapping me!" She finally jolted upright to grab her sister's tiny hands and stop the assault. The demure girl pouted, shaking and trying to pull her hands away from her big sister's grip. Vi always made an effort not to squeeze Powder too hard, which was not difficult for the teenager. After all, this little routine had become something the siblings did every day, almost like a ritual to them. Whoever wakes up first wakes the other up with promises of freshly made breakfast, though that was rarely the case. Vi knew that Vander always tried to give them three meals a day, but she also realized early that many people around her could barely afford one. And more often than not, if the two ate, Vander wasn't. And when the two didn't eat, Vander was probably starving.

Shaking off the weariness of her slumber, Vi washed her face, changed, and headed out. Powder was waiting for her just outside their room, apparently the "breakfast" wasn't a thing today. Vi only smiled and ruffled her little sister's hair, which couldn't possibly get any messier. "Come on, we'll get Milo and go see if they left something out today." Vi didn't have to explain who "they" referred to, there was only one type of people they knew that would be careless enough to leave the group something to take, Piltovians or as they're more affectionately called, Pilties. Only someone from Piltover would be dumb enough to leave their valuables lying around, folks in the Lanes knew to keep what they held dear close to them at all times. Maybe that's why Vi hated not having her little sister close by, and how having to leave her out of their heists hurt the young girl so much more than it ever disappointed Powder.

The pair headed outside, hoping to greet Vander on their way out, but Vi never got the chance to walk out of that tiny room. Before her now was that cursed warehouse, standing before her was that…thing again, its muscle enlarged and corrupted, barely covered by the tattered rags on its body, its skin a dull purple with blackened blue veins bulging under the surface, Vi could never forget how hard she'd punched this thing, such that it broke both the old mining gauntlet she had and several of her fingers. "Fuck," The young girl muttered under her breath, and it was at that point, she knew what was coming. She closed her eyes and turned away, not wanting to face this familiar nightmare.

She awoke and recognized the ceiling, unfortunately, however, it was still not her home. She's in the hospital room she'd gone in the night before. What woke her wasn't the usual alarm clock her sister had gotten some years ago, but the cacophony of a rowdy crowd just outside her room. Sumi quickly got off the bed and peeked outside. Only to find a decently sized group of those who she could only assume were journalists, and they were all clamouring outside the room. Over her time in Piltover, Vi had grown a distaste towards the media as they never seemed to like her presence. She could run head first into a burning building to save a family of puppies, and they would still find a way to paint her the villain – "The puppies were rabid, they would've been better off dead. Why did you save them, now we'll have to put them down ourselves. Oh how could you condemn us to such a cruel act you heartless woman!?" – Vi could already hear them, exactly how they would spin the yarn on this one – "The Enforcer's tenebrous (whatever the fuck that means) past has returned to haunt her, as long as she's here, more violent criminals from beneath will come. Surely it will be best if she returns from whence she came!"

As groggy as she was, Sumi was still able to put two and two together, Caitlyn and Vi were most likely notable figures in this city, so news of them being injured while on duty would be of interest to many people, hence the journalists. But Sumi also remembered that they were badly injured last night, and all this could not be good for their recovery. Turning over to the two people sharing a room with her, Sumi noticed that Caitlyn was not in her bed, while Vi was stirring in her sleep, which could be a nightmare. Before she could think too much about a solution, a loud voice interrupted the discord.

"This is a hospital, other patients are resting. If you do not mind." It was the doctor from yesterday, Sumi recognized the authority in her voice, the commanding presence in her tone. From her request, the racket seemed to die down a bit, and then a gruff male voice could be heard, louder than all the faint whispers of the small crowd.

"Doctor, while I do apologize for our excitement, you must excuse us. This is prime news, our beloved sheriff had just been injured in the line of duty, and the public breathlessly awaited any update on her condition. So how about we pay you for your trouble and you leave us to our work, huh?" The man was eloquent in his speech, and his offer seemed genuine. However, what followed would soon make him regret having suggested that idea.

"What did you just say?! What in the world do you think you're doing?! Are you bribing me?! Was that how you got in here!? Was that how you learned where the sheriff was?! You bribed someone in our hospital?! Who was it?!" The female voice exploded, fury prevalent in each syllable she breathed, the suddenness of the volume made Sumi shrink behind her door, she couldn't imagine what the people who got yelled at must be feeling right now.

"M-Ma'am, I believe you are mistaken. I had not the faintest idea of ever suggesting that you or anyone of your colleagues would compromise your ethics for a measly monetary sum. We were merely hoping to provide compensation for the hard work you did mending the wounds of our venerable sheriff. That is all." The male voice answered back, and the confidence in his tone diminished somewhat after the verbal beatdown they had just collectively received.

"The sheriff has not yet recovered, if you wish to talk to her, you will have to return at a later time. This is a busy place, and if I were you, sir, I would not risk endangering others with my presence by blocking the hallway of a working hospital. So if you do not mind, I will have to ask that you journalists return at a later time." The female voice sounded once more, this time eerily calm, each syllable still carried fury with them, but now that anger was cut with a hint of contempt. To this, Sumi could no longer hear the male voice, but only an indeterminable discussion then some grumbling accompanied by fainting footsteps. Can doctors even talk like that? Sumi wondered to herself before moving away from behind the door. But the door suddenly opened, which surprised the girl, bumping her head and knocking her down as she was standing up.

"Ouch! I-I-I wasn't eavesdropping, I promise!" Sumi exclaimed, putting her arms up to cover her face as her butt met the cold floor. Before she could say anything else, a hand was offered to her, taking it, Sumi stood up. It was the female doctor from last night, even from a slight look, the white-haired girl could tell this woman was tired, as much as she tried to hide it behind her stern expression. As she got up, Sumi didn't know what to say, to an extent, she wanted to thank the doctor for quieting down that racket…by being even louder than them. Well, maybe it's better to just talk about something else.

"Guess I was a bit too loud out there, huh? Sorry for interrupting your rest." The doctor spoke first, interrupting Sumi's thought.

"No, ma'am! You were really…cool, actually!" This time it was Sumi's turn to interrupt.

"Huh…" The doctor quietly exclaimed, though even Sumi could tell she was trying to hide a faint smile.

"Well…. Sheriff Caitlyn had woken up before and is now making arrangements with her staff. And for the two of you, I suggest you rest as much as you can" The doctor recommended as she turned to Caitlyn's empty bed and a sleeping Vi.

"W-wait ma'am. I haven't caught your name?" Sumi called her back, gently tapping on the doctor's shoulder.

"Rachel. Now if that's all, I have to le…" Rachel didn't get to finish that sentence as she collapsed right before leaving the room. What followed was a loud exclaim from the white-haired girl in the room and the rushing footsteps of a few nurses as they carried her out.

Left alone once more, Sumi wondered what she would do now, the only people she'd spoken to in this world had all been rushed to emergency rooms, surely this was just a horrible coincidence. Sumi sat by herself in the room, turning over to one of the few people she knew in this world, debating whether it'd be better to wait for either Caitlyn to get back, or Vi to get up. Regardless of the choice, she'd still be waiting.

But her wait was not long, as Vi began to speak, or more exactly, she began to call out to something or someone. Causing Sumi to quietly waddle over to her side.

"Pow…Powder…don't…" Her voice trailed off, not leaving much for Sumi to discern other than maybe the source of the pink-haired woman's fear was some powdery substance(?). Drugs? - Came Sumi's first thought, but she quickly dismissed it. It would've been rude to assume something like that of someone without proof. Curiosity got the better of her as Sumi kept leaning closer to try and deduce what exactly the enforcer might be mumbling. A decision the tiny girl would instantly regret when a sharp pain attacked her left temple as the previously sleeping woman had just jolted awake, slamming her forehead into Sumi like a battering ram. Causing her to stumble back to her bed in a daze.

"OW! What the hell!?" Vi awoken, feeling justifiably annoyed as the memory of her nightmare quickly faded, replaced by an unexpected pain in her head.

"I-I-I'm so sorry ma'am, I didn't mean to…I thought you said something and…and...and…" Sumi frantically apologized, her pain now mixing with the feeling of guilt and fear overwhelming her. Causing her voice to crack and fizzle out as tiny, glistening streams of tears began to run from her eyes down her flushed, full cheeks.

"Wait-Wait-Wait. Don't…Don't cry, I'm…fine. Just…calm down, ok?" Having noticed the sight before her, Vi quickly tried to calm the girl before her, trying to get over to her before realizing she was strapped to too many apparatuses to do so. In all honesty, the pain she had felt was mild at best. If anything, it was the suddenness of the bump that made it feel worse. If anything, Vi felt for the petite girl, as her head-butts had been known to knock out even grizzled men.

Teary-eyed, the girl turned to face Vi, still mumbling her apologies like a mantra. Once again, Vi could only wave her hand while ensuring that she was fine, not knowing how to calm someone so emotional. The enforcer had ample experience dealing with crooks who would cheat and threaten her, wannabe revolutionists who talked as if they knew more than everyone else, and deranged individuals who whispered ominously under their breaths, you name them, she's dealt with them. Yet this girl before her fell into a unique category that Vi was terrified of, the ones she didn't mean to hurt but did. There was only one other person in this category, and she had just met her. "Fuck" Vi whispered under her breath.

"Does it hurt bad? If you're hurt, we can call someone…Please, just stop crying and look at me." Vi took in a deep breath, speaking in the calmest voice she could muster given the situation, almost pleading to the girl before her. Sumi's reminding her too much of someone.

Sumi knew it was not her place to cry, it was not her right to. She was the one who wanted to learn more about Vi, she was the one who leaned in closer than she should have. Yet at that moment, the guilt she had, the pain she felt, and the fear within her all came together, and the tears just didn't stop coming, in her mind, she kept screaming at herself to stop, but nothing listened, nothing was heard. But when Vi talked to her, Sumi felt comforted, as if the other woman had just held her for a moment. And abrupt as they came, her tears stopped as the negative emotions subsided, and what was left were Vi's words, echoing in her heart.

Through the gossamer curtains of tears, the petite, white-haired girl looked at Vi. Calming herself, she spoke, "I just…I know it's not my place…. But I heard you saying something in your sleep. And it was my fault for being so curious, I'm so sorry." Her voice seeped with guilt, which surprised Vi somewhat.

"Listen…I'm just worried that you got hurt, I mean…I've given some people concussions with my head before (Vi forced a light chuckle – It did not feel right). And about the dream, don't worry about it, just an old nightmare." Vi gathered herself a bit, trying to turn the conversation back to a more casual, less "involved" subject. The enforcer noticed Caitlyn's empty bed – score.

"Wait, where's Cupcake?" Half an honest question, and half a great way to switch topics.

"You mean Miss Caitlyn?" A somewhat puzzled response, still better than the crying

"Oh right, you're new here. Ye, just a nickname I have for her." This is good, keep it casual.

"It's…cute. Uhm…doctor Rachel said she got up before us and was making some arrangements." Vi could notice a faint smile had formed on Sumi's face as she complimented her nickname, though something else also caught the pink-haired woman's eye - Huh, you're somewhat cute when you're smiling – Came a fleeting thought.

"Good to know she can never take a break, even when she was dying just hours ago," Vi muttered under her breath.

"Can you…not see clearly?" Vi finally commented, having noticed the excessive squinting her guest does.

"What? Wait…I don't have my…?" Sumi touched her face, feeling around her eyes, her expression turned into sheer horror for a split second as she felt something was missing. She can't see clearly.

"My…glasses, I don't have my glasses…" She sounded utterly defeated.

"If…if you needed them to see, how haven't you noticed until now?" Vi hesitantly asked.

"I…must've been too preoccupied, I…never even noticed everything was blurry. Oh God, I'm stuck in a new world, and I can't even see right…What am I gonna do…?" Vi could sense what was coming next, so she struck first.

"Hey! Hey! Hey! Don't worry, we'll find them, if not, we can make new ones. I mean, you are in Piltover, after all. We'll find a way. It's fine," Sumi did not know, but Vi had just put more rationality and reasoning in those words than she'd ever in a long long time.

"T…Thanks, ma'am." Sumi meekly whispered, clearly still upset, but nothing more Vi could do.

"It's all right, you'll see. And call me Vi. Ma'am makes me feel like Doctor Witchy out there." Vi said, gesturing outside the room.

Sumi didn't answer, only nodded. Not long after, a knock could be heard, followed by the sound of the doorknob turning and Caitlyn entering the room.

"Oh, Cait. You're back!" Vi called out, trying to wave to Caitlyn but still could not lift her arm.

"Ma'am! There was a group of paparazzi outside just now. Did they bother you?" Sumi hastily stood up, only for vertigo to push her right down onto the bed. Caitlyn quickly walked over to catch her, and Vi found herself instinctively reaching out to try and catch the girl's tiny frame. "I'm…fine, ma'am. I just bumped my head a bit, that's all."

After confirming that their guest was fine, both Vi and Caitlyn gave her a puzzled look, Vi was the first to ask "Papa…what? I'm sure her dad's not outside just now."

"Huh? No, I meant. I guess you don't have them here, but paparazzi are…journalists(?) who follow famous people around, trying to photograph or get interesting news from them." Sumi explained, feeling some hint of shame that she'd frequently viewed their works while lying in bed late at night.

"Oh. We have those, though I just call them assholes. Right, Cupcake?" Vi gleefully explained, once again checking with Caitlyn for confirmations, to which the sheriff only sighed and nodded. Caitlyn then pulled out a small notepad and pen and began to write down something.

"Didn't see them." In a clean handwriting most familiar to Vi was Caitlyn's answer.

"Lucky you. And how about a warning next time we share a room for the night before you up and leave in the morning? You broke my heart there, Cupcake" Vi retorted, not forgetting to add a cheek flirt and a tease at the end.

Caitlyn did not react much, apart from a quick eye roll that Vi could see, but their guest sure did. Her eyes widened in a second as quickly as she averted her eyes from the pink-haired woman.

"Well, shouldn't we get ready to leave? I mean, what with all the prying eyes and all here?" Vi asked aloud.

"Breakfast?" Written prevalently on the white paper. This caused Vi to notice how her stomach had been rumbling since waking up. Guess losing blood would do that to someone.

"Well, now that ya' mentioned it, I could go for…." Vi did not get to finish her thought.

"Liquid."

"What?"

"Liquid diet - after you've healed - then solid food"

A quick back-and-forth between the two ensued, with Sumi there to quietly appreciate how fast Caitlyn could write.

"Sumi, you're in charge. Make sure she takes them." Caitlyn handed a note to the tiny girl before heading out. A nurse entered the room with a tray in hand, on it were 2 bowls of steaming opaque soup and a few assorted pills.

"I…I…Wai…Now!?" Sumi stammered out.

The nurse only nodded to the two before handing Sumi a bowl and finding a seat beside Vi's bed.

Knowing what was about to happen, Vi yelled, "Caitlyn! We haven't discussed this! I don't need this!" while struggling in her bed, but Caitlyn had already closed the door. The nurse quickly moved away, not wanting to spill the contents of the hot bowl.

"Ma'am, please. I…I can do it." Sumi raised her hand to the nurse, who only glanced at Vi before nodding and leaving the room. - "Just don't spill anything on her, K' Hun?" - It was towards the end of her 12-hour shift.

Placing her bowl down, Sumi walked over to Vi, trying to calm the enforcer. "I know you're not thrilled about this...arrangement, but you need to let her help you."

"She just up and left again! I'm not a fucking baby! I don't need someone spoon-feeding my soup! Who does she think she is?! I'm not doing anything until she explains what she's doing." Vi loudly and angrily exclaimed. In her mind, she had all the right to be angry, "What was Caitlyn doing? Why isn't she explaining anything to her, What…?" This time, the enforcer's thoughts were interrupted by her bedside partner.

"She told me to keep it a secret. But I'll tell you this…Please… trust her, do what she asks, and recover, once you're all healed, she will tell you something incredibly important. Please…" With a hushed tone, Sumi moved close to Vi's ear to make her point, seemingly concerned that somebody else would hear her, or as if she was hiding a secret from someone.

Sumi's soft, warm breaths combined with her gentle voice had at least subsided Vi's anger and confusion somewhat. The pink-haired woman pondered what had just been said to her before nodding to the girl before her. Though reluctant, she would let this stranger spoon-feed her…soup. Just the thought of this made Vi question everything in her life up to this point. How the hell did I get here? Lying in a bed being fed goddamned soup by someone I just met like yesterday? And I allowed this just because she told me Caitlyn's got something waiting for me. Am I really such a gullible idiot?! These thoughts plagued her mind as the woman rose from her bed, opening her mouth every time this girl brought a spoonful of soup close to it. Goddamn it! I am…

Author's note: I do apologize for my work rate, it's been terrible. I am far too unorganized, but I am here now, to anyone who cares, I will try to post more chapters more often. To anyone who doesn't, hope you have a great day, and sorry for bothering your timeline on here.