Vi

I stared out the window of the Kirammans mansion, looking at the rain fall while feeling so many different emotions. It's been a couple days since the explosion, since the day I realized Powders really gone, since I've seen Layla. My sister disappeared and so has the blonde, Caitlyn's in pieces after watching her mother being taken away in a coffin to be buried.

I felt so guilty. Like this was all my fault. She's my sister after all, she did this because I couldn't pick up the gun and shoot Caitlyn like she wanted.

I've been staying here, following Laylas wishes to give her space and be there for Caitlyn.

"I-I need to think."

Her words have been haunting me before I go to sleep and as soon as I wake up, I hate this.

When one of us needed to think we were always together, being close to each other calmed us both down and made it easier to get our thoughts straightened out.

Now when she needed to think, she pushed me away.

I hate how much it hurt me because I understood why, after years of believing the other was dead we've had to force ourselves to work through things alone. I was rotting in a prison while she was down there, finding out how to move on with all the memories that were still there.

I can't believe Silco let his men hurt her, I need to stop myself from going down there and pummeling them into the next life every time I remember her words. Thank god the bastards dead, that was the only sensible thing Pow- Jinx has done.

I need Layla, I'm so selfish for wanting her all to myself and with me 24/7. But I can't help it. After years of believing the girl was gone only to find out she's very alive and is now a mini pop star that everyone adores...I can't get enough of her.

I was pulled out of my bubble of depression as I saw a figure walking towards me out of the corner of my eye.

I turned to see Caitlyn with her chin up high as she acted like everything's alright, nothing is alright. When I said hello to her it didn't take long for her mask to fall, she sobbed lightly before falling into my arms. I wrapped my arms around the girl, hating to admit that I could use the hug of affection too.

Caitlyn whispered into my ear, "I'm sorry, I know you miss Layla. I do too."

I squeezed my eyes shut, refusing to let the swell of emotions swallow me whole. I pulled back shaking my head slightly as I looked up at the taller girl who was wiping the tears from her eyes.

"You were right, Cait. Powder's gone. I can make this right. If you can just get Jayce to fix the gauntlets, I can do this myself. No one else needs to get hurt." I stepped back a few steps, holding out my hands to try to make her understand.

She shook her head while taking a step towards me, "No, no more rogue missions or dangerous plans. My mother was right. My arrogance led me to take on more than I could handle, and she paid the price. They're sending all the Enforcers after Jinx. I'm going with them."

I looked up at her as she spoke her last words, "Please, I have to help."

"You can." She reached into her pocket to hand me something, it looked like a badge. When I looked closer, I realized it was an Enforcers badge. "As one of us."

I glared at the badge in disgust, shocked that Caitlyn even offered me something like this. Fuck no, I hate people like them, I'm not becoming one. "Cait, I can't wear this."

"People are calling for blood. The Council won't stop. You can show that not all of Zaun supports Jinx. We can show them, together." The hopeful look in her eyes made me sick to my stomach as I tried to make sense of her offer.

I threw the badge on the ground, stepping away from her as my shock morphed into anger. "I watched them kill my parents. They slaughtered Laylas family. Do you have any idea how that feels?"

"Yes I do!" I wish I could've taken back the words I said, her hopefulness dying as disbelief took its place. "I thought you were on our side."

I scoffed before whispering, "You didn't think at all," and walking away from her. How daft is she to think I'd all of a sudden join the life of an Enforcer, the life of the people everyone I know hates. I walked out the front door, letting out a breath as I stepped into the rain. I walked down the streets of Piltover, planning on going back to the Undercity to talk to Layla. But her words rang in my head, she was the one who wants time to herself. So she'll come to me when she's ready, right?

I walked underneath a bridge, my clothes soaking wet as I leaned against the wall before sliding down in and sitting on the floor. I sighed, I fiddled with a nearby bottle before angrily chucking it away from me.

A man groaned to my left, getting hit with the bottle I just threw away. "Hey, watch it." His voice was extremely deep and gruff, reminding me of Vander.

"Sorry." I replied half-heartedly, images of Vander and Powder flashed through my mind. I fell deeper into my head as the burly man stood up from underneath newspapers that protected him from the rain. He walked up next to me asking if I was alright, when I didn't answer he sat down next to me.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a flask, offering it to me he said, "Lose someone in the crash?" I quickly took it from him and took a swig of it, the bitter taste of liquor cooling me down as I swallowed it.

I could use more of that.

~~~~~

I laid on the railing as my new best friend slept on the ground next to me, I took another drink from a gold bottle. I don't know how long we've been here but I know I'm buzzed and my mind has finally stopped racing so I call it a win.

"Me. Join the peanut patrol, huh. And I thought she had no sense of humor. Her dad's right though. There's no point in sticking around up here. Except...I'm the one who created the monster." My tone was void of emotion as I said whatever I was thinking, the bottle I was previously hugging was brought to my lips. But I didn't drink from it, instead rolled it away from me.

"Vi?" I looked over to see the owner of the voice, but the sun was blocking my view. I sat up as I put a hand over my eyes, two enforcers came walking towards us. A creature with blue skin, walked around us, kicking bottles we left lying around. But the girl who looked about my age came right up to me, she had short golden hair with freckles on her pale skin and a heavy accent.

I don't think I'm gonna like her.

"Who are you? And how do you know my name?" I asked unimpressed by the woman in front of me.

"Junior Officer Nolan. Maddie. And uh...it's written on your face?" I scoffed at the girl, hating the fact that I branded myself for everyone to see.

I tried to ignore the pain in my chest when the officer spoke her name, her last name is the name of Laylas deceased brother. Who she is probably remembering now...and I'm not there to comfort her.

Yeah I definitely don't like this girl.

"So what is it? A random search? Escort off the property?" I stared at the guy poking my sleeping drinking buddies foot before turning back to the girl. "Or are you just here to waste my time?"

"Search? Oh no, no no no. Heh, uh, you're something of a legend amongst us Enforcers." I uncapped a bottle before taking a swig of it, choking on it as I continued to listen. "Caitlyn made quite a scene at the station when they tried to deny your enlistment? Now I ah, have to ask. Is it all true? You went after Silco with Layla when the Council wouldn't back you two? Took on his whole gang?"

"Caitlyn said all that?" I asked in disbelief, I hadn't realized how badly she'd wanted me to join her as an Enforcer.

"She said if every Enforcer had a heart like yours, we could take on Noxus itself. Ah, then she threatened to withdraw her family's funding. Anyhow, I'm glad you're joining up." I looked up at her, lifting my eyebrows as I hummed. "After the way the Sheriff betrayed us... Well let's just say, it's nice to know there's still good ones left."

She reached out her hand for a shake and being the asshole I am I almost handed her a bottle. But she thought so much of me I didn't want to disappoint her yet, I took her hand firmly shaking it before reaching back. The fanfare sounded throughout Piltover, letting everyone know the memorial for the Councilors they lost was starting.

They said their goodbyes to us before walking away, the officers words stuck with me. I shook my friend's foot, attempting to wake him up so we could go to the memorial to show our support. He was not amused but still stood up and followed along as I walked with the rest of the people.

Let's just hope this is quick.

~~~~~

"A memorial!" Caitlyn hissed as she sat down in front of me, still shaken up from the invasion we had just witnessed. "What kind of...animals!?"

Just like Layla had said, Renni came for blood after hearing about the death of her son. Her and some of Silcos shimmer bots made an unexpected visit to the memorial that remembered the Councilors we lost in the explosion. I noticed something was off only minutes after the speeches started, all the Enforcers were staying still at their stations except one. But I didn't get there in time to stop him, Renni came out of hiding with a massive chainsaw and a horrifying look in her eye. I stopped her from killing Jayce, using his Hextech hammer but General Medarda stopped the bots from any further damage. Caitlyn was beyond pissed and she had a right to be, but I didn't like the mad look in her eye. It didn't sit right with me.

"They just, wanted a spectacle. They're trying to scare you." I said trying to keep my tone neutral as I tried to calm my racing heart.

"All they did was piss me off!"

I tightened my lips shut before speaking my thoughts, she needed to hear this. "You need to find a way to call off the invasion. This battle was on your soil. Down there, you'll be on their terms."

"None of this is on our terms!" She put a hand to her forehead in frustration, I could see her thoughts racing in her head but I didn't back down.

"Maybe you should change that."

"I don't know how, okay?" I jumped a little at the sudden rise of her voice, "She dies and leaves this giant hole, and I'm just supposed to fill it. Like she was never there to begin with"

God I wish Layla was here, she's so much better at pep talks than I am.

I lifted up her chin to face me, wiping a tear off her cheek. "Hey, it'll be okay. The hole gets smaller but...you'll never fill it." Shit I probably should've kept it positive, but the truth hurts.

She shook her head and moved away from my hand, making it drop back down at my side. "I shouldn't have sprung the badge on you. It's just...if I go after your sister alone, one of us comes back in a box. It's all coming apart."

"No it isn't. We won't let it."