"Weiss? Where are you? I need you to turn on the lights if you want to talk." Winter's voice came through the screen, concerned.
Weiss stood up, her legs trembling underneath her as she fumbled about for the light switch. Finally finding it, she switched it on, then returned to the place she had propped her phone.
A sigh escaped from her phone. "Weiss. Where are you? What happened?" Winter asked as she, too, had begun to sign out of habit.
Weiss's face began to contort into one of pure and utter desolation. She trembled as she brought her hands up to the screen, and began to sign, entirely way too fast. "I'matsomeoneshouseandIdidsom-"
"Weiss!" Winter's voice boomed through the phone. "You're moving too fast. I need you to take a deep breath and explain to me everything as you normally would. You're not in danger, are you?"
Weiss shook her head no as she took a deep breath, soundlessly exhaling. She swallowed hard as the events played through her mind. Neptune flailing and gasping for air. The feeling of her arm being touched, a new burning sensation replacing it.
"Weiss, I know I can't tell you not to think about it but I need you to breathe. Talk to me. You haven't had this bad of an episode in years, what's going on?"
Taking another deep breath, Weiss began moving her mouth and hands at a normal pace. "I made a mistake. I messed everything up! I'm at someone's house, they invited me here."
Winter made a face, looking rather intrigued, but she did not dare to interrupt.
"I felt like they were talking about me. They were. Someone got too close and I shoved them into the pool. I don't think they can swim and everything became too much. Just too much. I want to d—"
"Weiss. Don't say that," Winter interrupted her almost immediately this time. "Weiss, not everyone sees you as you see yourself. You're not all those things you've made yourself out to be. You went out with people. You've never done that." Winter paused finding a small smile. "I'm proud of you. Don't let whatever this slip up was take advantage of you. You've made it this far. Keep going. Keep trying. Your friend, I'm sure, is fine. Mistakes happen, but you are not one of them."
Weiss's eyes welted up with more tears. She felt as if she didn't deserve her sister, having put up with her for so many years. So many pep talks, so much support, and yet the only thing Weiss could do was keep moving forward. Weiss only knew how to complain, to rant, to only speak ill of herself and only herself. She wanted to change it all.
Another interruption broke the silence as a knock came from the door. Weiss nearly jumped out of her skin.
"Weiss?" It was Yang, her voice as recognizable as ever. "A-are you okay?" Yang stood on the other side of the closed door, her voice gentle, and showing a considerate amount of concern.
Weiss looked to the door, then back to Winter in panic. "Please don't say a word. Just sign. I need you here," Weiss practically begged her sister.
Winter eyed her curiously through the phone. "Who is that?"
"N-now, I know you can't talk back or anything, but Neptune is fine! Just a little… washed up. Heh." Yang's voice still carried its lightheartedness in lieu of the situation. "Nobody blames you for what happened. We should've warned you that that is just how Neptune is." She paused and coughed. "He's an idiot."
Weiss's brows contorted to that of worry as she sat with her back still towards the door. "That's Yang," she signed to her sister.
"Is she your friend?" Winter asked.
Weiss made another face of confusion as she began to sign her response, her mouth forming the words in tandem. "It's… complicated. She learned to sign for me. I think we're friends. I don't know."
Winter let out an audible sound of bewilderment.
"Weiss, was that you?" Yang's voice sounded oddly excited on the other side of the door. "Or maybe my imagination?"
Winter started up once more, "Sorry! She learned to sign for you? Weiss that's… great news. Her name is Yang, huh? Weiss, that sounds like a friend to me… and a good one at that. Whatever happened, don't let it get to you. Your friend doesn't sound upset, so please maybe for once… try talking to her. I'm your sister, but I won't always be there for you."
Weiss frowned. She knew what Winter was trying to say, and as hard as it was for her to read, it was something that Weiss knew she had to work on. Winter wouldn't always immediately answer. Winter had her own life, her own problems that Weiss could never be there for. She knew Winter loved her, but Winter was far away. With a job and a future. Weiss would have to learn to fend for herself sooner rather than later.
But who was to say she couldn't find any sort of solace in someone that wasn't necessarily family?
"Uhm, anyway… Weiss… I hope you don't mind if I sit here with you. On the other side of the door, that is! When you want to come out and… uhh… talk! Or if you don't want to talk and just wanna go home that's cool, too!" A light thud on the floor could be heard as Yang took her spot next to the bathroom door.
Weiss sat there quietly listening to Yang ramble on. Just like she always had. There really was no hiding who Yang was. Yang was just… Yang. In any situation, it seemed like Yang was always upbeat about everything, even with what little interactions they had. Yang was always considering Weiss in some little, but effective, way.
Yang was trying. Which meant that Weiss had to try, too.
Weiss looked at Winter who stared at her expectantly.
"What do I do?" she asked her sister.
Winter smiled sweetly. "You know what to do. Talk to her. If she's your friend, she'll understand."
Another wordless sigh escaped from Weiss's mouth. She nodded. "Okay, sorry. Thank you."
Winter simply created a heart with her hands and smiled. Winter then disappeared off the screen. A simple message, "Call ended," had replaced the image of her face. Weiss took her phone, sticking it back into her pocket.
She simply sat in the restroom, gathering herself and biding her time as the minutes dragged on. After splashing water a few times on her face, she stood at the door. Part of Weiss wondered if Yang was still there waiting after all this time. Weiss only had the remaining strength to face Yang, as Weiss was sure that if she saw anyone else she'd probably just run home.
Lifting her hand to meet the doorknob, she hesitated. Just as she always had. Another sigh escaped her as she finally grasped onto the door. With her eyes shut she took another deep breath and turned the knob, slowly opening the door before her.
Weiss had expected to see emptiness in the hallway. Instead, Yang still sat there near the door as she played around on her own phone. Yang immediately noted Weiss's presence as soon as the door had opened.
Gentle lavender eyes met Weiss's own blue doe eyes. A small smile crept onto Yang's face as she pulled herself up off the floor.
Once more she towered over Weiss. "Hey, Weiss…" Yang began, though immediately Weiss could tell that Yang was probably going to tiptoe around the subject of what had just happened. Maybe Yang would lecture her. "You wanna get out of here?" Yang asked as she had slowly signed it, too.
A question that Yang already had the answer to as Weiss meekly nodded. "Okay, cool. I'll get your stuff. We can take Blake's car, she doesn't mind." Yang began to walk away before pausing. "If you want you can go wait by the car. I'll get your stuff."
Weiss nodded as she slowly followed behind Yang, now turning in the other direction towards the front door. She passed by the living room once more, Blake's father still sleeping soundly. This commotion must have been a usual thing as he had not stirred.
Weiss eyed Yang's bike as she left the house and entered the driveway. Her mind now wandered as she envisioned a lonely Yang riding back to her house. A tinge of guilt hit her. She questioned herself why she had come in the first place. She shook her head, trying to shake the thoughts out. She did not want to cause herself another episode.
Yang had came up behind her, now passing her as she held onto Weiss's backpack. Weiss quickly ran up behind Yang, now squeezing both of her shoulders.
Yang immediately stopped and turned around, looking at Weiss curiously.
Weiss looked down at her feet, then back up at Yang. A sorrowful look took over Weiss. She had begun to sign, lifting her hands, but before she could, Yang stopped her.
"You don't need to apologize. It's my fault, honestly. I brought you here. You don't need to worry about Neptune, though. He, well… deserved what you did." Yang weakly chuckled, her hand still holding on softly to Weiss's own. "I'm glad that you came, though. Everyone likes you, and yes, even after what happened, no one blames you like I said." Yang's gaze lingered downwards, noticing that she had been holding onto Weiss for a little too long.
Weiss hadn't noticed, either, until Weiss's own gaze followed Yang's as she had listened to her speak with such an oddly pleasant and tender tone. "Oh, shoot. Sorry." Yang let go of Weiss. An odd sensation ran through Weiss. She found it peculiar that while Neptune's touch had caused her a sense of revulsion, Yang's touch was a completely opposite feeling. Not one she would consider welcomed quite yet, but with time and with Yang's well-kept compassion, Weiss could learn to accept some sort of touch.
Weiss pulled back away from Yang, slowly nodding and holding her own arm. She rubbed the space that Yang's own hand once occupied. A sudden need filled Weiss, the need to speak. She looked up at Yang and began to sign again. "Thank you. But… I chose to come. You didn't force me. It was my own decision."
Weiss hesitated to find the right words as she wasn't done speaking yet. But Yang watched her as intently as she always had. But in this time, Yang couldn't help but crack a smirk. Weiss was opening up to her, it looked like. She had hoped that with time and patience, the progress the two could make on becoming friends would soon be filled with smiles and laughter rather than nervous looks and panic attacks.
'I had to try and come for myself. I guess I wasn't ready for such a large gathering.' Weiss looked away from Yang, her hands now fidgeting together. She felt weary as she knew that this get-together couldn't be considered a large gathering in Atlesian standards. And possibly even Vale standards.
Yang nodded, it seemed as if Weiss had possibly finished speaking. "That's okay," she spoke as she signed. "We can try again someday, maybe when you're more comfortable." She paused. "I hope that doesn't sound too offensive."
Weiss smiled sweetly, chuckling to herself internally. The way Yang continued to speak to her, as sweet and as considerate that she could be — she could tell that Yang was always trying to earn her favor.
Weiss looked up at Yang, her hands moving once more. 'I like the sound of that.'
Yang grinned widely, as she always had, the sunny girl as vibrant as ever. But the day was still young and Weiss was already going home. Weiss found the girl's smile to be suddenly contagious. She had seen her smile plenty of times before, but sometimes Yang was so bright.
Bright enough to almost rejuvenate her.
"So, Weiss… hop in." Yang clicked the car keys she had pulled out of her pocket. A black BMW beeped near them. Blake's luxurious car had once more reminded Weiss of home. She ignored the continuous feelings it had given her. She always looked toward Yang, the feelings washing away as soon as she did.
Yang handed Weiss her bag as soon as Weiss had gotten in the passenger's seat. Starting the ignition, Yang left the driveway, now turning up the radio as she did.
Using her arm to lean against the leather interior car, Weiss lazily looked out the window. Yang continued to drive at a steady pace for minutes on end… all until the radio got louder.
She heard the DJ announce the next song, one that was high on the charts. "Up next is the new single by Neon Katt, 'Neon'," the music began to blare. Weiss raised an eyebrow as her head perked up and turned to see Yang meeting her expectant confusion with a goofy grin.
As the lyrics started, so had Yang, who had began to sing. Surprisingly, she wasn't horrible. Weiss stared, almost slack-jawed.
As she sang, Yang wiggled her shoulders as if to dance, keeping her eyes on the road ahead of her. With a steady hand, and not so steady body, Yang continued in her… Xiao-nanigans.
Weiss covered her mouth, hiding a smirk. She also held down what felt like genuine laughter. Her voice wanted to come busting through, as she had never seen something so… ridiculous. On the other hand, Yang didn't seem to notice Weiss, as the blonde was in a world of her own.
Watching Yang's show seemed to be the only option at this point. Weiss stifled down multiple giggles, but the smirk on her face could not be wiped. Part of Weiss wanted to join in, even if she didn't completely recognize the singer. Or the song.
While this situation should've made her uneasy, the thought about how people could've been singing her songs filled her mind. How they could've been listening to her voice. But now Weiss was a mute, purely by her own volition. Every possible outcome of her ever singing again would've usually struck fear in her mind.
But every fear was struck away, with every bobble of Yang's head, with every note in tune, and with every dramatic face that had to accompany every word. Weiss was too entranced by the girl to even consider her true fears.
The song had ended, and Yang whimsically looked over to Weiss, sporting another goofy grin. "How'd ya' like my serenade?" she jested as she took a right into Weiss's neighborhood, then pulling up into Weiss's driveway as she parked the car. Weiss, now playfully deadpanning, suddenly filled with a vigor she hadn't ever felt before.
Usually after panic attacks, she just wanted to run and hide; to sleep; to simply just lie there and mull over everything horrible that had happened. But now, she was awake and aware. Aware of how much she suddenly enjoyed being around Yang.
Maybe Winter had been right. Maybe Yang really was her friend. And maybe only a friend could make her feel this happy, for once in her life.
'Funny.' Weiss signed with a playful eye-roll, finally answering Yang.
Yang smirked and nodded. "Well, I hope you enjoyed your ride, courtesy of Yang Xiao Long." She gestured towards Weiss's own house. "Get some rest, alright?"
Weiss nodded, exiting the vehicle. She looked at her home, a home that looked like one of many carbon copy houses that resided in their neighborhood. A lonesome house that only she and her mother had resided in. A mother that was hardly around for work-related reasons.
Weiss momentarily looked back at Yang, an unease settling in as Yang waved and watched her from the car.
Weiss… didn't want her to go.
This day had been a momentous disaster for her social life along and mental well-being, and yet everything had been made okay within almost an instant.
Weiss had her sister, Winter, and with a short and sudden realization… she had Yang. All thanks to Yang, she went home not feeling as if the world was going to end.
Thanks to Yang, everything was okay because she said it would be. Words that only her sister had occasionally planted in her mind. Words that weren't spoken to her very often, but the words themselves were very powerful. Weiss Schnee was okay.
Weiss walked up to her house, taking out her key and opening the door. She turned around once more, waving goodbye to Yang who had finally reversed out of her driveway.
With her usual shining grin, she waved back as she left Weiss's driveway and then street.
Weiss silently sighed and signed to the air before entering her home.
'I'll see you at school, my… friend.'
A/N: To the person who was confused about the use of ASL, it isn't a language *just* for deaf or hard or hearing people. It's also a language for people who can't or won't speak for one reason or another, and prefer to use it as a form of alternative communication. Yang learned ASL because it's Weiss's preferred way of "speaking", and Yang wanted to find a way to communicate with Weiss in a way that made her comfortable.
