How many times could one girl fall asleep in a twenty four hour period? It did not seem to matter at this point as Weiss Schnee had suffered, just as her friends Yang Xiao Long and Pyrrha Nikos had. Her dreams weren't there anymore, but that didn't mean she still couldn't dream of things to come.
A light tap on her shoulder had awakened her from the nothingness. Weiss groggily looked at Yang, who was still soundly sleeping. She then looked at the source of whoever had tapped her while rubbing her eyes, trying to awaken herself even more.
She was met with a soft pair of blue eyes, looking down at her as she continued to wake up. It was Taiyang Xiao Long. "Hey, Weiss… Let's go home," his gentle tone came through, but the words seemed to slowly process through Weiss's mind.
With a slight head tilt and a raised eyebrow she showed her tired confusion. Now signing and mouthing, she shook her head. "I don't want to go home."
"Oh, I'm not taking you to your home. Well, not exactly. I spoke to your mother and offered you a place at our house for a few weeks. Just to make sure you're taken care of." Tai's words came through still as gentle as ever.
Weiss now sat up straight. Her face still hinted at confusion, had she heard him correctly? She would be staying with the Rose-Xiao Longs? "We've already arranged the guest room, but I figured we'd need to grab clothing and whatever else you need from your home. We'll be taking home Yang tonight. According to your mother she's stabilized and free to go home, but they're keeping her for an extra few hours just in case." He gave another smile, however weaker this time.
"Are you alright?" Weiss asked Tai. The girl in the bed was his daughter, after all.
He seemed to be momentarily taken aback by the question, as if he hadn't expected it at all, but he merely nodded as he spoke. "I'm alright. I'm just glad that the three of you are alive and well. I'm just thinking about… adult problems. Something that you shouldn't worry about for right now. Thank you for your concern, Weiss," he seemed to answer vaguely. There was obviously more going on there.
Weiss nodded, now standing up from the chair. She looked back once more at Yang, who reminded her of Snow White right then. A princess in need of a… really good best friend, and nothing more. She looked back at Tai who stared at her readily as Weiss began to follow slowly behind.
"Well, does this all look good enough to you, Weiss?" Ruby asked, her hands placed on her own hips as she stood in the newly-redone guest room. It had been given a lot more life than before. Ruby now seemed to wander around aimlessly in the room as she had begun to look it over, making sure everything was in its proper place.
No longer did it appear to be a dreary and empty room, but now had been given a spice of life that Weiss would've considered an aesthetic cross between Schnee and Rose-Xiao Long. But it wasn't like Weiss could bring her entire room with her, as she had brought mostly essentials and some comfort items. It had taken several hours to complete the room's new aesthetic, but overall, it was definitely worth the time spent.
Weiss scanned the room as she stood near its exit, her eyes falling on Ruby who had now curiously picked up a jar on the desk filled with myriads of tiny little origami stars. Weiss took a large step to reach Ruby, who jumped in surprise, nearly dropping the jar while doing so. Weiss's reaction time was quick as she managed to catch the jar, along with Ruby's own fumbling hands. "Ahh! Weiss, I'm sorry! If this is important to you I totally did not mean to grab it and then almost drop it!" Ruby's words were rushed, but hard to miss.
Weiss merely shook her head, now taking the jar from Ruby and placing it gently back down on the desk. She wiped her palms on the sides of her jeans, and began to sign to Ruby, "It's okay. Just be careful next time."
"Soooo… Weiss," Ruby's voice seemed to call out in a childlike manner, her attention still marked on the curious jar. "Did you make all of those?"
Weiss nodded. "There's a legend that says that if you made a thousand of these little stars," she started sign, mouthing slowly so the younger girl could understand her. She opened the jar and handed one to Ruby, who seemed to look in awe at the tiny, well-crafted star in her hand. After a short while she looked up at Weiss. "Your wish would be granted," Weiss finally finished, now grabbing the star out of Ruby's hand and plopping it back into jar. She tightly closed it, and placed it a little further away to make sure it didn't fall off the table.
An 'Oohing' sound gushed out of Ruby, her excitement was ten times of that of Yang's. Yang. Every time the thought of Yang had entered Weiss's mind, slight pangs of guilt continued to hit her. Even though she had talked to just about everyone, including Blake, who had heard Weiss out, there was still a small part of Weiss that wanted to strictly apologize to Yang.
For everything that happened.
Even if it wasn't Weiss's fault.
"Has it come true?" The high-pitched voice now drew Weiss out of her misbelieving thoughts. Ruby's silver eyes gleamed with curiosity as she stared directly into Weiss's. Weiss's look of confusion gave away to the fact that Weiss had no current idea what Ruby was talking about.
Ruby's own brow raised, gesturing toward the stars again. "Your wish, silly! You do have one thousand, don't you?" She seemed to eye the distant jar as closely as she could without touching it.
Weiss's brows furrowed at the assumption. Well, Ruby wasn't wrong. Weiss did in fact have one thousand stars in the jar… along with other origami figures that were stashed away back home. It was just that this was the most important piece to her collection. Yet there was something Weiss couldn't deny. "I haven't thought of one," she responded almost a little hesitantly.
Usually when it came to things like that, you had always started with a wish in mind. Creating star after star while each one held your wish. Only to eventually accumulate into one giant wish that was supposed to come true as soon as the thousandth star had been made.
But after awhile Weiss had lost track of her own wish as she had idley made the stars day after day. There was no big wish or dream that had stuck with her, as back then, Weiss had no further hopes or dreams.
Did that mean that her wish had been wasted? Or maybe some unknown wish she'd made along the way had come true. Whichever one, she wasn't sure. All that Weiss had known was that her original answer was as true as she could get out.
That she hadn't thought of one when her thousandth star had been created. It had been before the move to Vale, she remembered the feeling of finally completing the task. The feeling itself wasn't too overtly special, while the feeling of completion was always welcomed, there was no other feeling of some great accomplishment or relief that had accompanied it.
"I wonder if you can still make a wish! Maybe the wish's power is still in there!" Ruby excitedly clasped her hands together, and they found their way to Weiss's shoulders with the same excitement. "Your wish will definitely come true if you make one! You just gotta wish hard enough."
Weiss seemed to playfully roll her eyes as she was lightly shaken. It seemed as if Ruby had no concept of personal space, but for some reason, Weiss didn't mind this. She was Yang's little sister, after all.
The jingling of a door handle being rattled could hardly be heard at the entrance of the house, a masculine-sounding voice calling out, "We're home!"
Weiss's heart nearly jumped out of her chest while Ruby seemed to turn heel very quickly and walked out of Weiss's room. Weiss didn't immediately follow Ruby out the door. She was… afraid.
Yang was here.
Weiss stood by the door, listening in very carefully.
"Hey sis, good to see you." Ruby's sudden excitement was gone, replaced with a gentle caution that seemed to filled the room — no, the entire house.
"Hey…" Yang's voice was soft, if not a little somber. Yang was no longer high on the hospital's pain medications. While she probably was using some pain medications in replacement of the stronger ones she'd received during recovery, they no longer seemed to skew her way of thinking. Or speaking.
"Yang will be out of school for the next few weeks, we have a lot of new changes in our schedule," Tai stated. "But thanks to Winter, we won't need as much help as we thought."
"Huh? What do you mean?" Ruby asked
"Winter heard about our situation and offered to pay for it, she wouldn't take no for an answer. Apparently, she's sending something to Yang through the mail as well," Tai answered. "She stopped us before we left the hospital."
A small sigh from Yang could be heard as Weiss peaked her head out the door, trying to listen in on the conversation. "Apparently, Weiss is super rich, or something," Yang answered, but her tone remained unchanged. "Not like it matters…" Yang seemed to look around the house. "I'm going to go lie down…" Yang brushed past Ruby and Tai.
Weiss had begun to stick her head into the room, but it was a little too late.
"Weiss?" Yang's eyes widened, it had seemed like her father hadn't told her about the other arrangement between the Schnees. Yang seemed to quicken her pace toward the guest room and found a Weiss Schnee with her back against the wall.
Weiss weakly raised a hand to wave, unsure of how Yang's reaction fared in the situation or the realization that Weiss had moved in. Yang now looked around the room, it had clearly been changed. "You're here?" Her tone now seemed rather stunned, it was as if Yang had expected Weiss to not be here. But now, Weiss was closer to her than ever. Literally.
Quiet footsteps could be heard outside the door, Yang quickly went to the door and reached out with her right stub, but in her realization, she scoffed and grabbed it with her left hand, shutting the door and locking it. Keeping Yang and Weiss locked together, alone in the guest room. The footsteps seemed to walk away. A clear indication of wanted privacy as there would be no familial eavesdropping today.
"Why are you here?" She didn't seem angry, she didn't seem hateful, but there was something about how Yang asked the question that worried Weiss to an extent. As though Weiss had no longer existed in Yang's universe, and suddenly reappeared like some magic trick.
Weiss began to reply, "Your father invited me to stay here for the next few weeks. I… I'm sor-"
Weiss's movements were cut off by a hug. A strong hug that seemed to make Weiss melt straight into Yang's arm and chest. Weiss slowly returned the hug, that had become more like a long-lost lovers' embrace. "I thought… I thought you were gone. They told me you were okay, but… I didn't believe it until I saw you." Yang's muffled words came through to Weiss with a sorrowful realization that sent a pang of longing through Weiss's heart.
Yang pulled back, now pulling Weiss with her on the bed. Yang sat down as Weiss took the spot next to her.
"So… this happened." Yang lifted her right stub and waved it. "Weiss, I'm so sorry. About the party, about... About everything," she rambled, her tone suddenly becoming extremely downtrodden with guilt and pain. Yang had lowered her head, looking down at her feet. Messy hair covered her face, hiding parts of her pained expression.
Weiss's heart began to hurt as Yang had felt exactly the way Weiss had. Except, that Yang got the worst of it out the two of them. And Yang had blamed herself. It seemed like they had gotten themselves into a circle of blame and guilt. But this was just their life of horrible happenstances that neither of them could control. But it seemed as if both needed some sort of control. Something to stay… stagnant for once.
"All of my hard work, it was for nothing. I can't talk to you like I can anymore, Weiss. I can't… help you. I know I should've waited to talk to you about this, but I just can't… Seeing you, Weiss, I feel like I owe you so much explanation. Weiss, I'm so fucking sorr-"
"Yang." Weiss's voice was surprisingly loud as she cut her off.
Three times. Three times was the amount of times Weiss had spoken, and three times had it been Yang's name.
Yang paused, her eyes going as wide as saucers. Slowly, she lifted her head up to met Weiss's hesitant gaze.
This was the first time that Yang seemed to actually hear her.
"Weiss? Did you just…?" Yang was at a loss for words, her expression seemed more on the confused side if anything.
Weiss simply nodded and began to sign, "I won't do it all the time. But… a start's a start."
"This isn't the first time you've said my name, come to think of it," Yang muttered, still in disbelief. She seemed to be wracking through her brain. "You were at the hospital with me. I could've sworn you were some angelic figment of my imagination… and then you said my name, and… I… Well, I heard you speak. That was you, wasn't it?" Yang seemed to remember some things, that was clear. How much she remembered from before her medically-induced mental trip was another.
Weiss nodded. "Yes, that was me. I wasn't sure if you had actually understood me at that time."
Yang shook her head. "No, no. There is no mistaking your voice. It's unlike anything I've ever heard, and while it's still so foreign… it's very beautiful." Yang's compliment came fast, even to Yang. It seemed like she hadn't realized what she had said until a brief moment of silence had filled the room.
Yang turned to look at Weiss who held a doe-eyed stare and a hard blush for far too long, "S-sorry, was that too forward of me?" Yang sputtered out, finally aware of what she had said.
Weiss shook her head, lifting her hands. "No. I'm just…" She paused and opened her mouth. "Thank you," she said with a cute smile.
Now it was Yang's turn to blush. She couldn't deny how incredibly cute Weiss sounded. Yang was now afraid of the fact that everytime Weiss did talk to her that she would just end up blushing and stuttering her words. "I don't know what you're thanking me for, but… it's not a problem. At all," Yang responded. "I should be thanking you." She chuckled.
Weiss's right hand had rested on the bed while Yang came out of her laughter, her left hand landed right next to Weiss's, their fingers barely brushing up against each other's. But neither of them moved. They just revelled in their contentment. Yang dared to inch her fingers closer, while Weiss had boldly closed the gap. Their fingers now intermingling. For the moment.
Yang let out an almost hushed squeal, but a blush rushed over them both.
Weiss was happy. Beyond happy. Though, it seemed like her love for Yang hadn't faltered. In fact, it had only grown. Weiss had expected turmoil and pain to happen between her and Yang. But that didn't happen. And here they were, holding hands.
While Yang wasn't instantly cured, and Yang herself knew that she would probably have to go to many doctors and possibly some therapists, Yang was just happy at the fact that Weiss was okay. But while Pyrrha was another story, it was something she'd have to think about later.
She was just happy to still have Weiss at her side. And even happier to know that Weiss was now using her voice. This had given hope to Yang, as Blake and everyone else had told Weiss.
Who would've known that a simple word, a simple action, could've brought so much happiness to one person? Whether it be Weiss finding her voice or Yang learning how to sign. Both found something to hold onto. Each other.
Weiss stood up after a bit of time had passed, there was no awkwardness in their minutes of silence, just happy hums and doting side-eyed glances.
Weiss walked over to her desk, picking up the the jar of stars.
"What's that?" Yang now stood up, making her way over to Weiss, curiously staring at the jar. Weiss simply handed the jar over to Yang, placing it underneath her left arm.
She lifted her hands to sign. "These are origami stars. They say if you make one thousand stars with a wish in mind, it'll come true. I never made a wish. But you can if you'd like." Weiss seemed to pause. "I hope it works for you!" A big smile spread across her face.
Maybe everything couldn't be cured with a simple wish. Or her speaking a few words every now and then. But she wanted to give Yang as much hope as possible. That Weiss would be there for her and with her.
Yang returned the smile and added a nod. "You're giving this to me, then?"
Weiss nodded.
A knock and a jiggle of the doorknob could be heard, both Yang and Weiss turning toward it. "Oh darn. Still locked," a small, muffled voice came through, belonging to Ruby. "Uh, hey guys! Dinner's just about ready! Dad says you should get cleaned up and join us! Kayyyy!"
"Got it, Rubes," Yang responded.
Weiss nodded and went to open the door for Yang, Ruby still standing on the other side of it. "Ah! Sorrryy!" Ruby ran off in the direction of the kitchen.
"I guess I'll see you at dinner, then? Well, wait… I'll see you at dinner every day, so nevermind that. Ahh…" Yang's rambling returned. Weiss simply smiled.
"Yeah," she murmured in response.
Yang blushed and left for the direction of her room with the jar under her arm. As she arrived in her room she put it down on her own desk and looked down at the drawer below.
She chuckled to herself and smiled, and in a low utterance, she said,
"Y'know Weiss, I think my wishes are already coming true."