Summoning the Stars

Rising in the morning Weiss rubbed sleep from her eyes, and swung her legs over the edge of the bed. She went to sleep and she woke up dead. She'd never understood why she had gotten a bed so big for herself. She lived alone, in a small house on Patch. Away from Atlas, away from expectations. Away from the ravings of the populace. Of course she understood their sentiments. Her team had saved the world, putting it lightly. She didn't want the accolades, she didn't want the people fawning over her. She had just wanted a quiet life with her partner. 

She checked her scroll. No messages. No news of her partners whereabouts. There never was. It seemed the world had given up on finding her. On repaying the debt they owed her. Weiss couldn't blame them. Even if she wanted to it would be hypocrisy. She couldn't even remember the name of the woman she loved. 

She rose to her feet, stumbling and grabbing the rail mounted on the wall. She heard the clink of metal. Looking down she saw a beautiful ring. A band of silver with a delicate rose holding a deep red ruby. She wasn't married, at least she hoped she wasn't. Forgetting something like that would be far too much. She didn't know where it came from though. She never knew why the rail was there either, only that she needed it. She never knew why her legs turned to jelly in the mornings, why she felt so exhausted after a full 8 hours. Hell, she didn't even remember who had installed the bar. But every morning she rose, she stumbled, she grabbed onto it, and she was thankful it was there. 

Weiss shuffled on, leaning more on the rail than her own strength. She was feeling particularly drained today. Maybe she was getting sick. She meandered into the bathroom and turned on the shower. She sat under the water, wanting to give her legs more rest. She'd prefer a nice relaxing bath, but she couldn't shake the feeling that she had something important to do. Something that demanded this be quick. The water was scalding as it rained around her. Always sending her mind wandering. Always causing reflection she didn't want.

Blake and Yang were kind. Supportive. They'd moved to Menagerie, but still kept in regular contact. They were always so quick to assure Weiss that she wasn't crazy. That everything would be okay.That she was happy, even if she didn't realize it in the moment. Weiss felt as though they didn't understand. She didn't know how they could believe that. Their leader, their friend, their sister was gone. Missing, or worse. And no one seemed to care. No one seemed upset. 

The floor of the shower was glittering now. Weiss wiped tears from her cheeks. The stars had never abated. Ever since she woke up in the Ever After they'd stopped getting worse, but they were certainly no better. The others assured her that her partner had been there. The others assured her that her partner had been with them the whole way, stopped Salem with them. Why were they lying to her? Were they trying to protect her? Shield her from the pain of loss? When Team -WBY was honored they had put up 4 statues at each Academy, Beacon, Haven, Atlas, and Shade once they were rebuilt. One for each of them, obviously. Weiss, Blake, Yang, and a girl Weiss didn't recognize. She could never quite make out the face.  It was as though her vision deteriorated rapidly when looking at it, causing it to blur. Trying to made her eyes sting, and tears flow without ceasing. 

The doctors had tried. Again and again and again they tried but they couldn't diagnose a problem. Not with her body, not with her mind, not with her aura. The Star Tears just... happened. They were just a part of her. The adoration of the public was uncomfortable, but the looks of those who thought she was a freak were so much worse. As if she could control the stars pouring from her eyes. It was just another thing in the wonderful life of Weiss Schnee that she would never control. Another piece of her so called destiny forever out of reach. 

Helplessness was not something she enjoyed. She hated it. Relying on others she could do. That was good. That was necessary. But being unable to do anything? She couldn't stomach that. Had she the strength she'd shoot to her feet and get out there. Look for her partner again. There had to be some far forgotten corner or Remnant she had missed. There had to be. She'd get dressed and head out after he shower. She'd been idle too long. It had been years of living in this cottage. Why hadn't she been looking for her partner?

She turned the water off, squinting miserably as the countless stars blinded her on their way into the drain. She scowled and struggled to her feet. Looking into the mirrors she saw a gaunt face staring back. Dark heavy circles under her eyes, sunken cheeks stained with celestial dust. Her eyes flicked to the bottom of the mirror. 

"Don't forget to summon her." 

A simple command, written in her own hand on a sticky note. She didn't remember it, but then she didn't remember so much of her own life already. She ran the gamut in her mind, filtering through her summons. The Lancer Queen was the only "her" she could think of, but why would she write a note to summon it? Whatever. She didn't have the strength to summon right now anyway. 

She shuffled out into the kitchen, her legs still feeling like jelly. She stopped, smelling a myriad of delicious scents. Breakfast was always waiting when she got out of the shower. She didn't know how, or why, but after years of not doing anything about it she figured she knew at one point and just forgot. It was a big breakfast today. Perhaps whatever mysterious benefactor was doing this knew she was drained today. She sat down, grabbing the fork sat neatly by the plate. The mug of steaming hot coffee rose to her lips, eliciting a sigh. Coffee. If not for her partner, it would be her one true love.

"Seriously, don't forget to summon me her."

Weiss set the mug down. Okay. So she left two notes. But why was this one on a random mug? It's not as though she drank from it every day. 

"After breakfast." She mumbled for no reason in particular. 

"Okay. I get that you're tired. I don't blame you. If you need a day off... I understand. But you WILL summon me her tomorrow."

This sticky note was rather insistent. More importantly how had it gotten there? And why did it make the same mistake as the last one? It was clearly her handwriting so why... She paused. Whatever was happening, she'd have her answers after breakfast, right? She turned back to her meal, and began to eat. This was entirely too much food. Even if she needed her energy, whoever had prepared it went overboard. That felt par for the course for some reason. 

She padded out to the balcony after her meal. She shivered. The snow under her feet was uncomfortable, but she paid it little mind. The balcony overlooked the sea. She remembered it being built that way on her request. She didn't know who had built it though. Leaning against the rail, watching her breath dissipate she felt the stars within growing restless. Watching the snow lazily drift downward to land on the gently waving surface of the sea always moved her. She didn't mind. It was calming. Therapeutic. Besides, there was no harm in letting them out here. No one around to see. She closed her eyes, shuddering in the gelid morning air. She had felt... less reserved in the years since their victory. As though she wore a heart on her sleeve. She wasn't really sure it was hers. In spite of that, it still wasn't easy for her to break down, to cry intentionally. She just felt she had to. To get rid of this feeling, this nagging that something was deeply wrong. 

When she opened her eyes she blinked in confusion. There was a sticky note. On her forehead. She reached up and pulled it off.

"Summon me already dummy, I hate not being able to comfort you."

She sighed. Fine. She'll summon... something. She started the process. Summoning the first thing that came to mind. She felt a drain on her aura immediately. It was familiar, as though this were a daily routine. An exhausting one, but a routine none the less. She felt a pull. Something or someone directing her aura to a different summon in her catalogue. She sighed, and resigned herself to it. She didn't much have the strength to stop it. Her eyes closed once more, taking in a deep breath. She could feel the summon shimmering to her left. She felt a warmth to her right. A kiss planted on her cheek. 

"About time. Do you have any idea how annoying it is to forge your handwriting just so you don't think it's some creepy stalker leaving those notes?" Ruby giggled.

Right. Of course. It all clicked once more. Why she was so drained. Why those notes kept appearing. Even if the Star Tears disease could erase her perception, her very memory of Ruby Schnee, her partner was etched into the very essence of her soul. She wrapped her arms around her love, not bothering to open her eyes. She didn't need to, she knew right where she was, the exact right height for her arms to be to embrace her. How many times had they had this exact interaction by now? It didn't matter. She let the tears flow once more. 

Ruby just smiled softly. 

"Glad to have ya back Snowflake."

Weiss brought her hand up to cup her wife's cheek. She could feel Ruby's heart pounding in her chest as they locked eyes. Weiss couldn't help but laugh.

"Are you going to get that excited every time we kiss?"

"Yes. Yes I am. You've only gotten prettier over the years, I can't help it."

Weiss chuckled quietly, leaning in slowly. Her lips parted slightly as they made contact with Ruby's. She was in the same boat as her wife. No matter how many times they did this, it felt as special as the first time. She let out a contented sigh, melting into the kiss for another few seconds.

"I'm sorry you're so drained today baby. I know it's tough exhausting your aura day in and day out just to keep me around."

"Oh please. As if you aren't worth twice the work I put in. Besides, even if my aura's drained, I have my beautiful wife to protect me." 

"Two of us, even!" 

"You're chipper this morning."

"Well of course I am. It's our anniversary. Five years of being married to my best friend, I've got more than enough reason to be happy!" 

That's right. 5 years. 5 years of Ruby taking care of her even when she couldn't be seen. Making breakfast, leaving notes, protecting her. The dam broke again. She clutched Ruby tightly, her tears flowing again. She relished these moments. As much as she wanted her time with Ruby to be nothing but happy, she was just glad to have a break from the stars. They didn't shine when Ruby was around. She shed normal tears like a normal woman. That meant more to her than she'd ever been able to express. Ruby knew of course. Ruby always knew.

"Alright princess, let's getcha inside. You need at least one more cup of coffee."

"Why's that? Big plans for our anniversary?"

"Nope. Just gonna spend it at home with my gorgeous, amazing, super talented, incredibly intelligent wife. I just know you're a two cups minimum kinda gal."

Weiss rolled her eyes. "You think you've got me all figured out, huh?"

"I would hope I do by now."

Ruby gave her a loving smile. Weiss swore that whenever she smiled even the coldest Winter days felt like a balmy Spring afternoon. She smiled, and followed her wife inside, content in the knowledge that today would be a good one. How could it not, with Ruby by her side?