Disclaimer: All characters belong to Rooster Teeth Production

One Shot Is All It Would Take

Yang stood at the bottom of the stairs that led to the portal, her hands shaking at the side. Her sister and friends had already stepped through the portal and returned home to whatever awaited them on Remnant, but there was still something in the Ever After that waited for Yang. Her eyes had fallen upon it as the others had left, and the conflict it caused within herself kept her stuck.

Embedded in the tree was the wooden statue of Neo. Its likeness was uncanny. Her youthful features were peaceful, her gloved hand held to her chest with a sense of care. Above her bloomed colourful leaves-the same kind they had burned to free her from the Curious Cat's possession- in the pattern of the parasol she always carried. Objectively, it was beautiful. A perfect recreation of the girl she had been before, one that would soon burst open like a cocoon to reveal who she would become.

And Yang hated it.

Every groove. Every swirl. Every perfectly placed leaf and sculpted piece of bark. There was not a single piece of the figure that didn't cause Yang's inside to squirm with rage. It was not what Neo deserved.

The girl was a psychopath. Unhinged and gleefully murderous. Three times she had made an attempt on Ruby's life, the latter of which had been successful. Ruby had died, swallowed by the ground in front of Yang's own eyes after being driven to take her own life. Her baby sister, the girl she would give anything for… She had almost lost her. Had Ruby not seen reason, had she not chosen to come back as herself, she would have been lost to her forever.

And now Neo got to forget? To have a new future, free of the responsibility and knowledge of what she had done to so many? She was allowed to just… move on?

No. That wasn't right. That wasn't just. The mere thought of Neo emerging from her cocoon and living a carefree life in the Ever After after everything she had done brought bile to Yang's throat. Her fists clenched as her body burned with rage. She could feel the flames licking at her hair, feel the familiar sting on her eyes as her semblance activated. Her gauntlet extended, a shell clicking into place. One was all she would need. One shell with the full might of her semblance behind it and the cocoon would break. Neo would be gone. She wouldn't get to try again.

That was all the justification she needed. But still, even as she willed her arm to move, to crack it open and put an end to the monster before her once and for all, it wouldn't. Her thoughts screamed at her arms to obey, but still her body ignored the command. Her breathing quickened, and she felt a tear roll down her face. She tried again, pleading with her arm to listen, to help her guarantee Ruby's safety, but her pleas went unanswered.

Her arm refused to move, and as she hung her head in shame at her inability to protect her sister, she felt a gentle hand land on her shoulder.

"I thought you left," her voice was strained as she spoke.

"Not until you do," Weiss replied in a patient tone.

Yang looked across at the woman, worried what she might see on her friend's face. Why she had stayed was obvious, even without the glowing hair and extended gauntlet. However, she saw no judgement on Weiss' features. No shock or disapproval. Only understanding.

"She doesn't deserve to try again," she half-growled at the Atlesian.

There was a second of silence before Weiss gave a nod. "I don't disagree," there was a chill to Weiss' voice that Yang rarely heard. An iciness that matched her own feelings. "But she has already lost."

The small hand slipped down to her bicep as Weiss gave her a warm and confident smile. Before she even spoke, past experience told Yang that whatever was about to be said would make her feel at least a little better.

"Ruby is alive and herself, we are going home, and you are about to begin something with Blake," Weiss' fingers squeezed her arm for effect. "That's our win, and she doesn't get to ruin that by you doing something you will regret for the rest of your life."

Yang turned back to the statue. She knew Weiss was right. Even her body had known it. Unlike Adam, the girl was defenceless. There would be no self-defence. No justifiable reason for her actions. It would be murder. How would Ruby look at her if she did? How would she look at Ruby? Or Blake?

"So she just gets to get away with it?" She scowled at her friend, still not ready to accept something so unjust. "I just have to let her go?"

Weiss grimaced and gave a noncommittal shrug. "I know it's unfair, but yes. Not for her, but for yourself."

Yang felt the hand let go of her as Weiss stepped away, no doubt to give her the room to make her own decision. Once again, her gaze turned back to Neo, hate and revulsion welling inside her. The urge remained, but she knew that's all it would be. Weiss was right. Her body was right. No matter how much she hated the girl, she wasn't a murderer. She wasn't like Neo, and she would never let herself become so.

So, with a frustrated breath, she let her semblance fade and returned her gauntlet to its bracelet form. Turning away from the statue, she took a step towards the portal. The urge to remain and finish what she was about to do made the step heavy, but with each one the weight lifted more and more. At the top of the stairs, Weiss waited with a smile on her face. As she reached the top step, she returned it as best she could.

"Thanks," She muttered and scratched her head. "For stopping me."

Weiss' head gave an almost imperceivable shake. "I didn't stop you," she said confidently, as if not a single doubt existed, "Even without me, you wouldn't have done it."

"I'm not sure about that," Yang admitted.

"Well, I am. I told you once before. You are hot-headed, but not ruthless."

Yang still remembered the day Weiss had said that. She remembered the comfort it had brought her when everyone else, even Blake and Qrow, hadn't believed her. In fact, she couldn't remember a single time that Weiss had doubted her. So, though she still wasn't sure herself, she took solace in Weiss' assurance.

"Thanks," She tried another smile, this one more genuine than the last, "You ready to go?"

"Whenever you are."

Yang gave her an appreciative look before taking her hand and stepping towards the portal. She fought the urge to look back, knowing it would do her no good, and stepped into the golden gate. As the warmth of it shimmered over her body, a feeling of relief rushed through her.

No matter what Neo had done, no matter what she deserved, Yang was glad she had not taken the shot.

A/N

Hello everyone. Short one today. Wanted to do a little more of an angsty one that deals with some things I wish were touched on a little more in the finale. As you may have guessed... I don't like Neo's fate xD

But yeah, I opted to keep this one canon-compliant, so technically this is a BB fic, but Friendly Freezerburn is still great food. Anyway, that's all from me. I hope you enjoyed it, and I will see you again next time :)