Old Soul ( RWBY Fanfic with my OC)

Chapter 29

Pen was a simple man, he never wanted much. He joined the flock for one specific reason, he needed a job and most people in Remnant don't take kindly to mutes or the lot. She extended her hand and he took it, his job was not easy, far from it but he couldn't care. Like Qrow, he felt...wanted. A very precious feeling. His job? Being the caretaker of an orphanage. When he was first offered a job he thought that he'd be picking pockets and the such, instead he found himself with a handful of chirldren.

Why an orphanage? Specifically, this one orphanage was established by the previous Sparrow's life. One of her more compassionate lives, with that life gone there was almost no income what so ever to support the growing young. Some of the poor children that she remembered from that life grew into bandits and criminals that searched desperately for money to support themselves. It broke her heart. With the income provided by some of her connections, including  her eldest brother, things were brighter. He walked down the streets of Mistral with a simple smile as he thought of buying the children some ice cream.

" What?" He pointed to the two tubs of ice cream he had, meaning he wanted to pay for them. The store clerk snorted and gave him the price. " You don't talk do you?" He shook his head lightly and gave the man a patient smile. " Hah, don't you know that eating cold food makes your throat worse? Wait, don't tell me your mute! This is hilarious, uh oh, what's wrong pal, cat got your tounge?" The man laughed so loud that the entire store could hear him. Reluctantly, Pen handed him the money but as he withdrew, the clerk held his wrist firmly. " Where'd you get all that lien? Looks a bit much for a guy like you- Ow!"

A firm hit caused him to let go, the woman with a pink umbrella glared daggers at the clerk as he writhed in pain. Before he could speak, she pulled out her sword ftom the umbrella and held the tip at his neck. Her eyes looked like she was ready to kill him on the spot. But Pen interjected, shaking his head to tell her it wasn't right. She looked at him for a moment and put her sword.

' What are they for?' She signed to him as it seemed a bit too much ice cream for one guy. He took a moment to admire her mismatched eyes, the right was brown while her left was pink, her hair was vice versa.

' I own an orphanage, it's for the kids.' He replied with an awkward smile. She walked away from the counter and came back with two more tubs and placing them on the counter. She tapped on the tubs as she waited for the clerk to answer.

" 60 lien..." She slammed her hand onto the counter, surprising them both. She put up four fingers and gestured at the tubs, then she showed up two fingers. " W-Wait, you want four for the price of two? I can't just-" She stabbed through the counter top with her umbrella, leaving a hole in it. " A-Alright! I give!" She smiled mischievously and paid for the ice cream.

' You don't have to, I can pay for it.' He told her.

' I'll help you carry these to the orphanage, but if your lying...let's just say you won't get to see the sun rise again.' She lifted two tubs as he did the same and led her a bit way out of the town. A small building was in sight, it seemed pretty old. Children who were playing outside with some what seem to be bandits came over to greet them.

" Pen!" They cheered as he smiled at them. He lifted the tubs in the air and when the children saw them, they shrieked with delight. Some of the older kids took them and went to store them in the fridge. " Pen, who's the pretty lady?"

' She's a friend who helped me today.' Then he turned to her as a thought struck his mind, with a gentle smile he asked, ' I don't think I caught your name.' She hesitated and wrote her name in the sand.

" Ne...Neo..po..li..tan.." One of the little ones read aloud. " Ooh, like the ice cream?" She nodded.

' You can call me Neo,' She signed, she doubted the children understood but at least Pen would know. She almost jumped as a little girl hugged her leg. The girl gave her a big smile.

" Thank you for the ice cream, Miss Neo!" The children said together and most of them ran off to continue playing. The little girl tugged her shirt and when she bent down to her eye level the little one gave her a flower.

' Thank you, it's very pretty.' She signed smiling, she doubted the little girl understood due to thd confused look on her face. But as she got up again the little one kissed her on the cheek and went to join the others to play.

' She's deaf-mute.' Pen explained. ' Parents left her on our doorstep a few years ago. She's learning to cope at least. Thank you again, Neo. I'm guessing you're taking your leave?' She nodded and waved them goodbye as she left. Pen smiled, she wasn't bad at all. He looked up the trees and sure enough a sparrow was there, watching them as it blended in with the flock. Among the souls she picked up, he figured. It seems he must report the ecounter to the Nightingale, she'd know how to deal with...delicate matters.