Old Soul ( RWBY Fanfic with my OC)

Chapter 36

" I win." Qrow smirked as Ruby face palmed herself and Yang looking like she was going to hit him again.

" Rematch!" Nora shouted, trying to boost everyone's spirit. "  We're sure to beat you this time!" Ren sighed as the rest of the gang were figuring out who'd be able to beat Qrow this time until the avian's scroll went off. He picked it up and was about to excuse himself to answer it but recieved a threatening look from his nieces. 'Right,' He thought. 'No more secrets...I'm sure Zea won't mind..'. He put it on speaker and allowed the video chat to stream. " Something you need, Hummingbird?"

" Thank you for answering!" She doesn't seem to care about the group watching her and waving exitedly. " Look, I need help. I need someone, one of you maybe, to tell this girl to get some goddamn sleep!" She turned the camera at a drousy Veena with circles under her eyes. " GO TO BED ALREADY!" Veena seemed to ignore her and went straight for the coffee machine, barely noticing the numerous eyes watching her. " Qrow, help me!"

" Uh, kid. I think you should really get some rest." She glanced at him, at this point everything is a blur.

" Whatever do you mean by that?" She said in a low tone, pouring an entire batch of coffee onto the floor instead of her mug. " I'm fine....I just need...some coffee..."

" Veena, you should go to bed..you look really tired." Ruby told her and she laughed sleepily.

" Since when were you able to mimic voices, Miss Ashen...? You sound just like my Little Rose..."

" Veena Cloud, you've been awake for an entire week straight. I didn't give you a holiday for nothing." She throws the mug onto the ground almost mechanically like she has no clue what she's doing.

" That, doesn't sound healthy..." Ren said and the rest agreed. " Uh oh," Veena collapsed onto the spilled coffee and didn't get up. Zea rushed to check on her. She took out a syringe and emptied the vile. " Are those sedatives?"

" Yes, she left me no choice!" Zea shouted with frustation. She let out a long sigh and kept the syringe. " Thank you for distracting her. I know you all have questions and I promise I'll fill you in when I have the time but right now, there's something off with Veena. I'd appreciate if I could talk to you all longer but I have to get her to bed now. Her condition hasn't improved in days, something's going on in that head of hers and she won't tell me. I'll see you all at the Vytal festival, okay?" She ended the call and the group exchanged concerned looks to one another.

" That doesn't sound alright." Jaune said in a quiet tone. " Does this always happen with her or?"

" Not that I know of. Look, kids. Like I said, she tends to keep to herself on personal matters. I don't see her so often so I don't know her as much." He reminded them. Ruby felt worried about her friend and wondered what could be bothering her so badly to put her in such a condition.

Pen and Neo had been meeting up quite often. And despite Neo's refusal, he still brought her to visit the orphanage. Alex was more or less quiet this time, mostly glaring and grumbling to himself. But he soon got used to her presence. She would help him with little things like groceries and watching the kids play outside. She doesn't know why she does it, but in a way she sort of enjoys it. The children had gotten used to her too, always greeting her with a smile. Watching her interact with the children made him smile every time.

' Neo, there's something I need to tell you.' Pen took her aside from the children's view. ' I'm taking the kids to Vacuo.' Her eyes widen. ' We got a sponsor and I'll be able to take them to see the Vytal Festival. Isn't it exciting?' Neo hesitated to answer.

' That's nice. Could I come with you?' Pen's face fell as he gave her a sad smile.

' I'm sorry, I only have enough tickets for me and the children. But we'll-' She held his hands to make him stop. He looked down from his hands and looked up at her mismatched eyes. She said nothing and started to walk away, ignoring the children as she left.

There was no point in staying if in the end she wasn't wanted. She paused for a bit once she was a good distance away from them. Why did he make her feel this way? She liked those children. She wasn't sad because of what and how he said it, she was sad because of what she had to do next. A deals a deal and she had to tell Cinder. No matter what the cost could be.