Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters in Big Bang Theory. I just play with them.
Pairings: Howard/Bernadette Leonard/Priya Raj/Stuart
Rating: T
The Loneliness Algorithm
The Guys were sitting around the table eating, Sheldon naturally had his barbecue bacon cheeseburger; barbecue, bacon and cheese on the side. It was Tuesday after all, ever since October 2007 they had been eating at the Cheesecake factory and Sheldon had finally come to trust the employees, namely Penny, not to touch his food.
They were more than a party of 4 today. Howard had brought Bernadette as it had been her day off, Leonard had brought Priya and Sheldon had been persuaded to allow Amy to come along. Due to the inordinate number of girls Raj was silent the whole evening, Howard refusing point blank to translate for him. At least tomorrow was Halo night and it would be just him, Howard, Leonard and Sheldon. He would just have to think of that to get him through the evening.
Raj was sitting at his desk trying to look like he was working whilst playing angry birds on his iphone. Raj remembers when he first showed off his iphone, "you'll be sorry when Sony brings out their version," Sheldon had scoffed. Leonard arrived in his office unannounced as raj came out of his flashback.
"You're coming tonight 8 o'clock remember?" Leonard asked Raj. As if he could forget.
"Don't worry I know Sheldon's schedule," Raj assured Leonard.
"Good. See you then... Oh I'm bringing Priya so if you could give her a lift I would appreciate it."
"No problem." Raj would be in for a long night.
It was 4 o'clock when Raj left; he had skipped Lunch so stopped off for a snack on the way home.
"What can I get you?" Penny asked as soon as he sat down, bringing over a grasshopper so he could reply.
Raj took a long sip of his drink, "Chocolate cheesecake please."
A minute later Penny silently brought the cheesecake to Raj leaving him to his thoughts. Raj picked at his cheesecake for a bit sighing occasionally to himself. He needed to pick up a four pack on the way home to pick up Priya. Priya. When had she made things so difficult for him? When Leonard was with Penny things were fine she would spend the evening with Bernadette even Amy didn't impede on their schedule, so what was different with his sister? Why did she feel the need to come? He was starting to sound like Sheldon with his issues with company.
Before he knew it it was time for Raj to go and collect Priya and head of for Halo, unfortunately there was no time to get the beer, and Sheldon hated lateness. He would just have to suffer in silence.
When he and Priya arrived Sheldon had everything set up. "Priya you can come with me," Leonard announced, "Sheldon is with Howard, Raj you can swap in later."
At that Raj felt his stomach go hollow and he started feel emotions he'd left behind long ago. That feeling of being a third or in this case fifth wheel. Well he would not stand for it.
"No thank you Leonard I have some errands to run anyway. Have fun," and with that he left before the flood gates opened.
Once the building was out of sight Raj fell to floor and let the tears come. It wasn't the first time he'd felt like this but it was worse than any time before. He thought these were his friends Bros before hoes wasn't that the way, not anymore it seemed? Leonard he could believe would do this, Sheldon he knew could be fairly ambivalent so long as there were enough to play but Howard, his best friend or maybe not anymore. Surely Howard would stand up for him? Ever since he and Bernadette became engaged it seemed that there was no room for him anymore. Well he would find a new best friend he thought to himself. It had worked in the past and that was how he had met Howard.
"Where's the best place to find a friend like myself?" Raj muttered to himself as he got off the floor and wiped away the remnants of any tears. The Comic Book store seemed an ideal place to start.
As he made his way to the Comic Book store Raj thought of all the times he'd been left out. At school in science he never had a fixed Lab Partner; no one wanted the loser who couldn't speak to girls. At College he was never wanted in a fraternity. At his first job he was always underestimated, no one gave him any good work to do. It wasn't until he started working at the university that he found his place in life, he found friends, a sense of belonging and now nothing. He really had to pull himself together before he reached the store. Happy thoughts were what he needed but none were coming.
The walk to the store was soon over and he heard the familiar tinkle of the bell alerting the world to his current position. Stuart looked up from the counter and gave a hesitant smile; he didn't normally see Raj alone, he was sure it was Halo night.
As Raj browsed aimlessly Stuart considered asking if he needed any help, before he could he was suddenly being handed a thick paperback book. "I hadn't got you down as an Avengers fan let alone Young Avengers," Stuart commented as Raj handed over the money.
"I'm not really but I wanted to start a fresh with a new series and as there haven't been many Young Avengers issues I thought I'd start there." Raj replied. It made sense to Stuart even if it was a peculiar choice of Comic Book.
"Here I was thinking you were a fan boy of Hulkling and Wiccan," Stuart joked as he handed him his change. Raj left the store feeling very confused but determined to find out what Stuart meant.
A/N: There will be references to Young Avengers as that is my favourite comic book.