Hey guys! New story time, this one's going to be long, I hope! :P
This is written in response to all those Shenny shippers who write Leonard as a complete asshole, when in reality, he doesn't. So if you ship only Shenny, don't read it if you're easily offended! It's really for Lenny fans, and I'll always root for them, regardless of how the show pans out!
I hope you guys enjoy this first chapter! If you want to leave me a review about whether I should continue with this, let me know!
Take care! :D
Edit: Oh wow, I just noticed how assholeish (? :P) I made Sheldon come across as! This is the point, though. I love Sheldon as a character, trust me, he's awesome, and my favorite of the 7 main characters. I just needed to portray him this way for this story, so, uh, don't worry, he won't be as bad in other chapters if you guys don't want me to :S (If this is the first of my writing you've read, I promise I don't write Sheldon this way in any other of my fics, I just did in this one! :S)
DISCLAIMER: I own nothing in this story related to 'The Big Bang Theory.'
Chapter 1: Leaving home again.
Leonard strode confidently over to the door of his ex-lover. He'd had enough, it was time to go. For 6 years she'd treated him as her second, as if he was just a temporary fix for her, but he was done. Leonard knew that if he didn't leave, that he'd never get over her but he had the perfect window of opportunity to get out and leave while the dust was still up in the air after Penny's latest transgression. He had no desire to try and win her back, or put on a show, or throw a sob story. Life had dealt him a poor hand from the outset, and so instead of trying to fight it, Leonard was going to ride it out, and see where it landed him. As he neared her threshold, he slowed; it'd always been so easy to just throw open the door and spend time with her. But now, there was no attraction for Leonard to do any of that, she'd crossed a line, as had he, but once again, Leonard had to pay the consequences. He tried to push himself to just swing open the door, he wanted to be confident. But inside, he was terrified; terrified of the woman he loved. Leonard collected himself, and thought deeply, he decided that instead of seeming arrogant and volatile, he'd just tell her the honest truth, effectively ramming a knife straight into the heart of their relationship, butchering any chance of any form of romantic rekindling.
'Romantic Rekindling my ass.' Leonard thought to himself, chuckling slightly.
Taking the last few steps towards her door, Leonard knocked twice, and stepped back, waiting patiently. The door gently opened, and there, in all her glory stood Penny, dressed in only her pyjamas, and yet to Leonard, she was still breath-taking as ever.
'Oh! Hi Leonard!' Penny smiled. 'I'm just getting ready for my date with Sheldon, would you mind coming and helping me find something to wear? I really need this to go well.' She emphasised her last point by trying to define the veins in her neck.
It left Leonard feeling sick beyond belief. She was so blunt, with no regard for his feelings at all. Just a week after she'd dumped him for Sheldon, she was already asking Leonard to help cement their relationship. It only further determined him to not give away any kind of weakness in the face of her.
'I'm leaving.' Leonard said slowly, letting every syllable ring out through the silent, dim hallway.
'Oh, is Sheldon making you go pick up some stuff from the store, ooh, if you're going could yo-' Leonard cut her off with a cold glare.
'No, I'm leaving, for good, so, I'll see you around Penny.' He smiled slightly and half waved at her as he turned to pick up his suitcase that was next to the stairs.
'Le-leaving? Sweetie, what do you mean, you can't leave, you live here.' Penny flailed her arms slightly, chuckling nervously as she did so, taking a few steps towards Leonard.
'I can do whatever I want Penny, I'm not a kid, it's not like I'm just running off, I've thought about this, I've arranged a new place, I've got a new job, I'm leaving nothing of importance behind.' He coated his last words with as much venom as he could muster towards the love of his life.
Penny looked crestfallen. Her eyes were wide, and her hands were hanging limply at the side of her body as she stuttered at Leonard. His words had drawn blood, and it was falling in the form of tears forming in the corners of her eyes.
'But, what about me, and Sheldon, and Raj, and Howard. What, what about the roommate agreement!? You can't just go, we need you, I need you.' Penny softened as she reached out towards Leonard's arm, but he pulled away, looking at her with sadness.
'No, you don't. You made it so, SO clear what you need. And do you honestly think I'd forget about Raj and Howard, not to mention Amy and Bernadette? I'm going to keep in heavy contact with them, and I'll see them at every opportunity that I can. I love them; they're the best things that happened ever happened to me.' He tilted his head, before dropping it. Penny hadn't replied, but had instead stormed over to 4A to try and get her new boyfriend to support her point. She slammed against the door hysterically, not stopping until Sheldon swung open the door sighing as he did so.
'Ugh, Penny, what fresh Hell is this? What do you want?' He stared at her with steely eyes until he spotted Leonard standing off to the side of the door, staring at him with disgust. He immediately changed.
'Oh, Penny! What a delight! How are you?' He forcefully pulled his girlfriend to stand beside him, arm around her neck, causing her to stumble as she fell towards him.
She looked at Leonard with pleading eyes as she explained her situation to Sheldon.
'Well, Leonard. I'm afraid you can't leave, because I need a rent monkey that's easily whipped, and you fit the brief perfectly. So why don't you come back inside, make us all some tea, and then go and listen to some sad music while I take your ex-girlfriend out for a nice dinner.' He smiled evilly at Leonard as he tried to get some sort of rise out of him. When he did nothing but sigh and start descending the stairs, Sheldon pushed Penny away from him, rubbing his hands against his shirt in disgust before slamming the door in her face. She was shocked at just how vile Sheldon could be; he'd just rubbed dirt into an open wound, worsening it tenfold. She was snapped out of her disturbing reverie as she heard a suitcase being dragged slowly down stairs. Through watery eyes, she stormed down the first two flights to catch up to where Leonard was.
'Leonard!' She screamed as she ran in front of him, leaving him unable to descend any further.
'Penny, just get out of the way, I'm not in the mood for this, at all.' Now it was his turn to look at her pleadingly.
'No, I can't let you leave, Leonard! Where are you going, what's going to happen to your apartment, and hang out nights!? I thought you were happy with your life!'
'You were my life, Penny. You filled my every thought, your smile made me smile, your love made me feel wanted. Now that's all gone, I can't just hang around as you start a life with my roommate, I'm sorry. Please, if you even care in the slightest about my feelings, you'll get out of the way, and let me try and move on, I want to live a life that won't be filled with reminders about what could've been, maybe even start a family.' He choked up at the last words, letting his head fall towards the ground, he'd been determined not to cry, but he was failing.
'I- I'm sorry, Leonard. So, so sorry that I couldn't give you what you needed, I'm just, not ready for this, I can't commit myself, I'm so, so sorry.' She repeated sorry over and over, each time becoming quieter, and once she'd become silent, she moved her arm from the wall, leaving him free to leave.
'Do I get a goodbye, Leonard?' Penny was wailing, her body wracked with sobs as he stood in front of her, with a once again steely gaze upon his face.
He sighed, before stepping back towards her, placing his bag back down onto the floor as he grabbed her hands, gently swaying them as he talked.
'I'm sorry that I couldn't be someone I'm not, I'm sorry that I trapped you in a relationship that you felt so bored in. I wish you nothing but happiness with everything, and maybe one day, when I see your face on that poster for the next Hollywood blockbuster, I can smile, knowing that I was in love with the next Angelina Jolie.' They both laughed gently, as Leonard wiped tears away from her eyes, something that would have been of so little significance just a week ago. 'I'm going to miss you more than I can even put into words, so much that I'll never be able to face seeing you again. I love you Penny, so much, and now I can finally release you, because you did it for me. Goodbye, angel.' Overcome with a sudden wave of emotion, he leaned in, softly placing his hands on her face, pressing his lips onto hers, sending waves of electricity chorusing through Penny. Leonard felt little, other than remorse, and heartbreak.
He turned, and started to walk down the stairs, leaving Penny standing motionless. Her emotions were a whirlpool, she was still recovering from feeling his lips on hers, the kiss had been so different, so electrifying, exciting! Something she knew that she'd never have with Sheldon. There'd be no intimacy, save for the cold, harsh pettings, followed by sanitizer and a long shower on Sheldon's part to rid himself of her germs, leaving Penny alone and cold. She'd never feel that same rush after making love that she had with Leonard; she'd never spend a night wrapped up in his arms, as he gently rocked her into a peaceful sleep. She'd never be shown love, or kindness. She was just an object that was to boost Sheldon's ego even more. And she was regretting it already.
She bolted down the last two flights of stairs, suddenly very certain of her feelings. It was her last shot to make him stay, it was all she had.
'Leonard!' She shouted out once more, catching him just as he was picking up the last of his mail.
He ignored her as he turned and headed towards the door.
'I love you.' She said, it was quiet, but to the two of them, it was deafening.
Leonard turned to look at her, and raised his head as he swung open the door, she was losing him.
'I'm sure you did, once.'
Time slowed as Penny watched him walk out on her life forever. She wept as he smiled sadly at her before stepping through the door, swinging shut behind him as he left home for the second time in his life. It had been unmistakable, though, the feeling between them. It had been explosive, charged and left fireworks ricocheting around the building.
Penny had lost. The tears didn't stop as she slowly climbed the stairs, where a cold, clinical man waited for her at the top of them.