I think we can all agree that I write far too much Robin/ Barney fluff, so I thought I'd have a shot at something from S1 in a different style. This is various character's PoV on the end of 1.22 Come On! In case you haven't seen it in a while, Penelope is Barney's "ex" who helps Ted to do his rain dance.
T for language, angst. I do not own HIMYM. Please enjoy.
Canopy
"Some people walk in the rain- others just get wet,"- Roger Miller
Evening
Lily:
"Pause," you say. He says he can't. You say it again. He asks why. You kiss him. He lifts you up and carries you into your bedroom. You kiss him and pull at his clothes and try to forget. That's what Pause Function was invented for, right? It doesn't work though. You can't turn your brain off, and you reckon that he feels the same. You love him but in your heart of hearts you know that you'll lose yourself if you don't leave. You kiss him hard and screw your eyes up to convince yourself you aren't crying.
Penelope:
You're loitering by wall which runs around the side of the roof, while Barney's friend (Tim? Ted? Tom?) jumps about like a lunatic, supposedly to win the girl of his dreams. You wonder how this kind of romantic idiot could have ended up being best friends with Barney- also an idiot (and that's an understatement) but as un-romantic as it's possible to be (in a car. Seriously, in a car. It probably wasn't even his). The friend begins shouting- "I LOVE HER!"- like that'll make any difference, "GIMME SOME RAIN!"- does he seriously believe it'll work?- "COME ON!"- lovesick moron.
And then the heavens open.
The friend whoops in delight, claps Barney on the back, triumphantly shouting, "I told you so!" and scampers down the stairway on the side of the roof. You roll your eyes, fold your arms and look back out across the city. After a few moments you hear Barney's voice very close beside you ear.
"What a jerk," he scoffs. You jump in alarm and he sniggers.
"How do you do that? You're like a ghost,"
He chuckles again- "Please,"
You should probably leave now- but there's something magnetic about the suit and the smile and the eyes. You resolve to say and chat to him for a while, but no way is he getting anything more than that.
"Who's the jerk then- you or him?"
He leans his elbows on the wall, chin in his hands. "Him,"
"I was thinking both of you, actually. But you're the biggest,"
He cocks an eyebrow, grinning sleazily.
You glare at him. "Oh, shut up,"
Ted:
You crash down the metal steps all the way to the ground floor, feet clanging on the stairs and water splashing up around your shins. Once you reach ground level, you race though the alley into the street, running to the nearest taxi. You wrench open the door, hurl yourself in and breathlessly recite her address to the driver. Raindrops dribble down the window as you begin to drive- uncertainly carving their way like a child trying to trace along a straight line with their finger.
You made it happen. You made it rain. You were prepared to wait for the universe's plan, but you realise now that all it took was for you to act for yourself. Surely it's going to happen now for Robin and you. You had to work out for yourself that you had to take initiative . The cab's wheels slurp through the puddles. You can't wait.
Penelope:
"So…you. Me. Roof,"
"Soon to be me; roof. You; ground," you retort bitterly.
"Aaw, come on. Let me buy you a drink,"
You turn to him- "Are you serious?"
"Of course,"
"Sorry, were you there when you hooked up with me in a car, ditched me, then hit on my Mom? Or did you miss that?"
"You've just helped my best friend get the girl of his dreams. I think I owe you a brandy,"
"No,"
"Just as a thanks. I won't try anything, I swear,"
"We both know you will. No,"
"Please,"
"No,"
"Please,"
"No,"
"Fine,"
Barney turns away, takes off his jacket and runs a hand through his wet hair. It looks browner in the rain. He leaves his jacket on the chair and goes back to leaning on the wall beside you. Out of the corner of your eye you watch as his shirt sleeve darkens from light blue to dark, rain sticking the fabric to his skin. His arms are kind of skinny, you recall. You glance at Barney's back, where you can see the pinkness of skin through his damp shirt. He must be cold. You remember the smooth ripples of his shoulder blades under your hands as you kissed. Rainwater drips off Barney's nose and he sniffs. You like his fine, sharp features. He really is exceptionally goodlooking.
"Alright then, buy me a drink,"
Robin:
Shouting outside your window. At first you ignore it, assuming that its local drunks or some kids messing about in the rain. But then you hear your name- and of course you know who it is. There's only one person who shouts your name from two floors below and doesn't care who sees or hears him. Your first emotion is fear- of what he'll ask, of saying Yes, of saying No, of letting him down- most of all, the fear of knowing that you're in love with Ted Mosby.
Your dogs whimper and you glance at them. They're cuddling up to each other beside the couch, shivering; they hate storms. They jostle against each other for a moment, and then the dalmatian gets to his feet, takes a couple of steps towards the door and barks angrily.
You forget Ted for a moment and kneel down beside the dog, stroking his head and murmuring, "Hey. Hey, it's alright. It's the storm. Shh, boy,"
His growls quieten, and you click your fingers to send him back over to the others. He gives you a look, then lies down with his tail curled around his body. As you watch him settle down, it occurs to you that he was frightened. Your dalmation was afraid of the thunder, but he barked and growled although he didn't know what would happen. It could have been dangerous but he'd faced his fear anyway. And he was still okay.
You open the window.
