Who Do We Love? Rated M for future chapters.
Naturally, I am not affiliated with TBBT in any way. I own nothing.
My first fanfic in several years. Reviews are strongly encourageded! :) Thanks in advance.
Chapter 1.
Penny smiled brightly at Sheldon as she opened the door of her small but colorful apartment. His requisite three tiered knock always made a butterfly or three in Penny's tummy start fluttering.
"Hey Sheldon, come on in."
Sheldon sauntered in with his usual long strides and confident head held high. As Penny walked back toward the kitchen where she was preparing dinner, he took the opportunity to size up her admirable backside.
"Hello Penny."
"What's up?" She asked turning around suddenly.
Sheldon was almost caught but quickly recovered by answering her with a quite unexpected question of his own.
"How would you like to go on a date with me?", he asked.
Penny looked stunned and paused stirring her microwave mac and cheese.
"I'm sorry, what?"
"A date. You and me. Dinner, dancing, maybe take in a prize fight?"
Of course, given the fact that Sheldon's girlfriend, or girl who was a friend but not a girlfriend, Amy had recently started seeing their friend and comic book store proprietor Stuart, made Penny suspect that Sheldon's motivations were not altogether honorable.
Penny liked Sheldon, she couldn't deny that. But she certainly didn't want to be used and really didn't want to be a part of any rouse that would end up hurting Amy, who had appointed herself as Penny's "bestie".
Still she was curious. Maybe things with Amy had just taken their natural course and they were both moving onto to other things. Everyone thought Amy and Sheldon made such a cute and perfect couple but Penny just didn't see it. They were too similar and Amy bent to Sheldon's will all too easily. They could both do better.
Which brought her back to the proposition at hand. Penny could challenge Sheldon. He could challenge her. She could even make him laugh at times. He never laughed with Amy. Sheldon took a lot of crap from Penny. Penny was allowed a lot of liberties. Liberties that no one else in their circle were allowed.
Sheldon cleared his throat and Penny realized she'd been staring at Sheldon and her mac and cheese had been stirred nearly to mush.
She decided to go for it.
"Okay", Penny said finally.
Sheldon looked slightly stunned but only slightly and only for a moment.
Secretly, Sheldon had been lying in wait for sometime hoping an opportunity would present itself. He'd learned a thing or two about relationships from watching his friends. He knew Penny and Leonard were never right for each other. Leonard laid right down and let Penny steamroll right over him whenever she felt like it. He thought Leonard probably really thought he was in love with Penny. But really, Leonard loved sex. And Penny is a beautiful girl and what guy wouldn't take a shot at having a girl like her on his arm. But as he knew it would come to pass, they broke up. Leonard got too serious and Penny rightly realized that they could never be happy together. To quote Ferris Beuller, "You can't respect someone who kisses your ass". And you can't.
Penny also needed to be challenged. She was just as street smart and Sheldon was book smart. She could easily handle herself in a variety of situations. She didn't need a protector or a servant. She needed a compliment to her personality. An adversary even. An equal.
Sheldon then realized he had been staring for several moment and was white knuckling his right hand which was placed on her kitchen island.
Penny smiled and stifled a giggle. "When do you wanna do it?"
"Do what?", Sheldon replied, confused.
With a pronounced roll of her eyes Penny said, "When do you want to go on a date, Sheldon."
"Oh yes. You really do need to learn to be more specific."
"Well, you just asked me and you're the genius..."
"Yes, but how am I to know what you're rambling on about at any given moment."
"I think I'm changing my mind Sheldon."
There was a pause.
"Bazinga! Another one of my classic pranks. Be ready at seven o'clock on Friday. No dawdling. I'll be taking you to a classy place and tardiness won't be tolerated."
Penny smiled again looking a little bemused and a little more annoyed.
"Aren't you gonna ask if I'm free that night? I'm a cute girl. I could have other plans ya know." She said this as sternly as she could but couldn't help the drips of flirtation that worked their way in her tone of voice.
"Oh, I'm sorry. So rude of me. Do you currently have plans to work? Or were you planning on traipsing around in a revealing, albeit, visually pleasing, ensemble with the hopes of snagging yet another neanderthal for a night of dead end lust only to return hope disappointed that no man will ever measure up to your new set of standards set forth by someone a little more deserving of the attentions of a woman of your stature?"
Penny stared wide eyed as Sheldon stood there smirking.
"Is that your way of wooing me?"
"Just stating the obvious Penny. It's time you learned to play with someone a little more your speed."
Penny didn't think he jaw could drop any lower but after that statement, it nearly did.
Sheldon was flirting back!. With her! And in his own weird way he was good at it. And boy was it working.
Sheldon leaned a little closer over the island and Penny continued to stare with her eyes wide and her eyebrows arching far into her forehead. Her mouth defied her by smiling despite her attempt at looking affronted.
Smirking, he said in a low voice, "Friday at seven?"
Almost as if hypnotized, she said slowly, "Friday at seven."
"Good!" He snapped back upright and turned to make his way out.
"I'm looking forward to this Penny. I'm going to show you a great time kitten."
Penny nearly fainted as he opened her door, gave her one last look back and left.