Title: Star-crossed Affair
Rating: M
Warnings: Lemons, swearing and all that good stuff.
Pairings: Sheldon x Penny, Leonard x Priya, Howard x Bernie
Disclaimer: Me no own... you no sue.
Beta: DefyGravity18 – A woman of pure awesomeness!
Chapter 8. Thank you all for the reviews! It helps keep me going it really does! Okay a big thanks to MyOwnStar for all her help with many parts of this chapter. You are an amazing person to bounce my ideas off of and I love you dearly for this, this fic just wouldn't be the same without you. Thank you for awesome friendship here is the chapter 8 you been harassing me for!
Next Chylea3784 – Thank you so much for your help with a pretty big part of this fanfic I won't go into detail about but your ideas are epic.
Finally DefyGravity18 thank you for being my beta for this fic, your final go over and corrections are beautiful you make this baby shine. You three ladies are the BEST!
X
Saturday, 9:45 pm. Raj Koothrappali's apartment.
"Slow down Leonard. You're not making any sense." Howard tried to calm down the blubbering and babbling Leonard, who had just come bursting through the door like hell had just frozen over.
"Penny and Sheldon are – dating – I think… and Sheldon kicked me out!" Leonard finally managed to blurt between gasps for breath. He looked up at the two stunned faces staring blankly at him. Obviously, in their opinions, hell had frozen over. Before either of them could say a word, Leonard quickly relayed what had happened between him and his roommate in the hallway barely a half hour before.
"Wow," The stunned whisper fell from Howard's mouth, the words barely audible, yet all three men understood what that one simple word conveyed.
"I can't believe Sheldon kicked me out." Leonard repeated in disbelief.
Raj and Howard shared a knowing look, both aware that Raj had texted the crazy man complaining about Leonard and his freaky Star-Trek sex fantasy. Neither of them expected for Sheldon to actually step over that line, and kick out his friend of nearly a decade. This was sure to change everything in their little circle.
"Why don't you live here and I'll move in with Sheldon," The Indian man suggested. "I asked Sheldon if the arrangement worked for him. He agreed, but he mentioned something about drafting a new roommate agreement. I didn't think he would do something that drastic."
"You're the reason Sheldon told me to move out?" Leonard cried in disbelief, almost jumping out of his seat on the burgundy couch. His fists clenched tightly, making his knuckles white in contrast to the dark jeans he was wearing. He was practically trembling with anger.
"Dude, how was I supposed to know Sheldon was going to do that? This is Sheldon we are talking about!" Raj pointed out, gesturing with his hand that Sheldon was crazy. Leonard still looked upset, but resigned to the fact that everyone knew was true. No one could ever really predict what Sheldon Cooper would do next.
"Now hold on a minute," Howard cut in, "you said Sheldon and Penny are dating?" He asked, changing the subject to the obviously juicier news.
"It's about time they finally clued in." Raj's accented words cut through the tension in the room like a knife through butter. When Howard and Leonard both turned their sceptical eyes on him, Raj shrugged. "What?" He asked defensively.
"What is that supposed to mean?" snapped Leonard as he jumped to his feet, glaring at Raj.
"You can't tell me you didn't see this coming. You've seen how they interact with each other." The Indian man explained casually. "They've got that creepy weird bond thing. And she did say you ruined dumb guys for her."
Leonard was taken aback by Raj's blunt and to the point statement. Didn't they know it was against the 'bro code' to date your best friends ex? Sheldon may have said that they weren't friends, and maybe Sheldon actually believed that now, but the past eight years hadn't been just two 'acquaintances' hanging out together. The cold sting of betrayal was a powerful burn when he considered the idea of Penny and Sheldon together.
"I've noticed he's not as crazy when she's around," Howard pointed out, pulling Leonard from his internal thoughts.
"What part of he's my best friend and she's my ex is not getting through to you guys? What about the 'Bro Code'?" Leonard seethed, crossing his arms. He was really irritated and frankly, hurt that his friends seemed to condone the situation, even seeming to support the fucked up relationship that had just been revealed to him! Was he the only one the found this to be something out of the Twilight Zone? Sheldon was supposed to be asexual and not interested in anything. In fact there was something about this whole deal that was just downright wrong.
"Leonard, no offence, but you dating Penny was somewhat of a fluke-"
"And Sheldon dating her isn't?" Leonard practically spat, interrupting Howard. The glare he aimed at the shorter man gave new meaning to the expression 'if looks could kill'.
Howard turned his attention to Raj with a 'help me out here' look, to which the dark skinned man seemed oblivious to his friend's plea for help.
"All we're trying to say is, you been hooking up with my sister for months. It's only natural for Penny to want to move on too. Who cares if it's Sheldon? It could be worse. She could have picked Stuart... or Zack," Raj pointed out with a shrug, standing and wandering over to the fridge to grab a bottle of water. He couldn't help feeling a little sympathy for his friend, yet still shocked by the news that Leonard had brought with him. However, anyone with functioning eyes could have seen this coming for years. One couldn't help noting the way Sheldon and Penny behaved together. Their special blend of sexual tension paired with admiration, which had been brought on by a flirtatious love-hate relationship and consistent casual bantering was so obvious. The way they argued was the telltale sign, but you could really see the growing bond between them when the other was in any sort of trouble. Whatever existed between those two had been growing like a flower, beginning as only a small bud in the dirt, before slowly growing into a plant that was ready to blossom.
Raj couldn't deny he was little disappointed regarding Leonard's display of emotion over the whole thing; the guy was dating his sister but had proven tonight that he wasn't over Penny. However, he couldn't be too upset with Leonard, because he was the reason Sheldon had kicked Leonard out! It obviously wasn't what he'd intended to happen, but he was sick of the creepy Star Trek sex that was occurring in his bedroom. If he had to hear the phrase 'I'm entering the landing dock', one more time, he swore he was going to scream.
As Leonard paced across the apartment, his eyes narrowed and his hand brushed agitatedly through his black hair. He sighed in exasperation, before stopping in his tracks to look up at the two men standing near the small kitchen in the apartment, glaring at them a moment.
"Fuck this," he muttered under his breath, and without another word, he tore out of the apartment, slamming the door behind him..
"What crawled up his ass and died?" Raj grumbled, turning toward Howard, who did not reply; he only shrugged his shoulders and wandered back to the abandoned Call of Duty: MW3 that had been forgotten upon Leonard's intrusion.
"He's not over Penny," Raj offered, "Man! My kill to death ratio is ruined now."
X
Leonard shoved his hands in his pockets as he walked against the slight breeze. It thrashed at his open coat, sending the thick fabric fluttering in every direction. The wind was surprisingly chilly for late April in Pasadena. His footsteps echoed against the hard cement sidewalk, while the sound of passing cars coupled with the bustle of people enjoying the city night life came alive around him. He noticed people staring up at the sky, either pointing or taking pictures. Turning his eyes skyward, he suddenly felt like an idiot as he watched the dazzling display of the meteor shower streaking the night sky, showing off the wonders of outer space.
He couldn't keep his mind off of everything that had happened earlier. The sting of betrayal and jealousy pulsated away in both his mind and his chest, resulting in a dull ache. Not to mention, his encounter with Howard and Raj had not gone quite as he had hoped. Leonard had hoped – no – expected that his friends would be equally upset that Sheldon had stolen both his ex and his home. Hell, the thought of a 'roommate switch' was just silly; the world didn't work that way, no matter how much one wanted it to.
With a heavy sigh, Leonard forced his eyes away from the meteor shower and continued his journey to… well, somewhere with alcohol for sure. He had strived so hard for Penny's attentions, yet Sheldon had always seemed to get more quality time with her than he ever had. Sheldon had even received the better gifts every Christmas season. He couldn't understand why, when Sheldon was crazy, demanding, and well, Sheldon-y. Yes, he had noticed their closeness as the years had passed, but he'd never thought of it as anything more than a platonic bond. The idea of him…with her…it just didn't seem right. The idea of them… doing it seemed wrong as well!
Sheldon wasn't the kind of person a girl like Penny deserved. After what she'd done to him when he'd confessed his love for her, he certainly hadn't hoped for her to find that kind of happiness with his best friend. And what kind of friend was Sheldon, if he was so willing to denounce their years of friendship to hop in bed with his best friend's ex? Leonard couldn't even decide which one of the two he was more upset with.
Leonard noticed the sound of loud music, paired with a heavy bass beat and the overwhelming smell of alcohol and cigarettes. Exactly the sort of place he had been looking for, especially because this place was definitely not on any Sheldon approved list. He showed his ID at the door and pushed his way into the pub, which was filling up quickly, but still had a few empty chairs at the bar. Climbing onto the tall barstool, he rested his elbows on the oak surface in front of him. The older looking man behind the bar nodded at Leonard knowingly.
"A shot of Crown," Leonard called over the din of the club music. With a sigh, he added, "Make it a double." The bartender swiftly placed with shot in front of him, which he took in one swig. The honey brown liquor burned the back of his throat as he swallowed. He knew, deep in his heart, that he should just be happy for them and continue on in his blissful relationship with Priya, but the nagging ache remained in the back of his mind. He knew he couldn't allow this to happen, and intended on finding out what was really going on between the two of them, before putting a stop to it. Penny and Sheldon could not and would not be together when all was said and done.
Of that much, Leonard was certain.
When someone bumped roughly into his arm, he looked up for what seemed like forever to see a familiar six foot five inch tower of muscle in a black golf shirt.
"Kurt."
X
Sunday Morning.
Penny stretched out, yawning heavily and nearly screaming when her backside brushed against a solid body behind her. Snapping her eyes open and taking in her surroundings, she realized she was in Sheldon's bedroom; the wall of comic books neatly positioned across the row of shelves were a dead giveaway. Laughing to herself, she remembered how easily Sheldon had caved on his 'no one in my bedroom' rule. She turned her head to catch a glimpse of said scientist lying beside her in his slightly angled 'vampire pose'. His small bed fit the two of them perfectly, with a little room to keep them from falling on the floor.
It had only been four days, but she really had the urge to grab his collar and shake him, demanding to know where the real Sheldon was. It was definitely out of character for him, but she wasn't going to turn down the sweet gestures that he seemed so willing to offer.
She searched around for his alarm clock, but realized it was on the other side of the bed. With a sluggish groan, she reached for her cell phone, which was sitting on the night table beside her. She could tell before even looking at the time that it was still early in the morning just by the barest hints of sunlight filtering in from the window beside the night table. 5:46 am. What an ungodly hour.
Sinking back against the pillow, she felt her eyelids grow heavy as it welcomed her back in its soft embrace. She inhaled the musky smell that lingered in the air around her and she felt the tug of sleep pulling her back into bliss.
When Penny opened her eyes the second time, sunlight was spilling into the tiny bedroom window brightening her surroundings, and the rich smell of coffee hung in the air. With a lazy huff, she pulled herself out of the small bed upon finding herself alone. Rubbing the sleep from her eyes, she headed down into the kitchen, finding it slightly strange to be emerging from Dr. Crazy's room.
Sheldon was sitting in his spot watching the first Spider-Man movie, his breakfast already eaten as indicated by the empty plate on his lap and the cup of tea clutched in his slender hands. "Morning, Moonpie!" She muttered, as she shuffled toward the fresh, untouched, pot of coffee that he had brewed just for her. Sheldon was not allowed near caffeine, ever again. The whole Penny Blossom escapades were still fresh in her mind whenever the name Sheldon and the word caffeine were used in the same sentence. Still, it made her smile to remember sitting with him in her apartment as he helped her assemble the hair accessories. Surprisingly, she had really enjoyed herself spending that time with him until the boys, like they always did, had gotten carried away and created that website.
The coffee smelled even better as she poured it. She was up before eleven, and really needed all the coffee she could get. Penny wondered if Sheldon could create a caffeine IV… wouldn't that be useful? Penny felt her body react at the first taste of the bitter, hot drink without cream or sugar. She couldn't do the black coffee thing, and pulled the milk from the fridge, before grabbing the sugar to fix her coffee the way she liked it.
She turned towards Sheldon and leaned back against the counter top. His gaze was focused on her with that same intense stare from the night before, making her wonder what was going through his head right now. His eyes raked slowly from her feet to her eyes, devouring every inch of her and making her shift until his eyes met hers, before Sheldon silently returned his attention to the television screen in front of him.
"If you insist on calling me by the endearment my Meemaw has given me, then you shall being to receive strikes." Sheldon told her with an air of finality, glancing at her briefly, before returning to the movie playing out on the television.
"If that's the case, I respond with Moonpie, Moonpie, Moonpie." She didn't even bother hiding her smirk when he gave her a blank stare and his eyebrows shot up towards his hairline. "Now, come punish me," She teased, and almost fell over in outright laughter when his face turned bright red, obviously remembering the events from Friday, shifting in his seat and glowering at the television as if he was trying to make it explode. His fist tightened for a moment before he relaxed.
"I'd be careful of what you wish for, Penny." Sheldon's smooth, threatening voice verged on the edge of predatory, along with the same intense stare from both last night and only a few moments earlier. "I will give you a pass…this time." He added darkly, before standing from his spot and leaving the room. The closing of the bathroom door told her it was 8:20 without the need to look at the clock.
Penny looked down at the cup in her hand and decided to take it with her to her apartment, crossing the hall quickly on trembling legs. His blue eyes had almost glowed, with intensity. It was as though he wasn't merely undressing her with his eyes, but rather branding her soul with his gaze, making her his both inside and out. Now that she was away from him it was unnerving, yet strangely arousing.
She'd dealt with her share of men staring and leering at her over the years, and at this point in her life, she could really tell the difference between those looks she received from those men and the look in Sheldon's eyes last night or this morning. It wasn't the usual lustful stare, and she realized now how weak it made her legs and how it made her body quiver under the observant gaze of Sheldon's beautiful blue eyes.
X
Penny had just stepped out of the shower when she heard the familiar OCD knocking at her door, followed by the call of her name. Grinning deviously to herself, she decided to fight his fire with a little fire of her own; she wrapped the towel around her body and sauntered to the door, waiting until he finished his final knock before opening the door and greeting her new boyfriend with nothing on but a thin towel, her sun kissed skin glistening with the sheen of her recent shower.
"Penny I was hoping you—" Sheldon's voice cut off, when he noticed what she was wearing. Penny watched as he opened and closed his mouth, swallowing heavily. His dilated pupils and slight bulge forming in the front of his pants told her he was, at least, enjoying the view. Especially judging by the way she could feel his eyes scanning over every exposed part of her body.
"Can I help you, Moonpie?" She drawled with a devilish smirk plastered on her face, loosening her grip of said towel and causing the back to fall down a little lower, exposing more of her cleavage. Penny even pondered what could happen if she dropped the towel completely, but Sheldon drew her attention back to him as she finished his train of thought, staring at the door frame as he spoke.
"I wanted to know if you join me for an afternoon of…" Sheldon's voice trailed off again, when his eyes flitted back in her direction. However, this time it was the stunned and shocked look he'd had before, the intense one that made her burn for him. She was taken aback when he stepped toward her, invading her personal space with his confident presence. This was the exact same Sheldon that had squared off with Leonard last night. This was Alpha Male Sheldon, whom she was standing nose to nose with. His right hand rested seemingly innocently on her door, just above her head, while his left hand was clenching and relaxing at his side, as if he wanted to do something but was restraining himself.
Sheldon's left hand collided with the door on the other side of her head, it happened so fast Penny didn't even register it until the loud 'bang' beside her head caused her to jump. It had not gently moved to rest there, he'd slammed his palm against the door with startling force, pinning her between he and the door, his arms becoming a barrier to which there was no escape. Her grip on the towel faltered but was able to catch it before it fell off.
Sheldon pressed his body flush against hers, grinding his obvious arousal against her lower stomach as his blue eyes flashed. His clean, minty, after-shower scent filled her senses, paired with…was that Axe Body Wash? She could feel her knees going weak again, overwhelmed by her urged to kiss him. A second later, just as quickly as it had happened, his body was gone from hers as he pulled away from her door and stepped back into the hallway, staring at the floor.
"Would you join me for an afternoon of kite flying at the park?" His voice no longer held the Alpha Male complexity, instead replaced by tone similar to a scolded child who had just been caught with his hand in the cookie jar. It was in this moment Penny realized she was the one messing with forces beyond her ken.
"Yeah…" She mumbled, and when she looked back at her doorway, she realized Sheldon was gone. She hadn't even heard him leave, or even his door opening and re-closing. She could barely form a coherent thought as she stared at the closed door of 4A, trying to grasp what had just happened.
X
She'd opted for a more conservative outfit for this outing to the park; slightly looser blue jeans and a full blue t-shirt with only a slight amount of cleavage showing. Knocking softly on Sheldon's door, she pushed it open, it was déjà vu as the door swung open and she was met with the empty living room and kitchen.
"Sheldon?" She called out in a hushed voice. Her little whack-a-doodle was full of surprises, and she wasn't really sure what was happening or how to take this new side of Sheldon that she was seeing for the first time in nearly five years.
"Ah, Penny!" He said, coming into the room, "I'm aware you do not have a kite of your own, but I have a spare. Actually, I have a few options for you to choose from," he paused for a moment and held out a weird looking device. "I believe I have chosen the most appropriate one for a person of your beginner level and consequential lack of knowledge on the aspects of kite flying. If you can't keep this one in the air, then I fear there is no hope for you."
"Um… thanks?" she muttered, studying the kite he'd presented her with. It was red with pink and white swirls randomly scattered on its surface. She was more taken back by Sheldon acting as if nothing had happened forty minutes before in her doorway. It was as if he were two people: the Sheldon she had known for years and the Sheldon she had met only two days before, when he'd pinned her against the very counter she was staring at. The thought made a shiver race over her body like a gust of icy wind.
Sheldon led the way out the door, pausing just outside and allowing her to pass him so he could lock up. He perked up with a child-like smile adorning his features.
"Shall we?" He inquired, pleasantly. Penny nodded in a halfhearted response as her mind was wrapped up in trying to figure out the whack-a-doodle leading the way down the stairs with a – bounce? – in his step.
Finally, she brushed it off as Sheldon's twenty plus years of pent up sexual energy emerging, and he wasn't aware of how to handle it. It would pass once he'd gotten a few more sexual experiences under his belt, she was sure of it. If Friday night had been any proof of what he was capable of, then he could be an amazing lover.
She was glad she didn't have to drive them to the park, and was surprised to find walking down the street with Sheldon was much more pleasant than sitting in a car with him.
"Penny is that you?" A voice called out from the coffee shop they had just passed.
X
I think this a good place to end this chapter… so the plot thickens… mwa ha ha….
Please review. Let me know what you think.
