"Penny?"
Looking up, a smile spread across Penny's face. Sat in a quiet corner of the cafeteria, she had been working on her essay for over an hour. And while things had been slightly awkward with Leonard recently, seeing his face was a definite positive. "Oh, hey! What're you doing here?"
"I came to get some coffee." Leonard sat down, tapping his coffee-filled mug. "How're you feeling?"
"A little tired but otherwise good. Using this down time to work on this essay." Penny hit the 'Save' button on her document. "How're things your end? Did you hear back from the audition yet?"
"Oh... yeah. I didn't get it."
"No! That sucks, I'm so sorry." Penny took his hand, intertwining their fingers.
"It's okay." Leonard wanted to continue on to say that there would always be another audition and he was used to the rejection anyway, but he found their joined hands incredibly comforting and distracting. Why complain when this was happening?
"Still, at least you know you looked great." Penny smiled.
"I did, didn't I?" Leonard said, almost hopefully - it was a little needy, but he needed that confirmation.
"You sure did." Penny nodded, squeezing his hand. Biting her lip, she rubbed her thumb over his skin nervously. "I know we haven't really spoken properly since that last date-"
"That's okay."
"It's just... I dunno, I threw up in your car. And I was disappointed with myself because that's not how I wanted the date to end, you know?" Penny admitted shyly. "And then the car journeys in the mornings and some of these afternoons in the canteen and... I just felt a little awkward."
"Penny, I don't care that you threw up in my car. And sure, I didn't want the date to end that way either, if I'm being honest. But... it happens. For what it's worth, I liked that olive trick. I thought it was cool."
"You did?" Penny's eyes lit up.
"Yeah."
"It would have been cooler if I hadn't... you know what? Never mind. I threw up in your car. I'm over it. I am so over it." Penny said decisively. "What're you doing tonight?"
"Comic Book Store."
"Okay. When you get back from there, we're having dinner at my place. I won't cook because... I can't, but we can order take out and have some wine and we'll have a nice little date and it will end better than the last one. How does that sound?"
He could tell that Penny was trying to make up for the last date - and while he knew that she didn't need to, he loved her taking control. It was hot. He wondered if he could muster up enough confidence at some point to decide a date just like that. "That sounds great."
"I see you said yes to my proposal." Sheldon said in way of announcing his presence at Amy's office.
"Yes. It seemed like a worthy collaboration. Although I would have preferred if you had knocked just now."
"My apologies; the door was open." Sheldon bowed his head. Being one to hate unannounced visitors, he should have have the courtesy to knock on this door.
"Penny was just here, she must have left it open."
"Are you friends with Penny?"
"I don't know. She was just asking me about superheroes and comic books. I'm not sure if that constitutes friendship or not. Why?"
"Just curious - since my roommate is dating her and we are collaborating on this project, it creates an interesting paradigm."
"Indeed it does." Amy agreed. They were silent for a while, and she thought about the conversation she had had a few days ago with Raj and Howard. How Sheldon had specifically chosen her out of all the theoretical physicists in the department, and how Sheldon had spoken about her after the party. She didn't know how true any of it was, but either way she had to admit that she was more interested now that they'd told her those things. "Would you like to get some tea from the cafeteria and come back here to my office to discuss how we will proceed with this collaboration?"
"Ooh. That actually sounds enjoyable. I'm wearing a slightly thinner t-shirt than usual and the air conditioning is on too strongly for my liking today, so the warm drink would be greatly appreciated."
"Hey!" Leonard couldn't help but grin at the sight of Penny in her protective goggles; she looked so serious and adorable.
"Hey!" Penny put her pen down and grinned. "How did you know I was in here? Oh here, put these goggles on sweetie." She grabbed a spare pair from the worktop behind her.
"I passed by Amy and Sheldon in the cafeteria and Amy said she saw you in one of the labs so I thought I'd go for a walk and see if I could find you." Leonard shrugged as he pulled the goggles on. "I've never been down here before."
"Just in time, I'm about to finish the experiment. Come here, out the way of the laser." Penny gestured over beside her. "The goggles only protect your eyes."
Leonard quickly scurried over, and she bent forward to focus herself again before running the laser. He watched her work for a couple of minutes, amazed that this was the same perky blonde who got excited over a pair of shoes. It was mesmerizing, the way she was completely concentrated on her work. It wasn't that she became a different person - it was just very interesting seeing this side of her at work.
"There we go!" Penny announced, shaking him out of his reverie. She went about switching off the lasers and turning the lights back on in the lab as she removed her goggles. She could only hope that Leonard found the goggles look adorable rather than weird.
"That was pretty cool!"
"I just needed some results for my paper. I'll have to repeat it a few times over the next week." Penny shrugged, grabbing her notebook and scribbling down what Leonard could only assume were the results of today's experiment. "You finished for the day? Or just snooping around and avoiding work?"
"I'm all done. You got much else to do?"
"Nope." Penny shook her head, closing her notepad. "That's me done for the day. I always like to book my experiment time as the last thing I do because it's the most fun."
"That's smart." Leonard chuckled. "Seems more fun than just writing a paper anyway."
"It is." Penny nodded, leaning back against the worktop. She tilted her head as she observed him, a smirk spreading on her lips. "You're wearing the shirt we bought together."
"Oh... yeah." Leonard blushed slightly, running his hands down the shirt. He had worn it in the hopes she would notice; earlier he'd had a hoodie zipped up over it and only after speaking to Amy and Sheldon had he realized that it was hidden away.
"It looks good. Really good." Penny bit her lip.
"Thank you." Leonard gave her a nervous smile, his throat suddenly very dry. "You... you look really good too. You look... you look hot, you know, when you're in your science gear."
All of a sudden the air was thick with tension and their gazes were locked to the point that it was impossible to even blink.
So Leonard decided to go for it. Screw being nervous; he wanted to kiss her. She was hot - even hotter now that he'd seen her doing an experiment - and she was giving him a look no girl had ever given him before. A look she'd given him before she kissed him at the party and that time in his office. The same dilated eyes and lip bite from the goodbye kiss after their dinner date. And perhaps she'd like him to initiate a kiss - and perhaps that time was now.
He stepped forward and instantly placed his lips on hers and his hands around her waist. Her chest almost fell forward into his as she instantly responded to the kiss, hands starting at his arms but moving up into his hair. Her fingers tangled into his curls desperately as his tongue pushed into her mouth. She completely surrendered herself to him, hearing her own pleasure-ridden moans over his softer groans. And then it happened - his hands slid down to her ass, giving a generous squeeze. Her hips ground forward, legs weak and heart racing.
"Mm oh God," Penny moaned, head tilting back in pleasure, in the hopes that he'd move his lips to her neck. Her excitement had reached new levels; no way did she want him to stop now.
Only their lips disconnecting had done the opposite, and Leonard quickly remembered they were in a lab with the door wide open. "Penny?"
"Mm-hmm." Her hands fell to his arms again, squeezing the muscles appreciatively.
"We really shouldn't do this here."
"Oh." Her hands fell to her sides and she stepped back awkwardly, still blushing and panting. She knew someone had to be the voice of reason, but why did there have to be a reason to stop? She should have booked the lab for an extra hour! Then she could at least go close the door and assure him nobody would interrupt them or know what they'd done in the lab. But even she knew that in the next five minutes the next person would be coming in. As adventurous and daring as she was, she didn't want Leonard to feel uncomfortable. Clearing her throat, she licked her lips. "I guess we continue tonight."
"Yes. That sounds like a plan." Leonard nodded, before chuckling slightly. "Is it weird to make plans to be making out?"
"A little. But kinda necessary after that, don't you think?" Penny smirked. "I'm gonna pack up this experiment and then we can go."
"And you call me slutty!"
"What the hell!" Bernadette squealed, jumping back in shock at the sound of Penny's voice in her ear. She clutched the underwear set the was holding to her chest, glaring at Penny. "You nearly gave me a heart attack!"
"You'll give Howard one if he sees you in that underwear." Penny smirked.
"Perhaps that's the plan." Bernadette shrugged.
"Really? A heart attack?" Penny laughed. "I know he was a total ass about you studying Engineering but I think a heart attack is a little much."
"Not a literal heart attack. You know what I mean." Bernadette rolled her eyes. "What brings you here?"
"Same thing that brings you here. I just haven't picked anything yet... which is kind of making me panic because I need to go home and get ready." Penny bit her lip. She'd been in the store for a half hour trying to decide what to buy.
"Big plans with Leonard tonight then, huh?"
"Not big plans, just takeout and wine at my place and then I intend for the night to end with us naked in my bed."
"You're so classy." Bernadette giggled. "You were really up for some ass grabbing, I'd go for something with a thong."
"That doesn't narrow it down at all." Penny groaned. "And I already had same ass grabbing earlier, thank you very much."
"What? Where? Why didn't you tell me? I seriously hope it was from Leonard."
"Yes it was Leonard! God!" Penny hit Bernadette's arm playfully. "It was in the practice lab. We made out a little."
"I don't think that's the kind of experiment that's meant to take place in the practice lab, even if you're into experimental physics. You're supposed to stick to the big lasers in there... actual lasers."
"So. Funny." Penny rolled her eyes, nudging Bernadette before stopping at the set she'd been coming back to a few times. "What do you think of this?"
"Honestly? A bit... you know, see-through for the first time you're sleeping with him."
Sighing, Penny gave the set a final look before moving on. "You're probably right."
"Can you imagine if guys put this much thought into their underwear?" Bernadette asked with a laugh.
"With Howard and Leonard it's probably just picking the least nerdy underwear they own. Ooh, how about this one?" Penny stopped once more, this time at the set she'd had her eye on and been contemplating - the only issue was the price. It had to be worth it.
"Ooh. Now that is more like it." Bernadette nodded appreciatively.
"Thank God! It's a little expensive, but hey - there is no way tonight isn't gonna end up with us naked in my bed if I'm wearing this." Penny decided, going through to find her size. "And I think I'll get the other set too so I have something for the near future."
"You're really quite serious about this, aren't you?"
"What, underwear? Of course I am."
"No, I meant Leonard."
"Oh. Well, yeah, I mean... I want there to be a near future. Things are going well. We've had the chance to really get to know each other and I feel... something. I don't know what it is, but it's good. It's really good."
"Whatever you do, don't wear your Aquaman boxers." Leonard said to Howard's face on the screen of his laptop. Howard had initially called him via Skype to ask if Penny had said anything about Bernadette saying anything about him, as they were going out to a fancy restaurant that evening and he wanted to be prepared. It had turned into a mutual advice-giving conversation, with Leonard taking his laptop from his desk to his bedroom so they could advise each other on clothing choices. "Stick to plain colors."
"Good idea - I'll match them to my shirt." Howard nodded, before furrowing his brow in deep thought. "Or should they match my shoes?"
"Surely your shoes would be off before your pants." Leonard raised a brow.
"Good point. Shirt it is. I'll find my blue briefs, I think Ma washed them the other day." Howard said. "Did you decide on a shirt yet?"
"Well, Penny said she liked the one I'm wearing now."
"And I told you, you can't wear the same clothes tonight as you wore during the day." Howard reminded him. "You went shopping with her, pick a different shirt you bought together."
"That's a good idea." Leonard nodded, quickly rushing to his closet. "What color?"
"What color are your boxer shorts?"
"Green. But I'm not matching my shirt to my underwear!" Leonard said quickly.
"See, that's the difference between us my friend. I have style."
"Yeah, style, that's what it is." Leonard rolled his eyes. "I think she really liked the blue one when I tried it on in the store."
"Then wear the blue one." Howard shrugged.
"What if I get sweat patches? They'll be visible on the blue one."
"They'll be visible on whatever shirt you wear. Just put on extra deodorant. Besides if things go well, you probably won't be wearing your shirt for very long at all." Howard wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.
"Good point. Blue shirt it is."
