This is now one of the longest things I have ever written. I don't know whether to be ashamed or proud. It's also pure self-indulgence, and for that, I apologize.
For The J.A.M. a.k.a. Numbuh i who inspired this piece with their review! Thanks for sticking around and taking the time to read and review. I truly appreciate it!
I don't own JN.
It's quiet except for the soft hum from the vents and muffled footsteps on the carpet a few rows from her. The scent of leather-bound books, parchment, and something more modern permeates her senses. Blake had been here re-shelving recently. She starts to pull out the title she needs when there's an ear-splitting pop causing her to drop the book onto the floor.
There's a bright shimmering light, and then Jimmy Neutron is standing next to her. He's wearing black dress pants and a blue shirt. His hair is also smoking slightly.
"I thought I fixed that last time," Jimmy complains as he pats his head.
Several people have gathered at the end of the row, looking at them curiously. Unfortunately (or maybe it's fortunately), she doesn't know any of them by name. "Sorry," she apologizes as she bends over to pick the book off the ground.
Then the librarian appears. Blake's mouth is puckered like they ate a lemon. "Vortex, what was that noise?"
"Sorry," Jimmy interrupts, "it's my fault. I haven't quite ironed out the kinks in the Neutron Teleportation system yet."
"You're Jimmy Neutron, the inventor," it's not a question.
"That's me."
"You're working on teleportation," Blake whispers reverently, "that's incredible."
"Yes, he's a regular marvel. Now, If you'll excuse us," Cindy grabs Jimmy's wrist and hauls him away from the group of prying eyes.
Once they are outside, she turns to him with a glare."How many times have I asked you not to do that? You can't just pop out of nowhere!"
"I told you I was coming at one-thirty. You're the one who forgot," he argues.
"I sent you a text half an hour ago telling you I was going to be in the library and that you should teleport outside."
"Oh," his face whitens.
"You turned your phone off again, didn't you?"
He gives her a nervous smile, "It's so much easier to focus without it. Sorry," he does look quite ashamed of himself, and her anger dissipates a tad.
She sighs, "Professor Leon asked you to guest lecture at three, right? So, that gives us a bit of time. Wait for me here, okay?"
"Is your room still in Baker Hall?" he inquires.
"Yes," and when she sees Jimmy entering coordinates on his watch, she groans. "Why can't you just walk over there with me like a normal person?"
"I don't have to deal with annoying RA's this way," he replies quickly.
"Or you get to show off," she argues.
He winks, and with a pop, he's gone. Cindy curses at the shimmering air and then heads back into the library. She grabs the book she needs and goes up to the circulation desk. Blake is staring at her like she has three heads.
"You know Jimmy Neutron?" they ask.
"Yes," Cindy answers.
"Didn't he graduate from MIT in record time?"
"Yes."
"They are saying he's going to win the Nobel-"
"I don't mean to be rude, but can you please check that out for me?" she interrupts.
Blake mutters something under their breath but does as she asks. Cindy takes the book and marches out of the building, gripping its spine so hard that her knuckles are white. She felt bad for snapping at Blake and made a mental note to apologize when she saw them again.
Cindy was always thrown off balance when Jimmy visited. They had agreed that the romantic part of their relationship was on hold. The only problem was that they kept sleeping together. It was becoming a bad habit.
Or a very good one.
She grumbles at herself. She didn't need this extra layer of complication. She didn't need the simmering tension in her body when Jimmy kissed her knuckles. Or the thrill when his fingers brushed her lower back.
In Baker Hall, her RA is lingering in the lounge. Cindy just waves as she passes.
Jimmy is waiting in her room, sitting on her desk chair. He doesn't say anything, but he doesn't need to. She locks her door behind her. She didn't like explaining how he kept getting into her bedroom without using the front door. That usually led to an ego boost Neutron didn't need.
"You said you had something for me," she coldly states.
"Right down to business then," he digs around in his pocket to pull out his hypercube. He reaches into it and pulls out a manilla folder. "This is the first draft of the patent for my teleportation technology. I want you to take a look at it."
"Neutron, I can't."
"Why not? You're a lawyer."
"Not a legal one," she argues.
He huffs, "Close enough. Besides, I wouldn't trust anyone else with this. You should be flattered. Now, will you please look at it?"
"I don't know about this."
"I'll owe you one," his eyes are pleading and soft.
"Fine," she grumbles as she starts toward him.
"You are the best," his tone is warm and affectionate, and the temperature in the room rises.
She takes the folder from him and quickly steps back. She grabs the notebook and pencil she kept on her bedside table and sits on her bed.
"You don't have to do it right this second," Jimmy says.
"You said it was important."
"What am I supposed to do?" he inquires with a scowl.
"Read a magazine or something."
Jimmy mutters as he shifts in his chair, but he doesn't argue any further. Silence falls as she starts to get lost in the language of the patent. She would never tell him, but she loved looking over Jimmy's work. The sheer brilliance of who he was and what he was capable of still took her breath away.
A while later, a soft laugh grabs her attention. Jimmy is holding the Science Today issue with himself on the cover. She often paged through it when she was thinking about him.
"This was from three years ago," he declares.
"So?"
"You've kept it all this time?" he asks. His eyebrows have risen so high they almost reach his hair.
"It has interesting articles," she snaps her eyes away. She makes a few more notes on her pad of paper. She can feel him watching her, and she flushes. "What?"
"You never cease to amuse me, Miss Vortex."
"I will kick you out," she threatens.
"No, you won't. Because then your RA will swoon over me again."
She looks up again, and Jimmy is smirking at her. Damn, she wants to kiss that stupid smirk off his face. Or slap him. Or both. "I hate you."
"You do, huh? Then do you care to explain why my interview is earmarked in this magazine?"
She moves toward him in a flash, catching one end of the magazine with her hand. But Jimmy doesn't let go. Before she's aware of what is happening, he uses gravity to pull her into his lap. She laughs for a moment, and then their eyes meet.
The atmosphere between them shifts in a heartbeat.
Jimmy tosses the magazine to the floor. He kisses her hard, and she reciprocates with equal passion. She fists her hands in his hair. His hands roam over every inch of her body that he can reach. She burns and tightens with every touch. She's a bow drawn and ready for release.
Then he pulls away, slightly. His warm breath tickles her mouth. "Bed?"
"We don't need it."
His breath hitches. It sends desperation zinging down her spine. She pulls him into another kiss, and the bed is quickly forgotten.
Later, she sinks against his chest with a sigh. Her heartbeat is pounding in her ears, and her head is still fuzzy. "We have got to stop doing that."
"Why? It's excellent physical activity."
"It complicates things," she argues as she steps out of the chair, picking her jeans up off the floor.
"Perhaps, perhaps not."
"I'm not in the mood to dissect your riddles right now, Neutron. Now, get yourself dressed. You don't want to scar that poor class for life."
Jimmy laughs but stands up from the chair, adjusting his slacks and dress shirt. "You don't seem to mind."
She ignores that comment, "And fix your hair. You look like you lost a battle with a cyclone."
He turns to the mirror hanging over her closet door and tries in vain to fix his hair. Then, he checks his watch. "I should be going. Professor Leon said she wished to ask me some questions before my lecture."
She nods in agreement, "I promise I'll try to get this patent done as soon as possible."
He clears his throat, "You know, uh, I'll be hungry afterward."
"I imagine you will," she says.
"Would you like to join me for dinner?"
That catches her attention, "Dinner?"
"Yes, you know, where you eat food."
"I am not stupid."
"I know."
There's a beat.
"Okay," she agrees.
"Good," Jimmy leans over and gives her a quick kiss on the cheek, and then with a pop, he's gone.
She picks up the Science Today magazine from the floor. Perhaps it was unwise, but she doesn't do anything to fight it when she finds herself smiling.
-x-