Faculty event

The whole faculty were out, formally dressed, at a formal meet and greet with prospective donors and sponsors. Most of the academics were shuffling uncomfortably about as the more political people mingled, shaking hands and networking

"The reapers are here!" The engineering department suddenly huddle together

Leonard and Lesley watch them scatter like frightened sheep

Lesley laughs "Look at them panic. They're still talking about the time Penny went all gun-kata on them in the barn. "

Leonard shrugs apologetically "Yeah, she watched Equilibrium with Sheldon and wouldn't stop talking about it. they both went all scientific into how paintballs fly and how the body moves. must have spent days working out the best ways to shoot and dodge and everything. It was pretty intense."

"Well, it worked. She killed four of them in one go."

"Technically three, one was friendly fire."

"Only because she dodged between them all. You know those four still tell the story on nights out? They even started a shrine to her on one of the engineering department notice boards."

"Yeah well, Sheldon bought her gun lessons with the guy who trained Keanu for John Wick."

"Seriously?"

"Seriously. There's a video of her on their Youtube channel."

"Ok, that explains a lot. Plus will get me free drinks on the next engineers night out. Send me a link"

Leonard nods and fumbles with his phone

As he finds the video Lesley watches Sheldon and Penny move across the room. He's wearing a sleekly tailored suit in a stylish dark grey, pinstriped with a lighter grey that makes him look even taller. She's wearing a long black gown, tight above the waist with a daringly deep plunge of cleavage and a fuller skirt with a side slit that shows her leg off. Damn, they look good together.

"Look at them. It's like watching them hunt. See? They agree a target, she goes forward and runs cover for him while he gets a vantage point and plans the attack. He moves up, then she breaks through with him covering right behind" She shakes her head "You can't compete with science ninjas like that. I'm just glad they're on our side."

She imagines being sandwiched between the two of them and shudders. Pity they didn't take her up on her offer . Not just her curiosity is aroused.

"Dr Gablehauser!" Penny beamed, giving him a tactical cleavage bounce to get his attention

She shows him the ring on her finger - "we wanted you to be the first of the faculty to know"

"Oh, Congratulations to you both. He truly is One in a Million."

Sheldon bristles "One in a million? if that were true there would be 18 of me in the greater Los Angeles area alone.

"that was rhetorical " Dr Gablehauser sighs and looks at Penny "Can you talk sense to him?"

Penny laughs and shakes her head "Oh no, no no, you are not playing me off against him. I stand fully with him, he's unique, so more like one of the 15 in 7.6 Billion, so that's..." She turns to Sheldon who smoothly replies "One in 506 (recurring) Million."

Gablehauser is perplexed " why 7.6 billion?"

Penny smiles "The current population of Earth"

"And the 15?"

"People at his level of Experimental Physics on the Earth, now that Professor Hawking is sadly no longer with us."

Gablehauser laughs "I see the Cooper egotism is infectious. let us hope he catches some of your charm"

Sheldon frowns "her charm?" He thinks and moments then comments "well, I do feel significantly disinclined to try and crush the people here with my mind, so that is something"

kripke came over to say congratulations. or, more exactly "congwatuwations"

Sheldon just smiles "I was going to plot evil revenge upon you, but then I realised the best revenge would be better than you at everything"

"Ow, Why swuch animwosity?

"I'll be sure to save a seat for you at my Nobel prize ceremony"

"Good Wuck with thwat!"

Howard is looking at the plain silver necklace Penny wore. it was a plain solid metal loop, a quarter inch diameter and a few inches wider than her neck so it sat on her shoulders. Polished steel? with no opening visible. No hinge or decoration. It stirred vague memories of late night private internet activities.

Was that a collar? An encyclopaedic knowledge of internet porn has taught him a lot. A quick google confirms it

indeed, there were faint lines on the sides, looks like it was fastened by a recessed hex screw on the underside mostly out of sight. that was definitely not usual jewellery

Holy shit that was an actual steel slave collar. On his friends fiancé!

Howard felt elated and sick at once. he now had actual insight into Sheldon's sex life with Penny and it scared him. Now he understood what horror writers meant by Secrets Man was not Meant to know..

Sidles up to Sheldon. "So, Sheldon, congratulations again. lovely ring. I couldn't help noticing Penny has a lovely new necklace as well. is that what I think it is?

Sheldon looks at him. "Lacking telepathy, you'll have to be more specific"

"Is that a Turian slave collar? I knew you two were into some pretty wild stuff but are you..."

"Howard, Stop. you do not understand what it is to have power, true power, over someone. to be able to lift them up beyond what they ever thought they could do or cast them down with a word; and know that whatever you choose they'll get down on their knees and thank you for it."

Howard pales, Sheldon has gone very intense all of a sudden.

"Wow, that's kind of scary."

"It's a personal matter, please keep it to yourself."

"Oh, you can trust me, Sheldon. I'm the sole of discretion"

"Good, as I will keep similarly quiet about the teddy bear you bought Penny, remember? the one with the concealed webcam. That was intended for her stuffed toy shelf.. in her BEDROOM."

"Oh..er.. that.. that was just a harmless prank, ages ago"

"Then I'm sure you won't mind if Bernadette, the Faculty and perhaps Law enforcement know about it?"

"Ok, ok, no need for threats, I can keep your little secret"

"Good" Sheldon nods. "Then the matter is closed."

"Still. Wow! You and penny..." he trails off.

Sheldon shrugs "It's how we fit best, Haven't you noticed how Leonard enjoys being ordered around by Lesley?"

Howard does a double take "He wouldn't. Would he? Do they?"

"That is up to them."

As the socializing dragged on people settled into familiar groups, though a few took time to mingle or gorge on the free finger food.

Lesley sent Leonard to get her another drink then spotted Penny whisper something in Sheldon's ear. She couldn't see his face clearly but he put his drink down, took Penny's hand and led her out of the room.

i wonder what they're up to? She slipped out into the corridor, following the sound of Penny's musical laughter round into the labs. She peered round a corner in time to see Sheldon take a firm grip on that chunky necklace penny wore and almost drag her into one of the labs, closing the door with a click of the lock.

Making out in the laser lab? She quietly tip toed into the lab next door. Keeping the light off she let her eyes adjust to the gloom and then crept to the boor between the labs. It had a window in it, a vertical strip of reinforced safety glass. The lab beyond was in darkness but she could make out the brightness of Pennys blonde hair. She was sat up on a lab bench with Sheldon standing in front of her, facing her. She could see the pale skin of Pennys arms around Sheldon's neck and her legs about his waist.

Holy Fuck. They were. Holy Actual Fuck Fucking.

She watched them moving together, quick intent thrusts of his hips.

So that's what a Cooper Quickie looks like...

She feels a stab of jealous lust, she'd never had anyone pick her up and sit her on furniture or lab equipment, and no one ever did her with such wild abandon.

She ran down the options in her head;

Join in? Doubt they'd let her . Porn lies a lot about that.

Masturbation? Risky but exciting. She'd save that thought for the shower tomorrow

Voyeurism? Enjoyable but short lived. they seemed almost done.

Pretend she'd not seen them and head back? Safest

She makes her way rapidly back to the hall where Leonard is looking for her with her drink.

A few minutes later Sheldon and Penny return. Penny is positively glowing and full of energy, Sheldon seems as calm and in control as ever. She almost thinks she had imagined it but a critical eye can spot tell tale signs; Her hair is more messy, he's straightening his tie, His pocket square is missing. I wonder if she's wearing any underwear anymore?

Lesley turns to Leonard, who's watching her "What's on your mind?"

Lesley grins, grabbing the lapels of his jacket "Your lab open?"