Assuage Through Altruism 2/4
Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters.
ANotes: Thank you all so much for the wonderful reviews! Very much appreciated. :)
By the fourth day, Penny realized the past few days have been the most time she has spent alone with Sheldon in months. Tonight, while the boys decided to bail on comic book time in favor of wedding cake tasting for Howard and Bernadette's upcoming nuptials, Penny agreed to go along with Sheldon's strict adherence to his schedule. Thus, she found herself waiting patiently as Sheldon browsed the $1 comic books. She settled near the wall lined with new releases. She picked up one to casually flip through while she peaked over the top of it to study her subject from afar. Sheldon was wearing that horrible beige and brown jacket again, over his Green Lantern t-shirt. After much debate, and Penny's perfected pouting technique, he had reluctantly agreed to walk instead of drive to the comic book store. She argued he needed to breathe fresh air once in a while, and it was a perfectly nice and clear night out to do so. Besides, her check engine light was still on.
The past few days had been relatively easy for her. The whole experiment of being nice to Sheldon and lessoning her own remorse proved to be simple enough. But somewhere along the way, the experiment had been taking on a life of its own. Not only was she noticing him being unusually decent back, he was saying and doing things she had never experienced with him before. Or was it she just never really took the time to notice these things? Making him basically the center of this experiment meant for a closer study of him, and the things that she started to discover both startled her and excited her, she really could not explain it. Maybe she was just overthinking everything, and after this week, it would be back to her normal interactions with her neighbor. But did she really want to go back? Once her eyes were open to this subtle behavior of his, could she really turn a blind eye now?
Penny had to admit though, she missed the bickering and the arguing. Having to be nice to him this week, proved strenuous at times, she having to bite down on her lower lip hard in order to refrain from doing or saying unkind things. She also came to the realization this week, that in the past, she enjoyed getting on his case because she enjoyed the attention he gave her when she did so. And yet, the past few days he still paid attention to her, even without the fighting. Penny let out an unintentional chuckle as she realized she had really been overanalyzing Sheldon. Sheldon, her crazy neighbor and friend. Why am I thinking so much into this?
"Penny?" Sheldon's voice pulled her from her thoughts. He stood in front of her now, new comic book in a bag dangling from his fingertips as he gave her an annoyed look, "I have said your name repeatedly for the past 30 seconds."
"Sorry, sweetie, you ready to go?"
"Yes."
The boys were back in time for Halo at 8pm with Bernadette and Amy in tow. They took their customary places around Sheldon and Leonard's living area as the first multiplayer round began. Howard agreed to sit out the first round, giving his controller to Penny so that she and Raj could be teammates. She had grown increasingly skilled at the melee/shotgun combination over the years, and proved quite the bother to Leonard who unwisely continued to attempt sneak attacks from behind. Even when he acquired the gravity hammer that was able to blast an opponent back with a single hit, Penny was still able to best him. Once she had her fun with Leonard, she moved on to much more enjoyable prey.
A low growl-like sound escaped Sheldon's lips as he watched his Spartan fly through the air, falling lifeless against a mountainside thanks to one of Penny's plasma grenades.
"Wow, I didn't know they could fly that far," Penny commented, her eyes wide and innocent as she looked at Sheldon. He pursed his lips together and glared back at her through slit eyes.
"That was the match," Leonard sighed watching the TV screen as it returned to the main menu, "I'm out, I've been emasculated by Penny enough for one night." He handed his controller to Howard.
"Nice job, bestie," Amy commented, happily patting Penny's shoulder.
Penny grinned proudly, "why thank you, Amy." She leaned over and reached out a hand to Raj, "give it here, partner."
Raj smiled appreciatively, happily giving her a high five. Sheldon scowled at the briefly adjoining hands in front of him.
"You clearly won because you had Koothrappali and I was stuck with Leonard," Sheldon explained, eyeing Penny who was now raising an eyebrow at him.
"Hey," Leonard protested.
"Leonard, you are my friend, but you lack the skill needed to win a match against Penny."
"Okay, fine," Penny replied, turning to her right, "Howard, switch controllers with me." She turned back to Sheldon, "you take Raj, I'll take Howard…"
"Yesss," Howard whispered quickly, Sheldon shooting him a look.
"…and we'll see if your theory is correct, Dr. Cooper," Penny finished. Yes, she was supposed to be nice to him this week, but this was absolutely too much fun to not be had. She could always add an extra day to her be-nice-to-Sheldon-week to make up for today.
"This is hardly the way to obtain accurate results, Penny," Sheldon argued, "Howard is clearly a better player than Leonard."
"Hey, thanks, Sheldon," Howard said sincerely.
"Though, not by much," Sheldon added, Howard frowned.
They played two more rounds. Penny and Howard won both. At the end of the night, shortly after Howard, Raj, and Bernadette left, Sheldon put in his Final Fantasy VII Advent Children DVD. Leonard, after the initial defeat and a reminder from Sheldon that he was the worst player of the group, took refuge in his room to sulk. All that remained was Penny, Amy, and Sheldon sitting side by side on the couch. Penny thoroughly enjoyed whatever it was they were watching, even admitting she found the lead character oddly attractive, for being computer-animated and all. Or maybe it was because Steve Burton and all his sexiness was the voice actor for the part.
Half way through the movie, Amy announced it was time for her to leave. Penny turned her head to say something, but the words died in her throat. She watched as Amy leaned over toward Sheldon. He turned his head just in time for the unexpected attack on his lips. The kiss was quick, and fleeting, Amy pulling back immediately after their lips touched. Penny's eyes never left Sheldon's, whose blue ones pierced hers the whole time. She could not explain the look in his eyes or the growing pit now in her stomach.
Amy's face remained close to his when she pulled away. Only when she spoke, Sheldon's eyes shifted to hers. He swallowed, and nodded as she told him they would talk later. Amy turned and patted Penny's knee.
"Night, bestie," Amy said, standing and taking her leave.
"Good night, Amy," Penny replied hoarsely, her eyes following the neurobiologist to the door. She waited till the door clicked close behind Amy, before turning to look at Sheldon again. He was staring intently at the TV screen now, both hands weighing heavily on the top of his knees.
"I didn't know you guys were…" she started, stopping only because she really didn't know what to say, or if she wanted to be saying anything at all. All Penny knew was, the air in the room was suddenly very thick and growing quite warm, "…kissing now." She reluctantly finished.
"Our contract clearly states otherwise," he said, "however, much to my chagrin, Amy has chosen to disregard the section completely, and thus, I have observed an increase in physical contact from her."
"So how you liking all the physical contacting?"
Sheldon eyed her, "your muddling of English grammar never ceases to astound me."
Penny smiled in spite of herself.
"And to answer your question. I suppose, I don't mind," he shrugged casually, his eyes still on the TV screen.
She cannot explain it, but her smile disappears, and her heart flutters painfully. From the corner of her eye, she swears he is now looking at her.
Penny scribbles unceremoniously that night.
Amy is my best friend.
Amy is Sheldon's girlfriend.
Sheldon doesn't mind kissing (CROSS OUT)
Sheldon doesn't mind kissing Amy.
I saw him first (CROSS OUT)
AMY IS MY BEST FRIEND.
Why am I doing this? (CROSS OUT)
Penny decided on the fifth day she was allowed a break from the experiment. Besides, while at first she was able to deny that her view of Sheldon had definitely been evolving over the course of the last four days, by day five, she no longer had the willpower to do so. Thus, she proceeded to lock herself up in her apartment, more specifically she wrapped herself in her comforter and refused to move from her bed, only doing so when nature irritatingly beckoned her to the bathroom. Sleep eluded her the night before, and she was reminded why when she glanced at the open notebook lying on the ground next to her bed. She scanned her notes from last night, again feeling an unexplainable dread creep across her skin. What is happening to me? She could not wrap her mind around the implications of this onset of melancholy because the idea in itself was just too out there for her.
She thought back to last night, replaying Amy's parting actions and Sheldon's last words to her. He doesn't mind kisses from Amy…his girlfriend. When did that happen? When did Sheldon Lee Cooper, the brilliant scientist she has known for over five years, become this kissing machine? Okay, maybe not a kissing machine, or wait, maybe he was still a robotic machine. He did not seem particularly invested in the kiss, no matter how quick, nor did his eyes close which is only a natural occurrence when one enjoys the feeling of another's lips. She could not decipher the look in his eyes, and the reasoning as to why those eyes were looking straight into hers. Her eyes, and not Amy's. Stop thinking about his damn eyes! She blinked back impending tears as she rolled to her other side, pulling the comforter tightly around her. This is ridiculous, it's Sheldon!
By six, she finally decided she was way too hungry to continue her pity party and slowly moved from her bedroom to the kitchen, comforter still wrapped around her. She opened her fridge, disappointed when she found only a half carton of day old orange juice. She closed it with a heavy sigh, as she moved to plop herself down on the couch. That's when his knocks came.
After his last round concluded, she still had not moved from her position. With a creased brow, she contemplated whether to just remain silent and hope he would just go away. But then she pictured him standing behind the door waiting in one of his little nerdy T Shirts, eager to tell her whatever news recently presented itself, and her features softened. She thought for a few seconds. Oh, curse him and his kissing lips. Penny threw the comforter off her shoulders and practically stomped to the door, hating with every step the fact that he made her feel all these conflicting emotions. It's Sheldon, dammit! Shellllldon. Whatever these feelings are, they so should not be because of him.
"What Sheldon?" She scowled when she flew open the door. She was met with wide blue eyes.
"Penny," he gasped, obviously startled by her tone, "have you only now woken up?"
Penny ignored the heat inching its way over her cheeks at the full body scan he gives her, and shifted her weight to her other leg, "what do you want, Sheldon?"
"I formally request your attendance this evening," he said, straightening, his hands moving to do their usual hold behind his back, "I find myself once again in need of a ride to my date with Amy Farrah Fowler."
No freakin way.
"Ah, sweetie, I don't think that's a good idea. I only went last time because it was your first date. Tonight's your anniversary, I don't think I should intrude."
"As I recall, Penny, you accompanied me on my first date because I needed a ride. I need one again."
"Yes, I understand that and I'm telling you no."
Her stomach growled, uncomfortably breaking the looming silence.
Sheldon crossed his arms over his chest, "have you eaten today?" Penny caught the hint of concern in his tone, though his face remained vacant. Great, now I'm reading into his every word.
She opened her mouth to give him a definite 'yes' but hesitated when she met his raised eye brow. She hated not being able to lie to him right now.
"So that settles it," he said.
"No, it doesn't," she protested.
"Penny, we have found ourselves in a favorable situation where both parties seek to benefit. I receive a ride to my date, and you receive a meal. I fail to see the flaw in this course of action."
She was starting to get annoyed, and she knew it was mostly due to the fact that he was the source of all her recent internal conflict. Suddenly, she had no care to be nice and by dubbing today an experiment free day she was not bound by the parameters of it, "the flaw, Sheldon, is I don't want to go. Do you not remember how uncomfortable I was last time? How I didn't speak to you for a week after that?"
His face twisted, "I was unaware you had an issue last time."
"Really?" She spat, "calling me a slut wouldn't cause me to have an 'issue?'"
"I did no such thing," he was clearly offended by her last remark as his fingers curled into fists, his arms remaining crossed over his chest.
Penny waved a hand in front of them, suddenly regretting bringing this topic into conversation, "never mind about that," she said softly, "look, I just…I don't want to go, Sheldon. That's the end of it."
Her stomach growled again.
"Apparently, your tummy disagrees," he pointed out, his eyes bright, a smile playing at the corner of his lips. He waited, his eyes patient and thoughtful as he looked at her, his gaze unwavering.
Tummy? Stop being annoyingly cute. Penny sighed, knowing when she has lost. Conquered by the unwanted flutters her heart makes as her eyes linger too long on his bottom lip, she drops her head in a mock defeat.
"Fine!" Penny scuffed at him, pulling open the door to let him in, "wait in here, I'll go change."
He complied, throwing her a quick satisfied smile.
"Oh, don't look so pleased with yourself," she warned him, "I'm only doing this cause I'm starving."
Sheldon took a seat on her couch as she marched to the bedroom, dramatically slamming the door behind her. She collapsed on to her bed, face first, emotionally exhausted. After a few seconds she slowly rolled over to her back, trying to mentally psyche herself up for the night ahead. Here we go.
Dinner was quiet for the most part, Sheldon and Amy only addressing each other to discuss their visit to the zoo last week. Penny sat between them like last time, and doing the least amount of talking she possibly could. Before the food arrived however, she suggested maybe they exchange gifts. This was part of the night she had actually been looking forward to. Being there with both of them while they purchased their respective gifts gave Penny a unique opportunity to see her handy work first hand. To her mild surprise, Sheldon agreed to her proposal.
He was the first up, reaching for the gift bag on the ground next to him, he handed it across the table to an excited Amy. She pulled away the tissue paper, revealing a white box with a picture of a familiar former heavy weight boxing champion.
"A George Foreman grill!" Amy practically cheered.
Sheldon nodded approvingly at her reaction, "yes, well, Penny reminded me that you have always wanted one for yourself. I agreed with her assertion."
Amy, still with a wide smile on her face, reached over and touched Sheldon's hand affectionately. Penny's eyes lingered a moment too long on their adjoining hands, and again, knots started to form in her stomach. Look away, Penny, look away now.
"Okay, my turn," Amy announced, reaching for the gift bag next to her and handing it to Sheldon.
He carefully removed the tissue paper from the top, and stopped once his eyes fell on his gift. Penny, whose eyes intently studied his face, tried to read the expression there. Sheldon seemed to go through a range of them, his jaw flexing, his eyes unblinking. He pulled out the content, a limited edition Batman nightlight. His eyes immediately went to Penny, who smiled back at him.
"Do you like it?" Amy asked, like Penny, she was unable to interpret if he was satisfied or disappointed with her gift.
"We saw it a few weeks ago on comic book night, remember?" Penny started, trying to help Amy get a more readable reaction out of him, "Captain Sweat Pants got the last one. I remember how disappointed you were so I told Stuart to contact me when a new shipment came in. Luckily, it came right in time for Amy to get you one." She smiled at Amy who returned it with a wink.
"Yes," he started, clearing his throat, "this is acceptable. Thank you, Amy."
"You are welcome."
Penny remained uneasy. Sheldon's reaction was nothing like she expected. She thought he would be overjoyed to receive the nightlight. She recalled how his face lit up when he first saw it across the store, and how sad his pouting lower lip looked when Captain Sweat Pants snatched the last one. He had spent the entire walk home that night complaining about the likelihood that Captain Sweat Pants would not truly appreciate such a thing as Sheldon would. She pushed the thoughts aside when the food arrived because nothing else warranted attention more than the full rack of BBQ ribs she had ordered. Before touching her meal, Amy excused herself to the restroom. In her absence, Sheldon expressed apparent delight over the fact that the day landed conveniently on an Anything Can Happen Thursday which made his one month anniversary agreeable with his schedule.
Penny snorted into a rib she had been chewing on at his observation, gaining a warning look from him. She feigned innocence, her eyes wide and humorous, her lips curved into a teasing smile. A smile which fell immediately when she noticed his eyes move from hers and down to her mouth. Before her mind could process what he intended to do with the unused napkin he had picked up from its spot next to her plate, Sheldon reached over and wiped the corner of her mouth, delicately lingering for a moment, making sure all traces of BBQ sauce was dealt with.
He pulled back, placing her napkin in the exact spot he took it from and nonchalantly turned back to his own plate.
"You may want to be cautious, Penny. You are wearing white," he said coolly, his eyes still downcast.
"Thanks…" Penny uttered, barely coherent. What the hell was that?
The ride home was silent that night. Penny barely even acknowledging Sheldon as they parted ways between their apartments. She quickly changed into her pajamas before picking up her notebook and falling onto her bed.
I am going crazy.
And he is so the reason.