Sadly, I don't own The Big Bang Theory
I understand that Penny and Sheldon should have different names but I have kept it to avoid confusion and make it easier for the reader to know who is who.
"Come on just once!" A man pleaded, earning a look from the tall man beside him.
"I assure you I have no plans to sleep with a whore whom I barely know." He elaborated, earning a frown from his short friend.
"Sheldon I heard stories that brothels are everything a healthy young man could ever want."
"Leonard, if you wish to urinate fire like the others, including Howard then so be it." Sheldon replied. "I will not partake in this escapade."
The man's eyebrows furrowed. "I don't want to go alone and it's not like you have to join one in bed."
He nodded. "Perhaps, but I rather not set foot in one. My mother would send me to the Basilica to pray for my sins. I'd greatly avoid that as much as I am permitted to do so."
Leonard groaned as he walked away from Sheldon. "Fine, I'll go alone or find another friend."
"I sincerely hope so."
"Unhand me immediately!" A blonde woman ordered, wrenching herself away from a muscular soldier.
"Penelope, I wish to start over again with you." He told her, keeping a firm grasp on her forearm.
"Kurt, I know you cheated on me."
"What?" He asked in surprise. "Are you sure it wasn't just a rumor?"
She wretched her arm away. "I caught you in the act when I returned or has that memory evacuated your mind?"
Kurt's expression changed pitifully. "I thought that that Catharina was you."
"As my twin there are differences that even you should know." Penny spat venomously. "Do I have a mole the size of a coin at the top of my right bosom?"
"Alright, I knew it was your sister but I thought of you the entire time." He admitted and grasped her again, pulling her into an embrace.
"That's sick, even for you. Let go of me this instant!" Penelope smacked Kurt's chest in an attempt to break free from his grip but it only fueled his rage further. She watched him raise his arm and braced herself when she heard a loud clasp.
"Only a savage would lay a hand on a woman." Sheldon told him, his hand grasping Kurt's wrist.
"Mind your own bus-" He began, turning around only to stop and his eyes widened in fear. "The Sheldon-"
"Indeed. I suggest you make your way elsewhere."
Penelope watched as he took off toward the market and then looked at the tall man. "I thank you for your assistance sir-"
"Sheldon Cooper."
She smiled. "I am Penelope Catelli from Firenze. May I ask why he was frightened of you?"
He looked at her in surprise, usually everyone knew who he was, even if they lived outside of Rome. "My family is extremely close to the Borgias."
Penelope's eyes widened. "That's impressive but doesn't that family have many enemies based on the news spread all over Italy?"
"Of course, however they don't see us as enemies. My father and Valencian Jofré Llanço grew up together since young. The friendship between our families never faltered even after his death." Sheldon explained as his short friend appeared out of nowhere.
"Sheldon, I found-" Leonard paused to look at the beautiful woman. "Hello, I'm Leonard and you are?"
"Penelope." She said before turning to look at Sheldon. "I must depart but I hope we will meet again."
"As do I."
They watched her walk away and Leonard spoke up. "How is it so easy for you to meet such beautiful women?"
Sheldon shrugged. "I'm at a loss. Perhaps I am not as repellant as you when it comes to desperation of finding a mate."
Leonard patted him on the shoulder. "It seems as though you fancy her."
"You know, I believe I do. There is something about her that I find fascinating."
"I can't fathom how you've managed to convince me." Sheldon moaned, standing outside the brothel.
"If it gets too overwhelming then we can leave. I haven't enjoyed myself since Leslie broke up with me a month ago." Leonard told him. "This is a first for me as well to visit one of these places."
"If word gets out that I came here-"
He waved his hand. "This is why we are wearing hoods."
"A brilliant idea on your part in order to conceal our identity." Sheldon glanced over at Leonard. "Sarcasm."
They went inside and saw six women standing near the stairs, earning an excited grin from his short friend. "We get to have our pick."
"I thought I was here because you needed a friend." Sheldon whispered. "I have no need for intercourse with a courtesan."
"Do whatever you wish; either stay or return to your residence." He replied, walking towards the women.
Sheldon breathed a sigh of relief and proceeded to turn on his heel when one of the women with long curly black hair wearing a scarlet dress, barely hanging on her body, grasped his forearm. His eyes widened and he concealed his face as best he could.
"Stay and I'll give you a night you'll never forget." She cooed, reaching for his hood but Sheldon moved his head in time.
"I have no need or want for a sexual jaunt unlike my short companion."
She grinned. "That's because you haven't had a night with one of our ladies. We have a new courtesan that arrived this afternoon just for you."
Before he could open his mouth in protest, the woman dragged him toward the stairs and two more helped as his eyes darted to Leonard.
"I could use some assistance!" Sheldon called but all he heard was giggles and Leonard's voice asking 'I can have more than one woman at a time?'
He groaned as they pushed him into a room on the far right of the brothel. If he struggled he would have ended up hurting either one or all three and his mother did teach him to never harm woman in any situation. Unfortunately, it applied even if he was being taken away without his consent.
Sheldon heard the door close and immediately went towards it, fumbling with the knob. It was locked, he was trapped like an animal; he would have much rather been locked in a cell below the Borgia's residence.
"Eager to lock the door I see?" A voice asked suggestively and he turned around, barely seeing a figure shrouded in darkness as a candle barely illuminated the room in the corner near the bed. Sheldon remained silent and heard heels click toward him, inching closer.
Suddenly a gentle hand touched his cheek. He was about to protest when he felt tender lips kiss him, moving against his stiff ones. It was swift and he felt her grasp his hand, leading him toward the candlelight.
The woman slipped his hood off and they gasped in unison, staring at each other.
"Sheldon?" She asked in surprise.
"You're a courtesan? I assumed you were living a decent life." He stated as she shook her head.
"This is an easy life and it pays well. Although I don't enjoy it all the time." She admitted, taking his hand. He had the urge to pull away but couldn't. "Whenever the nobles come to my chambers back home they are rough and the majority are older than I would prefer."
"Couldn't you just walk away? This is degrading and a horrifying life for a human."
Penelope nodded. "It's all I can do, all that I know. I was to be wed to a palace guard but he cheated on me with my twin. That was the man that you frightened today."
"Nevertheless I wish to leave. Please unlock the door and not mention a word to anyone I was here."
"Last night was the best night of my life." Leonard gushed, a wide grin spread across his face. "How was yours?"
Sheldon looked at him with disappointment. "I did not participate in filthy acts and left as quickly as I came in."
"Your loss. Did you manage to find that woman from yesterday?"
He shot Leonard a glare. "Do not mention that woman in my presence ever again."
Sheldon walked faster, making it harder for his friend to catch up after him.
"Slow down, my legs are too short!" This caused him to pause slightly before he resumed a normal pace to allow him to catch up. "Care to explain your reason? Yesterday you were interested in her and today you loath her?"
Sheldon sighed. "I wish this matter would be left alone. Penelope is a courtesan."
Leonard's eyes widened. "So you-"
"Correct. I was hauled into her room and we recognized each other. I then escaped from that brothel and sneaked back into my home." He replied as his friend stopped him by grasping his arm.
"Then could this be fate perhaps? I don't see what could possibly be the matter."
"Excuse me? Not only is she a whore, but if word spread I was involved with one it would bring shame and ridicule upon my family."
A week had passed and Sheldon walked out toward the port to pick up a package for his mother. No doubt another artifact or artwork for her collection sent from overseas.
Halfway there he spotted her, with her hair gleaming in the sunlight. The emerald dress that she wore accented perfectly with her figure and brought out the sparkle of her eyes. He shook his head from the thought but it didn't work. Penelope had been on his mind since the day they met and he did not want to admit it.
Her smile had changed to a frown when her eyes met his. Sheldon then found his legs changing direction of their own accord to walk toward her. He approached her as she held a sack in her hands from the market, a few grapes peeking out from the top.
"Good day." Sheldon greeted, stunned mentally that he had lost control of his lips as well. The things that woman made him think and do.
This caused a puzzled look to befall her face. "And to you. I thought you made things clear the last time we met."
"I did, however certain thoughts are hindering my ability to avoid you." He admitted. "I am at a loss myself at this behavior."
"I don't understand." Penny breathed.
"Apologies are in order. I believe I was rude in questioning your choices."
"Thank you. I must leave now as the ladies are expecting me shortly. Goodbye Sheldon."
He watched her leave and mentally cursed himself. What was it about that woman that possessed him with ludicrous thoughts?
Leonard and Howard stared at Sheldon as he poked his egg with a fork.
"You've been doing that for half an hour." Howard spoke up, glancing over at him. "If you didn't want to eat you should have said so. My mother would have had one less plate to make lunch for us."
"I have more important issues at hand." He retorted, causing his friend to turn to Leonard.
"What is wrong with him, other than the usual?"
"Women problems." Leonard replied casually. "He can't stop thinking about her."
Howard looked at Sheldon. "Then go to her. Woo her until she falls for you."
"I do not wish to disgrace my family over pursuing a relationship with her." He told them and set down his fork.
"What do you mean?"
"He's infatuated with a courtesan." Leonard elaborated, causing Howard to laugh.
"You're acquainted with the Borgias, I honestly don't see how this could be worse. And how did the great Sheldon Cooper fall for a common whore? I certainly could but you? That is impossible!"
"So you see it too?" Sheldon exclaimed as he grasped his head in his hands. "I am losing sleep and time over this woman that I have come to a loss as to what I should do."
Leonard grinned. "I have a solution but you won't like it."
Sheldon hesitated, his hand hovering near the door. This was his second time here and he was already regretting it. He found whatever shred of courage he managed to will onto himself and walked into the brothel. There was another crowd of courtesans around him immediately and he pulled his hood farther down his face.
"I request Penelope as my lover tonight." Sheldon ordered, earning frowns from the other women.
"She hadn't been accepting customers for days so we had to ask her to leave." A red headed woman spoke up. "She has been fired."
"Then would you provide me the location as to her whereabouts?"
"Near Basilica St. Peters..." Sheldon mumbled to himself as he walked near a housing complex. He strolled up to the third one on the left and knocked three times.
After a few seconds it opened and Penelope stood in the doorway. "Yes?"
He pulled down his hood causing her eyes widened in surprise. "What are you doing here?"
"I have several thoughts on my mind that I must inform you of." She reached for the edge of the door.
"I am busy. Please excuse me." Penelope tried to close the door but he stopped her.
"I must talk to you. I have been bombarded by your presence in my thoughts during the day and dreams at night. This is most unnerving to be captivated by a woman this easily." He admitted, earning a surprised look from her.
"You are-"
"I am infatuated with you to the point of madness."
Sheldon moved closer to her and cupped her cheek before pressing his lips to hers. She responded and wrapped his arms around his neck, wanting to taste every inch of him.
They parted for and she looked into his eyes. "But I was a courtesan."
"That fact does not concern me anymore. Penelope, you are above all a woman that deserves to find happiness as well from a man that would be willing to give up everything just to be with you. I have realized that certain events in life could lead one down questionable choices in order to survive in this world."
She beamed and embraced him, as he rested his chin on her head, breathing in her scent. He didn't care anymore about societal standards as long at Penelope would be by his side.
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