Chapter 4 – Arriving in Pasadena
"This is as far as I go," Leonard murmured as he stepped out of the taxi in front of the airport.
The cool morning air brushed his face as he watched the bustling building. Families embracing, hurried travelers, excited children. He, on the other hand, was alone.
"Goodbye… even though you never bothered to come," he said to the air, as if speaking to his absent mother and siblings.
He picked up his suitcase and walked in with firm steps. The noise surrounded him, but Leonard felt calm. Each step was a reminder that he was leaving behind a cold house and a past that no longer defined him.
"A new beginning… that's what awaits me."
At the airline counter, the clerk greeted him kindly. "Destination?"
"Pasadena, California," he replied without hesitation.
With his boarding pass in hand, he passed through security. As he collected his belongings, he paused in front of a mirror. The reflection showed someone different: more confident, stronger, more prepared.
"I am Leo… and I'm ready," he murmured, adjusting his tie.
In the waiting area, he sat by the window. He watched planes take off and land, imagining his own as the bridge to a new life.
"Caltech… Sheldon… everything that's coming," he thought, letting the images form in his mind.
The loudspeaker announced boarding. Leonard stood, picked up his suitcase, and walked to the gate. The corridor led him to the plane, where a flight attendant greeted him with a smile.
"Welcome aboard."
"Thank you," he replied, settling into his window seat.
The plane began to fill. Leonard closed his eyes for a moment, remembering what he was leaving behind: his mother's indifference, his brother's sarcasm, the loneliness of that house. All of it was behind him now.
"I don't need their approval anymore."
The roar of the engines pulled him from his thoughts. The plane sped down the runway and lifted into the sky. Leonard watched through the window as the city shrank, becoming a mosaic of lights and shadows.
"This is the true beginning."
During the flight, he reviewed his plans. Caltech would be his academic base. His novels, his source of income. His enhanced body and clear mind would be his tools to face any challenge.
"I won't repeat the mistakes of the past."
He thought of Sheldon Cooper. He knew how difficult it would be to live with him, but he also knew he now had the ability to handle it. He wouldn't be a passive roommate—he would be someone capable of making a difference.
"I'm going to change the dynamic… and I'm going to change my destiny."
The plane pierced through the clouds. Leonard leaned back, closed his eyes, and smiled. For the first time in years, he felt free.
"Goodbye, cold family. I don't need you."
Time passed quickly. The loudspeaker announced the approach to Los Angeles. Leonard opened his eyes and looked out the window. The city stretched beneath him, vibrant and full of possibilities.
"I'm here."
The plane landed smoothly. Leonard took a deep breath, grabbed his suitcase, and walked toward the exit. The warm California air wrapped around him like a welcome.
"Pasadena… my adventure begins."
"Finally…" Leo murmured as the plane came to a stop on the Los Angeles runway.
The flight attendant's announcement confirmed what he already knew: he had arrived. He stood calmly, picked up his suitcase, and walked down the narrow aisle to the exit. The warm California air greeted him the moment he stepped out of the plane.
"Goodbye past… hello future," he said softly as he moved toward the terminal.
The airport was alive with movement: tourists with cameras, hurried executives, families hauling luggage. Leo walked among them with firm steps, as if he knew exactly where he was going.
"Taxi." He raised his hand as he stepped into the transport area.
A driver approached immediately. "Destination?"
"Caltech, Pasadena," Leo replied, settling into the back seat.
The taxi pulled away. Through the window, Leo watched the city unfold before him: endless highways, modern buildings, palm trees swaying in the wind. Everything was new, different, vibrant.
"This place… will be my home," he thought, letting the excitement wash over him.
The ride was long, but Leo used it to organize his thoughts. He knew this day would mark a turning point. Not only was it his first day at Caltech, it was the beginning of a life where he would be in control.
"I'm no longer the insecure Leonard. I'm Leo, and I'm going to prove it."
The taxi stopped in front of an imposing building. The Caltech logo gleamed at the entrance, surrounded by students and professors coming and going. Leo paid the driver, picked up his suitcase, and took a deep breath.
"I've arrived."
He entered the main building. The reception was bustling: researchers talking, assistants carrying documents, students seeking information. A secretary greeted him with a smile.
"Leonard Hofstadter?"
"Yes, but I prefer to be called Leo," he replied with confidence.
"Perfect, the directors are waiting for you in the conference room."
"Thank you." Leo walked down the hallway, observing the murals filled with formulas and photographs of famous scientists. Every detail reminded him that he was in a place where excellence was the norm.
When he arrived at the room, three directors awaited him: an older man with glasses, a woman with an elegant bearing, and a professor with a serious demeanor.
"Welcome, Dr. Hofstadter," said the older man.
"Please, call me Leo," he replied, shaking their hands.
"Leo, then," added the woman with a smile. "We're here to discuss your incorporation."
"I'm ready." Leo sat before them, placing his folder on the table.
"Your academic profile is solid," said the serious professor. "Your recommendations are excellent. We want to know what you expect from this position."
"I expect to contribute," Leo spoke firmly. "I have experience in quantum optics and superconductivity. I know I can add to ongoing projects and open new lines of research."
The directors exchanged glances. The woman nodded. "We like your confidence. But we also want to know how you handle pressure."
"With clarity," Leo replied. "I have the ability to organize ideas, remain calm, and work as part of a team. Challenges don't intimidate me."
The older man smiled. "That's what we need. Someone who not only has knowledge, but also character."
"Exactly." Leo affirmed. "I didn't come here to be a spectator. I came to be an active part of the research."
Silence filled the room for a few seconds. Finally, the serious professor spoke. "Very well. We accept you into the experimental physics department. You'll have access to your own laboratory."
"Thank you." Leo smiled. "I won't let you down."
The meeting ended with a handshake. Leo left the room with his heart pounding. He had achieved what he wanted: a place at Caltech.
"Now… to my laboratory."
An assistant guided him through the halls to a more modern building. When the door opened, Leo found a spacious room: tables filled with equipment, whiteboards covered in formulas, shelves with books, and state-of-the-art instruments.
"This… is my new world," he murmured, walking through the space.
He approached a table and ran his hand over the instruments—microscopes, generators, detectors. Everything was ready to be used.
"I'm going to build my future here."
He stopped in front of the whiteboard. Picking up a marker, he wrote a single word: Beginning.
"This is the start."
The silence of the laboratory surrounded him, but Leo didn't feel it as emptiness. It was a space full of possibilities, a blank canvas where he could leave his mark.
"What's this?" Leo murmured as he browsed the bulletin board at Caltech.
Among papers announcing conferences, scholarships, and courses, one poster caught his attention: "Roommate wanted. Requirements: order, discipline, respect for rules. Contact: Sheldon Cooper."
"So… it begins," he thought, recognizing the name.
The canon memories were clear. Sheldon Cooper, brilliant theoretical physicist, eccentric and obsessed with rules. The announcement was the gateway to the dynamic that would define his life in Pasadena.
"I'll go see him."
Leo tore off the paper and tucked it into his suitcase. He knew this meeting would be decisive. He wouldn't be the insecure Leonard who accepted everything without question. He would be someone capable of negotiating, asserting himself, changing the dynamic.
"Good afternoon, Sheldon Cooper?" Leo spoke as he knocked on the door of apartment 4A.
The door opened slowly. A tall, thin man with an inquisitive gaze and a T-shirt covered in scientific symbols looked at him suspiciously.
"Yes, I'm Sheldon. Who are you?"
"Leonard Hofstadter—but call me Leo. I saw your announcement about a roommate."
Sheldon looked him up and down, evaluating every detail. "Hmm… interesting. Come in."
Leo stepped into the apartment. The place was immaculate, with furniture arranged with mathematical precision, whiteboards filled with equations, and an atmosphere that reflected obsession with order.
"This is my sanctuary," Sheldon said solemnly. "If you want to live here, you must follow my rules."
"I understand." Leo smiled. "But before we talk about rules, I want to know what you expect from a roommate."
Sheldon raised an eyebrow. "Order, silence, respect for my routines. Don't touch my things. Don't sit in my spot."
Leo nodded, but wasn't intimidated. "Perfect. I also have expectations. I want an environment of mutual respect. I'm not a guest—I'm a roommate."
Sheldon looked at him, surprised. "Most people don't argue with me."
"I'm not most people." Leo replied calmly.
"Very well, then we need a contract." Sheldon pulled out a folder. "The Roommate Agreement. It's a legal document that establishes all the rules of cohabitation."
Leo took the contract and read it quickly. His eidetic memory allowed him to absorb every clause in seconds.
"Interesting," he murmured. "But some things need to be adjusted."
Sheldon's eyes widened in disbelief. "Adjusted? This agreement is perfect!"
"It isn't." Leo pointed to a clause. "Here it says video game nights are mandatory on Saturdays. I want flexibility. It could be Friday or Sunday."
Sheldon stared at him in astonishment. "No one has ever questioned that before."
"Well, I do." Leo smiled. "If we're going to live together, both of us need to be comfortable."
Silence filled the apartment. Sheldon studied him carefully, as if trying to decipher him. Finally, he nodded.
"Fine. I'll make an exception."
"Are these… lawn chairs?" Leo murmured as he entered the apartment and saw the living room.
Sheldon lifted his chin proudly. "Yes, they're practical, lightweight, and easy to move. I don't see the problem."
"The problem is they're not comfortable." Leo dropped into one, which creaked under his weight. "Sheldon, if we're going to live here, we need a real sofa."
Sheldon frowned. "A sofa disrupts the symmetry of the space. Besides, it takes up too much room."
"It does take up space… but it also gives us comfort." Leo smiled. "We can order one that fits the exact size of the room. Even add an armchair for guests."
Sheldon looked at him incredulously. "Guests? That breaks the harmony."
"It breaks the harmony, but improves coexistence." Leo replied calmly. "Do you really want colleagues to sit on lawn chairs?"
Sheldon opened his mouth to argue, but fell silent. Finally, he sighed. "Fine… but I choose the color."
"Deal." Leo smiled, knowing he had won the first battle.
"Now let's talk about guests." Sheldon pulled out his Roommate Agreement folder.
"Perfect." Leo settled into one of the chairs. "If we meet someone at Caltech or in the building, they should be able to visit. Obviously, with prior notice."
Sheldon frowned. "Guests create noise and disorder."
"But they also create bonds." Leo replied. "You can set schedules, I can give advance notice. That way we maintain order."
Sheldon thought for a few seconds. "Fine… but guests must leave before 10 p.m."
"Perfect." Leo noted the rule. "Now, about girls."
Sheldon's eyes widened in disbelief. "Girls? That's a delicate subject."
"I know." Leo smiled. "But we need clear rules. If either of us has a date, we must respect each other's space. No invading rooms, no making the other uncomfortable."
Sheldon looked at him seriously. "I accept… but with a silence clause."
"Deal." Leo replied, suppressing a laugh.
"What do you do in your free time?" Leo asked while browsing the bookshelf.
"Video games, comics, model trains, and of course… theoretical physics," Sheldon replied proudly.
"Interesting." Leo nodded. "I also enjoy video games, but I also write. I'm working on novels."
Sheldon looked at him, surprised. "Novels? That's an unproductive hobby."
"No, it isn't." Leo smiled. "It's a way to explore ideas and connect with people. Besides, it gives me extra income."
Sheldon observed him with curiosity. "Hmm… extra income. That is productive."
"Exactly." Leo adjusted another book. "And you, with your model trains—what are you looking for?"
"Order, precision, mathematical beauty," Sheldon replied solemnly.
"Then we're not so different." Leo concluded.
"What projects do you have at Caltech?" Leo asked while examining the whiteboard full of equations.
"I'm working on string theory," Sheldon answered with enthusiasm. "It's the key to unifying physics."
"Ambitious." Leo nodded. "I'm in quantum optics and superconductivity. More experimental, but just as challenging."
Sheldon looked at him with interest. "Hmm… experimental. That means you can test things I can only imagine."
"Exactly." Leo smiled. "We can complement each other. You in theory, me in practice."
The silence brimmed with possibilities. Both knew that combination could be powerful.
"Perhaps… we could collaborate," Sheldon murmured.
"That's what I hope." Leo replied firmly.
"This apartment… is starting to feel different," Sheldon said as they sat in the garden chairs.
"Because now we're a team." Leo responded. "And soon we'll have a sofa to prove it."
Sheldon studied him carefully. "I don't usually give in on these things."
"I know." Leo smiled. "But you'll see, in time, it'll be for the best."
The silence of the night enveloped the apartment. The rules were clear, hobbies shared, research underway.
"This is the beginning of something big," Leo thought, while Sheldon adjusted his equations on the board.
"Perfect." Leo signed the contract. "Now we're roommates."
"What do we do now?" Leo asked, settling into one of Sheldon's only two chairs.
"Order food," Sheldon replied. "It's Tuesday, so it's Thai night. We always order the same: wonton soup, chicken satay, and brown rice."
Leo smiled. "Of course… the canon begins."
The doorbell rang. It was their first shared food delivery. Sheldon paid with mathematical precision, and both sat in front of the television.
"This is my spot." Sheldon pointed firmly.
"I know." Leo settled into another seat without argument.
The evening passed between equations on the board, comments about physics, and their first shared routine. Sheldon spoke endlessly about theories, while Leo listened patiently, interjecting with intelligent observations.
"Hmm… you know more than I expected." Sheldon looked at him with curiosity.
"Because I'm prepared." Leo replied.
After dinner, Sheldon stood. "I think this will work. You're not like the others. You have character, but also discipline."
"Exactly." Leo smiled. "And that will make this coexistence unique."
Sheldon observed him in silence. "Welcome to 4A."
Leo looked around the apartment. He knew this place would be the stage for countless events: arguments, laughter, friendships, romances. The canon was in motion, but he had the chance to change it.
Sheldon's POV
"Interesting… a new candidate for roommate. Leonard Hofstadter, though he insists I call him 'Leo.' How unnecessary. Changing a name is like altering a mathematical constant: confusing and inelegant. But I suppose if the scientific community tolerates calling the Higgs boson after a particle Higgs didn't discover, I can tolerate 'Leo.'"
"The first thing I noticed: he wasn't intimidated by me. That's rare. Most applicants get uncomfortable when I explain the importance of my spot on the sofa or the need to follow the Roommate Agreement. He, on the other hand, looked at me as if he were evaluating my words… evaluating me! That's unusual. I am the evaluator, not the evaluated."
"When he mentioned buying a new sofa, my first reaction was absolute rejection. The garden chairs are practical, lightweight, and easy to move. What more is needed? But then he made me think about the possibility of receiving future research colleagues. I imagined the scene: a visiting physicist, sitting uncomfortably in a plastic chair while we discuss string theory. Socially and academically unacceptable. So, against my instinct, I accepted the sofa… with the condition that I choose the color. Obviously, it must be neutral, nothing that disrupts the chromatic harmony of the apartment."
"The most unsettling thing was his attitude toward the Roommate Agreement. No one questions it. It's a perfect document, designed with mathematical and legal precision. But Leo read it in seconds—which is already suspicious, who reads that fast?—and pointed out a clause about video game nights. He said he wanted flexibility. Flexibility… in my rules. Normally, that would be grounds for immediate expulsion. But he said it with such certainty that I found myself considering his proposal. And the worst part: it made sense. What's happening to me?"
"As for his hobbies, I was surprised. Video games, fine. That I approve. But writing novels… novels? That's unproductive. Literature rarely contributes to scientific advancement. Yet when he mentioned it generated extra income, my brain made a quick calculation: additional income = more financial stability = less risk of him failing to pay rent. Suddenly, novels became acceptable. Curious how money can alter the perception of usefulness."
"His field of research is also intriguing. Quantum optics and superconductivity. Experimental. I, of course, am theoretical. Theory is the pinnacle of knowledge; experimentation is merely the validation of my ideas. But I admit having someone who can test what I think… could be useful. It could accelerate my path to the Nobel. Yes, that's it. Leo could be my tool to achieve academic glory. Of course, he believes we're 'complementary.' I prefer to think he is complementary to me, not the other way around."
"In summary: Leo is different. He isn't intimidated, he questions my rules, proposes changes, and—most alarmingly—gets me to accept them. This is dangerous. It could disrupt my routine, my order, my universe. But also… it could be interesting. And though it's hard to admit, I think this new roommate won't be a disaster. He might be… functional. Even, in the worst case, tolerable."
"Welcome, Leo. Though you don't know it, you've just entered the Sheldon Cooper ecosystem. And here, the rules are mine… or at least, I hope so."