A/N: Hi again. Just a quick 2-shot based on the song 'Bus Stop' by The Hollies

Thank fuck today's over, thought Sandor as he trudged wearily to catch his bus home, pulling his regulation tie off and shoving it carelessly into his backpack. Fucking useless things with no function whatsoever other than to nearly strangle him and force him to do up the top button of shirts with collars that never seemed to fit properly around his neck.

Ties were made for poncy fuckers like Baelish and Joffrey, who had arms and necks like noodles and who probably had never seen the inside of a gym in their lives.

Not six-foot-six of solid muscle that was a product of both genetics and his stint in the Army maintained by regular workouts at the gym.

He didn't often miss the Army except on days like today, when it seemed as if every idiot who worked for the Bank of Westeros decided that their computers had a 'glitch', which he, as a member of the Bank's IT department, was obligated to investigate. Nine times out of ten, it was the worker's stupidity that was the issue. They had pressed 'F8' when they should have pressed 'F7' and subsequently took themselves to the wrong screen and then compounded the problem by randomly hitting keys that screwed things up even more.

Working with arseholes like that fucktard, Joffrey Baratheon, didn't help. How that dumbshit got a job in the IT department was beyond him. Sweeping the floors was more Joffrey's skill level. And if his supervisor, Petyr Baelish, sent one more smarmy smirk his way, Sandor would be tempted to smash Baelish's head right through the main server cabinet, consequences be damned.

At least the head of the department, Davos Seaworth, was a good guy. A former naval officer himself, he was stern but fair. Sandor enjoyed his company and usually sat with Davos on their break, swapping military stories. Also, Davos had his eye on Joffrey and the end was in sight. Fuck, all the procedures one had to go through just to fire a useless shit like Joffrey.

It would be good to get home, even if home was only a cold, silent apartment that was just a place to sleep, eat and watch TV.

Sandor was a loner. By both choice and circumstance.

The disfiguring scars on the right side of his face, given to him by his 'loving' older brother when he had pushed Sandor's face onto the burning of coals of a barbeque as a child, and the resulting unsuccessful attempts to 'repair' the damage, tended to keep people away. Combined with his huge stature, he was a terrifying sight for most.

After years of being treated like a freak, he had developed a thick outer shell to protect himself, becoming the 'monster' people saw him as. He was the first to scare people away now. He was the one in control. Except for a few, like Davos, all others were frightened off before they could reject him.

It was why the military had been a good choice for him. They didn't care what he looked like, only that he could take orders, was a good fighter and fortuitously for them, seemed to have a technical nous with computers and software that they used to their advantage. In return, he gained valuable skills, built a really handy nest-egg that had grown with the advice of Davos' partner, Stannis, an investment banker, and had gained a couple of good friends, the first he'd had in his life.

Unfortunately, the truck he'd been riding in had run over an unexploded IED in disputed territory in the region of Meereen, which had nearly cost him his leg and ended his military career. Luckily, skilled army surgeons had saved it, leaving him with a slight limp and an honourable discharge.

Working at the bank wasn't Sandor's ideal but it was something until he figured out what he really wanted to do with the rest of his life.

He turned the corner and faltered slightly.

There she was again. As she was most days, waiting for her bus.

The prettiest girl he'd ever seen.

Tall, blue-eyed, gorgeous auburn hair and a radiant smile that she seemed to flash at those around her, all politeness as she waited her turn to board the bus.

To all around except him. Not after that first time.

When she had smiled at him, despite her tiny start of surprise upon noticing his face. It had been enough for him to scowl nastily at her in return, her smile quickly disappearing as she stepped further away from him.

He felt like he'd kicked a puppy and she never smiled at him again.

And the world felt a little bit gloomier than it already did.

They caught the same bus, though she got off a couple of stops before him, where he sat towards the rear, while she generally sat near the front. He would watch her chat to whoever sat next to her, whether it was a little old man or a young child.

And he would wish, deep inside, where he hardly acknowledged that he still had a tender heart, that the auburn-haired beauty would smile at him again.

Another summer rainstorm.

At first it was a few drops but by the time he neared the bus stop, it was falling steadily. Whether it was due to the rain or some other reason, the only person waiting was the girl.

And she was getting drenched.

Didn't she know that summer in Kings Landing meant regular afternoon showers and storms? Why wouldn't she carry an umbrella?

She quickly glanced at him before turning away and he couldn't help the stupid pang of … something.

Sandor stood a few steps behind her and watched as the water soaked through her uniform, making her auburn hair turn a dark, wine red.

The heretofore unknown gentleman inside him wanted to help her out but his normal instinct to keep everyone at bay rose up strongly.

Then she shivered, the tremors clearly visible throughout her slim frame.

"Here, girl," he rasped, holding out his umbrella. It was the largest he could find. Those pokey little ones would be less than useless on someone his size.

She jumped at the sound of his voice and turned to look at him, eyes wide in her startled face, raindrops clinging to her lashes.

"Here. Take it," he insisted, holding out the umbrella.

"Oh! But, you'll get wet," she protested.

"I'll live. You look like you're about to drown." Sandor was beginning to regret the only kind gesture he could remember making in who knows how long. "Do you want it or not?"

"Th-thank you, sir," she stammered, gingerly reaching for the handle.

"Not a sir," he growled.

"I'm sorry," she replied warily. She looked up into his eyes and gave him a small smile. "I'll feel guilty if you get soaked because of me. How about we share it?"

Sandor looked at her in disbelief. This girl was willing to stand so close to him? Despite how he looked? "You serious?"

"Of course. Here, how about you hold it? You're so much taller than me. I'll just stand close to you. We'll still get wet but it's better than nothing."

Still shocked, he took the umbrella and held it over them both as she moved closer, her shoulder brushing his arm. Despite her wet clothes, he could feel the warmth of her and his heart raced.

"Thank you again Mr…?"

"Sandor. My name's Sandor."

"I'm Sansa." She reached her hand out, leaving him no choice but to take it. "Nice to meet you."

Sandor shook her hand and wondered if he was in some strange twilight zone to be standing so close to this gorgeous woman. Sansa. "Why don't you have an umbrella. Didn't you expect this? It's summer, after all."

Sansa grimaced slightly. "I'm from the north. There, it either rains, snows or on the odd day, is sunny. And it lasts the whole day. We don't get this mixed weather up there."

He grunted an acknowledgement.

"Will the rain last long, do you think?"

Sandor shrugged. "An hour or so, could be. Your first summer in KL then?"

"Yes. I only moved here a couple of months ago. Does it rain like this often?"

"It's the rainy season. Usually rains most afternoons. Then it gets fucking humid. Sorry," he muttered.

Sansa laughed softly. "Don't apologise. I have three brothers, a cousin and their friends. There's nothing I haven't heard. Actually, it's my sister that's the worst."

He grunted a laugh, surprising himself. Laughter and he didn't normally mix.

Their bus turned the corner and pulled up at the stop.

"Thank you for sharing your umbrella, Sandor. You're very kind."

Sandor just snorted. "No-one's ever called me that before."

"Well, you are. Oh, I can't wait to get out of this wet uniform."

Sandor held the umbrella open as she stepped inside the bus before closing it and getting in, trying to ignore the images her words conjured. As he paid his fare, he debated whether he should risk sitting near her but decided against it, instead nodding to her as he walked to his usual seat at the back.

When Sansa stood up to get off, she looked back at him smiling warmly and as the bus pulled away, she gave him a small wave.

And the world was slightly less gloomy.

To his utter surprise, and secret delight, Sansa would greet him with a smile each afternoon.

At first he was wary, mainly grunting a low 'hello', fully expecting her to turn away and ignore him but she didn't. She would chatter about inconsequential things until the bus pulled up and the conversation ended. Or her conversation, at least. He didn't contribute that much.

Sandor acted the arse he knew he was when, after a particularly trying day, he snapped at her, accusing her of chirping like a bird. "Do you chirp by rote?"

Sansa's face immediately fell and turned red. Murmuring a 'sorry for bothering you', she stepped away, standing right at the edge of the curb, her back to him.

Fucking idiot! He wanted to punch himself for the arsehole he was. It wasn't her fault a glitch in the system was blamed on him when it was that little prick, Joffrey's, doing. She was a bright spot in his otherwise bland existence and he had to go and insult her.

When she didn't smile or wave as she got off the bus, Sandor felt a tightness in his chest and spent the evening drinking and hating himself.

For the next couple of days, she didn't even look at him, instead conversing with whoever else happened to be at their stop. Sandor mourned the loss of her smile due to his own stupidity.

When the rain started falling the next day, Sandor opened his umbrella, took a deep breath and stepped forward, holding it over her before she had the chance to get her own. Sansa looked up warily, her eyes uncertain.

"Don't want you getting wet, Little Bird?" He gave her what passed as a smile, aware that it probably did nothing for his 'good looks'.

"I have an umbrella with me," protested Sansa.

"But mine's much bigger. Those pokey little things do fuck-all." Couldn't she see he was trying to apologise for his boorish behaviour?

"Little Bird?"

"Ah, on account of your chirping." Before she could get offended again he hastily added, "but, I like your chirping. I was in a shit mood that day."

Sansa seemed to realise what he was trying to say, without actually saying it, giving him a smile and, despite the rain, it felt like the sun had come out again.

When she waved at him as the bus drove off, he gave her a tiny wave back.

The world now had a hint of sunshine.