A/N- Thank you for the reviews so far, I really appreciate it! To respond to one of your comments, yes for this story I am going for a more jaded and cynical version of Sandor rather than just a straight up rude and mean Sandor. His temper usually only flares up when he is provoked or if something is bothering him. He's let go of some of his bitterness, but not all of it. Anyway, I am hoping to get a few more chapters churned out in the next few weeks. If things slow down, bear with me...I'm fixin to get in deep into my grad school classes with the end of the semester coming up!
Only acutely aware of how silly she must look, Sansa gawked open mouthed at Sandor. His eyes found hers and he winked. Her face flushed crimson and butterflies filled her stomach. She turned to Margaery.
"You failed to mention that Sandor was in the band..."
Margaery giggled and put her hands up. "I'm sorry, love! SURPRISE!"
"A little warning would have been nice, I would have dressed cuter!" Sansa hissed through her teeth.
"Oh stop, you look fabulous. Besides, I really think he's only got eyes for you tonight." Margaery gestured at the band. Sansa rolled her eyes and turned her attention back to the stage. Sandor was staring intently at Sansa as he tuned his guitar. Sansa lowered her head. She bit her lip and looked back up at Sandor though her long eyelashes. She could swear she heard him groan above the commotion in the room.
Sandor drug his pick across the strings of his black guitar. The sound vibrated and echoed through the room. The rest of the members joined in as they began to play their first song. Sansa was a little surprised at how much she liked their music. It was very close to the music of Shinedown, or Seether, both of which she kept on her ipod. Sandor was mesmerizing to watch. His fingers expertly worked the strings to produced the thumping bass sounds that left her feeling breathless. Between the fourth and fifth song, Sandor unshouldered his guitar and pulled his white t-shirt over his head to reveal the most masculine upper body Sansa had ever seen. While Ramsay had been moderately muscled and bare chested, Sandor was built like the Warrior in flesh. Hair spread over his huge pectoral muscles and trailed lightly down his chiseled six pack. Sansa could see the band of his black Under Armor underwear peeking out above his brown leather belt. Sandor used his shirt to wipe his chest and forehead, which were both glistening with sweat. Sansa gripped Margaery's arm as the two girls stared stupidly at the bass player's gorgeous body. From two tables down, Sansa heard an obnoxiously loud screaming female voice.
"SANDOOOR, YEEAAA BABY! WHOOOO!"
Sansa leaned over and looked at the noise maker. The woman was dressed in a tight leopard print mini dress that was so short, Sansa was sure her ass would fall out at any minute. She had on thigh high black boots and her hair was bleach blonde. Cheap red lipstick and blue eyeshadow made her look even more tacky. She pulled the top of her dress down briefly to reveal a set of breasts that were in no way Gods given. Sansa quickly looked away back to Sandor. He grinned at the trashy woman and tipped his chin up at her. She was still waving her hands wildly in the air. Sandor launched the sweaty white t-shirt through the air to the woman. She caught it and squealed with delight, waving it around to show the rest of the girls she was with. Sansa rolled her eyes again at the woman. Gross, she though to herself as the band began to play again. After two more songs, the band took a break. Tormund jumped down from the stage and walked right to Margaery, who jumped up to welcome him with open arms. He wrapped his around her and dipped her so low her hair almost touched the ground. Tormund planted a kiss right on her mouth. Margaery responded to the kiss by clinging to the black of his neck and throwing a leg towards the ceiling. Sansa smiled at the pair and turned to the stage just in time to see Sandor disappear behind the curtain. Tormund greeted Sansa after sitting down and pulling Margaery into his lap.
"Glad you made it out, Sansa! Are you enjoying everything?"
Sansa nodded. "Yes, your music is great! Who wrote your songs?"
"Mostly me. Beric helps some." Tormund replied. "I produce music for a living, so it's just a bonus that I can write my own music and sing."
"Oh wow, that's awesome!" Sansa said. She saw Beric and Thoros begin to mingle with the crowd and turned to see if Sandor had come out as well. She saw him descending the steps on the side of the stage. He had put on a fresh white t-shirt. Immediately, the trashy blonde woman approached Sandor and flung her arms around his shoulders. She stood on her toes to place a kiss on his cheek. Sansa continued to watch them from her peripheral vision, pretending not to have seen him. Sandor gave her lackluster smile and took her arms away from his neck. He leaned on stage and placed a hand on the woman's hip. She leaned into him and whispered flirtatiously into his hear while twisting a lock of his hair between her fingers. Sandor looked at her and shook his head, mouthing some words Sansa couldn't hear. Sandor left the girl with a pouty expression on her face as he walked towards Sansa. From a nearby table, Sandor grabbed a chair and swung it towards the table where Sansa sat. He straddled the chair and put his forearms on its back.
"Number one fan?" Sansa asked, nodding her head towards the trashy woman, who was now glaring daggers at Sansa.
Reaching for the pitcher of beer, Sandor chuckled and filled up Sansa's glass and drank from it. "No, not really."
Sansa smiled shyly and looked down at Sandor's boots. The boots she had thrown up on the night before had been replaced with brown, square toed cowboy boots. She caught Sandor's eye. "I am so sorry about your boots..."
"It's not a big deal, I hosed them off and left them to dry on my porch."
Pursing her lips together, Sansa thought of what else she had done the night before that could have been potentially offensive to Sandor. "How much was my tab? Please let me pay you-"
Sandor's rough voice cut her off. "Save your chirping courtesies, girl. It was nothing." He reached for the pitcher again to refill the glass he had emptied. "Consider this your payment." He smirked.
"Well then let me buy you another pitcher at least." Sansa raised herself from the table and smiled. Sandor followed her to the bar. A crowd of people pushed them closer together as they picked their way across the room. Fingers that belonged to Sandor brushed lightly against the small of her back as he guided her. Shivers radiated down her spine brought on by his touch. When they reached the bar, Sansa leaned on the edge and waved to the bartender and slid the empty pitcher towards her. Suddenly, she felt the presence of Sandor's two large, muscular arms leaning on either side of her elbows as he stood behind her. Sandor's breath stirred Sansa's hair and she could feel the heat from his body behind her. Say something, you idiot! Sansa thought sharply to herself. Realization hit her and she whirled around to face him.
"Hey wait a minute! You lied to me...you told me you weren't going to be here tonight!"
A smile tugged at the corner of Sandor's mouth. "I told you I would not be here to watch tonight. I'm not watching, I'm playing. So technically I told you the truth." Leaning close to her, he whispered in her ear. "Are you glad I'm here though?"
The raspiness of his voice triggered tingles beginning in her stomach that quickly spread out to her limbs. She bit her lip and nodded her head. Sandor's hand curled into a fist and he pressed it against the bar. He was leaning in to whisper something else when a nasal, whiny female voice stopped him.
"Sandor, there you are!"
Before Sansa could turn around, the trashy blonde woman approached and set her hand on the bar between Sansa and Sandor. Wide eyed and embarrassed, Sansa turned her body slightly and gave the woman room. Cheap smelling perfume assaulted Sansa's nose. At least it was evident that Sandor did not enjoy her company, because for the second time that night, Sandor removed her hand from where it was. Stepping back, the woman gave Sansa a quick once-over.
"Who's ya friend?"
Sandor cleared his throat and spoke. "Sansa this is Daisy. Daisy, this is Sansa Stark."
Not usually one to forget her manners, Sansa offered Daisy her hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you." With her nose wrinkled, Daisy looked at Sansa's hand and turned back to Sandor.
"So a bunch of us are going to the pony afterwards. Wanna come?" Using her upper arms, Daisy squeezed her breasts together to show off her cleavage.
Darkness clouded Sandor's eyes. "I already told you, no."
Daisy leaned close to Sandor who countered her advance by leaning back a bit. "Awe c'mon baby...just for old time's sake?"
"I said no, so fuck off!" Sandor barked. Daisy stepped back and poked her lip out. She reached for Sandor one last time. "SCRAM!" Sandor's voice was loud and rough. Clearly he had had all he could take of this Daisy woman and her flirting. Fists clenched and heels hitting hard on the floor, Daisy stormed off.
Sansa blew out a breath she didn't realize she had been holding. She looked at Sandor. "Ex-girlfriend?"
"HAH! No, not exactly. Daisy and I had a bit of fun, went out a few times after I split with my ex about a year ago."
Sandor grasped the handle of the beer pitcher and poured himself a glass. "I guess she could be considered a rebound, if anything. Apparently she still can't take no for no for an answer."
"Still?" Sansa asked for clarification.
Giving his head a shake, Sandor explained, "I told that bitch from the get go that I didn't want any kind of relationship with her. But she kept on trying to get with me. We haven't really hung out in about two or three months. Our paths cross here and there, she comes to hear us play, but she just can't take a hint."
Nodding, Sansa reached for the pitcher to fill her glass. "How long were you and your ex together?" She held her breath and hoped she hadn't struck a nerve with her question.
Sandor pressed his lips into a line. "We dated for a little over four years. She cheated on me for some pretty boy cunt, left me, left the dog, left the apartment, left everything." Running his fingers through his hair and sweeping it away from his face to reveal his scars, he continued. "Guess she couldn't stand to look at the ugly Hound anymore." Although his voice was rough, Sadness was etched into his face. Until Sandor had shown her his scars again, Sansa actually realized she had forgotten all about them.
Trying desperately to change the topic, Sansa inquired about the name he called himself. "Hound?"
"Hah, yea, you don't remember the guys calling me that last night?" Sandor teased. "No, I guess you wouldn't, would you. They've been calling me that for years."
"So...Hound...you're a mechanic. Do you work on cars?"
"If they run on diesel fuel." Judging the confusion on Sansa's face, Sandor elaborated. "I'm a diesel mechanic. I mostly work on big trucks and their engines, fix whatever is wrong with them. I inspect the brake systems, transmissions, steering mechanisms, and basically all other vehicle parts."
"So if my car broke down, you would be able to fix it?"
Sandor barked a rough laugh. "What, Daddy Stark wouldn't just go buy you a new one?"
He's mocking me... Sansa thought as she narrowed her eyes. "Actually, I make payments on my own car with my own money." She stuck her chin defiantly higher than it had been.
"Calm down, little bird. I was only joking. What kind of car do you have?"
"I have a 2016 Lex-"
"Clegane! Hey Hound!" Tormund's voice rose above the noise in the bar. "Let's go!"
Sandor nodded, then turned back to Sansa. "On I go." He traced a finger lightly down Sansa's cheek. Heat rose in her face where he had touched her and her pulse quickened. "Will you stay after the show?"
Yes, of course I will! Sansa wanted to scream. But she knew she had to play it cool. "Sure." She replied, with a smirk. Giving her a quick wink, Sandor filled his glass once more and disappeared into the crowd.
Moments later, Sansa rejoined Margaery at their table. "Sooo...what all did you and Sandor talk about?" Margaery asked.
"Oh, this and that..." Leaning towards Margaery, Sansa lowered her voice. "He told me about his ex..."
Gasping, Margaery leaned closer. "He's opened the ex file already?! Fascinating...what do you know so far?!"
"Well...apparently they dated for over four years. Lived together and everything. She cheated on him. Broke his heart, from the sound of it."
Margaery clicked her tongue and stretched her mouth into a sad frown. "Awe, poor thing..."
The rest of the concert was just as good as the first half. Margaery and Sansa stood in front of the stage and swayed and rocked to the rhythm of their music. Sansa wasn't able to take her eyes off of Sandor. Something about him stirred something deep inside of her. Something she wasn't sure she had ever felt before. She tried to think back and remember if she had felt similarly with Joffrey or Ramsay. When she had first gotten together with Joffrey, she was so young. Her girlish fantasies of the young and handsome blonde paled in comparison to the dark and carnal emotions that were awakening inside her because of Sandor.
Towards the end, Tormund grasped the microphone in his hand and took a deep breath.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we all can't thank you enough for coming out tonight. I'd like to end with a song that is brand new...never played it in public. Since this is the song's debut, I'd like to dedicate it to a special lady." Upon hearing his last words, half of the women in The Green Dragon screamed and jumped up and down, assuming the song was meant for them. But Tormund raised his fingers to his lips, looked right at Margaery, and blew her a kiss and winked. Margaery clutched her hands together at her chest and grinned at Sansa. They giggled at each other and slipped their arms over each other's shoulders to enjoy the moment together. Tormund's deep, steady voice carried the melody across the room.
"Angel, take me away...fly this man as high as you can into the dark blue...set me free, oh I pray...closer to the heavens above and closer to you..." He extended his arm out and pointed his finger at Margaery, who squealed with delight.
Sansa became aware of eyes watching her. She stole a glance at Sandor who was watching her as he worked his fingers up and down the neck of the guitar. So intense was his gaze that Sansa found herself breathless. Breaking eye contact was impossible as she watched his smoldering eyes roam her body. Although they were nowhere near touching each other at that particular moment, it had to be one of the most intimate moments for Sansa in her whole life. Never had she experienced these strong emotions that were making her body tremble.
"Thank you again folks...I'm Tormund Giantsbane, lead guitar and vocals; Beric Dondarrion, keyboard and backup vocals; Thoros Myr, drums; and Sandor "The Hound" Clegane, bass guitar...we're Midnight Envy! Thank you and goodnight" Sansa clapped her hands furiously as the curtain dropped. She stood among the cheering audience and anxiously awaited Sandor's appearance on the stairs leading from the stage. He approached her with a half grin on his face. To Sansa's surprise, Sandor put his arms around her in a tight embrace. Responding to the sudden closeness, Sansa put her arms around his back and felt his muscles ripple beneath the fabric of his t-shirt, which was damp from perspiration. Sansa inhaled deeply. His scent was an intoxicating mixture of sweat, a hint of cologne, and pure masculinity. Sandor pulled away and looked down at Sansa.
"I've got to go help the guys load our equipment in the van, but I'll be back." He angled his hear towards hers and gently pinched her chin between his thumb and forefinger. "Don't go anywhere..."
Unaware that Daisy had been watching the whole exchange between her and Sandor, Sansa went to find Margaery at their table. "I need to go use the restroom, be right back." Margaery smiled and nodded as she puckered her lips into a compact mirror and applied lip gloss. Sansa wandered around the edge of bar until she found the ladies room. Once relieved and refreshed, Sansa washed her hands and looked thoughtfully at herself in the mirror. She wondered what Sandor saw in her, if anything. Could there be something there? Sansa heard restroom door swing open. There stood Daisy, looking none too pleased at Sansa. She sauntered to the sink and reached across Sansa's body, pushing her out of the way, to pump soap into her hand.
"You know...Sandor will never go for a girl like you." She said, icily.
Sansa had averted her eyes from Daisy's, but when she heard those words, her head snapped up to face her. "What makes you think he hasn't already gone for me?"
A loud guffaw escaped Daisy's throat as she threw her head back. "Oh Gods girl! Sandor would never be satisfied with you! You look like a stuck up bitch. I bet you're some kind of secretary, the kind who gets on her knees for her prick boss."
Anger flushed Sansa's face. "I'm a teacher!" She spat.
Once more, Sansa found herself looking at Daisy's molars as the woman laughed out loud. "That's even worse!" After her laughter subsided, Daisy narrowed her eyes and took a step towards Sansa. She held her hands up for emphasis as she spoke and stepped closer again. "Now listen here...Sandor and I belong together, and there is no way that I'm going to give him up for some snobby-"
A sharp voice interrupted her. "HEY!" Both women jerked their heads towards the door and saw Margaery. She strode quickly to where Daisy was threatening Sansa and grabbed her wrist. Margaery pushed her roughly up against a stall door and put her nose in her face. "My friend might not be the type of woman who will scrap, but I am. Beat it, bitch! I better not ever catch you talking to her again!"
Hoping to intimidate Margaery, Daisy glared at her, and jerked her hand from Margaery's grasp. She pushed past them through the door.
"Oh my Gods, girl are you ok?!" Margaery threw her arms around Sansa in a protective embrace. As she nodded, Sansa returned the hug. Margaery pulled Sansa away from her and held her at arm's length. "Who was that skank?!"
With trembling lips, Sansa answered. "Some girl that apparently wants to be with Sandor. He referred to her as a 'rebound'."
Margaery pursed her lips together. "Well does he want her, though, is the question?"
"No." When she decided her answer didn't sound very convincing, Sansa continued. "No, he told me he had no interest in her." Sansa waited for Margaery to finish in the bathroom before they entered the main room again. Shouts from the bar area drew their attention. Making a spectacle of herself by waving her arms in the air and screaming obscenities at Sandor, was Daisy.
"Oh Gods...how embarrassing..." Margaery muttered to Sansa as they walked back to their table where Tormund, Beric and Thoros were waiting. Sansa's eyes lingered on Sandor and Daisy. Now furious that Daisy had began to push him in his chest, Sandor grabbed her hands and snatched them roughly behind her back. A loud whistle from his lips alerted the bouncer, who came to his aid. He took Daisy by the shoulders and led her outside. Sansa could see Sandor asking the bartender for something. Probably her credit card. He took the card, scribbled on a receipt, and followed the bouncer outside. The bouncer was stuffing Daisy into a taxi. Sansa craned her neck to see through the big front window. Frustrated at the altercation, Sandor handed Daisy her card and slammed the taxi door. Angrily, she mouthed some words to Sandor. In response, Sandor leaned down and stuck his forefinger in her face as he returned some words. He leaned up and thumped his fist twice on the top of the taxi. As the car pulled away, Daisy stuck her hands out the window and held up her middle fingers. But Sandor had already turned to head back inside. Shaking his head, he pulled up a chair and sat between Sansa and Tormund, who had Margaery in her lap.
"Ol Daisy giving you trouble again, eh?" Beric chided Sandor as he poured himself a beer.
"The bitch is crazy." Sandor grumbled to the group, who lauged in return.
Over the next half hour, Sansa laughed and drank and got to know her new friends. They were indeed a rather eclectic group of men. Sansa learned that Beric also worked at the garage with Sandor. He had served in the military, where he had lost his eye in a fight with a Braavosi mercenary. Thoros had discovered his love of yoga while traveling abroad in Essos. He taught hot yoga classes at a gym near the Blackwater.
"Oh Sansa and I love to do yoga!" Exclaimed Margaery. Thoros grinned and fished two business cards out of his wallet and handed them to the girls.
"Stop by then, have a free class on me!"
Sansa smiled and pocketed the card.
"My goal in life...dear Sansa," Thoros began. His words drew chuckles and eye rolls from the other men. "...my goal is to find a woman who has perfected the Meereenese Knot. Would you happen to know anyone with those qualifications?"
Before Sansa could answer, Sandor leaned across her and spoke to Thoros. "I don't think women who know how to do that bloody sex position are the kind of company that this one here would keep." Satisfied with his tease, Sandor sat back.
Unconsciously, Sansa bit her lip as she turned to Sandor. "What makes you think I wouldn't be that kinda of woman?" Her response triggered 'oooohhhs' from the rest of the group.
However, Sandor was transfixed on her lips, the bottom one still grasped in her teeth. Slowly, she let her lip slide back into its usual position. A guttural growl erupted from Sandor's throat. "You ought not to do that, girl..."
"Do what?" Whispered Sansa.
"Alright then, it's still early...Margaery and I are going to The Goat for a little bit! Who's in?" Tormund exclaimed as he threw his hands up in the air. "Thoros, Beric?"
Beric stubbed out a cigarette he had been smoking. "Thoros and I have to go take the van back to your place, but I'll meet you after."
Thoros nodded in agreement. "Yep."
Margaery turned to Sansa. "What about you, love?"
Shaking her head, Sansa said "No, no not tonight. I don't think I could show my face there again so soon."
Margaery nodded. "Sandor?" She asked, gesturing to Sansa with her eyes.
Sandor cleared his throat and spoke to Sansa. "I could take you home. Well, not take...I've been drinking. But I'll see that you make it home ok."
Oblivious to what was happening, Tormund started to protest. "Oh co-" He was cut off from a pinch from Margaery. With raised eyebrows, she gave him a look.
The group paid their tickets and headed for the door. Outside, they went their separate ways. Tormund and Margaery took an Uber to The Tipsy Goat. Thoros and Beric drove the van with the music equipment back to Tormund's townhouse. Sansa found herself seated in the back of an Uber car next to the man who had managed to keep the butterflies fluttering in her stomach all night.