A/N: Well, it's been a while but I hope that this chapter is worth the wait! I definitely tried to work in a shout out to another fic that I've heard a LOT of good things about... and one of these days I'll find the time to sit down, read it, and, hopefully, die of feels. Until then, I did my best to give it a little nod. :P Anyway, to avoid any potential legal issues I'll make very clear that the lyrics in this chapter are from "Tear You Apart" by She Wants Revenge. Also, I've begun taking a little liberty with how I write the characters (not that any fanfic author writes characters 100% accurately), specifically Sansa. Oh, and the interrobang is back. I hope you like the update and thanks, as always, to everyone reading!

Gendry was quickly learning that Sansa was not nearly as polite, sweet and innocent as she initially seemed. He'd just finished getting ready for bed when she called lightly for him from the bottom of the wooden fold-out steps that led up to the attic. Now, she sat across from him, her hands folded neatly and a devilish smile on her face. "It will be fun." she assured him.

He laid back on his bed, rolling his eyes and grimacing. "No. Absolutely not."

Sarcastic and ridiculing, she mocked him, "Were you really planning a special evening all alone with Jeyne?" Gendry closed his eyes and turned his head away, wanting to curl up beneath the covers and forget if only for a few hours that Arya would be going out with anyone other than him this evening. "At least you'd know what Arya's up to."

"I don't care what she does or who she does it with." He felt he'd lied rather convincingly, but he glanced at her and she skeptically raised an eyebrow. It infuriated him. "Why would I even care?" He shifted his body and pulled the covers up to his chest in a vain attempt at relaxation.

She sighed exasperatedly. "What the fuck, Gendry?" He'd rarely heard her curse and brought his eyes back to her, surprised. "Do you really think I'm so naive? It's dreadfully obvious the two of you like each other."

He started to protest, "She does not-"

"I found this in her waste basket." In one fluid movement, she reached into her purse and pulled out a crumpled up piece of paper.

Gendry eyed it curiously, fearfully. "What is that?" Sansa tossed it to him and he caught it. Slowly, he unravelled the paper and turned it rightside up. It was a to-do list of things, apparently for the cookout the Starks had held weeks before, and beside the scribbled tasks along the left margin were the prettily penned letters "Gendry Waters" with little hearts all around. It wasn't exactly evidence, but it still quickened his pulse. He shook his head, "That doesn't mean anything."

Sansa blinked. "Really, Gendry? Do you think my sister makes a habit of drawing hearts around boy's names?"

He balled up the paper and tossed it back to her. "Look, Sansa, if you don't mind I'd really just like to get to sleep and-"

"I also found this." She reached into her purse again and produced what appeared to be a receipt.

Gendry squinted at her, "Do you make a habit of going through your sister's trash?"

Sansa replied in earnest, "Absolutely. Imagine if Mother had found this." A hint of a smile appeared at the corners of her mouth. "Plus, it's blackmail should I ever need it."

"What are you talking about?"

She held it out for him to take it. "Look at it."

He snatched it from her hands, glanced at it and looked back to her with uninterest. "It's a receipt."

"Yes," she seemed to be making an attempt at slow-walking him to a revelation, "but it's from last night."

Gendry shrugged. "And?"

"And," she leaned forward, "she went to get 'lady things' last night, or so she said, after Mother told her about her blind date."

He felt himself growing more and more irritated with her. "What does that have to do with-"

Sansa nearly shouted, "Just fucking read it, Gendry."

He sighed and began reading down the short list of items, "Dornish chocolates, a pack of Summer Isle cigarettes, a Dothraki Horselord energy drink, Meerenese Ultra Thin cond-" He did a double take. "Why in the seven hells is she buying condoms‽"

"Perhaps they were out of water balloons." she said dryly.

Gendry was incredulous. "But she's a virgin!"

"Obviously, she's anticipating an intimate moment with someone in the near future," she smirked, "maybe Aegon."

"But she didn't even know it was Aegon until this morning! Her date could've been with anyone! Why would she…" his voice trailed off.

Sansa quietly offered, "It's also possible that she had someone else in mind." Gendry thought about that for a moment. "Or not. Either way, may I assume you're on board for the triple date?" Gendry glared at her for a moment before nodding. "Good. Text Jeyne and let her know." Sansa got up and crossed to the stairs.

"Sansa," he called after her, "why do you really want to come along tonight?"

Turning and diplomatically clasping her hands in front of her, she explained, "Joffrey is the son of the man that drove Aegon's family business out of Westeros." She smiled widely and continued, "Add this to it and we should be in store for an interesting evening."

"Do you…" he fumbled over his words, "Do you really think Arya was… is… Do you think she thought that she and I…"

"She likes you and you like her." she answered before he finished his question. "It seems a logical conclusion to me."

Gendry felt his heart growing heavy. "But you understand that there's really no point, don't you?" Sansa furrowed her brow and he continued, "I'm just a bastard. This really couldn't ever be anything more than just a summer fling for her."

Sansa grew serious and walked back to the bed opposite him once again, sitting down and smoothing her shirt. "Gendry, it's true that she's highborn and you're not, but times are changing."

He muttered, "Your mother wouldn't agree."

"You don't know who your father is." She appeared to be trying to console him. "He could be a lord for all you know."

"He was some drunken sap at the bar where my mother worked who bedded her for a night and never bothered to…" He was growing angry again and took a calming breath. "I don't want to hurt Arya, or myself for that matter. She deserves more than a short-lived romance with a bastard."

"Gendry," she seemed to be choosing her words carefully, "you're just going to have to trust me here."

He turned up his palms, "Trust you with what? That some lord will come out of the woodworks and legitimize my birth?"

He could pity in her eyes as she asked, "You really like Arya, don't you, to be troubled over whether or not you'd ever be able to marry her?" Put that way, his troubles did seem a bit convoluted. They were both so young and it wasn't like he'd be asking for her hand in marriage. Not yet, anyway, he thought. "I'm just saying that your father could be anyone and you really don't know. Besides, whatever qualms Mother might have with it, it's father's decision in the end. Remember, Jon is his son and he wants only the best for him. He doesn't think any less of you just because you're a bastard."

"Sansa?" he heard Arya's voice from the bottom of the stairs and the hair on the nape of his neck stood on end.

"Yes?" her sister answered. "I'm just up here talking with Gendry."

Arya appeared at the top of the stairs and eyed the two of them suspiciously. "About what?"

"About our plans for this evening. We're going on a triple date, you, me, Aegon, Joffrey, and Gendry and Jeyne." Sansa beamed.

"What are you talking about?" Arya was shocked, and possibly horrified. "I never agreed to-"

"Mother would feel more comfortable if all of us went out together." She blinked prettily. "I already spoke with her about it."

"But…" Arya protested, "But Joffrey and Aegon…"

Sansa played down her worries. "Gendry will be there if things get out of hand." She cocked her head and tauntingly asked, "Wouldn't you rather he be there, anyway?"

Arya's eyes dashed briefly to Gendry. "Whatever." She shook her head. "I don't have any shoes that go with the dress you and Mother insist that I wear." She scoffed, "Green, really? Green?"

Sansa stood and laughed. "I'm sure I've got something." She looked to Gendry, "Have a nice sleep."

He nodded and the two sisters proceeded down the stairs, Arya berating her sister over her taste in fashion and Sansa vehemently defending her decision. Gendry rolled over in his bed and shut his eyes. He was exhausted but was dreading the evening ahead and his mind was resisting the demands of his body. Nonetheless, before long he fell asleep.

Gendry dreamed a dozen dreams, most of them fantastical. In the last one, he was in some sort of forge, the scents of fire, steel and sweat and the sounds of his hammer slamming on the blade in his hand vivid, he turned around to see Arya in the doorway wearing a beautiful green dress. Their words were unintelligible as they spoke and he set down the hammer, walking over to her.

"I look like an oak tree." she complained.

"A nice one, though. A nice oak tree." He leaned forward and sniffed her. "You even smell nice for a change."

"You don't!" she glared at him. "You stink!" and she shoved him. Laughing, he pulled her to the ground, holding her hands with one arm and tickling her with the other. She cursed and struggled beneath him, but it was no use. His laughter slowly subsided as he stopped tickling her and looked into her deep, abysmal gray eyes. Still holding her hands, he leaned down and kissed her softly, briefly, studying her face for a response. She looked almost frightened, but picked her head up to kiss him back. He released her hands and cupped her face with his right hand, his other rubbing down her side. She gripped the back of his head, her nails digging into his scalp, holding him to her while her tongue caressed his. He started pulling, tearing at her dress and it ripped, his hands eager to explore the body beneath it. She began unfastening his trousers, and-

"I want to hold you close
skin pressed against me tight
lie still, close your eyes girl
so lovely it feels so right"

The clock radio on his nightstand blared She Wants Revenge.

"I want to hold you close
soft breath, beating heart
as I whisper in your ear
I wanna fucking tear you apart"

He ignored his rock hard cock as he silenced the radio, groaning as he realized that it was already dark outside. He hurriedly got up and crossed to the bathroom, taking a quick shower. Not exactly sure what to wear for the evening, he pulled out a pair of nice looking jeans and a black button down. As he dressed, he heard the doorbell ring and voices from downstairs. Sounds like Lord Emo has arrived. He sprayed perhaps a bit too much cologne on himself, grabbed his phone, wallet and keys, and trotted down the steps to the second floor and then the main staircase.

Sansa greeted him. "Hey, Gendry! Are you ready to go pick up Jeyne?" Arya stood beside her. She looked magnificent in the dress Sansa and her mother had gotten for her. Next to her, Aegon was unmistakable. His hair was long and blue, wearing black skinny jeans with a silver dragon belt buckle, combat boots, a black button down not unlike Gendry's and a long, black gothic-looking jacket. As he drew nearer, he noticed that Aegon was also wearing eyeliner and nail polish. You've got to be fucking kidding me. He still wears all that nonsense? How does Lady Catelyn even begin to approve of this?

"Yeah, I suppose so." He looked at the three of them. "Are we all riding together?"

"No," Sansa placed a hand on his arm, "I'm going to go pick up Joffrey and the three of you will go get Jeyne. We'll all meet up at the restaurant. Did you text her and let her know?"

Shit. "No… but I don't think she'll mind."

"Alright. Well, I'm going to head on over to Joff's." She smiled at the lot of them. "I'll see you all there!"

Gendry looked awkwardly between Arya and Aegon. "So, umm." He held out his hand to shake Aegon's. "Aegon Targaryen, right? I remember you from high school."

Aegon took Gendry's hand and shook it. "Yeah, I can't say that I remember you." Aegon lightly smirked. "It's nice to see you, anyway."

Possibly sensing the building tension or Gendry's inclination to knock Aegon from his feet, Arya spoke up. "Let's get on the way, then!"

She crossed between them to the door, grabbing Aegon's hand as she passed and leading him out. Gendry followed behind and they piled into Aegon's car. The blue haired lord blasted some metal music as Arya directed them to Jeyne's. Once there, Gendry got out and fetched her, finally telling her about the plans for the evening.

As she got in the car, she was smiling and very happy. "Well, this should be a fun evening out!" She elbowed Gendry's arm. "It's been a long time since we went anywhere together."

Aegon looked into the rear-view mirror at them as he pulled out into the street. "How long have the two of you been dating?"

Jeyne looked to Gendry, puzzled and unsure. "Is this a date?" she asked. Gendry opened his mouth to speak, but didn't know what to say. Jeyne smiled and saved him from responding, shaking her head. "This isn't a date. We're just friends." She hit him lightly on the arm. "I'm only in town for a few weeks anyway, and most of my old friends have moved off or are busy."

"So," Aegon grinned, "scraping the bottom of the barrel, are we?" He squinted and, looking at Gendry, pointed at the rear-view mirror. "I think I remember you now. You're a jock, right?"

"I played baseball." Gendry frowned. "I don't know if that makes me a 'jock' or not."

"Gendry was captain of the baseball team when they won the championship his senior year." Jeyne beamed. "Did you play any sports, Aegon?"

He laughed as if the question was ridiculous. "Do I look like the kind of person that plays sports? I had better things to do than run around fields chasing after balls." Gendry saw Aegon look briefly at Arya, grinning, and she let out a nervous laugh.

"Oh, really?" Jeyne feigned interest. "Like what?"

Arya turned her head around and answered for him, "He's in a metal band called Dragonsteel. Aegon says they're close to getting a record deal."

"Really?" Jeyne cocked her head. "That's cute. And do you have any plans for what you'll do later in life?"

"What do you mean?" Aegon asked.

"Surely you don't expect your band- what is it again?" she queried.

"Dragonsteel." Arya sternly answered.

"Yes, that. Surely you don't expect Dragonsteel to support you financially for the rest of your life." Grateful that he had an ally in Jeyne, Gendry wanted to hug her as she continued, "What are your plans beyond that?"

The defensiveness in Aegon's voice was apparent. "Dragonsteel is very popular over in the Free Cities. There's no reason to think that should change."

He found Jeyne's smile to be very infectious. "Mmm. I see."

Gendry noticed Aegon gripping the steering wheel. "And what about you, Gendry?" he asked. "How's baseball working out for you?"

"I stopped playing after high school." Great, he thought, I wonder how long he'll harp on about this…

"Not good enough to play on a collegiate level, I take it?" There was a brief and awkward silence. "I'm only joking, of course. Even if you did play in college, the chances you'd go pro are very slim."

"You never know, there might be an alternate universe somewhere that he plays professionally." Jeyne reached over and squeezed his arm as she defended him. "He's got a great arm on him. He broke the school's record for most strikeouts thrown. One might even say that his pitches are untouchable."

Arya change the subject, "Shit, the place is packed."

Gendry looked up as they pulled into the parking lot of one of the nicest restaurants in the city. Fuck, he thought, how the hells am I going to afford this place? It hadn't even occurred to him to ask where they were going out to eat. Zoqwat was highly lauded for its unique and expensive Dothraki cuisine, the Westeros' wealthy and elite often dining there if only to appear well-cultured. Aware that they had a dress code, he looked down at his attire and then to Jeyne's, a simple pair of jeans and a light sweater, and Aegon's. Will they even let us in? he wondered.

Arya spotted Sansa's car and they parked next to them just as she and Joffrey were getting out. Gendry hung back and whispered to Sansa as they walked toward the restaurant, "Who's idea was it to eat here?"

"Joffrey's." She smiled and, studying his face, appeared to read his mind. "Don't worry about the price," she patted her purse, "Mother gave me her Westerosi Express."

"And um," he scratched the back of his head, "what about the dress code?"

"Don't worry about that either." She waved it off with her hand and laughed, "Like they're going to turn away the son of Robert Baratheon just because a few in his party are dressed down."

Gendry glanced down again at his shirt. Dressed down? This is one of the nicest shirts I own… His worries for naught, upon entering the waiter seated them without issue and began taking their drink orders.

"Where is the wine?" Arya asked, flipping the menu around and looking over it. "This is… this is all in Dothraki, isn't it?"

"It's right there," Joffrey pointed it out to her, "under 'sewafikh.' That's the Dothraki word for wine." She blinked at him with a bit of confusion and then nodded. They each ordered, most of them going with a Dornish red that the waiter recommended, and began trying to figure out what they wanted to eat, or rather, trying to figure out what anything meant.

Gendry shook his head, leaning over to Jeyne. "I don't know what any of this means. Even the descriptions are in Dothraki. How in the seven hells are we supposed to know what we're ordering?"

"Well," she pointed to a few items on his menu, "'mawizzi' is rabbit," she pointed to another, "'alegra' is duck and 'dalfe' is beef." She pointed to a few others, "That one is pork, 'qifo,' that's salmon there, 'joma,' and I'm not sure what that is, but 'gamiz' is rice."

He let his mouth hang open for a moment. "How do you know that?"

"I took Dothraki as an elective my first year at university." she explained.

"Ah." he nodded.

She raised her eyebrows humorously, "Though I'll admit I never thought any of it would be useful or else I'd have paid a bit more attention."

The waiter brought them their drinks and they ordered. Gendry sipped at the wine and could scarcely believe how delicious it was. He turned to Jeyne. "Do you like the wine?"

"Yes!" she grinned. "It's very good. I've never had a Dornish red before."

"Me neither." He set down the wine glass and simply looked at it for a moment.

Arya stood and dug around in her purse. "I'm going for a smoke before our food gets here." She looked at Aegon expectantly.

He looked up at her and, realizing she wanted him to come with her, explained, "I'm allergic to smoke."

Joffrey was mid-drink and nearly spat out his wine. "What? You're a Targaryen and you're allergic to smoke?"

Gendry watched Sansa hide a smile, looking down at her lap. Arya seemed uncertain what to do with Aegon's response, idly tapping her fingers on the pack of cigarettes in her hand. Finally, she forced a smile and turned toward the door. "Well, that's fine. I suppose I'll go alone, then."

"I'll go with you." Gendry stood perhaps a bit too quickly, knocking the table. Sansa and Joffrey simultaneously reached out to steady their wine glasses and Aegon simply glared at him. Arya looked more perturbed than anything as she rolled her eyes, walking quickly for the door. Gendry followed her out and leaned a shoulder against the wall.

She nervously took out a cigarette and lit it, asking immediately, "So what do you think of Aegon?"

"He looks like he walked out of a fucking Final Fantasy game." Gendry grumbled.

"I know!" Arya's eyes brightened. "He looks so fucking cool."

"Sure," Gendry cleared his throat, "if you like men that wear make-up."

"You're going to make fun of him just because he dresses differently than you?" She blew out a stream of smoke. "Grow the fuck up, Gendry."

He tried to think of a witty retort, but none came to mind. He didn't even have a very good reason to dislike Aegon aside from his odd attempt to belittle him earlier in the car. Admittedly, it probably wouldn't have mattered if it was Aegon or not: any person going on a date with Arya would have earned his contempt. "I don't really have a problem with him, I just can't believe your mother approves. He doesn't seem like the kind of guy she'd set you up with."

"I can't believe it either, honestly." she admitted. "I can't understand why she and Sansa thought this dress would be a good choice. He looks like a rock star and I look like… like a…" she searched for the words.

"Like an oak tree?" he grinned.

Arya looked up at him, surprised and then angry. "Fuck you! I do not look like…" she glanced down at herself and chuckled. "I guess I do, actually. Ugh." She took another drag on her cigarette and leaned back against the wall. "A scrawny, ugly little wilted oak tree."

"Hey," Gendry frowned, suddenly regretting his words, "you are not ugly. And you may be thin, but it suits you."

She waved him off. "Whatever."

"You look beautiful." She eyed him warily. "Really," he continued, "everything about you. The dress, the way Sansa braided your hair, the make up…" His voice trailed off as his eyes moved down to her body. "You're the best looking girl here tonight."

Arya appeared to be trying to decide whether or not to believe him. "Shut up, Gendry."

"What?" He laughed nervously and it seemed to anger her. "Does my opinion not matter because I'm not wearing eyeliner?"

She crossed an arm in front of her, holding her cigarette beside her head with the other as she leaned forward slightly. "Your opinion doesn't matter because you're stupid."

Gendry smiled at that and he could see her cheeks turning slightly red. She's embarrassed, he realized. "Even a stupid man knows a beautiful girl when he sees one."

Arya sighed loudly. "Are you done patronizing me, Gendry?"

He shook his head in disbelief, grinning. "I'm not patronizing you." She turned away, blowing out another stream of smoke as she did so. "Are you mad at me now?" She said nothing. "Arya?" He stepped towards her and reached out to put his hand on her shoulder but decided against it, instead placing his hand at her side and tickling her gently.

Arya nearly jumped and immediately protested, "Gendry! Stop!" She turned around and he began tickling her side with the other as well. "Gendry!" she shouted at him through involuntary laughter. Still, he didn't let up as he laughed with her, stepping with her every time she tried to back away until she was up against the wall. She put her hand on his chest to push against him and he stopped, looking down into her eyes, his hands still on her sides. She held his gaze for a brief moment before asking, wide eyed, "What are you doing?"

Lightly, Gendry licked at his lips and answered, "I don't know." And he didn't know as he felt himself leaning down, gently pressing his lips against hers and closing his eyes. He felt her trembling and she smelled of an intoxicating mixture of perfume of smoke. Briefly, she kissed him back and he pulled his head away, hearing her cigarette fall to the ground with a faint smack. She looked, at the least, shocked and perhaps a bit upset, almost as if she might cry. Wordlessly, she slid past him and began hurriedly walking toward the door. He called after her, "Arya, I'm sorry! I shouldn't have done that. Arya!" She ignored him and pulled open the door, disappearing inside without looking back at him. Gendry, somewhat out of breath and his heart pounding, blinked anxiously. He glanced down at the ground and saw her cigarette still burning, smoke rising off of it and disappearing into the black of night.