The weather was warm, and the air filled with the sounds of animals and music. Sansa snatched a map after they passed through the gate and studied it, eager to find the best attractions to fill their day. Animal Kingdom was a park to be enjoyed mostly for its atmosphere, rather than scurrying from ride to ride.
"Let's get our fastpasses, then we can go exploring!" Sansa gushed to Sandor. He nodded and placed a hand on her back, steering them through the crowd to get to a Fastpass + location. The cheerful cast member helped them choose their rides, announcing that they were in luck: Mount Everest still had spots available.
After wandering back into the sunlight, Sansa took Sandor's hand and they drifted along with the other guests, making their way down the path towards one of the trails. The shade from the trees kept the heat at bay, and as no one else was on the trail at present, Sansa felt as if she and Sandor could be in their own little world for a bit.
She glanced up at the tall, scarred man beside her, and Sansa felt her chest fill with affection for him. These parks were entirely out of his element, and yet he was willing to sacrifice his discomfort so she would be happy.
Pausing in one of the cave-like tunnels, where they could see some Lemurs, Sansa leaned her head on Sandor's arm, causing him to glance down at her. "Everything alright, little bird?"
She swallowed a strange lump in her throat. "Yes. Everything's perfect. I…I'm just really happy to be with you, Sandor," she said shyly, feeling her cheeks heat.
Sandor's mouth twitched, and he moved his arm so it was around her shoulders and her head was now tucked against his chest. "No one's ever said that before," he mumbled. "Sure you're not just saying that because we are at 'the happiest place on earth'?"
Sansa frowned at his words, yet sympathy swelled inside her. The poor man had been made to feel like a…well, like a dog all his life. Tears pricked at her eyes and she looked up at his serious expression.
"Yes, I'm sure," she whispered, wanting him to smile and relax. But there was still more they needed to discuss.
"Sandor…what's going to happen when we go home? I mean…" Shy once more, Sansa lowered her lashes, studying the path beneath their feet. "You'll still want to see me then, right? We'll still be…dating?" That's what they were doing, wasn't it? Sansa prayed he would say yes.
Sandor snorted, shaking his head. "You think I would do everything I have this week only to dump you off as soon as it's over?" He took her by the shoulders and bent down to her level. "You're not getting rid of me that easily, little bird. If anyone's making a decision to walk away, it'll be you, not me. I…" He swallowed, the scarred side of his face twitching madly. "I told you before I wanted you to be mine. Doesn't matter if it's back home or here. You're mine, and I'm yours, until you want to leave."
She stared at him with her jaw hanging open, surprised and thrilled by his speech. Sansa threw her arms around his neck and hugged him before peppering the side of his face, the scarred side, with kisses.
Sandor chuckled and squeezed her back, then released her as voices could be heard coming around the corner. "Don't want to get in trouble for PDA. This is a place for children, after all." He snickered as she rolled her eyes, but they resumed hand-holding and strolling down the path as a large family with strollers came into view.
Sansa felt so happy she could barely think. Everything was going to be ok! Whatever happened after they went home, she and Sandor would be together. They would figure out a way to make it work.
As they moved on, Sandor told her where he lived and what his days were usually like on the job, and Sansa told him about her possible internship, at which point he congratulated her by buying them a vanilla soft-serve waffle-cone from the Anandapur ice cream truck, even though it was still morning and they hadn't even eaten lunch yet. "Look at us, being rebels," Sansa giggled as she took a bite of the ice cream. Sandor rolled his eyes, shaking his head. "If this is you being rebellious, little bird, then I have much to teach you."
Sansa laughed, then faked an solemn air. "Yes, as you say, oh wise sensei."
They decided to get out of the sun and headed for the It's Tough to be a Bug attraction, where they could finish their treat in shade of the cavernous room.
When it came time to put on the 3D glasses, Sandor whistled as Sansa adjusted the plastic so it wouldn't pinch her nose. "Damn, little bird, those are sexy. Don't even take them off when we leave." She swatted his arm, choking on laughter as they found a seat.
Sandor almost shouted a curse when the bugs ran under their seats, and if Sansa hadn't slapped her hand over his mouth in time, several five year olds nearby would have learned a new word.
The fastpass for Kali River Rapids was ready to be used, so they decided to go on that before lunch. Once they got into a raft, some of the other guests balked at sharing it with them after taking a look at a Sandor's imposing frame and scowl as he fiddled with the seat straps. Sansa glared at them in return, then became smug when a Cast Member urged the people on anyways. Angry with their shallow behavior towards Sandor, she laced their fingers together and beamed up at him.
The raft departed and glided up a 90-foot knoll into a misty jungle. Fresh smells of flowers like jasmine filled the air, and Sansa breathed in the exotic surroundings, preparing herself for the rest of the ride. "Why do we need the straps?" Sandor muttered to her, unimpressed so far with the ride. "You'll see," Sansa whispered ominously.
At the top, the raft skimmed across an erupting geyser, signaling their voyage back down the mountain was about to start. As the raft made the big drop and a wave of water soaked the passengers through, Sansa squealed and didn't know what to hang onto: Sandor's arm or the handles in the middle of the raft. Passing under lush vegetation, the raft began to bob and bounce along as the river picked up speed, and water sprayed almost continuously; Sansa was glad she had decided to wear a bathing suit after all.
When it was over, Sandor helped her out and then shook out his hair, scrubbing his hands through the black strands before pushing them back. Sansa took the moment to appreciate the way his wet t-short clung to his torso, accentuating his chest and stomach muscles. She blushed and lowered her gaze when Sandor glanced at her, and from the corners of her eyes she saw him smirking as he grabbed her hand, leading them to the lockers when their towels were stowed.
"Like what you see, little bird?" Sandor growled, biting down on his lower lip as he, too, took in her soaked appearance. Sansa blushed even harder and stammered through some kind of response while he chuckled. Somehow Sandor's flirting always made her much more nervous than any past flirtations with Joffrey or other boys. The reaction he caused in her was both terrifying and delicious.
After drying off as best they could, Sansa suggested some Asian food for lunch, so she led Sandor to the Yak and Yeti quick service counter. "This way, we can be nearby when it is time to use our fastpasses for Mount Everest," Sansa beamed, wrapping the towel around her wet clothes. The sun was shining brightly and would probably dry soon, but Sansa didn't feel like just walking around in sopping wet clothes.
Sandor ordered a Teriyaki beef bowl and Sansa ordered an eggroll and the chicken fried rice, which was actually a large quantity for being a side dish. They found a table nearby and ate comfortably, watching the scenery and the other guests.
"Do you think you'll keep working for the Baratheons?" Sansa asked as she stabbed a piece of chicken with her fork. Sandor shrugged, chewing and swallowing before her spoke. "I'll probably start looking for something else when we get back, but for the meantime, yes, I will. Unless they fire me first." Sansa once again felt a little guilty for putting his employment in jeopardy because of their growing relationship.
"Don't," Sandor said sharply, making her bite her lip. He must have guessed what she was thinking. "None of this is your fault. I've been thinking about quitting for a while now, just needed an extra push…extra reasons, to finalize that decision." He reached for a napkin out of the pile that Sansa had grabbed from the counter.
"Maybe my dad knows someone…" Sansa offered hesitantly. Sandor didn't seem like the type who would want to be set up with a job by someone else, but she felt she should offer anyway.
Sandor seemed to consider her words. "Maybe, but I'd rather look on my own first. Don't want to get a job simply because I'm dating Ned Stark's daughter and someone's doing a favor for him." Sansa didn't think it would be like that all (Sandor was very talented and smart, after all), but since their run-in with Westeros's best gossipers yesterday, Sansa knew that such a job offer might make more talk. And she wanted Sandor to be respected, not ridiculed.
At least he hadn't flat out refused and become angry at her suggestion.
Sandor tossed out their garbage and they refilled their water-bottles at a fountain before heading to the fastpass line for Mount Everest. Sansa had not been on this ride in a long time, and she was excited. It was a shame they had removed the Yeti from the cave.
Sandor requested that they get a front row seat, and Sansa nervously agreed. She knew there was nothing to be afraid of on this ride, but it was still a bit thrilling to be the first to fall headfirst through the ice caves. Her heart beat quickly in anticipation as the coaster climbed slowly up the mountain.
To Sansa's surprise and joy, Sandor told her afterwards that he liked that ride the most out of all the ones they had been on, especially when it went backwards. "We should use our extra fast pass for that again," he smirked, pushing some of her loose tendrils of hair out of her eyes. Sansa's hair always got out of control on the rides, and since it had still been wet from the rapids, she despaired that it would turn into a bird's nest by the time the day was over.
The rest of the day was spent on African safaris, The Festival of the Lion King, and some of the smaller attractions as Sansa and Sandor took their time exploring and eating way too much food. Sansa did some shopping and took selfies, which Sandor grudgingly complied to be a part of after she promised to give him a kiss for every picture he took with her.
On the Dinosaur ride, Sansa forgot about one of the carnivores that popped out to scare the passengers, and she squealed and clung to Sandor's arm as he laughed. Some boys were in the row in front of them and they started making fun of Sansa's reaction, but then Sandor leaned forward and glared at them, saying something that Sansa could not hear, and they cowered away. Not a peep was heard out of the group until the end of the ride.
After using their last fastpass for Mount Everest again, the park was due to close in an hour, but there was not much else to do that they hadn't done. Sansa eyed the afternoon sun with sadness. "I don't want this day to end," she told Sandor, slipping her hand into his. He leaned down and kissed the top of her head. "It doesn't have to, just because the park is closing. I was thinking we could go get dinner somewhere…or…" He hesitated as a group of families passed by.
"Yes?" Sansa asked, her curiosity piqued. Sandor put his arm around her waist. "We could go back to the hotel and order room service, watch a movie." His suggestion sparked a flurry of butterflies to erupt in her stomach. Sansa had not forgotten how nice it had been to take a nap with him the other day, and the thought that they would be alone together again, with possible cuddling in order, made her feel warm and giddy.
"That sounds lovely, Sandor," she answered shyly. Satisfied with her response, Sandor led them to the gate of the park and towards the buses.
It was nice to relax in the air conditioning of the bus. Sansa leaned on Sandor's arm, flipping through her pictures, editing some and posting to Instagram. She chose a selfie of her and Sandor as the background for her phone, and set another picture for when he called her. It may have seemed like a cliché thing to do, but Sansa felt that, as she was in the beginnings of a new relationship, she was entitled to be a little silly. Sandor didn't seem to mind as he watched her activities over her shoulder, occasionally nuzzling her hair or planting a kiss on her ear.
Once the bus arrived at the hotels, Sansa texted her parents to tell them that she was having dinner with Sandor so they wouldn't be wondering where she was.
"Do you want to go to your room and change or anything?" Sandor asked as they paused outside on the sidewalk. Now that he mentioned it, cleaning up and putting some fresh clothes on sounded wonderful, so Sansa nodded. "I'll come and meet you at your room when I'm done."
She hurried up to her and Arya's room and took a quick shower, leaving behind the slightly chlorine smell of the water from the rapids and replacing it with her strawberry body wash. While blow-drying her hair, Sansa brushed her teeth and thought about what she should wear. Since they were just going to be hanging out in his hotel room and ordering room service, she figured a t-shirt and shorts should be fine, and comfortable as well.
Finished with the task getting her thick hair to just be damp instead of dripping wet, Sansa applied only some lip gloss, deciding to leave the rest of her face bare save for some moisturizer. Then she slipped on an old, comfy t-shirt from her high-school choir days and a pair of athletic shorts and flip-flops. Grabbing her purse, she headed out the door, texting Sandor to let him know she was coming over.
Sansa felt a little nervous walking into the other hotel. She didn't want to run into any of the Baratheons, especially Cersei or Joffrey, after what had happened at the brunch. Sandor had told her a little of the things Cersei had been saying to him, and Sansa was hurt as much as she was angry. A poisonous snake, is what she is.
The elevator doors opened on Sandor's room's floor, and standing before her was Joffrey. Sansa felt her heart stop and the blood in her veins freeze.
"Well, well, look who it is," Joffrey sneered, giving her a hateful look. "Going to see the dog, I expect? I always knew you were nothing better than a dog's bitch." Sansa felt her hands ball into fists as she tried to move past him. "Leave me alone, Joffrey."
Instead, he reached out and grabbed her arm hard. "Or what? You think I'm afraid of you, you little slut?" Sansa glared at him, anger replacing her fear. "No, but I know you're afraid of Sandor." Joffrey paled slightly, but his grip on her tightened.
Something in Sansa snapped, and she shoved him as hard she could. Losing his balance, Joffrey let go and landed on the floor, staring at her in shock. Not waiting for his reaction, Sansa turned and ran down the hallways to Sandor's room, where she knocked hurriedly on the door.
"Sandor? It's me!"
The door opened a moment later and she flew past him into the room, panting and shaking from her encounter. "Sansa? Are you alright?" Sandor asked as he shut the door.
"Yes…I think so. Just had a run in with Joff." "Joffrey?" Sandor's eyes darkened and he clenched his fists. "Did he hurt you? I swear I'll kill that little -" "No, I'm fine. I-I pushed him and he fell on his butt."
Suddenly the image of Joffrey laying on the floor in shock seemed hilarious, and Sansa burst out in giggles. Sandor relaxed and allowed a small smirk to grace his lips. "Well, looks like the little bird has talons after all. Or am I rubbing off on you?"
Sansa smiled, then froze as she realized Sandor was standing there in nothing but a towel. "Oh!" She turned red and looked away, embarrassed. "I'm sorry, I didn't know you were still cleaning up." Sandor's grin broadened as he obviously seemed to enjoy her discomfort. "Oh, I don't mind," he answered with a wink.
Flushing, Sansa glanced at him, taking in his broad chest and muscles, then swallowed and turned to the bed. "Um, I'll just sit and wait for you to be finished…dressing." Chuckling, Sandor walked back into the bathroom and pulled the door to.
She chewed her lip, trying to get the image of how good he looked out of her head. Sighing, Sansa turned the TV on and absently flipped through the channels. The bathroom door opened, and Sandor emerged wearing gym shorts instead of the towel, but his chest remained bare. Doesn't he own more shirts? Sansa wondered, feeling flustered as he sat down beside her. He smelled good and the proximity of his naked skin made her want to touch him.
Sandor was watching her pretending not to look at him. "You look beautiful," he told her, lifting his hand to trace her cheek. She blushed even more (if that was possible), and smiled at her lap. "Thank you," she answered softly.
Sandor grinned. His little bird was truly a beauty, even in a simple t-shirt and shorts. How did she manage to be just as breath-taking now as when she was wearing that dress the day before? Sandor felt that she could wear a garbage bag and still be the most gorgeous girl he'd ever seen. Her skin was slightly pink from their day out in sun, but it was clear and make-up free except for some kind of gloss on her lips that made them look even more delicious.
She was nervous now, too. Was it because he was shirtless, or because they were finally alone? Sandor couldn't help the wicked smirk that spread across his face as he watched her eyes dart shyly to his chest, taking in his muscles before they glanced away. Even though his face was a wreck, his body was always something he had put effort in, and he felt it was something he could be proud of to a degree. The few women he had been with in the past had never had a negative reaction to anything below his neck, and it appeared Sansa was no exception.
Sandor thought about Joffrey, and his slim, pale build that bordered on being almost scrawny, and felt smug.
He wanted nothing more to lay Sansa down and see what else he could do to make her blush, but there was plenty of time for those things later. First, they needed to order dinner.
He grabbed a hotel menu from next to the TV and flipped it open, holding it so Sansa could see. She scooted a little closer, her bare arm brushing his, and he reveled in the warm tingle that raced through his skin. "Get whatever you like, little bird," he told her. She smiled at him and proceeded to scan the menu.
"I think the grilled chicken sounds good," Sansa spoke after a moment. "May I have a milkshake, too?" "Of course, little bird." Sandor decided on a steak dinner. Despite all the snacking they had done throughout the day, Sandor found himself still ravenous and eager to eat a large meal.
He picked up the phone and ordered their dinners, along with a strawberry milkshake for Sansa and a chocolate one for himself. After hanging up, he turned to see that Sansa had scooted to the middle of the bed and was running her fingers through her still damp hair, idly watching whatever was on TV.
Sandor was suddenly hit with a pang of longing. She looked so perfect, so right, and even though he knew she was his, he would give anything to do this every day with her.
Unable to resist, he crawled across the bed and snaked an arm around her, making Sansa squeal as he pulled her to his chest and plopped down on the bed. She squirmed and wriggled in his arms until she had turned to face him, unconsciously licking her bottom lip.
That did it. Sandor leaned in and captured her sweet mouth, moving slow then with a little more fervor as she relaxed against him. He urged her mouth open with his tongue so he could sweep it inside to touch her own tongue, tasting the peppermint toothpaste she used. He groaned and reached to tangle a hand in her hair, while his other hand began rub up and down her back.
Sansa slowly ran her hands up his shoulders to lock together behind his neck. As her fingers started to tangle in in the ends of his own hair, Sandor bit down on her bottom lip, sucking on it and growling slightly when she gasped. He covered her mouth again and rolled them until he was on top, cupping her face while his other arm wrapped underneath her, bringing her closer to his body. She was so intoxicating that Sandor was tempted to push further, but he remembered that she had boundaries, and by the way she was starting stiffen underneath him, she had remembered that too.
He slowed the heavy kissing to slow nips, then pulled back to look at her face. Sansa's cheeks were flushed and her eyes were bright, and he liked the way her lips were swollen from his attentions.
"Little bird," he said, smoothing back some of her hair. "I don't want to go farther than you're comfortable with. You can always tell me to stop." Though it was difficult for him to restrain himself around her, Sandor wanted to respect Sansa's stance on being physical. That, and he didn't want to screw anything up by pressuring her, not when she had just become his. Sandor was not going to be another Joffrey to her.
Sansa swallowed, nodding. "I will. It's ok…I mean, this is ok. I've just never been…kissed like that before."
How could someone be so adorable? Sandor smirked and kissed her again lightly. Then he moved down to her neck, planting little kisses up and down her soft skin. 'You've know idea how badly I've wanted to kiss you like that, little bird," he rasped.
They kissed for a bit longer, taking it slow and sweet, until a knock on the door signaled their dinners had arrived.
A/N: Sorry I haven't updated much, my life has been kind of crazy and it will be that way for a couple of months. Thank you for hanging in there with me though.