936 words of Modern AU Gendrya and a meddling Sansa.

Prompt: "The course of true love never did run smooth." (Act I, Scene I of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream)

Written for my 2019 Summer Prompt Challenge on Ao3.

Act 1

Arya growled as she button-mashed her controller. It didn't help. On the screen in front of her a scroll unfolded to reveal the words 'Game Over' in a curly script.

"Alright, 'No One,'" a chuckle sounded over her headset, "I won, cough it up." Arya scowled at the computer screen as the words continued to glow, mocking her.

"Come on, Bull. Rematch!" Arya said, grinning through her teeth as she tried to sound pleasant.

He snorted, "I wasn't born yesterday. If you don't abide by the rules of the bet, I will be forced to mock you. Endlessly."

"Arya." She growled, "My name is Arya."

"Was that so hard,*Arya*?" Bull was laughing at her. Not verbally, but she could FEEL the laughter immenating from the headseat.

Arya growled, "Fight me again and you'll find out!"

It took her two more fights, and a not an insignificant amount of swearing, to get his name - Gendry.

"Sounds vaguely like a car part." Arya shrugged to herself as she shut off the game. She unhooked the control, wrapped the cord, and stuck it in a drawer.

Gendry grumbled on the other end the whole time, "I didn't make fun of your name."

"Didn't you though?" Arya grinned to herself as she stood in the center of her room, arms crossed and headset on as she, essentially, talked to herself.

"I know you're baiting me, but still..." Gendry's laugh was deep, a tad husky. Arya felt something race up her spine. "Hey, next time, want to play for emails?"

Arya smiled to herself, "You're on!"

-.-.-

"What about this dress?" Sansa pulled out a black knit dress from Arya's closet. Arya didn't even remember buying it, which probably meant Sansa or her mother had snuck it in there at some point.

"I'm meeting Gendry at a pub, not a nightclub." Arya rolled her eyes, "And I definitely don't want the attention that dress would draw."

Sansa pouted, shoulders sagging as she put the dress back. "You like this guy, you should dress like it."

"I should dress like me," Arya bristled. "If he doesn't like it, then screw him." Sansa turned to face her, eyebrows raised. "Obviously I would prefer he like it." Sansa nodded and swiftly returned to the closet with a thoughtful eye.

Arya was just starting to question asking for her sister's help when Sansa produced a pair of red shorts and black tights. Combat boots and band tee later Arya was set.

"Okay," Arya nodded at herself in the mirror, looked at her sister over her shoulder, "You're good at this."

"Some might say its my job," Sansa winked and giggled. Arya rolled her eyes. Personal stylist, right, very funny.

An hour later Arya stepped into the Crossroads Bar with her hair pulled half-up and dark lipstick Sansa had cheerfully helped her apply. Needless to say, she'd made many sacrifices this evening.

Only to see a pretty brunette, tall and curvy, wearing a slinky black dress chatting up a familiar set of broad shoulders. She'd been video-chatting with Gendry for over a year now, she recognized the shoulders.

So she left. Didn't even bother walking up to him.

"You can't just give up!" Sansa stood in their living room with hands on her hips and her jaw set.

Arya huffed, sat back in the couch. "You can't give up on something if you never started." Sansa scoffed and plopped down beside her.

"You're Arya Stark, computer security expert and krav magazine black belt!" Sansa was gesturing wildly now, "You don't give up on what you want, Arya." She knocked her shoulder with Arya's. "And we both know you want Gendry."

This, this was the downside of sharing an apartment with her sister.

"The encouragement is appreciated, but unnecessary." Arya grunted as she stood. Boots in hand she moved towards her bedroom. Sansa blew out a breath, mind whirling.

There are few things so sacred as a sister's duty.

The Crossroads was packed, but the crowds parted for Sansa as she walked. She'd never spoken to Gendry, or even seen a photo except one in which he was wearing some dumb cosplay Arya'd had to explain. But Sansa found the 'big, dumb bull' without issue.

Gendry sat in a state of abject misery with a table full of empty bottles and a half-finished beer in hand. He glanced up when Sansa stopped at his table, "Can I help you?" His face scrunched up as he looked at her.

"Sansa," her arms crossed beneath her breasts, "You're alone. Not what I was led to expect." She glanced at the empties, "I'm pleased to see it though."

"Sansa?" Gendry's confusion deepened as he sat up straight, "Arya's sister." Sansa nodded. "Do you happen to know why she stood me up?"

Sansa smirked, "I happen to know she didn't." Gendry's head fell into his hands.

"I'm really too drunk for this," he glanced back up at her, "Where's Arya?"

"At home, in her pajamas, watching Naruto." Sansa shrugged and then slid into the booth opposite Gendry, "You and I are going to discuss how you will rectify that." She waved down the server, ordered them both coffee.

Gendry stared at her, "I am very confused."

Sansa just laughed, "She did say you were a tad slow on the uptake." Gendey scowled. "Now. Shut up. Or do you not want me to help you win my sister's heart?"

The bull of a man straightened. His mouth clamped shut and a blush rose on his cheeks, "I'm listening."

Thanks for reading! Reviews Appreciated!