Sansa
It was days like this that made Sansa really miss Lady. The Stark children were out in the backyard, throwing Frisbees and balls to the five wolf-like dogs, and a wave of sadness rushed over her as she thought of her sweet and beloved Lady. Soon after Sansa had started dating Joffrey, the Starks had had the Lannisters over at their house for a dinner party. All the dogs had been tied up in the backyard so as not to disturb anyone, but somehow Lady's leash got loose, and someone had opened the back gate…
The dog had run into the street and been hit by a car. Sansa would never forget kneeling next to Lady's body, crying and screaming and hugging the dead animal to her while everyone around her shouted. Arya had flown at the driver, trying to claw his eyes out. The man turned out to be one of the Lannisters drivers, and had come to pick them up under the impression that the party was over. It was some sort of mix-up, everyone said.
Later, Arya had snuck into Sansa's room and told her that she thought Joffrey was responsible for Lady's death. "What are you talking about? Why would he do that? You're just making things up because you don't like him," Sansa had hissed, unwilling to hear he little sister out. "I saw him go into the backyard during the party," Arya insisted. "He was out there for a while, then he came back in. A few minutes later, Lady is hit by a car. Coincidence?" Sansa had shouted then, telling Arya to go away. She refused to believe her.
Now, thinking back on the scenario with what she knew about Joffrey now, Sansa knew that Arya was probably right all along.
She checked her watch and jumped up from where she had been sitting on the swing set. "I'm off to do shopping!" she announced. "See you all at dinner!" her siblings waved and called to her as she ducked into the house, gathering her purse and keys and slipping into her warm, camel-colored coat. The mall was going to be crazy this close to Christmas, but she had decided to brave the crowds rather than pack all the presents and haul them onto the plan.
Her car was thankfully parked behind everyone else's, and she slid into it, wrinkling her nose. Arya was driving it while Sansa was away at school, and she wasn't the cleanest of girls. There was a suspicious looking McDonald's paper bag on the ground on the passenger side, and various empty cans of soda and energy drinks littered the cup holders. She sighed, and made a mental note to discuss her car's maintenance with her sister later.
Turning on some cheery Christmas music, Sansa drove to the mall, thinking about what she wanted to buy. The roads were busy but not too bad, and she reached her destination soon.
Joffrey had wanted to see her that day, but Sansa declined, using family time and shopping as an excuse. He grumbled at her, but she would not budge. She really didn't care if he got mad or not, since she was going to break up with him anyways, and it felt good to show him that she couldn't be pushed around anymore. Thanks to Sandor, I discovered my backbone, she thought, smiling as the hulking man's scarred face came to mind. It was a shame she hadn't taken his strange advice to heart until after she was already gone, but it was something that Sansa had thought of quite frequently. She hadn't heard from him since their plane ride, and Sansa wondered if he had taken offence to her using his phone to take pictures.
Managing to find a parking spot, she entered the mall briskly, head raised determinedly for battle. "First, Mother and Father." Catelyn Stark was always easy to shop for, and soon Sansa found herself in the Coach store, oohing and ahhing over the sales she had purposefully avoided when she was up North. She ended up leaving the store with a new purse for her mother and a wallet for herself, justifying it as a reward for her good grades this semester. Ned Stark was harder to shop for, but she decided on some nice silk ties and cufflinks. Her father was a business man and he went through a lot of suits.
Her brothers would receive videogames and other electronics. Sansa congratulated herself on checking out their collection before going to shopping so that she had an idea of what they liked. She didn't really play videogames unless it was something easy like Mario Karts, and the only electronics she was interested in were her Iphone and Macbook.
It was about one o'clock, and Sansa's stomach began to growl, so she made her way to the food court, intent on ordering some Japanese food while she tried to think of something for her sister. Arya was always a tough one to shop for, at least to Sansa. It would be so much easier if she was into girlish things; but a Coach purse or a Kate Spade watch would never do. And she didn't want to just get her a videogame like the boys. Sighing, Sansa ordered her food and sat down at an empty table behind a large potted plant, plopping the various shopping bags down on the seat next to her.
As she dug through the teriyaki chicken and noodles, Sansa casually watched the people milling about her, glancing at their bags in the hopes of inspiration for a gift for Arya, when her eye feel on a unmistakably large figure towering over everyone else. The Hound. She gasped, then watched intently as he made his way through the crowd, his face an unreadable mask as he stopped in front of the Japanese restaurant. Curious, she took the opportunity to observe him. He was wearing the same coat as he had on the plane, and stood with his shoulders set back and straight, a result of his military background. He looked the same as he always did, dressed darkly, hair combed over the one side of his face, a scruffy dark brown beard trailing over his chin and leading down to his neck. Sansa felt a funny warmth spread through her, and she decided she wanted to talk to him.
Pulling out her phone, she searched Sandor's number and texted him: "Look behind you J" She sent it and watched him eagerly for his reaction. After a moment he put his hand in his pocket and pulled his phone out, reading the screen, then his head whipped around, his dark eyes searching the tables until he saw her wiggling her fingers at him. He looked surprised, then his mouth twitched and he bent over his phone again. "Hey," he texted. She smiled and sent back, "Would you like to sit with me when you get your food?" Glancing up, she watched him read the message, then he met her eye and gave a nod.
The funny warmth ignited into excitement, and Sansa cleared her bags out of the way to make room for him. After a few minutes he sat down on the opposite side of the table with a plate full of food. "Hi!" she greeted him enthusiastically. He chuckled. "Hey, little bird. Shopping?" "Yes, and so far it's been a complete success," she informed him proudly. "I'm just stuck on Arya. She's always difficult." Sandor snorted as he twirled noodles around his fork. "Just get her a gift card." "No, that's too impersonal," Sansa sighed. "Are you shopping too?" He made a face. "Yes, his mightiness sent me to check out the prices on some things. He's too lazy of a bastard to do it himself." Sansa gave him a sympathetic smile and took a bite of her own food. "Well, I can help, if you like," she offered shyly. She felt bad that he had to do such a task, when it was Joffrey who should be doing the shopping.
The Hound considered her offer for a moment. "If you want to," he finally answered. "I don't…want to take you away from your shopping," he added quickly, almost sheepish. Sansa hid a smile. He was being so cute. Wait, what? "I would like to," she answered. "It's no trouble. I want to help." Sandor nodded, looking somehow relieved, then quickly shoveled more food in his mouth. They finished eating mostly in comfortable silence, at least on Sansa's part. The Hound seemed sort of fidgety, finding fascination with his plate of noodles and beef over indulging in conversation. Sansa didn't mind though. She knew the Hound wasn't a talker, and she didn't want to make him more uncomfortable.
When they finished and threw their plates away, and Sansa gathered up her shopping bags, looking at him expectantly. "Where to first?" Sandor glanced at a list on his phone, and named an item and a store. They headed for the east section of the mall, and Sansa was struck with how much easier it was for her navigate through the crowds with Sandor at her side. He was tall, powerful, and menacing, and people naturally parted the way for them. Even though it allowed them room to walk and get where they needed to go, it made her sad to think of the wide birth Sandor received from everyone in his life. Had anyone ever tried to get close to him and know him? Had he ever tried? Unbidden, tears pricked at her eyelids and she blinked them back rapidly.
After a few stops, they were headed for a music store when they passed a Humane Society pet store. "Oh, look at the puppies!" Sansa squealed excitedly, and she hurried over to the window, where five little pups were either sleeping or squirming over each other. Sandor joined her, and she saw him smirk a bit as he watched the animals. She placed her hand on his elbow. "Could we go inside and see the rest?" "Sure, little bird," he answered softly, and she practically pulled him inside the store, giggling over every dog in the various cages. At one end was an Alaskan Husky, and it was so like Lady that Sansa felt a hard knot form in her throat and she the familiar pain in her heart. "I think I'm ready to go," she said, after watching it for a few minutes. Sandor looked at her, concern pulling at his heavy brown, but he only nodded and led her out of the store.