Got One-Shots Book 2

Joke Close to Home (Sandor Clegane x fem!Stark reader)

Sandor couldn't help but feel a small sense of relief. You were getting close to the Twins now. Soon he'd been rid of the Stark girl. Arya Stark annoyed him to no end. Then, there was you. Over the time you'd spent together, you had grown on Sandor. You didn't irritate him as much as your sister did. In fact, Sandor found he could tolerate you more than he could anyone else.

"How much longer until we reach the Twins?" Arya asked for the third time in two days. You could tell she was growing impatient. Then again, so were you. You had been away from your mother and brothers for far too long. "Three days, maybe a week," Sandor told Arya in his usual gruff manner. Arya's lip protruded in a pout and you stifled a giggle. "Come on, Arya. We'll be home soon. Think of this as just another adventure like the ones you loved for Old Nan to tell you."

Arya smiled at that and you exhaled deeply, happy that you were able to pacify your sister. "I can't wait to see Mother and Robb," she said. It was the happiest you'd ever heard her when it came to your family. "Aye, and I can't wait ta be rid of ya both. Yer brother'll make me a lord for bringin' ya back ta him," Sandor piped up with a dark laugh. Arya glanced back at him with a smirk.

"I thought you hated lords. Why would you want Robb to give you a lordship? Is it so you can marry my sister?" Arya asked with a cheeky grin as her dark eyes darted between you and Sandor. You felt your face heat up and Sandor knew he was blushing too. He was just grateful that his beard covered the majority of it.

You looked over at Sandor for a moment and, when you found his eyes already on you, you looked away quickly. "Oh my gods! I was right!" Arya yelled with a chuckle. "Shut it, Arya," you whispered. Arya didn't even try to hide the fact that she was laughing at you and Sandor. For the rest of the day, she kept casting strange glances at the two of you and chuckling. It was obvious that she found your awkwardness amusing.

By the time night fell, you'd had enough. "Go to sleep, Arya!" you snapped, not taking your eyes off the fire in front of you. You were embarrassed and she certainly wasn't helping. For once, Arya did what you said and closed her eyes. You sighed as the guilt immediately descended on you. You'd never snapped at her before.

"Ya need ta eat somethin'," Sandor's voice came from next to you. He held out the skewer with one of the rabbits he'd caught and cooked. "Thank you," you muttered. You'd been too distracted and humiliated to eat when Sandor and Arya had. "Why did she bother ya so much?" he asked when once he was seated across the fire from you.

You glanced at him. "It's just...she hit a little close to home," you muttered, hoping he wouldn't hear you. He did. "Close to home? Girl, ya must be daft ta think ya want anythin' ta do with me. Especially somethin' as permanent as marriage. I'm no lord or even a knight. I'm a killer. Always have been, always will be. Ya don't want that."

You would have crossed your arms under your chest if not for the fact that you were still holding your food. "And who are you to tell me what I want?" you asked, fire burning behind your eyes. "Besides, Arya's statements obviously effected you too! You've been even more quiet that usual today and you keep staring at me as if you're afraid I'm going to run away." You were trying your best not to yell so you wouldn't wake Arya. Without another word, you finished your dinner and laid down to sleep.

The next day, the awkward tension only grew, but this time, Arya didn't say a word. She could feel that the air between you and Sandor was not only uncomfortable but also a bit angry as well. The ride for the Twins was silent that day and the day itself seemed to go on forever. You were ready for it to be over.

When you finally settled in for the night, sleep evaded you. Groaning slightly, you sat up. Arya and Sandor were both asleep. You got up and walked over to the stream you were lucky enough to camping near. You could still see the camp from there, so you weren't worried.

You splashed some water on your face and looked up at the moon. It was the same moon you had seen from Winterfell and from King's Landing but it somehow seemed different. A little brighter and yet, a little colder. You stood there, staring up at the moon, when you heard a voice behind you.

"Why aren't ya asleep?" You smiled softly. "Why aren't you?" you fired back quietly. Sandor didn't reply, but you heard him step closer to you. Neither of you said anything, almost as if you were afraid to break the serenity of the night. The only sounds heard were the babbling of the stream, the animals that came out at night, and the very faint sound of the crackling of the fire at the camp.

After what felt like hours, Sandor finally spoke. "Ya were right." You glanced up at him in surprise. "I was?" He looked at you with an arched brow. "I'm not repeatin' myself, little dove." You frowned slightly. "Isn't that what you called Sansa?" Sandor shook his head. "No. She's 'little bird'. You're a little dove."

"What was I right about, Sandor?" you asked him, trying to fight the blush threatening to creep up onto your face. "About your sister's words effectin' me. I didn't want ta admit that you're makin' me soft. Makin' me feel things I never thought I'd get a chance ta." You didn't take your eyes from his deep brown ones. "Sandor...why haven't you said anything?"

"I told ya! I'm not the kind of man that's good for ya. And I don't need a woman ta make me weak." You rolled your eyes. "You truly believe that having feelings for someone is a weakness? I can assure you that it's not. It is a strength. Love gives us strength to do things we never thought possible. Wouldn't you do anything for the people you love?" Sandor shrugged.

"Wouldn't know. Love doesn't exactly come ta men like me." You laughed lightly. "I think you're wrong about that, Sandor," you whispered. You took his hand and gently pulled. He took a step closer until he was right next to you. You turned so you were facing away from him and you put his arms around you, his hands resting your stomach. Leaning back into him, you sighed.

Sandor stood stiffly at first, but when he realized that you were there willingly, he relaxed a little. Your gaze had traveled back up to the moon hanging in the sky and you let silence descend again. There, on the bank of the stream you relaxed in Sandor's arms. Sandor couldn't help but think that Arya had been right. And so were you.