
Posted originally on the Archive_of_Our_Own at https://archiveofourown.org/
works/8333785.
  Rating:
      Explicit
  Archive Warning:
      Graphic_Depictions_Of_Violence, No_Archive_Warnings_Apply, Rape/Non-Con,
      Underage, Major_Character_Death
  Category:
      F/M
  Fandom:
      A_Song_of_Ice_and_Fire_-_George_R._R._Martin, A_Song_of_Ice_and_Fire_&
      Related_Fandoms, Game_of_Thrones_(TV)
  Relationship:
      Arya_Stark/Gendry_Waters
  Character:
      Arya_Stark, Gendry_Waters, Sansa_Stark, Willow_Heddle, Margaery_Tyrell,
      Catelyn_Tully_Stark, Bella_(ASoIaF), Edric_Dayne, Mya_Stone, Robb_Stark,
      Bran_Stark, Ned_Stark
  Additional Tags:
      Alternate_Universe_-_Dark, Innocent_Arya, Alternate_Universe_-_Modern
      Setting, Modern_Era, Mentions_of_Rape_but_NO_rape, Bad_Boy_Gendry,
      Redemption, Falling_In_Love, First_Love
  Stats:
      Published: 2016-10-20 Updated: 2016-12-27 Chapters: 9/? Words: 22077
****** Bad to the Bone ******
by nothated
Summary
     Anya's whole world shifts when she meets a dark stranger with a
     mysterious air at a club who forces his way into her life! Arya is
     scared by him yet slowly they become closer and closer, will she see
     all the light behind his darkness...
     (Formerly 'Dark' just needed to re-write it)
Notes
     Welcome to this little fic that I wanted to post! First of all I have
     a little disclaimer! This is not solely my work. Originally it was
     written by a person called Han-rawr on tumblr for a different fandom!
     It was so popular that now everyone and their mother had re-posted it
     and I just thought that it would be perfect for Arya and Gendry!
     Something a bit different! So the credit for this story goes all to
     Han-rawr,I just changed the names of the characters and kind of re-
     wrote it (I'm a bit of a nerd and it just wasn't up to the writing
     level I wanted personally)! Will post the chapters as I go through
     them but it will all be a relatively fast process as obviously these
     chapters are pre-written!
     Hope you enjoy it, tell me if you want me to keep going or else I'll
     probably just scrap this idea!
See the end of the work for more notes
***** Chapter One *****
The room was dark and smoky but Arya still easily spotted her friends in the
crowded club. She would be able to recognise her sister’s auburn hair anywhere.
The club had gotten busier as the night drew on until the place was almost
overflowing with intoxicated people, dancing, drinking and getting high. Arya
couldn’t help but feel emboldened by her surroundings as she danced alone on
the edge of the dance floor, trying to make her way over to her friends as she
felt the rhythm throughout her body.
Arya looked up, feeling someone’s eyes on her figure. Immediately she locked
eyes with an attractive guy who was standing at the doorway of the kitchen. His
friendly smile lit up his face, brown eyes sparkling as he watched her dance.
Arya stopped, feeling herself becoming embarrassed but her lips still lifted,
forming a shy smile that beckoned him over to her.
However he hadn’t taken three steps toward her when he faltered, freezing in
his track as his eyes darting to a spot somewhere behind Arya. He quickly
moved, beginning to hurry off in another direction, still looking at the spot
past her shoulder. Arya felt disappointment course through her as she watched
him go. Her confusion led her to spin around quickly only to see what that boy
had seen to drive him away from her so quickly. To see a boy, really a man,
tall with dark hair that was angrily glaring at the brown haired boy with his
harsh gaze.
Arya frowned.
Who was he? Why had he done that? Arya didn’t recognise him at all, even as she
searched her mind for a face similar to his.
The only memory that floated its way to the forefront of her mind was that of a
story that her friend had frightened her with one day when they were swapping
stories about crazy exes. The memory of a man who had lost his temper in the
midst of a party and beat a guy up so badly that he had been in hospital for
weeks afterward.
Arya didn’t remember his name, she didn’t really remember anything about who he
was. Just that he had had a long history of extremely violent behaviour.
No wonder that guy with the brown eyes backed off immediately, Arya thought as
she glared at him, I would have too if a look like that was directed at me.
Arya didn’t want to be intimidated by the boy but that didn’t stop her pulse
from racing and her mouth becoming dry as the guy started to walk toward her.
She stood absolutely frozen where she was standing as the daunting height of a
male shadowed over her. The body was so near to her.
Nervous eyes travelled up the length of his body, her fingers clutching and
flexing in fear. His jeans clung perfectly to his lower half and a white t-
shirt adorned his torso. His face was still an obscure mystery, there wasn’t
enough light to see it properly, yet she still knew that his dark gaze was
fixated on her. It was as if she could feel it on her, caressing her skin.
“Dance with me,” he almost commanded in a raspy voice.
Arya opened her mouth to respond but didn’t have time to before he tugged her
toward the dance floor. The cup Arya was holding flew out of her hand, spilling
all over the floor yet Arya couldn’t even consider that right now. All she
could think of was the large palm that was on the small of her back, forcing
her toward him until their bodies met.
Arya’s hand flew up, bracing it against his chest to stop her from being
pressed directly into him. A small act of defiance that felt promising. The man
however just kept pushing her into him, seeming to relish in her struggle if
the glint in his eyes was anything to go by.
His rough actions left Arya speechless.
Who treats a woman like this, she thought utterly outraged.
Arya’s fingers flexed as she tried to pull her hand out from in between them
but the guy, gently grabbed her hand, encouraging her to place it around the
back of his neck. Arya lowered her hand instantly.
Arya boldly looked up, feeling a flash of courage go through her as she gazed
defiantly into the man’s eyes, hoping she looked as annoying as she felt. She
was stunned to see a pair of sparkling eyes peering back down at her, a glint
of amusement in their depths. They truly were stunning eyes, being almost an
aqua colour, framed by thick, dark lashes.
Arya felt herself begin to melt as she gazed into them but then he clutched her
waist again and Arya instantly pulled herself out of her stupidly love stuck
state, quickly trying to shake off the intrigued sparks running through her
body as she looked up at him.
Arya’s caution heightened as heart shaped lips pulled into a smirk and he bent
down to touch his lips to her ear.
“What’s your name, beautiful?”
“A-Arya,” she couldn’t help but stutter.
In an instant Arya hated herself for being scared. No one scared her.
Except him, a small voice whispered at her.
The man smiled down at her, his overpowering presence causing her body to hum,
“I’m Gendry,” he whispered, making Arya shudder with the way his hot breath
stroked her ear.
Arya thought he would pull back then but instead she felt his lips pressing to
a spot just below her ear. Arya couldn’t help it; her eyes immediately began to
flutter, closing. She gripped his neck tighter, releasing a gasp as he forced
her hips to press against his.
There was a deep chuckle. It vibrated through his chest as he clearly enjoyed
the reaction he was drawing from her.
Had it been anyone else, anyone remotely less scary, Arya would have pulled
back, ran away to find her sister and their friends but she had never
experienced like that pleasure before. She had never felt the sensations that
Gendry was forcing into her body.
Apparently that was very obvious, or at least it was to the man sucking on her
neck.
“I like you,” Gendry said with a smirk, cocking his head to look down at her,
“You are so…”
He paused, looking at her carefully.
“innocent…” he finished with another smirk.
His dark gaze fell down to Arya’s chest that was pressing against him so
forcibly. It took Arya a second to realise that he was taking advantage of his
incredible height, which allowed him to indulge in the angle his view afforded
him as he looked down her top.
Arya’s temper flared, her fingers instantly dropping from where she had held
his nape so gently. The urge to redden his cheek with a hard slap was growing
in its intensity.
However as rampant as Arya’s thoughts were running, she restrained herself from
hitting him.
She knew that as powerful as slapping him would make her feel, the thought of
what he had the capability to do to her outweighed all pleasure she would get
from the act. She wasn’t stupid. It wasn’t weakness to be weary the damage a
towering male could do to a tiny thing like her.
Thank God, she was quick. Running was more likely to be an intelligent plan of
escape than violence.
However as his eyes continued to stare down at her breast, Arya thought him
deserving of something.
So she shoved him. Arya shoved him away, not hard enough to cause any damage,
just to make him know it was time to let go of her.
He barely moved but within a second, he caught hold of her wrists.
“Now, now,” he said, his voice husky in its quality, “That’s enough of that for
now.”
Gendry pushed her arms, holding them off-handedly but firmly to Arya’s side.
His fingers seemed to almost unconsciously stroke her hand in a somewhat
comforting manner.
Arya flinched as he took his time to run his warm hand slowly down my back, his
long fingers wriggling into the back pocket of the jeans she was wearing. It
took Arya less than a second to realise what he was looking for. Her arms
struggled for a second but she knew that she couldn’t stop his search for her
phone. His hand lingered in her pocket, as it slowly became apparent that her
phone was not his sole objective. He squeezed Arya’s arse tightly for a second,
a tremor going through her, before he plucked his intended item from her jean
pocket.
The strained whimper that escaped Arya’s parted lips caused his own lips to
quirk up into a sly grin.
Arya stood silently, rather shell-shocked and not knowing what to do as Gendry
typed something into her phone.
A beep sounded seconds later.
He texted himself from my phone, she realized in dread, he has my number now.
There was no escaping him now.
What the fuck’s was going on, Arya thought angrily, how the fuck did she get
separated from her friends for no more than ten minutes and end up in the
presence of a guy who evidently only had one thing on his mind.
Hot breath trickled down Arya’s neck as he slid her phone back into the pocket
it had come from.
Gendry pressed the front of his body to hers again; a low moan erupting from
the back of his throat took Arya by surprise. Gendry obliviously found pleasure
in having her breasts firmly pushed to his muscled torso, in having her pressed
against him. Arya would have been lying to say that there weren’t sparks flying
through her body as she felt every inch of his delicious body pressed against
hers.
“Stop,” she pleaded weakly, pressing a hand delicately against him.
Arya could feel his chest vibrate as he chuckled. His lips came down to her ear
once again.
“I don’t think so, baby. We’re going to have some fun.”
Arya shivered in fear at his words.
Gendry frightened her she couldn’t help it, he did.
However this time Arya was ready to lash out, fear and consequences be damned.
His face moved back slightly before Arya’s hand connected with his face. Gendry
clearly had not anticipated anything like that from her, judging from the
momentarily bout of shock that covered his face. Arya felt satisfaction
bubbling inside her but it was short lived. In mere seconds the surprised
expression vanished from Gendry’s face as it darkened in anger. His left cheek
was branded with a red tinge.
Gendry’s hand came up, pressing itself against his cheek almost unsurely for a
second before he gripped Arya’s forearms somewhat aggressively although it
didn’t hurt her. His eyes sparkled almost in excitement, which disorientated
Arya even further as she struggled against his hands.
“I can tell you’re going to be a challenge,” he almost growled, “I must tell
you that I rather like that in a woman.”
He smirked as he looked down at her, making Arya shiver for some reason. That
time it definitely wasn’t her shivering in fear.
He dipped his head and for a moment Arya thought he was going to kiss her but
at the last minute he veered off left, his lips finding the skin of her neck.
The ends of his hair tickled Arya’s cheek as his lips pressed further into her
skin, seeming to suck it up enticingly.
Arya moved, to get away or to push closer to Gendry she didn’t know but her
action encouraged Gendry to reluctantly release one of her arms, even if it was
only so he could hold the back of her head, preventing me from escaping.
The restrictive movement instantly repelled Arya. She hastened to place her
free hand on his chest in protest, attempting to push him away as she felt him
suck her skin harshly in response.
“Gendry, please, stop now,” she begged urgently, fisting the front of his tight
t-shirt between her fingers as his lips on her neck intensified into an almost
painful suckle, his teeth grazing the skin lightly.
His breathy laugh fanned over the wet area as Arya desperately struggled
against the man’s hold before he continued to draw blood to the surface.
The sensation was somewhat eased with the attention of his soft lips but Gendry
didn’t allow her any sort of comfort for long, nipping hungrily into Arya’s
neck with his teeth.
Arya gasped when his tongue licked over the newly sensitive skin, planting a
few soft kisses that seemed to ease the pain monumentally. He blew over the
sloppy wet spot, igniting a chill that Arya felt through her entire body.
Gendry stepped back smirking as Arya yanked her arms back as his grip on them
lessened. Immediately Arya’s fingers drifted up to her neck, sucking in a sharp
breath when she dabbed over the sore spot.
Arya couldn’t help but whimper slightly as Gendry drew closer once more.
“I guess you’re mine now,” he said in a hushed tone.
His lustful gaze swept Arya’s body once more before he raised her hand up,
kissing it gently. With that, he turned and walked away in a self-assured
manner, leaving a shaking, stunned Arya in his wake.
Arya remained where she stood for a second, absolutely stunned and unable to
process what had just happened.
Then everything seemed to become real and she cursed loudly, causing the girls
dancing next to her to throw her dirty looked.
“Shit,” she repeated, wanting to smack herself.
Arya wasn’t sure what to do now. She felt so light yet so heavy, so unsure. She
desperately wanted to crawl inside a cocoon and never come out. Gendry had been
terrifying.
Yet there was also another part of her that was intrigued by him, Arya couldn’t
deny it.
However at this point however, fear outweighed any attraction she felt toward
him.
Arya began to elbow her way through the crowds of warm bodies, attempting
desperately to find any of her friends that were still at the party.
Spotting a hint of auburn hair, Arya found them all, watching them for a second
as they chatting animatedly, laughing all the while; completely oblivious to
what had taken place in the mere amount of minutes that she had been separated
from them.
Sansa turned, seeing her. She smiled, reaching out and pulling her little
sister closer.
“Where were you?” she asked, her eyes dancing with joy.
Arya opened her mouth to speak but was stunted, only a gasping seeming to come
out.
“What’s wrong?” Sansa asked quickly, the joy in her eyes instantly being
quashed by the darkness of worry.
“I-I…” was all Arya could manage to say.
Willow suddenly reached out a hand toward Arya, her eyes focused on something
on her neck. She shifted the curtain of Arya’s dark waves off her shoulder. All
of their eyes widened at the sight.
“Wow,” Margaery gasped, her mouth dropping open, “Who the fuck gave you that?”
Arya reached up instantly to touch the mark that was obviously there,
regretting it a moment later as it throbbed painfully.
How could you let the stupid idiot do this to you, Arya shouted at herself, he
has marked you.
Arya’s touch remained on her throat. Her eyes, wide and full of fear, unwilling
travelled across the room until they met the amused eyes of Gendry.
All the girl’s heads turned curiously to see what she was intently staring at.
Or rather whom she was starring at.
Gendry stared back, a smirk playing on his lips, giving me a small salute
before he turned to shake the hands of a couple of guys he was standing with.
Arya’s eyes didn’t leave him as he talked to his friends or when he paid his
tab off at the bar. She couldn’t help but stare at him, one part in disgust but
the other in intrigue.
The bastard must have known that she was staring at him because right before he
walked out of the exit, he turned, winking at Arya.
Arya was once more speechless as she watched his dark head disappear into the
night.
Arya would have stayed like that for a while if Sansa hadn’t taken her hand in
comfort. Arya’s gaze darted back to her friends, all who were staring at her in
varying degrees of complete shock to horror.
Margaery’s mouth parted to comment on the event but quickly shut it, seeming
unable to form a coherent sentence.
Willow eventually broke the silence.
“Holy shit.”
***** Chapter Two *****
Chapter Summary
     An unexpected house guest!
Chapter Notes
     Back with Chapter 2! Hope you like
See the end of the chapter for more notes
Arya climbed out of the taxi after paying her and Sansa’s part of the fare, her
mind distracted the entire time.
She gave a distracted wave, watching as her friends returned it before she
walked to the front door of the Stark family home.
“Are you sure you’re ok, Ar?” Sansa asked as they walked inside, “You looked
more than just shaken after all that…”
Sansa quieted looking at her sister with worry in her eyes. Sansa and all the
other girls had practically interrogated her about what had happened with
Gendry after they had left the club. Arya had told them everything in cautious,
still feeling a little more than a little shaken up by the whole incident.
Arya nodded as they walked to their rooms.
“I just need to sleep, get this out of my mind.”
Sansa nodded before pulling her sister into a comforting hug.
Once inside her room, Arya peeled off her clothes throwing them on the floor,
uncaring of where they fell. She brushed her dark hair all the while thinking
about what had happen tonight. The t-shirt was swiftly pulled over her head as
she hopped over to the bathroom whilst yanking up he pajama bottoms.
Starring into the mirror was an experience marred by discomfort. Arya couldn’t
help but push her hair off my shoulder, tilting her head to the side to see the
mark that had bloom below her ear. The toothbrush that she had been cleaning
her teeth with fell from her parted lips, falling into the sink with a
resounding clang.
Arya was more than just shocked when she saw the sore, angry looking, red patch
of skin, which held hints of purple in it already.
Arya gently brushed her fingertips over the patch on my neck, wincing slightly
at the soreness.
He marked me, she thought suddenly, shuddering at the very idea as she tried to
shake the feeling of his lips on her skin.
How his tongue had smoothed over the bite almost as if to sooth it. It was both
a pleasurable memory and yet not pleasurable at all.
Particularly when she remembered his parting words with dread.
“You’re mine now” echoed through Arya’s mind.
Arya shook her head, quickly trying to push Gendry out of her thoughts, quickly
going back to brushing her teeth.
Arya finished off getting ready for bed before sinking back into the covers.
She felt herself begin to deflate, begin to relax as her body began to unwind
from the stress of the day and night.
She was almost drifting off to sleep when a buzz went off somewhere near her.
Arya instantly felt the covers, looking for her phone which she had thrown
somewhere on her bed when she had been getting undressed.
Once she found it though, she wished she hadn’t. The text was from Gendry. Arya
forced herself to open the message even as her heart sped up in fear.
You know, you should probably close your curtains before stripping off.
Thanks for the show. G.
Arya froze for a second before jolting up out of bed to run over to the window.
Peering out, her eyes landing on a large black vehicle on the opposite side of
the road.
Fear reverberated through Arya as she swallowed what felt like her tongue.
There was Gendry, leaning against the car, arms folded across his strong chest.
Even in the dark Arya could see an arrogant smirk plastered across his face.
He pushed himself from the vehicle, climbing in the driver’s seat. Soon the car
was speeding down the road and out of sight.
“Holy fuck,” Arya said, echoing Willow’s word earlier that night, “What the
fuck have I gotten myself into?”
 
“Morning darling,” Catelyn Stark, called from the kitchen as she saw her
daughter stumbling down the stairs, rubbing her eyes in a desperate attempt to
keep them open.
“Morning Mum…”
Arya froze completely at the sight of a mop of black hair that sat at the
counter.
This couldn’t be happening, she thought, please say this isn’t happening.
Catelyn said something, talking Arya who did not hear a word she said, instead
she gawked at Gendry in total shock.
Gendry on the other hand trailed his blue eyes up and down Arya’s body, making
use of the time he had while Arya’s mother was facing away from them.
Arya snapped out of her shock, wrapping her arms around her body.
“Arya, you didn’t tell me you had a friend coming over this morning,” her
mother chripped happily, “Poor Gendry here was standing outside looking like a
lost puppy until I invited him in.”
A grin spread across his face, deep dimples prominent.
“Hey Gendry,” Arya stuttered politely.
“Arya,” he said in a voice that seemed to caress her, winking at her.
“Mum, can I speak to you for a second?” Arya asked quickly, beginning to pull
her Mum outside immediately.
She flashed Gendry a pained smile before closing the door from the hallway to
the kitchen. Once she was sure he wouldn’t be able to hear, Arya began to talk,
albeit through gritted teeth.
“Why did you invite him in?” she whispered furiously.
“He said he was a friend of yours. He is very sweet and so handsome,” she
gushed, looking completely approving of the psycho in their kitchen.
“Mum, he could have been a murderer for all you knew,” Arya scolded.
“He’s not a murderer,” Catelyn said with a laugh, “Gendry seems lovely and, if
I may state the obvious, very interested in you...”
Arya rolled her eyes at her mother’s words.
Gendry had clearly charmed her. He had flashed her that brilliant smile, bared
those dimples and watched as her mother melted. Catelyn’s eyes were still
alight with excitement as she glanced between her daughter and the door that
led to the kitchen.
Arya felt a headache coming on. She pressed her fingers to her temples, rubbing
as she tried to think straight. She couldn’t tell who she was angrier with,
Gendry for turning up uninvited or her mother for letting him inside the house.
“I made breakfast. Come on darling,” Catelyn said, looping an arm around her
waist and pushing her forward, back into the kitchen.
Gendry was still waiting there, sitting the same spot he had been, looking as
if he owned the house.
He grinned as Arya walked reluctantly toward him, sitting on the stool next to
his. She tried to keep a couple of inches between them but Gendry managed to
find a way around that. A gasp fell from her lips as Gendry’s warm hand ran up
her thigh.
Arya quickly slapped her hand down, catching his, and moved it off her thigh.
His only response was to laugh quietly.
Arya couldn’t shake the horrible feeling that he enjoyed it when she fought
back, when she rejected his advances almost violently.
Arya’s eyes flew to her mother, wanting to see what she was making of all this
but Catelyn had her back facing them, concentrating her cooking rather than her
teenage daughter.
Gendry hummed softly, before beginning to lean into Arya. She quickly placed a
hand on his shoulder before he could get too close.
“Why are you here?” she whispered, her voice taunt with anger.
“To see you,” he said with an innocent smile Arya knew not to be his own.
Arya touch withdrew her hand from his shoulder, ignoring the strength she felt
under her fingers.
“Well I don’t want you here so leave,” she said immediately, crossing her arms.
This was her house, she would be damned if she was going to be scared of him in
her own house.
“I want to take you out tomorrow night,” he said, almost sounding as though he
was commanding her.
Arya raised an eyebrow at his words, recognizing them for what they were. There
was no question there. It was a command plain and simple.
“What?” she said sharply, “You know damn well that I don’t want to…”
“That would be lovely, wouldn’t it, Arya?” Catelyn interrupted, gushed in
excitement although she spared a second to shoot her daughter a meaningful
look.
Gendry dropped a hand, resting it on Arya’s knee under the counter.
Arya opened her mouth to reject the proposal when her mother cut in yet again.
“She would love that.”
Catelyn turned around again to check the pancakes.
“Why didn’t you just call me?” Arya spat in frustration, “Why did you come
here? Into my home.”
“You would have said no if I had called you,” he whispered back quietly.
“What makes you think I won’t say no now?” Arya hissed.
His eyes flicked over Catelyn, whose back was turned yet they both knew she was
still listening. Her back was taunt with something resembling annoyance.
Arya could tell she was a little upset that Arya hadn’t said yes instantly.
Catelyn was always encouraging her to date. Arya could tell how happy she was
that Gendry had turned up on their doorstep. It was just that Arya had just
never been particularly interested in going out with boys. She had always been
a real tomboy, running after her brothers, fencing, riding, everything her
mother hadn’t liked. To her, this date was a dream come true, having an
attractive boy ask her daughter out.
For Arya however, this was a nightmare. Not only had he given her a horrendous
love bite, against her will but he had also seen her in her underwear, all in
the space of a couple of hours. Moreover, he terrified her.
By the time Arya understood what was even going on, her Mum and Gendry had
arranged a time for him to pick her up the next evening.
Arya’s mouth dropped as Gendry smirked at her, giving her a superior look.
He glanced down at his watch.
“I must be off, I have places to be unfortunately. Thanks for the pancakes Mrs.
Stark, they were great.”
“Please call me Catelyn.”
He smiled at her before stepping off the stool.
Arya wanted to pull away as he leaned down and placed a kiss on her cheek but
she didn’t since her mother was standing right there.
“Arya please walk him out,” Catelyn said with an encouraging lilt in her tone.
Arya huffed, jumping off my stool as her mother ushered her out after Gendry.
The kitchen door swung closed and she was alone in the hallway with Gendry, who
didn’t waste any time pushing her up against the wall.
Arya’s eyes squeezed closed with an internal wince. His tall figure towering
over her as he pressed his body intimately into hers, holding her steady
against the wall. Arya saw him smirk as she tried her best to increase the
distance between them but he was too strong.
His hands started travelling up the sides of her body until they reached her
neck
“Don’t,” Arya beseeched.
Gendry ignored her protest, his fingers softly brushing over her cheek so
gently it almost felt kind. However soon his fingers shifted into her long
hair, pushing it to the side as he stared at the bruise he had inflicted on
her, his mouth curling up into a smile.
“Looks good on you,” he whispered softly, his tongue tracing the shell of her
ear.
Arya flinched as he pressed his lips to the mark on her neck. Thankfully he was
careful not to press too hard. Arya’s body sagged with relief when he pulled
away, hoping that would be the end of the torture. Hoping that he would now
leave. Unfortunately that didn’t happen.
Gendry remained close, his long hair tickling her cheek, echoing what happen
last night, as he planted another kiss to the spot where Arya’s jaw met her
neck.
“You smell so good,” he said almost breathily.
He painfully pinned her wrists to the wall before slowly grinding his hips into
hers.
Arya whimpered at the rough contact as Gendry let out a throaty groan, her head
falling forward onto his shoulder. She felt like my legs would collapse at any
moment. His chest rose and fell quickly as his breathing increased.
However before it went any further, Gendry had released her. Arya leant against
the wall in relief, her body feeling completely drained.
He said something Arya didn’t hear. She turned her head toward the door, seeing
him opening it before looking back.
“See you tomorrow night, Arya.”
He winked at her and then was gone.
Arya’s head kept spinning as she slumped down the wall to sit on the floor,
dreading what was to come.
Chapter End Notes
     Hope you liked!! Let me know!!
***** Chapter Three *****
Chapter Summary
     An upcoming date!
Chapter Notes
     Just a short chapter!! Hope you all like it!!
See the end of the chapter for more notes
“You’re kidding right? You can’t be serious?” Sansa said in disbelief.
“I really wish I was, Sans,” Arya said dully, her head sinking into her hands.
She sighed, looking back up her other friends, who were still staring at her in
horror.
Willow slowly spun round on Arya’s desk chair. She was obviously deep in
thought as she repeatedly tapped her fingers on the chair.
“Well, what are you going to do?” Sansa asked in concern, swiping some hair out
of her face as she looked at her sister anxiously.
“There’s not much I can do, he knows where we live,” Arya said, “What can I do?
Call the police?”
“Well its certainly an idea…” Willow started, before she was interrupted as
Arya’s bedroom door flung open to reveal an eager Margaery.
“I’m sorry, breakfast with Loras and his boyfriend ran late, what did I miss?”
She dropped her bag to the floor before climbing onto the bed and crossing her
legs. Margaery immediately looked at Arya expectantly. However Willow was the
one to fill her in.
“Arya is being stalked by an extremely attractive but scary guy, who followed
her home, saw her in her underwear then turned up in her kitchen the next
morning. Now he’s like best friends with her Mum,” Willow summarised quickly.
Margaery’s eyes grew wide, her head turning to each of their faces, her shock
clear on her face.
“Oh and he wants to take her out on a date tonight,” Willow finished.
“W-what?”
Margaery shook her head in confusion as she tried to take everything in. There
was silence as they were all enveloped in their own thoughts.
“Gendry followed you home? I knew we should have stayed with you that night,”
Margaery threw her arms up in exacerbation, “Sansa, you should have done
something.”
Sansa opened her mouth to defend herself only to be cut off by Arya.
“That wouldn’t have done a damn thing,” Arya dismissed, “There was no stopping
him.”
“Can’t you just tell him no?” Sansa probed.
“Sansa what do you think I have been telling him since I met him?” Arya said in
frustration, “Every step of the way has been followed by ‘no’. He’s not
listening…”
Arya paused, her mind scrambling as she thought.
“… And now he knows where we live and Mum thinks he’s the perfect man, come to
save me from a life as an old maid. You should have heard her after he came
over yesterday Sansa, she was so happy. I thought her face would break she was
smiling so widely. Besides, we all know about his reputation, I don’t want
anyone I care about to get hurt.”
Willow huffed loudly before coming to a stop in from of Arya as she firmly
planted her feet on the floor, ceasing her nervous spinning.
“What about you getting hurt?” she barked.
Arya was quiet at that. What was she meant to say to that? That it wasn’t going
to happen, she didn’t know that. The only things she really knew about Gendry
were his aggressive tendencies and his violent reputation. Neither of those was
a shining representation of a sunny disposition on his part.
“I’ll be fine,” Arya said after a minute, not really knowing what else to say,
“I can defend myself and I’m sure we will be in public. I’ll be okay…”
None of the girls looked particularly convinced.
Arya couldn’t help but feel a little unconvinced by her own words.
She had no idea what she’d be doing or what exactly he had meant by going on a
date. In fact she didn’t even know if date was the right word. She certainly
didn’t want to spend an evening with him and he probably just wanted another
opportunity to feel her up if the past was any indication.
Arya leant on to Sansa’s shoulder as she thought, her sister wrapping
comforting arms around her.
“It’s going to be alright,” Sansa said quietly, trying to reassure Arya.
However something in her tone made Arya think that even she wasn’t convinced by
her own words.
-
Arya was lying on her bed, distracting herself with a book. A wave of anxiety
swept through her body every time she glanced at her phone, the time mocking
her as it kept slowly moving forward.
It wouldn’t be long until her personal torture commenced. He would be here
soon. Arya’s fingers eased through her hair again, feeling its dampness from
the shower as she tried to distract herself. She could feel her hand shaking a
little bit.
Don’t be scared, she commanded herself fiercely, you’re a wolf of Winterfell,
you’re strong.
That would be her mantra, she decided. Arya would be herself, she would be
strong. She would no longer be the weakling that Gendry had forced her to be
when he had man handled her the last two times they had meet.
You’ll go out with him, prove you’re not afraid of him and then leave with your
head held high, Arya commanded once again.
“Arya, are you in here?” Mum called as she knocked on her door.
“Yes, come in Mum,” Arya called back, butterflies that feel like humongous
moths flopping around her in her stomach.
He’s here, Arya thought in horror.
However that was not to be the case. Catelyn pushed the door open, her smile
fading when she saw her daughter sprawled out on the bed without a stitch of
proper clothing on her body.
“Why aren’t you dressed?” she questioned, her eyes narrowing in annoyance as
she frowned, “Gendry will be here any minute.”
“Mum I don’t want to go on this date…”
“Nonsense, your just nervous darling, you’ll be fine!”
Arya rolled her eyes, letting out a snort.
Her mother had refused to listen to Arya whining about this entire date. It
seemed that she was rather determined to see Arya go on this date, putting her
refusal down to nerves.
Within seconds, Catelyn was at Arya’s closet, beginning to pull out different
dresses. That spurred Arya into action. Arya bounded up, scrabbling off her bed
in favour of stepping in front of her mother.
“Mum, its fine, I can decide my own clothes,” Arya gasped.
Catelyn threw Arya an unbelieving look. Arya never really had cared about
clothes of any kind but she eventually relented.
“Fine but don’t be too long,” she warned before leaving the room.
Once her mother had closed the bedroom door behind he, Arya fell back onto her
bed in agony, cursing quietly under her breath. This really was the last thing
she wanted to do.
A buzzing sounded beside her and Arya immediately picked the phone up only to
see a text from Gendry.
I’m taking you out for dinner. Wear something sexy. G
Arya quickly typed a reply.
No and your lucky I’m even coming.
He may have replied by Arya threw away her phone, ignoring to his second text.
Arya went to tug her top off but as her hands went to the hem of her t-shirt,
she paused before removing it.
Glancing at the window, she quickly leant forward and yanked the curtains shut.
There was no way Gendry was violating her like that again. She quickly
undressed before pulling on the least sexy outfit she had.
Her eyes found herself in the mirror. She looked nervous; Arya could see it in
her own eyes.
“Shit.”
Arya jumped out of her skin as her phone vibrated again. Arya forced down the
lump in her throat as her fingers clasped her phone but to her relief, it was
only a text from Willow.
Be careful, the girls and I are thinking of you. We can come and pick you up at
any time. Xx
A small smile spread across Arya’s face, knowing that all her friends were
there for her.
Arya eyes unwilling darted over to her computer, seeing the time. Gendry would
be here in about 10 minutes.
Arya felt like her heart dropping into her stomach at that. This was awful, it
was like sitting in a doctor’s office, knowing that you were going in to have a
particularly painful injection.
Arya sat blandly on the bed for a moment before her ears perked up on hearing
what sounded like a car pulling up outside their house.
Arya stumbled to the window, peeking out from behind the curtain, praying to
every God she could remember that it wouldn’t be who she thought it would be.
However her prayers were ignored as Gendry stepped out of a large before
slamming the door behind him.
Arya stood still for a moment, not really wanting to move. She could run
somewhere but her mother would likely never forgive her and gods knew Catelyn
Stark could hold a grudge for years.
So Arya straightened herself out, grabbing her jacket from the wardrobe, not
bothering to pick up the hanger that dropped to the floor.
Pulling on her shoes she yanked the door of her bedroom open. The sooner this
is over, the better.
“Arya, darling, Gendry’s here,” her mother called from downstairs, a light
airness in her voice.
“Coming,” Arya snapped in annoyance, ignoring the harsh sting of her words.
Arya didn’t mean to be so severe but the entire situation was really getting to
her.
Reluctantly, Arya descended the stairs to find her Mum, standing by the door
anxiously waiting for her, her eyes dancing with excitement.
“You look lovely,” she smiled.
“Thanks Mum.”
Both of their heads twisted to look at the door as a rap of knocking sounded.
Catelyn turned to look at Arya, the excitement in her eyes growing brighter!
She leant forward, pressing a kiss to her daughter’s cheek before gently
nudging her towards the front door.
Arya looked at the door, feeling like she didn’t know what to do with it. Arya
opened her mouth to say something to her mother but when she turned her head to
look at her, Arya caught her disappearing through the kitchen door, leaving her
alone in the hallway.
Arya drew in a deep breath, preparing her for what was to come. It wasn’t much
use though; at this point no amount of preparation would have helped her. All
her natural anxieties were amplified because not only was this the first date
she had ever been on but it had to be with Gendry.
Arya steadied herself.
I will be strong, she chanted, I am strong.
She pressed forward, her trembling hand catching a hold on the door handle.
Slowly she pulled it open, revealing a tall figure, a dimpled smile spread
across his face.
“Well, hello there.”
Chapter End Notes
     Tell me if you liked it, hated it or don't know!! Love to hear any
     and all feedback!
***** Chapter Four *****
Chapter Summary
     The date!!
Chapter Notes
     Quick update!! The next chapter will be a lot more what I think we
     all want to see so stay tuned!!
See the end of the chapter for more notes
Arya stood still, feeling completely out of balance as she stared at Gendry,
who stared right back at her.
After a moment, Gendry grabbed her forearm, rather gently for once, and leaned
down towards her. For a second Arya didn’t know what he was doing but then it
all made sense and she hastily turned her head to the side, his lips pressing
against her cheek instead of his intended target.
He pulled away, a smile tugging at his lips. His eyes burnt into Arya, watching
her carefully. For a moment Arya conceded, staring back defiantly at Gendry.
Arya tried to as much fire into her glare as she could, staring at him with as
much distaste as she could muster.
For a couple of minutes, it seemed like neither of them would back down as
Gendry stared down at Arya with a half smirk, half smile and Arya just glared
defiantly back at him.
However Gendry eventually spoke.
“Shall we go?” he said silkily.
Arya thought she would feel triumphant, knowing that he was the one to speak
before her but she didn’t. Instead she felt numb as she realised how little a
difference her childish act had made.
“Lets get this over with then,” she said dully.
Arya reluctantly stepped outside, turning to close the front door.
She turned around, startled to feel Gendry’s fingers entwining with hers.
His large hand was warm and Arya knew that if she hadn’t felt so threatened by
him; the touch would have actually comforted her. She still yanked her hand out
of his.
Gendry just chuckled.
They crossed the road to where the intimidating black vehicle was parked. Arya
began to reach out for her door but she could, the passenger door was pulled
open. Gendry peered down at her expectantly.
“Hop in, love.”
Arya gritted her teeth but complied, her breath trembling out as he slammed the
door behind me. Arya settled in her set, examining the interior of the car. It
was surprisingly clean for a guy, ordered almost to the point of obsessive
compulsion. Arya frowned in thought.
However all those thoughts flew out the window as Gendry opened his door, his
tall frame easily climbing into the vehicle before he pulled the door shut.
Although Arya certainty didn’t shy away from danger, it suddenly dawned on her
how frightened it was now that she was completely alone with him. Completely in
his power.
“Don’t look so nervous, Arya,” Gendry said as he looked at her, smirking
although his eyes seemed strangely sincere.
Arya’s forehead quirked as she considered his words.
Gendry’s blue orbs lingered on her for a few seconds before he reached round
for his seatbelt, strapping himself in.
Arya did the same, her eyes staying on Gendry as he swiftly turned on the
ignition and shifted the car into reverse.
He instantly noticed her stare, winking at her before pulling out of the space
and onto the road with a grin.
Arya’s eyes stayed on him, almost keeping an eye on him. She took him in,
noticing that the sleeves of his leather jacket were pushed up his strong
forearms as he tightly gripped the steering wheel, that he had swept some hair
from his face, clearing his vision to see the cars speeding past on the
junction. Arya found herself staring at his face until his lips curved up into
a smile and she knew she had been caught again.
Arya quickly tossed her head in disregard, attempting to be nonchalant about
the whole thing as she began to look out the window.
“How old are you?” Arya asked suddenly, her curiosity getting the better of
her.
Arya turned to look at him. His eyes flickered up to meet hers before switching
back to the windscreen once more.
“Twenty-one,” he answered evenly.
Arya nodded before looking back out her window.
The rest of the ride was rather quiet; in fact it was practically silent other
than the inconsistent clicking of the indicator as the car sped through the
evening. Arya spent the entire time looking outside her window, watching the
world speed by.
The sun was slowly fading in the sky as they finally pulled into a car park.
Arya jumped back into the seat as Gendry placed his hand on her knee. She
quickly slapped her hand down, to stop it from travelling any higher.
He deeply chuckled but then thankfully withdrew his touch.
“We’re here.”
Arya unbuckled her seatbelt, reaching for the handle. Arya’s heart almost
skipped a beat when she realised the car was locked, her eyes widening in fear.
She would have to wait for Gendry to open her door from the outside. She
shivered a little at the thought of being locked in with him.
However that fear was soon allayed as Gendry, climbed out of the car before
making his way around to her side. He offered Arya his hand but Arya didn’t
take, instead choosing to get out of the car herself. Her reaction did not go
unnoticed by Gendry, who gave a little disconcerting chuckle. Very little
seemed to go unnoticed by him while in contrast everything she did seemed to
amuse him.
Arya tugged her jacket tighter around her body as the wind whipped around them.
Gendry pulled her into his side as he guided them towards where they were
eating. Arya wriggled but ultimately let him. She took in a deep breath, the
smell of the sea filling her senses. It was almost comforting for a second.
They turned a corner and Arya realised that they were at the harbour, her eyes
flicking from one boat to another, all of them tied neatly up to the dock.
They continued to walk along the promenade; a railing being the only barrier
separating them from the deep sea, stopping outside a restaurant.
Gendry gave his name to the man at the front of the restaurant. They were
quickly led to a table towards the back of the restaurant and Arya had a
horrible feeling Gendry had asked to be placed here, it was hidden, intimate.
Arya sat opposite him at the small table, shrugging off her jacket and placing
it over the back of the chair. The waitress quietly handed them their menus
before scurrying off.
Gendry scanned over the list of meals on offer, not looking up as Arya bent
down to pick up her bag, pulling out her phone. She quickly scanned through her
unread messaging, noticing one from Sansa immediately.
How is it going? Are you alright? Xx
Arya was about to reply when Gendry spoke.
“What do you want?” he asked, completely ignoring her phone in her hand.
“I’m not hungry,” Arya replied bluntly, toying with her phone as she replied to
Sansa, assuring her she was alive and well.
“Pick or I’ll pick for you,” he said, his tone holding a hint of annoyance.
Arya raised an eyebrow at him in silent condemnation.
Gendry however ignored her, instead calling the waitress over to their table.
The girls’ ponytail swayed as she rushed to their table. She looked between
them in uneasily eyes as she waited from their order.
Gendry gestured to Arya, raising an eyebrow.
Arya just cocked her head to the side in defiance.
Gendry laughed before order something for them both, much to Arya’s annoyance.
The waitress scribbled down their order before looking back up at them once
again.
“Can I get you anything else?” she asked politely.
Her eyes darted between the two of them again, briefly looking Gendry in the
eyes before quickly diverting her gaze to look solely at Arya, her cheeks
turning bright red.
Arya could just tell that the waitress felt on edge around him. Either that or
she was attracted to him. Arya would bet her money on the former.
“No, thank you,” Arya said with what she hoped was a kind smile, although right
now it probably came off slightly manic.
With the waitress’ exit, they were left alone once more.
Arya refused to look at Gendry, but she could feel his eyes on her face. After
a few minutes Arya finally looked up. He tilted his head slightly to the side,
his eyes locking with hers as he carefully examined Arya.
“Do I frighten you?”
Arya snorted. That was a pretty stupid question, of course he did but she
wasn’t about to tell him that. No way she was giving him that sort of power of
her. Arya was sure he would use that information to its full advantage.
He didn’t seem to realise the intimidating effect he had on her, on everyone he
met.
However Arya’s silence was all the confirmation he needed. Gendry’s brow
crinkled but he still smiled at her. It was almost as though he didn’t seem to
realise the intimidating effect he had on her, on everyone he met.
Gendry’s hand was starting to reach from her hand when the waitress came back
with their drinks. Arya quickly thanked her for the water, mentally praising
her for interrupting them. However all too soon she had walked away and Arya
was once again left alone with Gendry. Arya squirmed in discomfort as his eyes
rested on her.
When Arya met his eyes they looked curious and slightly calculating.
“Has anyone ever touched you before?” he asked.
“W-what?” Arya blurted out in confusion, her face beginning to redden, "No..."
Gendry didn’t say anything but Arya let out a gasp upon feeling his hand on her
knee under the square table.
He chuckled at her reaction before swiftly getting up. It surprised her when he
pushed his chair round to sit on her right. They were suddenly much closer and
Gendry’s hand immediately went back to its previous position, dancing on the
edge of her thigh.
Arya’s breath hitched in her throat as his touch began its slow ascent up her
thigh. Arya’s entire body was frozen while Gendry moved his hand, intently
watching her as her chest sharply rose up and down.
Arya took a moment to thank the Gods for making her so unladylike or else she
would have been in dress and Gods knew where his hands would have reached.
When his fingers skimmed her upper thigh Arya abruptly shot up, her chair
screeching against the floor as she pushed it back.
“I need to go to the toilet,” Arya stuttered before jogging away, making her
bold escape.
I heard him deeply laugh as she ran toward the toilets. Arya let her bag, left
everything; she just wanted to get away from Gendry and his wandering hands.
“Don’t be too long,” Gendry called from behind her.
Arya could almost feel the smirk in his voice as she ran.
Chapter End Notes
     All comments welcome!!
***** Chapter Five *****
Chapter Summary
     A date gone wrong?
Chapter Notes
     New chapter!! Hope you like!! I feel like the real Arya definitely
     came out to play in this one!! Please please please let me know your
     thoughts and any theories!!! I'm so glad to make Arya something other
     than a pushover in this chapter!! Thanks for reading gorgeous
     people!!
See the end of the chapter for more notes
Arya took a deep breath in before releasing it violently.
“1, 2…”
Her sweaty hands gripped the sink tightly as she leant all her weight on it,
trying to calmly regulate her rapid breathing.
“…3,4.”
She glanced up, looking into her sunken grey eyes. They were filled with fear,
with shock, with anger. With about every emotion that Arya could think of.
Counting had not helped her anxiety lessen in anyway.
Arya could not believe how forward Gendry’s actions were. It was like he didn’t
care if anyone saw his hands creeping up her thigh. He didn’t care at all.
Arya patted her pockets, feeling for her phone. She groaned, internally wanting
to slap herself, when she realised that she had left her phone at the table
with Gendry.
Her heart sunk at the realization that she couldn’t contact anyone.
“I can’t do this,” she said, speaking to her mirrored self, “I don’t want to do
this.”
Arya glanced up at her reflection in the mirror again. She looked truly
terrified. Frantically she began to pace up and down in the empty toilet,
trying to figure out what her options were.
She could either go back in and face Gendry or make a run for it. Arya’s
flickered between the door and window. After a second, she opted for the
latter.
Arya began to feel about the edges of window, her hands yanking at its latch
once she found it. The window slowly creaked open. Arya began to climb through
it when another door creaked open. Arya spun around, her heart dropping.
However to her relief, it was their waitress, not Gendry. Although at this
point Arya wouldn’t put it past him to follow her into the toilets.
“Hi, are you Arya?” she asked quietly as she came toward Arya, looking at her
position half out the window, her eyes wide with shock.
Arya frowned before carefully nodding her head and waiting for her to continue.
“The guy you were with asked me to come in and check on you.”
“Oh god,” Arya groaned, “W-where is he?”
 
The girl hurried forward.
“He’s waiting just outside the door,” she whispered worriedly, glancing back at
the door.
Arya’s eyes just grew wider.
“Go,” she nudged Arya further out the open window until her legs touched the
ground on the other side, “I’ll distract him for a second and tell him you
weren’t in here.”
“Thank you so much,” Arya said, catching the girl’s hand, her smile shinning
with as much gratitude as she could muster in such a simple gesture.
The girl smiled before drawing back, exiting the bathroom, throwing one more
conciliatory smile at Arya.
Arya sat still for a second before jumping onto the group with a thump.
“What!” she heard a low voice shout on the other side of the door.
“Shit,” Arya whispered before beginning to move.
She began to close the window behind her, carefully closing it.
However just before she turned around to run, the door to the bathroom swung
open.
Gendry’s dark eyes locked with mine for a brief second. His gaze was enraged
however to Arya’s surprise, his entire expression quickly morphed into a grin
and Arya quickly realised that this was fun for him.
This was the chase that he wanted.
-
Arya ran as fast as she could back along the promenade. The air cooler than
when they had first arrived but Arya barely felt it as she ran with all her
might.
She quickly passed the entrance to the restaurant, casting only a quick glance
at it to see Gendry not too far behind her.
“Arya!” he bellowed.
His voice did not sound angry. Instead he sounded like he was laughing, almost
as if this entire spectacle was a game to him.
Arya almost wanted to slap him but another part of her refused to give up. She
wanted to get away from him.
Her legs began to ache as she forced herself to run faster and faster. Harder.
She was gasping for breath as she rounded a corner, still on the path that ran
alongside the water.
Arya felt panic bubbling up her throat when she realized that the path she had
been running on was quickly coming to an end. Her head whipped around,
desperately searching for a way out but she soon saw that there was nothing but
the way she came. Arya skidded to a stop in front the edge of the path, the sea
glistening below her.
Arya sucked a deep breath in before turning around to find Gendry slowing down.
He smirked at her as he slowed down, strolling closer as he did, safe in the
knowledge that she had nowhere left to run.
Arya took a few steps back only to hit the railing of a gate behind her.
Both their breathing was forced out in heavy puffs but Gendry was still
smirking, looking at her with mirth in his eyes.
“Where did you think you were going, love?”
He continued towards her. Arya stayed where she was, not moving an inch.
Where did she have to go? He had her completely cornered. She had nowhere left
to move by her estimation.
Gendry was coming closer towards her, pressing her closer into the railing
behind her. Arya’s heart was pounding out of her chest. She had nowhere to go.
The only thing she could do eight now was press herself harder into the railing
behind her in order to increase any semblance of space between them.
Suddenly Arya felt herself begin to fall as the gate behind her gave way. She
lost her footing immediately and fell through the opening into the water below
with a terrified screech.
“Arya!”
Arya hit the cool water, her body plummeting into the depths below. Her arms
and legs began to paddle, trying to work together in an effort to reach the
surface as she struggled for air, coughing up water that she had accidently
breathed in out of shock.
She felt another splash not far from her as a strong arm wrapped itself around
her waist. Within second Arya was being tugged to the surface.
Both Arya and Gendry gasped for air as they spluttered out water, beginning to
kick in an effort to stay afloat.
Arya felt herself choke as she coughed up the water that she had swallowed.
Arya rubbed her eyes, blinking them in an effort to push all the salt water out
of them.
For a few seconds, Arya allowed herself to recover from their fall but within a
minute Arya once again felt the presence of Gendry’s warm body against her,
holding her above the water level.
Arya shoved his chest away from her immediately, gratified when he unclasped
his hands from her waist. Arya kicked her legs to keep herself above the water
all the while continuing to gasp and splutter for breath without his support.
She could still feel him watching her carefully, his eyes following her every
movement.
When Arya could finally breath properly, her eyes turned unwillingly to his.
Gendry grinned at her, his dimples making a cheeky appearance before he spoke.
“Well, this is the quickest I’ve got a girl wet on a first date.”
Arya stared at him in shock for a second before letting out a groan at his
suggestive comment. Arya turned around with another eye roll before beginning
to make her way toward a ladder that would lead her to land.
Arya grappled in the water, attempting the swim to the dock. It truly was a
struggle but right now, struggling on her own was better than asking Gendry to
help her.
Once she reached the dock, Arya pressed her hands on the rungs of the ladder,
about to pull herself out of the water. But before she could push myself up,
Gendry caught hold of her hips, pulling her back down. He twisted me around to
face him, his body closer than what she would have liked.
“Sure you don’t want to stay in here with me for a little while longer?” he
asked, his body pressing into hers.
His voice sent reverberations through Arya.
She shivered.
“Gendry, I’m cold,” she whispered.
He let go of her. Arya turned around to grip the ladder once more before
getting out of the water.
Once Arya was standing, she moved back toward the gate she had come through,
before feeling Gendry’s shadow near her after he had hauled himself out of the
water.
Their clothes were both dripping as they stood there. Gendry shook his head
like an animal, all the water flicking out of it, onto Arya who shot him and
unimpressed look.
Gendry saw her look, throwing her an amused smile in return. Arya glared at
him, not noticing the slightly raised piece of she was walking toward. Tripping
over that wood was more than just embarrassing but what was even worse was that
she fell straight into Gendry.
The action took Gendry by surprise as well, as he fell backwards with Arya on
top of him.
Gendry let out a grunt as they lay on the wooden dock.
Arya immediately began to struggle to get off him.
Gendry let out a laugh.
“I always did like a girl on top.”
Arya let out a disgusted noise. She continued to move, sitting up to stand up,
but before she could, Gendry caught hold of her hands.
Within a second, Arya was beneath him, his entire body pressed against hers.
“But I must say, I prefer to have them under me.”
Droplets of water fell from Gendry’s hair, running down his cheekbones onto her
skin as he hovered above her. His blue eyes travelled up and down Arya’s face,
a mere hair span away. Gendry dipped his head down, his breath blowing lightly
over her lips without even meaning to. Arya’s chest began move rapidly, rising
and falling as her heart sped up. Gendry’s lips formed a cunning smile as he
watched her.
Arya hated that his eyes had the power to penetrate her thoughts so easily. One
deep glance and she felt as though he was staring into her very soul. Arya
closed her eyes with a deep sigh.
For a second nothing happen but then Arya jumped as a pair of wet lips pressed
into hers. Arya’s eyes shot open. She could feel Gendry’s dripping hair
tickling my forehead as he continued to move his mouth against her lips,
attempting to coax a response out of her.
For a second, Arya just lay there in shock, frozen.
“Arya,” Gendry encouraged quietly.
Arya snapped when he said her name, pushing him off her as she struggled up.
Gendry fell off her, landing on his back with a thud. He was still smirking as
he watched her.
Arya scrambled to her feet while Gendry took his time getting up, his movements
languid.
“You can’t just do that,” she yelled suddenly, finding her voice, “You can just
force yourself on someone like that, its not right.”
Gendry looked down at her, not saying anything, his mouth starting to open.
“No its my time to talk,” Arya said sharply, her confidence boosting as she
continued, “You can just kiss me, or feel me up in a restaurant, or command me
to go out with you. You’re not allowed to do that.”
Gendry frowned slightly, his eyes looking mystified.
“I’m serious,” Arya said impatiently, “All of this, this date, the way you
forced me to go out with you, it doesn’t make me like you, it makes me scared
of you and if you seriously think that’s a good thing then something is
seriously wrong with you. That’s not going to ever make me sleep with you, if
that’s all you want.”
For once emotion had made its way onto Gendry face. He looked more than just
taken aback, he looked shocked and, to Arya’s surprise, a bit pained.
However still he said nothing.
“Don’t you have anything to say?” Arya shouted, “or do you get your thrills off
scaring the shit out of girls like me?”
“I never wanted to…” he began.
“What?” Arya barked, “Never wanted to suck a glorified bruise into my neck
while I was telling you not to? Never wanted to demand that I come out with you
when I said I didn’t want to? Never wanted to chase me like you just did…”
Gendry looked almost at a loss, a deep frown settling on his forehead.
“You can’t deny, you did that all,” Arya shouted, “And the majority of it you
did with a smile on your face…”
Gendry’s face was a picture. It was almost as if he was shocked at his own
behaviour, startled that he had done exactly as Arya had said.
“You’re right,” he said suddenly.
Arya frowned, genuinely surprised by his admission.
Why was he admitting that she was right? What was he doing it for?
“Come on,” he said somberly, “I’ll take you home.”
Arya blinked in surprise.
Gendry moved toward the path that they had jumped over in Arya’s accidental
water incident. The step up to the path was quite large so Gendry placed his
hands gently on Arya’s hips, lifting her up like she weighed no more than a
feather before quickly letting go and climbing up himself.
His jacket was thrown on the floor, a collection of his phone, keys and wallet
sitting on top of it. He bent down, before picking up the clothing, slipping it
over Arya’s shoulders.
“You’ll be cold,” he said quietly.
Arya nodded in thanks, not looking up him.
She sneaked a glance at him, looking up as they began to walk the path back
toward the restaurant. His face was blank as he looked forward.
Arya struggled to comprehend what had just happen. She had screamed at him and
it was almost like he had listened.
Arya frowned again, looking at Gendry once more.
He still said nothing, seeming trapped in his own head as he walked alongside
her in silence.
The man at the front of the restaurant frowned as he took in their appearances.
Both Arya and Gendry’s clothes were soaked through, dripping and making puddles
on the floor.
The rest of the customers in the restaurant were ogling them in curiosity and
Arya really couldn’t blame them. She was sure that they would be a rather
interesting spectacle to behold.
Gendry handed over his card to pay for the food that they had ordered but
probably still sat uneaten somewhere in the kitchens.
“Go get your stuff, ” Gendry suggested quietly, lacking his usual demanding
nature.
Arya nodded once before quickly scurrying over to their former table. She felt
someone come up beside her, looking up to find the waitress that had helped
here escape not ten minutes ago.
“I’m so sorry, I couldn’t stall him. He didn’t believe me when I told him you
weren’t in the toilet,” she whispered apologetically.
Arya smiled automatically, reaching out for the girl’s hand, squeezing it in
comfort.
“Don’t worry, it wasn’t your fault,” Arya said lightly, “Thank you for all you
did.”
Arya threw a look over her shoulder to see Gendry waiting for her; the same
blank look still on his face.
“It all worked out for the best I think,” Arya said thoughtfully before walking
back toward him.
-
By the time they pulled up outside Arya’s home, it was almost completely dark
with the exception of the lights on her street.
As soon as the car had stopped, Arya reached for the handle of the car door,
wanting to escape this damned car as quickly as possible. It wasn’t locked this
time to Arya’s surprise.
She climbed out of the car, hearing Gendry also climb out of his side. He was
her all the way up to her front door, looking sheepish when they reached the
door.
Arya scrabbled awkwardly around in her bag for her keys, finally pulling them
out only to drop them a moment later.
Gendry bent down immediately to retrieve them but he didn’t return them right
away. Instead he swung them around on his fingers for a second, his eyes
flickering up to meet hers.
“I’ll leave you alone,” he said after a minute of silence, “I get it, you won’t
see me again.”
Arya frowned in confusion.
“What?” she asked quickly.
“Its obvious now that you don’t want anything to do with me,” Gendry replied.
“And it wasn’t obvious before?” Arya said dryly, one eyebrow raising itself
delicately.
Gendry’s face didn’t change.
“I didn’t think about you as much before,” he said indifferently, “Now I am…
I’m not the guy you described or at least I don’t want to be. I’ve seen too
many guys act that way, I don’t want to be that…”
Arya’s frown lifted. Gendry however was still frowning. It was silent between
them, only the clanging of the keys that Gendry keep twisting provided any sort
of noise.
Arya didn’t know what to say as they stood there but she didn’t have to wait
long. Within a couple of minutes Gendry spoke again.
“Goodbye Arya Stark,” he said with a half smile.
Arya looked up at him, noticing the way that his messy locks had begun to dry.
How it made him look cute, kind as they curled at the end, making him look less
menacing. He looked kind of dull, different. It was if all the emotions that
she was used to seeing in him had been sucked right out of him. He was now a
shell of what she had formerly recognised as Gendry.
Arya pulled his jacket from her shoulders, holding it out between them for him
to take.
“Keep it,” he said dryly, “something to remember me by…”
He looked at her one last time, unsmiling but not frowning either before he
walked away back towards his car.
Arya watched him go, her entire mind buzzing with confusion.
“Arya,” he called.
Arya turned back toward him.
“Catch,” with that the keys came whizzing back toward her.
Arya caught them with one hand.
Chapter End Notes
     Feedback is so welcome you have no idea!
***** Chapter Six *****
Chapter Summary
     Sisterly interferences!
Chapter Notes
     Hope you all like it! Just a short chapter to lead to the next, more
     important one! More my own writing as I have deviated a lot from the
     original story (by hannah rawr as I said in the notes in Chapter
     One)! Let me know what you think please...
See the end of the chapter for more notes
Even days after Arya’s unfortunate date with Gendry her mind continued to dwell
on the evening. Try as she might, she just couldn’t get it out of her head, and
try she did. Certainly her thoughts about it lessened in their numbers but
still her mind touched on it every day at least once. As the days wore on so
did Arya’s resolve to put the entire topic out of her mind and yet here she was
almost a month later still thinking of it all.
Gendry’s behaviour had been so foreign, too strange for Arya to even begin to
comprehend. She still had as much trouble fathoming his polite attitude and
lack of violence as she had had that very night that everything had occurred.
After her date, she had scrambled through her house, managing to avoid the
insistent questions her mother would have asked if she had caught her sneaking
back into the house after her date. After escaping any form of inquiry from her
mother, Arya had sat and thought, considered really, what the hell had just
happen? Why had Gendry so suddenly turned from possessive and intense to a
semi-reasonable guy?
The only conclusion Arya had been able to form so far was that her words had
had some sort of powerful impact on him. That they had moved him to consider
what he was doing to her?
That couldn’t be right, she had kept telling herself, he didn’t consider things
like that.
“Excuse me?”
Arya’s head snapped up to see a girl about her age in front of her, her face
kind and open as she smiled at Arya.
“Hi,” Arya said with a big smile, “Can I help you with something?”
“Yes, I was looking for an album for my sister,” the girl asked, “She loves
this band, the cold monkeys or some such thing. I don’t know, my brother
recommended it but I wanted to get it for her birthday so do you think you
might have an idea of what it is?”
Arya laughed, giving her a friendly smile.
“I’m thinking you mean the Arctic Monkeys?” she suggested with another smile.
The girl clicked her fingers in recognition.
“Yes that sounds like what Gendry told me…”
Arya’s heart froze on hearing that name.
“… I don’t even know, they both have the weird taste in music. I genuinely
don’t know what either one of them are listening when they play their music…”
The girl may have continued to talk but if she had Arya wouldn’t have heard a
word she said.
It had been an almost a month since her disastrous dinner with Gendry and as
promised she hadn’t seen him since. He truly had left her alone after she had
told him to. She hadn’t heard from him, seen him or even seen his name pop up
anywhere in her life. Now it felt as if he were here, not literally but close
enough to send a shiver through her.
Arya looked up to see the girl had stopped talking and looking at her
expectantly, probably waiting for Arya to get the CD for her.
“Ah sure,” Arya repeated, trying to sound causal, “Right this way.”
The girl nodded, following Arya with a smile.
Arya quickly led her down the aisles of music before stopping at the “A”
section, her fingers quickly flicking through the CDs before pulling out the
one that she had asked from.
“So you’re sure it’s the Arctic Monkeys?” Arya asked as she got their newest
album out for the girl.
“Look not totally sure, my brother’s waiting in his car for me, I might run and
get him…”
“No…” Arya said quickly, “I’m sure this is right it’s fine, you don’t have to
get Gendry…”
The girl stopped, a confused frown on her face as she looked at Arya. However
within a moment all confusion was gone from her face, leaving only scorn.
“Oh God, you’ve slept with my brother haven’t you?” she said with scorn,
“That’s why you clammed up when I said his name. So typical…”
“No, no,” Arya interrupted, “I haven’t slept with your brother.”
The girl raised her eyebrows.
“Then what’s the issue? Why don’t you want me to get him?”
Arya looked down, not quite knowing what to say.
“We just went out once like a month ago for dinner and it didn’t end well,” she
said quietly, “I’d prefer if I didn’t have to see him, you know, just so we
don’t any awkwardness on either of our parts.”
The girl looked at her, a light entering her eyes.
“Oh my God, you’re the reason he’s been in a mood for weeks,” she said, her
eyes glinting with enlightenment, “God what did you do? He’s been acting all
annoyed for days or more accurately, he has been annoying me for days. Mya owes
me $20, I told her it was over a girl…”
Arya frowned, shaking her head profusely.
“We went on one date, he couldn’t be upset,” Arya said before looking back at
the girl, “No offense, your brother just doesn’t seem the type to get cut up
over being rejected by one girl…”
“No you’re right,” the girl agreed, “Usually he just gets on with it and finds
more girls to sleep with…”
The girl squinted slightly, her eyes examining Arya carefully.
“What’s different about you?” the girl asked carefully.
Arya opened her mouth but nothing came out. She genuinely had no idea. Gendry
hadn’t seemed to care that much when they had parted ways. He had known that
she didn’t want to be with him. That she was frightened of him. So, thankfully,
he had left her alone.
Arya shrugged.
“I don’t know, nothing. He scared the shit out of me to be honest,” Arya said
gently, “And on our date, after he pushed me to the very edge of my patience, I
wasn’t really shy about telling him off…”
Arya trailed off uncertainly.
“I didn’t think he would take it personally to be honest,” Arya said with
another shrug, “Again he doesn’t seem like the type of person who stops doing
what he wants, even if he is told off.”
“My brother takes everything personally,” the girl said, waving her hand
dismissively, “But I understand where you’re coming from. It doesn’t seem like
he would be as sensitive…”
Arya nodded.
The girl clicked her tongue impatiently before holding out her hand with a
smile.
“By the way, I’m Bella,” she said, “Gendry’s sister, obviously.”
Arya felt herself smile back automatically, liking the happy air that
surrounded the girl.
“Arya.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” she said, “and I’m sorry if my brother scared the shit
out of you. You wouldn’t be the first to be scared off by his brooding.”
Arya snorted without thinking.
“I think it’s a bit more than brooding…” Arya said before she could stop
herself.
She wanted to slap her hand over her mouth but Bella spoke before she could say
another thing.
“You’re right,” Bella conceded before tipping her head to the side as she
looked at Arya, “Gendry hasn’t had an easy life. He often comes across the
complete opposite of what he really is…”
Bella trailed off, getting lost in her own thoughts.
“But what you said obviously had some sort of strong effect on him,” she said
distractedly.
“I honestly don’t know,” Arya said with a shrug before gesturing to the CD in
Bella’s hand, hoping to get away from talking about Gendry, “Anyway, did you
want this?”
Bella nodded with a smile.
“Yes I will get, thank you.”
Arya checked the CD out wordlessly. Bella was silent as well.
“Sorry about all the questions and everything,” Bella said suddenly, “I was
just a bit curious. So weird that you know my brother and all that.”
Arya smiled tightly, her body a little tenser than it had been.
“Yes very strange.”
“Anyway, it was nice to meet you,” Bella said, “Sorry for asking you all the
uncomfortable questions…”
She trailed off before giving an awkward wave and turning to leave the shop.
Arya frowned, looking down at the cash register as she fiddled with it to
distract herself.
That had been more than sufficiently awkward. Arya sighed, releasing all the
air she had been holding her in lungs.
Suddenly Bella was back at the cash register, her reappearance startling Arya.
“Look wait, I can’t leave it at that,” Bella said, “I want to talk to you,
about Gendry. You and your words have obviously had a deeper impact than what
you know and honestly, what kind of sister would I be if I didn’t stick my nose
into my brothers business…”
“You would be a good one…” a cold voice said from behind Bella.
Everything vital and warm in Arya’s body seemed to freeze when she heard that
voice. Arya’s eyes skipped upward to see Gendry standing behind his sister,
looking absolutely livid as he glared at the back of her head. Such a look
would have terrified Arya if it had been directed at her but Bella did not look
terrified when she turned around. Instead she turned with a flip of her hair,
all insolence as she stood there staring boldly back at her brother.
“What are you doing here?” she said to him, “You’re meant to be waiting in the
car…”
“I was but you were taking too damn long,” Gendry said through gritted teeth.
His eyes met Arya’s curtly. His eyes hardened even more if it were possible.
“Bella,” he growled.
“No Gen…”
“Bella,” he snapped, “Don’t…”
The siblings stared at each other for a moment, their eyes locked in a heated
but silence feud. Within a few moments however, Gendry proved himself to be the
more stubborn of the two.
Bella huffed, turning around to face Arya once more. She gave her a smile.
“It was nice to meet you,” was all she said, her teeth gritted and her eyes
irritated, before she twirled around storming past her brother and beginning to
look angrily through some CD’s not too far behind them.
Arya was silent for a moment after Bella’s dramatic departure as was Gendry.
However in spite of the silence between them, Arya could feel Gendry’s eyes on
her.
“My sister tends to be interfering,” was all he said in explanation.
Arya’s eyes fluttered up to meet Gendry.
She swallowed nervously.
He looked the same but his eyes didn’t have that controlling spark to them,
instead they seemed almost dull, perhaps even bored.
“That’s fine, I understand. I come from a big, interfering family too,” Arya
said nervously.
Gendry nodded, his face blank.
Arya didn’t know what to say. Did she really want to talk to him? Not really
but here they stood together, not speaking, just staring at each other.
“So I’ll see you around…”
Gendry nodded curtly before turning to walk back towards his sister, who was
bending down, out of Arya’s sight to get something.
And that was even more awkward, Arya thought ironically as she watched Gendry
go.
“Who was that guy?” Ned’s voice said as she felt him come to her side.
Arya’s eyes slid up to meet Ned, following his eyes back to Gendry and Bella.
“Just this guy I know and his sister,” she said, “Why?”
Ned’s eyes roved restlessly over Gendry.
“Sister? I just feel like I know him from somewhere that’s all,” he said.
Arya shrugged.
“Are you close to him?” Ned asked.
Arya shook her head.
“Not particularly,” she said shortly, her eyes flickering back up to Gendry,
who was speaking to his sister in hushed tones, “Why?”
Ned opened his mouth to respond but before he could say a thing to Arya, a
joyful voice cried out his name.
“Ned!”
Gendry’s sister had re-emerged from the ground and was looking at Ned with a
huge smile.
“Ned,” she called again, jogging over to him and throwing her arms around him,
“How have you been? I haven’t seen you in ages, probably since school.”
“Bella,” Ned responded with stars in his eyes, his arms wrapping around her
enthusiastically, “I thought I recognised your brother, how are you?”
“I’m well…”
Bella and Ned continued to talk but Arya barely heard them.
All she could think of was that Gendry was coming back toward her once again.
How was it that she didn’t see him for a month and now it felt like he wouldn’t
leave? A fear of looking into those eyes became once more palpable. What she
would see if she did happen to look up at them. She honestly wasn’t sure at
this stage.
Arya looked up, seeing Gendry still standing behind his sister. Her eyes seemed
drawn to Gendry as she once again looked into his eyes. She was not surprised
that although he was staring at her, his eyes seemed oddly blank once again,
seeming dull. There seemed to be absolutely no emotion in them. Her eyes roamed
over him, an action she was sure he would notice if the past was any indictor
of his behaviour. He looked good but he always had. His tight black shirt came
to his forearms, leaving the veins on his arm exposed. He looked shorter for
some reason. He was still tall but to Arya, he looked smaller.
Its because you’re not as scared of him anymore, a little voice whispered at
the back of her mind.
“Arya, you should come too.”
Ned’s voice cut through Arya’s musings.
“What?” she asked, looking up to Ned, “Sorry I wasn’t listening…”
Ned rolled his eyes but still smiled good-naturedly.
“Bella and I were just saying that we are both going to this club tonight, you
should come,” Ned explained easily.
Arya faltered, quickly trying to think of an excuse to get out of it.
“I won’t bring Gen if that’s what bothers you,” Bella interrupted with her a
smirk, “Although he was the one to invite me there funnily enough so actually I
probably couldn’t stop him going but I’ll make sure he leaves you alone…”
Arya laughed nervously.
“No it’s not that, its fine…”
“Good,” Bella cut in once more, “Come with Ned. See you tonight then.”
With that Bella flounced off once more, except this time, she actually left the
store, leaving only Gendry in her wake. He remained as somber and blank as he
had been before.
He nodded to both of them before turning around to follow his sister.
Arya quickly turned away so she wouldn’t stare at him as he walked away.
“So,” Ned began from next to her, “What was that all about? With Bella’s
brother?”
Arya shook her head.
“Nothing,” she said shortly.
“Nothing, really?” Ned said dryly, cocking an eyebrow at her, “That’s why Bella
offered not to bring him? That’s why when I touched your arm; I swear for a
second, he gave me a glare that I felt pierce me like a knife through my skull.
Come on Arya, tell me?”
Arya quirked her eyebrows, suppressing the desire to laugh.
“Very poetic, Edric Dayne,” she complimented.
Ned sighed before reaching out to take one of her hands in his.
“Just tell me?” he beseeched, his voice gentle, “I have heard things about
Bella’s brother, Gendry right? Things that make me think that I wouldn’t want
my sister dating him. I want to know in case you need someone to deal with any
shit he throws at you if he ends up coming tonight.”
Arya rolled her eyes, fiddling with her labeller before answering him.
“We went on one date, that’s all,” Arya said, “He was a bit rough around the
edges, I told him that and he left me alone after that.”
“If what I’ve heard about him is true then ‘a bit rough around the edges’ is
not an apt description of him Arya,” Ned replied dryly.
Arya shrugged.
“I don’t know what you heard so I couldn’t tell you,” she said evasively, “He
terrified me. Yet I have to be grateful. When I yelled at him, he did leave me
alone.”
Ned nodded.
“So do you want to come tonight?” he asked hopefully.
“I don’t know,” Arya said truthfully.
Ned examined her with keen eyes.
“Come,” he said decidedly, “I’ll pick you up at nine. Bring Sansa if you want
to?”
Arya nodded with a sigh. It looked like she would be seeing him again tonight
whether she was prepared to or not.
Chapter End Notes
     Feedback is gold!! I like gold ;)
***** Chapter Seven *****
Chapter Summary
     Arya begins to see the light under the darkness!
Chapter Notes
     Sorry, not been too good with the updates this week so here is a
     longer chapter to make up for it! Tell me what you think of it!
     PS: this chapter is dedicated to all my American readers, a little
     cheerful distraction!! Love and light to you all at this time of
     change!
See the end of the chapter for more notes
As Arya walked toward the club with Ned that night, her every move filled with
nervous trepidation. She hadn’t wanted to come and she almost hadn’t. However
after some consideration, she had decided to go, having genuinely convinced
herself that the only reason that she was even coming was to prove to Gendry
that she was no longer afraid of him.
That felt like a lie but Arya believed it nonetheless.
Ned knew the bouncer on the club door so they got in quicker than Arya wanted.
Ned pulled her along; his hand clutched hers as he dragged Arya through the
throngs of people until they reached a group of people already sitting at a
private booth. Empty glasses littered the table as they talked and laughed over
the pounding music as if it was mere background noise.
Ned let go of Arya’s hand, warmly greeting all the people at the table before
he pushed Arya in front of him.
“This is my friend, Arya,” he explained, “Everyone be nice to her or Bella’s
brother will probably beat you up.”
Arya felt herself go completely red, feeling mortified.
How could Ned say that? How could he do that to her? However before she could
reproach him, he was pushing her into the booth. She slid along the seat until
she was next to a beautiful girl who gave her a friendly smile.
She stuck her hand out instantly.
“Hey, I’m Jeyne!” she sang, her entire body swaying slightly.
Arya smiled back.
“Arya,” she repeated with a smile that was slightly less enthusiastic than
Jeyne’s.
“Ned said,” the girl responded with a smile, “So how do you know Ned?”
“We work together,” Arya answered, “We became friends when I started working at
his aunt’s shop a couple of months.”
“Nice,” the girl said with a bounce in her voice, “Do you… oh there’s Bell!”
Arya sucked a deep breath in before turning to look over her shoulder.
Jeyne was right, Bella was making her way through the crowds of people, towards
their table, stopping only occasionally to speak to someone or press a kiss of
greeting against a cheek. Bella however was not the only person who was walking
toward them. She had a great hulking shadow that moved with her. Gendry was
following his sister as she walked toward the table.
Bella greeted everyone exuberantly while Gendry merely nodded coolly at
everyone in greeting. Arya watched for a second fighting the urge to turn back
to Jeyne, to avoid looking at either of their new arrivals. However she could
not bring herself to cower away so she remained were she was, her eyes firmly
on Gendry and his sister.
Bella stopped in front of her, greeting her with a kiss on the cheek.
“I’m so glad you came,” she said, taking Arya’s hand in her own, “We will talk
later on, let me just say hi to everyone else.”
With that she moved on. Gendry on the other hand was quiet, only giving Arya a
swift nod and a piercing stare before being distracted by a guy who tapped him
on the shoulder.
Arya released a sigh of relief before turning back to Jeyne. Jeyne however was
no longer focused on Arya, instead she was staring at someone behind her. Jeyne
was drunk but the way she stared at someone over Arya’s shoulder, her eyes full
of stars, made her look almost sober.
Arya glanced over her shoulder again, curiosity getting the better of her as
she tried to catch a glimpse of whom the girl was staring at. Arya only saw
Gendry’s back as he walked away from them.
“So,” Arya said, redrawing Jeyne’s attention, “Are you having a good time
tonight?”
Jeyne nodded eagerly.
“Yes its been nice to get out!” she responded.
Arya nodded in agreement.
“I heard Ned mention something about you and Gendry before, are you dating
him?” Jeyne asked, raising her eyebrows up and down several times with a cheeky
giggle.
Arya turned her head, her eyes flickering over to Gendry who was talking to a
guy not too far away before quickly looking back to Jeyne, who looked like she
was trying too hard to be flippant.
“God no,” Arya exclaimed, “We aren’t even friends…”
The girl looked at Arya as if she were crazy.
“But he’s gorgeous,” Jeyne blurted, her voice filled with incredulity.
Arya rolled her eyes. She had a feeling Gendry’s violent tendencies were met
with that sort of reaction a bit too much. A lot of people seemed to overlook
his angry countenance in favour of his good looks.
“I think he has a bit of an anger problem,” Arya said with a shrug, “His looks
don’t matter all that much to me.”
Jeyne smiled as if Arya spoke the obvious. She shuffled closer to her before
reaching forward to touch Arya’s forearm, leaning in.
“I think he likes you,” she whispered, “Ned said mentioned something before
when he introduced you to us, but more than that. Gendry keeps glancing over
here to look at you almost every couple of seconds.”
Jeyne smiled in encouragement, as if Arya should be overcome with joy, before
beginning to rouse herself.
“I’m going to get some drinks,” she said, leaning toward Arya, “Do you want
something?”
“Sure thanks,” she responded, “Whatever cheap is fine.”
The girl nodded before getting up with another smile.
Arya couldn’t help but think that the girls face would break if she didn’t stop
smiling.
Arya felt someone sidle up to her, taking Jeyne’s spot in the booth.
Arya looked up, her eyes meeting the bright blue eyes of Bella.
“Hey!” Bella said cheerfully, her eyes bright, “I’m so glad you came tonight!”
Arya returned her smile.
“Yes me too,” she lied, “Seems like a cool club.”
Bella shrugged.
“Its okay I guess,” she said uncaringly, “I wanted to talk to you about my
brother…”
Arya sighed internally. She did not want to talk about Gendry. That would just
be awkward and really quite unnecessary. However, Arya merely nodded at Bella
to proceed nonetheless.
“I’m sorry if he had been rough or demanding with you at all,” she apologised
before rushing to say, “Like I know he wouldn’t have hit you or anything…”
Bella whitened so suddenly and painfully that even under the colourful lights
of the club, Arya could see her face pale.
“God he didn’t, did he?” she hurried to ask.
Arya quickly assured her that he had not. Bella deflated with relief before
annoyance came over her features.
“I knew that. I shouldn’t have even thought that, I know my brother better than
that,” she said reproachfully, more to herself than to Arya, before sighing and
piercing Arya with her eyes.
Eyes which were so similar to her brothers.
“Look I know my brother can be difficult but he’s not a bad person. He’s not
even a violent person, if you can believe it. That’s just the persona he takes
on. He feels as though he needs to be the protector… tough and rough and all
things in between, you know?”
Bella paused, sucking in a deep breath.
“When he was young, only five or six at the time I think, he saw something bad,
something no child should have to see…” Bella said, “Ever since then he has to
be in obsessively in control of everything even if that sometimes makes him
seem almost abusive.”
Arya frowned in confusion, a mixture of pity and curiosity going through her.
“I’m not going to tell you what happen,” Bella said quickly, “I think that’s
Gendry’s job to tell you if he wants to but I am going to tell you that I think
my brother really likes you. He has shown more emotion with you than he has
ever shown with a girl. Usually he just dates them, fucks them and leaves them.
That way he is in control of every little aspect of their time together but
with you… something about you pushed him out of his controlling sphere. After
he stopped seeing you he was more… thoughtful.”
Arya nodded along with Bella, unsure where this was all going.
“Look, I’m not excusing his behaviour but I hope it makes you understanding him
a bit more because it seemed like he liked you and it would nice to see him
with a girl he liked…” Bella shrugged before taking a gulp of her drink.
Arya frowned. Did Bella want her to be with Gendry? What had happen to Gendry
as a child that would make him like this? She couldn’t be serious.
Bella seemed to pick up Arya’s uncertainty.
“Uh I’m drunk and blabbering, we should talk about this when I’m sober” she
said, taking another drink, “Enough talking, I’m going to go dance. Want to
come?”
Bella looked down at Arya inquisitively as she stood up.
“Thanks but I have a drink coming,” Arya said with a polite smile.
Bella nodded.
“That’s fine, just means now I have to go talk to that hot guy over there,” she
said with a carefree laugh, “I’ll be back later…”
Arya nodded
Bella caught Arya’s hand quickly, her eyes earnest.
“Just don’t make my brother hurt himself, Arya, you seem to have the capability
to make him do that more than he already did,” she said quietly.
Arya frowned as Bella bounced off, disappearing amongst the crowd of people
clambering on the dance floor.
What had that all meant? Was Bella asking her to be with her brother? Before
Arya could think about it all, her thoughts were interrupted.
“Well that was meaningful,” a voice said dryly from next to Arya.
She looked up to see a guy sitting where Jeyne had been, his eyes roaming over
her.
“Yes very strange,” Arya agreed offhandedly.
The man nodded, his eyes still running over her.
“I’m Aegon,” he said simply, a smile curling on his lips.
Arya half smiled back.
“I’m Arya.”
Arya expected him to say something in return but Aegon just smiled before his
eyes got lost watching the dancing people in front of them. One by one, the
other people at the booth that Arya had unintentionally been ignoring left,
dispersing amongst the crowd until it was just Aegon left with Arya at the
table.
Aegon didn’t say a thing, only fixating on Arya with a stare that made her
squirm in discomfit. Perhaps it was just awkwardness but Arya couldn’t help but
think it was something a bit more sinister.
Arya’s eyes searched the throngs first for Ned and then Bella but she couldn’t
see either of them. For a second, her eyes even searched for Gendry in the
crowds of people but she didn’t see him either. However then Aegon spoke,
drawing Arya’s attention.
“So, you’re Gendry’s girl?”
Arya’s head snapped to look at Aegon, her eyes narrowing at his surprising
attempt at conversation.
He smiled at her when she didn’t answer straight away. His smile set Arya’s
teeth on edge.
Arya shook her head before answering.
“No I’m not. We just know each other.”
At that, Aegon cocked his head to the side, a sly smile on his lips as he
regarded her. Arya felt him move as he attempted to slide discretely closer to
her. Arya’s felt very well aware of his movements, especially when his knee
brushed her own. Something about him felt off…
The way that he had asked if she was with Gendry, it was almost as if he were
asking Arya if she belonged to Gendry. It was domineering. She just didn’t know
what to think of it.
“So then you’re up for other things?” he inquired with a cruel smirk.
Arya frowned, turning to look at him. A gasp fell from her lips as Aegon’s hand
gripped her thigh tightly, sliding higher as the seconds passed.
Arya didn’t know what to say. How was this happening to her again?
“That makes things a lot easier then,” Aegon said with another smile.
His hand moved higher. Arya slammed her hand down on his, stopping it from its
ascent before prying his fingers from her leg.
“Don’t touch me,” she said through gritted teeth, picking his hand up in the
tight grasp before depositing it back onto his own leg, “Don’t ever touch me…”
Arya began to slide away, trying to get out of the booth but she felt a tight
grip on one of her wrists.
“Let go of me,” Arya spat with venom.
Aegon laughed coldly before pulling Arya to his side. He pulled her so close
that her entire thigh was brushing hers.
Arya felt sick.
“You’re gorgeous, you know?” he whispered in her ear.
His hot breath traced her ear as he spoke. Arya thought she could smell the
stench of alcohol on his breath but wasn’t certain. Arya’s stomach heaved in
disgust.
“Get off me,” Arya said as she struggled in his tight grip.
Aegon laughed again, loosening his hold slightly for a second. However Arya
took advantage of his momentary lapse, siding away from Aegon and out of the
booth.
Arya didn’t even stop to take a breath of relief. She hurried toward the girl’s
toilets the one place that she knew was sacred. However before she could get
there, Aegon pulled her roughly into a dimly lit hall next to the toilets. It
was empty yet still radiated the thumping of the music from the club.
“Gendry was right when he talked about you all those months ago, you are
feisty.”
Arya almost shrieked when she felt him jerk her through a door. Her skin met
the outside cold, goose bumps instantly arising all over her body.
Arya’s head turned restlessly, her body following those movements as she
stumbled around, flopping and flipping around uncertainly. Aegon clutched her
shoulders stopping her movements.
“Stop moving so much,” he thundered as he began to pull her along with him.
Arya was in shock for a moment before she dug her heels into the ground as he
attempted to drag her further away from the door that they had just come out
of.
As soon as he felt any resistance, Aegon turned round to face Arya, causing her
to cower back, all the while trembling in fear.
“Don’t make this difficult you stupid bitch,” he spat.
Arya started to panic even more as he dragged her even further away, the only
sound Arya could hear now was the thumping of her heart. The music had almost
disappeared from her hearing and she couldn’t see anyone around.
She was genuinely screwed.
Aegon caught hold of Arya’s shoulder, roughly shoving her against a brick wall.
Arya winced, squeezing her eyes closed at the contact for a second, before
trying to shove him off her.
“Get off me,” Arya demanded again.
Even Arya could hear the fear laced in her voice. It was apparent that Aegon
could as well as he laughed. His gaze trailed down her chest, followed closely
by his fingers. Arya was frozen to the spot, her mind racing as she felt
herself become a victim of something she didn’t want.
Arya let a strangled gasp out as Aegon pressed his body to hers, beginning to
bite her neck. Arya closed her eyes for a second before letting out a shriek.
Bella had said he was a protector, he would protect her…
“GENDRY!” Arya shouted.
As soon as the name left her mouth Arya wanted to suck it back in. Why did she
call him of all people? He wasn’t here, no one was. No one could protect her.
Arya took a deep, filling her lungs with air once more to call for Ned, for
Bella, for anyone who could hear her but a clammy hand quickly covered her
mouth.
“Shut up, don’t yell again,” Aegon growled at her.
Arya felt anxiety coursing through her body, wincing again as Aegon bit into
her neck hard.
Arya whimpered.
“What the hell are you doing?” a voice growled.
Aegon’s cold hand that had been grabbing at her skin froze before tightening
its grip suddenly.
Arya’s felt all the breath inside her rush out in a sigh of relief that she
didn’t know she was holding in. He was here.
Aegon let out a laugh before turning around to face Gendry who was towering
over both of them, a look of anger on his face.
“Just having a bit of fun, mate,” he laughed.
“Not with her you won’t,” Gendry said, stepping closer.
For the first time since Arya had met Gendry, she was glad for his intimidating
presence, the violent glint in his eyes. She was emboldened by it all and right
now, she could tell he was angry which made him even more intimidating that he
was usually. His fists were clenched and his jaw tightened even further as he
stared at Aegon.
However for a second, Gendry’s blue eyes darted over to look at Arya, taking
her in completely, her fearful expression, the way she was pressed against the
wall with her hands held defensively before her. Everything. His eyes seemed to
grow darker in anger as he continued to stare at her. However when his eyes met
hers, they suddenly grew gentle, soft even. Reassuring.
“Arya,” he said in a tender voice.
Gendry reached out his hand, holding it out to her with that soft look in his
eyes. Arya’s eyes flicked from his outstretched limb up to his face for barely
even a second before she hastily accepted his hand, her body uncomfortably
grazing past Aegon’s as Gendry tugged her towards him.
Arya found herself being quickly pulled behind Gendry’s tall figure as he
placed himself between her and Aegon. Arya’s relief poured throughout her body.
“Lighten up, Gendry,” Aegon said, his voice light and teasing, before he called
out, “We were just having some fun. Isn’t that right Arya?”
Arya sucked in a deep breath but didn’t answer him. She didn’t want to answer
him at all. He made her skin crawl. Instead she moved more firmly behind
Gendry, her fingers desperately fisting the fabric of his shirt, as she stood
behind him, too anxious to let go.
When she didn’t reply, Aegon spoke again.
“Don’t be like that, we were having a good time.”
All the muscles in Gendry’s back tensed at once under Arya’s fingers.
“Arya, go inside,” Gendry said calmly.
Arya’ hands were still fisted tightly, gripping Gendry’s t-shirt. She didn’t
move.
“Go, now please,” he repeated, his voice taunt with rage.
For once Arya found herself wanting to obey him. She wanted to jog out of this
hallway, out of this club, even out of this night but Arya only made it back to
the door of the club. A rush of worry went through her when she heard angry
voice arguing behind her. She hung on to the doorframe, leaning against it to
listen to Gendry and Aegon. Their voices were difficult to make out, but Arya
understood pretty well what was going on when she heard the sound of skin
pounding into skin.
Arya swung around to see Aegon clutching his nose with both his hands, crying
out in pain. He was stumbling back, his body slumping as it leant against the
wall that Arya had been trapped against only minutes ago.
Gendry didn’t hesitate to knee him in the stomach.
Aegon yelped in pain, beginning to slide to the ground. Arya flinched at the
noise.
Arya gasped as Gendry kicked Aegon in his side, a sick cracking noise
resounding through the alleyway. Gendry’s clenched fist began to repeatedly
pound into Aegon.
Arya ran toward Gendry. She couldn’t watch any longer. Gendry was going to kill
Aegon if he didn’t stop.
Arya’s heart was racing as she reached out, gripping Gendry’s shoulders,
desperately trying to pull him off. Arya knew that he knew she was holding him
but still he wouldn’t budge.
“Gendry please, stop. Gendry stop!”
His arm drew back, his fist clenched to throw another punch. Arya quickly
wrapped her hands around the strained muscle, pulling it with substantial
strength.
“You’re going to kill him,” she whispered desperately.
Gendry paused, looking back at Arya, his blue eyes still enraged but seeming to
settle as they looked at her.
“He was going to hurt you,” he said through gritted teeth, “He deserves what
he’s getting…”
His fist broke out of Arya’s hold, once more hammering down into Aegon.
Arya’s mind searched restlessly with what to say.
“But he didn’t, you stopped him,” she said before reasoning, “Don’t become as
bad as him Gendry…”
Arya could see the gears in his mind turning as he thought over what she said.
“Come on, leave him alone,” she coaxed, “Lets just get out of here, we will go
somewhere, anywhere you want to. Lets just go.”
Gendry’s head quickly snapped to look at Arya. There that was it, she had his
attention.
“Please, come on,” she pleaded with him, “Lets go…”
It took Gendry less than a second to make his decision.
Slowly he climbed off Aegon, looking at Arya shrewdly before coming to her
side. Arya felt herself hold out her hand, as shocked by her own action as she
could see Gendry was.
Slowly he reached out, taking her hand, his hand surprisingly soft. His gaze
remained apprehensive.
As soon as their fingers were intertwined, Arya tugged Gendry back along the
passage towards the back door of the club. She spared only a single glance for
Aegon who was still groaning in pain on the ground. His body was crumpled,
curling itself up as he brought his knees to his chest, moaning all the while.
Arya felt a stab of pity for him. He had been awful but to see a man so damaged
and feel nothing was impossible, even for her.
The further away from Aegon they walked, the more Arya felt herself calm down.
Her heart began to slow and her breathing leveled out once more. She still felt
shaken but Gendry had calmed her down and right now, he was the one making her
feel safe. No matter how much Gendry frightened her, he had come to her rescue
and Arya couldn’t deny he made her feel safe like no one else did.
Abruptly Arya halted in their step, Gendry halting as well as she turned around
to face him.
“Arya…” he said unsurely.
Gendry didn’t finish his sentence and Arya decided not to care what he was
going to say. Instead she laid her hands on his shoulders, forcing him back so
he was pressed between her and a wall. For a second Gendry looked shocked but
within seconds, his eyes grew hazy with something else.
He saved me, Arya thought, her mind racing.
Hot breath fanned over Arya’s face as she leant up, her lips momentarily
brushing the corner of Gendry’s mouth, not quite touching his lips. Her
eyelashes fluttered in indulgence at the sensation.
They stayed there for a second, neither of them daring to move as they stood so
close together.
Arya couldn’t quite work out why she had done that? Was it merely gratitude, a
derivative of him being her hero? Or was it desire, did she want him? Did she
want to be with him?
How could I possibly want that, Arya thought angrily as she breathed in the
smell that she had come to know innately as Gendry, he’s …
She couldn’t think of the right words to describe Gendry. Had someone asked her
what she thought of him a month ago, angry, violent, demanding would have been
the first things she said. Now however, she didn’t know. He had respected her
wishes and stayed away from her. When he had seen her, he had been polite but
distant, like she had wanted. Now he had helped her when she needed. When no
one else had been there to help her. No, she was starting to think that she
didn’t quite know what to make of Gendry.
Arya was the first to pull back slightly, looking up at Gendry. She struggled
to read his expression, there were so many different emotions dancing across
his face, echoing her own most likely. Slowly she leant in again, pressing her
forehead against him. Large hands slid onto her hips, holding her even closer
to him. His nose cautiously brushed hers almost testing to see what would
happen?
“Thank you,” Arya whispered, finding her voice at last, “Thank you so much.”
Gendry didn’t reply. Instead his lips were suddenly softly pressed to Arya’s.
They were warm, his movements gentle in comparison to his usual demands.
However within a second, his lips left hers, leaving Arya strangely wanting.
“Arya,” he mumbled.
“Yes…”
Arya’s eyes had fluttered closed as he had kissed her, savouring his touch. Now
however they bounced open.
“Lets go.”
Arya nodded, following him eagerly.
Chapter End Notes
     Appreciate anything you would care to leave behind, so please leave
     things behind!
***** Chapter Eight *****
Chapter Notes
     MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!! Wishing you all a beautiful day filled
     with all the love and joy that everyone deserves on this day
     regardless of if you celebrate it!! A new chapter (finally, so
     sorry)! Sorry it has been so delayed just had a brunch of things go
     on in my personal life that prevented me from writing but back with
     this shamefully short chapter and hopefully the next one will be up
     promptly!
See the end of the chapter for more notes
“We should go.”
Arya nodded before glancing behind her to see Aegon stirring, a groan
following.
“Yes and quickly,” she said hurriedly.
Gendry immediately grasped her hand once more before pulling her back through
the door and into the club. The sweaty atmosphere had not changed and people
still danced, completely unaware that anything untoward had just occurred near
them.
They quickly reached the table and Arya barely had time to shove her jacket on
before she felt Gendry looming behind her, waiting to leave. He was anxious to
go she could feel it. Perhaps because of Aegon but Arya had a feeling it was
less to do with that and more to do with their kiss. He quickly reached her
hand once more and she let him take it immediately.
“Arya!”
Gendry took no notice but Arya turned to see Bella moving through the crowds
toward her, a concerned look on her face.
“I was looking for you everywhere,” Bella said breathlessly once she reached
them, “Where were you? I was worried…”
She trailed off, her eyes full of concern. Arya felt Gendry step closer to her.
Bella’s eyes darted up, meeting her brother’s for no more than a second.
A million unspoken thoughts seemed to go between them in that one second before
Bella looked back to Arya with a genuine smile.
Bella threw her arms around Arya, pulling her in for a quick hug.
“Get Gendry to give you my number and we will catch up sometime,” she
whispered, “It was nice to see you again, I’m sorry we didn’t get to spend more
time together tonight...”
Arya nodded into the girl’s shoulder while she returned her hug. Bella let go
before throwing them one more concerned glance.
Arya smiled at her one last time before looking to Gendry, who immediately
began to pull her through the crowds of people.
Arya let him lead, his strength vastly overpowered hers and people seemed to
move aside as he walked through the crowd of dancers, creating a path for them
to walk through.
The crowd was dense and Arya found it difficult to keep ahold of Gendry’s hand
through the crowd. Her fingers constantly slipped out of his. She tripped over
once, shrieking as she fell into someone, a drunk guy who quickly took
advantage of the situation by slithering his arm around her waist.
Arya immediately began struggling against his hold. The guy said something in a
taunting voice but Arya didn’t even listen to his words, distracted by the wave
of his drunken breath that confirmed her analysis that he was well and truly
sloshed.
“Back off,” Gendry growled.
The taunting smirk was wiped from the man’s face as his eyes shot up to look at
Gendry, who was towering over him with an enraged expression. Arya quickly
broke free of the man’s hold as she felt it slacken in fear.
Gendry moved forward aggressively, moving to shove the guy away.
Arya wanted to roll her eyes. Couldn’t he let anything go? Arya immediately
stepped forward, pressing her hands against Gendry’s chest in an attempt to
stop him pursuing anything.
“Gendry,” she pleaded, “Don’t bother. Lets just go… now please…”
The image of him beating Aegon was still fresh in Arya’s memory as she spoke.
She had no wish to now deal with a similar but much more public incident.
Gendry’s chest rose and fell under Arya’s fingers as he stood there,
considering her words.
Arya let out a breath of relief when his hands gently covered her own. Arya
took both his hands into her own before pulling him away and continuing to move
through the club.
Arya continued to walk until the cool night air hit them.
“Come on, my car is this way,” Gendry murmured from behind her.
Arya nodded, moving to follow him. Arya struggled to keep up with Gendry’s
impatient pace, his long legs taking larger strides than hers could ever hope
to. Gendry led her into an alley and for once, Arya followed him trustingly.
Arya’s eyes locked onto the black car as soon as it came into view. It sat
there ominously, surrounded in shadows. However Arya’s eyes slid to a car that
sat directly behind it, a frown descending onto her brow. Arya’s fingers gently
squeezed his left hand, pulling Gendry back slightly. Gendry looked at her, his
eyes confused.
“What is it?” he asked.
“Shh…” Arya hushed him, pressing a finger to his lips to silence him.
Gendry frowned being quiet for a second before opening his mouth once more,
asking what was wrong once again but in a whisper.
Arya didn’t reply, instead looking around Gendry.
Arya squinted her eyes in an effort to see inside the vehicle that was parked
parallel to Gendry’s car. She could have sworn that she saw a flash of blonde
hair so light that it was nearly white through the front window. Arya watched
the car until she saw Aegon, his nose still bloody and beginning to bruise,
inside the car. There was one guy sitting in the seat next to him and, if Arya
wasn’t mistaken, it looked like there might be another guy in the backseat.
Were they waiting for Gendry to return to his car? They must be, it was just
too much of a coincidence for them not to be.
The man in the front seat began to turn his head in their direction and Arya
swiftly tugged them both back into the narrow alley that they had just walked
up. Gendry was pushed back into the cold brick and Arya’s hands flew up to his
chest to prevent her from falling into him. All that could be heard was their
heavy breathing as they stood there for a second.
Arya jumped when she felt Gendry’s fingers brushing her hair away from her
face. She peered up at him, his dark hair had flopped over his forehead and
those piercing blue eyes, that really were so breathtaking, were sparkling as
he stared down at her.
“We can walk back to my apartment if you want,” he whispered, “It’s not too
far…”
Arya couldn’t help the shiver that went through her on hearing his words but
she nodded regardless as curiosity overtook her. She nodded sagely.
Gendry smiled at her, looking extremely pleased before he reached out to take
his hand. Arya let him, threading her fingers between his own.
“Let’s go back to mine then,” he said.
They decided to walk, not wanting to be seen by Aegon. Gendry was going to pick
up the car in the morning instead, avoiding an inevitable confrontation with
Aegon and his cronies.
Arya couldn’t help but glance at Gendry as they walked, their hands swinging
between them. She was curious about him. She had only ever seen the possessive
Gendry of the past but this man was someone else entirely and she just wasn’t
sure about him just yet.
“I can feel you staring at me,” he said suddenly, sparing her a brief glance
that she felt run right through her, “Unless you want me to press you against a
wall and kiss you senseless, I suggest you stop.”
Arya’s eyes dropped from his figure but she let out a short laugh that sounded
dry to her ears.
“And here I thought were becoming more like a gentleman,” she said
sarcastically.
Gendry smiled at her, something sparkling in his eyes.
“What can I say, I’m trying to be but sometimes I just can’t resist,” he
replied silkily.
Arya privately rolled her eyes.
They fell into a comfortable silence as they walked. Their hands swung between
them as they walked and for once, Arya felt safe in Gendry’s presence. Did he
have her complete trust? No, not at all but something about the way that
everything had happen had made her look at him differently. He had protected
her.
It wasn’t long before he was pulling out a set of keys from his back pocket. He
rested a hand on the small of Arya’s back as he guided her up the steps to the
front door of a townhouse that looked to well maintained to be solely his.
Despite her earlier feelings of trust towards him, Arya’s couldn’t help but
feel anxious, her chest rising rapidly up and down as a keen fear of being
completely alone with Gendry set in.
Unwillingly her mind went to all the things that he had done that had made him
so repellant to her only an hour earlier.
She was pulled from her thoughts by the click of Gendry’s key in the front door
as he pushed the door open. He quickly stepped inside, immediately turning on a
light.
Arya stood for a second, frozen to where she was standing as he stepped through
his doorway. He looked over his shoulder, a slight frown on his face as he
observed her standing on his top step.
“You can come in, you know?” he said, a smirk adorning his face.
Chapter End Notes
     WISHING A HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL YOU GORGEOUS PEOPLE! Comments are so
     appreciated!
***** Chapter Nine *****
Chapter Notes
     TOLD YALL I WAS BACK!! Here is another chapter that I hope you
     enjoy!! I like this chapter we get a peak into Arya's past! I did
     edit it but I was tired and all so sorry if there are any mistakes/
     grammatical errors! Just wanted to get it up for you all! I must say
     I am so appreciative of all the kind words that I am getting on this
     fic, seriously so ecstatic !!
     (also let you know if you think my writing is a bit repetitive!! I
     don't do it with other things but with BTTB I find that I feel like
     my writing is a bit repetitive! I don't know, could be in my head but
     let me know would really appreciate it!)
See the end of the chapter for more notes
"You can come in, you know?" Gendry said with a serene smile that somehow felt
devious.
Arya gazed after him for a second before nodding, inhaling deep down into her
stomach before stepping into the house.
Arya could feel Gendry as he moved behind her, his hands brushing against her
as he helped her take off her jacket. His hands immediately rested on her
shoulders once her jacket was off, his head dipping forward to rest on Arya’s
shoulder for a second. Lips pressed sensually against Arya’s neck.
She shivered at the sensation, hot breath touching her skin as he breathed
against it before he withdrew his lips.
Gendry moved away from Arya, hanging up both their jackets, light flooding the
front room of the house as Gendry switched on another light. Arya’s eyes roved
restlessly through the small entrance. It was simple, plain even. Arya walked
forward, taking the rooms in. White walls, dark furniture and lots of wood
everywhere.
She stopped, realizing that she was alone in the middle of the room. Arya
slowly turned around, looking back at Gendry. He moved forward, a dimpled smile
on his face. Arya went to step back, an unconscious attempt to keep some
distance between them.
"I…"
Arya found it difficult to even form the words she was trying to say.
Gendry waited for her to speak, tilting his head slightly to the side as he
stared at her, patiently waiting.
"Thank you... Gendry,” Arya said quietly.
Arya’s breath hitched in her throat as she felt him move closer. He leaned
down, curly hair tickling Arya’s cheek as he brought his lips to her ear.
“You’ve already thanked me …” he said, his eyes glittering.
“Well I’m thanking you again,” she whispered.
"Its fine. I would do it again," he said, his voice deepening, “in a
heartbeat…”
“But you won’t need to,” Arya quickly interjected before arching an eyebrow,
“Will you?”
He shook his head with a small smile.
Arya gave him an approving smile before she spoke once more, her voice firmer
than before.
“However as grateful as I am, I’m telling you now, I don’t plan on sleeping
with you tonight...”
Gendry’s eyes had an amused glint to them as she spoke.
For a second, Arya feared that that glint meant that the old Gendry had
returned. The one who would kiss her roughly into submission through fear.
However he didn’t move toward her or even address her statement.
Instead he cocked his head to regard her with steady eyes.
“Lets just see where the night goes…” he suggested after a couple moments of
silence.
Arya knew that that wasn’t really an answer but she accepted it nonetheless
with a tight nod.
“Come in,” he said, turning around, “Do you want anything?”
“Water would be great,” Arya answered, feeling surprised at his normal
question.
 
Gendry nodded before letting go of his hold on her hand. Arya slowed her pace,
taking in her surroundings. The sound of running water filled the silence as
she was left on her own to explore a bit. She thought that Gendry's house
seemed a bit too tidy to be that of a 21 year old guy.
She had brothers, she knew how messy boys got. She poked around what she
assumed to be the living room. It looked completely normal. A large sofa, two
armchairs and a large flat screen stuffed into one corner. She didn’t know what
she was expecting but it hadn’t been this. This seemed altogether too inviting
to be Gendry’s home.
Arya followed the running water into the kitchen, her eyes tracing around the
room in curiously. Arya’s eyes fell onto Gendry's back as he stood at the sink,
running cold water over his bloody hand.
His head twisted to meet her eyes as he switched off the tap. Arya couldn’t
help but fiddle nervously with her fingers as he turned to look at her, his
eyes tracing her indelicately as he leant against the counter. He reached for a
cloth from the side, placing it over the injured hand, dabbing it dry gently.
Arya walked slowly over to his side of the kitchen, crossing her arms over her
stomach, as she leant against the kitchen counter opposite him, her eyes
meeting his boldly.
"Do you live with anyone else?" she asked curiously.
"Yes my sisters," he answered, “but Bella won’t be home until morning if I know
her and Mya is away at the beach with friends.”
Arya’s heart trembled nervously at his response.
Gendry must have seen a hint of her nervousness as he watched her curiously.
"You can take my bed," he said indifferently, “I will sleep out here.”
Arya’s heart jumped at his words. There was no way she was staying in his
bedroom.
"No, no, no it's fine, I can sleep on the couch," Arya asserted.
Gendry rolled his eyes before striding over to her. His height towered over her
as she peered up.
"Don't be stubborn, just take the bed," he commanded.
"Its really fine,” Arya argued, “I’m good with the couch…”
Gendry’s forehead creased in a frown, his dark eyes narrowing in annoyance. In
a way, he looked like a little boy who hadn’t got his way. He probably wasn’t
used to people challenging his demands.
For a beat, they stared at each other, both frowning. However Gendry settled
for rolling his eyes before gesturing her to sit down.
“You’re certainly gutsy for a girl who was terrified of me not so long ago,” he
muttered, throwing her a look that she couldn’t decipher.
Arya shrugged, her eyes going out of focus as she drifted.
“I used to be like that all the time,” she said wistfully, “I used to be
stronger, not a girl who was scared of a guy with a dark side. You just didn’t
meet that girl a month ago, you meet me.”
Gendry looked at her curiously, his eyes running delicately across her face,
exploring her in earnest.
“What happen to that girl?” he asked, coming to sit next to her on the couch,
“Why didn’t I meet her?”
Arya searched his eyes, only finding a genuine desire to know the answer to his
question.
“My father died in a car accident,” she answered simply, “Along with my eldest
brother and my younger brother.”
Something flashed over Gendry’s features and for a second Arya thought it was
genuine pain on her part. However very quickly the pain was muted in favour of
the sympathetic look that he gave her. He quickly took one of her hands,
drawing comforting patterns on her skin with his fingers. She took the gesture
as a sign to continue.
“We were all going to a school concert for my youngest brother. I can’t
remember what he was doing but he was a character in the school musical or
something. Dad was running late from work and both Robb and Bran wanted to
finish off some school work before they went to the concert so they decided to
wait behind for him and then they would all come together while Mum took my
youngest brother, my sister and I earlier...”
Arya paused, licking her lips anxiously.
“It was a drunk driver,” she said listlessly, “He didn’t stop at a red light,
smashed straight into them.”
He continued to draw patterns on her hand.
“Dad died on impact along with Robb but Bran clung to life until it was forced
out of him,” she said blankly.
Arya sighed.
“We were in that hospital for months, waiting to see if Bran would wake out of
the coma he had fallen into,” she whispered, “My mum was a shell of herself. We
all were…”
Arya stopped, trying to ensure that she wouldn’t cry. She didn’t like to cry in
front of anyone, especially someone like Gendry.
“Something like that changes you, for better or worse, it changes you,” she
explained blandly after a moment, “While my sister got stronger and more
assertive, I got more frightened, weaker, softer even… and that’s the girl that
you met…”
Arya shrugged, not knowing what else to say.
“I’m sorry Arya,” Gendry said, breaking through Arya’s musings.
“It’s not your fault,” Arya replied instinctively, repeating what she had said
throughout the entirety of her father and two brother’s funerals.
He didn’t say anything but still Arya felt comforted, especially when he wiped
away a tear that Arya hadn’t even felt emerge.
Arya swallowed, swallowing all the emotions that threatened to boil over her
carefully constructed façade.
“You’re being unusually nice,” she said dryly.
Gendry shrugged.
“Well shit kind of hit the fan when a girl I liked told me how I can’t force
girls do things I want them to…” he said calmly, his eyes darting up to meet
her slyly.
Arya couldn’t help but smile sheepishly.
“So what’s with you?” Arya asked, tilting her head to look carefully at him,
“Why are you the way you are? What’s your sob story?”
She said it all in a joking tone but she was anything but joking.
Gendry’s face didn’t change apart from what Arya imagined to be a slight
darkening in his eyes. His thumb pressed soothing circles on the back of her
hand once again.
“That’s a story for another time,” Gendry said softly.
Arya felt herself nodding in understanding.
“So do you want to watch something?” he asked.
They ended up watching some shitty horror film from the eighties that had them
laughing more than trembling in fear. Arya felt herself becoming comfortable in
Gendry’s company as time went on. His hands still often possessively touched
her in a way that sometimes, she wasn’t always comfortable with but slowly Arya
got better at telling him off and Gendry got better at listening.
Arya started to become drowsy, falling asleep on Gendry’s shoulder at one
point. As the credits of the film started, he felt Gendry move, standing up
until he was almost standing over her. Arya felt a jolt of fear go through her
as he towered over her but within seconds he had swept her up into his arms and
she felt herself relax as she clung to him.
Gendry carried her bridal style out of the kitchen and further down the hall.
Arya jumped in his arms as his foot kicked a door open, walking into a pitch-
black room, her arms instantly wrapped round his neck.
Soon he placed her down on something soft. Arya slowly moved her hands around
her, quickly realizing that she was sitting on a bed. In fact, probably his
bed.
A lamp next to the bed flickered on and Arya blinked as she looked around the
neat room. It was all rather blank. There were no posters on the walls or
memorabilia in the room. There wasn’t even the faint smell of weed lingering in
the room that she used to smell in her brothers rooms.
“Is this your room?” Arya asked Gendry, looking at him curiously.
Gendry nodded before he walked over to a chest of drawers. He yanked a shirt
out of one of the drawers, placing them on the bed.
“You can sleep in this.”
Arya got up, gently reaching out to take the shirt, nodding in thanks but not
looking at him. Gendry didn't say anything else; he just left the room,
shutting the door behind him with a soft thud.
Again Arya’s eyes wandered around the space as she fell back down onto the
large double bed, a deep sigh resounding through her.
It really was a rather plain room; not giving much insight into the man it
belonged to. There were only a few photographs dotted around the room and a
guitar sat in one corner of the room.
She quickly got changed, lest Gendry decided to make a reappearance without her
consent. No sooner than she had pulled on the shirt than Gendry knocked before
swiftly opening the door.
His eyes traced her body.
“You look good in my clothes," was all he said, accompanied by a smirk.
Arya rolled her eyes at his comment, bending down to pick up the clothes that
she had dropped on the floor before swiftly pulling down her newly acquired
shirt so it didn’t ride up.
Arya didn’t feel Gendry come up behind her until his arms were snaking their
way around her waist. His head nudged Arya’s to the side before he leant in and
gently pressed kisses to the exposed skin of her neck. Her back was pressed to
his firm chest and Arya could help but press closer into the wall of muscle.
For a second Arya felt as though he wouldn’t let go. A flash of panic once
again resurfaced as she thought about the possibility that his show of a more
good-natured man was merely a show used to lure her home with him. A ruse to
get her vulnerable so that he could do whatever he wanted with her.
However she was soon proven wrong. Gendry turned her around, placing a
passionate kiss on her lips before pulling away from her.
“Goodnight Arya,” was all he said before he left the room, “See you tomorrow
morning.”
Chapter End Notes
     Comments are always welcome! If I don't update again, HAPPY NEW YEAR
     (though I will try)!!!
End Notes
     Thanks for reading!! Feedback is very welcome!
Please drop_by_the_archive_and_comment to let the author know if you enjoyed
their work!
