Chapter Text
Chapter One:
She felt the pulse of the city. Steam heat rising from the dirty dance floor, her cage a neon testament to the night life. Sansa Stark was made to dance, and that she did. In a café, 30 feet above a neon field of sweaty, horny people-all of them alive and thriving with the booming bass. She felt the blood throb in her ears to the beat, the sweat sheening her exposed back and stomach.
With all eyes on her, Sansa felt more alive, more powerful. In fact, she felt in control. With each move of her body she controlled the room, demanded the throbbing masses with her beauty, her beast. She was a she-wolf in a cage, and everyone knew it.
The music died down, a quieter beat replaced it. Sansa turned, watching as the great, glowing screen towards of the back flashed to the face of Tyrion Lannister and the logo for his radio show. As the little man began to talk, her cage was lowered down, her break. She both hated and loved the moment her cage hit the ground. She was free, but still attached to the dance, to the beat. And that attachment made her body ached to return to the pulsing masses.
“This way,” the gruff bouncer told her over the roar of the crowd.
It was always the same bouncer, his arm held out across her back, never touching, as he led her through the crowd. She enjoyed this walk backstage, those who worshipped her from below now able to see their caged goddess up close. The faces of longing, jealousy, lust. She loved each and every face, because they all wanted her.
Backstage she felt a sort of calm take her over, she was normal Sansa here. Sansa from the outside world. The bouncer looked around the room, scanning for any trouble. He then nodded to Sansa.
“Do you need anything?”
Sansa always answered, “no. I’m fine. I’ll just drink water.”
The bouncer nodded, closing the door.
Sansa sighed, fanning her red cheeks. She looked around the dressing room, most of the dancers she didn’t really like were hanging around. She thought for sure Margarey was on break now, but maybe she was mistaken.
She went to the fridge in the back, mostly only filled with bottled water. She listened to Tyrion go on outside, announcing the new DJ who was taking the stage or something, maybe another radio promotional giveaway. Sansa didn’t really care, she was one of the few dancers who didn’t pay much attention to Tyrion, despite what Gregor had commanded them to do. Sansa just didn’t find Tyrion desireable, money or otherwise. Sure, he was a Lannister, and catching the eye of a Lannister meant something. Fame, money, a life she’d never be able to dream about. But she didn’t want it if it meant dealing with the Imp of Radio.
Really, Sansa told herself, all I need is the Dog House. She smiled tranquilly to herself as she sat down, putting the cold bottle of water to her lips.
The door opened again, the bouncer leading in a young blonde. Sansa’s eyes perked up, seeing this lovely creature come into the room. He was handsome, lovely blue eyes surrounded by dark lashes.
The bouncer asked him the same question he always asked Sansa, and the young man ordered a drink. He mumbled something as the door closed and her removed his hat, golden froth of hair spilling forth. Oh yes, Sansa blushed, he is very lovely.
The door opened again, Tyrion waddling in, his body guard slamming the door behind him.
“You’re supposed to be on stage,” Tyrion sniffed at the boy.
Sansa stayed where she was, hidden by a wall of hanging outfits.
“I can’t having a fucking drink?” The boy scoffed.
“I got you this job,” Tyrion continued. “I did it for my sister, your mother. I don’t want my name ruined here because of you.”
Tyrion’s nephew? Sansa thought, watching more intently.
“Give me a break, half man.” He huffed.
A Lannister! Sansa continued in her head. That must mean he’s Joffery, Cersei’s son, she figured the math in her head.
The door opened and Tyrion’s bodyguard came in, handing Joffery his drink before disappearing back outside, giving Tyrion a tired, laughing look.
“You had better keep up your promise, boy.” Tyrion scoffed before shuffling on out behind his bodyguard.
Joffery cursed after his uncle as the door closed, turning back and downing his drink.
Sansa stood, moving purposefully and casually shuffling through the clothes on the rack. A hand suddenly parted the great wall of clothes, and she came face to face with Joffery. His mask of anger melted away, eyes darting over her, her body. A pleased smile parted his face, and Sansa matched it in turn.
“Hi,” Sansa whispered.
“Hello,” Joffery leaned against the rack. “You’re a dancer here?”
Sansa nodded, still idly shuffling through the clothes.
Joffery’s eyes continued darting across her body. “What sort of dancer?”
Sansa chuckled. “I dance in one of the cages, mostly.”
“What’s your name?” Joffery asked.
Sansa felt the blush rise from her cheeks to the tips of her ears, that smile he had, knowing and crooked. “Sansa.” Her voice breathy.
He nodded, putting his cap back on, bearing a clawing lion. “Nice to meet you, Sansa. Maybe I’ll see you dancing later.”
Lighter than air, floating in warm cream. “I hope so.”
Joffery hands her his drink and for a brief, head-rushing moment, their fingers touch. Thunderbolts, Sansa felt them, painfully wonderful. His smile as he left spoke volumes, and as the glass touched her lips she imagined how his felt.
“Ready to go, Sansa?” The voice came out of nowhere, and she paid it no mind as she finished off the rest of the drink, imagining the golden haired beauty.
Her vision quickly shifted back to the bouncer, a harsh comparison. A shock of cold water in a searing hot moment. She smiled politely at the gruff man, allowing him to lead her to her cage.
“Yeah,” she let out a lusty breath. She looked up at the bouncer then set the glass down.
Sansa followed behind the bouncer, normal Sansa being left backstage. The wolf was coming back, the animal that lived for the pulse of the music, the vibrations of the bass, the rushing blood of the people below.
Her cage was lowered down, touching the floor. She stepped inside, eager to dance to Joffery’s music, feel his beat all over her skin, bring it all alive with her body. She glanced behind her, seeing the bouncer close the cage. For a moment their eyes meet, and involuntarily she smiles at him.
“Have fun, little bird.”
Sansa nods. “Thank you.” And then she was back in the air, high above the world, above everything, care and regrets. Once again, she was the goddess of the neon glow, and she let the music come into her body, enter every pore, and take her over like a spirit. Only this time, it was Joffery’s spirit who entered her, making her move, controlling her.
She watched him on his pedestal, controlling the pulsing mass of people with his music. The lights, making him glow, making him a god like she was. He was a lion, a king, a true ruler of the crowd. She knew she didn’t stand a chance against him, and she didn’t want to. So, in the moment when Joffery’s eyes slid up, scanning each of the cages, and his eyes found her, she might as very well of been in heaven.
She danced, blind to everything that was going on, ignoring her worshippers entirely, and turning all of her energy onto the king at the front of the room. It came as a shock to her when the night ended. Joffery left the stage, Tyrion taking his place. Sansa became panicked for a moment. What would she do? How would she get to Joffery before the other dancers did? God forbid he left before she got to speak to him one last time, give him her number.
Her cage door opened and she looked up at the bouncer, moving quickly, nearly running towards backstage.
“What’s the rush?” The bouncer asked.
Sansa let herself slip for a moment. “Joffery hasn’t left yet, as he?”
The bouncer laughed, somewhat amused. “They are still loading his equipment.”
“Then I haven’t missed him.” Sansa’s smile was bright, full. Her excitement so powerful, she didn’t notice the rogue that came to the bouncer’s face, didn’t realize the power her smile had.
Sansa rushed through backstage, changing in such a mad hurry she didn’t pay any attention to the other dancers around, forgetting her keys. She went out through the backdoor, into the ally where the staff entered. She turned her head left and right, hoping to catch a glance of Joffery, hoping he might catch a glance of her.
Seeing equipment being rolled down the sidewalk, Sansa quickly followed it. There was a van, the logo for Leo Studios plastered along the side. She saw little Tyrion Lannister and his bodyguard standing to the side, watching the equipment. She saw the limo, and in it, hopefully, her prince.
She walked by casually, feigning that it was something she did naturally every night of her life, even though the parking lot was on the other side of the building and her apartment in the opposite direction.
“Wait there,” a voice called out.
She turned, seeing first only Tyrion, his eyes scanning up her and then down, across the sidewalk.
Sansa followed the Imp of radio’s eyes then, down the sidewalk up the long legs. She smiled, pushing her hair back behind her ear, biting down on her bottom lip.
“Sansa,” Joffery smiled. “I’m glad I got to see you.” His eyes still perused her, trying to find something.
Sansa bowed her head slightly, looking up at Joffery through her eyelashes. “Me too. You were great tonight.” She heard Tyrion’s bodyguard laugh behind her and Tyrion slap his arm, suppressing a scoff. She chose to ignore this.
“So were you.” Joffery put his arm over her shoulder, pressing his hand against the wall, shielding Sansa from the world. “You looked great up there.” His other hand pushed a loose strand of hair from her face.
Sansa giggled some. “Thanks. It was your music though.”
He nodded, smiling knowingly. “Can I call you sometime?”
Sansa nodded, eager. She pulled a pen from her purse, taking Joffery’s hand and scribbling her digits on the soft, white underbelly of his arm. And taking a daring step, sealed it with a kiss.
Joffery smiled at her cunning, leaning in to steal a real kiss.
“Joffery, we need to go.” The Imp snapped.
Joffery rolled his eyes, leaning away from what Sansa would of considered a perfect moment to cap off a perfect night. “Dammit.” Joffery cursed. “Alright, fuck, I’ll get there!” He looked back at Sansa and laughed. “I’ll call you.”
Sansa nodded, breathless. He’ll call, she squealed excitedly to herself. She waved him goodbye as he entered the limo. Watched it speed away into the balmy night. Taking a victorious breath she began to stride back towards the actual way home. Half way there, she thought of her keys.
Digging through her purse, she discovered they were nowhere to be found. Panic, actual tear inducing panic, began to hit Sansa. It wasn’t good to hang around the Dog House after hours, bad shit happened. Like, mythology shit happened. She went up to the backdoor, but it had been locked, the placed sealed up.
Covering her face and taking a few deep breaths, Sansa tried to gain some form of cool. What could she do? Call home? She laughed at the thought. Slowly walking towards the parking lot, maybe praying her car was unlocked and she could just sleep in it. But not such luck for the little bird, she was locked out.
“Oh…mother fucker!” Sansa kicked the tire of her car and then laid her head against the glass. “Mother fucker…” she repeated under her breath.
Tapping on the glass.
She lifted her head, quickly, defensively. She looked into the warm, dark eyes of the bouncer. For a moment she felt cold. Was he following her? He was Gregor’s brother after all, who knows what he shares with the Mountain.
The bouncer then lifted his hand and Sansa braced herself. Jiggling, tinkling. She looked at his hand, and hanging from his fingers were her keys. She breathed, relieved and happy.
“Oh thank god!” She reached for them, her fingers touching his. “Oh thank you!” She wiped at her eyes. “I was beginning to panic. I swear. Oh thank you so much!”
“Best be careful.” The bouncer said, watching Sansa as she unlocked her car, watching whatever moved in the might. “You don’t need to be out here after hours.”
Sansa nodded, moving to place herself in the car. “I know. Thanks so much, again. Really.” She stopped herself, feeling somewhat obligated to repay him. After such a wonderful night that could of ended horribly, she was feeling more than generous.
“Is there anything I can do for you?” Sansa asked. “To thank you for finding my keys.”
He shook his head. “No, little bird, just get home safe is all.”
She nodded, hesitating again. “I’m sorry…” She licked her lips. “I uh,” she laughed, embarrassed. “I don’t know your name. I mean, I know your Gregor‘s brother but…” She smiled, bashfully and sweet.
He nodded, his neck somewhat stiff. “It’s Sandor.” She didn’t notice the blush on his cheeks for a second time.
“Sandor,” Sansa repeated and laughed. “I won’t forget it, really. Maybe I’ll bring you coffee one day.” She said, easing into her car.
Sandor nodded, placing his hand on the car door, closing it for her as she placed her seatbelt on. She smiled and waved to him through the window and then she was gone, only taillights in the night.
For a moment, she thought about Sandor and how nice he had been, how he had saved her skin. But soon, he was gone from her mind, her thoughts turning to Joffery.