Work Text:
Sansa had developed a routine of sorts since she started living alone after having gone from living in a house of 8 then in with her boyfriend who had turned out to be an utter swine. Working from home enabled her to keep her own schedule and after lunch on Tuesdays she always did her weekly grocery shopping. She always went to the same grocery store and her sister Arya would say that it was typical for her type A personality but Sansa didn’t care.
This Tuesday was no different as she grabbed a cart and entered the store. She had a pep in her step from actually making good progress on her recipes and checked her list before she headed down the aisles. She had made good progress on her list when she rounded a shelf and was stopped dead in her tracks.
Further down the aisle was the largest man she had ever seen in her life. He was so tall that he could see the top of the shelves and so broad that she doubted that she would be able to pass him in the aisle with her cart.
He had his back turned to her so she had a full view of his broad frame and Sansa couldn’t for the life of her remember what she had turned into this aisle to get. He looked like a working man with his worn boots, blue jeans and plaid shirt. When he reached his arm to grab something out of the top shelves Sansa’s breath hitched.
The sleeves of his shirt were rolled up, revealing strong hairy forearms covered in ink. Sansa had always thought she didn’t like tattoos but for some reason the ink on this man had her blush. What was happening to her? She felt hot and flushed all over and despite knowing that she should look away she was unable to.
When he kept walking down the aisle her eyes darted down to the way his jeans hugged his behind and she felt appalled at herself. Why was she oggoling this poor man? Why was she unable to stop?
When he continued down the aisle she followed like a lost puppy without grabbing anything and she should snap out of it but there was just something about him. She hadn’t even seen his face, only the back of his head covered by dark hair that he had gathered into a bun at the nape of his neck. Yet he was creating a pull deep in her gut that she had never experienced before.
He was the opposite of every man she had ever dated who had been corporate guys with expensive suits, manicures and salon styled hair. The had been exactly what she had wanted from a man on the surface but complete duds on the inside. She had thought what she had felt for those men was attraction but not once had she ever felt like this. Like she had been clogged over the head and lost her senses.
She realised that she had been following him through several aisles and yet her cart was almost empty. She was being ridiculous because she didn’t want to leave but she couldn’t just follow him around like some stalker.
Someone a bit bolder, like Arya, would probably just walk up to him and ask for his number but there was no way Sansa would be able to do that. If she was unable to even focus on her shopping how was she supposed to be able to speak to the man? Just the thought of it had her blushing even harder. Maybe if she hadn’t been wearing her yoga pants and an old t-shirt and actually had done her makeup she would have had the confidence to. But no, on Tuesdays she always chose comfort because she knew that her day entailed work and then grocery shopping, nothing to actually dress up for. It was just her luck to have run into this Atlas of a man here of all places.
“Who are you kidding?” Sansa hissed at herself. He was probably not even single or wouldn’t want to give a staring stranger his number. Especially one that probably wouldn’t be able to get the words out.
She must have spoken louder than she had thought because the huge man in front of her suddenly turned his head to look over his shoulder and all Sansa saw was a hooked nose before she turned her cart and hurried down the aisle with a startled yip.
Feeling caught out and embarrassed she ended up leaving the store without any grocceseries and she couldn’t really make sense of the fact that a man had gotten her this worked up. He could be a horrible rude jerk yet for some reason she doubted it. There was no logic to it yet she couldn’t stop thinking about it.
The following Tuesday she was in the store again and told herself that her eyes weren’t scanning the aisles for anyone. There was definitely no particular reason that she was wearing a flowy sundress and wedge heels instead of her usual grocery shopping outfits consisting of yoga pants and sneakers. None at all, she had kept telling herself that even as she put on a little bit of makeup. She hadn’t convinced herself at all and she felt rather silly for it.
What was she even hoping for? That he was going to be there again on the same day as her and actually notice her this time? The odds of that happening were slim to none and she was being delusional. Perhaps Arya was right and she needed to get out more, perhaps it was time to download one of those dating apps that her friends had talked about and stop burying herself with work.
She felt determined as she filled her cart with the things she needed and headed towards the fruit and vegetables. She was going to go on some dates, see if there was someone out there for her. Because if she could react so physically to a stranger perhaps she could feel that way, or even stronger, for someone else?
She had turned her back to grab a few apples and when she turned back to her cart he was there. He was far too large to miss as he stood holding a cantaloupe in one of his large hands. The melon looked so small in his huge hand that it made Sansa flush down to her toes when her mind wandered to other things that would look tiny in them. He was turned to the side this time, with his dark hair hanging loose down to his shoulders and she noticed the heavy brow and sharp cheekbones. There was just something so manly about him that it made her lower stomach clench.
When he turned to his cart Sansa’s eyes were drawn to the scars that marred the other side of his face. They went from his jaw all the way up to his hairline and looked like skin grafts after burns. If his physic had elicited a very physical reaction in her, his scars elicited a very emotional one. Her heart clenched at the pain he must have been in and she felt her heart soften.
She didn’t even know this man but she couldn’t help but feel for him. That did nothing to help with the apparent attraction she felt for him. She had thought that getting a little done up would boost her confidence in case she would actually see him again. But now, having him in front of her she didn’t dare to approach him. How did anyone ever dare to put themselves out there like that? She would just have to accept the fact that she was only ever going to be able to look at him from afar. It wasn’t that bad of a view after all.
“Sansa!” She jumped with a startled gasp as Arya almost barreled into her and for a second her eyes met the large man’s. Her heart skipped a beat at the intensity of his grey gaze but she quickly turned her head towards her sister before he could realise that she had been staring. It wasn’t fast enough to stave off a blush though and Arya’s eyes narrowed at her.
“What are you doing here?” Sansa hissed at her sister immediately regretting her reaction when Arya’s eyebrow rose. “I mean… I…”
“I needed a few things and I knew you’d be here. I actually thought you would be happy for the company.” Sansa could tell by her sister’s tone that she had hurt her feelings and gave her an apologetic look.
“I’m sorry. You just took me by surprise.” The look on Arya’s face showed that her sister suspected there to be more to it but thankfully she didn’t press and Sansa hurried to drag her sister away from the large man. The last thing she needed was her sister catching on, she would never hear the end of it if she did.
The strangest part was how disappointed she felt that she was unable to keep watching the large man and she knew it was irrational and probably weird. Why was she being so affected by him?
“So Gendry has been talking about those chocolate mint cookies that you made for us last time, he wanted me to ask you if you have perfected the recipe or if you need another trial run?” That drew a smile to Sansa’s face. Her sister's boyfriend had a really big sweet tooth and always loved everything she made, which probably didn’t make him the best tester but it was sweet nonetheless.
“I actually made another batch yesterday, if you follow me back you can have some to bring him.” Arya gave her a happy nod before she cursed under her breath. “I tested changing the peppermint for orange mint to get a more citrusy flavour.”
“Yeah, that’s great.” Arya was clearly not listening as she tried to reach for the chips on the top shelf. Her sister gave her an exasperated look but even if Sansa stood on her tippy toes she couldn’t reach them either. “Why do they have to put the good stuff on the top shelves?!”
“Let’s just look for a stepping stool or a staffer,” Sansa suggested but before she could start looking for either Arya turned to wave at someone.
“Hey big boy! Mind giving me a hand?” When Sansa turned to see who her sister was talking to she wished the earth would swallow her. Because of course it had to be him of all people standing a little further down the aisle. He gave Arya such a dark look that Sansa was almost taken back by the intensity of it.
“And why the fuck would…” As if he felt her eyes on him his eyes darted from Arya to Sansa and he closed his mouth mid sentence before stepping towards them and grabbing the bag of chips with ease. He held out the bag towards Sansa and looked her right in her eyes and she was surprised with how weak in the knees she suddenly felt.
“Thank you,” she gasped out breathlessly and for a second he seemed a little taken aback before he nodded.
“Don’t mention it.” Arya huffed under her breath about it being her chips but Sansa didn’t pay her any attention. It was all on the man in front of her. He had such a deep set voice with a rapsiness that sent a shiver down her spine and as heat flushed her cheeks she had to bite down on her bottom lip to keep in a whimper. Never before had she had a physical reaction to a voice yet she couldn’t deny to herself that that was what was happening.
She wasn’t sure if she was disappointed or relieved when the man walked away from them without a second glance and for a moment she just watched him walk away.
“Holy fuck.” Arya’s surprised gasp pulled Sansa’s eyes away from the retreating tall form. Arya was staring up at her with knowing eyes and Sansa wasn’t sure why she felt her cheeks flush but she darted her eyes away. “Wow, you’re thirsting so hard right now.”
“What? I’m not… what?” Sansa stuttered out before grabbing her cart and simply walking away from her sister. She felt mortified that her sister had seen her react that way to a man and she didn’t not want to wait around for the teasing that she knew was coming.
“Is he the reason you always do your shopping on Tuesdays?” Arya popped up next to her and Sansa gritted her teeth and kept walking. “How long have you been stalking him?”
“I am not…!” Sansa stopped her loud cry and turned to hiss at her sister. “I am not stalking him. This is just the second time I’ve seen him here.”
The grin that spread across Arya’s face had Sansa quickening her pace again. She still had several things to get on her list but she felt very tempted to just leave. She felt embarrassed and overwhelmed.
“Don’t be like that Sansa. I was just surprised. I mean, him?” Arya gave her a confused look and Sansa took a deep breath before looking around to make sure that the man in question wasn’t within ear shot. “He looks like the polar opposite of the preppy frat boys you usually date.”
“Is that a bad thing?” Sansa asked harshly but Arya shook her head.
“No, just unexpected. I mean… He is a fucking giant.”
“I know.” Sansa couldn’t even deny that she was thirsting then, it was so plain in her voice how badly she wanted him. She put her face in her hands when Arya laughed and soon she was laughing too. “I’ve never reacted so strongly to anyone before.”
“Well then, go get him. Live a little, fuck a lot.” Sansa blushed even deeper, it felt like she was flushed down to her toes at this point as she shook her head.
“I couldn’t. What would I even say?”
“Hi, my name is Sansa and I want you to fuck my brains out.” With a gasp Sansa slapped her sister’s arm and started walking again towards the baking aisle. “If that is a bit too forward for you, even if it is true, you could just ask for his number you know?”
“What if he says no?” Arya wiggled her eyebrows suggestively and Sansa rolled her eyes. “I meant about giving me his number? I’ve never asked anyone for it before.”
“Then he says no. But at least you’ll know.” Sansa wasn’t so sure about that. Perhaps it was just better to keep her attraction for the huge stranger to herself. That way she could keep herself from being hurt again and not have to face rejection. “Considering the way he was looking at you like he wanted to devour you I doubt he would say no though.”
“He wasn’t looking at me like that. Was he?” Sansa asked and she hated how needy she sounded. This time Arya was the one to roll her eyes.
“You can’t be that clueless can you? He was about to tell me to fuck off but then he took one look at you and was all helpful. That’s his dick doing all the thinking, trust me.” Sansa wasn’t sure she could trust her sister but she did feel a bit more confident and had almost convinced herself that she would walk up to him if she saw him again.
Unfortunately she didn’t see him until she got to the check out and saw him bagging his groceries. Arya nudged her arm but there were too many people there and she couldn’t just walk past the line to go talk to him. Everyone would stare and she would be humiliated if he said no.
She tried to keep a smile on her face to hide her disappointment and when it was her turn she made sure to turn all of the barcodes the right way and give the cashier a happy greeting.
“Are you Sansa?” the cashier asked and in surprise Sansa could only nod and the woman handed her a folded receipt. “That huge guy asked me to give you this.”
For a moment Sansa was too shocked to do anything but stand there, holding on to the piece of paper but with a well placed elbow Arya pushed her out of the way and Sansa hurried to bag her groceries, unwilling to hold up the line any further.
“Hey, what’s that?” Arya asked once they were done with putting the groceries into Sansa’s car. Sansa looked down at the paper that she still had clasped firmly in her hand and her stomach did a strange flip.
“The cashier said that the huge man wanted me to have this. She even knew my name.” Arya did an inpatient gesture and Sansa unfolded the receipt. What she read on it pulled a shocked yelp out of her and then she flushed so red that she worried that a blood vessel would pop.
“What is it? What does it say?” When Sansa was unable to answer, Arya snatched the paper out of her hand and instantly started laughing hysterically. “This is amazing!”
Sansa wasn’t sure if it was amazing. It was something though, something unexpected. Just as her reaction to him had been. And she couldn’t deny to herself that she felt attracted to him, very much so. As her need started to exceed her embarrassment she knew what she wanted to do, that she wanted him. And written on that piece of paper it was plain as day, he wanted her too.
