But all your flaws and scars are mine

Chapter 8

"So you're the little ninja?" I ask as I return her firm shake.

It's Arya's turn to look surprised before throwing her head back in laughter. "Is that what you've heard, huh?"

"You're small enough to be sneaky."

Her eyes narrow. "And you're big and hairy enough to be Hagrid." They all must like the series about the wizard boy.

I chuckle at her insult. "Thanks? Ouch? Not sure how to respond."

Arya sighs. "Then don't." A grin tugs at her mouth though. "Look, I came here to talk shop."

I lean back against my desk, crossing my arms. "With me?" I'm lost.

Arya rolls her eyes, exasperated. For some reason I'm warming to the little spitfire. "Duh. There's no point beating around the bush here. I'm totally using your dating my sister to pull strings."

"Man you're ballsy." I shake my head, grinning. She's nothing like my little bird. "You didn't want to wait and meet me with Sansa?"

"No, she would tackle me to the ground if I was asking favors of you. Gods forbid anyone unsettles whatever it is you two are doing." She scrunches up her nose.

Shit, Sansa really does talk about me, and it sounds like our, as Arya so eloquently put it, "whatever it is" means something to her. My mood is picking back up after the disappointment of the wrong Miss Stark incident.

"Aye, she does fret your sister. I wouldn't have minded. You barging into my office, well that's another story." I tease.

Arya studies me then. She looks me up and down, before staring at the right side of my face. For some odd reason I don't feel any anger or embarrassment. I'm sure Sansa has told Arya about my ruined cheek since her expression doesn't change at all, it's as if she's looking at non-melted skin.

"Well, you sure as hells are the opposite of her last boyfriend. So thank fuck for that." I try to interrupt her, to say something about not being Sansa's boyfriend but she continues before I can. "I mean I knew of you before she even met you." I quirk an eyebrow at that.

"Your boxing career. No matter how short lived it was you really made a name for yourself, Hound." She watches my face for a reaction. I only slightly flinch, her saying that name doesn't bother me as much as it usually does.

"I want to study and master every form of fighting there is. I've dabbled in boxing but no one truly knows what they're doing. That's why I'm here to ask you to train me." She states firmly.

"I don't train." I half growl at her.

"I'm aware. But I also know your main goal is to help people. It's mine as well. I take this seriously and would be happy to share what I've learnt so far, you'd be the first to hear it." She holds my stare.

I look at to the ground for a second. "And you're using your sister as well." I grumble at her.

Arya smiles proudly. "Yep! Whichever is your softest spot, and I can see my answer to that." Another roll of her eyes.

I always thought myself difficult to read until today. "Don't tell me things before your family and friends. Inform me of what they do know and give your fucking best in the ring. I won't take it easy on you."

Arya's cheeks must hurt from smiling. "Would be pissed off if you did."

"We'll have to meet before and after hours or somewhere else." I can't have the other patrons seeing my favoritism.

"Thought as much." Arya says.

We both sit then and she goes on to tell me as much of her travels, training and future plans as her family knows about too. Arya looked at a spot to lease this morning that will house her martial arts and self defense school.