Cheers

Chapter 3: A Cowboy's Chivalry

Daryl hadn't even planned to go out that night. They had just arrived in New Orleans, a few days early to boot, and he had spent the day unloading gear after a rather rough couple nights in the ring. He wasn't injured, but he had intended to crawl into bed and sleep.

Then Oscar had twisted his arm and dragged him out, only to abandon him for the first pretty girl he saw, leaving Daryl at the bar with a group of riders and fighters that he barely tolerated at times.

They had received bonuses earlier that week and after a couple beers didn't make it any easier to put up with the asshole's preening and barely decent appraisal of the women in the bar, he had decided to treat himself to a ten dollar glass of whiskey.

And then, like a tornado of sunshine, those two women had walked into the bar, completely oblivious to just how stunning they were. He could tell that they didn't need or particularly want any attention and his hackles had been bristling at the sly glances and murmured comments around him.

When Chase had opened his god damned big mouth, Daryl realized just how little those two women wanted anything to do with assholes like them. He had seen something in their expressions that told him that they were used to being treated as less than human, less than decent. It wasn't about jumping to the aid of a damsel in distress, his momma taught him to treat everyone with respect, no matter what. The women were there to have fun, and fun did not involve being treated like objects by hyper masculine assholes with small penises.

Luckily, Chase remembered which one of them was better in a fight and backed off towards the outdoor patio, leaving Daryl to relax against the bar an enjoy his whiskey. He was savouring the taste of it when he noticed someone beside him, turning his head to see a well dressed, clean cut man grinning to him with deceptive charm. Cadman introduced himself, watching him with an expression of a wolf hunting a spring calf, buying Daryl another whiskey. Only this one was more expensive.

It was an amazing whiskey, but it was more expensive than it was well crafted, telling Daryl the simple fact that the man drank to flaunt his money around. He was polite enough for several minutes until he realized that trying to be nice only seemed to encourage the man.

Daryl took a sip of his drink, grinning at the taste before turning his gaze back to Cadman, "look. I don't want to lead you on, but I'm not interested in men."

"One learns not to limit themselves, with experience." Another expensive grin was flashed his way.

Daryl caught movement out of the corner of his eye then and saw the two women in their booth, talking and seeming to have forgotten the unpleasantness of before. They were anomalies to him, seeming almost innocent, delicate, though he got the distinct impression that there was more to them than that. He'd much rather be over there, talking to them, if only because he knew he'd enjoy their company a lot more. But Daryl also knew that they weren't looking for more attention and he'd respect their desire to be together.

When the redhead looked up to him, he flashed her a smile as he responded to Cadman. "Well. Either way, I'm not interested in you."

"I think I can change your mind." His voice was all sugar sweet, though it rolled off Daryl like a poison, there was something about the man  that did not sit well.

She beamed back at him so brilliantly he almost laughed, not because she was amusing, but because he swore he could feel that joy coming from her. It helped him from growling as the man reached out and ran a hand down Daryl's arm.

Next thing he knew, the red head stepped up to the two of them, drawing ire from Cadman. And in an instant, that sweetness turned absolutely vicious. It seemed the two of them knew one another and the man seemed rather upset that the woman was otherwise spoken for. Which would explain why she had no interest in anyone's attention tonight.