Let's Hurt Tonight | Landon

Saturday October 29th

He’d seen her walk in. Lonely girl angry at the world, not giving a flying fuck what happened to her. Just wanted to drown it out. Landon had a nose for the types. Working behind the bar again tonight, he crossed behind the back of the tender working the other side of the bar and placed his hand on her shoulder; gently and quietly letting her know to swap her sides. He wanted to keep an eye on this new patron directly and not from the other side of the bar. Approaching her as she settled in the stool, he leaned forward to hear her order and to get a better look at her.

She was practiced at hiding her pain, he could tell. But pain was Landon’s first language, and he read it in her eyes as quickly and easily as a shark scents blood in the water. Tapping the bar top in front of her wordlessly, he turned and began making her Tequila Sunrise; watching from the corner of his eye as she was approached. He wasn’t the only shark in these waters, but the only problem presented itself as intention. Where Landon was making sure nothing stupid was about to happen in his bar, this dogfish was coming over trying to take advantage of easy prey.

Blood in the water.

It was something that predators just picked up on, and this guy was the worst kind. Reminding Landon of his father.

Turning around casually and facing the pair as the man closed in, Landon caught the eye of one of his men at the door and dropped his gaze pointedly at the man in the suit and then back up to the bouncer. Without a word, he moved from his corner of the bar and began approaching where Landon had indicated. Finishing making the drink just as the bouncer came up and gestured the other man away, Landon leaned forward and placed the virgin Tequila Sunrise in front of the girl with a smile. She was so far gone she’d never notice the lack of alcohol in such a sweet drink.

”On the house, darlin’” came his Australian accent as thick as honey; his eyes only leaving hers when the other guy started to argue.

’I’m not doing anything wrong! I just asked the lady if she’d like a drink!’ Landon could hear him saying to the bouncer; argumentatively leaning back against the bar.

”Get it in your block before we force it in, the lady’s drinks are already covered,” He said sharply; leaving no room for argument. Landon’s eyes bore into the other man’s. He wasn’t a regular of Ace’s, but he was quickly learning that Landon was a no-bullshit manager. ”And you can make your 'pleasurable agreements' with your hand.”

Nodding to the bouncer, he turned his attention back to the girl as her would-be rapist was quickly escorted away from the bar. Landon inhaled and leaned forward on his elbows; arms folding over one another as he rapped his knuckles against the bar top with a few quick knocks as he studied her.

”You look like you need to chew the fat,” He mused, knowing damn well that most folks in these parts didn’t get his slang but he didn’t care. ”You get in’a blue or somethin?”

Saturday October 29th

As soon as she opened her mouth he knew as Russian. It didn’t sway his protectiveness one way or another, but it did pique his curiosity. Stereotypes had their own anchors in truth, and one that Landon had become familiar with was that Russians could hold their liquor and had emotional armor thicker than kevlar. So why was this one sitting in his bar drowning in the bottom of a bottle?

Narrowing his eyes at her a little, Landon made up his mind about her fairly quickly.

”You are staring at me like a predator looking at prey. Did you know that?”

His smirk was quick and followed shortly by a snort of derision before he shook his head and leaned back; turning to look over his shoulder as he gestured into the kitchen. The cook caught the hand signal and nodded just before Landon returned his attention to the girl at his bar.

”Ya have your men mixed up, sheila.”

Pulling another glass from under his counter top, he grabbed the squirt gun and started filling it up with water before he placed it in front of her.

”We’re gonna keep you right.”

Taking a few quick moments to help another patron while the girl focused on her virgin-sunrise, Landon kept an eye on her peripherally as he ran his bar. She wasn’t keen on drinking the water he gave her, but she didn’t notice the lack of alcohol in the Sunrises he kept serving her. Not ten minutes later she had a plate of food in front of her as well; plenty of alcohol-soaking items to help kick that hang over before it started.

When it came time for Landon to take a break, he moved around the bar and to the sheila's side; looking over her with curious concern when he noticed the ring. At first he thought lover’s spat, but when the fusion of the gold band to her skin caught his attention, Landon’s concern over the girl deepened. Frowning, he placed his hand between her shoulder blades and gestured toward an open booth in a more private corner of the bar.

”C’monya. Let’s get some privacy and you can tell me what you’re running from.”