Rodeo snickers when she tells him what the punch was for, shaking his head and giving Wheeler an absent pat when the man groans faintly. He usually doesn't care much about a girl's past, and though he asks the women he's trying to charm all kinds of personal questions in order to beguile them into believing he gives a fuck, he usually couldn't possibly care less about the answers they give him. This woman kind of intrigues him, though. The automatic prompting and prying comes easily, but for once he's actually listening to the answers she gives. "Reckon I can manage that. Jealous type, are you?" Rodeo asks, lifting his brows. "Hope it didn't bend you outta shape too much. There ain't no way in hell that fool upgraded, so whatever he wound up with, sure she wasn't as fine as you. 'Specially not after you were done rearranging her grill."
When she tells him he's in demand, he's not sure if she's telling him she sees through the lie or simply agreeing with the ribald statement he's making. He decides not to ask. He's not sure whether knowing who he is would change the tone of their interactions, and he doesn't want to find out. He likes this easy conversation. She's breaking the rules, but the stakes likely don't seem all that high right now. As far as she knows, she's just helping out a raider. The Capitol might scold her if they knew, but they'd know better than to say much about it. A doctor is a valuable resource, and they couldn't afford to lose it over her patching up a raider.
But she's not just helping a raider.
She's helping the Dog King.
And that's something that the Capitol isn't going to easily forget. Or forgive.
So he lets her statement slide and focuses instead on what she says next. His brows shoot up in incredulous amusement when she gestures to his crotch, and it's clear he isn't offended-- just surprised she went there. He laughs that rough laugh of his, hoarse and honeyed as his voice. "Damn, darlin', you think I'm that clueless? I admit, I ain't got a clue how to deal with bullet holes, but I know how that works. I watched 'em wrap the banana in ninth grade, and I took notes. I ain't takin' no risks."
Then Lita is bending forward, feeling Wheeler's cheek. Rodeo's brow furrows as she picks up his wrist and feels his pulse, and he leans forward himself, patting his man on the cheek. "Hey. Your brother's gonna lose it if you kick the bucket, shithead," Rodeo says gruffly, frowning at the man. He looks up to Lita, clearly concerned. "What's goin' on? He alright?"