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Even Hayden couldn't resist a sadistic smirk at that suggestion. So tempting...but... "I'll see if I can't get those to you," he chuckled, shaking off the temptation. No, though he could think of some equally interesting possibilities...

s**t, he was starting to sound like these sickos again. The thought was instantly sobering and he frowned, shaking his head. No...not like them...never like them...

He looked up at her question. "No, to be honest, I didn't know you were coming this way. Your room is nowhere around here," he admitted, frowning deeper. Dammit, Frank...he was going to pay for this one... "I was just here for a beer then heading for my room."

"Listen, about earlier..." he started, then blinked noting that not only was she not listening, but she'd turned and started off on her own. She still seemed unsteady on her feet and if Hayden knew anything about Carl Hakan, she had enough tranquilizers rushing through her system to bring down a Rhydon. s**t.

Just because he didn't particularly like her...or her attitude, didn't mean he was going to let her wander off somewhere only to collapse and hurt herself. He just didn't have it in him.

Wuss. She insulted you, threatened you, THEN attacked you! Leave the b***h to her fate!

Shaking his head, Hayden jogged down the hall to get ahead of Koorie; not hard in her current state. "Listen, I know you're not going to believe me or even listen to me at all most likely, but... I want to apologize about earlier. I don't know where any of that came from. Honestly."

Lugia, he sounded pathetic. Like he was begging for acceptance, even from someone that obviously hated him and he wasn't particularly fond of in return.

She was still human though. Err...at least for now. She deserved at least this much.

"It's just..." He faltered, feeling really stupid. Something drove him to continue though, even if he was making a fool of himself. "I'm not...I'm not like them!" He swallowed hard, looking away from Koorie, unable to meet her eyes in shame at his weakness; his desire to keep himself separate from those sick bastards. He was trailing off quietly, his words sounding weak, but he couldn't find anything else to say.

"I'm not like them...I'm not. I...can't be..."

While Hayden stood his ground and didn't back down, there was a slight wince only visible if one was looking at his face. "I see. I'm sorry you feel that way. I'm sorry you think I'm no better than that sick f*$% just now. That I must have saved you from him just so I could get my own jollies..." Yeah, he sounded bitter, but...didn't he have a right to be? She'd struck a pretty low blow with that one, straight into his soul.

Even if she didn't know it.

However, it seemed he'd done some stupid things too. Still looking pained, he shook his head. "Koorie...I never meant it that way. Not at all. Yeah, I'm an idiot, that's not news. I'm also a guy. I know you don't like guys, but just in case you didn't know, as a general rule, we're kind of oblivious sometimes. Can't help it. If it's not spelled out in black and white, or maybe on a flashing neon sign, we're not likely to pick up on it. I swear, I thought..." He hesitated, but he had to tell the truth. "I thought you were just one of those people who tells the hard life stories just to gain attention from people."

Maybe guys were oblivious as a rule, but all this time, Hayden had been watching carefully and was unnerved to note how unsteady Koorie was. She wouldn't last long at this rate, and the adrenaline rush from the attack and all the screaming was only pumping the sedatives through her system even faster.

"Koorie. You're not well and you know it. I can't rightly leave you out here wandering the hallways alone to collapse somewhere. Now that we're rid of your previous escort, I'll take over his job. I know you don't trust me, you're not GOING to trust me, and there's not much I can do to change that. I also won't have the thought of you laying unconscious in the hallway alone on my conscience, so give me just a minute of your time."

Crossing his arms over his chest, he looked at her seriously. "Here's my offer. I'll help you back to your room, then I'm gone. I know you have no real reason to trust me, so we'll make a deal. If I try ANYTHING at all with you, you have the right to castrate me or whatever it was you were threatening me with earlier. No stalker or attacker would make that deal, right?" He raised an eyebrow, hoping she wasn't too far gone yet and that she could still understand his proposition. "Deal?"

Then again, if she was too far gone...he'd just have to wait a little longer for her to simply pass out and he'd take her back to her room with or without her permission.

Hayden's eyes narrowed, one eyebrow arched. "Yeah, sure you are. Just fine. Like a drunk." He rolled his eyes tiredly, wondering if she could possibly be THIS hard-headed all the time.

"Fine, you want it your way? I can wait the five minutes or so until you likely pass out. Maybe less, considering your current state. If what you believe is true, what's to stop me then? If I'm such a horrible, evil person, of course. Now, if I help you to your room, and quickly, you can happily lock me out, then crash for the next two days or so to sleep off your stupor from that damnable syringe."

He was sorely tempted to just tell her what sort of effed up mess she'd gotten herself in to, but decided he really didn't have the energy to deal with that as well right now.

Stricken by an odd thought he couldn't let go of, even in the current situation, he eyed Koorie strangely for a minute. "Tell me something," he started slowly. "...why is it so important to you to be 'special?' Special only draws attention from what I've seen. Usually unwanted attention. What's so wrong with being 'normal?' Or for that matter, at least not the same as some jackasses?" He had to add the last part, still desperately seeking some sign, if only for himself, that he was nothing like Frank or some of the others.

The frown was becoming a permanent fixture on Hayden's face. And swing and a miss. Wrong again. Wonderful. He really was an idiot.

"Alright, I mis-read again. I really suck at this. I'm sorry." He sighed shaking his head. Even he had to cringe at what she told him though. "That's...horrible," he shook his head in disbelief. What sort of person would say that to another? Ever? And a family member? The thought was chilling that people could be so cold to one another.

Then again, could he really have any right to be surprised by the things people did to each other after all he'd seen here at CRONUS?

He wanted to say something to her. Something encouraging. Something positive. What could he say though that wouldn't sound cheap and fake? Nothing was coming to mind.

And so he said nothing.

"Well, that's a good general list then," he nodded, moving forward. "Let's get you to your room now before it's too late." He hesitated, barely stopping himself from taking her arm without thinking. No, not a good idea, even if she did look about to collapse. "Alright, down this hallway, then take a right at the corner." He started forward again, but slowly enough that he stayed next to her just in case she stumbled.

"You know," he started again after a minute, unsure of what he was saying or why. "Just because someone says something and you hear it endlessly for days upon weeks upon years on end...doesn't make it true. Repetition doesn't make a person right."

He was staring straight ahead, but for some reason, he didn't seem to be looking at anything in particular. At least, not at anything in front of him.

"Sometimes, stupid people just like to hear themselves talk, I guess. Doesn't mean the rest of us have to listen."

"Idiots can travel in groups too you know. They're not only solo hunters." He kept talking smoothly, falling into a rhythm as he discreetly kept an eye on Koorie's condition. "It's the packs you got to watch out for. Especially...hey! Wait a minute..."

Nearly stumbling himself in the middle of the hallway, Hayden stopped and shot an odd look at Koorie. No way...no way she just...it wasn't possible.

Eyes narrowed, he paused to peer questioningly at her face. "Correct me if I'm wrong, but I do believe a Grumpig just flew by. Did you just...make a joke?"

Almost as soon as he said it, he shook his head and resumed walking. "No, of course not. It's not possible. I must be hallucinating. Probably delirous from the pain of an impaled foot and all that..."

If she couldn't tell he was kidding from the goofy look on his face, then she had to be even more oblivious than males. If making an a** of himself is what it took to keep her distracted and walking, well...he'd do it.

It took everything Hayden had not to fall over in shock at the sight. Koorie...was grinning. Okay, a small grin, but still...it was something. "Damn it all," he muttered, completing the look with a irritated finger snap. "And me without my camera..."

"Woah! You okay?" Maybe it was a trick of the light or something in the hallway, but Hayden could have sworn that Koorie had been swaying dangerously when she stopped. Maybe it was just the change of movement out of the corner of his eye, but he reached out instinctively, not considering the consequences, as he took her arm to steady her. "Care...ful..." he trailed off realizing what he'd done and immediately let go, but only once he was sure she was steady again. "...sorry."

He coughed nervously, backing away slowly. "I...I'll be fine. I'll live. I've had much worse..." he finished lamely. Glancing ahead, he realized they'd reached the right hallway at least. "Just a few more feet," he added aloud for Koorie's benefit.

Glancing back, Hayden noted she was hanging further and further back. She'd never make it at the rate she was going. No choice. Stalking back purposefully, he held out his arm, his slate-colored eyes staring into her blood-red.

"Come on. It's not far now, but if you keep stumbling like that, you're going to end up covered in bruises. Now, you either take my arm for balance and keep walking on your own two feet, or I carry your a**. Pick one."

If making her mad would make her focus again, then fine, he'd be the object of irritation again. If only it would get her going again. Just long enough to get to the room. It wasn't far now, but if she was so determined to make it on her own well...he guessed he'd have to be a bit sneakier about 'helping.'

Alright, he was impressed. Damn impressed, to be honest. But at the same time, he knew that look well enough by now and had walked along slowly behind her, tense, but trying to give her this victory. She seemed to need it.

While he was still at some distance when she turned back and collapsed, Hayden was quick enough to at least catch her shoulders and keep her head from hitting the floor. Considering the cold tile, that was probably a good thing, no? He shook his head tiredly, even now unable to suppress a smirk of bemusement.

Quite the stubborn one, isn't she?

He sat there, in the middle of the hallway on the floor for a minute, pondering what to do. Then he shrugged, musing cheekily out loud, "Can't remember it to kick my a** if you're not awake to witness it in the first place." Smirking, he quickly picked Koorie up off the chilling floor and stood easily. A moment later, he kicked her door open and carried her into her room, letting the door swing shut slowly behind him. He crossed the room, careful not to bump into anything, then laid her on her bed, thankful they hadn't left anything lying there earlier. Eyes darting to the blanket folded on the end of the bed, he shook it out and draped it over her casually. He wasn't dumb enough to do anything else, but at least she wouldn't catch cold. She could change clothes and make herself more comfortable whenever she next awoke.

He headed for the door, pausing only long enough to shoot back a parting line before slipping through into the hallway.

"Afraid I'll have to take a raincheck on that a**-kicking..."