Megavolt nodded, casting a look at her that was a mix of disbelief and amusement. "Right."

Five steps down the sidewalk, Tegwen stumbled and ended up with her bill in a puddle. "Oh, gross," she gasped, attempting to stand up under her own strength. "Mud . . . Doesn't go well with alcohol. Or much ofanything, for thatmatter."

With a sigh, Megavolt took Tegwen by her arm and awkwardly wiped her bill clean with a sleeve. "Where's your house?" He asked as she stood up slowly with his help. "You won't make it on your own."

"Just take me tothe Audubon BayBridge," Tegwen mumbled. "'S the closest thing I'vegot toahome . . ." While she did spend time on certain rooftops overlooking the city, getting up to one her usual way seemed a phenomenal feat at that moment.

Megavolt gasped. "You don't have a home?"

"I don't . . . Idon't -- needahome . . . Its just get in the way ofyer freedom. Andbesides. You get used to thestreets --"

Megavolt cringed. The meter of her speech was getting painful to listen to and near impossible to decipher. This girl had some serious problems. "You can't be serious!"

"OhbutI am." Out of nowhere, she burst into a highly inappropriate fit of giggles. "It's okay, ya get used ta it!"

Megavolt nodded slowly. "I'll uh . . . Take you . . . home." He thought she was lucky he was taking her home as opposed to Steelbeak. While he, too, may have had criminal tendencies, she would be safer unconscious with him rather than the F.O.W.L. agent with his promiscuous reputation.

"Home --" Tegwen sighed. "It's such a nice con-concept."

Another few feet later, Tegwen collapsed again. This time, though, she was unconscious with no signs of coming to any time soon.

"Oh for the love of a circuit!" Megavolt scooped Tegwen up into his arms. He grunted; not because she was too heavy but because she was completely limp. "You know," he spoke to her quietly, "you're not exactly a featherweight."

He struggled with her for a few blocks, talking with her despite knowing that she wouldn't be vocal again for at least an hour or two, and wasn't even sure if she could hear him.

"You owe me," he muttered, watching the dirty, old street lamps cast a dull hue across Tegwen's eyelids. She was so pretty with her eyes closed lightly and a tranquil look on her face. Megavolt wondered if she always looked so nice when she wasn't perturbed or completely drunk. "Yer gonna be the one to confront Negaduck for this!"

Tegwen groaned slightly, almost as if protesting his last comment. Megavolt took to keeping a constant eye on her at that point as he continued on his way. I can't believe . . . I'm actually getting a soft spot for this creampuff!

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