If he hadn't already come across another of her kind in person he might have been startled by the words, the tone that implied he hadn't been as stealthy as he'd hoped, and the cavalier act that toyed with feigned ignorance. But as it was he'd known she would be sharp, far sharper than his usual prey, and while he had certainly hoped he would go unnoticed he had by no means counted it a certainty. The goal was to gain a weapon, a tool, before she made a move, not evade her notice entirely.

Should have come prepared. Should have found something before deciding to sneak around. Stupid. Always helpful, Rorschach reprimanded, mocked, leaving Kovacs to fumble through cabinets with clumsy fingers forced into nimbleness without the protection and certainty of his face. Focus. Pay attention. THINK.

Fingers finally closed around the handle of a pan. Testing it showed it had some heft, but it was awkward. Ungainly. Manageable, but unbalanced. Not ideal, but he would have to make do. He continued to creep around the table, clinging to his illusion of concealment despite the fact that he assumed it to be false, and tried to determine an approach that might work. Unexpected. No warning. Limited possibility for a return attack. "Didn't offer."