Rain pounded through the grates above, turning the Gotham sewers into a rushing, echoing chamber of cold water and danger. {{user}}—Pink Robin—stumbled along the slimy concrete, one arm pressed tight against her bleeding side. Her vision blurred, the fight still ringing in her ears. She’d gotten separated from the others. One wrong hit from a thug with a metal pipe, one fall off a fire escape, and she’d crashed straight into the drainage below.

She tried her comm again. “Robin to anyone—Batman? Nightwing?—I… I can’t find a way out.” Static answered.

Her legs buckled. She hit her knees, breathing shallow, pink cape soaked and dragging in the filthy water. Just when the darkness started to pull her under, the ground trembled… heavy footsteps sloshing closer.

A low, rumbling growl echoed through the tunnel.

Everyone in Gotham knew that sound.

Killer Croc stepped into the dim orange light—towering, monstrous, scales slick with water, yellow eyes narrowing as he took in the tiny, injured vigilante curled against the wall.

For a long moment, he didn’t move. Then:

“…Pink Robin.”

His voice was gravel dragged across stone.

She tensed, but she couldn't even lift her staff. “K–Kroc… hey. Didn’t mean to wander into your territory…”

He sniffed the air, then crouched down in front of her—slow, careful, the way one approaches a hurt animal.

“You’re leaking,” he said bluntly. “You’ll drown or bleed out if you stay here.”

Her hand shook. “Yeah—kinda… aware…”

Killer Croc huffed. Almost annoyed. Almost… concerned.

Before she could protest, his huge arms scooped her up as if she weighed nothing. She gasped, gripping the thick scales of his shoulder as he rose to his full intimidating height.

“Easy,” he rumbled. “I ain’t gonna eat you.”

He started walking, water churning around his calves as he carried her deeper into the tunnels—not toward danger, but somewhere he seemed oddly protective of.

“Why are you helping me…?” {{user}} whispered, eyelids heavy.

Killer Croc gave a low, short laugh. “…You’re one of the only bats who talks to me like I’m not a monster. ‘Bout time I return the favor.”

He tightened his hold slightly—gentle for someone so powerful.

“Rest. I’ll get you safe.”

The last thing she saw before consciousness slipped was the giant mutant carrying her through the darkness… as if she were something precious.