I don't own Batman TAS characters.
The girl trembled while she carried a bowl of rolls. Worry filled her eyes. She focused on the Sewer King as he sat near a table. Although the Sewer King was polite when he consumed food, she always dreaded him. His usual scowl. How quick he was to discipline any kid causing him distress by placing her or him in a light-filled chamber for a few hours. How he remembered the light hurting their eyes.
The girl turned to her companions. Other thin children clad in rags. The girl recalled running near them as she obtained lots and lots of pretties for her king above the sewer. Necklaces. Bracelets. She remembered other things about her friends. Viewing the wet faces of the other children after the Sewer King disciplined them. A memory of wrapping her arms around the children. Her smile. How they smiled.
Eyes settled on a vase in the middle of the table. A vase containing the Sewer King's mother's ashes. The girl remembered how close the Sewer King was to his mother. At least close for a man living in Gotham City's sewer.
Words from the Sewer King remained with the girl. How he cared about his mother. His rare smile when he mentioned her caring for him.
Purchasing one expensive stuffed alligator for his sixth birthday when she had very little money. Always embracing him. Making sure her young son was happy.
The girl also recalled the Sewer King's scowl after he mentioned his mother's demise some time ago. How he protected the vase containing her ashes. How he scowled at the children if they even glanced at the vase. Almost attacked the children if they were by the vase. Almost as if he was afraid they were going to cause the vase to shatter by breathing near it. How the vase was always in the middle of the table.
''The rolls. Please,'' the Sewer King said to the girl. He frowned before she placed the bowl near the vase. The Sewer King's eyes widened as soon as the bowl contacted the vase. His half-shades slid down his nose while his jaw dropped. He blinked repeatedly. He shook his head in disbelief.
After the vase fell and shattered, ashes were revealed.
The Sewer King's eyes were still wide before he cried out. He turned to the girl and his other children. The Sewer King viewed their wide eyes. Their trembling bodies. His body trembled for a different reason. He began to scowl at the girl.
Children stepped back at the same time. They remembered what the Sewer King was like when he was enraged. How quick he was to discipline any kid causing him distress. Perhaps they were all going to be disciplined.
The girl turned before she ran. Not willing to suffer in the light-filled chamber, she approached a ladder. She climbed the ladder. She saw a lid and pushed it to one side. The girl found herself on the streets of Gotham City. The lid was used to conceal the opening. That was when she ran again.