Waylon could tell she was still sleepy, and in quite a bit of pain so he curled his large arms around her small waist as gently as he could and helped her back atop the mattress, pulling his long trench coat over her again to keep her warm. Once Valentina was settled on the dirty yet soft makeshift bed, he laid beside her, setting the small single pillow under her head so she'd be more comfortable.
She yawned, and blinked her eyes softly, fluttering her long dark eyelashes before closing them. "Thank...You..."
He nodded hesitantly. "You're welcome."
She suddenly snuggled up close to him, wrapping her long and slender arms around his thick torso, head laid against his chest. She yawned again, then nuzzled her cheek softly against his collarbone before slipping off into unconsciousness.
He stayed tensed up for a while, muscles taut before relaxing and wrapping his own arms around her fragile waist and falling asleep. Even though he knew it was risky. He still didn't want to pass up this chance at real comfort and friendship, not to mention a few hours of rest. So he laid his head atop her own, his chin resting against her forehead and fell asleep, snoring loudly.
He didn't know how long they were like that, probably hours. But when he woke up to a loud thumping noise and someone shushing from one of the entrances, he grabbed Valentina bridle style up into his arms, coat and all, and hid in one of the shadowy exits, scanning his surroundings.
He couldn't see anyone yet. But he could hear them and sense their body heat. They were quite close to him and his 'girlfriend'. It was no doubt the Bat and that clumsy young sidekick of his, Robin.
He growled. They just had to ruin everything, didn't they?
He saw a quick movement from the very same entrance he'd heard the sound, and went rigid. Squinting his large yellow eyes to get a better look, his pupils contracting into thin vertical slits.
There was a flash of dark red, then black before both the Gotham vigilantes appeared, bat-o-rang and wingding in hand.
"Ya see him?" The kid hero asked his superior.
"No. Not yet. Stay sharp."
They both looked around carefully before closing in on the full sized mattress in the corner stained with Valentina's fresh blood, her jade-green pumps still lying down on the cold and wet tile ground.
"Uh, Batman?" Robin started, blue eyes wide.
"I know."
"But why-" He began.
"I don't know, Robin. Keep looking around."
Tim nodded, scanning the rest of his surroundings, both using Detective Vision to make their mission easier.
A minute later, Batman bent back down towards the mattress, taking a sample of the woman's blood before using tweezers from his belt to pick up one of her blonde hairs that had strayed and had stuck to the fabric.
"Found a blonde hair. Must be the woman's."
"Really?" Robin ran over to him, peering over his shoulder. Bruce nodded before slipping the evidence back into his belt. "Whatever's going on, there is a woman down here. She's in grave danger and we need to find her. Quick."
"On it." The little boy nodded. Scanning the rest of the traces of the woman's blood to try and find a blood trail.
"Uh, there's no trail." He stated quickly. "I don't know how or if she did, but maybe she's tied something around her wound(s) to stop the blood."
"With that much blood lost, she couldn't be very far."
"Yeah. That's true." The boy nodded. "Why do ya think she's down here? Everyone knows not to go into the sewers. Especially when Killer Croc's on the loose."
Batman sighed. "I know. And because he is loose and this is obviously his hideout, he's probably tracking her down, waiting for the chance to attack and eat her. We need to get to her before he does."
"Uh, how? There's no trail. I just told you tha-"
"I know. But we'll find a way. We always do. Besides. We have to."
Robin sighed again before nodding. "Yeah. I guess you're right. Lead the way, boss."
Batman shot a glare his way, scowling before taking one of Croc's scales he'd found and scanning it, trying to find a DNA trail. But before he could finish the scan, the three crocodiles that had thus far left them alone, started to attack.
Robin screamed out nervously, kicking his steel toed boot out at the female crocodile that was attacking him while Batman quickly lodged a stick he'd found on the ground, inside the male crocodile's mouth before swooping in to save Robin from the mother croc that was ultimately trying to protect the last of her young and her mate, snapping her jaws at their capes.
They blocked the rest of the large crocodile's attacks, using their blue glue grenade to stick their jaws together, leaving them defenseless. Once they were sure the animals couldn't attack, they snuck over to the wooden panel that the Detective Vision had highlighted as an opening and removed it.
"Looks like some objects are missing. There's also recent finger prints on the med kit."
"So the woman knew this panel was here? But how?"
"These aren't the mystery woman's prints." The Dark Knight stated, shocked. "Their Croc's."
"Uh, wait. What? Croc's? But Croc's blood isn't anywhere in here. So he's not injured."
"I know. That's what makes it odd."
"You don't think he helped the wo-"
"No. He wouldn't help anyone. He doesn't care for anything but himself. He's an animal. A criminal."
"But all evidence suggests that he-"
"No. There has to be another explanation. Keep looking around."
"K." Robin did as he was told and a moment later found a dark brown thread. "Hey, look at this!"
Batman looked and grabbed it, scanning it using his cowl. "Alfred. Look for any traces of Croc's DNA and the woman's DNA using this data from the Blood and Scale samples. Get back to me as soon as possible."
Soon the cowl's communication device crackled to life again and Alfred's british accent echoed on the other line with all the information he'd ever need about one measly little thread.
"Well?" Robin raised a black eyebrow from beneath his cowl in curiosity once they had stopped talking.
"It's a thread used to close the seams of heavy set coats. It's from one of the trench coat lines from the thrift shop: Mr. Gary's Used Threads, downtown. Both their DNA is fresh on the material."
"How fresh?"
"Alfred said from five to ten minutes old."
"Really! Then they can't be far! We've gotta go look!"
But Batman stopped Robin, grabbing his wrist as he turned around before he could go and run off on his own. "Because both of their DNA is fresh, Robin. That means he's already found her."
"Y-You mean she's dead?" His eyes saddened and his shoulders slumped.
"Highly doubt she isn't. But we'll still look just in case we find her alive."
Robin nodded. "Where do you want to start first? There's, like, thousands of tunnels in here."
The older vigilante looked around, knowing Robin had a point.
But they were saved from the hard work and confusion when Killer Croc appeared in front of them. (After hiding the woman in the tunnel from behind.)
"Looks like ya found me." He chuckled. "Now what? Ya gonna do your thing and use your little toys to capture me and to throw me in jail?"
"That's the plan." Batman stated, holding the bat-o-rang up high, ready to throw. "But first...Where's the woman?"
Waylon glared and snorted. "Woman? What woman?"
"The one that's running around injured in these sewers. That woman. I know you've got her."
"You think I got some woman down here with me? Ha! Wow. And I thought Joker was crazy!"
"Where is she, Croc?" Batman asked again, tone of voice stern.
Waylon's brow bone raised, faking shock. And his mouth parted open in 'surprise'. "Wait. What? You're serious? You actually think there's someone down here with me? And a woman? Really?! Wait a minute...Are you messin' with me!? No one messes with Croc!" He clenched his clawed fists in 'anger'.
Robin started to doubt their findings when Batman spoke up. "I'm always serious. You know that. Besides. All the evidence we've found suggests that you've already met her. So tell me. Is she dead? Did you kill her?"
"Who!? I don't know who you're talking about!"
"The woman, Croc! That's who!"
"I know that! But just who is she!? Why would you think there'd be a woman down here, and with me of all people!?"
Batman pointed a finger to the jade-green pumps on the floor beside the mattress in the corner. "Those for one. And the blood for two. And last but not least, three. The blonde strand of hair we've found. The DNA is fresh. She was just here. And you were too. So, where is she, Croc? If you give her to me safe and sound we won't have to do this the hard way."
Croc sneered. "Who says I'd even give her back even if I did have her?" He smirked. "Especially when it's a free meal..."
Batman growled and took a small step forward. "So you admit to having her then?"
"Nah. I never said that."
"You implied it."
"So?"
"Just give her to me. She's of no use to you."
"Oh? Ya really think so?" He smiled. "My stomach thinks differently." He patted his scaly belly with a fake yet convincing belch.
Batman growled and grunted as he threw the bat-o-rang at Croc's head, knowing he'd miss. But, like he'd hoped, it made a good distraction. Croc, too focused on not getting hit by the projectile, let his eyes follow it, forgetting about the two hero's for the moment. That provided enough precious time for them to spring forward, tasering the large crocodile man. As Croc went down they used their blue glue grenade and incased his legs and feet in the goo, hardening the gunk in place so the criminal couldn't move. He cried out as he hit the hard ground, struggling as the two vigilantes cuffed his hands behind his back, and muzzled him.
"I'll kill you, Batman! I'll feast on your bones! I'll tear your body apart like paper! You will pay for this! I swear it!"
Croc's screams and threats echoed loudly throughout the sewers, vibrating off the walls and through the many tunnel entrances and exists.
Maybe a little too loudly.
During the commotion, Valentina woke up from the yells and screams of her 'boyfriend' Waylon Jones and found that she wasn't even on the mattress from before. Nor was he still there beside her. She started to panic. Looking around quickly and worriedly as she heard Croc scream again. She rushed through and out of the tunnel she was inside as quickly as her injured body would allow. Finally finding the opening back into their 'home'. Where she saw a man and a young boy dressed in a bat and a red acrobatics costume, interrogating Waylon, whom was tied up and laying on the floor. She gasped and ran out into the open, screaming. "What are you doing to Waylon!? Stop! He didn't do anything! W-Who are you!? Why are you doing this!?"
They both dropped their weapons and stared at her in a mixture of shock, confusion, and relief.
She ignored the looks they were giving her and rushed to Croc's side, untying the muzzle and throwing it down to the ground beside her. "I'll try to get you out, just hold on!" She moved onto his legs, trying to break the hardened, cement-like goo to free him, while Waylon watched her. Allowing a small smile to creep over his face as he realized how much she actually cared for him.
Yeah. Because of the lies he had told her. - He realized sadly.
She managed to crack open the glue, making the casing fall and crumble to the floor, moving to help Croc up off of his feet before the vigilantes realized they should try to intervene.
"Get away from him, lady! He's dangerous!" Robin screamed, trying to grab her. But she smacked his hand away, partly in fear, and partly in anger. "Leave me alone! Who are you and why are you here!?" She clung to Waylon's arm as soon as he was ok and up on his feet, laying her head against his shoulder.
Batman studied her and Croc's movements and moods, turning back to Robin, while still keeping an eye on the two.
"She-"
"Doesn't know." Robin finished with a nod. "But still. He's a freak. Why-"
Waylon instantly growled but Valentina stepped forward, insulted. "He is not a freak, y-you jerks! Just go away and leave us alone!"
They both raised their eyebrows, concealed behind their cowls. "Listen." Batman began. "I don't know who you are or why you're here with him. But you are obviously confused. He is dangerous. Please step back away from him and leave the rest to us. We promise to get you medical help. Everything's going to be fine."
"Everything is already fine. I was fine. Waylon was fine, until you came here! Who the hell are you! Are you criminals!" Her face went pale. "D-Do you kill people!? Are you here to kill us!? I-I don't want to die!"
While Valentina rambled on and on about her fears of the situation, Croc gathered up his strength and broke through the cuffs around his wrists, shattering the metal.
Valentina stopped screaming at the sight and stared at him in awe, hugging him around the waist afterwards.
Croc chuckled lightly, barely noticeable and wrapped his arms around her, hugging her back and keeping her there.
Both Robin and Batman stared in shock at his uncharacteristic act of kindness and stared in confusion, wondering just what the hell was going on when Waylon finally spoke up again, smirking.
"Heh-Heh! Batman, Robin. Meet my girlfriend. Valentina."