"This necklace suits you much better than those burnt little dried fish."
Selina glanced at the dried fish in the paper bag, her tone tinged with disdain, but she couldn't help sniffing-the smoky aroma was simply too tempting.
"My dried fish aren't burnt!" Killer Croc opened his jaws wide and roared at Selina, making the fish on the table jump. "She loves the ones I grill! She even licks her fingers!"
Miaomiao blushed a little at that. But the dried fish really were delicious. She couldn't help herself.
"Liking them doesn't mean she can live on them." Selina folded her arms and cast him a sidelong glance, her catlike eyes sweeping over the little crocodile charm on his wrist. Her smile deepened. "Besides, a great big brute like you wearing a toy only a child would like-aren't you embarrassed?"
"What do you know?" Killer Croc's voice grew deeper, like muffled thunder rumbling underground. The skin beneath his scales flushed faintly as he pointed at his wrist, showing it off with an almost childish pride. "She made this herself!"
Selina's expression turned cold at once. "What did you say?"
"This little crocodile was made by the little one. With. Her. Own. Hands."
Killer Croc lifted his chin slightly. The smug look on his face made Selina's fist itch to punch that ugly, armored mug.
Somehow, the two began trading barbs. One called the other's gift flashy and useless, saying its glitter would attract Penguin's henchmen; the other accused him of being a tasteless brute who tried to fob people off with burnt fish. The vast underground palace was suddenly thick with tension. Killer Croc's growls grew louder, and Selina's heels struck the floor harder and harder. The claws on her gloves sprang out, and even the crackling charcoal was drowned out.