While Gotham's citizens gradually grew used to it all, even starting to joke around and create and share memes, Gotham's underworld found none of it amusing.
"Killer Croc, that beast, becoming the guardian angel of Gotham's children? What a joke."
In the private office at the Iceberg Lounge, the velvet curtains were drawn tight. Penguin, Oswald, had long since used his own methods to extricate himself and return safely to his lair. Seated in a custom ebony armchair, he tapped a solid gold fountain pen against his desk, his eyes fixed on the computer screen-
On it was a poster expertly edited by a Gotham netizen: against a sewer backdrop, Killer Croc, Waylon Jones, crouched in the shadows, cradling a lost kitten in his palm. A line of text floated above his head: "Blessed by the Crocodile God."
Rendered in a cartoon style, even Killer Croc's enormous, terrifying body looked gentler. That crocodile head gazing down at the kitten in his hand actually looked a little cute?!
Huh?
Killer Croc, cute? Had they all gone insane?!
Notifications kept popping up on Penguin's personal terminal: #GothamChildrensCrocodileGuardian #UncleWaylonsBedtimeStories #LooksArentEverything:ToTheKillerCrocWeMisjudgedAllTheseYears...
In the comments, children posted crayon drawings of the "Crocodile God," their strokes crude but deeply touching; others shared how Killer Croc had once saved them, but they had been afraid to tell anyone because he was a "villain"; some regretted judging Killer Croc based on rumors, when he had gone on to save their families...
Penguin, Oswald, tightened his grip on the gold pen.
As a child, his unusual appearance had led his father to abandon him, and a flock of mutated penguins in the sewers had raised him. His beaklike nose, short, stout body, and limp had made him the target of countless jeers.
He and Killer Croc, who also bore