They made it to Elektra’s warehouse always watching their backs. Elektra was on the rooftops, making sure that they weren’t being followed. Meanwhile, Melvin walked behind them clutching his arms and casting a wary eye at Matt.

As soon as the door to the warehouse creaked open, Betsy’s heartbeat spiked in anticipation. She ran towards Melvin running a soft hand over his face.

“Oh my god, you’re okay,” Betsy said, wrapping him in her arms.

Elektra crawled in from the sunroof, landing on the floor barely making a sound. Matt leaned on the wall, unwrapping the bloodied bandages on his glove and also removing his gloves unveiling the bruises and scratches on his fists.

Melvin sat far away from Matt. He could sense the fear in his heart.

“What’s wrong?” Betsy asked.

Melvin pointed at Matt. “He scares me.”

“What did you do?” Betsy asked, turning to Matt.

“He snapped,” Matt said. “Turned into the Gladiator and I had to defend myself.”

“Don’t say his name,” Betsy hissed. Betsy stared at his face. “God, did you do this?”

Matt nodded.

“That’s awful,” Betsy said. “This is excessive. Jesus look at all those bruises, you didn’t have to go this overboard.”

Matt was silent.

“That doesn’t matter,” Elektra said. “What matters right now is Melvin. Right now, he’ll be on the hitlist of all the major crime families in Crime Alley. That includes you.”

“He’ll need protection,” Matt said.

“We can keep them here,” Elektra said. “Until we deal with their supplies. We can…”

“No,” Matt said. “That’s too dangerous. If an assassin or anyone finds out where we’re hiding, Melvin will have no one to protect him. He’ll need legal protection.”

“That’s insane,” Elektra said. “Half off the GCPD is under one or another family’s payroll.”

Betsy nodded. “She’s right. Not to mention that even if they don’t decide to kill him right there in the precinct, Melvin wouldn’t last a day in prison.”

“Who’s to say he’ll go to prison?” Matt asked.

Betsy scoffed. “Are you naïve? Half the judges and prosecutors are under someone’s payroll. There’s no way they’d let Melvin get the help he needs.”

“I know some lawyers,” Matt said. “They can help.”

“Even then,” Elektra said. “Someone could kill him before the trial. Who’s to say the officers in charge can be trusted?”

“Gordon,” Matt said. “Commissioner Gordon. If Batman trusts him, we can too. He can form a team and…”

“How will you even get to him?” Betsy said. “The Commissioner is a busy man and we all know as much as he loves this city that Crime Alley is a lost cause to everyone. Even the cops here don’t care. Do you think he has the time to listen to another masked vigilante?”

“You’ll need someone who can get you to him?” Elektra said. “Do you have somebody who can vouch for you?”

Matt smiled. “I know just the right person.”

…

Commissioner Gordon walked atop the rooftop, cigarette in mouth as the Bat signal blazed in the sky. Lurking in the shadows was Batman and a new, younger and less obedient boy wonder in bright clothes.

“Haven’t seen you in a while, Batman,” Gordon said. You could see that the Commissioner had not been sleeping well after his recent divorce. His hair had traces of white and he had a small beard growing on his chin. A belly was starting to form and his eyes were starting to sink. “Kid.”

“I’ve been busy,” Batman said. “How’s Barbara?”

“She’s doing alright,” Gordon said. “Her rehabilitation is slow but… it’s a process y’know? I’m just glad I got that Wayne grant when I did. Anyway, what brings you up here? Normally I’m the one who does the calling.”

“We need help,” Batman said.

“You and the boy?” Gordon asked. “Why would you need my help?”

“No, not us,” Batman said. “Him.”

“Ease up on the fried food commissioner,” said a voice behind him. “It’s not good for your heart.”

Gordon turned around to see a man jumping down from the doorway, wearing a cloth mask over his face and what looked like a jersey and black cargo pants.

Gordon sighed. “Oh god, another one.”

…

“You need a team,” Gordon said. “Of officers I trust to protect this Melvin Potter. Pretty small team.”

“Yes,” Matt said. “Until some lawyers I know can negotiate ideal terms for him, we need to keep him in a remote location. He won’t be safe in prison or holding cells.”

“Yep,” Robin said. “Nobody likes snitches. He wouldn’t last a week.”

“What’s in it for us?” Gordon asked.

“Melvin knows the location of various weapon caches and supply routes of various crime families,” Matt said. “We have a witness in Melvin, we can nab them.”

“Your lawyers are going to have a hell of a time,” Gordon said. “You know half the prosecutors are under someone’s payroll.”

“They’re damn good lawyers,” Matt said.

“I’m going to be moving around a few men here and there,” Gordon said. “There’s no way I can keep this hidden.”

“Just for a while,” Matt said. “Until I can get the case sorted out.”

Gordon sighed. “There’s only a few cops I can vouch for. A meagre few. If anyone finds out where they’ve been going, I don’t think Melvin will be safe.”

“I can help,” Robin said grinning. “It’ll be easy.”

“No,” Batman said. “You focus on your training. I’ll make sure Melvin is taken care off. We’ll ship off Melvin to an undisclosed location only people in this room will know.”

Robin looked like he was about to interject but realised it was no use and quieted down.

“I’ll listen around,” Gordon said. “See if any of the other boys in the precinct caught wind of what’s going on.”

Matt nodded. “Okay. If anything happens you call me by this number.” He handed Gordon a number.

“We have a deal then?” Matt asked.

Gordon nodded, reaching out for a handshake. “You better not make me regret this.”

Matt shook his hand.