Hellcat

Chapter 48

Matt took Elektra and I to Melvin. It had been nearly a year since I had seen the man, but he seemed to remember me fondly if the small smile on his face was any indication. It took some time, but we managed to convince him to outfit Elektra with some armor. I was good with my suit. "Yeah, I don't know about this," Melvin said with a sigh as he took Elektra's measurements. "I made all this stuff to keep Betsy safe, not just give it away," he added, continuing his work.

"You'll get it back, Melvin," Matt assured him from where he leaned against the work table. I sat on the edge beside him, watching as Elektra offered a look of bored confidence. "Without a scratch. Promise," she added, her bravado back. "If you say so," Melvin grumbled, draping his measuring tape over his shoulders before going to a set of shelves.

"Expecting trouble?" he asked after a moment. "Yeah, a little bit," Matt replied with a huff. "That figures," Melvin responded, examining some material. "Well, it's a good thing you two got company," he added, gesturing to where Elektra was glancing around at things. "I wish you'd let him make you something," Matt muttered to me, his shoulder brushing against mine. "Haven't needed it yet, have I?" I asked Matt, offering a cocky smirk. He sighed and shook his head. "Sure you don't want anything extra?" Melvin asked, possibly hearing Matt's concern. "I'm good, Melvin. But thanks," I told him with a smile.

He nodded hesitantly before something occurred to him. "Ah, before I forget," he called out, scurrying into another room before coming back with a long, slender black case. "These are for you," he said, coming over to Matt with the case. "Merry Christmas, huh?" Melvin set the case on the table beside Matt and I leaned around him to see what Melvin had. "What is it?" Matt asked, getting to his feet. "Billy club. Like the cops use, only, like, a million times cooler. It's my own design," Melvin started as he held up the red and black weapon. "Special steel fiber composite cable. Damn near indestructible," he continued to gush with pride, tapping the weapon against his hand as Matt removed his gloves.

"Check it out. You can change the length," Melvin explained as he twisted the billy club, pulling it apart slightly to reveal a cable inside. "Here, play with it," he added, finally handing it to Matt. Matt held the billy club in his hand for a moment, testing the weight before jerking his arm forward. One end of the billy club shot forward, striking a head mold nearly ten feet away before the cable inside snapped it back.

"Where's mine?" Elektra asked, in awe of the weapon. "That's, uh... it's a prototype. I only made one," Melvin said, instantly flustered. "Hey. Hey, don't mind her," Matt said, annoyance mixing with gentle fondness in his voice. "So, check it out," Melvin started, ignoring Elektra as Matt suggested. "You could use it as a grappling hook. Or, uh... close quarter combat. Possibilities are endless," he continued excitedly. Or, as excited as he could sound.

Matt held the billy club for a moment before spinning it nimbly through his fingers. Melvin let out a small chuckle, happy that Matt seemed to like his gift. "Melvin, I... I don't know what to say," Matt responded, holding the weapon carefully. Melvin scoffed at his words, brushing off the faintly concealed thank you. "Don't say anything. I mean, the papers might not report it, but... some of us in Hell's Kitchen, we know who's really looking out for us. It's yours, man," Melvin said, patting Matt's chest plate before gesturing to the weapon. I smiled fondly at Melvin. He was a nice guy. Very much a gentle-giant type, though he was only a few inches taller than Matt.

"And don't think I forgot about you," Melvin spoke up, pointing to me before hurrying back to the room he had kept the billy club in. When he came back, he was holding a piece of paper. "Now, it's not done yet, but I think you'll like it," he said before showing me the paper. It was filled with sketches and schematics for a weapon that could expand and collapse in on itself, as well as attach together to form one long weapon. A bow staff.