Welcome to Chapter 5. Enjoy!

December 22nd

Faber couldn't help but stare in awe and fear at what she had created. She had dreamed of continuing her parents' research but also feared it as it was perhaps the reason they were killed. She was only sixteen when they had developed the formula, it was meant to 'improve the human condition in every way', and it did. Faber was living proof. She had never fallen ill, she could see much farther than most humans, and hear sounds beyond anything known to man. She was stronger, her mind felt smarter , and there were things she was yet to discover. All these mew abilities were easily manageable, she could tune out frequencies easily, and after a month of assessment, she returned to boarding school to live a new and improved life, while her parents lost theirs.

Faber did not wish for the drug to be used as it was used on her. She knew in the wrong hands, the drug could cause a global conflict. Her parents predicted this too, and hence any traces of it were destroyed, but Faber was able to use her own DNA to recreate it. She saw the benefits it made in her life and wanted to apply it to her work. She somehow wanted to modify it so it could reverse damage to the immune system without surgery. Children who were born with weak organs, for doctors to somehow have a drug they could use to improve a newborn's immune system.

It could cure cancer. That would most definitely put Faber in the history books. But that was beside the point. Her goal had always been to improve human life, to sew out corruption, to give to those less fortunate. It seemed she was much closer to reaching this goal, and it was a daunting sensation.

By 6pm she knew it was time to stop before she would burn out. Miraculously she got a text from Harriet : "Hey, Kate's invited us to a christmas party with her friends, she's said I should invite you, you up for it?"

'Who is your friend?' She replied.

'Some guy she works with, Walter or Waldo? I can't remember. Still, she said it'll be huge and fun and that we will be sorry if we miss it.' Harriet texted.

'Yeah sure i'm down for a party, what time?' Faber asked.

'Starts at 8, Kate and I could pick you up from the flat around then?' Harriet replied.

'Sounds good,' Faber texted, and shoved her phone in her bag before locking up the lab and rushing home for a shower and to change.

Faber took a while to decide what to wear. She was a 'dress to impress' kind of girl when it came to the events she usually had to attend. But for an average christmas party, she could not decide. In the end she put on a pair of her favourite low waisted baggy denim jeans and a red long sleeve top with a low neck to show off her breast - she might as well flaunt it. She put on some boots, and covered herself in pieces of expensive jewellery. She put on a cherry red shade of lipstick for the christmas spirit, and opted for a large afghan coat for the cold. She let her hair stay down, natural waves forming as it dried. She looked in the mirror one final time and thought, 'Faber you are single and so ready to mingle'

It was a 20 minute drive across Gotham to a so-called 'Wally West and Artemis'' home. On the way there she learnt that Kate had met Wally from work and that a lot of work friends would be there but some other plus ones too. Wally had apparently attended Stanford, and some of his old friends had come to visit.

They finally arrived, and as Faber stepped inside, she was enveloped by the aroma of food and liquor. Christmas lights adorned the ceiling, casting a warm glow, while familiar holiday tunes filled the air. The room was bustling with a lively crowd, comprised of remarkably attractive individuals.

"Kate!" called out a voice from across the room. A man, presumably Wally, approached them with an enthusiastic grin. "You made it, and brought some gorgeous friends."

Kate gestured towards Harriet, her girlfriend, and then towards Faber. "This is Harriet, my girlfriend, and this is Faber."

Wally's eyes widened with disbelief. "Wait, you're Faber Loralle?"

"In the flesh," Faber confirmed, feeling a flush of flattery at his recognition.

"No way, you're like one of my heroes! That paper you just released on curing blindness was mind-blowing. You're practically a magician," Wally exclaimed, his excitement palpable.

Faber couldn't help but smile at his enthusiasm. "I'm glad you enjoyed it."

"Come with me, my girlfriend is going to freak out when she finds out you're here," Wally said eagerly, leading Faber through the crowd.

As they approached a stunning woman who Faber assumed was Artemis, Wally couldn't contain his excitement. "Babe, you won't believe who this is."

Artemis surveyed Faber with a raised eyebrow. "Well, spill it then."

"Faber. Freaking. Loralle," Wally declared proudly, his tone brimming with admiration.

Artemis's expression shifted from scepticism to awe. "No way, you're here? Your work has changed lives, millions of them. Wally, how did you manage to pull this off?"

Faber offered a polite smile, feeling a bit overwhelmed by the attention. However, before she could respond, a familiar voice interrupted from behind.

"Hey, Wally, got any more beers?"

Faber's heart sank as she slowly turned around, hoping against hope that it wasn't who she suspected. But there stood Dick Grayson, clad in a leather jacket and an air of brooding charm.

"Dick," she acknowledged tersely.

Their gazes locked in a silent battle of resentment and unresolved tension.

Wally attempted to diffuse the tension. "Hold on, hold on, hold on, bro, you know Faber Loralle?"

"Unfortunately," Dick replied, his voice dripping with disdain.

"Oh, come on, I'm hardly the one to complain about compared to you," Faber retorted, her tone laced with sarcasm.

Confusion washed over Artemis and Wally as they exchanged bewildered glances.

"I have no idea what's going on," Artemis muttered to Wally.

"Me neither, and I have no clue what to do," Wally confessed, equally perplexed. Wally, sensing the mounting tension, attempted to lighten the mood. "So, uh, how do you two know each other?"

Dick's jaw clenched as he shot Faber a pointed look. "We've crossed paths before," he replied curtly.

"Yeah, more like he's crossed me," Faber quipped, a hint of defiance in her voice.

Artemis, sensing the underlying tension, interjected, "Well, this is awkward. Anyone want a drink?"

Wally nodded eagerly. "Yes, please. Let's all grab a drink and, uh, chill out a bit."

Faber shot Dick a smug smile as she followed the others to the makeshift bar, her mind already formulating a plan to navigate this unexpected encounter. She eventually discovered that Wally,DIck and Artemis had known each other for close to a decade. How Dick Grayson managed to have decent friends was beyond her. The origins of their friendship was a topic that was quickly brushed over, but Faber didn't think much of it. Instead she enjoyed her cheap cold beer while giving Grayson antagonising looks. Wally was extremely eager to know more about Faber's work. "Hey, I have some friends from when I was at Stanford over, I should introduce you. They're very smart. Who knows? You might end up curing cancer after a conversation together!"

'You have no idea' Faber couldn't help but chuckle at the irony. Faber raised an eyebrow at Wally's suggestion, amused by his enthusiasm. "Well, I wouldn't mind meeting them," she replied, taking a sip of her beer. "But let's not get ahead of ourselves. I'm just a scientist, not a miracle worker."

Wally chuckled, his excitement undeterred. "Oh, come on, Faber, don't sell yourself short. You're making waves in the scientific community. Who knows what breakthroughs could come from a casual conversation?" Faber caught Dick's eye roll at Wally's words.

Artemis rolled her eyes playfully. "Wally, ease up on the pressure. Let the woman enjoy her drink first."

Faber gave Artemis a grateful smile. She enjoyed Wally's enthusiasm, but in reality, she wasn't too keen to discuss work after being at the lab all day again. She needed a bit of break, and bickering with Dick Grayson seemed like an opportunity for some fun. But as she turned to Grayson, she saw not two, but three drop dead gorgeous women were at his side. She could not even attempt to hide her bewilderment

Faber couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at the sight before her. Three stunning women, each with an aura of confidence and allure, stood by Dick's side, their presence commanding attention. It was as if he had stepped straight out of a magazine spread, effortlessly surrounded by beauty.

Artemis, noticing Faber's reaction, nudged her playfully. "Impressive, right? Dick here has quite the fan club."

Faber chuckled, unable to tear her gaze away from the trio. "I can see that. Did I miss the memo about Dick Grayson becoming Gotham's most eligible bachelor?"

Wally let out a hearty laugh. "You're not far off, Faber. Dick has always had a way with the ladies. Those are his exes to be precise, Zatanna, Raquel and Barbara," he introduced pointing to the women as he named them

Dick, catching onto their conversation, flashed a charming grin. "Ladies, meet Faber. She's a brilliant scientist and a troublemaker, all rolled into one. 'A torch for the future' some may say" Dick did not even try to hide his sarcasm.

The women exchanged intrigued glances, clearly curious about the newcomer in their midst. Faber couldn't help but feel a twinge of amusement at the unexpected turn of events. If nothing else, encountering Dick Grayson always seemed to promise a night full of surprises.

Faber found herself pleasantly surprised by the company she kept for the rest of the night. While she had expected awkward tension with Dick's exes, she discovered that they were not only stunning but also genuinely warm and engaging. As the evening unfolded, she engaged in lively conversations with Barbara, learning about her impressive career as a part-time professor at Gotham University specialising in computer engineering.

Despite Dick's visible annoyance at their camaraderie, Faber couldn't resist the opportunity to tease him by getting along swimmingly with his former flames. It was a delightful twist to the evening, one that she hadn't anticipated but thoroughly enjoyed. As the night wore on, she found herself immersed in laughter and conversation, momentarily forgetting the tensions that had simmered between her and Dick earlier.

As the house became too hot with bodies, Faber retreated outside for some fresh winter air. It was snowing tonight. She was in a happy mood, maybe it was from the alcohol, but it was most likely from the joyous energy of Dick's friends. But why did Dick have to be such a … Dick? Just in line, the man of the hour stepped outside. Faber turned around and scoffed.

This time, I was out here first," she remarked dryly as he approached.

"It's a small world, isn't it?" Dick quipped, taking a place beside her.

Faber couldn't help but scoff. "Your friends seem to like me," she said, a hint of smugness in her tone. "They're surprisingly nice. I have to wonder, how come they're so pleasant while you…" She trailed off, raising an eyebrow.

Dick rolled his eyes, a familiar gesture. "I'm actually quite a nice guy," he retorted with mock indignation. "In fact, I'm like the nicest guy in the world. It's just you who can't seem to see it."

Faber fought the urge to laugh, shaking her head at his playful defence. She had to admit, for all his faults, Dick Grayson did have a certain charm when he wanted to.

Faber couldn't suppress a smirk at Dick's retort. "Oh, I see it alright," she replied, her tone teasing. "It's just buried under layers of arrogance and brooding."

Dick chuckled, a hint of amusement softening his features. "Well, I can't argue with that," he conceded, his gaze meeting hers. "But you have to admit, there's more to me than meets the eye."

Faber raised an eyebrow, feigning scepticism. "Is there, now? Enlighten me, Grayson. What hidden depths am I missing?"

Dick's lips curled into a smirk, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Ah, but where's the fun in giving away all my secrets at once?" he countered, his tone teasing. "You'll just have to stick around and find out for yourself."

Faber couldn't help but laugh at his playful evasion. "Well played, Grayson," she admitted, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Consider me intrigued."

Harriet and Kate appeared outside to inform Faber they were leaving if she wanted a life. Faber took up the offer. But before she stepped in the car after saying her thanks to wally and Artemis, and goodbyes to all she had met today, she gave Grayson a stern look, "Until we meet again, Dick"

Faber's parting words hung in the air, a subtle challenge in their tone. Dick met her gaze, his expression unreadable for a moment before a smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. "Looking forward to it, Faber," he replied, his voice carrying a hint of amusement.

Honestly, Faber needs to get over herself and admit dick Grayson is the catch of the century!