Welcome to chapter Six
December 25th, Christmas Day.
Christmas held a bittersweet air for Faber, tinged with a touch of loneliness. With only Harriet as her companion on Christmas Eve, she cherished their time together, knowing that Harriet would be off to spend the day with her family across town. Faber's tradition of giving persisted, as she carefully selected gifts for Harriet, Kate, and her professors—books, as always, a testament to her appreciation for knowledge.
As the day unfolded, Faber found solace in the simple pleasures: a store-bought cherry pie, the glow of the TV casting warmth in the dim room, and the familiar comfort of classic Christmas films. She watched until fatigue crept in, lulling her into a peaceful slumber, the soft glow of holiday lights casting gentle shadows across the room.
For the most part, her evening was peaceful. The lights were off, anyone might have thought no one was home. Someone did indeed. Faber awoke from her slumber on the sofa, to the sound of someone in her office which her hearing had picked up on the other side of the house. She wanted to call for Harriet in the off chance Harriet came back, but she knew that was unlikely so remained quiet. She got up slowly from her sofa, careful and quiet, and grabbed the knife which she had used to cut her pie. Faber had never been broken into. She knew she probably had enemies, but enemies of Belladonna, not Faber Loralle.
Faber's heart raced as she tiptoed towards the source of the noise, her grip tightening around the knife. Every creak of the floorboards felt like an alarm bell in the silent house. As she reached the doorway to her office, she peeked inside cautiously. A shadowy figure was hunched over her desk, rifling through her papers.
Adrenaline surged through Faber's veins as she stepped into the room, brandishing the knife. "Who's there?" she demanded, her voice trembling with a mixture of fear and anger. Faber tried to remain unafraid. She was Belladonna, and had dealt with much more dire situations. But without her mask, she didn't know how to act. Yes she was smart, but that didn't mean she couldn't be scared.
The intruder froze, startled by Faber's sudden appearance. Slowly, he turned to face her, his features obscured by the darkness. "You shouldn't be here," he growled, his voice low and menacing.
Faber's pulse quickened as she realised the gravity of the situation. This wasn't just a random burglary. Someone was targeting her specifically, and they weren't afraid to confront her directly.
Before she could react, a sudden flurry of movement caught her off guard. From the shadows emerged a familiar figure, clad in black and blue. "I think you've overstayed your welcome," a voice echoed through the room, sending a shiver down Faber's spine.
It was Nightwing, Gotham's elusive protector, and someone she had spent quite the night with was standing between her and the intruder. With a swift, practised motion, he lunged forward, ready to defend Faber and her home from whatever danger lurked in the darkness.
Caught off guard by Nightwing's sudden appearance, the intruder stumbled backward, clearly taken aback by the unexpected interference. Faber watched in awe as Nightwing moved with unparalleled grace and precision, his movements a blur in the dimly lit room.
"You picked the wrong night to break into this place," Nightwing declared, his voice laced with authority as he advanced towards the intruder.
The would-be thief regained his composure, his eyes darting between Nightwing and Faber, assessing his options. With a menacing glare, he reached for something concealed beneath his jacket, but before he could make a move, Nightwing was upon him.
In a flurry of kicks and punches, Nightwing swiftly disarmed the intruder, rendering him helpless on the ground. Faber watched in amazement as Nightwing effortlessly subdued the would-be thief, his movements calculated and precise. Faber couldn't help but feel weak at the knees,not from fear, but from her memories of Nightwing using that strength on her in more intoxicating ways.
As the tension in the room began to subside, Nightwing turned to Faber with a reassuring smile. "Are you okay?" he asked, his voice softening as he approached her. Faber felt a surge of conflicting emotions as she looked at him, her mind racing with memories of their recent encounter. She quickly pushed those thoughts aside, focusing on the present moment.
"Yes, I think I'm okay," she finally said, forcing herself to maintain a composed demeanour. "Thank you, you got here so quickly."
"I was in the area," Nightwing replied casually, his mask concealing any hint of recognition in his eyes.
"Well, I'm a very lucky woman then, aren't I?" Faber said with a faint smile, masking the turmoil churning inside her.
Nightwing chuckled softly at Faber's comment, his eyes holding a hint of amusement. "Luck had nothing to do with it. Gotham's my city, after all. It's my job to keep its residents safe."
Faber couldn't help but smile at Nightwing's confident demeanor, though her mind still raced with the memory of their previous encounter. The thought of their intimate moment lingered in the back of her mind, adding an unexpected layer of complexity to their current interaction.
"Well, I appreciate it nonetheless," Faber replied, her tone sincere as she met Nightwing's gaze. "I'm not sure what I would've done without your help."
Nightwing's smile widened at her gratitude, and for a moment, Faber found herself lost in the warmth of his expression. Despite the chaos of the break-in, there was a sense of calmness in Nightwing's presence that put her at ease.
"Anytime," Nightwing said softly, his voice carrying a reassuring tone. "Just remember to stay safe, alright? Gotham can be a dangerous place, especially for someone like you."
Faber nodded, a sense of gratitude washing over her as she took in Nightwing's words. Though she knew she should feel intimidated by the dangers of the city, she couldn't help but feel a strange sense of comfort knowing that Nightwing was watching over her.
"I'll keep that in mind," Faber replied, offering Nightwing a grateful smile. "Thanks again for everything."
Nightwing broke their gaze to survey the mess in her office, his eyes narrowing as he approached the tied-up burglar behind him. "What were you looking for?" he demanded, his voice firm.
The burglar remained silent, refusing to meet Nightwing's gaze.
Nightwing closed the distance between them, seizing the burglar by the throat and pressing him against the wall. "Don't make me repeat myself," he warned.
"I-I was just told to take everything," the burglar stammered, his voice strained. "Boss just wanted her papers."
"Who's your boss?" Nightwing pressed, his grip tightening.
The burglar's eyes darted to Faber, a glint of desperation in his gaze. Suddenly, he reached for a hidden knife and drove it into his own back, the action swift and unexpected. Faber gasped in shock. Nightwing sighed as he let go of the man who now fell to the ground. The sound of sirens began to approach. Nightwing turned to Faber, who stood with a blank expression, her gaze fixed on the dead man on her floor. Without a word, she walked into her study, her movements methodical as she began to pick up the scattered pieces of paper. Nightwing followed her, his presence offering a silent support.
"I'm sorry for this," he said sincerely, his tone weighted with regret. "The police will be here soon, and they'll likely have a lot of questions. I'll stay to help."
Faber nodded silently, her focus on gathering the papers.
Glancing down at one of the pieces of paper he had picked up, Nightwing remarked, "This is actually some groundbreaking stuff."
"Did you think I was a hoax or something?" she questioned, her tone tinged with a hint of defensiveness.
"No, I…" Nightwing hesitated, his words trailing off as he reconsidered his response. After a brief pause, he shook his head. "Nevermind."
Faber took the paper from him, her expression solemn. "They're just ideas. I don't know why anyone would want to steal them."
"I'll get to the bottom of it," Nightwing assured her, his tone resolute.
Despite her unease, Faber found a sense of reassurance in Nightwing's presence, knowing her critical research was safely stored at the lab. As the cops arrived, Nightwing stood by her side, his suit adding to his godlike appearance. Despite her attraction, she knew there wouldn't be any romantic tension; Nightwing was simply doing his job. Faber recounted her uneventful Christmas day to Commissioner Gordon, who listened intently.
"Well, Miss Loralle, we'll need to keep investigating the place for the time being. Do you have anywhere else to stay?" Gordon inquired.
Faber paused, considering her options. She realised she'd have to break the news to Harriet to avoid her returning home prematurely. "I can stay at my lab on Gotham University's campus. I spend most nights there anyway," she replied truthfully.
"Right, I'll get Officer Rico to take you there," He replied. Faber nodded in thanks. As they made their way out of her apartment, Nightwing fell into step beside her, his presence a silent reassurance amidst the chaos.
"Thankyou, again, hopefully I don't see you again," Faber said. Nightwing gave a questioning look. "I mean, as in, hopefully i'm not in any situations where you'll be need, I- you know what i mean'
Nightwing's smile softly at Faber's attempt to clarify her words. "I understand," he replied gently. "Hopefully, you won't need to see me again under such circumstances." His tone was reassuring, and Faber felt a flicker of gratitude for his understanding.
Faber was able to call Harriet once she made it to her lab. Sitting on the sofa in her lab, Faber surveyed her untouched work with a mixture of pride and trepidation. Months of meticulous research lay ahead, including extensive animal testing and the arduous process of gaining approval from the research boards of America. She couldn't afford to let anyone get their hands on her groundbreaking discoveries before they were ready. With a determined resolve, Faber went to the windows of the lab and meticulously set up her belladonna-laced gas bombs. These devices, if tampered with from the outside or triggered by someone passing through the windows, would release a potent gas designed to incapacitate intruders. Additionally, she installed motion sensors, acquired from the black market years ago, as an added layer of security. Though unsure of their reliability, Faber knew that any measure was better than leaving her groundbreaking research vulnerable to theft. If she weren't there.
She definitely had better Christmases. Before her parents passed, every year they would visit their lodge in Aspen and spend Christmas with just the three of them. No parties, just family. She assured that Harriet didn't need to be with her on Christmas, every year she insisted Harriet spend time with her family. Lord knows she wishes she could be with hers right now.
Besides all that, she couldn't help but chuckle at her encounter with nightwing. She knew that even if he wasn't there she would have snapped into action. However, the irony of pretending not to know him after their shared history added a layer of amusement to the situation, albeit a challenging one. As she settled down on the sofa, the first rays of dawn filtering through the windows, Faber found herself lost in thought, her mind drifting back to her recent encounter with Nightwing. She couldn't help but ponder whether he had connected the dots, realising that Faber Loralle was the same woman he had shared an unexpected moment with on the roof of a bank.
The idea amused her, imagining Nightwing's reaction if he ever discovered the truth. Would he be shocked? Intrigued? Or perhaps he would simply brush it off as another unexpected twist in Gotham's chaotic landscape.
But Faber quickly pushed aside such thoughts, focusing instead on the task at hand. She needed to ensure the security of her lab and protect her groundbreaking research from falling into the wrong hands. With determination, she set about testing and fortifying her defenses, determined to safeguard her work at all costs.
So Faber and Nightwing have met, what a peculiar circumstance. Thankyou for reading, leave reviews with any thoughts!