Peace

Niklaus sat in his car, staring out at the streets, the soft hum of the city in the distance blending with the gentle breathing of Ashley, who had fallen asleep beside him.

Her head rested against his shoulder, completely drained from the chaos of the last few days.

He could still feel the weight of the battle in his bones, though the world around him seemed oblivious to it.

Crestwood was gone, not just destroyed, but erased from the very fabric of memory.

He shifted slightly, careful not to wake Ashley, his mind drifting to the strange and unsettling reality that had emerged after the fight. It wasn't just the physical destruction of Crestwood that unnerved him—he had done that with his own hands.

It was the fact that no one, apart from those who had witnessed it directly, even remembered Crestwood had ever existed.

It was as if the entire town had been swallowed by a void, erased from official records, maps, and the minds of the public. News outlets, government agencies, even the locals—it was like Crestwood had never been there at all.

And there was only one thing that made sense.

The Nameless Attacker.

Niklaus didn't know her name, so in his head, he referred to her simply as N.A. She was the one responsible for whatever had happened after the battle. That much he was sure of.

Her presence had been unlike anything he'd ever faced, since she did kill him once.

It was no stretch to imagine that she could twist people's memories, alter records, and wipe an entire town from existence in the blink of an eye.

Still, it didn't sit right with him. The ease with which everything vanished, how the world just moved on, as if the battle at Crestwood had never happened. As if he hadn't punched hard enough to cause the air to ionise and become plasma.

But those who had been there—people like Ashley—they remembered. And that was the strangest part.

N.A. had erased the event from the broader world, but she had left just enough traces for him to notice.

Almost as if she wanted him to know she could do it, but chose not to take it all away.

Niklaus glanced down at Ashley again, her face soft and peaceful in sleep. She was one of the few who still remembered.

The fear, the chaos, the destruction.

But what puzzled him the most was why. Why let some remember and not others? What was N.A. playing at?

Maybe it was a message. Maybe it was a warning.

Or maybe it was just the beginning of something bigger.

Niklaus sighed quietly, his fingers tracing the steering wheel as his thoughts spiraled.

N.A. was still out there, somewhere.

Watching. Manipulating. And as much as he hated the thought, she was still far beyond his reach, cloaked in mystery and power.

But this erasure... it was sloppy, in a way.

Deliberate, but incomplete. He could feel her hand in it, but it wasn't a clean cut.

More like a test?

A move in a much larger game perhaps?

If it was one then he wasn't sure he fully understood it yet.

But he would. Eventually.

---

Niklaus sat at a beautifully set table in Vought Tower's private dining hall, its floor-to-ceiling windows offering a stunning view of the city bathed in the soft glow of evening lights.

The lavish setting was almost excessive—glistening chandeliers, polished silverware, and the finest dishes money could buy—but tonight, it wasn't about power ,influence being a hero or anything.

It was about taking a break.

For once, he had enforced a rule: no talk about work, no schemes, no plans, no excessive "Master" from ashley—just pure enjoyment.

Across from him, Ashley was laughing, her smile wide and genuine, something that had been rare with her for so long.

She looked more relaxed than she had in weeks, the tension from constant pressure and her usual frantic pace melting away as they indulged in the finest food and wine.

"I swear, I didn't even recognize you at first without that binder in your hand," Niklaus teased, taking a sip of his wine, its rich flavor lingering on his tongue. "It's like seeing a whole new Ashley."

She rolled her eyes, but her smile stayed. "Oh, please. You're one to talk. I'm surprised you're not scanning reports under the table right now."

"Who says I'm not?" he said with a playful smirk, though he raised his hands in mock surrender when she narrowed her eyes at him.

The two of them had been through a lot recently, and Niklaus knew how much the constant pressure of Vought's insane business and the aftermath of Crestwood weighed on her.

But tonight wasn't about that.

Tonight was about unwinding.

The sounds of soft jazz played in the background, and he had personally ensured no distractions—no calls, no interruptions.

Just them.

Ashley leaned back in her chair, finally allowing herself to relax. "You know, I don't think I've had a real break in…well, I don't even remember the last time."

"Exactly why I made the rule tonight," Niklaus said, pointing his fork at her. "No work. No stress. Just food, wine, and whatever ridiculous stories you want to tell."

She chuckled, shaking her head and correcting herself midway. "Fine. But you have to start. I'm still getting used to 'fun Mast-Niklaus.'"

Niklaus grinned, leaning forward conspiratorially. "Alright, here's one for you. Remember the time I told you we'd been given a 'classified package' that could blow up the entire building?"

Ashley's eyes widened slightly. "Oh God, yes. What about it?"

"I lied." He smirked. "It was just a gift from a politician, but I thought it'd be funny to see you freak out. You went into full crisis mode."

Ashley stared at him, jaw dropping, before bursting into laughter. "You're kidding. I almost had a heart attack!"

Niklaus shrugged, taking another bite of his food, clearly pleased with himself. "I had to make sure you were on your toes. Couldn't let you relax too much, you know?"

Ashley shook her head, still laughing as she sipped her wine. "You're impossible."

"True. But tonight, I'm just 'fun Niklaus,' remember?" He winked.

For a while, they simply enjoyed the food and each other's company.

The tension that usually hung between them from their roles gone even if forcefully, replaced with something lighter, almost playful.

"So," Ashley said, twirling her wine glass thoughtfully, "if you weren't in charge of a multi-billion-dollar corporation, and th3 most powerful Supe in the world… what would you do? If you could just walk away?"

Niklaus paused, considering the question. It wasn't often he let his mind wander away from Vought and its endless responsibilities. "First of all I'm not the most powerdul and second of all Honestly? I don't know," he admitted, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "I've been in this world so long, I can't imagine life without it. But... I think I'd like to travel. See some of the world I've missed while dealing with this shit."

Ashley raised an eyebrow. "Travel, huh? Where would you go?"

"Somewhere quiet," he mused. "Far from everything. No cell service, no emails, just... peace. Maybe the mountains. Somewhere with a view. Somewhere I don't have to think about anything but the moment."

"Sitting in quiet and enjoying my rum"

Ashley nodded, her smile softening. "Sounds nice. Think you'll ever actually do it?"

Niklaus chuckled. "Probably not. But it's nice to dream."

For the rest of the evening, they kept the conversation light, sharing stories and jokes, neither of them letting the weight of their roles creep in.

It was a rare moment of reprieve in their lives, and for once, Niklaus allowed himself to simply enjoy it.

As the night wore on, and the last of their dessert plates were cleared away, he glanced over at Ashley, her head leaning back slightly, eyes half-closed. She looked more at ease than he'd seen in a long time.

"Thanks for tonight, Ma-Niklaus" she murmured, her voice soft, her exhaustion finally catching up with her.

Niklaus smiled, nodding. "Anytime. We both needed it."

And in that moment, as the city lights twinkled outside and the soft music played on, Niklaus allowed himself to feel something close to contentment—if only for a little while.

Niklaus stood up from his chair, glancing at Ashley as she sat with her head resting against the back of the chair, eyes half-closed in relaxed contentment.

He moved behind her quietly, and without a word, leaned down, pressing a soft kiss on her lips.

Her head remained tilted back as she returned the kiss, her lips curving into a satisfied smile as they broke it.

"Master..." she whispered, breaking the rule they had set for the night.

It was the first time anyone mentioned anything remotely tied to their usual dynamic, but her voice carried warmth, affection, and a hint of reverence.

Niklaus grinned, moving his hand lightly over her shoulder, tracing her skin with his fingers.

He let out a low, playful chuckle. "Oh, Ashley..." he teased, his tone suggestive as he leaned closer to her ear. "You broke the rule we had tonight."

Her smile widened, but she didn't open her eyes, still basking in the comfort of his presence. "I couldn't help it."

Niklaus placed his hands on her shoulders, gently massaging them as he leaned down once more, his voice dipping into a mischievous tone. "You know what that means, right?" He paused, his breath grazing her ear. "I'll have to punish you for that."

Ashley's breath hitched slightly, and though she stayed relaxed, her body seemed to react to the weight of his words. "Then punish me, Master," she whispered, the challenge evident in her voice.

Niklaus smirked, a dark gleam in his eyes as he stood up, his hand slowly moving down her neck and across her collarbone before letting go. "Oh, I will. But not tonight..." He walked back around the table, flashing her a playful look. "Tonight is still about fun. You can wait until later."

Ashley gave him a sly smile, settling back into her chair, knowing full well what that promise entailed.

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