AFTERMATH OF THE WAR

As the dust settled and the city of Sydney began its slow process of recovery, the news of the recent events spread like wildfire. Reports of the battle with the Kandarian demon and the Deadite outbreak dominated headlines, but the actual truth of what happened was muddled and twisted.

The Avengers, perhaps out of a desire to protect the world from panic and to preserve their public image, released a statement claiming that Dr. Strange had heroically stopped the Deadite invasion and sacrificed himself to save the world from the Kandarian demon. They painted him as a valiant hero, using his mystical prowess to protect innocent lives.

The fact that Dr. Strange had been possessed and corrupted by the demon, that he had become a malevolent force bent on destruction, was conveniently omitted from the official account. Instead, he was hailed as a martyr, celebrated for his supposed selflessness in preventing further chaos.

As for the Lantern invasion, the sudden disappearance of the Yellow Lantern Corps leader, Sinestro, was seen as a victory for Earth's heroes. The people had no knowledge of my involvement in his defeat, and I preferred to keep it that way for the time being.

The Crime Syndicate was defeated and Powergirl is said to have suffered some serious injuries. Constantine's timely help has saved her life, or so the reports say.

Then, there were many reports about the efforts of the other heroes, which I could care less about.

Apart from that, another piece of news caught my eye. The fall of OCP. The report states that the tech giant fell in a single day and their illegal experiments on humans and mutants came to light. Some says that they were behind AMO, while other says that they were the ones behind the Deadite outbreaks.

Then, I heard from Laira that Owlman, Batman's counterpart, escaped from the Justice League's custody after hacking into their system amidst the chaos. She warned us to be careful as he might launch another attack to get his hands on the mysterious box.

And, yeah, I decided to keep the box in System's inventory for now. Maybe I will solve the puzzle over time and find out what's hiding inside it.

We returned home. It's been a long and exhausting vacation which I didn't get to enjoy much and thanks to the Deadites, I lost track of Alica. When I called Alanna, she told me that Alica is helping with the rescue operation in Sydney, which I highly doubt, considering her character.

Mom returned home after a week. And Granny decided to head back to the countryside for some peace and she told us that she really misses her old lifestyle.

Meanwhile, Hina and I had a long chat. We had a big catching up to do after all the time we missed. You know, father and daughter bonding time. But Harley being Harley always stuck around us. Hina spent more time with Jen and Harley. They are like besties.

As for Selina, she called us and informed us about her condition. We were glad to know that she is safe and sound. It turns out that she has also awakened a weird power, which she obviously kept secret. But, I am really relieved to know that she is alright.

Jessica's workload increased after the incident. She is now appointed as the temporary head of the Avenger's branch in Sydney. We talk over the phone and on video calls. It's just that I hope she is with me, right now. But we promised to enjoy quality time once things settle down. Maybe, I will surprise visit her sometime. It would be fun.

Nyssa is still out of radar. I tried to contact her, but she never picked up her phone.

Willo called me and informed me that she has taken over 40% of Alica's business and soon she will take everything away from her.

Christie... Haaa... That seductive assassin. She decided to stick around me. I still don't trust her, but as long as she doesn't bring any harm to my family, it's alright.

As life settled back into a semblance of normalcy, I found comfort in the presence of my family and friends. The battles and dangers had taken a toll on all of us, but we were resilient, and together, we would heal.

Natasha is now officially retired from all the hero work. We spent more time together. We wanted to focus on each other and our relationship. We had faced so much together, and we knew that we needed some time to heal and recover.

We went on long walks together, holding hands and enjoying each other's company. We laughed and joked, sharing stories and memories. It was a relief to have some peace and quiet after all the chaos we had experienced.

One day, Natasha surprised me with a homemade dinner. She had been brushing up her culinary skills and had prepared a delicious meal for us. We sat at the dining table, sharing a candlelit dinner, and it felt like a dream come true.

As we sat at the dining table, the soft glow of candles flickered and danced, casting a warm and intimate ambiance around us. The room was filled with the tantalizing aroma of the homemade dinner Natasha had prepared. The table was adorned with fresh flowers, and a gentle breeze from the open window carried a hint of jasmine into the room.

I looked across the table at Natasha, her beautiful eyes sparkling in the candlelight. She smiled, and her lips curved into that enchanting smile that always made my heart skip a beat.

Humm... That's new.

I am used to see her in her signature black dress. But today, she wore a beautiful crimson dress that complemented her fiery hair and added a touch of elegance to her already stunning appearance. Her hair was swept back in a loose bun, and a few loose strands framed her face, giving her a soft and radiant glow.

"You look absolutely stunning," I said, my voice filled with admiration.

She blushed and lowered her gaze to the table, her lips curving into a smile.

"I think you need to check your eyesight," she replied playfully.

I reached out to her, my fingers brushing the soft skin on her arm, and her body trembled under my touch. She raised her eyes to meet mine and there was a burning desire in them, which I shared with her.

We talked about our future while eating. Truth be told she is a great cook.

After dinner...

I stood up from the table and walked behind her. Then I took out the necklace, I bought for this special occasion. I had chosen it weeks ago. It was a ruby pendant, shaped into a teardrop, set in a platinum chain. It was a beautiful piece of jewelry, but I chose it for a special reason.

I clasped the necklace around her neck and she turned around to face me.

"Do you like it?" I asked.

"Yes, I do," she replied and held the pendant in her hand. Then she leaned in and our lips met in a passionate kiss.

The kiss was filled with hunger, desire, and love. Natasha's soft lips brushed mine, and I tasted a hint of red wine on her lips. The kiss was electric, sending shockwaves of pleasure through my body.

I pulled back and looked into her eyes. She was breathless.

"I love you," I said.

"I love you, too," she replied.

It was the perfect ending to a wonderful dinner. The food was delicious, and the wine was rich and velvety on my tongue. And the company... It was simply intoxicating.

"Alex, there is something I want to ask you," Natasha said, breaking the silence.

I nodded and raised an eyebrow.

"I want to move in with you," she said, her voice filled with excitement.

"Really?" I asked, surprised by her request.

I would love to have her live with me. I love her and my heart skipped a beat or two. I was just happy.

She nodded and reached out for my hand.

"I am tired of living alone. It is time for me to take that step in our relationship," she said and smiled.

"I think that's a great idea," I replied.

I am happy to have her in my life. We belong together. She is a part of me.

I leaned in and kissed her again. It was a tender kiss. I cupped her cheeks, feeling the softness of her skin on my palms.

[Ring] [Ring] A sudden call from Harley interrupted us.

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