The Comprehensive Evolution of American Comics

Chapter 488: Robert Reynolds

“Doesn't that strike you as odd?”

Susan casually whispered to Reed beside her.

“Knowing you, I figured you'd pretend you didn't see him and just speed past that pedestrian. You only stopped because you ran out of gas.”

“I just didn’t want any unforeseen variables, Susan.” Reed’s eyes showed a hint of helplessness. Who could have imagined the car would stop right next to that guy? Now they had no choice but to bring him along.

“Maybe it’s the will of God.” Susan winked playfully. Seeing Reed, who was usually so calculating, flustered, even in this situation, made her smile. She was going to remember this as a mental pick-me-up for a long time.

“I trust Murphy’s Law more than God,” Reed retorted, annoyed.

“I don’t really want to interrupt your conversation,” Ben suddenly interjected, prompting the two in front to turn around and look at him.

“But please remember, you two, we’re running for our lives here, not on a honeymoon on some island.”

“Get lost, Ben,” Susan said with a laugh. Reed gave his good friend a thumbs up, but changed it to a middle finger when Susan looked back.

“If we can’t find another car, my death anniversary might come before your wedding anniversary,” Johnny said weakly.

“Hang in there, Johnny.” Susan knew her brother was joking, so her reply was casual. “Aren’t you always saying you’re the toughest man? Saying you wouldn’t even make a sound if you got shot?”

“Did I say that? When?”

“When you were nine.”

Johnny was speechless. He decided to conserve his energy and try to survive, rather than waste it arguing with Susan.

Watching the cheerful Reed and his group, the hooded man, who had luckily joined them because their car ran out of gas, felt a little out of place.

Even carrying someone on his back, Ben, who had been in the military and never stopped training, still had plenty of energy. While observing his surroundings, he also noticed the hooded man silently following them.

Although Reed had allowed him to join them, the hooded man was aware of his position and maintained a certain distance from Reed and the others from beginning to end.

Ben could see the hooded man's unease. He had seen many new recruits like him in the army. These kids were always ambitious at first, but after a while, some of them would become increasingly anxious for various reasons.

Perhaps because of missions, going to the battlefield, or even bullying in the army, Ben had mentored many such recruits, so he could see the hooded man's inner anxiety at a glance.

“What’s wrong, friend?” Ben slowly slowed down, shortening the distance between himself and the hooded man to one step.

“Is something the matter? You’re falling behind.”

“Ah? Oh!” The hooded man clearly didn’t expect Ben to talk to him. He was startled at first, then reacted to Ben's words.

“It’s nothing, I’m just a little tired.”

“I can see that, buddy.” Johnny sized up the hoodie draped over the hooded man. The clothes were full of wrinkles, and he clearly couldn't fill them out. Just from that, you could tell how skinny he was.

“Besides those junkies, I’ve never seen anyone skinnier than you, ouch!”

Ben silently released his hand that was pinching Johnny's thigh, still wearing his smile.

“If you’re feeling tired, we can take a break. It should be dinner time now.”

Just like Ben said, it was already dusk. If there hadn't been a giant rampage, he and Reed would be eating instant macaroni and cheese in their shared apartment.

Oh, no, today would have been a little different, because Susan was supposed to come over and cook for them tonight. Ben organized this gathering because Reed had been busy with his universe research lately, and Susan had complained to Ben more than once that she felt like she was single.

Ben, whose role was friend and roommate, but actually more like Reed's mom, had no choice but to put together this gathering. It was originally intended to give Reed and Susan some alone time, but he didn't expect this to happen.

“No, no need.” The hooded man waved his hand. “Escaping is more important. I can still manage, don’t worry about me.”

Seeing his insistence, Ben didn't say anything. He was just about to say a few words of comfort when he suddenly thought of something.

“By the way, friend, we still don’t know your name. My name is Ben Grimm.” Ben jostled Johnny, who was almost asleep on his back.

“This guy is Johnny, and the two in front are Johnny’s sister Susan, and Susan’s boyfriend Reed.”

Fearing that the hooded man would be resistant, Ben first said the names of his group. The hooded man hesitated for a moment before saying.

“Robert Reynolds, you can call me Robert.”

After exchanging names, Robert was obviously not as restrained as before. He responded to Ben and Johnny's conversation and no longer fell to the back of the group, but walked parallel to Ben.

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“Ben is still the same as before.” Susan said with a smile, noticing what was happening behind her. “He’s still as gentle as ever. It seems like he hasn’t changed since high school.”

Reed didn't comment on this. Ben was his best friend. Since meeting him, except for the few years when Ben was in the military, they had almost always been together. They probably knew each other better than he knew Susan.

Reed suddenly stopped. Susan was curious, but before she could ask, Reed started walking again. Susan then noticed that there was a car in good condition on Reed's path.

Reed smashed the car window as before. The car alarm went off. Reed opened the car door like a habitual thief, then sat in the driver's seat and started operating it. After a few seconds, the car alarm stopped, followed by the roar of the engine.

“Everyone get in.” Reed waved at the crowd. “This time there’s enough gas to get us out of New York City.”

“Great!” Johnny perked up. “I thought I was going to sleep in a city full of giants tonight.”

Ben also smiled. Walking for so long with someone on his back would make even an iron man feel tired, let alone him. But while happy, he didn't forget to call Robert beside him.

“Hurry up, Robert, we have a car.”

“Biu!”

A strange sound came from afar. All the hairs on Ben's body stood on end. His brain hadn't even understood what had happened, but his body had already made the decision for him.

Ben subconsciously lunged forward and quickly hid behind an overturned car. Johnny was almost thrown behind the car by him, and then pinned to the ground.

“Sniper! Take cover!”