Ben Grimm Walks In On Susan Storm

The Thing couldn't find his copy of SALEM'S LOT. He had lent the book to Sue Storm some weeks ago, and now he was in the mood for vampires. The plush carpet absorbed most of the stomp of his huge, flat feet. He heard the rhythmic squeak of Sue Storm's exercise ball. Didn't even think to knock as he opened the door.

"Hey, Susie, have you still got my boo—"

He paused. Froze. For a moment, they stared at each other. The blonde woman was naked, sweaty, her face a mask of ecstatic ecstasy, hands on her breasts, the dark, erect nipples squeezed between her fingers.

The next moment, the Invisible Woman disappeared. This removed the problem of Ben Grimm seeing her naked. Unfortunately, it meant he got a very good look at the still-visible bouncy ball, with the erect phallic protrusion still firmly ensconced in the invisible vagina.

Instinctively, Ben slapped one stony palm over his baby blue eyes.

"Sorry, sorry, shouldn't have barged in—" he said. Without taking his hand off of his eyes, he guided himself out of the room and gently closed the door. His book now entirely forgotten.

She found him in the kitchen, half an hour later. Dressed in a blue-and-white bathrobe with 4's over the breast. The hulking stone figure was attempting to draw a shot from the espresso machine. Sue gently pushed past him and drew the shot into the adamantium espresso cup that Reed had given Ben after the last six had been broken.

"Thanks," he said, with an embarrassed grin.

"About...earlier," Sue said, running a hand through her sex-ruffled hair. "I, um, I've been doing some new exercises. At my therapist's recommendation. Stress relief. Because Reed and I haven't, ah, been very intimate lately."

"Yeah, okay," he said, then took a delicate sip. His voice descended into a whisper. "I won't tell anyone. Not my business. Sorry for bargin' in like that. I'll remember to knock in the future."

Sue gave him a bright, brittle smile. His blue eyes took in her bloodshot eyes, the way her skin looked too tight, as if she'd lost weight. The jittery energy as her hands rubbed over and over, unable to stay still. He frowned.

"Thanks, Ben," she said. "It's my fault. Should have locked the door."

They drank coffee in silence, then went their own way. They shared a secret, now. Ben knew that. But he also felt a nagging doubt. When he was back in his own room, he activated his computer console and began to look up what he could about Dr. Karla Stone.