The Greatest Showman #1386 – Collateral Damage

The concert tonight went off without a hitch, and the second half featured a stunning live swing performance. As the final notes rang out, the audience leapt to their feet, applauding enthusiastically, giving the conductor and trumpet player a standing ovation. It was truly a moment of pure enjoyment.

Outside the David Geffen Hall, however, the crowd wasn't gathered because of the concert's success. It was clear that someone important was in attendance, as was often the case at venues like Almeida Theatre or Richard Rogers Theatre.

Renly lowered his voice with a hint of sarcasm, "Looks like someone big is here tonight."

Damien and Rooney, unsure of what was happening, looked at each other with unspoken complaints. Renly, ever self-aware, shrugged. "I know, we should leave before things get out of hand."

Even Renly remembered that, as a "public figure," once recognized in such a situation, things could quickly spiral into chaos.

Though Damien and Rooney weren't quite aware of the situation outside, they too could sense the need for caution. They debated quietly whether it was too late to use the back door or if that too would be overrun with people.

"Renly-Hall!"

Suddenly, a voice rang out from the crowd, loud and sharp, causing every head to turn in their direction.

Renly couldn't help but laugh at the sudden attention. He looked at Damien, Rooney, and the others, his tone light, "Didn't expect to be outed so soon. What do we do now? Should I stay here alone while you guys escape like in the movies?"

Despite the chaos, Renly managed to joke about the situation.

Clearly, Renly hadn't grasped the full extent of what had occurred.

The act of bravery he had taken earlier, to help with the robbery, had now been overshadowed. It was no longer a heroic tale; it was simply a brief moment of action. Renly assumed the reporters were drawn to the incident only because of his and Rooney's involvement, and as such, he saw this attention as "collateral damage."

Rooney, more perceptive, sensed the oddity in the air but couldn't fully pinpoint the cause. Damien, Simmons, and the others were equally confused and unable to react in time. The crowd, however, had already surged in their direction, surrounding them like a tidal wave. Even the other concertgoers were ignored as the crowd swarmed in, creating disorder at the scene.

Renly, accustomed to such situations, remained still, positioning himself as the anchor in the storm. By not moving, he kept the flow of people focused in one direction, preventing total chaos.

Soon, the crowd surrounded him and began shouting questions.

"Renly, what happened during the robbery earlier?"

"How did it all unfold?"

"What was going through your mind when you decided to intervene?"

"Weren't you worried about getting hurt?"

"Witnesses reported seeing you and Rooney together. Is that true?"

"Are you two dating? How long has this been going on? Since 'Gravity'?"

Renly blinked in surprise. He hadn't expected the reporters to focus on this angle.

He exchanged a glance with Rooney, who seemed momentarily surprised, before the realization set in. A faint smile tugged at her lips. "They're all asking about you," she said with a playful edge.

Renly raised an eyebrow and countered, "They're asking about you, too."

Rooney rolled her eyes in mock exasperation, silently venting her frustrations.

A smile briefly flickered in Renly's eyes, but it vanished quickly. He turned back to face the reporters. "So, you all came here just to ask about that?"

When the reporters nodded, Renly chuckled. "It wasn't a big deal. There were four guys robbing a delivery man on the street. We stepped in, scared them off, and helped with the police. That's it."

A collective silence followed.

Under Renly's simple description, the story lost all of its previous drama, making the reporters feel somewhat foolish. But they didn't give up easily. They continued pressing, picking apart details from the scene and the descriptions provided by witnesses.

Soon, not just Renly but also Rooney became the focus of their questions.

Before long, they were standing side by side in front of the media, looking almost like a couple being interviewed. The scene grew even more absurd when Simmons, Justin, and others casually stood by, arms crossed, observing the spectacle. Damien, ever the director, seemed to be offering his own commentary on the situation.

The entire scene was becoming almost comical.

Melissa, on the other hand, tried to slip quietly through the crowd, making her way to stand behind Renly and Rooney. She smiled sweetly at the camera, then raised her hand in a playful "scissors" gesture.

No one noticed Melissa's subtle antics, and all eyes were on the two main figures. However, flashes still captured the moment.

Justin Hurwitz noticed her movement out of the corner of his eye, but his male companion, standing beside him, didn't say anything, pretending not to see it.

Melissa thought her actions were undetectable, but Renly had already spotted her. He always kept a keen eye on the crowd, especially with the chaos surrounding them. Though he didn't intervene, he noted her gestures.

Renly wasn't opposed to her playful actions, but he wouldn't encourage them either. It was her choice, after all.

With a small shrug, Renly returned his focus to the reporters, "I don't think this is a major story. If you already know what happened, who knows what the delivery man's current condition is. Is he okay?"

The reporters exchanged uneasy glances, but no one had an answer.

Renly smiled wryly, as if to say, "You all came here for this, but none of you care about the real victim."

"If anyone hears about the delivery man, let me know," Renly added, his voice tinged with irony.

Despite the quiet criticism, Renly maintained his calm. He knew how to turn a tense situation into an awkward silence, and it worked once again.

The silence that followed marked a subtle shift in the balance of power between the reporters and Renly.

Finally, one reporter spoke up with a pointed question. "Criminal incidents happen all the time in New York, especially in Manhattan. When you saw the robbery, your first instinct wasn't to hesitate or call the police, but to rush in. Did you really think of yourself as some kind of superhero?"

It was a simple rhetorical question, but it carried an undercurrent of mockery, as if accusing Renly of seeking attention by playing the hero.

Renly didn't flinch but chuckled. "What did I do wrong? Why does everyone think I'm a superhero? Or is every Hollywood actor supposed to be one?"

His words hinted at his frustration with the stereotype of actors being larger-than-life figures, the heroes of both their films and their real lives.

After a brief laugh, Renly's expression turned serious. "In reality, I just did what anyone should do. It wasn't some heroic act. I didn't pull out my phone to snap pictures. I did what was right."

He paused and added, "Would anyone in a crisis really stop to take pictures? You'd be surprised how many people do. Especially journalists."