DC : Crisis of infinite hunger : Chapter 5

Chapter 5 : The Slowpoke

Barry Allen stood on the sidewalk, his eyes fixed on the Central City Bank in front of him. The blaring alarm echoed through the streets, but he wasn’t responding with his usual swift reflexes. For a long time, stopping a bank robbery would’ve been a routine task—a quick job for the Flash. A blur of red would enter the bank, subdue the criminals, and be gone before anyone realized what happened. But today was different. Today, Barry felt anything but fast.

His body, once sleek and muscular, was now heavy and sluggish. His bright red suit, once snug in all the right places, was now stretched awkwardly over his bloated form. His gut sagged, overhanging his crotch area and swaying with every labored movement. His chest, softened by layers of fat, pressed tightly against the suit’s lightning bolt emblem, warping the iconic symbol of speed. Even his legs, thick and unwieldy, felt foreign to him—each step a reminder of how much weight he had put on in such a short period of time.

Barry took a deep breath, but even that simple act felt like a challenge. The suit pinched at his sides, and his breath came in ragged gasps, his body already tired before the real work had even begun.

“You’ve got this,” he muttered to himself, trying to summon the confidence he once had. But there was doubt in his voice, and he knew he wasn’t ready. Still, he couldn’t just stand by and let the city suffer.

Summoning every ounce of determination he had, Barry activated his speed, his feet buzzing with energy as he tried to break into a run. But it was no use. His movements were slow, clumsy, and awkward. The added weight dragged him down, each stride feeling like he was trudging through thick mud. Sweat poured down his face as his belly jiggled with each labored step.

By the time he reached the bank, Barry was already out of breath. His lungs burned as he leaned against the wall, his hands resting on his knees. His gut pressed uncomfortably against his thighs, and the once-second nature of running at lightning speeds now felt foreign and exhausting.

Inside the bank, the shouts of the robbers filled the air, punctuated by the sharp sound of gunfire. Normally, he would’ve been inside in seconds, disarming the robbers and saving the day. But today, he wasn’t sure he had it in him. With a groan, Barry pushed himself off the wall and made his way toward the entrance, his oversized body awkwardly bumping into the doorframe as he squeezed through.

The robbers turned at the sound, their guns raised in anticipation of facing the Flash. But instead of the lean, athletic hero they were expecting, they were met with a bloated, red-suited figure, panting and dripping with sweat. Their expressions shifted from fear to bewilderment.

“What the hell?” one of the robbers said, lowering his weapon slightly as he took in the sight. “Is this some kind of joke?”

Barry straightened up, trying to gather himself. But his body wasn’t cooperating. His limbs felt heavy, his movements sluggish. He tried to dodge the robbers' shots, but his bulk made it hard to move quickly. His belly wobbled with every attempt, and the robbers—who should have been intimidated—looked more confused than anything.

Just when things seemed to be falling apart, a blur of red and silver zipped through the room, disarming the robbers in an instant. The next thing Barry knew, the robbers were sprawled out on the ground, groaning in pain as their weapons clattered across the floor.

Barry looked up, still panting heavily, to see none other than Wally West standing in front of him, hands on his hips, an amused grin plastered on his face.

"Well, it took you long enough to get here old man," Wally teased, glancing over his shoulder at Barry. "I was starting to think you’d decided to walk."

Barry managed a weak smile, but he was struggling to catch his breath. His hand shot out, grabbing Wally’s shoulder for support as he bent over, his gut pressing against his legs. In that brief contact, neither of them noticed the faint, tingling sensation passing between them—the virus now infecting Wally. It was subtle, almost imperceptible, but it was there. He wiped the sweat from his brow, gasping. "Thanks, Wally… I… I guess I’m not as fast as I used to be."

Wally’s teasing grin faltered as he looked Barry up and down, truly taking in his mentor’s appearance for the first time. His eyes widened as he saw the thick rolls of fat spilling out from Barry’s suit, the once muscular physique buried beneath layers of weight.

"No kidding," Wally said, his tone a mix of shock and concern. "What happened to you?"

Barry, still using Wally’s shoulder for support, tried to shrug it off, but the embarrassment was clear on his face. "It’s… complicated," Barry admitted, his voice low. "I’ve just… been eating a lot lately."

Wally blinked, taking a step back to fully take in the sight. "Eating a lot?" he repeated, his brow furrowed. "Barry, you’ve gained… a lot of weight."

Barry sighed, letting go of Wally’s shoulder as he stood upright, his massive belly straining against his suit. "Yeah, I know," he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. "It’s been… rough."

Wally hesitated for a moment, then placed a hand on Barry’s shoulder, offering him a reassuring smile. "You sure you’re okay? This doesn’t seem like you Barry."

Barry nodded, though he couldn’t meet Wally’s eyes. "I’m fine," he lied, though it was clear he didn’t believe his own words. "Just… out of shape."

"Well, whatever it is, take it easy," Wally said, trying to be supportive. "I can handle things for a bit if you need a break."

Barry smiled weakly, appreciating the sentiment. "Thanks, Wally. I’ll… I’ll be fine."

With that, Wally gave Barry one last pat on the back before speeding off, his body disappearing in a flash of red and silver. But as Wally ran, he suddenly felt a strange twinge of hunger. He usually had a massive appetite but this... It felt like something else. And it somehow was leading him to find himself in a direct beeline to the nearest Big Belly Burger.

As Barry watched Wally disappear into the distance, he leaned against the wall, his stomach growling loudly. He pulled out his phone, already searching for the nearest diner. Stopping a robbery was one thing, but satisfying his ever-growing hunger was a battle he was losing day by day.