DC : Crisis of infinite hunger : Chapter 3

Chapter 3: Iris' Discovery

Back at home, Barry stood in front of his bedroom mirror, frozen as he took in the reflection staring back at him. It was almost as if the man in the mirror was someone else entirely. His once-athletic body, sculpted by years of racing through the streets of Central City, had transformed into something unrecognizable in just a short span of time.

His cheeks had filled out, rounding and softening, blurring the sharp angles of his jawline. His chiseled chest had gone soft, sagging slightly over the massive round gut that jutted forward, defying any attempt to suck it in. The belly, once flat and toned, now rested heavily in his hands as he touched it, feeling the unfamiliar layer of fat beneath his fingers. His thighs and arms had grown thick, the muscle hidden somewhere deep beneath this new bulk.

His crimson Flash suit, which used to fit snugly like a second skin, was now stretched tight across his body, struggling to contain his growing form. The lightning bolt emblem was distorted by the swell of his belly, and the seams groaned as if they might tear at any moment.

He sighed deeply, trying to process the changes. The hunger that gripped him day and night was relentless, gnawing at him no matter how much he ate. It felt like his body was no longer under his control, the constant need for food driving him to consume far beyond what he thought was humanly possible.

As he stood there, lost in thought, the sound of the front door opening snapped him back to reality. Iris had arrived home from work.

"Barry? You here?" Iris called out from the living room.

Barry froze, panic surging through him. He wasn’t ready for her to see him like this—not yet. But he knew he couldn’t hide forever. Taking a deep breath, he called out, "Uh yeah in the bedroom, honey" doing his best to keep his voice steady.

A moment later, Iris stepped into the doorway, and the moment her eyes landed on him, she stopped in her tracks, her expression shifting to one of shock. She stared at him, mouth agape, as if she couldn’t quite believe what she was seeing.

"Barry..." she began, her voice faltering slightly, "what... on earth happened!?"

Barry grimaced, trying to smile through his embarrassment. "I don’t really know, Iris. I just... I can't stop eating. It's like I’m starving all the time, no matter what I do." He placed a hand on his swollen belly, giving it a light, self-conscious pat.

Iris walked closer, her eyes scanning the dramatic changes in his body. She could hardly believe what she was seeing. Barry, the lean and fit speedster who had always been so confident in his physique, was now... huge. His gut protruded in front of him, pressing hard against his suit, which seemed like it was about to burst at any moment. His arms and legs were thick, straining against the fabric, and his face was fuller, softer, with his cheekbones barely visible beneath the extra flesh.

Her eyes fell to his bloated stomach. Without thinking, she reached out, her fingers brushing against the taut fabric stretched over his midsection. She hesitated for a moment, then gave his belly a light squeeze, her hand sinking slightly into the soft flesh.

"You’ve really gotten big havent you" she said, her tone a strange mix of teasing and concern. The words hung in the air between them as she glanced up at him, trying to gauge his reaction.

Barry flinched at her touch, clearly embarrassed. "I know," he muttered. " I don’t know what's going on. It’s like my body is out of control."

Iris looked up at him, her expression shifting from playful to serious. "Maybe you should see someone about this. It doesn't seem right, Barry."

He nodded, frustration flickering in his eyes. "I will, I just... I don't even know where to start."

She gave his belly one last pat before letting go, her fingers lingering for a moment longer than necessary. "Well," she said with a soft smile, "we’ll figure it out together."

As she spoke those words, something odd flickered across her mind, a sensation so subtle she almost didn’t notice it. But then, it hit her—a sudden, sharp pang of hunger that gripped her stomach, as if she hadn’t eaten in days. It was strange, unsettling, but she dismissed it quickly, focusing on Barry and the conversation at hand.

"Come on," she said, taking his hand gently. "Let’s sit down and talk this through."

Barry followed her into the living room, grateful for her support. They settled onto the couch, the plush cushions sinking under Barry’s added weight. Iris tried to focus, tried to think of ways to help Barry, but the gnawing hunger in her stomach was becoming more difficult to ignore.

She shifted slightly in her seat, placing a hand over her belly. The hunger was growing, almost as if it had a mind of its own. She hadn’t felt like this before—not even after skipping meals. It was an all-consuming craving, and it was getting harder to push aside.

But Iris kept her concerns to herself, for now. She didn’t want to worry Barry—not yet. As they sat together, her hand resting on her belly, she silently vowed to help him through this. Little did she know that whatever had caused Barry’s rapid transformation was now spreading to her, quietly and insidiously.