Chapter 2: The Fastest Man Alive (and the Most Unflappable Woman)
Barry Allen, despite having the metabolism of a hummingbird on an espresso IV, was currently moving at the speed of molasses. His face was pale, a fine sheen of sweat coated his brow, and he kept swaying like a drunk sailor on a stormy sea.
"Hypoglycemia," Caitlin announced, holding up a blood sugar monitor. "Your body's burning through calories faster than you can consume them, Barry. You need to eat."
Adam, sprawled on a beanbag chair (a recent "acquisition" via a very minor, very cheap wish he hadn't told anyone about), snorted. "See, Barry? I told you. You need to mainline Snickers. Like, a thousand of them. Or maybe just carry a snack bag the size of a small child. I can help you with that, for a small, non-refundable fee of, say, fifty Wish Days?" He winked at the System interface, which remained stubbornly silent on the matter of snack-related wish trades.
Jisoo, perched elegantly on a lab stool, was humming a BLACKPINK song under her breath, seemingly more interested in the vending machine across the room than Barry's impending sugar crash. "Vendy," she murmured, patting the side of the machine. "Are you withholding the good stuff? Because I sense a distinct lack of proper snacks."
Adam sighed. "Jichu, it's a vending machine. It doesn't have feelings. Or a secret stash of gourmet Korean chips."
She gave him a look that clearly said, 'You underestimate the power of snacks, Snack King.'
The alarms blared, saving Adam from a philosophical debate with a K-pop idol about vending machine sentience. "New meta-human!" Cisco yelled, his fingers flying across the keyboard. "Danton Black. He can… clone himself? Multiplex! Oh, that's a good one, right?"
"Multiplex," Jisoo deadpanned, without missing a beat. "Like a bad movie theater. Or a really confusing K-drama plot."
Barry, despite his dizziness, was already suiting up. "I'll handle it," he mumbled, weaving slightly.
"Dude, you can barely stand," Adam muttered, watching him go. "This is going to be a disaster. Time for a little… subtle intervention." He watched the live feed as Barry stumbled, surrounded by multiple Danton Blacks.
"System," Adam thought, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Minor Wish: 'Comical Distraction.' Target: Danton Black. Make it… unexpected. And slightly embarrassing."
[SYSTEM MESSAGE]: Minor Wish 'Comical Distraction' Used. Cost: 15 Days. Current Wish Balance: -5 Days. Accumulating…
In the middle of the street, as one of the Multiplex clones lunged at Barry, a perfectly ordinary, bright yellow umbrella suddenly sprang open right in front of its face, causing the clone to flail, trip over its own feet, and collapse into a pile of identical Danton Blacks. The real Danton Black, momentarily disoriented by the absurd sight, paused.
"What the—?!" he yelled, looking utterly bewildered.
That brief pause was all Barry needed. Joe West's voice, booming through his comms, gave him the pep talk he needed, reminding him of his purpose. Barry, fueled by renewed determination and a sudden, inexplicable surge of sugar (thanks, System, for that subtle boost?), landed a solid hit.
Jisoo, watching the scene, nodded approvingly. "Hmm, his punches are a bit… sloppy. Needs a little finesse." As Barry wound up for another strike, Jisoo's eyes glowed faintly. A barely perceptible shimmer of energy surrounded Barry's fist, subtly guiding it, shifting its trajectory by mere millimeters. It was enough. The punch landed with surprising precision, sending Multiplex reeling.
"Whoa," Barry gasped, looking at his hand. "Did… did I just get better?"
Cisco, oblivious to Jisoo's subtle magic, was already analyzing the data. "That was… surprisingly efficient, Barry! Your kinetic energy output just spiked at the perfect angle!"
Jisoo simply smiled, a small, knowing curve of her lips. "He's got potential. Just needs a little… guidance. Like a good dance partner."
Later, as Barry and Joe discussed finding Nora Allen's real killer, Jisoo pulled Adam aside. "So," she began, her voice quiet, "my powers… they feel like… like I can touch things that aren't there. And make them do things. It's weird." She paused, then tilted her head. "And that Cisco boy. He keeps trying to name them. I think 'Cloudy Boy' is better than 'The Mist,' don't you?"
Adam, still reeling from the unexpected magical assist, could only nod. "Yeah, Jichu. Definitely 'Cloudy Boy.' And your powers? Yeah, 'weird' is definitely one way to put it. 'Terrifyingly awesome' is another. Just try not to turn anyone into a giant, singing marshmallow, okay? We're already in debt." He gestured vaguely at the System interface.
[SYSTEM MESSAGE]: Wish Day balance: -5 Days. Accumulating…
"This is going to be a long ride," Adam thought, "but at least I've got a magical K-pop idol by my side. And she's already arguing with Cisco. My life is complete."