Superflash - Hope and Lost Love

Chapter 23 - Invasion! (Part 2)

Barry looked around, remembering all the times he had to make excuses to get away from captain Singh to be the flash.

Captain Singh?

Barry wondered what happened to captain Singh as he didn't see him at the precinct. After looking around Barry noticed that there was a new captain. Captain Patty Spivot.

Barry saw Patty in captain Singh's office and phased in. The last time Barry saw Patty she was leaving Central City to become a CSI, and Barry noticed Patty was now much more stressed out than she used to be.

Barry then made a mistake and stopped vibrating and materialised in front of Patty.

"Who are you and how did you get in here without anyone noticing?" Patty asked holding her gun up.

"You don't remember me?" Barry asked.

"Barry?" Patty asked.

"Yeah, when did you become captain?" Barry asked.

"Wait a minute, first you tell me how you got in here. You died and nobody noticed you walk in." Patty said.

"Remember who you thought I was?" Barry asked.

"Oh. My. God. I knew it! You are the flash!" Patty said.

"Yeah tell the whole world for me." Barry said sarcastically.

"Why did you leave?" Patty asked.

"Remember Zoom?" Barry asked.

"Yeah, he terrorised the city." Patty remembered.

"Well he killed everyone I held close to me. I stopped him but I left because every minute I spent here just reminded me I wasn't good enough and because of that people died." Barry said.

"So where did you go?" Patty asked.

"Somewhere far away." Barry said, not wanting to explain the multiverse.

"And why did you come back?" Patty asked.

"The green arrow needed my help." Barry lied.

"Oh, what happened to you though. The Barry I knew was always happy and outgoing but you, you seem... guarded." Patty said.

"Yeah, well Zoom killed everyone, guarded is kind of the way to go." Barry said.

"Good point, will you be staying here?" Patty asked.

"No, I'm just here to see Captain Singh?" Barry asked.

"Oh, well he is head of police across the city, but I can call him here. Meanwhile, will the flash help out again?" Patty asked with a smirk.

"Well the flash died along with my team." Barry started.

"Oh." Patty said sadly.

"But lightspeed can help you out today." Barry said.

"Lightspeed?" Patty asked.

"Me, but on another Earth." Barry said. Patty took the answer as a joke, not actually having a clue about the multiverse.

"Ah, well the lightspeed, the streets of this city could use your help." Patty said with a smirk.

"Of course," Barry said before running off to round up every criminal in the city.

After capturing everyone on the CCPD wanted list, Barry made a visit to the cemetery to see everyone that died because of him.

"I'm so sorry everyone. You all saved me countless times and I couldn't save you just this once." Barry cried, before getting disturbed.

"Oh rubbish. You saved countless lives, even today. I just got a call from the CCPD and they said all the criminals in the city were rounded up, and the only thing anyone saw was a streak of white lightning. Kinda like the day you dissapeared." A man said.

Barry looked up and saw his once annoying boss that he grew to find more and more likeable.

"Captain Singh? What are you doing here?" Barry asked.

"I come her to visit Rob every once in a while. He died in a fire that killed many more people. Whenever I am here I also come to see Joe and the grave of the flash." The Captain said.

"Grave of the Flash?" Barry asked.

"Yeah, the city gave you a huge funeral. The president and mayor of the city was here. Even the mayor of Star City was here along with half the city." Captain Singh explained.

"Oh. Patty mentioned you got a promotion?" Barry asked.

"Yeah well I was able to handle the city in a time of crisis, so people thought why not the country?" Captain Singh said.

"Oh, it must be really stressful though." Barry said.

"No, it's a lot easier than handling Central. At least the rest of the country doesn't have metas." Captain Singh joked.

"Anyway, I am going to Star City to meet a friend of mine." Barry said.

"Who?" Captain Singh asked.

"The green arrow." Barry replied.

"Oh. Well I guess this is goodbye?" Captain Singh asked.

"Yeah, Central is in good hands though. JSA?" Barry asked.

"Yeah. But they aren't the same as the flash." Captain Singh said, hoping to get Central City's hero to stay in Central City.

"I can't stay here. As much as I wish I could. It just reminds me that I'm responsible for my friends and family's deaths." Barry said sadly.

"You know you shouldn't carry the weight of the world on your shoulders. I used to be like you, always thinking Rob's death was my fault. I could tell you that you don't need to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders, but honestly that would be a lie. You are and will always be the flash, so my advice, take it or leave it is just find someone to help you carry the weight of the world. Find a friend or a special someone to help you, because being lonely isn't going to help you get away from your problems. No matter how fast you can run." Captain Singh said.

"Wow. What happened to the Captain Singh that shouted at me for being late all the time?" Barry asked, interested at what happened when Barry was gone.

"I found out that people aren't always the way they seem. You, the boy who couldn't run, but waddled his feet, was the flash. The mayor of Star City is the green arrow. Nothing is the way it looks." Captain Singh said.

"W-what? How did you know Oliver's the arrow?" Barry asked.

"Oh please. I can't believe I didn't figure out you were the flash. I assume your wondering why I don't do anything about it?" Captain Singh asked.

"Yeah." Barry said.

"I don't see why I should. Sure he's killed, but he has saved hundred more. What would happen if I reveal his identity to the world? He would go into hiding. Star City, a city that desperately needs a hero would be more dangerous than it is now. I may be head of the police, but I think sometimes it is my job to let the law slide for the good of everyone." Captain Singh said.

"And to think you approved a task force to get rid of me a few years ago." Barry mused.

"Sorry about that. I was scared of the unknown, but now I know to embrace it. Maybe you should too." Captain Singh said, before he heard his police radio.

"Armed robbery at National Bank. Requesting immediate back-up. They have hostages. The JSA won't be able to take them." The radio said.

Captain Singh looked at Barry who was already in his lightspeed suit.

"I'll be back -" Barry began.

"In a flash, I know." Captain Singh said.

"No, now it's 'faster than light'" Barry replied with a smirk under his mask.