I do not own The Flash or DC Comics as a whole. Cover image by Pascal Ferry. No copyright infringement intended.

"The Lightning Strikes"

For a long time, Barry Allen thought he was just a normal human being. An average nerd. A smart CSI at the Police Department. Oh, how wrong he was.

Sirens were heard as several police cars approached Infantino Street, the busiest place in Central City. The location was under attack by two of the city's most well-known criminals, Captain Cold and Heat Wave. Civilians ran for their lives as the dangerous pair shot ice and fire in multiple directions.

"You want us gone? Bring us the man in red!" shouted Snart before firing more ice at the officers, who were hiding behind cover.

"Or die trying to defend this city!" roared Rory.

Another police car arrived nearby. Out stepped the police captain, Darryl Frye.

"Snart! Rory! You can surrender now, or, I can assure you, we WILL shoot," called Darryl.

"Not gonna happen!"

Snart turned around and fired in Darryl's direction. Darryl ducked behind cover and avoided getting hit.

Darryl spoke into his radio. "All units, all units, do not hesitate to fire, over!"

"Bring out the Scarlet Speedster!" shouted Rory.

Just then, his wish was granted. A blur of yellow and red Speed Force energy raced onto the scene. After speeding to a stop, a man in a dark red and gold lined suit confronted the duo. It was indeed The Flash.

"Really, guys? Again? Today is not a day to test my patience," joked the speedster.

"Took you long enough, Flash," smiled Snart. "You know what they say. Live fast. Die young."

"I'm not so sure," replied The Flash. He turned to Darryl. "Don't worry, Captain, I got this."

Darryl subsided.

"Let's light this place up already!" said Rory, firing a burst of flames in The Flash's direction.

The Flash ran out of the way and up a building. Snart and Rory fired their respective substances there, The Flash dodging them every time. He ran down and in between them.

"Too slow."

He ran up to Rory and shouldered him off his feet. He ran up to Snart, knocked his cold gun out of his hands and pushed him into a wall. He held him there to speak to him.

"Snart, will you ever learn?"

"Perhaps not."

And with that, The Flash ran off, leaving the criminals to the police. Darryl smiled. He was glad to know The Flash was always there for them.

The Flash returned to his laboratory at the CCPD. He pulled off his mask, revealing Barry Allen.

"What a night."

With that, he changed back into normal CSI attire quickly using his speed. Just in time, too. His partner, August Heart, walked in.

"Allen. How's it hanging?"

"Uh, August. Hey. I'm fine."

"Alright. Did you analyse the DNA from the scene of the Mendez case earlier? The captain will kill us both if it's not on his desk tonight."

"Oh, yeah. I just got it done about ten minutes ago," lied Barry. "Let me retrieve it."

While August wasn't looking, Barry speedily got the DNA and analysed it. When he was done, he handed the test over to August.

"Here you go," he said.

"Cheers, Allen."

And with that, he walked away. Barry let out a sigh of relief.

He turned on the television. Channel 52 is on.

"The day was saved once more thanks to the lightning fast hero who has been protecting the city for the past three months, The Flash. The speedster apprehended the well-known criminals, Leonard Snart and Mick Rory, who were causing havoc to lure him out. Flash, if you're watching this, thank you."

Barry turned off the television. He walked over to the tall, dark compartment where he kept his Flash suit.

At this point in his career, Barry was working alone. He designed and built the, in all honesty, poorly crafted suit. It was a very rusty red colour, with a black and gold lightning emblem in the chest area. There was weathered gold piping on the arms and legs. The boots used to be a dark red, but, they were now a pitch black colour due to them occasionally catching fire when he first started out as a hero.

"Definitely could use an upgrade," said Barry to himself.

Barry closed the compartment door. He walked back to his chair and sat back down. He sat silent for a minute, before leaning forward, putting his elbows on his desk and looking at a family photo of the Allens which had been taken when he was a kid. Eventually, he begins to drift off and falls asleep.

He dreamt back to his past, to when he was an eleven year old. He could hear the screams of his mother, he could hear the lightning flickering. That man, the one in the yellow suit with red glowing eyes, he did it - he could remember everything about that night.

"Barry! Wake up," shouted Barry's friend, Iris West, a reporter for Central City Picture News.

"I came by to check on my best friend, of course," she smiled.

"Not much to see," replied Barry. "I was just leaving."

"Great - how about some Big Belly Burger?"

"I've got time. Let's go."

And with that, they walked out of the lab. They walk down a corridor, talking.

"Did you hear about Snart's attack?" asked Barry.

"I heard a few cops speaking about it on my way in. Good thing The Flash was there."

"Isn't he always?"

Just then, the main entrance to the precinct was opened as four cops walked in with handcuffed Snart and Rory. Darryl follows them.

"Looks like we finally caught you, Snart," he smiled.

"Congratulations, Frye," replied an uninterested Snart. He looked at Rory, then back at Darryl with a grin. "But do you really think I'll be in prison for long?"

Darryl frowned. "Take them to lockup."

"You know, I think people in this city just got lucky," said Iris.

"How so?" asked Barry.

"We got a hero. We got The Flash."

Barry smiled, as the two set off again. Little did they know, a man in a yellow suit with red glowing eyes was watching them nearby...