Poker Night Extra: Craig's Brother

Craig headed to the gym with his near 100 orange chips he’d won off his poker tournament with the other guys. He couldn’t believe how much his body had changed from just that one night. Of course Kyle said that no one would notice any of the changes. However their personalities would naturally adapt to the new responses they were going to receive from people. It didn’t matter if they’d known them for years, or saw them for the first time, whatever the chips had changed was now their life. 

“Hey fat ass,” Josh said. His brother was already in the gym getting ready to work out as Craig entered. Even with a body that was near show ready Josh still loved calling him fat. Craig could have stepped on stage and easily won and his brother would still call him a fat ass. It didn’t even matter that Josh looked far more fit than he had before. He was about an inch taller but his 190 pound frame looked far more tone. The workouts they did together now looked like they were near professional, even if football was Craig’s main focus.

“Jack ass,” Craig replied back throwing his hand up for a high five. 10 orange chips were placed in his hand and he pushed them into Josh’s. He could feel them absorb into his brother’s hand. It was only about 5% of Josh’s total body weight, so there wasn’t much to be seen. Josh was still acting like the same old jock he’d always been. He grinned and gripped Craig’s hand tightly. 

“Man you were taking forever… Thought you were going to puss out again,” Josh said. He leaned against one of the machines as he talked. “Can’t handle a guy like me? Eh?” Josh prodded against his bigger brother. Despite being a year older he was significantly smaller than Craig was. Obviously Craig knew there was the magic behind it but the inch of height and now only thirty pounds difference in weight must have really gotten to him when they were growing up. 

But even before the game he’d always been just a little bit bigger. He was actually willing to train hard and push himself in the gym while his brother spent more time checking out the mirror or the ladies. Coaches would tell him to get his head back in the game but he was too busy trying to stick it into something else. It’s what lost him any chance at being a starter on any team he’d gone out for. Talent was only so much while his attitude just held him back. 

“You think I’m intimidated by you?” Craig mocked looking his brother up and down. They were wearing roughly the same thing; sleeveless t shirt with baggy shorts. However his brother loved to wear hats. It helped hide his receding hairline. Despite being the younger one, Josh wasn’t blessed with the same hair that Craig was. But he also loved spinning it around whenever he was getting serious. 

“Bro, everyone’s intimidated by me,” he said flexing his arm, gloating. The 16 inch arm wasn’t something to ignore but being next to Craig’s 20 inches, it would be hard to compete. Josh didn’t care. He still acted like he was the biggest guy around. His ego only seemed to have gotten even bigger since the transformation. The friendly punch he’d given Craig was a bit harder than usual as he led the way to the free weights. He walked with a swagger that only guys many a size bigger than him would have naturally.

Craig just rolled his eyes as he followed. Josh was the only person who was able to dwarf his presence. Josh started with simple curls, warming his body up to the workout they were about to do. With each curl, he stared at the bump on his arm. He acted like right then and there it should have started growing; that each rep would make it bigger. Craig just smiled absentmindedly realizing just how big of a difference his body was now. He naturally drifted toward the 60 pound weights and pumped out a set. It wasn’t until he noticed the clear glare his brother was giving him. 

“So, what was so important that you couldn’t work out with me yesterday?” Josh asked. “Too busy trying to find ways to cheat your diet?” he added a poke against Craig’s abs. 

“Huh? No,” Craig laughed back. “Had to work on a project for class,” he lied. “It wasn’t too bad though. Just had to figure a few things out and then we were done.” He loaded up another of the ten orange chips into his hand and pressed them against Josh’s shoulder. They slid right into his skin as he added a condescending phrase. “Did you miss me? Couldn’t go to the big bad gym by yourself?” he mocked.

“Please,” Josh said sarcastically. “Like I need you around. I’ve got this gym begging for me to come back. My presence alone makes girls flock here.” He boasted. Even adding a flex for good measure. But there was already some fluff covering those toned biceps. He may have been strong but another ten pounds of fat and some of the definition didn’t show as much. He’d never had too big of pecs but they started to sag while a light belly pushed out the bottom of his sleeveless shirt. 

“I bet…” Craig laughed starting his next set.

Josh moved in closer, just making their differences that much more apparent. However his ego still didn’t take a hit. “See if you looked half as good as me then maybe you’d understand. Just gotta give the girls a bit of a wink and they come running to you.” He motioned towards Craig’s muscular body, mocking it. His dense pecs pushed the straps of his sleeveless shirt to the limit while his thin waist but thick ass pushed at his shorts. 

“Oh?” Craig added another 10 chips to his hand and bent over in a mocking way. “Then you’ll have to show me,” he pushed them into his shoulder. He watched as another ten pounds loaded up onto his brother’s body. The light fluff he’d garnered looked a little more like pudge. His belly was now pushing at his shirt, ever so slightly but it was clearly there. Even his thin pecs lost their definition. They were starting to sag as a layer of fat loaded up on his body. 

Suddenly Josh lost a bit of his charisma. He glanced at his body in the mirror again trying to get it back. He was still a big guy. His arms were thick, and almost looked better with the added fat. The definition may not have been there but his arms were just as big and bulky as Craig’s. He knew he was strong but the weight on his body suddenly seemed foreign to him. He didn’t remember being this big. Or this bulky. 

“What’s wrong big guy?” Craig asked pushing another ten orange chips into him. He jumped at Josh’s sudden insecurity, watching even more weight pour onto the guy. His shirt stretched even further out as his belly rounded out. His pecs sagged. He still looked pretty strong but more like an off season power lifter than the fit football player he’d been. 

“Nothing,” he brushed it off. “Just want to work out. That’s all.”

“Yeah? Not going to brag about all that tail you got?” Craig taunted. After hearing insistently about Josh’s exploits he’d gotten so sick of hearing about it. But now seeing his little brother’s rounder waist he couldn’t help but feel a little bit of satisfaction. After all the times he’d been called a fat ass. Or mocked him for only having one girlfriend. This was the first time he’d seen his ego actually take a hit.

“I could!” Josh tried to defend himself. But it almost came out whiney. Looking over his big bulky body he suddenly didn’t feel the same. His hands ran around the small belly pushing his shirt out in front of him and the difference between him and Craig was just ever more apparent. “Whatever,” he pouted, spinning his hat around. “We’ve got a workout to do.”

Craig smiled to himself as he loaded up another ten orange chips in his hand. “Come on man,” he wrapped his arm around Josh’s shoulder and pushed them into his skin. It pushed his belly out even further, making his shirt ride up ever so slightly. He could see the bottom part of what was now becoming a prominent gut. His pecs sagged even more while his arms lost nearly any definition they had. “You’re not that fat. Just need to work out a little more.”

“But it’s so hard…” he winced trying to pick up the 20 pound weights. For some reason he thought he should have been lifting something heavier. He looked down at the weights again a little confused. ‘How often do I come to the gym?’ the thought shot through his head as he felt like he’d been coming here for so long but couldn’t really remember doing it. He recognized the weights and thought he knew some workouts but couldn’t quite place it. 

“Come on big guy. You can do it,” Craig encouraged. He pushed another ten chips into his shoulder along with the submissive ones he’d gotten from Ryan. Josh’s personality changed even more. He didn’t seem as confident and needed more encouragement that usual. “Go on. Start with that weight over there.” 

Josh looked down. His confidence seemed almost non-existent now. He didn’t know what he was doing in the gym. His body just didn’t feel right, but he didn’t know what it was. It was just so hard to think. A feeling that he’d never felt before rushed over him. It was embarrassment. He picked up the 15 pound weights and attempted to pump out some curls. His eyes glanced over Craig’s body. A hint of jealously came over him. He tried pumping out the set but ultimately felt tired. Even after one set he could feel sweat forming at his brow. 

“Come on man! You can do it,” Craig encouraged again. He was being oddly peppy for the work out but Josh knew it was for him. He wanted him to try harder. To get better. Josh spun his hat around, getting serious. He pumped another set out. Determination filled his mind as he tried his best. He pumped out another set feeling the adrenaline fill his body. 

“Phew…” he let out a sigh and sat down for a rest. Looking over his body he couldn’t help but feel a little accomplished. Even if his Craig was standing over him, he was pretty proud of what he’d just done. 

“Good job man,” Craig said gripping Josh’s shoulder. His strong grasp against Josh’s shoulder gave him a bit of comfort. Despite being the jock of the family, he’d always been encouraging to Josh. “You’ll get better in no time.” 

“Yeah?” Josh looked up at his brother. “Think I’ll look as good as you?” he joked.

“Maybe…” Craig joked back. “But it’s going to be quite a few sessions before you get there.” He threw up his arm to flex his mighty bicep. “But maybe…” he grinned.