It did sting sometimes.
She tried not to see it, but how could one not see something that was done on purpose? How could she try to not see a resemblance in not only a twin, but an actual genetic clone? There he was every day, staring her in the face, those big green eyes, those long, unfathomably luscious lashes of his. The lips, much too pouty for any normal human man. Full and added just to tempt. Dusted with their own kind of sugar. Perfect teeth, all Manticore made. Strong and fit. He was no taller, no shorter. As far as she remembered, a little bit heavier, but Alec had grown older than Ben. His life had not been cut short by her hand.
Every day, she remembered it. Every single one of them, unable to escape from those eyes, that smile. The boyish grin that appeared whenever he was feeling cheeky, or trying to make a joke. Or even storytelling. Just like Ben. She cursed the day she'd lost him, although felt within herself that even in times of regret, it was always the right path to take. That Ben had given his life for the greater good. Her survival had provided life to others, and a life outside of the shadows. And she had Alec now. Not a real substitute for a fallen brother, a comrade. Not a substitute at all. But a friend, maybe more. He haunted her, every day, but he also made her smile. Made her laugh, made her heart race. It was rare and done in private, but it happened. Ben was her brother, but at times, Alec was definitely not.
The cheekbones, the freckles, that little twitch of his lips when he can't quite hide his feelings with a smile. Ben had done it all. Ben had it all. But they were not the same person. Identical, but not the same. And boy was she glad of that.