Chapter Ten

The rest of the week passes by duly, and soon enough Barry finds himself standing in front of his mirror desperately trying to make his hair look presentable for his date. Sebastian sidles up next to his brother and snorts. "Let me help you."

"Thank you!" Barry says in relief. "I'm making a mess of it."

"You can say that again." Sebastian attacks Barry's hair and within moments he has it looking presentable. "There, perfect."

"What if he finds out he's made a horrible mistake and shouldn't be on a date with me?"

Sebastian just barely restrains himself from rolling his eyes, "Then it wasn't meant to be."

Before Barry is able to reply, a knocking sounds at their door, causing Barry to startle. Sebastian rolls his eyes and opens the door, giving Alex a look-over. "You'll do." Sebastian finally declares, "I guess you can go out with my baby brother."

Alex raises one eyebrow and pointedly attempts to look behind Sebastian for the other twin. Barry takes this as his cue to push past Sebastian, "Don't wait up." Barry snaps, "And don't even attempt to follow us."

"Would I do something like that?" Sebastian asks, holding a hand to his heart as if hurt.

Barry's stern glare doesn't disappear, "You would, I know you. Go watch Frozen with Thad or something."

"Fine, go have a fun time." Sebastian waves dismissively towards the pair before pushing Barry out the door and slamming it behind him.

Barry looks towards the other male and smiles sheepishly, "Sorry about Bas."

Alex laughs, "Nah, it's cool. I'd be the same way for my little sisters. So I was thinking food then movie?"

"That sounds perfect." Barry grins, "There's this little bistro a block down from the theatre that's amazing."

Alex nods his agreement, "Let's go!" As the couple head out towards the parking lot, they don't notice two shadows stalking behind them. Alex, acting like the perfect gentleman, opens the door for Barry, causing one of the shadows to snort.

"He doesn't fool me." The shadow hisses.

"Oh shut up Queen." The other snaps back.

"Try and stop me!" Oliver snarls.

Hunter rolls his eyes as they make their way towards Oliver's car. "Tell me again why this is such a brilliant idea?"

"Because there's just something not right about that Alex guy!"

"You're so pathetic."

"Then what does that make you?"

Hunter doesn't restrain himself as he rolls his eyes again, "Apparently stupid for following tweedle dee and jock strap around on their date."

"Stop calling him that!"

Hunter giggles in glee, "You're so easy to rile up!"

"Stop it!"

"Plebeian." Hunter throws back before stuffing his nose behind his phone and starting up Temple Run 2. Oliver growls as he starts the car and pulls out a distance behind the other car.

"So in the spirit of the movie we're going to see, who is your favorite superhero?" Alex asks, looking over at Barry for a second.

Barry grins, "I really like Quicksilver. I think it would be cool to run as fast as the speed of sound."

Alex snorts, "You're always late to lacrosse, so I can see why."

Barry blushed, "Shut up!" He laughs, "So tell me then, who's your favorite?"

"Oh, I'm more of a supervillain person myself. Loki is where it's at…"

"He's pretty cool for a villain." Barry agrees, "But c'mon, I bet there's at least one superhero you like."

Alex sighs dramatically, "I guess if I had to choose I'd say the Punisher."

"An anti-hero." Barry laughs, "I'm sensing a pattern." Barry looks out the window at the city lights, completely missing the dark look Alex sends his way. "You must secretly be the brooding type." Barry looks back over at Alex's cheery grin.

"You've got me!" Alex laughs, "Closet emo!"

"Where are they going?" Oliver asks, "This isn't the way to the main food mall area."

"What?" Hunter asks in reply, pulling himself out of his game, "Why are we in this area? There's no food here."

"That's what I was just saying!" Oliver snaps, "They shouldn't be in this area!"

Hunter pulls up Google Maps, "Yeah, Google tells me that we're in the old warehouse district. Been out of commission for like ten years now. Not creepy at all." Hunter points out.

"Should we call someone?" Oliver asks.

Hunter shrugs, "Hell if I know. Just keep following Mr. Creepy and Bambi. Oh, poor Bambi…"

"You're not helping my nerves." Oliver groans as he takes another left, just missing the cinder block in the middle of the road. "The fuck?"

"Yeah, we should probably call someone."

"Where are we?" Barry asks, "I thought we were going for food."

Alex chuckles, "We're not going for food."

"Look, I'm not a quick lay, if that's what you're going for. So I'd appreciate it if you took me back to Dalton." Barry nervously hedges. "Or straight to the movies, we can forget about this attempted detour."

"Oh hun…" Alex says, patronizing.

Barry wiggles in his seat, "Alex…"

Alex stops the car, gets out, walks around to the other side, opens the door and forcibly drags Barry out of the car. Barry screeches, kicks, and bites at Alex. "Why are you doing this?! Let me go!"

"Whoa! Dude!" Hunter points at the scene. Oliver's eyes widen. He parks his car in a deeply shadowed section, making to get out. Hunter grabs his arm as a van pulls up next to the struggling pair, "Dude, that looks legit, we can't fight that. We'll just get ourselves killed or kidnapped too. Let's just call 9-1-1. Get the plate numbers while I make the call…" Men in masks pile out of the van, six in all.

Oliver slips out of the car and sticks to the shadows as he makes his way close enough to see the van's plate number. "Let me go!" Barry's yelling becomes more frantic, "Who are you!?"

Two of the masked men grab Barry from Alex and start dragging him into the van. Another starts counting money out to Alex and yet another chuckles, replying in a heavy accent, "We're the Bratva." The others chuckle and start to get back in the van, the one with the money finally returning.

Oliver slinks further into the shadows and makes his way to Hunter as he finishes up the call. "They'll be here in like ten minutes. Did you get the plates?"

"Yeah, I got them." Oliver looks shaken. "They say they're with the Bratva."

"Who are they?"

"They're the Russian mob." Oliver looks terrified. "They paid Alex."

"Well shit." Hunter breathes, "Dude."

Oliver nods, "I know. I told you that guy was no good."

The pair watch as the van screeches out of the area, leaving tar marks on the ground. Alex follows soon after, headlights fading into the distance. Minutes later a police cruiser pulls up into the lighted part of the area and two uniformed officers step out. Hunter and Oliver gladly rush over to the officers and start to tell them everything they witnessed.

"I know it may not seem like it," The short, brunette female kindly tells them, "but you boys did the right thing in not engaging. That would have only ended with the two of you in body bags or kidnapped as well." Oliver still looks shaken, "Oh hun." The officer pulls Oliver into a quick hug, "Do you mind if I drive your car back to Dalton? My partner will take the cruiser and start the search. They'll find your friend."

Oliver nods his consent and the trio make their way back to the car and half an hour later they arrive at Dalton. The officer walks the boys in the front door and the three are met to a mass of chaos. Warblers and lacrosse members are milling around everywhere frantically with Sebastian crying hysterically in the middle, Jeff, Thad, and Nick surrounding him in a protective huddle. Hunter and Oliver plonk down on a couch, studiously ignoring the looks the other boys were shooting them.

The officer makes her way over to the Dalton faculty and other two officers to discuss matters further. A few moments later Alex is drug down some stairs by another uniform and out the door, the heavy stares of the boys on his back. "That fucker." Jeff hisses, many of the other boys heartily agreeing.

Sebastian finally starts to calm down, much to everyone's relief as it had shaken many of the boys to see the usually unflappable boy break down. Eventually the Dalton headmaster moves to address the gathered boys. "Mr. Grint has been taken into custody for questioning in the kidnapping of Barry Allen. The police force is diligently looking for Mr. Allen as is federal forces due to the suspected involvement of the Bratva mob. Officers will be dispatched here at Dalton at all times to ensure the safety of us all and parents are currently being informed by our staff. Please do not hesitate to come to the office with any information you might think of, no matter how trivial it may seem."

Thad nudges Sebastian and hisses into his ear, "Go tell them about the phone calls."

"I don't know…" Sebastian looks hesitant.

"Do it, Sebastian." Oliver speaks up. "It may be life or death for Barry."

"You don't think I don't know this?" Sebastian spits.

"Is there a problem here boys?" The headmaster asks, not unkindly.

"Tell him or I will." Oliver threatens, "You're not the only one who cares for Barry."

Sebastian looks up at the headmaster fearfully, "I may have something that might help the investigation…"

The headmaster nods, "Come along then, lad. I'll take you to my office and you can discuss this with the detective in charge here at Dalton." He then guides Sebastian away from the gathered boys. Oliver looks over at the trio.

"You did the right thing." Jeff finally mutters, after a long silence. "They should have said something when it first happened."

Cisco pops up from behind Nick, "Yeah, but they were scared."

"That's no excuse!" Nick snaps hysterically.

"Why don't we all just calm down." Hunter forcefully says. "Getting upset with each other isn't helping the situation any. We need to be calm for when Smythe comes back."

"As much as I hate to admit it, Clarington is right." Cisco agrees, grimacing.

The others sigh, "Yeah, alright." Jeff agrees. "If only for Bas."

"That's it, my lad." He whispers encouragingly as Sebastian takes a seat.

"My name is Detective Larry Barton." A tall, lanky detective with kind brown eyes informs Sebastian. "You're Sebastian, aren't you?"

"Yes, sir." Sebastian mutters into his lap.

Barton nods as he pulls out his notepad, "What was it that you wanted to tell me?" Sebastian mutters something. "Please, speak up." Barton requests.

Sebastian takes a deep breath before saying, "The Bratva was calling Barry and I. They have since the end of summer."

Shocked silence fell over the office.