Hey, everyone, this is the shortest chapter thus far. We learn a bit about what happened the night of the fire. I hope you're enjoying the fic and take a moment to read and review.
Chapter 3: Smiling Faces
Malcolm scanned the church, dark eyes seeking one petite, dark-haired woman, in particular, his late brother's fiance. For just a moment the corner of his mouth quirked upwards, and he forced it back down. A pleased, self-satisfied grin was not appropriate for a funeral. He'd made certain to call and offer condolences, send flowers, and offer any assistance. Still, he gave her space; she'd need time. She loved Barry that much he knew.
The church doors opened, and he turned his head at the sound to see Iris West enter with her family. She leaned heavily on her father's arm, bereft, broken and yet breathtaking in her beauty. From the glow of silent tears highlighting the apples of her full flushed cheeks to the soft clinging silk gracing her slender frame hugging and pulling with each movement providing a teasing hint as to what lay underneath and the black lace pantyhose climbing those long shapely legs like sin. She was elegant, ethereal, sexy. Too good for Barry.
Barry, his fraternal twin who had been given everything while he had been given nothing. Barry who had grown up surrounded by love and friends that supported him through grief and tragedy while he Malcolm had no one. Barry who had gone home to be raised by the loving Allens, while Malcolm had gone home with the Thawnes.
He watched them. Watched Henry Allen, embrace his would-be daughter in law. Take her to the family pew sit her beside himself. There were a few of Barry's maternal relatives one of his aunts, a few cousins. He imagined being tried for murdering your wife tended to make funerals difficult.
The service would be starting soon. Malcolm straightened his tie and smoothed his hands over soft Italian wool of his suit jacket, savoring the feel of it under his fingers. He made his way to the front of the church to stand to offer Iris his condolences.
"Hello, Iris."
"Malcolm." She said his name breathlessly and got to her feet to hug him. They had been friends for some years now, and she let him offer this comfort.
"Thank you for coming."
"Of course Iris you're my friend, and I know how much the two loved each other. "
"Thanks." She turned back to his father. "Henry you remember Malcolm."
"Yeah, thanks for coming."
The older man shook his hand without really looking at him.
Malcolm frowned. He shouldn't care. Henry Allen still believed that Malcolm had died at birth, but the older man's indifference rankled. If he could dig Dr. Gilmore back up and kill him again he would.
"You're coming to the wake right?" Iris recalled his attention with that question.
"Of course."
The organ started to play, and Malcolm knew they were ready to start.
"I'm gonna go find a seat."
Malcolm found a seat near the back of the church planning to zone out of the service with his phone.
"Dearly beloved we are gathered here today to lay to rest Bartholomew Henry Allen."
Malcolm snorted, opened Candy Crush planning to put in his earphones, but Iris started crying then. Not a few polite tears, but sobs long and loud and for the first time since he'd hatched his plan to murder his brother Malcolm Thawne felt a vague stirring of disquiet, his confidence suddenly shaken.
He mistrusted most people, but Iris West was one of the few human beings that he liked. He'd never known her to do anything petty or cruel, and he'd never caught her in a lie. Barry, of course, had hidden the fact that he was the Flash from her for over a year. Another reason why Barry didn't deserve her.
Hearing those broken sobs stirred doubt in his plan.
Iris had been attracted to him, had liked him. It was a family emergency that had drawn him away from her at a critical time. If he'd been able to stay her childhood love for Barry would have been transferred to him. He was certain of that. Hearing her now though he felt some uncertainty. Her sobs quieted abruptly, and he stood to up to see that Henry had put an arm around her she was crying quietly on his shoulder.
Malcolm considered all that he had achieved in the last few years. Mastering the blue flame, taking control of the Thawne family, destroying The Flash. It would be simple enough to make one woman love him. She would grieve Barry for perhaps a year; he would be helpful and supportive, keep himself busy with Thawne enterprises. And when the time came she would be his he would make sure of that.
Chapter 4 will be up in a few days. Iris will get an explanation of Barry's death and we'll learn a bit more about E5. Thanks for taking a moment to read All That Remains, love it or hate it take a moment to say hi and don't forget to subscribe so you don't miss a chapter.
In the comics Malcolm Thawne is Barry's evil twin separated at birth. Cheesy I know, but I wanted to do the storyline anyway.:D
A/N- So I've learned recently that in some places the thing before the viewing is the wake and the thing after the funeral is called a reception. In the mid-western U.S. its: viewing, funeral, burial, wake and receptions are at weddings.