Central City

Sebastian sat on his bedroom floor with a suitcase wide open and clothes neatly being packed. He had his laptop opened by the foot of his bed with another boy around his age on the other side.

"Don't forget to bring my candy, Bastien."

"Yes, I brought it." Sebastian waved a small bag filled with sweets to the laptop. "I don't understand why you cannot just buy these in Paris."

"Ah, mon cousin, The American version just tastes better for some reason." the boy said. "Papa forgot to buy me some last time he was in ze States."

"And it is such a pain not to have your sugar stash." Sebastian said sarcastically. "You can live without your candy corn, Lani."

"Ma petite soeur finished the last of my stash." Alain Smythe pouted. "And you cannot tell me that you do not have your stash of chocolat in your room. I know you, Bastien."

Sebastian shrugged "C'est de famille!" (it runs in the family)

"J'ai pratiqué" (you have been practicing) Alain cheered. "I was worried I would not be able to bring you or Barry out without Aunt Nora."

"I do not know about Barry." Sebastian explained. "But I do still know some French."

"It does not matter." Alain said. "We will have a month full of bonding."

"How is everyone?" Sebastian asked. "Excited for the full house?"

Alain rolled his eyes. "Maman has started her own hurricane as soon as Papa mentioned you guys were coming. Stacy has started asking questions. Last time you saw her she was still in nappies."

"Do you think she'd give me and Barry that look like when she was little?" Sebastian created this exaggerated face with his eyes and mouth wide open then covered his face in his hands. Similar to how a then three year old Stacy Smythe had been staring at the twins unused to seeing identical older boys in her home. Alain laughed at Sebastian's impersonation.

"I doubt it." Alain said. "But who knows, she might actually be able to tell you apart this time."

"Don't tease the little princess"

"I cannot wait until you arrive." Alain said. "Finally, not stuck babysitting."

"Perk of being the youngest." Sebastian said teasingly. "She's got you wrapped around her finger."

"Do you think we can trick Barry into babysitting?" Alain asked. "You and I can go check out the scenes. I hear there is a new coffee shop nearby that lets you put Courvoisier in your drink. And they don't even check if you're old enough to."

Sebastian rolled his eyes. "I'm sure we can get away with going off on our own even with Barry without having to subject him to babysitting. We're gonna be there for almost two months, I'm sure Stacy will be sick of us by then."

"It doesn't matter." Alain waved off "What does is that you will be here. Papa and Maman have over a dozen different parties planned - social events of clients or friends. And I am so glad that you will be there to join me in my suffering."

"Who said anything about joining you."

"Oh, Bassy." Alain cooed. "Did you think you had a choice?

It took over eight hours to travel from Central City to Paris, France. After a very rousing game of rock paper scissors while waiting to board the plane, Sebastian won the window seat by a mere five points out of almost five hundred. Barry grumbled about annoying younger brothers for about ten minutes before falling asleep in the plane's ascent. The twins spent their time in their flight either asleep or excitedly chatting. The twins may be almost total opposites, but they're closer than any pair of brothers can be.

"So, Mom said we can choose some spots to check out while we're there." Barry said. "Any spots you are interested in?"

"Honestly, not sure." Sebastian said. "Mom's as much of a theater head as I am. I think we went to almost every theater spot there is. How about you?"

"I want to check out one of the science museums nearby." Barry admitted. "I wanted to see if mom or dad will be willing to let me go on my own or we can go on a solo excursion 'cuz I'm sure you and Alain will be too busy doing who knows what."

"Got that right." Sebastian said cheekily. "If you drag me into a science museum, Alain and I will go Coffee Shop hopping and leave you to babysit."

"Then Stacy and I will go exploring the parks of Paris." Barry replied with a smile. He grabbed Sebastian's hand. "How are you feeling? I'm glad you're not as sullen as the past few months. But I know you have the mask of an actor."

"I'm better." Sebastian sighed. "Dad gave me one of his famous pep-talks."

"Anything I can help with?" Barry asked. "We both know I'm the better twin."

Sebastian rolled his eyes with a small laugh. He sat quietly for a bit listening to the hum of the plane. "How do you just… know?"

"Know what?"

"We both know you're going to be some sort of genius doctor who cures cancer…"

"I doubt I'll be able to do that."

"Or some sort of great scientist that will improve the lives for years to come." Sebastian continued "I-I don't know what I'm doing. What I'm going to do."

"Bas, we're 12." Barry reminded. "I don't think anyone our age knows what they're going to do. While all you said are potential options for me. I don't even know what to do either. There are a million different things that can happen between now and college. I could end up being the performer instead of you."

"Please, you have two left feet." Sebastian rolled his eyes. "And you got a special scholarship for this fancy science academy that will jump start your career."

"Sebastian, you have an offer to be sponsored at being one of the few names under Red Hat Production's young performers list." Barry countered. "Why aren't you considering that as one of your options."

"Performers' careers are so erratic." Sebastian said. "Only so many names are well known worldwide. There are probably hundreds and thousands of people who have started such a good career in performing but don't get picked to be the next big thing. I don't want that kind of uncertainty."

"Well, I can be very shy." Barry said. "I don't have your confidence. I am probably more likely to say something wrong before I say anything right. I don't plan on becoming a doctor. And we both know that is the number one option for most science based courses."

"What do you think I'd do?" Sebastian asked. "I can see you becoming some sort of inventor under one of those labs in Central, like Mercury Labs."

"I have a few ideas." Barry said cheekily. "You have a good way with words, while I know you don't want to perform for a living. I kind of see you as becoming a reporter or a journalist - digging around for clues coming out with some sort of harebrained theory on a cheating politician or a corrupt athlete manager. And being so unapologetic about it when it turns out to be true."

"I'd have my own column in the newspaper." Sebastian mused. "The Silver Pen."

"Why not gold."

"Silver is sharper." Sebastian said cheekily."

Barry laughed. "That or you're going to be into some sort of corporate job. Marketing, Accounting or something where you terrify your minions into doing the best damn job they can."

"I love that you just assume I have minions."

"Of course, you should have minions." Barry said. "You're Sebastian Allen, you're going to inspire people into doing their job."

The Airline speaker announced that they were starting their descent.

"Hey, maybe you'll become some sort of Parissan Designer under Aunt Sabine."

"I might have better fashion sense than you. I don't think I can do that for a living. I can barely get you to dress better." Sebastian rolled his eyes. His eyes suddenly smiled with mirth. "Are you ready to become Aunt Sabine's Ken doll again?"
"Yes, I'm so excited." Barry said sarcastically. "I would settle to just have her at least call me Barry."

"Why?" Sebastian asked, doing a fake french accent. "Bahr-toe-lo-moo is such a beautiful name."

Barry rolled his eyes. "I prefer Bah-ri. Thank you, Bassy."

"If I end up moving to Paris, I will change my name to Bastien." Sebastian said. "I kind of like the novelty."

"Plus it's easier to sell off that we're twins."

"I think the identical part took care of that." Sebastian said. "But Barry and Bassy does have a good ring to it."

A week in Paris, Barry finally got his chance to check out the Science Museum. Henry took him while Nora and Sabine had gone shopping with Alain and Stacy. Sebastian opted to stay at home with his Uncle while everyone went out.

Sebastian had settled himself in Smythe's study. It's a small room wall to wall filled with books and momentoes. He had found his Uncle's high school yearbook and was browsing through the pages looking at inspirational quotes from the seniors. Alexander Smythe walked into the room and was surprised to find his nephew so deeply entranced by a book.

"What do you have there, Bastien?"

"Your old yearbook." Sebastian replied. "I didn't know you went to a prep-school."

"It is known as one of the best schools in the state." Alexander said. "I was ambitious and driven. Something I hear you and your brother inherited."

"I somehow doubt mom was talking about me." Sebastian felt his uncle lightly flick his forehead. "Hey!"

"None of that." Alexander chidded. "You are smart and very talented in your own right."

"But Barry…"

"Do you think Barry can pull off that play?"

"Huh?"

"I'm sure you've gone through the whole spiel on how twins are born." Alexander explained. "Identical vs Fraternal twins. And I'm sure you're aware that you and Barry are Identical."

"I think the fact we can pull off switching places in our classes kind of proves that. Besides, Barry can't act to save his life."

"So if tomorrow, let's say you join a Junior theater club here in Paris. And Barry goes to play your role, do you think he'd be able to?

"I think we've established, I am the better actor between the two of us."

"Then why are you trying to be him?" Alexander said. "What does it matter if your brother can build his little robots and effortlessly solve some chemical equations? I hear you lead your debate team up until Nationals."

"Yeah, that's different."

"How so?"

"I can't build a career on debating on an interschool challenge."

"Debate is identifying the problem and creating a solution - finding the weakness in another argument. Presenting and proving your point against the other's. You can build many careers from debate skills. Companies always hire problem solvers. Of course, there is also the justice system - Detectives, Lawyers."

Sebastian stared blankly at the yearbook before him. A page full of teenage boys wearing blazers and ties stared at him with smiles. His Uncle's teenage self looking at the camera with a smile. His posture relaxed and his smile confident.

His uncle tapped under his chin, making Sebastian look into his Uncle's familiar green eyes. "You have a lot of potential, Sebastian. You just need to tap into it. Your relationship with your brother should not be your identity. It should be trivia."

Sebastian nodded absently slowly absorbing his Uncle's advice. Alexander stood up from where he sat beside Sebastian and brushed off the invisible lint off his pants.

"How about this?" Alexander said, breaking Sebastian off his stupor. "I have to run to the office. My US partners are here for vacation and wanted to drop off some papers at the office. While I know you are fully capable of being left here on your own, I don't want to leave you here on your own until night. Knowing my sister, they will be back after dinner totally forgetting to check the time while shopping. And I get the feeling that Barry might spend the night in the museum if Henry didn't join him, which would mean they're most likely to get back after dark. You and I can go have our own day out after. See some sights of our own."

"Okay." Sebastian agreed. He was curious what his Uncle does for a living. All he knew from his mother was that his uncle was a freelance prosecutor for the state in Ohio but was a partner in a firm in Paris. "I have to admit though, I'm not too sure on what you do either."

"Then you're going into this with fresh eyes." Alexander said with a wink. "Go grab your coat. It's a little chilly out."

Finally finished it... ish XD I wanted to have this all in one chapter but i feel like Alex and Seb's excusion deserves its own chapter. I felt this chapter is so important to Seb's character development. Of course only part of it. ;)

Alexander is a Dalton Alum, Wonder who else are we gonna meet. Comment below your theories :)

Let me know what you think.