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Barry sat at the table with Iris, listening to Iris talk about the upcoming winter formal while they ate lunch. Barry could only nod along, not really planning on attending himself.
There was a knock on the door just as Joe was coming down the stairs, so neither teen moved to get it.
"Look at this dress," Iris said, sliding her phone across the table to show the picture to Barry.
"That's pretty, you'd looked great in it," he commented, passing it back to her.
"We're looking for Bartholomew Allen, does he live here?"
Barry and Iris both looked up, both slightly confused. Barry stood up and walked over. "What's going on?"
"You're Bartholomew?" the woman asked.
"Yes," he answered.
"We're with the Columbus Police Department," she said. "I'm Natalia, this is Ryan." Barry felt his throat go dry. Columbus? "We're going to need you to come with us."
"Why?" Barry asked.
"You had contact with your father, Kevin Ramsey recently, yes?" Ryan asked. Barry hesitated, then nodded. "Well, he was murdered yesterday."
"What?" Barry said.
"We need you to answer some questions for us," Natalia said.
_____
Barry avoided looking at Joe for the whole hour long car ride. He knew had Joe had many questions, and he also knew he was going to be in trouble. He technically didn't even have permission to go to Columbus. He'd told Joe he was going to see his dad, and neglected to mention which dad.
Both of Barry's parents had been infertile, so when they decided to have a child, they'd gotten a surrogate and a sperm donor. Barry had gone to see his donor dad, and then he got on the next bus back to Central City. He did nothing else there.
But apparently his dad had died later that day. And Barry was pretty sure he knew why they knew he'd seen Kevin, and that he'd been there yesterday. When his dad had basically told him to fuck off, Barry had spit on him. He regretted it later that day, but he'd just been upset in the moment. Now it made him a murder suspect.
After what felt like an eternity, they arrived at the police station. Barry followed the pair into the police station, and they led him to a room with glass walls.
"Do you mind if I use the bathroom first?" Barry asked when Natalia opened the door.
"Yeah," she said.
"I'll take him," Ryan said. "Go ahead that way."
Barry could hear Natalia strike up a conversation with Joe as he walked down the hallway.
Just as Barry walked into the bathroom, someone left one of the stalls. Barry blinked for a second, realizing he was staring at a copy of himself. His brother. Or more like a twin.
"Whoa," he said.
"Hey," the copy greeted.
"This is weird," Barry commented.
"Yeah," was the reply. "You kill our donor dad?"
Barry shook his head in response.
"Well," the twin said. "One of us spit on him, and it wasn't me."
"Yeah, I did that," Barry admitted, scratching the back of his neck.
"Why?"
The door opened and Ryan was standing there. "That's a good question, Sebastian."
Barry swallowed nervously, his throat was dry. They thought he could have murdered his dad? His own DNA placed him at the site, but he hadn't done anything.
"Come on, Barry," Ryan said.
He was led to a room by Ryan, and they had him sit down. Barry had no idea if it was the nerves or if he really just needed a drink, but he didn't want to chance it.
"So, Barry, would you like to tell us why you decided to spit on Kevin?" Ryan asked.
"Can I get a glass of water?" Barry asked.
"No, you can't have a glass of water," Ryan replied. "Answer the question."
"Please, I need a glass of water," Barry stated.
"Are you on something?" Natalia asked.
"No," Barry said.
"Are you sick?" she asked. "Your eyes are jaundiced. Do you have a liver problem?"
"Yeah," Barry answered. "I have this disease. It's called Wilson's."
"It's genetic," Ryan said. "Body's inability to process copper. It causes liver failure."
"And you inherited it from Kevin?" Natalia asked.
"Yeah," Barry answered. "My doctor said that I need a transplant. We can't really afford that."
"That's why you went after him," Natalia said.
"I'm really sorry I did that," Barry said. "But he was my best chance."
"Did you kill him?" Natalia asked.
"No," Barry said immediately.
"Listen, you got handed a bad hand," Ryan said. "You're 16 years old, you'll be tried as a minor."
"I didn't do it!" Barry said. "I was a little upset that he wouldn't even consider helping me, but I didn't kill him."
He had no idea if they believed him or not.
_____
He found himself incredibly bored as he sat in the room. He did spot his twin sitting in another room. It was really weird seeing someone else walking around with his face.
It was also really weird not knowing that he had a twin. How did that even happen? Did his parents know? That might be something he'd have to ask his dad next time he went to see him.
Sebastian looked about as bored as he did. He was sure he'd been asked to stay there too, considering Barry had landed himself as being a primary suspect and their identical DNA dragged him in too, even if Barry had admitted to spitting on Kevin.
Sebastian turned his head slightly, catching Barry's gaze. He wondered if Sebastian had known he was a twin. What would life had been like if they'd grown up knowing each other?
Barry looked away when the door opened. He felt nervous when he saw Joe. "Hey, Joe," he said meekly as his foster father sat down across from him.
"Don't you 'Hey, Joe' me," Joe said. "You snuck off to Columbus?"
"I went to see my dad, I wanted to see if he'd donate part of his liver to me," Barry said.
"And you wound up getting investigated for his murder," Joe said. "Because you spit on him? That is not like you, Barry."
"I know!" Barry exclaimed. "I just...it's his fault I have this stupid disease in the first place and I got my hopes up that he wouldn't help me, instead his seemed like he couldn't care less, and I'm just frustrated." He buried his face into his hands. "I don't want to die!"
"You're on the donor list, Barr," Joe said.
"And it's a mile long," Barry said, looking back up at Joe. "I just...I saw a chance. I had to take it."
"Yeah, well, from now on, I need you to be honest with me," Joe said. "Be honest with me, Barr. Did you do this?"
"How can you even ask that?" Barry exclaimed, feeling a pang of hurt. "No!"
Joe put his hands up in surrender. "I had to make sure," Joe said. "They have a few signs that could point towards you. You saw Kevin the morning he died, your spit is enough to prove that."
Barry swallowed nervously. He wasn't about to be falsely accused like his dad, was he?
"Did they tell you anything about the twin thing?" Barry asked, hoping to take his mind off the matter for a bit.
"Amy, your parents' surrogate, gave birth to twins," Joe said. "At the time she couldn't afford things like a sperm donor, and she wanted her own kid. So she bribed the doctor to hide Sebastian, and raised him herself."
"He got Sebastian and I got Bartholomew," Barry snorted. "So, my parents had no idea?"
"Not as far as I can tell," Joe said.
"It's really weird," Barry said, glancing at Sebastian again. Joe turned to looked at him as well. "It's like looking at myself, but it's not."
"He's got more fashion sense," Joe commented.
"Hey!" Barry protested, pouting slightly. Joe wasn't wrong, Sebastian was better dressed than he was, but it didn't need to be pointed out.
He wondered what Iris would think of this...
Barry dug for his phone, and after a few moments of trying to think of how to word a text, he decided to just send a photo. He attempted to do so discreetly, but Sebastian caught him. He smirked and flashed a peace sign, making Barry laugh a little.
Maybe if this all got cleared up, he could get to know his brother.
He sent the picture to Iris without context, then opened a game while he waited for a response.
Eventually, he looked up and could see Sebastian leaving with his mom. He frowned slightly, disappointed he hadn't gotten to really speak to his brother, or maybe get his contact info. But he could access the donor sibling registry later and find him. It wouldn't be hard.
The door opened and Natalia stood there. "Good news," she said. "You get to go home. Kevin's wife confessed to the murder. We have a van that will take you home."
She nodded for them to follow her.
She led them outside, then said, "Unfortunately, we only had one van, so you'll have to share. Sorry."
She opened the van door, and Sebastian sat inside with his mom. Barry smiled, and climbed in, sitting next to Sebastian. "Hey," he greeted.
"Hi," Sebastian replied, grinning back.
They only were able to talk for ten minutes before the van reached Sebastian's house, but Barry already knew they would get along great.
They exchanged phone numbers and said goodbye. Barry couldn't wait to tell Iris about it.