No one saw it coming (HalBarry)

4

Sebastian Smythe woke again to an unfamiliar ceiling and wall. He blinked in a haze, everything around him exceedingly blurry, then came to the realisation that he must have forgotten his contact lenses. He reached for the pocket of his jeans and pulled out the thick black framed glasses he hadn't used in a long while.

He blinked around.

Conclusion number one: this wasn't a warehouse.

Conclusion number two: this was someone's home. Someone leading a very happening life, judging by the sparse furniture. Maybe this person travelled a lot.

Conclusion number three: His clothes had been changed.

In a fit of alarm, Sebastian peeked under his pyjama pants. Nope, those were the same boxers he remembered wearing that morning- or wait, yesterday morning? The day before? When was he? Where was he?

"You're awake."

Sebastian jumped.

Hal freaking Jordan was leaning against the doorway, arms crossed. Sebastian felt fury surge through him, and he threw the comforter off himself, marched to the muscular man, and jabbed a finger under his jaw.

"What did you do to me?" he growled. "What did you do to Barry?!"

Hal raised an unimpressed eyebrow, but his eyes were rimmed red. That bit threw Sebastian off, but he remained unmoving. So did Hal.

"There's something you need to know, Seb."

"It's Mr Smythe to you."

"I don't care."

"Asshole."

"Jerk."

"Asswipe."

"Critic."

"Asshat."

"Do you get only ass-related insults?"

Sebastian pouted.

"Anyway," Hal sighed. "You might need to brace yourself."

Saying so, he opened the door to the drawing room of his house.

Sebastian's jaw dropped.

Standing in the very common, very ordinary, very normal room were the world's only people who were the furthest from common, ordinary or normal.

Wonder Woman noticed him first. Her thick Themysciran accent rolled off her in waves along with the powerful aura she radiated. "You're awake," she said softly.

At this, Superman also turned around with a raised eyebrow. He extended his hand. "Clark Kent," he introduced himself. His cousin (yes it's Melissa Benoist) was also with him, and she had this certain glint in her eye which made Sebastian want to take a couple of steps back. She didn't wait for him to hold out a hand but went ahead and hugged him. "It'll be alright," she said brightly. "I'm Kara Danvers by the way."

Alright? What was she talking about?

Lastly, Oliver Queen entered from the kitchen, holding a tray full of glasses with whiskey. Glancing at Sebastian, he grunted and set the tray down. Maybe it was a form of acknowledgement. Sebastian had learnt not to question the man.

Wonder Woman looked at Superman suspiciously. "Are you sure you can trust him with your identities?" she questioned. Superman nodded and she turned to the still-baffled man. "I'm Diana of Themyscira, then." She smiled warmly, that demigodly aura radiating again. "Daughter of Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons."

"Uh... Sebastian Allen Smythe," he managed to squeak out. He whirled around towards Hal. "How do you know them?" he hissed.

Hal sighed again. "I'm the Green Lantern." He put on his ring, and suddenly, his complete green suit materialised on his body. Sebastian had to take another couple of steps back. He still couldn't get over his horror as Hal slid the ring off his finger.

"I- I accused you of being an illegal druggist," Sebastian croaked weakly. Shit, his own voice sounded hollow to his ears. He didn't want to look weak in front of some of the founding members of the Justice League.

Speaking of which...

"Where's the Flash?" he asked eagerly, his eyes glimmering.

In contrast, a dark shadow of gloom fell over the room. Diana mumbled, "Abducted by the Yellow Lanterns."

Clark placed a heavy hand on his shoulder. "He's your twin, Sebastian," he said.

For a moment there, the man didn't understand.

"Huh?" he voiced.

What?

Barry Allen: uber nerd, slowest runner in the universe, baby of the CCPD and the furthest person from trouble- The Flash? And he was... supposed to be in intergalactic trouble.

"Pfft, good one," he laughed, doubling over. "I don't know how you know Barry, but if he has set you guys up to this, you did a marvellous job, sir." Walking in the direction of the front door, he peeked out. "Barr! You're caught now! Stop hiding!"

No one came. No one in the room had the heart to tell him what had happened.

"Barr!" he searched. He rummaged through his pockets for his phone, and called on his speed dial. It went straight to voicemail.

"Barr..." he muttered, gnashing his teeth.

He hit the phone.

Hal gently prised it away from his fingers, and thrust a photograph in them instead. Sebastian's fingers trembled as he examined it. It captured the moment after the Hall of Justice had been inaugurated publicly. Each superhero was holding a champagne flute, each with their mask or cowl off and grinning at the camera. Sebastian's fingers hunted for the Flash, willing their words to not be true.

He found Barry. The Flash. His brother. Beaming in the same way. One arm curled around Hal Jordan's waist and the other looped over Kara Danvers' shoulder, balancing the drink.

He hadn't looked this happy in years.

"B-but.. this..." he stammered. He sharply turned to Hal. "You were supposed to have met a week ago."

Hal rubbed his neck guiltily. "More like seven months, give or take. We're best friends."

Sebastian still couldn't feel reality around him. He was drowning in numbness. His twin was a superhero. Putting his life on the line everyday while silently bearing the brunt of the CCPD detectives and his own brother's scolding.

Kara brought him back to earth. "You had been kidnapped by Sinestro. Barry agreed to join his Corps in return for your freedom. But we'll get him back."

Sebastian turned to her, his mouth slowly opening and closing to say something. He couldn't form any words. "Barr," he whimpered.

But before anyone could say anything, Superman yelled, "Grenade!" and flew straight in Sebastian's direction, scooping him up in the nick of time. A side of the house exploded inwards with a small projectile- a grenade- burst through it, ripping the concrete apart to shreds.

Sebastian felt relatively safe in Superman's embrace, but the dust and soot were everywhere, constricting his breathing. He lifted his head at an awkward angle to see everyone suited up and ready to fight. An army of yellow Lanterns was covering the vast expanse of the sky, led by a particularly nasty red faced one.

Sebastian's memories came flooding back to him till the point he was knocked out. The thrill of the power he had felt, raring to feast over others' fears.

And now... there was a whole Corps of such nasty individuals versus five of the earth's mightiest defenders.

Oh boy.

This wasn't going to end well.