Reflection 33

"So, Natasha." Ethan tried to sound casual as he asked the question he'd come all this way to put to his sister's creepy new girlfriend. It wasn't hard; the wine had been flowing freely all evening. "How did you two meet?"

"See, that's an unfair question." Natasha giggled. "Not like I can ask you the same thing."

Natasha was sitting at the opposite end of the couch. She was smiling, probably; that weird, knowing smile that always raised Ethan's hackles. But he couldn't be sure. He couldn't stop staring at her arm, wrapped possessively around Emma, his twin sister.

"C'mon," he wheedled, spreading his arms. "Don't I get to know?"

"Be nice to him, Nat," Emma said sleepily. "He's just looking out for his kid sister."

The two of them were slumped together; Natasha, leaning over on the armrest, Emma, half in her lap. Ethan didn't like that. He didn't like how at-ease Natasha looked. From how she lounged around, you'd think this was her apartment, not Emma's. Except now it was both of theirs, apparently. She'd moved in after just two months. It wasn't right. Something was up.

"Kid sister?" Natasha raised an eyebrow and took another sip of wine. "I thought the two of you were twins."

"Twelve minutes." Emma giggled. "But he never lets anyone forget it."

Ethan shrugged good-naturedly. He was used to this teasing. "Twelve minutes is twelve minutes! Just let me have this, Em."

The two of them laughed together, and for a moment it was just like old times. The two of them growing up together, or at college, thick as thieves. The twins. No secrets. No weird girlfriends.

"Twins," Natasha repeated. The moment died. "You must get tired of hearing this, but it's really something. The two of you truly are just about identical."

Emma wagged a finger up at her. "Not identical! I've told you, dizygotic. If we were identical, we'd be same-sex."

"That's right. I remember." There was a strange mischief in Natasha's eyes. As if Ethan needed another reason to dislike her, besides the way she'd come into Emma's life like a battering ram. "But still. That resemblance. Wow. It's like... it's like you're a matching pair."

"Similar genes, I suppose." Ethan couldn't quite conceal his irritation. He sure did get tired of hearing it.

Not that she was wrong, admittedly. As kids, Ethan and Emma had been mistaken for each other all the time. That was in the past now, but it had persisted long into their teenage years thanks to Ethan's slight build and preference for keeping his hair long.

"Hey, I'm curious," Natasha said, a wicked grin slapped across her face. "You two ever fuck with the same girl? Maybe even... at the same time?"

"What the fuck..." Ethan breathed, as Emma completely dissolved into helpless laughter.

"Ew!" she protested, after catching her breath. "A three-way? With him? Are you kidding me? How would that even work?"

Natasha shrugged. "I dunno. But he likes girls, you like girls..."

"Yeah, since, like, two months ago." Emma stuck her tongue out.

Ethan was aghast. Natasha's comment was extremely weird, of course, but somehow Emma's reaction was even weirder. A few months ago, she never would have laughed off a question like that. She would have been angry. Repulsed. That was the twin sister Ethan knew. She was proud, and she had always been so dignified.

And she wasn't a lesbian.

Was that fucked up of him to think? Maybe. Ethan certainly wasn't in the business of calling people's sexualities into question... mostly. But this was Em. He knew her better than he knew herself. They'd never kept anything from each other. If she'd displayed even the slightest inkling of being interested in girls, he'd have known about it. But no; by contrast, she'd always been a little boy crazy. She'd even had a fiancé - right up until she'd ditched him for this sleazeball.

Ethan didn't like her. It wasn't that she was trans, and it wasn't that she was gay. It was something more. It was the way she seemed to have Emma wrapped around her little finger. Something was up, and that shit-eating grin Natasha always wore was all but daring Ethan to figure it out. It was why he'd visited, not that he'd ever have told Emma that. If she was manipulating Emma - or worse - he needed to get to the bottom of it. He wouldn't have put it past her, especially after comments like the one she'd just made.

And what kind of job was being a hypnotist, anyway?

"That's really gross..." Ethan said quietly. He was hoping for some backup from Emma. He didn't get much.

"I told you, play nice." Emma gave Natasha a little tap on the arm. "You were about to tell him how we met?"

"Right." Ethan couldn't shake the feeling Natasha was smirking at him as she spoke. "Well, that's not much of a story. Emma came to one of my shows, we got talking, and the rest is history."

Emma pressed a little closer to Natasha and favored her with a winning smile. She seemed sickeningly infatuated.

"I see." Ethan nodded. He needed to keep his cool. See if he could trick any answers out of Natasha. "That sounds nice. And is this before or after you figured out that you, uh..."

He threw Emma a significant look.

"Are a lesbian?" She snickered. "Yeah, pretty much around that time."

"A little before," Natasha corrected. Her smirk was widening. "You might say I talked her through it, actually. Maybe made her realize a few things."

"Yeah." Emma's eyes became a touch unfocused. Clearly, she'd had a glass too many. "You were a big help."

"Oh yeah?" Ethan tried his best to feign simple curiosity. "How's that?"

Natasha just shrugged. "I've had shit to come to terms with too. Gender, sexuality... it's not so different." She looked down at Emma and licked her lips. "And then we hooked up. I guess I'm just a smooth talker."

The way she said it was just so twisted. And that look in her eyes. Once, in college, as he'd been walking back to his dorm room, all the other guys had been looking and talking to Ethan just like that. And when he'd opened the door, a bucket of cold water had fallen on his head.

But again, it was how Emma reacted that really caught Ethan's eye. She was squirming slightly in Natasha's lap, subtly rubbing her thighs together and pressing closer to her girlfriend. It was lurid. Ethan felt embarrassed to be watching. He cleared his throat conspicuously.

"That's amazing," he said, hoping he could keep the bitter insincerity out of his voice. "But, Em, I'm curious, what got you going to a hypnosis show? That doesn't seem like your scene."

She stopped writhing, mercifully, and shrugged at him. "I guess I was just curious."

"Lots of people are." Natasha snapped at the heels of that comment. "How about you, Ethan? You seem a little scornful."

That was putting it mildly. "Call it skeptical," Ethan replied mildly. He didn't want to put her on edge, but if he could get her talking... "Don't get me wrong, I'm sure you're a great performer! But it's not. You know. Real."

"It's real," Emma retorted quickly. "It works on me."

"It certainly does," Natasha laughed.

Emma squirmed again. Ethan had to fight not to blow his top.

"Maybe it works great on some people," Ethan amended. "A few people. But not... I mean, c'mon! How does that even work? You swing a little pocket watch in front of someone, and they start dancing around like a chicken? Please!"

"Oh, she doesn't need a pocket watch," Emma giggled.

Natasha, meanwhile, was just looking at Ethan. She didn't look offended, not in the slightest. But there was still something fiery about her gaze. It was like she was being challenged. No, like she was challenging him.

And from her grin, she was very, very pleased about it.

"So," she said slowly, "I'm guessing you don't think you're one of those 'few people' it works on?"

Ethan shrugged. "Nah. No way."

"But your sister is?"

Another shrug. "I guess."

"Now that's interesting." Natasha sat forward a little; Emma shifted to accommodate. "You know, you're right that not everyone is equally susceptible. But your sister? I can assure you, she's very, very susceptible. She really goes down easy."

Ethan felt a vein throb in his forehead at the innuendo. But that aside, she was obviously hinting at something. Some kind of influence she had on Emma. Was she really so cocky she was just going to tell him?

"But you two are twins," Natasha continued. "If you're really so different, doesn't that make you wonder? Maybe it's that old debate again. Nature versus nurture."

"That doesn't make sense," Emma interjected, sleepily and happily. "I told you. We're not genetically identical."

"Right. I forgot." It was as plain as day that she hadn't. "Still though. Makes me wonder... hey, babe? Sit up for a moment."

Emma grumbled a little, but quickly propped herself into an upright position and turned to face Ethan, with Natasha sitting behind her. Natasha's eyes moved slowly back and forth between the twins.

"Wow," Natasha remarked. "I know, I know, you're not identical, but... wow. You two. It must be like looking in a mirror."

"Not really," Ethan said wearily. Why was she so preoccupied with this? He was trying to get her talking about hypnosis. "Look, same birthday aside, we're really just brother and sister. It's not that special."

"Oh, I disagree," Natasha replied. "To me, it's remarkable. Twins or no, the similarity is striking. Maybe you're just too used to it? That happens, sometimes. You see something every day, for months or years, and it becomes mundane. You know what I'm talking about?"

"Sure, I guess," Ethan answered impatiently. Natasha had started speaking in this odd, slow way, drawing out the parts of each word into a song-like rhythm. It was kind of annoying. He really wanted her to get to the point.

"You need to get some perspective," Natasha told him. "Look at this with fresh eyes. At yourself, and your sister. Look. Really look. She looks just like you."

Ethan found himself obliging, staring straight at Emma. He wasn't really sure why. It was hard not to, he supposed, after listening to Natasha. Plus, he was a little drunk himself, and it wasn't like there was anything else in particular for him to rest his eyes on. But also, admittedly, Ethan was wondering: did she have a point? Were they really so identical?

He wasn't sure, but he didn't think so. There were similarities, sure - eye color, long hair - but plenty more differences. Emma had long, feminine lashes and rounded cheeks, and was wearing makeup. Her hair was loose in a pretty, wavy bob, not tied back in a low, no-effort ponytail. There was a family resemblance, sure, but nobody was going to get the two of them mixed up.

"I... don't think so."

Ethan paused and frowned. He was speaking slowly too, and almost slurring his words. Maybe he was more drunk than he'd thought. That was no good. He needed to stay alert if he was going to save Emma from Natasha. Ethan took a deep breath and did his best to focus on Emma.

"Look deeper," Natasha urged, in that strange, soothing way of hers. "Past the superficial. You have the same eyes, you know. The same bone structure too. Same cheekbones. And your mouths - yes, those are definitely the same."

"I dunno," Ethan demurred. His bone structure? He couldn't really picture it, although as he looked at Emma, it was easy to imagine that it was similar to hers. That seemed about right. "But... does it matter? I was asking Em about why she-"

"We're getting to that," Natasha interrupted smoothly. "Promise. Just listen, OK? I'll explain everything."

Ethan was mollified by that. An explanation was exactly what he wanted. He didn't trust Natasha to tell him the truth, of course. Not really. He'd just have to pay close attention until he could figure out what kind of game she was playing.

"Like looking in a mirror," Natasha mused. "Your expressions, too. So similar. I bet that'll make it even clearer. Emma, smile for me." She did so, the corners of her mouth pulling up into a blissed-out smile that matched the dazed, drunken, contented look in her eyes. "You too, Ethan. Let's compare."

After a brief moment of hesitance, Ethan smiled. It would have been harder not to, really. When he looked at his sister smiling, it made him want to smile too. Smiles were infectious, some people said. That must have been it. And besides, he reasoned afterward, he wanted to keep Natasha talking. It was best that he go along with this nonsense for now.

"See?" Natasha sounded vindicated. "Exactly the same. The same smile. Don't you think so, Ethan?"

Ethan looked closely at Emma's mouth, at her lips, at their shape. Was it the same? Did his smile feel like that? Look like that? "I'm... not..."

"Look closer. Really look."

He did. "M... maybe?"

"Yes," Natasha told him. It was hard to disagree when she sounded so sure. "It's the same."

Ethan still wasn't sure. "I... I'd need to check. In a mirror, or something."

Natasha laughed at that. "No mirror in here. But I bet you can just imagine a mirror. When was the last time you looked in a mirror? This morning, when you shaved? Think back, Ethan. Did you smile, for a moment? I bet you did. Look at Emma, and remember that moment. Imagine that moment."

Ethan's brow furrowed. He wasn't really interested in indulging this absurd train of thought, but it was proving hard not to. It was a bit like trying not to think about a pink elephant. If you tried not to, that meant you already were. As he stared straight ahead at Emma, it was remarkably easy to imagine that he was looking into a mirror. That her face was a mirror image of his own. And when he thought about it like that, her smile did indeed seem like a perfect fit for his face.

"I guess..." Ethan admitted slowly. "Yeah. Sure."

"Yes!" Natasha laughed. "I'm so glad you see. Emma, you can stop smiling now."

Emma's smile faded as her face relaxed back into a look of blank, dull, vaguely happy sleepiness. How many glasses of wine had she had? She looked seriously out of it. Ethan was a little worried for her. As he looked, his own face relaxed too. His smile faded, and his eyelids suddenly turned remarkably heavy. He supposed he hadn't had any less to drink than Emma had.

"I think I've just about made my point," Natasha said. Her smile was still so very wide. "You too look almost exactly the same. Identical twins."

"Yeah," Ethan agreed reflexively, before he caught the mistake. "Wait, no, that-"

"Oh, that's right! Thank you for reminding me." Natasha interrupted. Ethan was glad she understood. "We weren't just talking about that, were we? We were talking about hypnosis."

Ethan was about to open his mouth, to correct her about them being identical twins, but he didn't. It just seemed easier to let her talk.

"But, you see," Natasha continued, "I bet if you're identical physically, you're identical in other ways too. It stands to reason. After all, how you respond to hypnosis is as much a part of your body as it is your mind. Let me show you. Emma?"

Emma looked just a touch more alert as Natasha called her name, but that didn't last long. Natasha reached up with one hand and caressed the side of her face, the tips of her nails just barely kissing Emma's skin. It was so close, Ethan couldn't quite tell if she was touching her or not.

But she must have been, because Emma's reaction was remarkable. Her eyelids suddenly flickered up and down, and her eyes seemed to roll up into her head. Her shoulders slumped, and she looked like she might have fallen forward without Natasha's supporting arm around her shoulder. It was like her soul had departed her body, leaving nothing behind but a blank, empty void.

This was hypnosis. That was obvious, even to Ethan.

"What the..." Ethan breathed.

Was this how Natasha was controlling Emma? He wouldn't have believed it until this very moment.

But the moment didn't last. Once Natasha drew back her hand, light slowly returned to Emma's eyes - although not all of it. She looked completely dazed at first, but eventually she grinned, and blushed, and squirmed a little more. Ethan blushed too.

"It's a particular weakness of hers," Natasha explained. "Touch. A gentle touch, right there on her face. You have no idea how easy it is to put her in a trance that way. Don't you think it would work just as well on you?"

"N-no." Ethan tried to shake his head a little, but found that he couldn't. "There's... no way I'd-"

"You know, it's real tempting to find out." Natasha tilted her head.

Ethan's breath caught. "You can't do th-"

"Don't worry." Natasha kept interrupting him like that. It was annoying, but Ethan couldn't muster the energy to protest. "I'm not going to hypnotize you. We're just talking, OK?"

"OK." Ethan relaxed, reassured.

"But just look closely," Natasha urged, raising her hand to Emma again. "Look, and imagine. Imagine what it might feel like if someone were to touch you like this."

She began caressing Emma again in just the same way, stroking her fingertips across her cheek. Emma, once again, was rapturous. Seeing her react like that made Ethan shiver.

"It's the lightness of the touch that matters, you know," Natasha went on. "That's the trick. When you just barely touch someone like this, it's confusing. The nerves under their skin aren't quite sure if they're feeling something or not. It captures all of your attention. Makes you shiver. You've been touched like that before, right?"

Ethan just barely managed to nod. He felt like he knew what she was talking about.

"Good." Natasha moved her hand back up, ready to repeat the motion. "Then you know what I mean. You can remember it. Imagine it. Can't you?"

This time, when her fingertips kissed Emma's skin, Ethan gasped. He could feel it. He could actually feel it. It was faint, more like a phantom sensation than a real touch... but that was just what Natasha had been talking about, wasn't it? Focusing on it didn't banish the illusion; just the opposite, in fact. Ethan found his whole world consumed by that gentle, phantom touch. It left him shivering, free of thought, struggling to figure out what was real and what wasn't.

"There we go," Natasha noted approvingly. "You're imagining it. I can tell. So now, I'm sure, you can imagine just how relaxing this must be for Emma. The way it makes her mind so very still and quiet. You know the feeling."

It was true. Ethan did. He could picture it vividly. As he was thinking, he noted that even though Natasha was touching the left side of his sister's face, he could feel it on his right. A mirror image.

"See?" Natasha said. "It's potent, isn't it? Maybe if someone did this to you, you'd be hypnotized too."

Ethan's brow furrowed - but then unfurrowed. It didn't feel right. Emma's brow wasn't furrowed.

"Like looking in a mirror, Ethan," Natasha reminded him. "Identical. Remember that. You're the same. Look at how deep she is. Look at her eyes. Look at how she feels. You'd be the same way, if you could feel this."

Once more, she stroked the side of Emma's face. Ethan shivered at her touch.

"See the light fading from her eyes, Ethan." Natasha's voice was like a song. It was as gentle as her caress. But there was a power to it; an undertow, irresistible. "Can you see that? Can you see that in your eyes, reflected in Emma's? That reflection, fading, just like she is? Weakening? Sinking?"

Ethan could. He really could. It was just like looking in a mirror. They'd always had the same eyes. Everyone said so.

"Then that settles it," Natasha concluded. "You're just as weak to hypnosis as she is."

It was hard to disagree. It was hard, because Ethan just couldn't seem to think. He struggled, briefly, to muster some resistance, to find the words for a rejoinder, but it all melted away when Natasha touched the side of Emma's face - of his face - again.