Sebastian's new client

 (Crossover with/takes place directly after The Lincoln Lawyer: Louis Roulet finds a new defense attorney in Sebastian.)

Trent popped by Sebastian's office with flowers to congratulate him on being cleared to practice law once again, but when he was shown in, he nearly dropped the bouquet. Sebastian was deep in conversation with a man who... was probably the same age as them, but looked about twice as old as fair, delicate Sebastian did. Otherwise-- despite the other man's more masculine, filled-out features-- they looked almost exactly alike.

"I'm sorry," Trent said softly. "I didn't realize you were with a client."

"Who's this?" the stranger asked. Even his voice sounded like Sebastian's, but deeper, and again more masculine.

"I'm Trent. I'm a tech consultant," Trent replied. "I'll come back later." He grimaced slightly as he left, taking the flowers with him.

"It was so weird," he told Rebecca, Nate, and George over lunch. "As far as I know, Bashie doesn't have any older brothers or male cousins, but this guy looked like he could have been. Sounded like him, too."

"You're sure they're not related?" Nate asked, sipping his smoothie.

"Maybe?" Trent picked at his ravioli. "I didn't stick around to find out, but I'm pretty sure he's just a client, and them looking alike was a coincidence."

"Leprechauns and coincidences," muttered George.

"Call him and ask him yourself, if you're so skeptical," Trent said coolly.

"Ask who what?" Sebastian came up behind Trent and pecked his cheek.

"Speak of the devil's wife," said Nate.

"So that is your boyfriend," said another man, who did indeed sound like Sebastian, but deeper. "I had a feeling." The two newcomers pulled up chairs. 

"Guys, this is Louis. I'm representing him," Sebastian said. "Louis, these are my friends. Sort of."

"I'm his friend," Trent said.

"The jury's out on the rest of us," said Rebecca, playing with the flowers, which Trent had given her. "Get it? Jury?"

"So you two are... just friends?" Louis asked, pointing between Sebastian and Trent.

"Are you just his client?" Trent replied.

"Yeah, there's no way you two aren't somehow related," Nate added.

Louis quirked an eyebrow. "As far as I'm aware, we're not," he said.

"So what are you on the hook for?" Rebecca asked casually. "Embezzlement? Fraud?"

"Oh, this one's not corporate," Sebastian said.

Louis frowned. "Are these all members of your firm? I thought this one"-- he pointed to Trent-- "was a tech consultant."

"Consultant?" Rebecca echoed, furrowing her brow. "That's--" She caught the warning look Trent was giving her. "Right," she finished, nodding. "And Nathaniel and I are lawyers. Trent is our firm's software technician."

"You all seem awfully close."

"We are," said Trent, grinning and wrapping an arm around Nate. George rolled his eyes.

"What about him?" Louis indicated George. "What's he do?"

"Oh, he's Nathaniel's... personal assistant," Trent said with a wink. Louis made a face.

"Wow," said Rebecca. "Bash, he really does look just like you, but... older. I don't know. Is he in his 30s or 40s?"

"I'm 32," said Louis.

Rebecca tilted her head. "When's your birthday?"

"Early September, 1988."

Rebecca looked reflexively at Sebastian. "That's when you were born," she said, almost accusingly. "You guys could be twins!"

"Nope," said Sebastian. "I'm an only child."

"Where were you born?" Rebecca asked Louis.

"Palo Alto."

Trent blinked. "Bashie--"

"Okay, seriously, Trent? He grew up in Beverly Hills, I grew up in fucking Iowa. You know my parents; if my mom had had the option of living in Beverly Hills, don't you think she would have taken it?"

"What's wrong with Iowa?" Trent muttered, folding his arms.

Sebastian rolled his eyes; Louis scoffed.

"Don't be like that," Sebastian said coaxingly. "I'm just saying, that's how my mom would feel."

Nate regarded Louis with interest. "Did you go to UCLA, by any chance?" he asked. "That was one of my safety schools. I think I remember meeting you when touring."

Louis took a closer look at Nate. "Nathaniel Plimpton?" he asked incredulously. "From Plimpton, Plimpton, and Plimpton?"

"I knew it! Louis Roulet!" Nate laughed and clasped hands with the newcomer, pulling him in for a one-armed hug and clapping him on the back. He was grinning when they pulled apart.

"I thought your family was in real estate law, man," said Louis, sounding remarkably friendlier now.

"We are," Nate confirmed. "Rebecca and I are real estate lawyers, Trent is our tech guy, and Sebastian is Trent's lawyer."

"Corporate," Trent clarified. "Bashie represents my computer programming firm."

Louis nodded. "Then, if it's all the same, I'd rather not discuss my case with you guys. I'd prefer that information remain privileged."

Bash gave an ironic sort of half-salute. "You got it, champ," he said.