Scar, in his relieved exhaustion following the battle, had not bothered to sort though his things. He did as usual in Goldenrod, wandering the city during the day, sometimes alone, sometimes with his Pokémon.

So it wasn't until several days later that he discovered a slip of photo paper in his bag.

Scar had not seen his brother's face in more than ten years. It had faded from memory. Warped, lost detail, become faint. It only came flooding back when Scar stared at the color photo of the other man, smiling like he had been alive yesterday.

It had been several months since Scar had fled without a trace, but he was breaking that streak tonight. His 'gear was turned off. His Pokémon were left at the house. He couldn't deal with it, especially not with other people around. Scar curled up deep in a familiar alleyway, nothing on his person but the photo clutched tightly in his hands. The guilt was physically sickening, especially after what had happened between him andown Lust the other night. His eyes burned, his stomach kept flipping over. It was a jarring and sudden reminder that the past was not truly gone. That he still held onto its burdens and responsibilities.

He owed him a thousand apologies. And he could never make up for the life he was living, now.