@aspearbarry​
What could it have been like to see him like this?
What were the snapshots in his head? At the hospital when he was born? His first steps? Words? First day at school? All the times they ran around Twinleaf?
The day he left for the first time? The day he came back to see his son’s to the moon smile?
The day he got a call when he was going out on his Pokemon journey?
The day that his friends disappeared into the distortion world?
There was a lot of time between them all, and especially between the first and now. Twenty years old. Still a toothy smile, but hadn’t he gotten tall? Gotten strong?
Barry wasn’t thinking about any of that, though. He was too focused at the excited drumming in his chest. The adrenaline of a good battle.
Seeing the dumb smile on his dad’s face.
“HA! Surprised to see me, huh!? I figured I could try battling my way up to give you your father’s day present instead of taking the back way, and check it out! I made it!”
Barry set a box tucked under his arm aside, pulling out a Pokeball from his bag.
“I guess your first present is me finally handing you your butt in a Pokemon battle! Come on, dad! And don’t you dare go easy on me!”
 He blinks a bit in surprise before a wide grin pulls up his lips, a toothy grin to match his son’s. His flesh and blood. His pride and joy. He still remembers the day he was born, swaddled in his blanket, fast asleep.
 Poor Mary never had another day of peace afterwards, did she?
 “So, you think you finally got what it takes to beat me, hunh?” Honestly, Palmer was sure he did too. Barry wasn’t one to lollygag. He was a hard worker, though he was sure not everyone could see it. Palmer had been the same at that age. Hell, even at the age he was now, though he wasn’t quite as energetic as he used to be. His age was starting to catch up with him, as much as he didn’t want to admit it. Here his son was in front of him, twenty and growing up big and strong.
 As much as he didn’t want to think about it, he supposes it isn’t long until he isn’t in Barry’s life at all anymore. He wonders if Barry will take up his mantle, but he shakes the thought off. Barry still had his whole life in front of him-- to do and be whatever he wanted.
 Palmer takes out his own Pokeball, rolling it around in his hand. “Well--- let’s see what you’ve got, Sport!”
