He'd hated the thought of people seeing that side of him, that weak scared little boy, so desperately lost and wishing only to escape his father. He'd had to make himself strong. He'd had to fight for everything he'd had, everything he had built. And people had seen the scared boy. Oh he remembered it, remembered being him. And remembered of course what the reactions had been. Elijah's guilt, Rebekah reminicing and Kol, well, Kol had probably missed that boy most of all. And refused above all of them to believe that boy had died long ago.
He'd gone looking for his brother, knowing he should probably talk to him, talk it through, much as talks with Kol always got complicated. His brother resented what he'd become, chided under his control and it had gotten him locked in a box more than once.
He found Kol quickly enough, on the steps outside the front door. Staring into nothingness, lost to his thoughts.
"Go on then, ask. Is that boy gone forever. Do I still mean what he said, do I still remember how idealistic and hopeful he was? Its been burning at you for a while hasn't it."