Mind Over Matter

“Jules, you’re our son. There’s nothing you can’t do if you put your mind to it.”

He remembers her voice, smooth and proud without a hint of hesitation and doubt in it. Her eyes, pink and clear, stare at his own blue-ish purple (he doesn’t know what color it was making at that moment) as she softly fixes his scarf (a worn down thing passed on by his dad)

“She’s right you know.” the familiar presence of his father appeared from behind him and Jules just knew he’d ruffle his hair when he just fixed it. “If you get knocked down, you just gotta get back up again.”

“Easy for you to say…”

“Come on, Jules. You’re better than that.” He doesn’t answer, not really knowing how to respond to such faith placed on his shoulders. He feels his mother’s lithe body press against his for a hug and his father’s weighted hand on his shoulder.

He feels like crying but he doesn’t know why.

The rest of the day was a blur as he remembers the rest of his family coming over, Priss and Alek waving and there was a game? He can’t quite recall. Flora was there too, something about poetry reading with uncle V--

“--ke up--”

His head feels like its breaking into two, memories jumbled up and suddenly he’s in front of Fortuna City all alone and bloodied and bruised. Emperor’s Oath clings into him as he slices and guns down waves upon waves of demons. He feels his skin break and his bones creak, his sweat pour down and his blood boil.

“--li--up--”

He’s in Red Grave City now, taking a stroll with his parents, aunt Tasha and uncle V and Flora. They were supposed to be visiting Alek for his birthday but he’s grounded for messing with weapons again and nearly sliced his arm off. He remembers thinking how he’ll show off his own scar from trying to handle Red Queen and maybe invite Priss over just to complete the group. Flora looks suspiciously at him and he forgot that he hasn’t told them about him using Red Queen.

“Listen Flora, don’t tell dad okay--”

“Wake--”

“What did you do this time?”

“Juli--”

“I uhh, used Red Queen--”

“Are you hurt?”

“No--”

“--Up!”

Something stirs in him as the scene warps and distorts itself. He’s back in Fortuna but everything is in chaos.

From the distance he hears fighting and screaming and he knows that voice, he knows what’s going on, he knows--

“Juli! Wake up!”

“Get out of here, now! Go to Red Grave! Dante and Reese will take care of you! We love you-”

“Mom!”

Pink hues opened as he stares at worried greens. On his left was the prototype Ragdoll, still smoking from use. Julius took a deep breath as he wipes the cold sweat that formed on his forehead with his free hand.

“Are you okay?” Flora’s worried voice shook him awake, not letting him stew in his thoughts. Not trusting himself to talk, Jules simply nodded at them.

Soft voices, his mom and dad’s encouraging smiles…

“We got work to do.”

“There’s nothing you can’t do if you put your mind to it.”