A Brave Soul's Resolution
"Saw you rise up, saw you fall down..."
Disclaimer: Bandai Namco owns God Eater Burst and God Eater 2. If I owned it the GE world as a whole would probably not be as screwed over.
Author's Foreword: This drabble has spoilers for after the last mission you get to have Julius around as a party member, story-wise.
"Whether I stay in Blood or not makes no difference. You're there - you've become such a capable leader in the time that I've been gone that it's astonishing. And with your power of Blood, the power to 'Evoke', many will be able to step up to the task of defeating the Aragami."
The redheaded vice-captain can already sense where this is going. He'd known Julius well enough, in spite of his aloofness, to follow just what he was thinking of.
"So...you're retiring, right?" He doesn't even hesitate to point it out.
The brunette nods. "Yes. I'm volunteering myself into the God Arc Soldier project. Professor Rachel could surely use another to aid in its progress."
"...And you couldn't have talked to me about this before then?" Julius, for a moment, felt like a knife was stabbed into his heart. Souichi had a way of surprising him, for all his energy and free-spirited behavior on the field.
"My apologies. I'd kept this to myself until just now."
"It's fine. I can get that you have your reasons..." A frown lingers at the edge of his lips, and for a while, Julius frowned with him - having been figured out so easily. Romeo's death had affected them all in some way or another. Kouta might have been smiling at that funeral out of pride that the young blonde had protected those elders, but it wasn't long before he was looking down as well. Gilbert might not have gotten along well with him, but there was a tinge of regret that he'd hidden under that blue cap of his. And Nana...they didn't even have to start on that.
But Souichi knew, most of all, from recalling his brief history on Blood's membership, that Julius had been the one affected most by Romeo's fall to the Marduk. Until they came along...that blonde mood maker was the only company he had.
"...Then you must know exactly why."
"Yes. But whether or not it goes through...I won't take up the weapon of a faceless drone."
The expression on Julius' face contorted into confusion as he listened to his vice-captain.
"...If this succeeds, then there will truly be no more need for God Machine Users; the world will be much safer this way. So why? Why do you choose to risk yourself, even when you won't need that God Arc any longer?"
The other boy...his azure eyes didn't relent for a second. What the brunette saw as they made eye contact was a burning will, not unlike the Power of Blood he wielded.
"Because I won't allow a world like this to continue to live in fear. The world doesn't need a machine to be its guardian - it needs people willing to lay their lives on the line, even if it could be their last moment.
It needs people like us, Julius."
A somber, but nonetheless honest laugh resounds through the air around the forgotten carrier, and he manages a small, wry smile.
"Souichi...sometimes I wonder. What would it take to have a heart as strong as yours?"
"A lot more than you think, Julius. Much, much more." Souichi returns the wry smile with one of his own. "But...I guess that isn't going to be enough to convince you to stay, huh."
The retiring captain shakes his head.
"I'm afraid not. I've made my decision already...I must help Professor Rachel - and pave the way towards the end of our suffering behind those armored walls. So please - as my vice-captain, no, as my comrade...take care of our team, for my sake."
All he got was another nod from his vice-captain, and a confident smile.
"...They're in safe hands."