Chapter Text
Did you know that a Grimm's mouth was cold? Probably not. Who would feel the inside of a Grimm's mouth of all things? But it's the truth. It's cold, and empty. Grimm don't eat, so there's nothing inside them to actually process food through their systems. There's rows of teeth to rip people apart, but nothing to digest. No stomach, no throat, they're practically hollow on the inside.
Did you know explosions felt cold, too? Again, probably not, but it's the truth. They're cold because your body can't react to heat that quickly. You burn, and then you numb, and then you freeze because your body is trying to take in all this new pain. But you can't, so you freeze. Is there a thing like 4th degree burns? Because this feels like it.
Roman knew pain, but he didn't know pain like this until it hit him all at once.
He probably should've known the end was coming. A life of constant running and fighting to survive, to do all he can to make sure he lived through the unfair world that abandoned him out of bitter, tasteless spite, it had to end one day. Roman knew that well. But so abruptly...he didn't even get to finish his speech! Honestly, the Gods could've given him a few more seconds to get out that final word. Though...perhaps it was for the irony of it all. A man ranting about survival ends up dying before he can even finish the word he clung to so hard to. It's like some sort of practical joke.
It's a shame, really, that his last sight of Neo was her frightful face as she hastily flung off the ship thanks to Little Red and her impulsiveness and not that smile she gave him before it all went to hell. That confidence that told Roman all he needed without a voice to speak it.
"Come back to me."
She wanted him alive, and Roman wanted her alive as well. Neo was all he cared for. The one thing he clung to out of everything he had. Out of all the money, all the Dust, all the power he had, Neo was the one real thing he cared for. The one thing he knew wouldn't one day just up and vanish, like money, or Dust, or power could. Neo was real, and breathing, and Roman survived for her. All of it was for her. For her safety, for her happiness, for her love.
She'd probably be angry at him, really, for breaking that unspoken promise. The promise to come back to her, bowler hat and fancy coat and all. He could picture her scowl, which would morph into a pout when Roman would simply kiss her forehead and tell her he'll make it up to her. Whatever she wants, she'll get, just say the word. Or, sign the word. She would ask him for chocolate dipped strawberries and ice cream and a night in with the kingpin, and Roman would indulge her all she wanted. With anything she wanted. Anything for Neo.
But she'd have to answer for herself, too. Because Neo flew off that ship. And while Hush is packed with Gravity Dust to keep her floating, delicately sewn through the lace by the kingpin himself as a gift for his lady, she can't fly forever. Roman knows this. She wouldn't make it close enough to the ground to survive this. And while he explodes, at least she made it to the floor. That's really all he could ask for.
Fucking Cinder...she ruined everything for them! If her deal hadn't bargained with Neo's life, with his own, Roman wouldn't have viewed it as the safest option to take! If she didn't convince him it was her way or the highway, he would've spat in her face, called her a hussy and sent her and her stupid kids on their way back to whoever their boss was. Because Brothers know she sure as hell didn't tell him!
"You'll know what you need when you need to know."
What a load of horseshit. Roman wasn't stupid, after all, he knew the truth. He knew Cinder would take this plan of hers to whatever grave she would be blessed with after she died. Maybe one under a tree, or one drifting endlessly through nothingness, or even one that'd just leave her a rotting corpse along with the rest of 'em in Vale after the countless lives she took during this take-down of Beacon Academy. He should've known they were just more pawns to sacrifice in the end, whether unintentionally or not.
Perhaps death for the two of them was good. Cinder wouldn't use them, Neo wouldn't mourn him, and Roman could rest with his secrets and his beloved. She would meet him at the gates and she would tell him how late he was and Roman would laugh and cry and collapse into her tiny form, holding her as close to his chest as he can and pressing kisses across her cheeks and the bridge of her nose, catching each and every freckle and scar and imperfection, as little as there are on her perfect face, with his lips in admiration and respect and adoration and true, honest love.
Yes. A common-man's death was what he deserved. Neo deserved to be mourned by the Gods themselves. She was bright and strong and beautiful and deadly and utterly perfect. Roman deserved an unfinished story. He deserved an unfinished plot. An ending not-yet written but hastily pasted to end his story, and begin anew for those kids and whatever past, present, or future will chase after them through all of this. Roman had done much, but he can't say he's satisfied that he's dead. How can he be? He felt his story wasn't over. His chapter wasn't finished. He wasn't ready to go. But what could he do about it? How could he fight against Fate's design for him? This was a proper death for someone like him.
So Roman could accept the cold, heartless, embrace of Death itself and allow himself to sink further and further into that feeling. He could accept the darkness and aches and pains that slowly rose to the surface. And he could accept the white light of wherever he would be heading after this. No where good, he's sure, but he prays Neo will meet him there.
At least then, this wouldn't have been meaningless...
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...and then he woke up.