Roman watches the protestors storming through the streets. He caused this, he should feel guilty about it. Instead he's thinking about Kendall casually saying you fucked it, his acceptance of this fact more painful than if he had been angry. The president that he had helped to elect, who was supposed to save them from Matsson, had laughed in his face. Gerri hates him. Even his sister is more concerned about taking over the company than about Roman.
He swings himself over the barrier without really thinking about what he's doing. He's hurting and he wants to be hurt.
It starts with just pushing and shoving, then he ends up on the ground. Someone actually tries to help him up, which enrages him. He doesn't need help, he needs pain.
His breakdown in the church is probably all over the internet by now. He's sure someone would have surreptitiously recorded it, even if the press weren't there. He's a laughing stock, might as well get arrested or hospitalised to complete his downfall.
His father is all alone in a mausoleum right now.
He keeps fighting until he's bleeding and satisfied, and has inflicted a few punches of his own. The crowds move on, stepping over him like he's nothing. He lies where he fell, exhausted and listening to the sirens in the distance. His face feels wet with tears, or maybe it's just the blood.
He needs… Connor? An ambulance? No, he needs his mother.
He gets his phone out of his pocket. The screen is miraculously still intact. Maybe he'll buy a new phone anyway. Maybe he'll change his name, go and live somewhere nobody knows him.
His mother answers on the first ring, sounding concerned. "Darling?"
His voice comes out as a strangled sob. "Mommy?"
His mother's breath catches. "Where are you, sweetheart?" He's never heard her sound so affectionate.
"I… need you. Can I come to you? Caribbean catch-up?" He puts some of his old irony into his voice. It's a remarkably good impression of himself.
There's a pause and for a moment he thinks she might say no. If she does, he'll have to do a Kendall and try to drown himself.
"Of course you can," she says finally. "Are the others…"
"No. No Shiv and Kendall. Just me. And you can't tell them where I am."
"Are you alright?"
He wipes his forehead, blood coming away on his hand. "Yeah, I'm great."
