The Roy family name, at this point, was a joke. For all of the drama and secrecy that had been aired out about their family in the news, in media, in real time - they might as well have been a reality television show.

Roman tried his best not to think about it. But it was the kind of revelation that followed you no matter where you went - asleep or awake. The sort of deep knowing that settled in your bones like a buildup of smog and doubt. Their legacy was falling apart.

He wasn't the legacy guy. That was Kendall.

But Logan's death had genuinely solidified what he had already known. His broken family was finally crumbling under the weight of all the half-hidden bullshit that had just been growing over the years. Turns out sweeping things under the rug doesn't make them go away.

He hated the way he felt when he watched his father in a casket. Like the same scared little boy that just wanted the father that beat him. He supposed that he should be happy that Logan was dead. But he just felt afraid. Lost.

He wandered for a long while after the service was complete. He didn't stay for the customary thanking people for their attendance. Logan would have been furious... but Roman had never cared about the frivolities, and Logan wasn't here anymore. He never would be again.

Roman was untethered, floating over uncharted, roiling sea on the ship built of matchsticks that was the Roy family.

There had been one person, a long time ago, who'd been able to soothe that feeling. But you'd left. Why come back for this funeral service? He wondered, vaguely, if maybe you'd come because you felt a sense of duty.

You'd been close to the family for years. Logan had taken you on as a sort of companion for Roman. To keep him out of trouble, as it were. In some ways you were Roman's very first friend. But the two of you hadn't parted on good terms. You'd gotten tired of the Roy bullshit. And with no family ties, no portion of the will... you'd just gone.

He envied that.

Your freedom.

But he recognized your footsteps even after all these years. "Didn't think you'd ever show your face again." He didn't turn around.