Roman was one of the lab Aides in the lab Nine and Atlas inhabited alongside Annie and Maria. He was Sands's best friend during his childhood, so much so that the former helped him with his plan to become an Aide to help other Horrors escape, though they were separated. He died at Atlas's hands, being stabbed from the back with an icicle.

Appearance

Roman has orange eyes and dark cyan hair that parts down the middle, and was shown wearing the normal male aide outfit — a lab coat with the sleeves rolled up along with black accents and a deer insignia on the left breast—the lab emblem—and a yellow armband with the same insignia, black pants, and underneath, white collared shirt with a black undertop.

Living on the streets, however, he wore a beanie hat, a dark jacket, and pants.

Personality

Roman always wore a malicious smile, and little is known of his full character, but with the way he acted around the Horrors he aided, he seemed to have a large distaste for them, seeing them as “beasts”^[2] who are a danger to people.^[3] He was also cruel towards the T-2 children, not caring if the injections he gave them were painful at all, and was eager to deal “punishment," believing to be superior to them.^[4]

Though, as a child, he was very kind, even offering Sands to stay with him when he discovered him on the streets. He cared greatly for him, and, since he was always escaping death, was always grateful to simply be alive, and was fine with unfair circumstances as long as he got to live another day, in large contrast to his friend— most notably, Roman was curious as to the existence of T-2s and was empathetic towards their situation when Sands told him about it— studying to become an Aide to help other children escape the labs, differing from how he viewed the T-2s as an adult.

History

Roman was an orphan who resided in a broken district (that would later on be known as the Red-Light District) and lived with others who had nowhere else to go. One day, as he was looking for food, he stumbled upon a young Sands who was bleeding profusely out of his mouth, and had just escaped the labs. He offered his kindness to Sands, patching up his wounds despite not having that much medical knowledge and offering Sands to come with him.

Upon seeing Sands's ability through picking a metal lock, he asked Sands if he could open safes, and they then spent the entire evening together, taking whatever food they could find. Afterwards, Roman introduced Sands to the group he lived with, with Sands becoming part of them. Learning about the labs, Roman proposed that he join the labs as a scientist and help the other Horrors escape. At first, Sands called him crazy for it, but he decided to agree due to his desire for revenge against the labs— helping Roman out with his studying.

One night, Sands sensed people approaching with his ability, and it turned out — a bunch of thugs started a fire to lure everybody out so that they (the thugs) could kill them. Roman suggested they run, but Sands said that there were still people inside. After a bit of arguing, Sands relented and asked Roman to bring everybody together. After doing so, Sands used his ability to the max to collapse the warehouse, causing him to pass out for three days straight.

When he woke up, Roman hit him on the head, scolding him to never do that again and saying that he was worried that he would die from using his powers. Sands protested, asking him if he should have let him die. The argument escalates, and Roman starts shouting, saying that he thought Sands didn't care about saving people. Sands says he doesn't; it's just that he's angry about how unfair it is to have to run every time, and he asks him if it feels good to get back for once.

Roman tells him he's being greedy, wanting pride even though they can't afford it, and he should be happy to see another day, as they're too weak to fight, so they should keep their heads down. He admits it isn't fair, but that's just how things are. Sands, still being stubborn, shouts that things are different now that he's here and that he can actually do something. Roman reminds him that he can't, and he's not strong enough for his powers, and at that rate, he would die using them. Sands keeps on arguing back, saying that if the other option is to be a coward, does it really matter?

Roman retaliates, saying that he cares, and despite other kids being around, nobody could be as similar as Sands is to his partner-in-crime. It doesn't matter if he keeps on having to run away, because to him, he'd rather not have Sands die over making things “fair.” And he doesn't need pride as long as he's with him, and he asks Sands not to kill himself over things like that.

Sands pauses, before agreeing as long as Roman gives up on his goal to become an Aide. He explains that he only agreed because he thought it would be fun to get back at the lab, but if that's how Roman feels, then what they have is fine. Roman relaxes and casually tells Sands that it's too late because he has already applied. Sands immediately jumps up and asks him when, and Roman replies it was a few weeks ago. He tells him not to worry, because if they send for him, he will simply not show up.

Hours later, Sands spots a few vans with the emblem of the labs and warns Roman. Roman tells him to hide, and he'll talk to the men. Roman appears, and the soldier confirms Roman as the “one,” saying they're looking for “the one who can control metal.” Roman lies to the soldier, claiming he doesn't know what they're talking about. Stoic, the soldier raises his pistol, saying “they'll have to do this the hard way”, and shoots a man behind Roman straight in the head.

Horrified, Roman asked him what he was doing and how shooting innocents would help his search. The soldier only ignores his question, telling him to bring Sands out, as they know he's here. Other soldiers start to corner the people, and they try to make their way out of the situation, saying they are citizens too. The man emotionlessly says he doesn't remember when “your kind” was kind when “you were massacring us”. He tells his fellow soldiers that only the T-2 and the Aide matter, and they're free to kill the rest.

Before Roman could do anything, Sands appears on the rooftop and calls out, drawing attention to himself. Taking advantage of the situation, a gun is pointed at Roman's head. The man tells Sands to come down, or else he'll shoot Roman. Sands is taken off guard and is unable to decide. Though Roman starts shouting, telling to use his head for once and to run away, and to not act prideful, it doesn't matter if he loses anything as long as he survives—as that is just how the weak live.

As a result, Roman was taken away by the labs, and due to unknown reasons— his kind demeanor and drive for saving the T-2s was lost.

Plot

To be added

Trivia

• During the Season 2 popularity polls, Roman had only one vote.^[5]

References