JINXED! Edward Nashton

[BROKEN PROMISES]

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[2005]

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Broken promises were something that was a bit of a consistency for orphans.

From the parents that are supposed to love you unconditionally only to leave you on your own. Scared and alone.

To the adults that they would pass you off to, not even taking responsibility and not doing their actual jobs, leaving you defenceless to the broken system. And the system itself is a broken record of promises never met and never kept.

Thomas Wayne was meant to change that, promising in his campaign when running for mayor in 2001 that he would change that and actually make a difference to those who needed it most, even donating his once family home for children like Jerome and Edward, as an early token of goodwill and faith.

But as usual, those were empty promises also.

When he and his wife, Martha, were murdered four years ago all of those promises and hope of change went down the gutter just like the City that they resided in.

Renewal becomes a cash grab to those high enough up in the system to reach it, filling their own pockets, laundering and putting it into criminal organisations for their own benefit leaving those that they believed beneath them, left with nothing to grasp onto.

Leaving us all to rot in the streets.

Jerome and Edward had been present when Thomas had announced his renewal campaign. The orphanage having been picked to be the lucky members to move into the once Wayne mansion, then changed to Wayne orphanage. They had stood on stage, stood together watching with hopeful faces as camera crews filmed and the pressed bombed in, hoping of an actual difference being made for them, what was supposed to be a good difference.

But when they were gunned down in that ally leaving their son Bruce Wayne parentless that night no one thought of them. Of the damage and loss, they had endured that night also.

No.

All anyone cared about was the billionaire brat who got to live in a tower, like the Prince he was. The Prince of Gotham. Still being able to a life of luxury, with no fear of his future, even still having his butler, that was basically family to help raise and guide him.

Bruce Wayne may have lost his parents that night, but he sure as hell was not an orphan.

He didn't have to wake up from vermin burrowing themselves into him for warmth or chewing at his feet and fingers. He didn't have to worry about becoming homeless as soon as he turned of legal age where he was no longer a burden to the system, kicked out onto the streets no matter if you could afford to live or not. He didn't have to huddle with other children to try and stay warm in fear of waking up and finding one of them dead from the blistering cold temperatures from the Gotham night air. Having to resort to fixes to ease the pain or go hungry cause they hadn't been given enough money for the number of mouths to feed that week.

Bruce Wayne was not an orphan, yet that's all anyone seemed to care about. The press consistently printed about 'Poor Bruce Wayne' 'Our hearts go out to the orphan Wayne', those headlines continued for over a year and Jerome couldn't help but burst out in rage every time she say them. Screaming in frustration of the simple mindest of the editors of Gotham City who only cared about what would make sales.

She remembered every time she would have an outburst how frightened Edward would become from her white-hot rage, having to wrap her around in his trembling arms, the two intertwined as they found comfort in one another. Only ever looking out for the other as that's all they really had.

Each other.

They would lay on an unoccupied lumpy mattress and converse on how they were going to leave the shit hole they had to live in together and escape.

"I would like to live somewhere close to the sea, I've always loved the smell of salt in the air and the sound of the waves. I don't care what it is as along as it's by the sea" Jerome would state, a dreamy smile on her face as they both stared at the ceiling.

Edward turned his head to look at his fiery companion, "Could I come live with you?"

"Of course Eddie, where I go you go. Us against the corruption of Gotham" facing him with a soft smile only he got the privilege of seeing, her dimples prominent on her cheeks and she scrunched her nose at him in an attempt to force a smile from the younger boy.

"You really mean that? Are you sure you'll want that cause if I recall correctly I am a 'smart-ass little shit'"

"You are a smartass, you little shit but I wouldn't have it any other way"

"You promise, Rosey?"

At his question, Jerome thrust her fist forward with her pinkie out, "Cross my heart and hope to die, Eds" linking their fingers in a vice-like grip, both pointing their thumbs out as they pecked the tips as if it was now an unbreakable vow.

"We can both get jobs, live some kind of domesticated life that you see on T.V, like friends!" His declaration caused the pair to erupt with laughter as the redhead playfully shoved her male companion slightly.

"Oh no, not like friends. I take it back maybe not"

"Nope you swore, wherever you go now I won't be far to follow, you can never ever get rid of me now" He laughed in a jokingly evil cackle which was soon followed by Jerome in a mocking tone.

"Oh no, however will I survive"

"You would be absolutely lost without me Rosey, admit it"

A moment of silence covered the pair as the thought crossed her mind.

Not ever having Edward by her side again genuinely terrified her. He was the only consistent in her life for a long time now. Sure she had her brother but her unexpected weekly visits were always short in order to not get caught by her mother or be found missing at the orphanage.

He was the only thing that she had, her only friend, the one thing keeping her sanity intact.

"If I didn't have you, I would absolutely lose my fucking mind Edward"

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