DA Meadow: The Hellbent and the Broken (Jason Todd) BOOK 2

Sixty Seven: What We Deserve

"I uphold honesty, as something very important in my campaign. So I won't lie and say that I know what it's like to be an orphan. But the people who built this wonderful place were the right people to choose, because they do. I say wonderful not because of the things that will bring its occupants here, but because of the wonderful things that will happen when they are. This facility, this home, Gotham Nurture, will offer the care that every child deserves. I said at the start that this was a goal of mine; to change things. Gotham has never had an orphanage with such heart and focus on the children as we'll be seeing. There's so much change happening and being a part of it is such an honour, and I'd like to thank the Wayne Foundation and Gothamites Unite for their assistance in building this dream of Gotham's oppressed."

She was never the most emotional. Passionate, but he understood that missing from Venus' campaign was something deep and personal. Background history of her purpose.

The DA spends a few seconds staring at the crowd, thinking the same thing by his guess. She dons a solemn smile and speaks in softer tones.

"As I said, I don't know about being an orphan. I had a very loving father," she smiles at the thought of her dad, likely to be watching. "I did not grow up with a mother. I've never seen it as a great loss, personally. I mean look at how far I've got without one. I credit a lot of my values and my abilities to how I was raised."

The crowd, reporter and cameramen reactions are instantaneous.

Sunlight glistens against the white stage Venus is standing on, her red outfit stark behind the podium. In the background is the large building she had helped create.

"I want this home behind me to not only be a place for warm hugs and good ears. I want it to be a place where life lessons are learned. Where wisdom is provided at a young age so it sticks. Following Gotham Nurture will be my new project, Gotham Generation. This will be a program for children who reach the age of 18 to move into. It will provide jobs and options for education. Children will have people to talk to about the things they want to do. The process starts earlier so they are prepared. This is how we improve. We start with the future, which is our children."

The crowd claps in response to her. He's never been so proud.

"I'm glad you came," a rough, familiar voice says behind from behind him. It occurs to Jason to run away, but in the broad daylight of the morning it wasn't the best idea.

Besides, was there a point in hiding?

"Just wanted to see how the orphanage was going to turn out. Spent some time in a couple' shitty ones, you know that."

Bruce nods, "I know that."

They watch as Venus poses for a photo with the members of Gothamites Unite, before the crowd applaud and even stand as she exits the stage.

Teeth grind together when he watches her descend the steps, where she meets with a timid ADA, her campaign manager and Kalie.

Venus' hand comes up to rest at the small of her secretary's back, leading her to the white and glass building of Gotham Nurture.

Something alike to jealousy floods his veins, but he pretends he's ignoring it.

If Jason still had a say in anything, he'd tell Venus to change the design. The building looks very clinical and cold from the outside, but he has a feeling that it will change when the gardens grow and popular opinion floods in.

Behind him, there is no noise, but rather a presence.

"Shouldn't you be down there?" He asks Bruce, getting to his feet. They may be on a building on the other side of the road, but they can still see the event clearly.