LUNATICS || Gotham²

01 || The Truth

I was born on the outskirts of Gotham, close to the East End sectors, to a middle-class family. My family was relatively small, including my parents, Robert Nashton and Lucielle Tessier, and my older brother, Edward. Any family, like grandparents, uncles, or aunts, resided across the bridges somewhere in Metropolis. They rarely ever visited. And although I had family, the truth is that Ed has been my only true caregiver for about seventeen years.

Growing up was anything but ideal for me. It was a painful experience, and that pain remains and reappears every time someone asks about my childhood. Much of it was an obscure nightmare that never seemed to end. I wanted nothing more than to run away, to run until I was breathless, far away from the bruises, scars, and broken bones. From the tears, the inability, and the resentment I felt toward those who were supposed to show me love.

Edward has shared stories about what his life was like when he was a kid. There is a contrast between his early years and mine. My 'parents' weren't always the way that I had always known them to be. Robert and Lucielle were once a young, married couple with goals and lives that were gradually falling apart. My brother was born to loving parents.

They were completely different people before I was born.

Robert Nashton was a caring father who would have done everything to provide for his family. He worked in an office, writing for the city's newspaper, the Gotham Gazette, and he loved it. He was lively, always coming home with a smile, even when tired. Rob enjoyed playing the piano, a passion he passed on to my brother. He was humble, hard-working, and a bit difficult, but he was great.

Lucielle Tessier was his devoted mother who did her best to keep the family happy. She had worked as an assistant to the owner of the Gazette, where she met Robert. When Edward was around four, she decided to stay at home instead of paying for a nanny. She wanted to be there for my brother, to care for him like no one else could. Throughout my brother's childhood, he saw how supportive, thoughtful, and strong she was. A little bit stubborn, too.

It's easy to imagine this loving family as the average, the type you see going everywhere together - to carnivals and circuses whenever they came into town, celebrating birthdays, Christmas, and Thanksgiving together.

Can't say I relate today.

But Ed did tell me that Robert and Lucielle were thrilled to know I was on the way. They began baby shopping almost immediately, picking out names and getting overtly emotional over them. My middle name was a tribute to my late grandmother on Robert's side. To this day, I find it ironic and tragic that they wanted me to be the happiest baby on the planet and yet did the exact opposite.

Another irony is that, contrary to popular belief, Edward was miserable when he discovered that I was coming. In fact, he hated me and the idea of not being the only child anymore. He was the typical older sibling because he didn't want the crying baby in the house whilst crying himself. He recalls being so jealous that he asked Lucielle to get rid of me - and even prepared himself for debate. It was ridiculous.

Yes, he's been very dramatic since birth.

That lovable dumbass.

A few months after I was born, Robert began struggling at work. The Gazette wasn't requesting of him much, and his pay decreased due to the reduced hours and days.

Well, at least that's what Ed remembers.

Anyway, Robert took it upon himself to search for a second job. To his dismay, there weren't many places that wanted to hire him. My brother, always smart and attentive, could see our father's growing anxiety. Ed watched him slowly crumble, beginning to drink lightly to ease the nerves. He started getting irritated with Lucielle easily.