Fic: Heart Surgery
Apr. 1st, 2009 02:06 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
mithenTitle: Heart Surgery
Fandom: Nolanverse, pre-Batman Begins
Characters/Pairings: Thomas Wayne, Martha Wayne
Rating: PG
Summary: Thomas and a pregnant Martha Wayne are visited by an old friend.
Word count: 2400
"You're stronger than your father."
"You didn't know my father."
--Batman Begins
Martha Wayne rolled over heavily, half-asleep, feeling the weight at her belly shift with her movement. The baby kicked once, as if petulant, and Martha smiled and smoothed a hand over the motion. "Soon enough, little one," she whispered. "Be patient."
Only then did she truly hear the sound that had woken her; voices from downstairs echoing up the stairwell. She frowned, pulling herself upright and grabbing a dressing gown, checking herself in the mirror quickly and putting her hair in order. She made her way down the stairs to the doorway of the library, then stopped outside.
"So where have you been this last year, my friend?" said Thomas.
"Oh, going to and fro in the earth, and walking up and down in it," answered a rich, urbane voice with a British accent, a hint of a chuckle under the words.
Martha's hand flew to her mouth before she could stop it--to cover shock or a smile, she wasn't sure.
"We've missed you, Henri," said Thomas.
"I've missed you both as well," said Henri Ducard.
: : :
Three years before:
"It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Dr. Wayne," said the graying man with the sea-green eyes. He reached out to shake Thomas's hand. "My name is Henri Ducard, and I've heard so much about you. I came to this conference specifically to meet you, in fact."
Thomas's smile was diffident, uncomfortable; he never took praise well. "Oh, Dr. Wu is doing much more groundbreaking work than I am."
Martha couldn't help laughing at the flash of wry humor in Ducard's eyes. "My husband has a habit for modesty," she said.
Henri Ducard turned his full attention to Martha for the first time. "And you must be the new Mrs. Wayne."
"Please call me Martha." Martha held out her hand for him to shake, but instead he caught it delicately and bent over it, pressing a light kiss onto the knuckles.
"Martha," he murmured. "Enchanté." Martha retrieved her hand, feeling a bit flustered. "And your husband is far too modest. You are doing amazing work."
"The new organ transplant techniques are so promising," Martha said eagerly.
Ducard nodded absently. "Yes, of course. But I was referring to the work both of you are doing in Gotham. The philanthropy. The investment of Wayne money in the infrastructure. Your real work."
Thomas's face lit up. "Yes. I've been telling my father that's where we should be investing, in urban development, improved transportation systems, better waste disposal." His laugh was bitter. "He says there's no profit in it."
"What is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul?"
Thomas grabbed Ducard's elbow; Ducard looked surprised but didn't pull away. "You understand. We need to do more for Gotham than make money off it, like--like maggots feeding off a corpse. No, worse--feeding off a still-living man. Profiting from his wounds, his suffering. It's monstrous."
Ducard caught Martha's eye and Martha found herself smiling a little apologetically; Thomas revealed his passion for Gotham to few people, but when he did there was no stopping him.
But Ducard shook his head slightly, turning down the implied apology. "I'm pleased to have found a kindred spirit," he said to Thomas. He met Martha's gaze again. "Or two." He put a hand on Thomas's shoulder. "It's so rare that one meets other people committed to fighting injustice, to cleaning up the corruption at its source. Not just bandages on gaping wounds, but surgery." His smile at Thomas was warm. "How fitting that you should be a surgeon, cutting out the cancers in both the bodies and souls of Gotham."
Thomas glowed at the praise, and Martha found herself smiling at his delight. "Are you busy this evening?" Thomas asked. "Would you like to maybe, have a drink, keep talking about this?"
"I would be delighted," said Henri Ducard.
From that day Henri was a fixture in their lives. He and Thomas played go and debated together late into the night in the library at Wayne Manor. His discussions with Martha were more often about literature and religion: they agreed about Jane Austen but remained unreconciled on the topic of Kirkegaard. They visited hospitals, toured schools, and explored the Narrows together, debating ways to improve the city. There were successes, but it seemed that the setbacks equaled or even offset them: a food bank opened for the poor would be looted, a new community program stalled due to graft and corruption. Sometimes Martha almost felt like there was a malignant force working against them; ridiculous notion, as nothing was necessary to counter progress but humanity's own greed and selfishness. It was discouraging. But always, always, Henri was with them, listening to their problems, helping them plan.
Until the day, almost a year ago, when he had announced he must leave Gotham to travel abroad. He had kissed her hand again and Martha had almost burst into tears.
How would they get by without their closest friend?
: : :
Martha remained frozen outside the library door, listening to her husband's voice mingle with Henri's. Thomas was discussing the composition of the board of trustees at Arkham Asylum. "We can't seem to keep good people on the board. They burn out, give up, or become co-opted." A soft click as one of them placed a go stone.
Martha could see them in her mind's eye, bent over the board, the fire crackling in the fireplace. They alternated colors each game: "Neither black nor white suits me all the time," Henri had said once with a small smile.
"It sounds like you've had a difficult year, Thomas."
"It's been harder without you here. I'll admit there have been dark days when I fear we've lost our way forever. But there's been progress as well. The monorail plans have come a long way in the last year." Her husband's voice had a spark of pride in it; Henri had been pessimistic about the project but after some early setbacks it had come along much more smoothly than expected. "I think you'll be delighted to find out how quickly we've moved ahead."
"Alas," said Henri, a smile in his voice. "Maybe I should not have returned. I appear to be something of a jinx."
Thomas laughed aloud, and Martha could see in her mind's eye the way he threw his head back, free and unreserved in front of his friend as he was so rarely anywhere else. "Oh Henri, we've missed you so," he continued, still chuckling, "Martha and I often wished you were here to share in our happiness as the monorail progressed. And...other things as well."
The joy in his voice made Martha blush slightly. She moved forward into the library rather than eavesdrop further, blushing more as Henri's eyes moved from her face down to her middle. When he met her eyes again, he smiled at her, but it seemed slightly strained. "Martha," he said, rising from his seat. "You look even more radiant than ever, my muse." He bent over her hand, the strands of his mustache brushing her knuckles slightly before his lips.
"So you see, Henri, we have some personal cause for hope as well," Thomas went on as Martha murmured a greeting. His voice was buoyant again, and Martha felt as always the shy joy that gripped her at seeing him so happy.
"Hope," Henri said. "Yes, I can see that." He sat down slowly in front of the board again, looking tired; without thinking, Martha picked up a blanket to tuck around his shoulders.
"I should have Alfred stoke the fire a little, it's rather cold," she said.
"Ah, you're kind to an old man and his old bones, my dear," said Ducard, and Martha couldn't help laughing.
"Oh, surely not so old, Henri." His eyes met hers briefly, and she looked away at the waning fire. "Oh, I can do it myself," she said, and moved to add another log to the blaze.
"Be careful, dear," Thomas called.
"I'm pregnant, not sick," she retorted. "There." The flames licked around the new log, slowly building. As she stood up, the baby kicked again, hard enough to make her wince, and in a moment Thomas was at her side, helping her up.
"Are you all right?" Henri's voice was worried.
"It's nothing. The baby is kicking." She touched the curve of her belly where the tiny blows were echoing through her body. "You can feel it here."
"I..." Henri was staring at her stomach. He looked up to her eyes. "May I?"
"Of course," she said easily, and Henri stood to rest his hands on her belly. The baby kicked again, more strongly, and Henri almost jerked his hands away. Martha couldn't help laughing, and he looked up at her, his hands still resting on her, warm through the cloth.
"He's a strong one," he said.
"Oh, we don't know if it's a boy or a girl yet," she said.
"He's a strong one," he repeated, looking down at her stomach again.
There was a tiny click behind them, stone on wood; Thomas had placed another go stone. "I believe it's your move, Henri," he said.
"Yes." Henri took his hands from her body, moved back to his seat. "I believe it is." He stared at the board for some time, stroking his beard thoughtfully. He picked up a stone and turned it idly between his long fingers; firelight glinted off its jet surface. "Thomas," he said suddenly, "I've heard that you're performing open-heart surgery on Vito Liggio next week."
"You've heard correctly."
"Liggio has...ties to organized crime. Or so I've heard."
Thomas barked a laugh. "If by 'ties' you mean he's one of the most influential people in the Mafia, then yes. He has 'ties.'"
Henri placed his black stone with delicacy on the board. Martha frowned. The white stones were boxed in well, with only a couple of possible exits. "Liggio is an older man. Surely not a very good prospect for surgery."
Thomas was glaring at the board. "I think he'll pull through."
"If he did not...if he were, say, to die on the operating table, no one would think less of your skills."
Thomas's head snapped up and he stared at Henri for a long time. The fire crackled as it rose, and Martha found her arms wrapped around her own belly, cradling the weight there.
"What are you implying, Henri?" said Thomas, the white stone clenched in his hand.
Henri met his eyes squarely. "That Gotham would be a better place without him."
"I took an oath to do no harm."
Henri's fist banged the table and stones jumped, rattling. "Do no harm? When men like him are choking the very life from Gotham, you think letting such a thing continue is doing no harm?" He leaned over the board, his voice low, intense. "It would take so little, Thomas. So little. You would be the scalpel, the tool by which we cut an infection from the heart of Gotham." His gaze flicked sideways briefly. "Do you really want to raise your child in a city riddled with human cancer, rotting from the inside out?"
"Human beings are not infections. And I will never use my skills to take a life." Thomas's words were strong, but his tone was pleading. "I understand what you're saying, Henri, but that is not the way to save Gotham. Please, try to understand."
Henri turned to Martha, still standing to the side of the board, between them. Help me, his gaze implored her. Help me convince him. And for a dizzying moment she could see his vision. The three of them, wielding the power of life and death over Gotham, subtle influencers behind the scenes, bringing peace and order to their city. No more corruption blocking their every move, no more obstacles to their plans to make Gotham flourish. For a moment, she could see it.
And then she moved to stand behind her husband, resting one hand on his shoulder and the other on her stomach. "I'm sorry, Henri," she said. "Thomas is right."
Henri stood, bracing his hands on either side of the table as if he wished to crack it in two. "I have seen what this world does to people like you, people too high-minded and pure to do what must be done. I beg of you," he said, his voice passionate, pleading. "As my friends, I beg you to be strong enough to survive. I am a tired, lonely old man, and I would like to...to salvage you from the wreckage of this city."
Thomas looked down at the board, but Martha shook her head slightly. "We still have hope, Henri. For our city, for our child. Can't you as well?"
For an instant, the eyes that met hers were chips of jade: stone-hard and weary and ancient indeed. Then Henri sighed and rubbed a hand over his face. "This city will destroy you," he said, striding toward the door. "Because you are weak, and blind, and foolish. And I..." He stopped and rested one hand on the door frame, not looking back. "...I will never forgive it for that."
His footsteps echoed down the corridor away from them and they heard the front door close. The crackling of the fire was the only remaining sound.
"Am I?" Thomas whispered. He was looking at the go board, the black and white pieces jarred from their neat and orderly grid into disarray. "Am I weak?" He looked up at her and Martha was surprised to see his eyes wet. "What if I'm dooming our child to a life of chaos?"
Martha stooped to throw her arms around him. "Not weak, love. Never that. Your son would never want to be the child of a murderer. For his sake, we'll be strong, even if some call it weakness."
He clung to her for a long moment and she rocked him, staring at the fire consuming the firewood, turning it to ash and glory. Then he laughed into the curve of her neck. "I thought you said you didn't know if it was a boy or a girl?" he said, his voice just a bit shaky.
"It's a boy," she said, knowing it was true.
He's a strong one.
"It's a boy."
Fandom: Nolanverse, pre-Batman Begins
Characters/Pairings: Thomas Wayne, Martha Wayne
Rating: PG
Summary: Thomas and a pregnant Martha Wayne are visited by an old friend.
Word count: 2400
"You're stronger than your father."
"You didn't know my father."
--Batman Begins
Martha Wayne rolled over heavily, half-asleep, feeling the weight at her belly shift with her movement. The baby kicked once, as if petulant, and Martha smiled and smoothed a hand over the motion. "Soon enough, little one," she whispered. "Be patient."
Only then did she truly hear the sound that had woken her; voices from downstairs echoing up the stairwell. She frowned, pulling herself upright and grabbing a dressing gown, checking herself in the mirror quickly and putting her hair in order. She made her way down the stairs to the doorway of the library, then stopped outside.
"So where have you been this last year, my friend?" said Thomas.
"Oh, going to and fro in the earth, and walking up and down in it," answered a rich, urbane voice with a British accent, a hint of a chuckle under the words.
Martha's hand flew to her mouth before she could stop it--to cover shock or a smile, she wasn't sure.
"We've missed you, Henri," said Thomas.
"I've missed you both as well," said Henri Ducard.
: : :
Three years before:
"It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Dr. Wayne," said the graying man with the sea-green eyes. He reached out to shake Thomas's hand. "My name is Henri Ducard, and I've heard so much about you. I came to this conference specifically to meet you, in fact."
Thomas's smile was diffident, uncomfortable; he never took praise well. "Oh, Dr. Wu is doing much more groundbreaking work than I am."
Martha couldn't help laughing at the flash of wry humor in Ducard's eyes. "My husband has a habit for modesty," she said.
Henri Ducard turned his full attention to Martha for the first time. "And you must be the new Mrs. Wayne."
"Please call me Martha." Martha held out her hand for him to shake, but instead he caught it delicately and bent over it, pressing a light kiss onto the knuckles.
"Martha," he murmured. "Enchanté." Martha retrieved her hand, feeling a bit flustered. "And your husband is far too modest. You are doing amazing work."
"The new organ transplant techniques are so promising," Martha said eagerly.
Ducard nodded absently. "Yes, of course. But I was referring to the work both of you are doing in Gotham. The philanthropy. The investment of Wayne money in the infrastructure. Your real work."
Thomas's face lit up. "Yes. I've been telling my father that's where we should be investing, in urban development, improved transportation systems, better waste disposal." His laugh was bitter. "He says there's no profit in it."
"What is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul?"
Thomas grabbed Ducard's elbow; Ducard looked surprised but didn't pull away. "You understand. We need to do more for Gotham than make money off it, like--like maggots feeding off a corpse. No, worse--feeding off a still-living man. Profiting from his wounds, his suffering. It's monstrous."
Ducard caught Martha's eye and Martha found herself smiling a little apologetically; Thomas revealed his passion for Gotham to few people, but when he did there was no stopping him.
But Ducard shook his head slightly, turning down the implied apology. "I'm pleased to have found a kindred spirit," he said to Thomas. He met Martha's gaze again. "Or two." He put a hand on Thomas's shoulder. "It's so rare that one meets other people committed to fighting injustice, to cleaning up the corruption at its source. Not just bandages on gaping wounds, but surgery." His smile at Thomas was warm. "How fitting that you should be a surgeon, cutting out the cancers in both the bodies and souls of Gotham."
Thomas glowed at the praise, and Martha found herself smiling at his delight. "Are you busy this evening?" Thomas asked. "Would you like to maybe, have a drink, keep talking about this?"
"I would be delighted," said Henri Ducard.
From that day Henri was a fixture in their lives. He and Thomas played go and debated together late into the night in the library at Wayne Manor. His discussions with Martha were more often about literature and religion: they agreed about Jane Austen but remained unreconciled on the topic of Kirkegaard. They visited hospitals, toured schools, and explored the Narrows together, debating ways to improve the city. There were successes, but it seemed that the setbacks equaled or even offset them: a food bank opened for the poor would be looted, a new community program stalled due to graft and corruption. Sometimes Martha almost felt like there was a malignant force working against them; ridiculous notion, as nothing was necessary to counter progress but humanity's own greed and selfishness. It was discouraging. But always, always, Henri was with them, listening to their problems, helping them plan.
Until the day, almost a year ago, when he had announced he must leave Gotham to travel abroad. He had kissed her hand again and Martha had almost burst into tears.
How would they get by without their closest friend?
: : :
Martha remained frozen outside the library door, listening to her husband's voice mingle with Henri's. Thomas was discussing the composition of the board of trustees at Arkham Asylum. "We can't seem to keep good people on the board. They burn out, give up, or become co-opted." A soft click as one of them placed a go stone.
Martha could see them in her mind's eye, bent over the board, the fire crackling in the fireplace. They alternated colors each game: "Neither black nor white suits me all the time," Henri had said once with a small smile.
"It sounds like you've had a difficult year, Thomas."
"It's been harder without you here. I'll admit there have been dark days when I fear we've lost our way forever. But there's been progress as well. The monorail plans have come a long way in the last year." Her husband's voice had a spark of pride in it; Henri had been pessimistic about the project but after some early setbacks it had come along much more smoothly than expected. "I think you'll be delighted to find out how quickly we've moved ahead."
"Alas," said Henri, a smile in his voice. "Maybe I should not have returned. I appear to be something of a jinx."
Thomas laughed aloud, and Martha could see in her mind's eye the way he threw his head back, free and unreserved in front of his friend as he was so rarely anywhere else. "Oh Henri, we've missed you so," he continued, still chuckling, "Martha and I often wished you were here to share in our happiness as the monorail progressed. And...other things as well."
The joy in his voice made Martha blush slightly. She moved forward into the library rather than eavesdrop further, blushing more as Henri's eyes moved from her face down to her middle. When he met her eyes again, he smiled at her, but it seemed slightly strained. "Martha," he said, rising from his seat. "You look even more radiant than ever, my muse." He bent over her hand, the strands of his mustache brushing her knuckles slightly before his lips.
"So you see, Henri, we have some personal cause for hope as well," Thomas went on as Martha murmured a greeting. His voice was buoyant again, and Martha felt as always the shy joy that gripped her at seeing him so happy.
"Hope," Henri said. "Yes, I can see that." He sat down slowly in front of the board again, looking tired; without thinking, Martha picked up a blanket to tuck around his shoulders.
"I should have Alfred stoke the fire a little, it's rather cold," she said.
"Ah, you're kind to an old man and his old bones, my dear," said Ducard, and Martha couldn't help laughing.
"Oh, surely not so old, Henri." His eyes met hers briefly, and she looked away at the waning fire. "Oh, I can do it myself," she said, and moved to add another log to the blaze.
"Be careful, dear," Thomas called.
"I'm pregnant, not sick," she retorted. "There." The flames licked around the new log, slowly building. As she stood up, the baby kicked again, hard enough to make her wince, and in a moment Thomas was at her side, helping her up.
"Are you all right?" Henri's voice was worried.
"It's nothing. The baby is kicking." She touched the curve of her belly where the tiny blows were echoing through her body. "You can feel it here."
"I..." Henri was staring at her stomach. He looked up to her eyes. "May I?"
"Of course," she said easily, and Henri stood to rest his hands on her belly. The baby kicked again, more strongly, and Henri almost jerked his hands away. Martha couldn't help laughing, and he looked up at her, his hands still resting on her, warm through the cloth.
"He's a strong one," he said.
"Oh, we don't know if it's a boy or a girl yet," she said.
"He's a strong one," he repeated, looking down at her stomach again.
There was a tiny click behind them, stone on wood; Thomas had placed another go stone. "I believe it's your move, Henri," he said.
"Yes." Henri took his hands from her body, moved back to his seat. "I believe it is." He stared at the board for some time, stroking his beard thoughtfully. He picked up a stone and turned it idly between his long fingers; firelight glinted off its jet surface. "Thomas," he said suddenly, "I've heard that you're performing open-heart surgery on Vito Liggio next week."
"You've heard correctly."
"Liggio has...ties to organized crime. Or so I've heard."
Thomas barked a laugh. "If by 'ties' you mean he's one of the most influential people in the Mafia, then yes. He has 'ties.'"
Henri placed his black stone with delicacy on the board. Martha frowned. The white stones were boxed in well, with only a couple of possible exits. "Liggio is an older man. Surely not a very good prospect for surgery."
Thomas was glaring at the board. "I think he'll pull through."
"If he did not...if he were, say, to die on the operating table, no one would think less of your skills."
Thomas's head snapped up and he stared at Henri for a long time. The fire crackled as it rose, and Martha found her arms wrapped around her own belly, cradling the weight there.
"What are you implying, Henri?" said Thomas, the white stone clenched in his hand.
Henri met his eyes squarely. "That Gotham would be a better place without him."
"I took an oath to do no harm."
Henri's fist banged the table and stones jumped, rattling. "Do no harm? When men like him are choking the very life from Gotham, you think letting such a thing continue is doing no harm?" He leaned over the board, his voice low, intense. "It would take so little, Thomas. So little. You would be the scalpel, the tool by which we cut an infection from the heart of Gotham." His gaze flicked sideways briefly. "Do you really want to raise your child in a city riddled with human cancer, rotting from the inside out?"
"Human beings are not infections. And I will never use my skills to take a life." Thomas's words were strong, but his tone was pleading. "I understand what you're saying, Henri, but that is not the way to save Gotham. Please, try to understand."
Henri turned to Martha, still standing to the side of the board, between them. Help me, his gaze implored her. Help me convince him. And for a dizzying moment she could see his vision. The three of them, wielding the power of life and death over Gotham, subtle influencers behind the scenes, bringing peace and order to their city. No more corruption blocking their every move, no more obstacles to their plans to make Gotham flourish. For a moment, she could see it.
And then she moved to stand behind her husband, resting one hand on his shoulder and the other on her stomach. "I'm sorry, Henri," she said. "Thomas is right."
Henri stood, bracing his hands on either side of the table as if he wished to crack it in two. "I have seen what this world does to people like you, people too high-minded and pure to do what must be done. I beg of you," he said, his voice passionate, pleading. "As my friends, I beg you to be strong enough to survive. I am a tired, lonely old man, and I would like to...to salvage you from the wreckage of this city."
Thomas looked down at the board, but Martha shook her head slightly. "We still have hope, Henri. For our city, for our child. Can't you as well?"
For an instant, the eyes that met hers were chips of jade: stone-hard and weary and ancient indeed. Then Henri sighed and rubbed a hand over his face. "This city will destroy you," he said, striding toward the door. "Because you are weak, and blind, and foolish. And I..." He stopped and rested one hand on the door frame, not looking back. "...I will never forgive it for that."
His footsteps echoed down the corridor away from them and they heard the front door close. The crackling of the fire was the only remaining sound.
"Am I?" Thomas whispered. He was looking at the go board, the black and white pieces jarred from their neat and orderly grid into disarray. "Am I weak?" He looked up at her and Martha was surprised to see his eyes wet. "What if I'm dooming our child to a life of chaos?"
Martha stooped to throw her arms around him. "Not weak, love. Never that. Your son would never want to be the child of a murderer. For his sake, we'll be strong, even if some call it weakness."
He clung to her for a long moment and she rocked him, staring at the fire consuming the firewood, turning it to ash and glory. Then he laughed into the curve of her neck. "I thought you said you didn't know if it was a boy or a girl?" he said, his voice just a bit shaky.
"It's a boy," she said, knowing it was true.
He's a strong one.
"It's a boy."
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-01 06:35 am (UTC)Gah, that was totally amazing and evocative and...
Oh, Thomas. *picks him up and gives him a big squeeze* You're totally right, and your son is going to be FANTABULEROUS.
(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-01 07:02 am (UTC)This was kind of exciting to envision. A distant friendship between Ducard and the Waynes would certainly make Ducard's motivations towards Gotham much more personal. It would also have his words make a bit more sense in the movie because they would have the profound knowledge of actually knowing the Wayne family.
His way of leaving was so abrupt, but I think their argument on the dichotomy of a person's worth was enough to draw me in and wish they had said more. One can easily combat evil with evil, but it takes strength to do good in the face of evil. I think that Martha's temptation was a reflection of the middle ground between Henri's and Thomas' perspectives, but the choice she makes while still seeing the other side is very awesome.
Seen from this way, maybe Bruce is like his mother?
(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-01 08:54 am (UTC)And the difference between Martha & Thomas could possibly be traced to their imminent parenthood. Mothers will often place the welfare of their children above all else, up to & including ideals, rules, laws & integrity. It may be biological -- the female bears the greater burden & invest so much in the bond between herself & her child, but ask any mother if she would kill to keep her child safe and see what answers you get.
Fathers, too, are capable of the same but don't have the forced immediacy of parenthood that pregnancy imposes on mothers. It's one step removed for fathers -- their survival doesn't directly impact the life of their offspring as a mother's would. We are not so much different from some of the other species on the planet, I think, when it comes to our children.
Again, thank you for a beautiful piece. You got the perspectives of soon-to-be parents, different, similar and distinctly different, wonderfully right.
(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-01 11:20 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-01 11:48 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-01 12:46 pm (UTC)Just...whoa.
(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-01 01:19 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-01 01:25 pm (UTC)I usually try not to leave characters out of the "character list," but in this case I did kind of want to get some surprise in there. Glad to hear it worked!
A distant friendship between Ducard and the Waynes would certainly make Ducard's motivations towards Gotham much more personal.
Wouldn't it? It adds extra layers to a lot of scenes in the movie and has kind of become my personal head-canon from writing it. :)
The conversation did end a bit abruptly, I admit. I have a tendency to let dialogues run on much longer than I should, so I sometimes overcompensate by cutting them off, lol. Plus Henri kept threatening to flirt with either Thomas or Martha or both, and I wasn't sure I wanted that, lol...
(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-01 01:30 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-01 01:33 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-01 01:35 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-01 01:36 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-01 02:24 pm (UTC)[...] Henri stood to rest his hands on her belly. The baby kicked again, more strongly, and Henri almost jerked his hands away.
I love that, even though he's not even born yet, the first thing Bruce does when he comes in "contact" with Ducard is *kick him* -- like he dislikes him already. ;)
You've portrayed these characters in a wonderful, so believable way. Excellent, excellent work! (can't find the animated emote anywhere anymore, but imagine one that's bowing in a "not worthy!" type of way. lol!)
(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-01 02:51 pm (UTC)"I sense you don't mean my city well!" :D Bruce is a smart kid already...
I'm glad you liked it! I was surprised, the movieverse versions of Martha and Thomas seemed much easier than the comic versions. I'll have to keep that in mind if I want to write them again and just fudge the details to make them in between... :)
(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-01 03:04 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-01 04:38 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-01 05:04 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-01 05:17 pm (UTC)That scene on the ice with Henri's bitterness has to suggest something personal here.
And his ancient weariness fits. Who says that the League's work of centuries wasn't personally supervised by Henri? ;)
Thomas and Martha's passion for Gotham certainly passed along to their child. :)
(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-01 05:42 pm (UTC)Wonderfully done! =D
(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-01 06:21 pm (UTC)Henri kind of reminds me of a dark version of the ones (two angels) that visited Sodom in the Bible story (among others). Looking for good people. Except it's much more family friendly than the Bible/Torah version. Which is ironic for the internet. I love this it's so twisted and prefigures his arrival on the scene and Bruce's life. Even if an imaginary story (Alan Moore says aren't they all i.e. in one of his Superman stories).
I only have one question hasn't Thomas seen any Ultrasounds? Although how primative were they in 1974-75 (as Bruce was 30 in "Batman Begins")? So you might have an out. I really do love it.
Angeloz
(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-01 06:44 pm (UTC)"I've missed you both as well," said Henri Ducard.
Having Ra's know Thomas and Martha, and trying to convince them to fight with him, really really works!
Thomas's smile was diffident, uncomfortable; he never took praise well.
It's also really great to learn more about Martha and Thomas! :)
Thomas's face lit up. "Yes. I've been telling my father that's where we should be investing, in urban development, improved transportation systems, better waste disposal." His laugh was bitter. "He says there's no profit in it."
It's actually quite painful seeing the hope that Thomas and Martha have for the future, all they are doing to try and make Gotham better, knowing how everything is going to turn out...
"How fitting that you should be a surgeon, cutting out the cancers in both the bodies and souls of Gotham."
I really liked that line! It really feels like something Ra's would say.
Sometimes Martha almost felt like there was a malignant force working against them; ridiculous notion, as nothing was necessary to counter progress but humanity's own greed and selfishness. It was discouraging. But always, always, Henri was with them, listening to their problems, helping them plan.
*winces a bit*
"I'm pregnant, not sick," she retorted.
Hee. *hearts Martha*
The baby kicked again, more strongly, and Henri almost jerked his hands away.
Heh.
"This city will destroy you," he said, striding toward the door. "Because you are weak, and blind, and foolish. And I..." He stopped and rested one hand on the door frame, not looking back. "...I will never forgive it for that."
*shivers a bit*
Martha stooped to throw her arms around him. "Not weak, love. Never that. Your son would never want to be the child of a murderer. For his sake, we'll be strong, even if some call it weakness."
*hugs them*
This was a really great story! It's always nice to see Martha and Thomas before everything happened, and the inclusion of Ra's into the mix makes it even more intriguing! And I want to watch Batman Begins now, lol.
Thank you so much for sharing it with us! :)
(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-01 07:18 pm (UTC)*shivers a little*
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Date: 2009-04-01 08:16 pm (UTC)I hope you'll explore this more someday. I'm eager to know if Bruce ever finds out about this too and what his reaction would be.
(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-01 11:11 pm (UTC)Glad you liked it!
(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-01 11:13 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-01 11:15 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-01 11:17 pm (UTC)I've always assumed so...Nolan doesn't make it explicit but I think he leaves enough hints that a fan can jump to that conclusion.
Thank you for helping me come up with this story and feeding the bunny carrots!
(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-01 11:20 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-01 11:25 pm (UTC)Thank you for writing such an excellent fic, i was totally glued to this. I can't pick anything out, it's all just great. This is appart of the movie cannon in my mind now because it's just that good. Bravo.
(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-01 11:28 pm (UTC)Ooooh, it does! Which is funny because I had him quote Satan in the Book of Job for his first line, so I was definitely on a Biblical kick.
I don't know exactly when this is or what ultrasound tech was at, but it was probably one of those cases where they didn't do many because they didn't really weant to know, and Bruce was being shy and kept his back to them when they did. :) Bruce can be stubborn that way...
(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-02 12:30 am (UTC)Doesn't it? It's definitely my personal canon now...
It's actually quite painful seeing the hope that Thomas and Martha have for the future, all they are doing to try and make Gotham better, knowing how everything is going to turn out...
I agree, there's a really painful irony to all this--I love them for being hopeful, but there was actually very little cause for it, in some ways. But then, there never is, the wheel always turns.
I really liked that line! It really feels like something Ra's would say.
I like Ra's as a sort of...idealist whose idealism transcends humaneness. I can imagine him having a lot in common with the Waynes and understanding them all too well...
I re-watched all the Ra's scenes before writing this story and was reminded how much I really like him! Plus it was fun to write Thomas and Martha...I found it a lot easier with movieverse. I think it's the lack of mustache on Thomas. It helped. :D
(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-02 12:48 am (UTC)I'm very pleased to help! *munches on carrots* ;)
(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-02 12:49 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-02 09:16 am (UTC)The first think I thought when I read this was, if Thomas is "weak" then what does it mean that Bruce is "strong"? O.O Absolutely chilling!
And Bruce would already know that Ducard had it in for his city and decide to kick him. Go Bruce go!
(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-02 09:16 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-02 10:47 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-02 10:51 am (UTC)That would be a really interesting AU take on Batman Begins, wouldn't it?
And I feel bad for the Waynes too...it's chilling to know Ra's was working against them and it was more than just entropy that caused their deaths. The movie adds an interesting extra layer to all that...
I'm glad you liked it, Tina! *hugs*
(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-02 11:00 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-02 11:32 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-02 11:45 am (UTC)The first think I thought when I read this was, if Thomas is "weak" then what does it mean that Bruce is "strong"? O.O Absolutely chilling!
It's an interesting question, because I suspect Ducard thinks Bruce has a lot more in common with himself than his father (I had to make sure he was gone for a full year because the story kept wanting to veer off into bizarre what-ifs of Ducard actually being his father, and while fascinating that's mucking with canon a bit more than I was willing to do, lol). All the different definitions of strength and weakness I find really fascinating...
(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-03 06:16 pm (UTC)Am I the only one creeped out by how I'm imagining Henri would look at Martha? Or is that just me?
(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-04 01:18 am (UTC)Um...no. There's a reason I had him be gone for a year when Martha was nine months pregnant. And there were earlier versions of this where Martha was definitely quite aware of his interest...and then a few versions where he was about as interested in Thomas...but I decided adding twists like that would distract from the story, so most of it stayed well under the surface. I'm kind of glad you picked it up anyway, though. :)
(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-05 11:42 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-06 06:29 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-08 02:08 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-08 09:54 am (UTC)Hehehe, I re-watched it as I got ready for writing this, and it made a surprising amount of sense! It's kind of my new head-canon, lol...
(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-09 04:46 am (UTC)His laugh was bitter. "He says there's no profit in it."
Aww, man, Thomas! I really liked Thomas here, though he seems.. I dunno. I find Martha stronger, more cunning, here. For all Bruce reveres Thomas, and despite the lack of general knowledge of the Wayne's, I have always felt he was very much his mother's son in a lot of ways. And for all of Thomas' positivism, seeing him and Bruce clash as Bruce grew up on what was best for Gotham would have been.. pretty epic, I think! too alike to agree, is my guess...
Henri had been pessimistic about the project but after some early setbacks it had come along much more smoothly than expected.
I'm wondering if Ra's had started sabotaging Gotham since the start or only after the city's violence took Thomas and Martha away... is the destruction of the city Ra's vengeance? or.. I think it's more likely he had a hand on it from the start, and he just wishes he could have them by his side as he purifies the city...
"Do no harm? When men like him are choking the very life from Gotham, you think letting such a thing continue is doing no harm?"
Augh, I want to hug Henri there! ..which is weird! but he's so desperate to have his friends back.. I loved what you did with him!
(no subject)
Date: 2009-04-10 01:00 am (UTC)I agree...for all the discussion of strength and weakness, I think Thomas was considering Ducard's offer a lot more seriously than Martha did, and would have agreed if she hadn't argued against it. And now I'm curious about Bruce's grandparents, lol! Why were they all gone by the time his parents died? That's pretty unusual...
I think it's more likely he had a hand on it from the start, and he just wishes he could have them by his side as he purifies the city...
I wavered back and forth on it too but ended up agreeing with you, he's been undermining them even as he works with them, but hopes that driving them to despair will make them give up on Gotham and join forces with him. I did kind of want his vendetta against Gotham to start with their murders, but...I felt like that would be making Ra's a little too personal, when part of what I like about him is his big-picture impersonalness. Though I do think their deaths cemented his hatred for the city... He really did like both of them a lot, I think!