Chapter Text
1989—Gotham University, Gotham City
Martha Kane threw her head back and laughed. She clutched at her belly; she was laughing so hard. “Oh, Celia, you’re so funny!” tears pricked at her eyes. Celia laughed along with her.
The two young women sat inside a café outside a lecture hall, textbooks between them. Celia wiped at her eyes. “You’re funny yourself Martha, I can’t believe you said that to Denny!”
Martha rolled her eyes, crossing her arms over her chest, “It’s his own fault for standing me up. Again. That was the fifth time in a row. A girl can only take so much.” She sniffed and picked up her cup, sipping from it.
Celia raised an eyebrow but nodded, she had a point. “Denholm didn’t seem like the type.”
Martha pouted, “Well he was. He was good for looks but not much else.”
The other woman’s eyebrow raised again, “You mean…?”
Martha nodded, sipping her drink, “Failure to launch is all I’ll say.”
Celia covered her mouth, “Oh, Denny’s not going to like that.”
“What?!” Martha defended, “It’s not like I got on the radio and told the world. I’m telling you.”
“Fair point.” Celia giggled. “How’s your mom doing?”
“She’s fine. Now that me and Denny are broken up she keeps trying to introduce me to ‘appropriate men’” Martha put the words in quotes, “I’m tired of it.” She looked out the window, “I wish she’d just let me met a nice guy on my own.”
“Like who?” Celia asked, there were few who would meet the standards of Elizabeth Kane.
Martha covered her mouth as she watched a crowd of people pass the café, “Who is that?” her eyes followed one figure in particular.
Celia craned her neck to see. When she saw who Martha was looking at she scoffed, “Oh him.”
“You know him?” Martha whipped her head back toward Celia. “Who is he?”
Celia shook her head, “I know of him.” She sipped her own drink, watching the man break off from the crowd and walk toward the café. “That’s Thomas Wayne. Heir to Wayne enterprises. Surely you’ve run into him at your society parties?”
Martha shook her head, taking in the man’s large build and striking blue eyes, “Oh, I’d remember running into him.”
Celia snorted, “Oh, girl.”
Martha shook her head and turned toward Celia as Thomas entered the café, “Do you know him personally?”
“Oh no.” Celia said “…” she looked at Martha who had a keen look in her eyes “You want him don’t you.”
Martha subtly watched Thomas walk over to the counter to order, “I do.” A slow smile came to her face. And what Martha Kane wanted…she got.
Thomas Wayne sighed into his champagne glass. He stood in an alcove, watching the gala unfold before him. It was a bunch of high society socialites mingling and donating money to a cause they could care less about. Thomas didn’t really care. So long as he got their money. He’d be able to continue his charity work. He sighed again and went to take a drink but found his glass empty.
“Freshen your glass?” a smooth voice layered over Thomas’ ears. He looked over and found a petite young woman standing there with two glasses in her hands. One was champagne and the other was juice. Thomas recognized the glasses that the juice was put in.
The woman held out the glass with a pretty smile. Thomas took the glass with a little hesitance. He wasn’t sure who this woman was. He knew she was younger than him from the fact that she was drinking juice, but he wasn’t sure how much younger. “Thank you.” He gave a polite smile.
“Of course.” The woman joined him on the wall, “Not interested in mingling?”
Thomas snorted, “With this crowd? Not a chance.” He paused, realizing that if she was here then she was invited, meaning she was part of the crowd he was insulting. “My apologies. That was rude.”
The woman laughed, Thomas found he quite liked the sound, “That’s alright. I do understand what you mean. The people in our tax bracket can be…duplicitous.”
“Our tax bracket?” he questioned
The woman looked at him, her brow furrowed, “Yes. The cut of your suit tells me that you have the money to afford a tailor. Which means you have the money needed to get an invitation to this event.”
Thomas raised an eyebrow, “You got all that from a suit?”
She smiled, “Yes. But it helps when I already know who you are.”
Thomas groaned and the woman laughed at his expression, he chuckled “May I at least have the pleasure of knowing your name, lady magician?”
The woman stuck out her hand, “Martha Kane.”
Thomas raised an eyebrow as he shook her hand, “A pleasure.”
1990—Gotham University Library
Thomas looked at Martha from across the table. They sat in the library in one of the glass self-study rooms. She had her long hair pulled back into a ponytail and her face was screwed up in concentration.
It’d been two years since their abrupt introduction at that gala and Thomas had come to deeply care for Martha. She was funny, charming, and beautiful. What really drew Thomas in was her compassion. He’d seen her literally give the coat off her back to a homeless person. And then walk that same woman to a shelter. She was awe inspiring.
Martha felt Thomas’ eyes on her. She looked up and smiled, “What?”
Thomas felt his neck flush red, “Nothing. Nothing. Just…how are your finance classes going?”
A smile blossomed across Martha’s face. Thomas felt his heart studder, “Really well! My cohort is made up of some fantastic people. They’re going to do great things.”
“So are you.” Thomas said with a smile.
Martha blushed a little, “Thank you, Thomas.” She looked back down at her homework.
Deciding to man up, Thomas cleared his throat, “Uh…Martha.” He set his own medical textbook aside. She looked back up, a question in her eyes. “I…I was wondering if you’d like to go see a movie with me.”
Martha smiled, “Sure!”
“…and maybe get dinner after?” he rushed out, blushing like mad.
“Oh!” Martha’s cheeks turned pink, “Like…a date?”
Thomas nodded, “Yeah. Like a date.”
“That sounds wonderful Thomas.”
1992—Wayne Manor, Gotham City
730 days, 423 dates, and two hundred awkward family dinners later, Thomas Wayne invited Martha and her parents to dinner at the manor. They arrived promptly at six, dressed to the nines. Roderick Kane shook hands with Patrick Wayne. Patrick then turned to Elizabeth and greeted her with a light kiss on the cheek. Thomas could only stare at Martha. She was wearing a beautiful wine colored spaghetti strap dress. “You look amazing, Martha.” He said, taking her hand.
Martha smiled, “Thank you. I like your suit. You finally got a new one.”
He chuckled a bit as he led her to the dining room, he straightened his tie, “Yes, well. I needed it. As you so often pointed out.” Martha giggled, taking a seat in the chair that Thomas had pulled out for her.
While they ate, their fathers talked business while Elizabeth asked Thomas about his charity work. Martha couldn’t have been happier. Her parents finally approved of one of her boyfriends. And the best part was that they got along with his father.
The butler, Jarvis Pennyworth, rolled out a cart laden with desserts. “Oh, what a selection!” Elizabeth gushed.
Patrick chuckled, “I remember what a sweet tooth Martha has, so I thought I’d give her some options.”
Jarvis wheeled the cart over to Martha and the woman looked over her options. As she did so, Thomas stood up and walked over to her chair. Taking a shaking breath, he got down on one knee. He dug in his pocket and pulled out a ring box.
Elizabeth gasped, covering her mouth to keep from shouting. Roderick smiled but said nothing. Martha picked up a slice of cheesecake and turned to look at Thomas, “I…” she frowned when she didn’t find him in his seat, “Thomas?” she looked around and nearly dropped the plate when she found him next to her on his knee. She had to force herself to breathe.
“Martha Elizabeth Kane.” Thomas started, Martha covered her mouth with her hand, “You have brought light into my life when I thought there was none. You are a rainbow after rain. You are the stars in the night sky. Will you marry me?”
“Yes!” Martha shouted, throwing her arms around him. “Yes, I will marry you!” she pulled back and let Thomas slid the ring into her finger.
Roderick, Patrick and Elizabeth clapped as Martha showed off the ring. Thomas stood and settled a hand on Martha’s waist. He leaned down and kissed her lightly. “I love you, Martha.”
Martha smile was a mile wide, “I love you too, Thomas.”