Reincarnated As The Dark Knight

Artur sat on a bed stool quietly as the physician his mother had summoned examined him, it was a rather young man. The physician was quiet throughout the entire course of the examination. Vivian sat beside Artur, refusing to let him be out of her arm's reach.

It was an inconvenience for the physician, but he could not battle with a mother's love for her child. Besides, who was he to oppose the baroness' decisions. 

Artur was glad that he had a mother who really cared for him, but she seemed, to him, like the kind of person would overdo things a bit. He could also see Lily through the tiny opening between the two doors of the room. 

'What's she doing there'

When the physician was done with examining Artur's body, he wanted to ask for Artur to leave the room even when he knew what the answer would be. Vivian refused to let him go but the physician pressed for her to allow it.

Artur, who was as smart as ever, played the little considerate boy and spoke in a very gentle and cute voice.

"Mommy, can I go to meet Lily? She's waiting for me outside"

He even wanted to leave anyway, just waited for the examination to be over. Vivian saw Lily standing by the door and she immediately glared at her daughter while Lily returned a smile.

'What is with this tension in the air?'

Little did Artur know that he had just started an intrafamilial war.

"Mommy, can I go?"

Vivian hesitated but after she took a deep breath she calmed down and let him go.

"Yes you can my child. Mommy is coming to fetch you later ok?"

"Ok" Artur said and jumped off the bed stool. He ran to his sister and hugged her, his head barely reaching her chest. Her body was really warm. 

"Don't worry mother. I will make sure to take very good care of Artur" Lily said in a I've-defeated-you kind of voice. "We'll be giving him a bath if you need us. Come on Artur"

Vivian and the physician waited for Artur and Lily to leave before they finally began their conversation. Vivian was the first to speak.

"Darwin, I take it that you have good news seeing as you did not stop her from taking him for a bath"

"Yes Lady Loxley, your son is completely healed" The physician said "I must say, I am quite surprised. This time yesterday he was still very much near death"

"Don't you say that to my son"

"My apologies Lady Loxley" Darwin said "There is no sign of the black death in your son, though I fear the damage that has been done over the years may not be reversed. Your son may not be exactly as you want him to be"

The words struck Vivian's heart very hard. The thought that had always haunted her-that her boy would not be able to have a normal childhood, was there again.

Who could she have offended that wanted to destroy her through her son.

Vivian felt like collapsing in tears, but that would only happen in a million lightyears. He may not have been whole but at least he was walking, no running.

All his life he needed assistance to walk but he could now run. He was smiling for the first time in forever and it was not some weary, forced smile but a bright and cheerful one. He was just like a normal child now.

What more could a mother wish for?

She kept a straight face and turned back to face Darwin again. 

"You don't have to worry about that Darwin. He is exactly the way I have always wanted him to be" Vivian said "I will make sure he is well taken care of myself"

"As your word goes Lady Loxley"

"That aside, my husband will be back tomorrow"

Darwin looked confused as to what Vivian said.

"Do you want me to do anything else Lady Loxley?"

"Oh please, drop the professional act" Vivian said and walked over to him "You know I know that you aren't that gentle"

Darwin smirked "What do you want from me Vivian?" 

"You know what I want you little rascal"

"Lady Loxley, what ever could you mean?"

Vivian placed her hands on his cheeks and grinned "I could kill you right now. I've been begging you for so long now"

"My apologies Lady Loxley but I am no psychic, how could I know what you want from me"

"You bastard, you've always loved to push me to the edge, haven't you?"

"I'm sorry Lady Loxley but you will have to speak what it is that you want from me" Darwin said and grinned.

Vivian pulled his face closer to hers and her hands went from his cheeks to neck, positioned like she was about to strangle him. 

Her lips went closer to his ear, and she spoke:

"My husband will be coming home tomorrow so I want you to bring your so-called lover which everyone's been talking about over for dinner. You haven't introduced us yet and it will a good chance for us to plan your wedding, little brother"

"If you let go of my neck, big sister, I might just think about it"

Vivian took her hands off of him and recreated some of the distance she had closed.

"Why are you doing this to me Darwin? I really want to meet her, but you are always making up excuses to keep her away from me"

"Well, you can always come visit yourself" Darwin said while packing up his equipment. 

"No. You know I have to take charge of things while my husband is away as the baroness, there is no way I will ever have time to come visit"

"Good thing your husband is getting back tomorrow; you will finally be free"

"You know I can't just leave him like that when he gets back" Vivian stomped her feet repeatedly on the ground like a little girl "Come on Darwin"

"Vivian..."

"Mm-hmm?" Vivian was waiting for his answer so expectantly that he could feel her gaze pierce through him. 

Darwin knew that once his sister was in this state, she was not taking no for an answer. He sighed.

"Ugh, we'll come for dinner and talk about the plans over alcohol" Darwin said.

"Yay"

"And I mean it, over alcohol"

"No problem there. Just don't ditch me at the last minute"

"You really know my habits"

Darwin properly arranged the rest of his equipment into the bag and picked it up, ready to leave. He waved his sister goodbye but just before he walked out the door he stopped and turned back to her.

"Vivian, I want you to be very careful"

"Why is that? Is something wrong?"

Darwin cleared his throat "Your son who has been ill since childbirth leaves the house on his own one day and comes back hale and hearty but doesn't remember anything, doesn't that sound strange to you?"

"I know. It does but I-"

"You don't want to believe that it's not your son" Darwin finished for her "I won't say he isn't your son but still, you should be careful"

"I know. This may be some magic at work"

"Glad you understand. If it really is just a miracle then I'd tell you that his episodic memories were the price for it. Now if that is all I will take my leave. Tata"

"Goodbye Darwin"