Pieces of paper littered the desk, covering all of the wooden surface. Each sketch was in beautiful detail, the charcoal making almost photo-like renditions of the originals. On the top, placed in the middle and perfectly aligned with the edge of the desk, was a picture. One could tell that the artist had been proud of it just by looking at the precise way it had been put there (the rest of the papers lay there as if thrown) or by the confident signature at the bottom right corner.

"Mami and Papa" by Richard Grayson.

The drawing was immaculate, each proportion perfectly rendered and every detail precise. It almost looked alive. It was no wonder that Richard Grayson had been proud of his drawing. In fact, the only imperfection the drawing sported were small water-spots randomly covering the page. Like raindrops, like small grease spots…

Or tears.

Lying next to the desk, a pencil resting lightly on his slightly curled fingers, Richard Grayson slept. His breaths came slowly and evenly, and a half-finished drawing lay on his stomach. The door shook slightly, then opened; a man strode in. His hair was raven black just like the boy's; he was clad in an expensive-looking suit.

"Time for patrol, aren't you-" The man paused, taking in the sleeping Grayson. He softly strode towards the boy, taking away the notebook and putting it on the desk…

Before doing a double take and lifting up the notebook again to look at the picture under it.

The man picked up the piece of paper and read the title. A look of sadness crossed his face, and he moved to put the picture back under the notebook. Then he drew the notebook closer to his face; recognition dawned as he adjusted a small photo paper-clipped to the notebook.

The photo was one of Richard and the man, as was the half-finished drawing. The man looked from the completed work to the half-finished drawing to the young teen lying on the ground.

Five minutes later, Batman was out on patrol and young Richard Grayson still lay on the floor, propped up with pillows, covered in a blanket, his notebook closed and on the floor next to him.