They didn't have any warning. No one was asked or informed ahead of time. It all was sprang on them rather suddenly on a seemingly normal afternoon.
Dick Grayson, ward of the billionaire Bruce Wayne during the day, and Robin the boy wonder by night, had come home from school one day as normal. Only to find a few small suitcases in the hallway and a stern looking woman thanking Bruce as she walked past, not paying any attention to the preteen in the doorway, looking for all the world like a woman on a mission. She looked familiar to him, but he couldn't place why, Perhaps she was a business partner of Bruces?
He didn't have to wait long to find out. Almost as soon as the woman was out of earshot Alfred was next to the curious boy to welcome him home and take his coat.
"That was Adeline Wilson. Master Bruce has worked with her in the past with some of his…. After dark activities." Which was clearly code that Bruce had used her to aid the batman. "She's asked him to do her a favour." The butler explained calmly without having to be asked. "It seems her son will be our guest for a few days."
Leaning into the doorway to get a better look at their supposed guest, Dick was surprised to see Bruce knelt down and talking softly to a young boy. The boy couldn't have been much younger than Dick himself, but he seemed so small, curled up into the arm of the sofa, messy blond hair covering his face as he listened to the billionaire trying to assure him that he was safe here. But Dick didn't want to intrude, his curiosity could wait for now until the kid calmed down and had got settled in. He remembered how overwhelming this place could be the first time you come here, and the blond looked shaken enough with just Bruce there with him, too many people might not help the situation.
Deciding that his mentor had this under control and he would only be in the way, Dick excused himself and went to the kitchen to work on homework until they were ready to introduce the two of them. But he was curious why the blond boy was here. He wasn't an orphan boy who needed help like he had been, the boys mother had just dropped him off, and he doubted that someone would just choose Bruce Wayne of all people to babysit for them if it wasn't a question of security or secrecy. Either way, he'd never had another kid his age staying in the manor. Would he be here long enough to become a friend? Or would he not want to talk to to him?
Hearing movement from the other room, Dick looked up from his book in time to see Alfred picking up the suitcases from the hallway, ready to take them up to one of the guest rooms. "Hey Al, let me help you with those!" Before the old butler could argue, the young acrobat was already in the hallway with one of the bigger cases in his hand.
"Very well, master Dick… Joseph, Dick Grayson here is Bruce's young ward, I'm sure you'll be seeing plenty of each other during your stay here." There was a knowing softness in the butlers words, like he was secretly glad Dick decided to introduce himself instead of staying away. There didn't look like there was too much of an age gap between them, asides from the obvious size difference, and Alfred was sure that having someone his own age to be around might be good for the scared boy who they had to protect. And it wouldn't hurt for Dick to be around someone his own age either.
The blond was taken by surprise, but he didn't react much, just nodded in acknowledgment and continued to silently follow Alfred, and now Dick, up the grand staircase to the room he'd be staying. He didn't say a word, barely looked up, and seemed very withdrawn, like he didn't want to draw attention to himself. He seemed shy, but there was more than that, not just afraid or awkward, he looked like he was lost in his own mind.
"Do you require any other assistance master Joseph?" Again he seemed surprised as Alfred words pulled him out of wherever he had been in his mind, but smiled and shook his head, wordlessly denying any help.
Dick Grayson watched as Alfred dismissed himself, giving him a smile and nod as he passed, as if giving permission, or encouraging him to break the ice and go to talk to Joseph. Which he did as soon as they were alone in the guest bedroom.
"Hey, you need any help unpacking?" It was a good ice breaker, placing the larger case down near the bed where the blond had sat down after drawing the curtains, even though it was still light outside. But the only answer he got was a kind, sad smile and a shake of the boys head, he didn't need any help.
"You sure? Maybe i could give you a tour around the manor then? Even I still get lost sometimes." But once again the boy just smiled, shook his head, and seemed to ignore him. Stretching and yawning like he was tired, but his body language was slightly off. The few years he'd trained under batman give Dick enough of an understanding to tell when someone was faking, the boy didn't seem tired, but if he wanted him to leave then why didn't he just so?
"You just want me to shut up and leave you alone don't you?" He didn't mean to accuse him, his voice was light and more amused than anything. But the sheepish look on Joseph's face as he rubbed the back of his neck in embarrassment, told Dick that he knew he'd been found out.
Something about the boy seemed to be urging Dick not to question him, or think less of him, that he just wanted to be alone. And without knowing why he was here, Dick felt bad if he come across as pushy or like he was trying to overcrowded quiet the young boy.
With a sigh Dick held his hands up in surrender. "Okay, I can tell when I'm not needed." again he noticed the look on Joey's face, like he wanted to apologize and explain something, but couldn't bring himself to form the words.
"If you need anything, then my rooms 5 doors down on the opposite side of the corridor." He had to offer, just incase something happened or the boy did get himself lost in the manor. He doubted that he'd be going out with batman tonight unless there was a sudden emergency.
Dick waited for a few moments to see if the blond would say anything, but all he did was nod, and keep staring, like he just wanted the other boy to leave him alone. So the young Robin left, shutting the door on his way out, and headed down to fit in some training before finding out if Bruce needed him on patrol tonight.