Chapter Text
The first time it happens Jason is sure it’s a fluke. He must have misheard. Adrenaline got to him or something he’s sure of it.
Because no one laughs when they get electrocuted. No one alive.
It’s still early in his career as Red Hood. Not so early that he’s fighting the bat and the minibats but early enough that it’s one of the first times he helped Red Robin on his patrol. Oracle asked it of him as a favor. And having her in his pocket practically means she’ll grant him a wish.
It’s a smackdown of mid level grunts that had held a party hostage. Hostages secured before engaging, the replacement made sure of that. But apparently Oracle wanted him there as back up. Guess no one trusts Tiny Tim just like they hadn’t trusted Jason all those years ago.
Batgear is designed to insulate the body from electric shocks, it’s commonly weaponized enough that they protect against it. The problem? Red Robin doesn’t cover all of his face.
A thug grapples Red Robin, poor choice because he gets headbutted and ouch yeah that nose is definitely broken, but it's enough to allow another POS to hit him across the face with an electrified baton.
Then he hears it.
A wheezing laughter, lilted not with pain but with surprise.
It stops as soon as it starts. Maybe it was a gasp or maybe it was just how Tim breathed when it hit him.
But then Red Robin is slowing down, taking hit after hit and only giving as good as he’s gotten and not an ounce more. With the numbers they’ll overwhelm him. And as satisfying as that would be to watch…
Jason actually starts putting an effort into these guys, making up for the replacement’s sluggish movements. Maybe that zap fried his fucking brain or something.
When all is said and done? Tim grabs a very expensive looking vase and vomits into it. He looks like shit. Heaving and strangled breaths. Jason doesn’t stick around.