It started that summer

The Jokers Robin

"'Go home?'" She read aloud.

"Bruce," we muttered in unison.

Steph held down her comms, "We've got a problem. Our tires are blown, and Batman left us a little surprise. We'll have to go the rest of the way on foot. But—oh my god! This is great!"

"What?" I asked, my heart racing. "What is it?"

"They found Dick! He's okay!

A wave of relief washed over me, and I took a deep breath to steady myself. This was the best news we could hope for. "I'll put my earpiece back on." I grabbed the tablet and a few other items from the car, and we started our journey through the tall grass towards the building.

"I told you not to come!" the comms filled with Bruce's voice.

"Busted," Steph winced.

"Rich, so now you're a tech wizard," I grumbled.

"This isn't safe. Go home now. I don't have time to—"

"To what, Bruce? Stop us from helping?" I interjected.

"Jason is our brother," Stephine declared. "We're not just doing this for you."

"Bruce, please," Babs said through the comms. "Dick is safe. We're not asking for permission. We're family too." The feed buzzed with static, and anxiety hit me. The laughter started as a distant, almost playful titter, but it rapidly escalated into a high-pitched, unsettling roar that shook through the cold night air. Steph moved closer, fear evident in her eyes. "Tim, what's—"

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Each laugh was jagged and erratic like shards of glass being scraped against metal, piercing the silence.

Panic surged through me. "Oracle! Oracle, are you there?" I called out, my voice barely cutting through the eerie laughter that seemed to drown out everything else. Every laugh felt like a taunt, a cruel reminder of the Joker's presence and the danger ahead. What are we getting ourselves into?

I quickly accessed the tablet and brought up her system. The screen flickered with blurry security camera footage. "It's live. It's Jason! We need to move!" I grabbed Stephanie's hand, and we sprinted towards Arkham Asylum.

[In the Asylum]

"SHUT UP!" I screamed, my voice a desperate plea as I covered my ears. My heart pounded violently, racing with the fear of reliving my death. My world was collapsing into chaos once more. Why did I ever think returning was a good idea?

"Jason! Jason, can you hear me?" Babs' voice was a frantic lifeline, but I was paralyzed by terror, I couldn't move or even breathe. "Jason, please, are you there!? Talk to me!"

"B-Babs?" I croaked, the relaxation piercing through my panic. Slowly, I lifted my head, my eyes drawn to the spinning camera above me, the crazy whirl making everything worse.

"Thank God you're okay!"

The Joker's voice cut in, slithering through the static, "Knock, knock! Who's there? Not Batgirl! Get it? Because you're a helpless cripple! HAHAHAHA!"

"Jason, stay calm! Batman is almost there!"

"B-Bruce?" My hands trembled uncontrollably, and I buried my face in my knees. The walls of the Lazarus Pit seemed to close in on me, distorting into a swirling coffin of death and despair. "Am I going to die again? Is this what I deserve? I just—I just want him here. I'm so sorry, Dad. I just want to be saved." My sobs were dragging me deeper into my darkest memories.

"Kiddy, come over here and sit with your Pops," the Joker's voice was a sickening mockery of affection. "You did come to visit me, didn't you? How sweet!" His voice tone was a twisted kind of glee, sending chills down my spine.