Sunday began with the boys being excused from their grounding to go to Church. Damian found particularly difficult to stay on that place, an awkwardness that the Kents didn't fail to notice.

"Something bothering you, Damian?"

"No, Mrs. Lane. That was an …interesting service."

"Aren't you used to go to Church?"

He looked idly through the car window, not focusing in anything in particular. "Father is agnostic, mother never displayed any spiritual side and my grandfather…" he sighed "In short, grandfather believes to be God."

Clark Kent chuckled.

"It takes effort to be agnostic when he talks with Zeus' daughter every other day."

Lois Lane pressed the issue.

"How about you?"

"Me?"

"Yes, you don't need to have the same views of your family. For the little we know of you, this is particularly true in your case."

"One hour talking about souls. I rather use that one hour honing my body so it remains in this plane of reality and I don't need to worry about its destiny."

"You're son of Bruce, alright. I think…"

Clark stopped the car, ears and eyes focusing in something above the perception of the other passengers in the car. "Big problem near Metropolis. Honey, take the kids home, Alfred will take Damian home after lunch. No videogames, no plays, no nothing."

"But we can help you with the si…"

"Not another word, Damian. You're still grounded."

In the next second, all that is left of Clark was a pile of clothes on the car seat, while a blue and red blur flies away.


Lois Lane sat behind the wheel, and start to drive away. After a couple of minutes, she stoped at the local market.

"Now, you kids behave. I will go in for some groceries, will be right back."

"Want some help, mom?"

"No need, Jon. I mostly just want some of these rare moruga scorpion pepper they received. They do not appear around often. Be back on a minute."

The youngsters stood in the car for a moment in silence. Jon tried to break it.

"Want me to turn on the radio?"

"Can it scan the police frequency?"

"Cut it out, Damian, we…"

The duo attention was draw by breaking noises coming from the market, as well as patrons running from it, some trying to protect their eyes, some covering their mouths. Rolling down the car windows, they could see a figure, wearing a light blue uniform with a pickles-shaped helmet shot from inside.

"That's it! Fear the power of the Condiment King!"

"You must be kidding me." Said Damian, quickly jumping at the wheel and hotwiring the car.

"What are you doing?"

"Taking the car out of the middle of the parking lot, to someplace secure, so we can change."

Jon pointed to the villain.

"Isn't that bozo one of your dad's?"

"Yes, he must have decided acting in the one-horse Hamilton County easier than facing Gotham Police now and then."

"Hey! It's my city."

Hiding the car beneath some trees, Damian started to remove his suit when, turning around, saw Jon in his fully uniform.

"It's called readiness, you know."


They soon stood at the side of the market building, forming a plan.

"The first thing is to take Condiment out of a building that gives him almost endless ammo, as well as access to a pepper that he can transform in liquid fire."

"Ok. Uh, Robin, just before we continue…"

"Yes?"

"My mother's name is Lois."

"Uh… mine is Talia…?"

Both boys shrugged and moved to their positions.


Inside the building, Condiment King rallied the remining guests and employees on a corner.

"Stay there while I grab what I need for my master pla…"

" Hey, leftover!"

He turned and saw Robin standing on the front door.

"Aw, come on, I can't go anywhere without you guys spoiling my lunch? Well, let's see if you can cut the mustard."

And pointed his guns to Robin, launching ketchup and mustard on his direction. He quickly moved out the way.

"Is that all you got?"

Condiment King ran outside.

"You realize the right combo can give you anaphylactic shock, right? This is a salt with a deadly weapon!"

As soon as he stepped out of the building, Superboy used his freeze breath to create ice blocks around the villain hands. The son of Batman got close, ready to punch him.

"Robin! Not that hand."

He sighed and changed to the hand without the brass knuckles glove, knocking Condiment King out nevertheless.

"You Super folks worry too much." And used a smoke bomb to cover his exit, while Superboy helped the hostages.


Five minutes later, Lois Lane and Jon Kent, complete with glasses and baseball hat, entered the car where Damian was trying to keep busy with his cell phone.

"Don't you guys think you are off the hook."

"*tt*"

"But I think half hour of videogames will not hurt. Let's go home, kids."


The butler stood there, holding the door open, while Damian thanked Lois Lane for the hospitality. He then turned to Jon.

"It was a… surprisingly enjoyable weekend, Jon."

"So, you had fun?"

"Don't push your luck." He stepped in the car "Home, Pennyworth."

"I would not dream taking you elsewhere, Master Damian."

As the car went away, Jon Kent smiled

"Yes, shorty had fun."

Lois passed an arm around Jon.

"He is a friend worth of the trouble, son. So, there's still the matter of dishes and that grounding."

"Aw, mom!"


Thank you for reading this short tale, Please tell me what you think, and if I shoud have another story with these great characters, the pinnacle of moder day DC, Condiment King... and those other two brats