Joker

23. Angels on airplanes are headaches but cute ones

"For god's sake, Ayu you do not need to take twenty three shirts! We're going to be there for two weeks! Only 10." Nakul was exasperated with his son.

It was spring and Nakul was planning on going to visit his relatives in Mumbai along with Ayu and Arjun. Aki was coming along too since he had vacation days pending as well. They were supposed to be leaving in two days and Ayu was constantly packing and unpacking and Nakul wanted to just go alone. Ayu whined "But dad-"

"No buts Ayu put away thirteen of those and pack some jammies and underwear." Nakul ordered.

"But it's my bag!"

"Ayu just do it or I'm leaving you here with your shirts." Nakul threatened "Do you want to go and meet everyone or not?"

Ayu was excited to see his cousins so he frowned "I guess I'll put the shirts back."

"Good. I'll be back in half an hour to check." He went to his own room and went through his stuff. Gifts for Yu, Bheem and Dev. Gifts for the kids. Shirts. Undies. Pants. Shorts. Home stuff. Kurtas. Jacket. Hoodie. Extra shoes. Yeah this is good enough. I'm done then. Nakul sighed in relief. It was finally over for him. He checked his phone. Arjun had sent him a picture of his bag with the caption 'Ready to roll. See you in Mumbai smol brother.'

'Don't call me smol and yes.' Nakul texted back.

Arjun was in the next city over. He had some big project of some sort so he'd stayed put in America for three months and left Nakul's place once the parents did. Nakul went downstairs to make himself some coffee and kept going through his phone. No updates on the Joker/Reaper identities. They'd hidden themselves really well. It was shocking such a mistake even happened with them but it was still a step forward for the good guys. He took a look at the picture the dude had snagged of the assassins and for the billionth time studied their slightly grainy faces.

"Hi love. All packed?" Aki walked in, dark hair wet. He showered.

He wore a black muscle shirt and shorts. He'd started wearing more of those since he started MMA. He was still very thin but whenever he moved his arms, lean muscle and veins would pop. He'd built more but stayed delicate somehow. The slight softness that used to be there in his arms and legs gone, replaced by cuts of muscle. It was extremely attractive. His body became as sharp as his jawline.

"Yep. The little man is having issues though." Nakul said, smiling as Aki pressed a soft kiss to the back of Nakul's neck "He packed 23 shirts today and no jammies and underwear."

Aki chuckled "You sure we don't need to help him?"

"We are already helping him. He needs to learn how to pack for himself we'll just make sure he's packing the right stuff at least." Nakul said, "It's a necessary skill."

"True." Aki sighed, wrapping his arms around Nakul's waist and nuzzling his face into his back.

"Tired?"

He felt Aki nod into his back "I got to drop kick a person today. It was fun but my legs and back are killing me now."

Nakul laughed "Oh really? Want iced tea? There's a new pack in the fridge."

Aki walked over, grabbed one and came back to his original position "I'll drink it with you. How was work?"

"Fine. Had a drugs bust downtown." He said.

"Found Joker and Reaper yet?" Aki asked.

"Nope." Nakul popped the p "You'd hear it in the news if we did."

"It was shocking enough just to see that you guys had pictures." Aki shivered slightly "The sketches were creepy."

About a month ago the sketches of Joker and Reaper were released to the public despite Nakul and Yuri's warnings not to. They thought it would make it harder to find them since they'd run or even get plastic surgery or do something to alter their appearances but the higher ups thought it would be better to release them so the public would be aware and maybe aid in finding them. But this is Joker and Reaper not a damn shoplifter! He remembered seeing it with Aki and the way he paled. He was scared. Of course he was! They're two of the most feared assassins in the world. Reaper isn't well known outside of classified info but Joker is basically an urban legend at this point.