Archive of Our Own ^beta

Once all the DODC people had been forced to retreat and the cops had taken the handcuffs off Bruno, Aamir, Zoe and Nakia - it would be hypocritical of them not to, given they themselves just turned against DODC too - after the four of them had (probably unsuccessfully) fended off questions about the identity of Night Light (how Kamala would cringe and probably whip her mask off to clarify if she were still here) and tried not to bring to the Illuminaunties’ attention Kamala’s conspicuous absence in this incident in which both of her best friends and brother were involved - after all of that , came the fussing.

“Bruno, beta, we heard about what happened at the Circle Q,” Mrs. Khan said, clucking over him very much like a mother hen, “are you okay, are you hurt? How’s your wrist? The handcuffs didn’t make it worse, did it? Have you talked to your Nonna about Circle Q? When is Nonna coming back? You can’t have a plan of where to stay tonight yet, you must come stay with us.”

“No, no, it’s okay, Mrs. Khan, I’m sure I’ll figure something out,” Bruno said hastily. After the stress of this evening, surely they didn't need to worry over him as well.  

“Figure what out?” Nakia said. “Your apartment and place of work just got blown up. My parents would kill me if I bring a boy home, even you, so you might as well take Mr. and Mrs. Khan’s couch.”

“You are welcome to stay with us as long as you need, Bruno,” Mr. Khan said before Bruno had any time to point out staying with Kamala’s would functionally be no different from staying with Nakia’s - which was not a solution he had been considering anyway…even if he had no idea what other solutions he actually had. 

“Yes, this is all to do with - with everything else that had happened tonight,” Mrs. Khan said, shaking her head. “How could we leave you to fend for yourself after that?”

“Thank you,” Bruno finally stammered to the Khans. “I guess until my Nonna comes back…Thank you, really, Mr. and Mrs. K…”

“There’s no need for all of that,” Mrs. Khan said briskly. “You should know you’re family by now, beta. Come, come, it’s been a long day, we all need rest, let’s go home…”

Mr. Khan turned to ask whether Nakia and Zoe needed rides home, but Zoe assured him that she had her car and could drive herself home, and at that moment, Nakia’s parents also turned up looking for her. That left Mrs. Khan to shepherd all the Khans present and Bruno out of the still buzzing, gossiping crowd, towards where Mr. Khan had hastily parked their car at the side of the road earlier. 

On the way to the car, Aamir clapped Bruno on the shoulder. “Tomorrow, I’ll drive you back to Circle Q, see if we might be able to get in to salvage any of your stuff. Hopefully the fire department will be done with it by then and let us in.”

Voice mail, unable to be sent (how is it possible that she could make the call but the voice mail doesn’t go through, who knows? It’s space magic!): Oh my god oh my god omigod BRUNO!!! You will never guess what's happening, I'm on a spaceship with CAROL FREAKING DANVERS and this really cool girl named Monica and I'M WEARING CAROL FREAKING DANVERS' PAJAMAS and WHAT IS HAPPENING so many things had happened I don't even know where to start, by the way do you know how it's scientifically possible for a cat to have tentacles and swallow people whole and OMG CAROL wants to discuss strategies of what to do next with me - I gotta go. ByEEEEE wish you were here!!!