I was so inspired by a fanfic "From the Shadows" by Miles333 that I decided to write the origin of Gene Khan myself. All mistakes about the Chinese culture I blame entirely on myself, I researched as best as my limited time could allow me to, and I should have spent the time in the law library. I just couldn't stop writing this, and I have chapter two finished which will be posted next week. I plan to show Gene's life, growing up in the Tong till the events in the series in the modern time and then going beyond that. This story will have two main pairings, Tony/Pepper and Gene/Whitney (both coming later in the series) but currently, it's just poor Gene's life. Warning for child abuse in this and the next few chapters, Zhang is an abusive stepfather and I will not be pulling the punches about his treatment of poor little Gene. Of course, Iron Man belongs to Nick. I own nothing.

And still a thousand miles lies between us
and we're waking up alone
what if I could cross a hundred borders
there's no going home
no going home

---Kate Rusby

Exile

It was raining outside, which completely ruined the day. At age seven, Gene was old enough to realize that he would be confined to the apartment, no matter how much he begged. "I don't want you to catch a cold," Mama said, after kissing him good morning. She had looked completely miserable as well. "Go read a book, you have your tutor tomorrow and you should be prepared."

So Gene had been forced to amuse himself. He had lots of toys to play with, but they were boring and beneath the dignity of a Khan. He wanted something new and interesting to do. The apartment was large, but he had discovered all of the secret passages already and had seen everything there was to see. He pressed his nose to the window and watched the rainy skyline with dismay. He had wanted to go to the park today and fly a kite, now he was trapped in the house. "I'm bored," he muttered to the housekeeper Huan.

"Master Gene, perhaps you might like to practice the piano? It might make your mother feel better," the elderly maid suggested as she swept his floor. "You know how she loves music."

Gene nodded. As he sat by the piano and began to play, he pondered a way to get his mother to take him to the movies. He would go mad if he was forced to sit here and practice Etudes all day. He could go down to the parlor and practice with his swords but that would be boring without Mother to spare with him.

"Tell me again about my mother when she was young?" Gene said, as he continued to play the next etude. He was so bored, he felt like kicking at the walls. Being a Khan was Gene didn't know much about his family, but he had managed to piece it together from the whispers of the servants.

"Miss Mei… is the sole heiress of the Khan family, which dates back to Ghengis Khan, the largest contiguous empire in history and most powerful crime family in Asia. Your grandfather Khan Chen is master of the Tong and can make governments fall and rise with a wave of his hand." Gene had never met him, Mama said he was too busy to meet with them. "He is both wise and wonderful, the greatest man in the world and your mother inherited all of his gifts. Not only was her blood noble, but she attended Oxford University at eleven and got a masters degree by age fifteen in computer engineering. She was also the most beautiful girl in the city and had many offers to work in the American Hollywood," Huan said, as she mended Gene's shirt. "But she always did things her own way."

"She used to be much happier," Gene said, as he fingered the keys. "Do you know why she has been so upset lately?" he asked. Maybe it had something to do with his father, Mama never talked about him. Gene was aware that all babies had a father, but he had no idea who that person was. Whenever he asked, Mama had changed the subject and looked very upset. For such a wonderful Mama, she sure kept a lot of secrets.

"No, young master. The good lady has her own affairs. But I know you make her happy," Huan sighed and ran her fingers through her gray hair. "I remember when you were born, she turned to me and 'His name will be Temujin, Jin for short. But I will call him Gene. Make sure to write it in English. I want my son to live in both worlds,' and made sure I told the clan chronicler to write both names. She was so happy to have you," Huan said with a smile, bowing deeply as she handed him his repaired shirt. "Maybe you could cheer her up."

Ah, there was an idea, he would make her happy, and then she would have to take him to see the new Miyazaki film. He raced down the halls of the chambers, trying not to bump into their five other servants, who bustled around the house industriously. They were smart and got out of his way quickly, which pleased him. He was a Khan, everyone should get out of his way. He was a conqueror by birth.

"Mama, want to hear a song on the piano?" Gene asked, peeking into his mother's study. She was looking at some papers with a sad look on her face. "It's really good." He didn't like her sitting there, all alone and gloomy.

"Of course, my love. I can't wait to hear it," Mama said, rising to her feet and following him back to his room. She had been looking pale lately, Gene was worried about her. She needed to be happy, she had been crying so much and she wouldn't even tell him what was wrong. "And tomorrow, we should go boating. The radio said that tomorrow would be beautiful."

"Sounds great," Gene said, sitting down and beginning to play his mother's favorite song. "Why do you like this song so much? It's so sad. I hate that Jackie Paper leaves Puff behind. He's a bad person." His quick fingers danced over the keys, trying to keep his mother's spirits up.

Mama smiled. "Dragons live forever, but little boys grow up and they have to face the world. That's the way of the world, my love. But don't worry, I won't let you grow up too fast," she said, kissing his nose. "And Jackie Paper's son will find Puff and then they will go on great adventures together. My father used to sing it to me, years and years ago." Her face looked even more sad than usual as she picked some lint off his sweater.

Gene shrugged, dangling his feet off the bench. "I still like happier songs," he mumbled, slipping into another song. "Can you guess this song?" he asked.

"Hmmm, this is one I haven't heard before…" Mama said, kissing his cheek. "Did you make it up yourself, my little genius?"

"Yes. It's called "Cherry blossoms," and I wrote it just for you," Gene said, snuggling into her embrace. She was the best mother in the world, according to his estimation. "Because that is your favorite flower."

"I am so honored, my precious. You are so brilliant, so wonderful to think of me. I shall have to buy you many presents for making me smile," Mama said, giving him a radiant smile. "You have made me feel much better."

"What's wrong?" Gene asked, as he snuggled into her lap. "You've been so sad lately. Did someone make you upset? Just tell me who they are and I will make them rue the day they were born."

"My sweet boy, how could I be upset when I have you to protect me? You know you're a Khan to the blood, and Khans are the finest family in the world," Mama said, hugging him tightly and kissing the top of his head. "Would you be all right with us taking a little vacation? Australia is lovely and I've always wanted to visit."

Gene shrugged. "All right," he asked, wondering why Mama would ask such a silly question. Wherever she decided to go, he would go with her. "Why? Are we going to be hiding out on a mission?" he asked.

Before Mama could answer the question, a knock interrupted the moment horribly. "Lady Mei, you have a visitor. Master Zhang has arrived with news of the Mandarin," Huan said, bowing deeply. "I have let him in."

"Who is he?" Gene asked, seeing the terror in her face. Who could come that would make the servants so worried?

"Gene, remain here and do not leave until I tell you," Mama whispered, going very pale as she lead her son to the two sided mirror closet. Gene had never seen his mother behave this way. "This is very important, do you understand? Don't move and don't make a sound!"

Gene nodded and watched his mother close the door as footsteps sounded through the room. "Hello, Mei. You look well," a older man said in Cantonese, bowing to her mockingly as he entered the room. "Enjoying your harlot's quarters?"

Mama raised her head up as if she had been fixing her makeup. "How dare you speak to me this way? When my father hears of your disrespect," she began, but her face was even paler. The man did looked scary, with gray hair and angry eyes. Gene hated him instantly.

"The runaway wife, who dared show her shame to the world asks how I dare say the truth to her face? Look at you, with your Western clothing, is this any way for Khan Li Mei to dress?" he demanded, fingering his own traditional attire. "Your father has died of a broken heart all because of you."

Mama staggered back and sank into a chair. "Papa is dead?' she whispered, pale with grief. "But he was the picture of health, what did he die of, husband?" His mother had been married? He had never known his father and had never asked, it had always been the two of them.

"Lung cancer. His smoking habit did him in. Now, his final wishes must be carried out. It is the only way to regain your honor and redeem yourself for the pain you caused your father," Zhang said coldly, looking around the room. "You know why I have come."

"I'm not afraid of you," Mama had said, but her voice indicated defeat. She raised her chin and held out her hand. "You cannot command me. I am the new Mandarin, by right and by birth. I demand to take my place with my child. Give me the ring."

"You? The Mandarin? A spoiled, adulterous child who barely deserves the air she breathes? You will never have the ring, your father's will is quite clear who the new Mandarin will be," the man said with a cruel laugh, picking up a toy soldier and smashing it in his grasp. "And he named the guardian. According to the law, I have custody of your son." No, this could not be happening.

Mama had the same look of fury on her face. "You can't take Jin away from me, he is my flesh and blood and I have proven myself a fit mother," she said.

"You should have studied the law better, Mei. As you were a minor when you had him, your father had custody of the last heir of the Tong. He never signed it back to you. Now that he is dead, Jin belongs to me."

"I am his mother, I will decide where he goes," Mama said, drawing her hand to her side, where Gene knew she kept a dagger.

"I will take him with or without your permission," Zhang said, snapping his fingers. Two men melted out of the shadows and grabbed Gene's arms, dragging him out of the closet. He hadn't even seen them enter! "I see he has inherited your nosiness. Or where you pathetically trying to hide him? I'm not sure which one is worse."

"Stop it. You're scaring my mother, and you aren't wanted here," Gene snapped, glaring up at the older man as he was dragged forward. "Go away."

Zhang snapped his fingers and Gene was given a hard cuff. "Children should not speak unless spoken to," he snapped. "I see I will have to break that proud Khan will if you are to learn some obedience. But we can deal with that later. Say goodbye to your mother, you are coming with me."

"Leave him alone," Mama commanded, rushing forward. Two other men melted from the shadows and held her back. "He's just a child; I'm the one who hurt you." Her eyes were filled with tears. "Don't separate us, I'll come with you."

"This is the will of Lord Khan. Have some dignity and accept your fate. I told you to say goodbye to him. The Mandarin has decreed that the last of the bloodline must be raised by me, in the heart of the Tong where he can be put to good use," Zhang said, as Mama's arms were pinned behind her. "As my stepson, he will live the life his grandfather wanted."

"He's my son, Zhang!" Mama said, but she looked so weak. "Why are you doing this to me? What happened between us wasn't about Gene, and you punishing him only makes you weak. Let me have my son, you can have the ring."

"This has nothing to do with your punishment, Mei. As the guardian of the last of the Khans, it is my duty to make sure he is raised among his own people. He must be molded into a proper son and not this weak, foolish, spoiled child," Zhang snapped. "Had you stayed and waited for me, you would be Lady of the Tong and this boy would be my son, and I wouldn't need to do what I must to maintain control."

"No," Mama whispered, turning white. 'You don't have to do it, I give up my place entirely, you don't have to do this."

"But I do. And as much as I would enjoy making the boy watch, I think it's best I have him secured. He is my ward, after all, and I must see to his best interest," Zhang said with a smile. "Take him away and lock him up. We must make sure he's safe, after all."

"Mama," Gene whimpered, as the powerful hands dug hard into his arms. "Don't let them take away from you!" He watched his mother turn pale, but still stand there. She was a Khan, why wasn't she doing anything for him? "Please, don't take me away from her! I'll do anything if you let me stay with her."

"Gene, I'm sorry," Mama whispered, tears rolling down her cheeks as she struggled helplessly against the men. All Gene wanted to do was bury his head in her chest and make this bad dream go away. Surely, when he got up, this would all be a nightmare and he would be safe in his bed, his mother singing a lullaby to him! "I will find you, I promise. We will see each other again. I'll be right there, I'll put an end to this."

"Your son is wiser than you. At least he knows he is in a fight he can't win. Perhaps he will even be useful to me. Put him in the car," Zhang said, snapping his fingers.

Gene struggled valiantly as he was pulled from the room and out through the halls. "Mama, please!" he begged, but one of the black clad men had thrown him over his shoulder and was carrying him away. "Mama, fight back!" He could hear his voice desperately echoing on the marble walls. Why hadn't she saved him?

"My son, be strong," he heard his mother say, her voice sounding like she was choking. "Don't forget who you are! I will find you, I promise," and the horrible sound of Zhang laughing at her pain.

"Mama!" Gene, kicking and screaming was brought down the elevator. "Somebody, help me!" he pleaded, but the two guests in the elevator seemed to bury themselves in their newspaper. "They're kidnapping me."

A moment later, Gene was hauled outside and stuffed into a limousine. He tried to escape, but was still held down by two masked men. "If you're kidnapping me, you should know my grandpa was a master crime lord and my mother is going to take over. Her real followers are going to rip your guts out," he snapped, as he was strapped down by seatbelts.

"He was a crime lord, Master Jin and we are loyal followers. Now your stepfather, Lord Zhang is the Mandarin and it has been decreed you be brought for training," one informed him, in cold Cantonese. "And stop speaking English, you are Chinese. You are among your own, act like it."

"My mother is going to rip your eyes out," Gene said carefully in Cantonese, folding his arms as the car drove off. He had to stop himself from crying, he was going to see his mother again. She would never abandon him. "You are going to be sorry." He looked around the limo but couldn't tell the masked men apart from each other.

The tinted windows didn't allow Gene to figure out where he was going. He was forcing himself not to be fall into despair. His mother would come for him at any minute. She had most likely killed Zhang already. "You're going to be sorry," Gene kept muttering, but they dared to ignore him, a Khan.

"Apologies, young master, but this is best," one of the masked men said, holding out a cloth. "Breathe deeply and forget your troubles for a bit." Gene opened his mouth to protest but a sweet smell filled his nose. "Mama," he whispered, as blackness took over his vision.

As he faded from consciousness, he promised himself the nightmare would be over soon. Any minute, his mother would rip open the door, take out the bad guys and rescue him. He just had to wait for her, she would come for him. She would hug him close and tell him she loved him and apologize for letting him be so frightened. The darkness whirled around him, but Gene couldn't even move. He just lay there, trapped in an endless tunnel of shadows.

"Master Jin, wake up," a cold voice said, shaking Gene firmly. "You must wake up, we have arrived." Gene blinked and forced his heavy eyelids open. The car had stopped and the door was open in a dark tunnel. A man in a gray robe was sitting next to him. "Welcome to the House of the Dragon, young master Jin," he said in Cantonese with a slight bow. "This will be your new home, for the time being. It is our honor to have you live here." It hadn't been a terrible dream. He was still a captive of that evil Zhang. He had no idea how much time had passed, or where he was. "Do you need to be carried?"

"Let me go," Gene snapped, as he was roughly unbuckled, still sleepy from the drugs. "I don't wish to stay here. I want my mother immediately."

"Young Master, you will follow me to your quarters or you will be carried there. I woke you up so you could walk but the choice is yours," the man said coldly. "But you will be going to the same place. Kindly conduct yourself with a modicum of dignity."

Gene bit back a sniffle as he walked shakily out of the car. He would not be hauled about like a naughty puppy, he was a Khan and he would not allow them to hurt his dignity. "You don't need to teach me about dignity," he said, getting out of the car and following the man. "But this isn't my home. My home is with my mother, the Lady Mei Khan."

"Come along," the servant said, taking his shoulder and leading him through a bunch of dark halls. Gene tried to figure out the route, but the dark halls seemed indistinguishable from each other. "This underground castle is over eight hundred years old. Fifty seven generations of Khans have lived here since your ancestor Kublai Khan," he continued.

"Then why didn't my mother and I live here? We are the last of the Khans," Gene said haughtily as he breathed deeply to make himself more alert. His mother would come for him and bring him back to the sunny apartment. "And who is the imposter who dares call himself my stepfather?" he loudly demanded.

"That is not your concern. Children should listen and not speak," the servant said coldly as they walked through the metallic halls, barely light enough to see his nose. "The Mandarin has graciously offered to take you in, young master. You should be honored."

"My grandfather was the Mandarin. If he is dead, my mother should be Mandarin or I should. So why is that impostor the Mandarin?" Gene continued, determined to get a single answer, as he walked along the dark maze. He couldn't even figure out where he was going, let alone how he would escape.

"This will be your room. If you are summoned to a visit by the Mandarin, you will ring the bell and a servant will accompany you. The halls of the Tong are no place for a child," the robed man said coldly, ignoring the questions as he stopped in front of a wood paneled door. "Inside."

"I am Mei Khan's son, you will not speak to me this way," Gene protested, before being nudged inside like a baby. "You will answer my questions or you will face the consequences."

"Meals will be served to you in your room. The Mandarin has ordered you remain there until he has sent for you," the servant said, clearly ignoring him. The door slammed shut and Gene heard the sound of the locks turning. He rushed to the door and started pounding and kicking to be let out of this cell. "It is best you remain quiet. You are a ward and must show gratitude and obedience for your place. It is an honor to live here, among the Tong. You should rest and recover from your journey."

The room wasn't like a prison cell in one of the books Mama had read to him. A bed was in one corner with a warm quilt and lots of pillows. Bright carpets lined the floor with dragons embroidered on them, next to a small closet in the other corner. A bathroom was through the door, also decorated with the clan crest.

Still, there were no toys. The only distractions were a long shelf of books to read, all of them in Cantonese. There were no windows and there were no other doors to get outside. It didn't look like one, but it was a prison cell and he was the captive.

If he wasn't a Khan, he would cry into his pillow and call for his mother. But he was Gene Khan, he was the son of a long line of warriors and he would not be broken by such crude methods. He would wait for his mother to save him and then they would take revenge against the evil man who had imprisoned him. A clock on the wall announced he had traveled four hours since they had left. That meant he could still in Hong Kong, they had remained in the same car the entire time. So Mama could still find him.

Of course, as he buried his head into his pillow, he found the stress bursting in his chest and sobs rock his body. "Mama," he wept, careful to muffle the sounds as best he could. He would never allow them to see his weakness, but in the privacy of his cell, he could let himself weep. He should have done something, should have protected her, should have stopped Zhang. He had just let himself be taken and had not saved his mother.

He didn't understand what was going on, why did Zhang steal him? Why wasn't Mama the Mandarin? Why wasn't anyone answering his questions?

He could only wait. Surely, they wouldn't leave him here forever.

AN-Next chapter, Gene mounts a revolution against Zhang and finds out that he is in a whole new world and learns what kind of a man his stepfather truly is. Apparently, challenging the Mandarin is not a good idea.

I hope people liked my theories of how Zhang is Gene's stepfather, that he was betrothed to her and she left him and had a son with someone else? For some reason, I can't see Gene's mum willingly marrying an abusive husband, and I wondered what "weak and corrupted by the west" meant. So I figured there were some deeper issues there on that, as well as why he keeps Gene around. I think you can guess from here why, but it will be explored further in the future chapters.