STORY SUMMARY: This is a Brotherhood-centric AU retelling of X1 and X2 with an attempt to reconcile them with X-Men Origins: Wolverine. And also to throw in an original character. I'm not touching X3, though.

STORY NOTES: This is all pretty shamelessly indulgent hurt/comfort fic. What can I say, sometimes that's just what you feel like writing (or reading). Oh, and I didn't write out Gambit's accent because, um, I think it's annoying to read it that way. You all know what he sounds like without me spelling "that" as "dat," right? Okay, great. I did throw in some French and Japanese words, though. (Big ups to Google Translator.)

Also I completely disregarded Lady Deathstryke's comics backstory since a) it's never mentioned at all in the movie, and b) her comics backstory is seriously weird. I also pulled in some of Gambit's comics backstory, but not the time travel and stuff.

COPYRIGHT NOTES: Like, duh, the X-Men and the Brotherhood all belong to Marvel and Fox. And Stan Lee. Oh, and "Born at the Right Time" is a Paul Simon song title.

ET CETERA: I hope you like it! Please review it if you did, or if you just want to tell me it's lame.

Chapter 1: Walk with Me out on the Wire (Gambit)

"So, Magneto, am I hearing this correctly? You want us to go out and pick up a girl?"

Magneto fixes a serious gaze on Gambit. "You do understand the importance of this particular young woman?"

"Oui, oui, we have to get her before William Stryker does. Do not worry, I have never had trouble convincing a lady to come home with me."

Mystique enters the room and laughs at the last of Gambit's statement. "You ready, Cajun?"

"Of course, ma cher."

Mystique morphs into a peach-skinned, blonde-haired version of herself and hands him a file folder. "Well, let's go then," she said. "I have to be back at Kelly's office early tomorrow."

The two drive in companionable silence to a motel in Maryland, not far from the house they were using as a hideout. Gambit tries to turn on the radio, but Mystique quickly clicks it back off. Mystique parks the car and changes again, to a tall black woman with dreadlocks. Gambit puts on his sunglasses and follows her out. She walks confidently up to room 34 and knocks, laconically. They heard a brief rustling sound and footsteps. The room's occupant apparently peers out the peephole and is pleased with what she saw, because she cries out "Roxie! Hey!" and throws open the door. "You're early!" she says. "I'm not ready yet. Come in."

The two mutants enter her motel room and pull the door shut behind them. She is short, barely five feet tall, and she looks even shorter because she's barefoot. Her chin-length black hair is damp, and she wears a plain pink tank top and tight black jeans.

Seeing Gambit, she asks, "Oh! Who's your friend?"

"The name is Remy LeBeau," he says, extending a hand. "Enchante." She grins and shakes it.

"Nori Oyama. Hajimemashite," she says, with a quick questioning glance at Mystique, who shrugs. She continues, "So, Rox, how on earth did you get ready so quickly? We just got back from the club like five minutes ago."

Mystique shrugs again. Gambit barrels on, "You're Noriko Oyama, right?"

She nods. "Yes," she says, politely.

"You're Yuriko Oyama's sister?"

This time Nori jerks her head up and looks Gambit hard in the face, then glances at Mystique for reassurance. "Yes… how do you know my sister? You… you haven't seen her, have you?" The hope in her voice completely charms Gambit.

"Well, not exactly, cherie," he says.

"What do you mean, not exactly? What is this about?" She's still polite, but the veil over her fear is thin.

"We don't have much time," Mystique says. She morphs to her natural state and Nori gasps.

"R-Rox? How long have you been able to do that?"

"I'm not your friend Roxanne. My name is Mystique. We've come here to warn you."

Nori crosses her arms over her chest. "Warn me about what," she says flatly. She's looking regretfully at the cell phone lying on the bed, just out of reach, and she starts sidling back toward it.

"Your sister Yuriko has been kidnapped by the government and put into a secret experimentation program. We believe that you are next on their list."

"What? I—is she okay?"

"She's alive," Mystique says tersely.

"Well, where is she? How do you know? What do they want with me?"

Mystique sighs. "Look. We don't have much time. We can answer all of your questions eventually, but you have to come with us now."

"Come with you where?"

"Girl. We don't have time to argue. Stryker's men could be coming for you tonight, and you do not want to end up in their custody."

The small woman glances between the two mutants. "This isn't a joke?"

Gambit apologetically hands her the file folder, and she flips through its contents. The color drains out of her face.

"Well. Let me put my shoes on, then."

Mystique nods. "Quickly." Nori puts on her shoes and coat, then begins sweeping things into her messenger bag.

"Leave the phone. Leave your wallet. Leave anything they can use to track you."

"Uh, okay. Can I just call-?"

"No!" Mystique snaps. Gambit makes an apologetic little moue at Nori, and she bites her lip and grabs her bag and guitar.

Mystique casts a brief glare at the guitar, but says nothing. She follows them out to their car, and Mystique opens the trunk. "Get in," she says.

Nori looks up at her warily.

Gambit holds his empty hands out soothingly. "Look, cherie, I promise you we ain't gonna hurt you. It's just in case anybody's out looking for you. We ain't goin' far."

"Uh… okay, I guess," Nori says, sizing them up. Her hands are shaking, but she's clearly decided that she may as well trust these two—or at least that fighting them would be fruitless. She's right; Mystique would knock her out if the girl hesitated any longer.

She gamely climbs into the trunk. "I put a pillow in there for you," Gambit says brightly.

"It isn't a long drive," Mystique says, and she gently closes the trunk over the girl.

"That went pretty well, I think," Gambit says. Mystique shrugs.

When they pull back up into the garage, Gambit lets Nori out of the trunk and gallantly offers her a hand. "Thanks," she says quietly.

"Hey, mon chaton, I know this is strange for you, but you're gonna be alright, oui?" She gives him a small, uneven smile. He matches it with a huge grin. "Now, come on inside and meet everybody."

He carries her guitar in for her and takes her to a bedroom on the house's basement. "You can put your things here for now, all right?" She carefully sets her bag down, but keeps her coat on.

Gambit nods and takes her further into the house. He knocks on a stainless steel door, and it swings open on its own. Magneto, wearing a charcoal sweater and black slacks, stands to greet them. "Ah, Miss Oyama. Welcome."

She smiles at him tentatively. "Thank you…"

"I'm known as Magneto."

"Thank you, Magneto."

He nods. "Please, have a seat." He waves his hand and a chair pulls away from the wall to directly in front of his desk.

She doesn't react to the use of mutant power, which pleases Magneto. She also doesn't sit, but glances back at Gambit, who is standing just behind her. He smiles reassuringly, and Magneto quirks his lips. "Gambit, you may stay if you'd like," he adds.

Gambit pulls his own chair up next to Nori's. "It's all right, cherie," he says sunnily. He wants to provide balance for Magneto, who can be... intimidating. This poor girl has already been intimidated enough today, he thinks.

She sits down and draws her knees up to her chest tightly. She peers up at Magneto expectantly. She's clearly still wary.

"So, my dear, I trust you read the information Mystique gave you regarding William Stryker?"

"I, uh, skimmed it," she says.

"We were kinda in a hurry," Gambit adds.

"Well. As you know, your sister Yuriko disappeared three years ago." She bites her lip and nods. "She was abducted by William Stryker, a U. S. army colonel who has been experimenting with mutants for some time now. He uses a serum to brainwash them and use them for his own means. Your sister's healing abilities are… quite valuable to Stryker. He's using her as his personal assistant and bodyguard."

"My sister's a lawyer," Nori whispers.

Magneto gives her a sad smile.

"The picture I saw, she… she had claws? Or…"

Magneto nods. "Stryker had her skeleton coated with a metal called adamantium, and he added those as a bonus."

Nori rocks back and forth slightly in her chair. "So, can you help her…?"

He sighs. "We would like to. It's complicated, you understand. He is quite a powerful man."

She says nothing. "I am sorry to have to tell you all this, my dear."

"And… and what…" she trails off.

"It appears that Stryker has recently become aware of your gifts, and would like to add you to his collection."

"My gifts?"

"Your mutant abilities."

"There must be some confusion," she says. "I'm not a mutant."

"My dear, you are safe here. We are all of us mutants. You don't have to lie any more."

She shakes her head. "No, I'm not a mutant. Don't get me wrong—I believe in mutant equality, but… I'm not one."

He looks exasperated. "You are."

"Wouldn't I know if I were? What is my ability even supposed to be?"

"Well, now, perhaps you wouldn't know… fascinating. But you definitely have a gift. I can feel it working right now."

She looks to Gambit, who shrugs, and back to Magneto, who says, "Miss Oyama, you have the ability to magnify the abilities of other mutants."

"Oh," she says, disappointedly.

"It's nothing to be ashamed of—" Magneto starts.

"I'm not ashamed! I was just hoping for, like, flying or something."

Gambit laughs, and Magneto gives a small smile. "I suppose it isn't a very entertaining ability. But you could be a great asset, my dear."

"To Stryker," she says flatly.

He gives a small tilt of his head. "Indeed. But, hopefully, to the Brotherhood of Mutants."

She narrows her eyes. "And you, I presume, represent the Brotherhood of Mutants?"

"Yes. But make no mistake—we offer you asylum regardless of whether or not you ultimately decide to join us."

She makes long eye contact with Magneto before nodding. "Thank you. I appreciate it. But, um, what is the Brotherhood of Mutants?"

Magneto runs his hand through his silver hair and asks, "My dear, would you mind waiting until the morning for an answer to your question? I assure you I will be happy to provide you with the answers you seek, but I think it has been a rather long day for all of us."

"Oh… um, yes, I guess."

He smiles. "Sleep well, Miss Oyama. And please—for your own safety, stay in your bedroom until someone comes to get you in the morning."

She nods. "All right. Good night, Magneto."

"Gambit, would you walk Miss Oyama back to her room, please?"

"It would be my pleasure."

"It's Nori, by the way," she adds, as she stands up to follow Gambit.

When they're out in the basement hallway, Gambit squeezes Nori's shoulder affectionately.

"Is he always like that?" she whispers.

"Who, Magneto?" he laughs. "No, he's usually even more dramatic. But he is a good man, non? You'll see. You can trust him."

They reach her new bedroom, and Gambit opens the door for her. "Here's your room, safe and sound. It's a suite, so it has its own bathroom. Do you need anything else?"

"No, thank you."

He bows and kisses her hand. "Then I bid you good night, cherie."

"Good night, Gambit."

NOTES: Song title is from "Born to Run" by Bruce Springsteen.