A/N: this chapter might be a bit lengthy and I tried my best to incorporate the personalities of each character. Enjoy.

I suppose somebody wants to know about my first week at Avengers tower?

It sucked major ass.

Let's run over the week, shall we?

Monday: I pissed off Ironass when I accidentally destroyed one of his suits in practice. Not my fault that bombs have a timer, he should have gotten out of the way.

Tuesday: It was silent except for a particular Trickster who took up residence in my room all day. He kept on playing pranks on me until I gave up trying to sleep and just read some old books about the French Revolution.

Wednesday: Agent Barton and Romanoff overlooked my training. I got my ass handed to me in several occasions. By several, I mean eighty percent of the time. At least Agent Romanoff said I would be ready for the field.

Thursday: I got left behind by the Avengers for a mission. What sucked is that I got all suited up only to find them all gone. So once again, I was stuck in the presence of Loki. Yay.

Friday: I destroyed a portion of Stark Tower. I'm not gonna talk about that. Serves me right for trying to be nice and bake some cookies.

Saturday: I caused The Scarlet Witch to hate me because I might have said something when she tried to get into my mind. I don't regret it. Quicksilver thinks it funny, though so I guess I'm cool with him.

Sunday: Dr. Bruce Banner hulked out and I ended up being the one chased because Agent Romanoff couldn't calm him down in time. It sucked ass. Dr. Banner apologized profusely but I told him that it was okay. Tony just called me an idiot for running instead of fighting. I would have punched him if Romanoff wasn't there.

This week basically blew. So much for me being an Avenger.

"So how is your week so far with Earth's Mightiest Heroes?" Loki asked with an irritating smirk. That little shit knew that answer.

He lounged on couch, an old book in his hands as he flipped through its pages.

I sat at the foot of my bed with my legs crossed. My book on world geography laid in my lap currently open to a map of the Yucatán peninsula.

"Oh! Wonderful. I've had so much fun with my new 'friends!' Yeah! It's totally great, man! I'm so glad I listened to Fury," I said with a bitter and sarcastic voice. "Shut up and read your damn Shakespeare."

I went back to reading about the Yucatan peninsula before he interrupted me again. 

"Is must be so painful that you aren't included in part of the Avengers," he said. " 'Life is as tedious as twice-told tale, vexing the dull ear of a drowsy man.' "

I let out a dry laugh.

King John? Really?

"I didn't tell you my life's story," I said as I flipped onto a new chapter. "And I hope you understand what sarcasm is, and if not then this is gonna be a very long prison sentence for the both of us."

"I have a feeling that your life story would be boring, Midguardian."

"You really put the 'ass' in Asguardian, Frosty."

With that, I effectively shut him up.

----------

"Where's Newbie?" Tony asked.

"You mean Maya?" Steve said as he sat down in the living room.

"No, I mean Newbie. Where is she? She's worse that your adoptive brother, Thor."

"I haven't met this Maya so I have no idea of what she is like but if she is the likes of Loki then I'll be wary of her," Thor said from the kitchen.

"No, Thor," Bruce pinched the bridge of his nose. "That's not what he means."

"Why so keen to find her, Stark?" Pietro asked.

"Our 'adorable' little newbie has something from SHIELD," Tony said. He pulled out two complicated silver bracelets from his pocket. "I've been told that  have to help her with these."

"And you're telling this bit of information why.......?" Clint asked, just a tad bit suspicious.

"SHIELD got her jewelry? They didn't do that for Wanda or Romanoff," Pietro said. In a second the bracelets were in his hands. "These don't look like they're for fashion."

"And why do you think that is, Speedy?" Tony asked with a cheeky smirk on his face that would put Loki to shame.

"Get to the point, Tony," Bucky said as he sat down next to Steve.

"Isn't it obvious? Who needs to be tracked?"

Nobody understood what Tony was trying to say so all he got were confused and blank looks. Even from Bruce Banner who was just plain exhausted from a day of work in the lab.

"You gotta be kidding me," Tony face palmed. "Criminals, guys! Criminals. Especially ones who've been released from prison have trackers on them and this," he took the bracelets from Pietro. "This is a very important tracing device for out newbie."

"Now you're just paranoid," Steve said.

"So?" Clint asked. "Who cares? Aren't half of us are criminals? Maybe Fury wanted to take a few extra precautions."

"There are common criminals and then there are dangerous criminals. What Tony is trying to say is that our new addition may be a very dangerous criminal," Vision clarified.

"Look, we can't just jump to conclusions," Steve tried to reason. "She's new. Fury picked her himself."

"That's rich coming from the guy who worked under SHIELD during the HYDRA invasion thing," Tony said. "A lot of people are new, Steve but we can't just let someone we don't know onto the team. And do you really trust Happy the Pirate?"

"It's not our call."

"Let's see," Clint counted down. "Bucky joined because of Steve---don't deny that--- and he had a criminal past. The twins are joined because they wanted to and they had a criminal past. Vision was, well......created. Loki is serving out his prison sentence here because of Thor and he nearly destroyed New York, so there's that. Natasha has a criminal past that I won't mention. And big guy over here didn't even say yes but SHIELD forced him to join and he really doesn't have a criminal past. And then there's me."

"And me!" Thor exclaimed. "I wasn't aware of your Initiative until we had my brother in SHIELD's custody and I don't think I have commuted any crimes."

"See? We're a band of misfits who save the world."

"Look, Katniss. I don't trust her because I tried to look into her files and it came up blank. This kid is a ghost in the system. I know Fury isn't that dumb enough to let someone with no past on the team."

"If you're so concerned about her past then why don't you ask her?" Pietro asked with his arms crossed. "Oh, wait. That's right, Stark. She doesn't like you."

"Okay, let me put it this way. Show of hands of who has actually trust Fury?"

Clint, Steve, Natasha, Pietro and Bucky raised their hands.

"But that's because we actually know Fury," Clint said. "Sure the guy can be elusive and full of secrets but he knows what he's doing."

"Plus, what did Fury always say?" Natasha put down her hand.

"Dont trust anybody," Steve answered.

"I have a bad feeling about this," Bruce sighed.

"Me too, Banner. Me too," Clint said.

-----------

"I don't know why you like F. Scott Fitzgerald," I said as I placed the book back on the shelf. "Ernest Hemingway was much more better and his writing is more real."

"Of course you would like the primitive writer," Loki scoffed. "This Gatsby, he seems rather desperate to win back his past love. Doesn't he have any regard for the fact that she's married? He has wealth and power, and he loses it all for some girl. Pathetic if you ask me."

"I thought you liked the Great Gatsby?"

"I do. I like the writing and the theme, Midguardian, but I dislike the majority of the characters."

"Daisy?" I asked.

"Especially Daisy," he said as he snapped the book close. "And that women, Myrtle. She's reminds me of a snake. It's a good thing she died."

Loki picked up another book from a pile of books that I had given him from my library. Fury was kind enough to let me get my collection of books I had left behind.

Half of my books used to be my mothers, she would give me a couple of books each year on my birthday so that I'd start building my own collection of books. When I was old enough, I started to buy my own copies In yard sales or old antique stores.

"What about this one?" Loki showed me the book that he picked up.

"All Quiet on The Western Front," I read out the title. "I don't know if you'll like it. It's a war novel. It can be depressing and grim at times."

"I'll read it. How bad can war be?"

I scoffed at the redundant statement.

The boxes of books laid near my feet. Sometimes I regretted buying so many book but I couldn't help it, I can be sentimental sometimes.

I grabbed a couple of books and started to shelve them.

"So this is where you've been hiding, brother?!" A deep and mighty voice called out.

I should have had FRIDAY locked my door.

"Thor," Loki said his name with such distaste. "What do you want, now?"

"Stark and the rest of the men want to go drinking. I thought you'd like to join us?" The blonde giant said.

"Um.....it's Monday? Is that really a good idea?" I asked. "Don't you have a mission coming up?"

That was a bad move.

Thor, God of Thunder and Lightening, turned around. He walked up to me and looked down at me with curious eyes. My gods, he towered over me by several inches.

"So you're the elusive Maya I've heard so much about? Stark has referred to you on a number of occasions as a 'kid'. You don't look that young to me, Lady Maya."

Lady Maya?

"I suppose it's obvious Stark and I don't get along," I said. "Nice to meet you, I suppose."

"This is the first time I've actually talked to you, Lady Maya."

He took my hand and placed a kiss on it.

I knew this guy was trying to be polite but quiet frankly I'm not the social type.

Luckily, Loki beat me to it.

Or maybe that little shit must have read my mind. He probably did.

"She's useful if that's what you're implying. She's providing me with reading material, Thor. Unless you're here for a book I suggest you go and get drunk with those buffoons you call your friends," Loki said without taking his eyes off the book.

"They can be your friends too, brother." I slipped my hand away while Thor's attention was taken away.

"I think I'll pass. I prefer not to go out in chains," He spat with clear venom in his voice.

Thor turned back to me looking slightly defeated, I almost felt sorry for this guy. Must be tough having a crazed brother who nearly took over the world.

"It was nice to meet you, Lady Maya," he said with a light smile. "I look forward to seeing you again."

"Likewise."

He nodded towards Loki who he didn't even look up and walked out of the room without even looking back.

"He seems nice," I said as I picked up a few more books from the boxes.  "I have a small feeling that your brother might have been right."

The only response from Loki was: "Adopted brother, Midguardian."

----------

"She seems friendly," Thor said as he ordered another round. "I don't see why we can't trust her, Stark."

"I'm surrounded by idiots," Tony groaned.

"Okay, Scar. We get it. You don't trust her but we'll know if she can be on our next mission," Steve took Tony's drink away from him without noticing. "I say we give her the benefit of the doubt."

Wouldn't want him to get too intoxicated.

"Since when did you like the Lion King?"

"Darcy made us watch it," Thor said. "It's a very well written story. I especially enjoyed Simba."

"All I'm saying is that this seems too fishy," Tony slurred. "Doesn't anyone feel a little uneasy about the newest member? Do none of you hear warning bells go off in your head?"

"You're too serious about this, Tony. This is weird, even for you," Sam said. He placed a hand on Tony's shoulder. "I say we trust Fury on this."

"But he does have a point," Vision said.

Vision pushed away the alcoholic beverage. He just didn't like it very much, he didn't understand how Stark drank this almost every day. No doubt Wanda would approve of the smell of it.

"Logically speaking she has no past we are aware of and if Director Fury knows about this, he either put her on this team without caring---"

"Which isn't something he does," Clint clarified.

"Or maybe he wiped her past for her knowing. Whatever he did, he did was for some reason. Agent Barton did make a point earlier, most members of the Avengers do have a criminal past that has been looked over."

"But ours actually exists."

"Say we do look over her criminal past and she just happens to be a HYDRA agent or worse," Pietro pointed out as he sipped his drink. "What then?"

"That seems unlikely," Thor said. "If she was to be untrustworthy then why would Fury assign her to us?"

"Don't ask me. I tried to gain information on her. All I got was that she's 24 years old and her legal name is Maya. No last name. No prison records, no place of birth and no other existing records. She's a ghost."

"There's one thing you can't trust and that's a ghost," Bucky agreed. "I'm telling you Steve, there's something that she's hiding."

"Will all of you calm down," Steve groaned. He placed his glass of water on the counter as he spoke. "Look, we don't know Maya and she's new. She doesn't trust us as much as we trust her. I say we give her the benefit of the doubt. If she's hiding something, and I'm not gonna disagree with that, she'll either tell us or we'll figure it out."

----------

"Maya?" Agent Romanoff knocked on the new agents door. "Can I come in?"

"Yeah."

Natasha walked in to find Maya on one end of the room placing books on her shelves. At her feet were dozens of boxed all labeled with the SHIELD insignia on them.

On the other side was Loki who sat on the floor, intently reading as he was surrounded with a pile of books.

"We were wondering if you wanted to meet us for dinner. We're having pizza," she said she kept an eye on Loki. "It's a girls night."

Loki didn't even bother to look up from his book.

"Evening, Agent Romanoff."

"Loki," she said right back.

"Thanks for the offer, Agent Romanoff but I'm okay," Maya said as she stepped away from her book shelf. "Perhaps next----"

"If I may, you've been here all day rearranging those dreary book shelves of yours. Don't you think you should get some fresh air? Your constant scurrying is bothering me," Loki said.

"Since when did you care for the well being of others?"

"Well being?" He scoffed at such an ideas. "Since this one refuses to stop making noise, I'm politely telling her to get out."

"Tch. You're just angsty because Gatsby dies."

"So you wanna hang out or not?" Natasha asked me. "Pepper, Wanda and Darcy will be there."

"Wanda and I didn't exactly get off on the right foot," I said hesitantly. "And I don't know this Darcy."

"Look, Maya," Romanoff said. "I'm gonna give you some advice that doesn't leave this room. You gotta stop locking yourself away. We're not asking you to be all buddy buddy with us but you're part of the team now."

"I don't know, Romanoff. My people skills aren't that good."

"Then you'll learn," she said with a finality.

I couldn't exactly argue with that tone and she was my S.O., after all. I guess that an order is an order.

"Touch any of my stuff and you'll have to deal with me, Loki."

"Oh please, Midguardian," he scoffed.

"My name is Maya," I said. "Not Mortal. Not Midguardian. Not Human. Got that?" 

"Let it go, Maya," Agent Romanoff said.

Natasha led me to the living room just a couple of floors up where the familiar scent of pizza drifted through the air. Another thing I missed since I was in prison---pizza. 

"I see you've brought her along," Wanda said as she munched on a pizza slice. "And here I thought she would have preferred to stay in her room."

"Maximoff," I said curtly.

"Whoa. You're right. She's formal," the girl in the glasses said without any hesitation. "Loosen up, it's a girls night. I'm Darcy by the way."

"Maya," I responded.

"C'mon," Natasha said as she grabbed a slice of pizza from the table. She dropped onto the couch as she took a bite. I also grabbed a slice and silently ate it as I listened to what they talked about.

It was mostly about life and work and how men were morons. Typical things that women would talk about. It surprised me really, I didn't expect it.

"Where are you from, Maya?" Darcy asked, snapping me out of my daze.

"Uhh....," my mind blanked. "Seattle," I said quickly.

"Funny," Pepper said as she took a sip of her drink. "You don't have a Seattle accent."

"I moved around a lot when I was a kid. I didn't stay in any place for long so my accent isn't as distinct as it used to be," I said.

"So I've heard you had abilities, Maya. Is it true?" Wanda asked without any hesitation.

I felt like I had majorly fucked up. She just asked me that. What do I say?

"Depends on where you heard it from," I said. "Although you've already looked into my head. You tell me, Maximoff."

"Stark."

"Ah."

"Okay then," Darcy said as she put down her slice of pizza. "Let's talk about something else, shall we?"

"How about where's Jane?" Pepper asked. "I haven't seen her in a while."

"Probably off doing some sciency thing about who knows what in some secluded part of the planet."

"Shouldn't you be with her? You're her intern."

"Nah. It's cool. I sent my intern with her. He's British and cute. I'm sure Thor won't mind," she said as she stretched her arms. "Yo, Maya? You wanna pick any movies to watch tonight? You know being the guest of honor and all......"

"Whatever you wanna watch, really. I'm not that picky," I said.

Internally, I felt a little bit grateful but I knew that this was just a one time thing. The Avengers--regardless of gender---wouldn't accept me so easily. Maybe Captain Rogers or Romanoff but that was slim.

"Cmon. We won't judge if it's a chick flick," Pepper encouraged. "I asked if we could once watch Titanic."

I could see that Pepper was a kind person. She didn't seem like the person to be with a man like Tony Stark. Someone so kind with some so, well.....Stark-ish.

"I made them watch a series of horror movies," Wanda said.

"Dude," Darcy said as she walked to the TV. "We're in Tony Starks Tower where almost anything is available. Just tell us so we can move on with girls night."

I really hoped no one would call me a dweeb for this. Maybe Stark would.

"Um.....I never really did a girls night before. Actually, I didn't get to really finish watching all the Harry Potter movies. It's been a while since I've seen them.......it's cool if you don't want to watch it--"

"You've never had a girls night?" Wanda asked. "Even as a little girl?"

"Never was really a priority," I shrugged. "I guess the thought never occurred to me."

"We can watch all seven movies in one night. No biggie!"

"All of them?" I asked.

"Yeah," Agent Romanoff said as she threw her feet up onto the table and sipped from a soda can. "It's your first girls night. I say we can watch Harry Potter and try not to think about how the books were better."