I once sang to a banana in a swimming pool because the voices told me to.

No, I'm kidding, but I got your attention didn't I?

Anyways...

Today is just another typical day in my life in NYC. I've never been a morning person, but my kind of work requires me to get/stay up at unusual times. Normal people get up and rush to head to a normal job such as an office worker, a waitress, or a barista. Not for me.

I'm at a meet up place, a rundown abandoned warehouse, with a 'client.' The warehouse was one of the lucky buildings that didn't get hit by the attack on New York a couple months back. The city was attacked by aliens under the control of the God of Mischief. The city was mostly destroyed but saved by the Avengers aka Earth's Mightiest Heroes. People chose sides whether they liked or disliked the heroes.

I never really cared as long as they don't get in the way of my business, but I know they'll probably come knocking at my door one of these days. Them, SHIELD, the Justice League, or some other superhero team. I deal with some pretty bad foes of the Avengers and the Justice League, and it'll bite me in the butt one day, but I'm happily free for now. There's a saying that is shortened as YOLO. You only live once, and I'm gonna have as much fun as possible.

"You better give me my money this time, or I'll do what happened last time, old man," I threaten.

The gang leader scoffs. "Yeah, yeah. Just give me the blasted device," he complains.

I grab a pen from my pocket and transform it into the decoder device that he wanted. "Don't break it until it's fulfilled its purpose, or it will revert back to a pen, scarface."

"I know how this works," he complains, signaling his follower to bring me the briefcase of money. "This isn't my first rodeo and please refrain from calling me that."

I take the briefcase and set it to the side. "I'll call you whatever I like."

"You're not going to check?"

"I shouldn't have to," I say with a grin. "If it doesn't have all the money, it shouldn't be hard to find and kill you. I'm surprised you would even challenge me, considering what I did to you last time you didn't commit. I'm more surprised by the fact that you have this many followers in such a short span, considering I wiped out all of your last group."

He gives a gulp as all the followers give me a wary look. "I've got connections, same as you."

"You know what I'm capable of, don't challenge it."

"I'm not an idiot, I learn from my mistakes," he scoffs as he turns to leave.

I roll my eyes as he leaves with his many followers in tow. I wait till they're completely gone before I sigh and transform to my civilian self. My civilian self is also my normal self as a human before my powers manifested.

It's been a few months after the attack on New York. I was one of the people who stayed and didn't evacuate. It was entertaining watching the newly formed Avengers work together and defeat the creatures I later learned were called the Chitauri. I didn't much appreciate Hulk throwing a minion straight through my window though. Wrecked my whole living room.

He wasn't completely dead, so I stripped him of his armor before I killed him and tossed him out the window. Then before I could get my hands on any of the alien technology, they cleaned it all up. I knew I should've gone out during the battle, but I was sick and didn't like moving much. Luckily, I got connections.

Grabbing the suitcase of money, I put my phone in my pocket and head to my next client. I turn back into my Upgrade suit in an alleyway before the large skyscraper. After making sure nobody notices the girl in a strange hero/villain looking suit, I diminish into a blob of black and purple and travel up the tower to the floor with my client.

Now, don't get me wrong. I'm not a bad person, but I'm definitely not a good person either. I was dropped off at an orphanage a few days after I was born. Or at least that's what I was told. I later discovered I was a mutant with powers unlike normal mutants, if you consider mutants normal. I've never met a mutant that could turn into a pile of goo and take over technology. Anyway, I ran away from that horrid place a few days after my powers showed up. I'm a nobody. I don't have a name, and I don't even exist in any database. I don't exist. Nobody knows who I am. Not even myself.

There's seven types of superheroes/villains/powers: mutants, metahumans, creatures, magic/magic artifacts, man made/skills, aliens/alien tech, and gods/goddesses.

Mutants are born with their powers. Examples: Magneto, Cyclops, Wolverine, Storm, and me.

Metahumans gain their powers through experiments, explosions, getting hit by lightning, getting blasted by cosmic energy, etc. Examples: Flash, Hulk, Doctor Doom, Poison Ivy, Killer Frost, and the Fantastic Four.

Creatures are like werewolves, vampires, angels, ghosts, giants, unicorns, dragons, demons, etc. Examples: Raven, Etrigan, Deadman, Dracula, Swampthing, and Lucifer.

Magic is self taught or given to those who yearn for it, given to them, magic based curses, or very rare cases is someone born with it. Examples: Doctor Strange, Zatanna, Dr. Fate, Shazam, or Giovanni Zatara.

Man made is made by humans or someone with a particular set of skills. Examples: Iron Man, War Machine, Black Widow, Batman, Hawkeye, Nightwing, Green Arrow, Ra's Al Ghul, and Cyborg.

Aliens are obviously not from Earth or someone who has tech from aliens. Examples: Superman, Green Lantern, Hawkman, Hawkgirl, and Martian Manhunter.

Then gods and goddesses which is pretty much self explanatory. Examples: Loki, Thor, Hercules, Odin, and Wonder Woman.

Some are a mixture of a few different ones. Like Loki for example has magic and is a god. Etrigan is a creature and magic.

I reach the top floor of the large skyscraper and sneak inside, making sure my client is alone. I snicker as I appear in the room. "Did you forget?"

"Of course I didn't forget," Hammer scoffs. "I know what happens if I do." He finishes up whatever he does on the computer. "And would you stop just appearing like that! It freaks me out."

"That's the point, Hammerhead," I laugh.

"Stop calling me that. I don't want to be compared to that big headed brute. I'm Justin Hammer not Hammerhead."

"It's either that or Justin Bieber."

"I'd rather you just call me Hammer..."

"No can do Hammerhead. I'm having fun. Now take me to your alien tech," I say with an eyeroll.

"Follow me." He takes us to a secret elevator behind a bookcase, and we enter. "I don't know why you want the piece of junk. It doesn't work, and it won't because the main base was destroyed by Iron Man and the nuke."

"You do know who I am, correct?" I ask.

"Yes, you're Upgrade," he replies not getting the point. His mouth then forms an 'o' shape. "Oh, right."

"Idiot." The rest of the ride is silent as we arrive at the floor with all the gathered alien technology. The door opens, and my eyes glow in excitement at all the alien technology I see in front of me. "All mine!"

"As promised for the last time you helped me," he says. "All the alien tech that we picked up."

"Let's see what I can do," I say, jumping onto one of the many alien chariots and placing my hands on the controls. My hands shift into a gelatinous looking substance and covers the controls of the chariot. I close my eyes to get a feel of the ship to get to know the materials put into making the vehicle. "Vibranium and adamantium... just like the suits of armor. Perfect." The machine earns a different appearance as I take it over. The machine turns black with purple lines flowing throughout. It powers up and hovers in the air. "I love alien technology." I begin riding it around the large room.

"Hey! Watch where you're going!" Hammer fusses, ducking down from getting hit.

"I am!" I laugh. I might be a little insane. "Where's the exit?"

I hear Hammer grumble cuss words under his breath as he moves over to a control panel, opening a large door in front of me. "There."

"Sweet, I'll be back to get the rest!" I shout behind me, riding out into the city.

I chuckle as I think about how I got this far. The power of fear in others.

I've never had a name not even when I was at the orphanage. This orphanage was in a city that most children should never grow up in especially for how dark it is and vile. Gotham City was a place full of thugs, criminals, and bats. I was alone after escaping the vile care system and roaming the streets, getting used to my powers for two years. One day I was found by a woman who's name was Talia. She was 7 years older than I was. She took me in and raised me in the League of Shadows aka League of Assassins. I left there when I was 18.

Suddenly a blast is shot at me from my right, and I dodge it just in time. I look over to see a flash of red and gold.

"What the hell?" comes the robotic sounding voice of Iron Man. Another blast is shot at me, but I simply roll from its path.

"Shit..." I mutter, returning back to watching where I'm going.

A thud is heard from behind me, and I recognize the feeling of someone landing.

"Miss, I don't know how you got this thing, but you need to give it up," Iron Man says.

I form a gun out from the floor of the chariot and blast him off, sharply turning a corner to get away from him.

~~~~~~

Tony Stark hates when villains want to get to evildoing early in the morning, especially on a Saturday. Whirlwind being one of those annoying villains. The other Avengers are currently elsewhere, leaving Hawkeye and Tony to deal with him.

"I can't believe you just shot at Whirlwind!" Whirlwind exclaims.

"You really do need help," Clint says, shooting him in the head. "You always talk about yourself in third person."

Tony laughs as he sends a repulsor beam towards his feet, causing him to stumble. He gets right back up in a spin of his powers, blasting up to hit the man of metal. Iron Man casually moves to the side and fires another repulsor beam shot at his back, smashing him into the ground.

"Ouch, that's going to hurt in the morning," Iron Man comments.

He once again gets up, only to be blasted in the face by Hawkeye's exploding arrow, knocking him out cold. After SHIELD comes to pick him up, they begin to head back to Avenger's Tower aka the old Stark Tower.

"So, Stark–" Clint begins but is cut off by screams of fellow civilians. The two turn to look at the problem only to almost get flung out their hovercarrier by something flying through the air. "Was that a-a Chitauri chariot? I thought we got rid of those."

Flashbacks begin racing through Tony's mind and the panic attack begins to take place. "I..." He stumbles over to sit down.

"Tony, are you okay? You're not having another attack, are you?" Clint asks, putting the craft on autopilot and heading next to his friend's side. "Aww, man. Tony, you're okay. Take it easy. Deep breaths. It's probably nothing, but we need to take care of it. You need to get it together. People could be getting hurt."

Tony takes a few deep breaths before slowly calming down and shaking his head. "Right, right. I-I'm good now. You meet up, I'm going ahead." He powers up his blasters and heads off towards the direction the chariot went. Iron Man blasts a repulsor beam at it, but it's easily dodged. He catches up to the ship and who he sees isn't some ugly alien it's a woman. "What the hell?" He gives a warning shot which she easily dodges then he lands on the back of the chariot with some difficulty shortly after. "Miss, I don't know how you got this thing, but you need to give it up."

A gun is formed from the ground and blasts Iron Man off the ship. Hawkeye catches up to him and manages to catch the tumbling man into the craft.

"Need help?" he asks.

"The ship formed a gun from the floor and shot me off the ship."

"That's new."

"No kidding," Iron Man scoffs, sitting up. "And it wasn't an alien. It's a woman."

"Was she hot?"

"Didn't get a good look," Stark replies in annoyance. "Has purple hair."

Hawkeye scowls. "If it's who I think it is, we're going to have some problems."

"Something I don't need."

The two Avengers head in the direction that the chariot went only to discover it gone along with the girl.

"Where'd she go?" Hawkeye asks.

"Gone," Iron Man groans. "Damn. Jarvis, did you get a good picture of her?" He listens for a reply. "Search SHIELD database, I'm sure she's in there." He turns towards Hawkeye after a few minutes. "You know a woman by the name of Upgrade."

Hawkeye immediately scowls. "Who hasn't?"

"Obviously me," Iron Man replies. "And I'm guessing the others haven't heard much about her either, considering the only thing we have on her is a cover name. No face or real name to accompany her."

"Let's head back," Hawkeye says. "We need to gather the others if we're dealing with her."

~~~~~~

After turning the corner into an alleyway, I transform the chariot into a mailbox along with myself and the suitcase, waiting for the two to leave. After they leave, I wait a few moments before turning back to my human self, turning the chariot into a computer-looking device, and the suitcase back into a suitcase.

"Damn, Avengers," I mutter to myself. "Destroying my fun time."

I head to my headquarters to drop the chariot off down in my secret lair that yours truly built beneath a warehouse. I move the vase off a shelf to reveal the hand scanner and place my hand against it to open the elevator behind the torn painting. The painting flips up off the wall to reveal the hidden elevator, and I place the vase back on the scanner before entering.

The name I gave myself is based off of my powers. It's not a real name, it's more of a street/cover name. I go by Upgrade. If that wasn't obvious already.

"Back so soon, mademoiselle?"

"Shut up, Ben," I huff to my AI. "I've brought you some alien tech." I set the 'computer' in the middle of a wide space and give it a good flick to return it back to normal.

"Ah, you finally got the alien technology from Hammer I presume?"

"Yep, and now I got the Avengers looking for me."

"It was bound to happen one day, mademoiselle."

BEN stands for Best Equipped Network. Easy and simple. He has a slight French accent, though I don't remember why I chose that. Most likely because I made him while I was in France for my missions with the Shadows. I loved the language, so I guess I made him love it too.

"It's made of Vibranium and Adamantium just like the suit I stripped off that one soldier," I admit. "Those aliens must have some kind of supply of it. I'd love to head there and investigate myself."

"I wouldn't recommend that."

I ignore him and continue. "This is the same stuff that Captain America's shield is made out of. Once I get my hands on the rest of the tech Hammer's got for me, I'm going to reform the rest of the metal to finish my new body armor and get rid of this cheap steel."

I pull at my clothing, which isn't really cloth it's steel that I've made to form at the will of my command. I've made it organic like myself, so it enables me to form whatever I want, from my Upgrade suit, to any clothes I may see, to my gelatinous form, to whatever form I may take.

"Very impressive, mademoiselle."

"I'm going to go get lunch. See if you can find out what we might need to use as a power source for that thing," I say, getting back into the elevator.

"Right away, mademoiselle."

The elevator doors close behind me and the thought of my favorite lunch place enters my mind. I close up my hideout and head to the corner lunch place, shifting to my brunette self. I enter the doors like I own the place.

"Ah, Shawarma, my love, I have returned!" I greet, getting a few odd looks. "Wow, this place is packed today."

"Ah, Miss Rose, the usual?" the owner asks upon seeing me.

Ah, Rose, the name that I lie about.

"You know it," I say as a smile graces my lips upon sitting down in the last available booth.

He goes back into the kitchen to tell the cook my order. The bell to the front door jingles and in walks The United States of America. At least, that's what I would've said if he was decked out in his full costume. His identity is supposedly known to the public but not many people know or really care. Cough cough fanboys cough cough fangirls cough cough. Obviously I'm not one of them, more of on the 'avoid' list because he could get backup easily and try to take me down. Try being the key word. I'm a brilliant intellectual, I have obviously hacked SHIELD once or twice before and read up about each Avenger. I've read their weaknesses and obviously everything.

I keep myself calm and uninterested as I usually do, it'd cause suspicions if I didn't. Good thing they don't know my true face. I distract myself by going on my phone to see if Ben has come across any updates for the chariot.

"Excuse me, ma'am?"

I look up to see the Golden Boy. "Yes?"

"Sorry for bothering you, but may I sit here till my order is ready? There's a lot of people moving around and I'd rather not be in the way. That is if nobody is sitting here," he says.

I blink at his manners. "Uh, um, sure. I don't see the harm. Nobody's sitting here but me."

"Thank you," he says, taking a seat in the booth opposite of me.

"So, never met anyone as polite as you have been in the span of 30 seconds especially in New York," I laugh. "Ma'am?"

"Uh, sorry, ma'am," he chuckles. "Uh... Sorry, it's habit."

"I'm not saying it's a bad habit," I admit, setting my phone face down, placing my elbows on the table, and leaning my chin on my folded hands. "Quite, charming actually."

His cheeks flush a little from embarrassment. "Thank you, ma'am. Nice to meet you, I'm Steve Rogers."

"I know who you are, Captain. I've been to the Smithsonian," I say. "Nice to meet you, I'm Rose Allen."

He chuckles bashfully. "Didn't think I'd be recognized."

"You can't really ignore a 6'2" man with manners from the 1940's in New York," I admit.

"You remembered my height too?" he laughs.

"I go to the Smithsonian a lot," I lie with a shrug.

"You have a lot of time on your hands then," he responds.

I grin. "All the time in the world... So, definitely weird talking to a superhero so casually. Totally not whelmed."

"Whelmed?" he asks confused.

"Oh, sorry, an old... friend has put his influence of words on me," I admit, thinking of that weirdo. "He uses words like whelmed or aster meaning the opposite of overwhelmed and disaster."

"Uh, weird."

A waiter comes to our table to drop off my food and drink. "It's always lovely to see you, Miss Rose."

"Likewise, Julio," I respond with a smile.

"It's nice to see you too, Captain Rogers. You here to pick up an order for the team?" Julio asks.

"Indeed I am," Steve says.

"It'll be out asap," Julio says.

"Take your time, you know how much we get. It's kind of a handful. I'm in no hurry," Steve says with his signature pearly white smile.

Julio gives a smile himself before rushing back to the kitchen.

"Wow, no matter where you go, you always seem to make people smile," I admit.

"That's my true superpower," he jokes.

"So he does have a sense of humor," I comment, taking a bite of my food.

"I've hung around the others way too much. Decided I needed to have a day to myself," he admits.

"Everyone needs to have a them day every once in a while," I say. A bing comes from my phone, and I pick it up to see that Ben has notified me at what a stable power source for the chariot would be.

"Especially if you're around Tony for so long," he sighs.

"Shit..." I mutter.

"Something wrong?" Steve asks.

"Uh, nothing, just something came up with my work. Something that will be hard for me to get," I admit.

"What do you do?" he asks.

"I'm a journalist," I lie. "And my boss wants me to get an interview with someone you know."

"Tony?"

"Sadly," I sigh. "He wants me to interview him about his new and improved arc reactor."

"I could ask him, if you like?" he brings up.

I inwardly smirk. "I couldn't ask you to do that," I fuss. "We just met."

"How about we meet up at this time here for lunch next Saturday?" he asks.

"Are you asking me out on a date?" I tease.

"I-I mean you don't have to if y-you don't want to," he quickly admits with a slight stutter.

"You know, it's kinda weird hanging out with a guy four times my age," I admit. "Even if he looks like a, hmm, 24?"

"27, if I'm doing my math right," he admits. "25 when I went under ice."

"Interesting," I smile.

"Yeah, Natasha keeps bugging me about dating. She continues to try to set me up with one of her agent friends."

"And Natasha is?"

"Ah, she's part of the Avengers," he explains, awkwardly scratching his cheek with his pointer. "She always tries to get me to go on dates."

"She sounds like my kind of friend. So, you wanna prove her wrong by getting a date yourself?"

"Bonus points if she's pretty," he smiles.

"So, you think I'm pretty? Bonus points for me if he's a good flirt."

He chuckles.

"Here you go, Captain," Julio places a few bags of food on the table.

"Thank you, Julio."

Julio nods before he turns to head to another table.

"Yes."

"Yes, what?" Steve looks at me confused.

"I'll go on a date with you."

"Really?"

"Well, you're Captain America plus you're cute, so who could say no?" I smile.

"Wow, uh, didn't actually think you'd say yes. Uh, cool. I-I'll, uh, see you next Saturday."

I laugh at his awkward self. "At this time, yes. Make sure you tell Natasha."

He grins like a child. "I definitely will."

~~~

Steve returns to the tower, exiting the elevator into the living area. A smile is spread across his face as he walks in, placing the bags of food on the counter. The smile doesn't go unnoticed by the current Avengers in the room. Tony is researching something at the bar, Natasha is reading a book on the couch, Bruce is sipping tea beside Tony, and Clint is cleaning his bow next to Natasha.

"What's got Capsicle all smiley?" Tony asks.

"I've got a date."

"What? Really?"

"Wait, are you for real or are you just saying that so I'll leave you alone?" Natasha asks.

"Believe it or not."

"I choose to not believe it," Tony says, not taking his eyes off the holographic screen.

"Actually you all could meet her as she needs an interview with you, Stark."

"And you don't find that at all suspicious?" Natasha asks.

"Where'd you meet her?" Clint asks, getting up to get his food.

"The shawarma place. She was sitting at a booth by herself. The place was crowded, so I asked if I could sit with her to get out of the way. Then we talked while we were waiting for our food. I don't find it suspicious unless she confronted me."

"What's her name?" Natasha asks.

"Rose Allen."

"What does she want an interview about?" Tony asks.

"Your arc reactor, I believe is what she said."

"Cool. I'll go with you for your imaginary date," Tony smirks.

Steve rolls his eyes.

~~~...~~~
And that's the first chapter! I'm excited to write this. I already have ideas for the next book. I'm a little crazy.

Extra names for her AI I was thinking about:

NICK now it can know

COLE contraption of labor efficiency

DREW doohickey ready equipped whatchamacalit

BEN best equipped network

Figured Ben would be best cause you know, Ben 10. I add a lot of references to Ben 10 throughout this book, so try to spot them.