A/N

Can take place in 418 and 419, and is the Origin Story for the OC, Maya.

To be clear, this takes place after Homecoming (so Peter could accept the Iron Spider suit at the end), but before Civil War (I know the chronology, chill, it's to make my life easier)

I'd also reccomend you to read "The Life of a Teenage Hero," by Avengersgeek2019 for more on Maya's backstory prior to the events of this chapter.

***

History Museum, Queens, New York

"...Captain Steven Grant "Steve" Rogers is a World War 2 veteran, a founding member of the Avengers and Earth's first superhero. Rogers had suffered from numerous health problems, and upon America's entry into World War II, was rejected from the service within the United States Army, despite several attempts to enlist. Rogers was the only recipient of the Super Soldier Serum developed by Abraham Erskine under the Strategic Scientific Reserve Determined to serve, Rogers ultimately volunteered for the Project Rebirth, which enhanced the frail Rogers' body..." The tour guide was saying.

One student, Maya Adams, scribbled frantically in her notebook, attempting to get down every word the guide was saying. She had a paper to write after they got back.

"Maya, you could probably Google most of this, maybe ease up on the notes?" One of her best friends, Betty, suggested.

"I can't trust Google all the time." Maya replied, still writing. "Besides, we actually get to learn about a historical figure who's still alive and lives just a few cities away."

"Fair enough."

The group walked down a different hallway, still in the Captain America exhibition. There was a glass case surrounded by ropes at the end of it. Inside was a small vial containing a blue colored liquid.

"And this is the serum itself. This is one of the last vials still around, most of it having been used or destroyed. Of course it's very rare and very dangerous, hence the security." The guide said, before listing off a bunch of chemistry related facts about the serum, like it's chemical composition among other things.

Maya managed to wiggle her way to the front of the group to get a better look at it, sketching the vial and labeling it with the elements the guide was saying. Every little bit of information counted; the paper had to be several pages long. Another classmate and best friend of hers, Peter Parker, crouched down next to her.

"You'd think it'd be kept in a secret lab somewhere." He whispered to her.

"Maybe. It's still really cool." Maya replied.

"Isn't it so crazy how much our world has changed in the last five years? We used to learn about Thor in mythology classes, but now we study him in physics." Peter said.

"Yeah, and how the mythology curiculum changed once a few things were proven incorrect?" Maya said excitedly. She still remembered how the teachers had to use white out on some of the worksheets instead of make new ones.

"2012 was crazy, dude." Peter said.

"You were here when it happened though. I was still in California. Was it scary?"

"Terrifying. Aliens descending from the sky, buildings on fire, the characters from mythology flying out of the stories and in front of my bedroom window."

"That's insane."

"And because of my internship, I see some of them at Stark Tower every now and again." Peter added proudly.

"No way, really?" Maya asked, completely enamored. "Is that why you're not taking as many notes? Because you can ask Captain America himself?"

Peter heasitated very slightly before replying.

"Nah, I don't really get to talk to him. He only really talks for extended periods to the Avengers." He said.

"Ah, okay. What else do you see?" Maya asked, curious.

"Mmm.... Well, once Mr. Stark called me up to the Avengers lounge to... take down some paperwork. I walk in and I see Clint Barton sneaking up on Loki with a can of red paint. Clint tries to dump it, but Loki just sat there casually when the paint passed right through him. It was one of his famous illusion copies of himself. It leads to Mr. Stark yelling at Clint for getting his couch dirty with Loki nowhere to be seen." Peter said. Maya tried and failed to contain her laughter.

"Imagine trying to prank Loki of all people." She said.

"I know. But there was one time Mr. Stark set up the classic 'bucket of water over the door' trick, which dumped on Olivia when she walked in. I think Mr. Stark wet his pants at how much Loki was yelling at him after; he looked so terrified." Peter said, grinning.

"That's really the same guy who tried to destroy New York?" Maya asked, only half kidding.

"If you can believe it." Peter replied. "And another time when-"

"Peter, Maya, pay attention." Their teacher snapped at them. Peter and Maya stood up from their crouched positions.

"Adams, I'm standing here, move it!" A girl's voice said behind her. Before Maya could move or identify who it was, she felt herself being shoved forward.

"Hey, watch iiiiiiit!" Maya said, trailing off as she lost her balance. Her notebook and pencil flew out of her hands as she tripped over the red velvet rope in front of the case of the serum. She hit the case, causing it to fall backward off it's stand. The glass shattered on the floor, the vial of serum breaking and spilling out onto the floor.

Maya's momentum kept her from stopping. She hit the floor, landing on the glass shards, both from the case and from the serum vial.

She felt stinging all over her body where she was cut. From the gashes, sure, but it also felt like someone was pouring lemon juice into her cuts.

She saw blood everywhere, the pain making her vision go fuzzy at the corners. She heard people yelling, but she could only make out so much.

"...call 911!..."

"...be seeing you in my office once..."

"...stop the bleeding..."

"...shut down the exhibit..."

"...the serum..."

The serum... Was that what the 'lemon juice' was?

The last thing she felt was her body being lifted up by people she could barely make out before her vision went black.

***

Local Hospital

Maya could hear her heartbeat thudding in her temples. She heard the steady beep of a machine.

She managed to take a deep breath and blink a few times. She was met by bright white lights, forcing her to squint until her eyes adjusted. Her arms and legs were wrapped in bandages, a few of the sticky storebought kind on her face. She turned her head slightly to the left. There was a table with some cards, a balloon, and a vase of flowers slightly wilting.

Am I in the hospital? She thought. She glanced around the room. Machines were all around her, one connected to an IV in her arm. She shuddered slightly; Maya hated needles. To her right was a large window that overlooked a slightly tree covered area.

"What the hell happened?" She asked aloud. That's when a nurse walked in with some water and standard hospital food. Maya only really payed attention to the green Jell-O on the plate.

"Oh, you're awake! How are you feeling?" The nurse asked Maya.

"Uh... Tired? A little sore?" She replied.

"Understandable. You've been out for about two days. Your family left those ballons and one of those cards." The nurse said.

"And the flowers came with the room?"

"No, actually. A young man about your age dropped them off. Said his name was Peter."

Aww, that was sweet of him. Maya thought.

"Now that you're awake, I can take this out as you can eat properly." The nurse said, laying the tray in front of Maya and carefully removing the IV from her arm. Maya winced slightly, but took a few deep breaths.

There was a buzzing noise for a split second. The nurse went over to a small panel with a speaker.

"Yes?"

"Miss Adams has visitors." Another voice said.

"Send them up. I just delivered her food and took out the IV."

"Good. They'll be there in just a moment." The voice replied before the nurse walked back over.

"Visitors. You can keep eating, but I have to take this back down." She said, taking away the stand with the IV and leaving the room. Maya contemplated who would be visiting her. Maybe her parents and siblings. She started eating the Jell-O, ignoring what else was on the plate.

After about 5 or so minutes, she heard a knock at the door.

"Come in." She called. The door opened and Maya suddenly did a double take. Was she crazy, or was that Tony freaking Stark outside her door? And was that Peter?

"Am I dreaming?" She asked, putting the tray aside.

"Nope. Pleased to meet you, Maya. I'm-" Tony started to say.

"You're Tony Stark." Maya said, jaw open slightly. "Why is Iron Man in my hospital room??"

"Your injury." Peter said.

"Maya, when you fell, the glass with the serum cut into your bloodstream. Lying on the floor long enough also allowed the serum that spilled onto the floor to get in." Tony started to explain.

"So what does that mean?" Maya asked.

"You have Super Soldier Serum in your bloodstream. By the time the doctors figured out what it was, the cells had already started multiplying and altering your DNA. It's not a lot, not nearly enough to alter your physicality, but your endurance and strength levels could increase substantially, especially because of your age."

"So... I've accidentally become a mini Super Soldier?" Maya asked.

"I mean, that's one way to put it." Tony said.

Maya stayed silent for a few minutes, trying to process what she was being told.

"Wait, that still doesn't explain why you're in my hospital room with my best friend." She finally said.

"Well, Peter here ran back to Stark Tower a few hours after you were checked in. It's standard protocol that anyone who has the serum in their DNA has to be brought to the Tower once they're healthy enough. Long story short, we're asking you if you want to join the Initiative." Tony explained.

"The... The Avengers Initiative?" She squaked, dumbstruck.

"We've already spoken with your family and they gave the green light." Tony said.

"You've got to be screwing with me."

"Nope. I only mess with Clint when he leaves his bow in the middle of the hallway." Tony said.

"And apparently Olivia." Maya added.

"You told her, kid?" Tony asked, turning to Peter.

"Sorry, Mr. Stark, but it came up at one point." Peter said. Tony shook his head in mock disappointment.

"Alright, no missions for three days, you're grounded."

"Missions?" Maya asked. It went quiet. Peter looked at her.

"Maya... Maya, I'm not an intern. I... I'm the Spider-Man." Peter said, sheepish.

"You're Spider-Man? No way!! That's epic!!" Maya said excitedly. Peter nodded.

"You can't tell anyone, though, not even Betty." Peter said.

"My lips are sealed." Maya said, miming zipping her lips shut.

"Do you want your identity to be a secret?" Tony asked her.

"Nah, I think I'll be fine. So when can I move in?" Maya asked, absolutely giddy.

"As soon as you're released, you can pack your things. You can still see your family, of course, but it's best for everyone if the whole team stays under one roof. Peter's the exception; he can stay at either/or so as to protect his identity." Tony explained.

"I'm down. How long until I'm released?"

"Maybe another day or two, just to make sure nothing's infected."

"Wait a second... Peter, you WERE taking minimal notes because you CAN ask Captain America for information." Maya said, pointing at him with a smile. Peter shrugged with a smile.

"Identity, Maya." He said.

"Fair enough." Maya replied.

"Just be warned, Rock of Ages might be a bit stand-offish until you're around for a while. He's slow to trust." Tony said.

"Who?"

"Loki. Mr. Stark is famous for his nicknames." Peter said.

"Oooh, okay."

"Anyways, speaking of, Bruce needs me back at the lab. You're welcome to stay, Pete. Just make sure to pick up Doritos on your way back, Clint's been complaining about how he can't tease Cap about his 'Dorito-shaped body." Tony said, using air quotes before standing up. "Once you're ready, just walk up to the front desk at the Tower and give them your name, Maya. They'll let you through."

"You got it. Thank you, Mr. Stark." Maya said. Tony gave her a thumbs-up and left the room. She turned to Peter.

"Okay, now I KNOW you have more stories to tell. Spill." Maya goaded.

"Well, alright... Just two weeks ago, Thor almost burned the kitchen down when making Pop Tarts..."

***

A/N

I literally copy/pasted the first paragraph of Steve's Wiki page for what the tour guide was saying about him.