The captain's sister

the break

Avengers Compound:

Tony entered the kitchen and looks at the three men, Peter Steve and Bucky.

"Power is down at the office. Pepper, Happy and Alison will be here today." He warned, looking dead at Bucky "Try to not aggravate them too bad."

  Steve and Peter looked at one another and shook their heads in exasperation. Bucky had been pouting for days. They could tell he was miserable. Especially when Alison was mentioned.

  "I'm not gonna bother them." Bucky mumbled just as the girls walked in.

"Hey Pepper." He said quietly, not acknowledging Alison.

She stopped and stared at him.

"Hello?" She asked

He didn't respond. She looked around.

"Peter you see me right?" She asked

He nodded.

"I can."

She placed a hand on Bucky's shoulder. He tensed at her touch.

"Hi Alison." He said, not looking up from his book.

"You okay? Did I make you mad?" She asked.

He caught the nervous tone in her voice and raised an eyebrow, looking at her brother who had also caught it. She hadn't had that tone since before their father died. He looked up at her, softening his face.

"No. I'm just tired." He promised, managing a weak smile "Are you okay?"

He noticed she was wearing more makeup than usual. It wasn't as light as it usually was either. He decided to address that later.

"I'm fine." She said

She was lying.  He nodded. She smiled and walked away, following Pepper.

"You guys saw that right?" Peter asked as soon as Alison was out of earshot.

  "Saw what?" Tony asked.

"The discoloration under her makeup. The right side of her face."

"No. I didn't." Bucky said through gritted teeth. "I did notice the fear in her voice. It was her Joseph voice."

Steve nodded, a frustrated look on his face.

  "Who's Joseph?" Nat asked, leaning against the doorway.

"Our alcoholic bastard of a father." Steve said

------------------------

Alison sat at the counter in the kitchen, eating. Bucky leaned against the doorway.

"You used your Joseph voice." He said

She jumped.

"What?" She asked "No I didn't."

He gave her a look.

"You were my world for so long and you think I don't know when you're scared? When something's wrong?" He asked "I know that voice."

   "James, I'm fine."

"Then take off the makeup."

"What?"

"You never wear that much. Peter noticed discoloration under it. Take it off."

She got defensive. He held down the anger. She was hiding something.

"I'm not taking off my makeup just to appease you."

"If there's nothing and I'm wrong I'll go buy you new makeup to keep here for touch ups." He said, offering her a wet cloth.