Maria notices something off with Steve.He's still polite, slightly lost and awkward, and always ready to take up his shield for the greater good. She's spent a lot of time observing the Avengers, mostly out of caution but also out of curiosity. Phil (when he was still alive) never wasted an opportunity to bend her ear about how incredible these people were.Tony, the billionaire playboy who reeked of arrogance and disdain for authority, yet was competent and incredibly devoted to Pepper.Bruce who suppressed his anger and lived in constant fear of his own skin.Clint who still sought redemption for Loki by taking every mission that came his way, no matter how dangerous, and hid behind his sarcasm.Thor who shouldn't even be real, yet dedicated himself to protecting a planet he had adopted as his own.Natasha who always spoke of wiping red from her ledger, yet kept adding to her numbers because it was the only way she knew how to live.And then there was Steve. Steve who sought her out at Phil's funeral and offered a fumbling, heartfelt condolence that had caught her off-guard. Steve who always made an effort to say something to her and cut Tony off when he thought the older man was going too far. Steve who had lost so much and yet still believed in good and hope and peace.But this Steve wasn't the one who had asked her about the weather a few months ago. There is something lurking behind his eyes, something that raises her skin and sets off that internal alarm that had gotten her out of more scrapes than she can count. Maria brushes it off as paranoia but when she catches Steve all but toss his shield aside after a mission, she knows that this man isn't Captain America.Steve treats that shield like a lost lover (and maybe it is, a reminder of Peggy) and Maria thinks he holds on to it because it's the only thing that is his, that was with him before he was frozen, a piece to remind him of who he was and still is.Maria knows she should go to Fury but she thinks of the darkened warehouse and corkboard and instead finds herself going to Tony.'I'm sorry, did you just say you think Cap is a Skrull?' Is the expected response she gets and Maria grinds her teeth, darts her eyes around to make sure that they're still alone.'He's not acting like himself,' she hisses out. 'How have you not noticed?'Tony stares at her, leans a hip against his desk. 'Why haven't you told Fury this? Isn't shutting down the Initiative what you want?'His first question makes her hesitate before she settles her face into an impassive mask. 'The enemy of my enemy is my friend.'Tony chuckles and shakes his head.'Look I think I would have noticed if Cap got himself probed,' Tony dismisses her concerns and Maria wants to smack him.'The Skrulls are shapeshifters who are able to take on the memories of their victims Stark. My problem with the Avengers isn't a personal vendetta and we don't have time to discuss the numerous reasons why my objections to your team are entirely rational. Now, Sir, would you please treat me with the respect I deserve.'Tony appears taken aback at her clipped words before his features settle into a serious mask.'Fury needs me because when it comes to heroes and power, he's only concerned with making sure that he gets the right means to satisfy his ends. The Avengers came into being because of Phil Coulson, and I'm not going to let Fury, you, or some Skrull sully that man's name because the thought of Captain America being fallible is too much to stomach.''Are you sure?' Tony's question is deserved but he's also scrutinizing her thoroughly and Maria shifts a little.'Steve Rogers isn't on Earth.''You've looked already?''Yes I am actually capable of my own thoughts,' Maria snaps out bitterly but hurries on before Tony can respond. 'I have a contact in SWORD who can help. I'm not asking again.'