Tag: I feel what you feel even when you say you don’t feel at all;; Steve x Juniper

Recovery |theempathywithin

theempathywithin

Juniper smiled contently as Steve settled into the covers. This was the first time she had actually seen him look comfortable. His position allowed a perfect spot for her to join him, and she timidly nestled in next to him, head resting on his chest. “Are you gonna sing to me?”

“If you would like.” She said shyly. Singing was something that was something dear to her. Rarely did she let someone hear her sing, yet in this moment, it felt like exactly what Steve needed. “Love of my life can’t you see? Bring it back, bring it back. Don’t take it away from me because you don’t know what it means to me.” she sang the first song that came to mind, a song her mother sang all the time. As she sang, her eyes slipped shut and her hand splayed over his chest rising and falling.

Steve let himself listen, closing his eyes after the stress of the day. It was nice to hear someone sing. It brought back memories of Bucky, and even though he was upset, he relaxed because he could never resist a good song. He hummed appreciatively as she finished, smiling an reaching to run his hand through her hair. “Thank you, June.” he murmured, leanign to kiss her forehead. “Do you need to call your sister?”

Recovery |theempathywithin

theempathywithin

“Thank you June.” he said softly, followed by a chaste kiss to her temple. These were the moments she would cherish forever. It made her feel useful to be able to help someone, to be some sort of consolation while he grieved. “Anything for you Steve. I wish I could be of more help. Sadly I do not possess  the ability to find someone. I can only feel your feelings.” she frowned, scooting closer to Steve.

Her hand clasps tighter around his. She listens closely to the timely thump of his heart as they sit, legs grazing against each other. If she couldn’t find his friend, at least she could provide a distraction. Gently, she raises his hand and presses her lips to the back of it. “You look tired, why don’t you lay down?” she suggests as she pats the bedspread with her free hand.

Steve gave a weak laugh. “I don’t think there’s anything that can find him right now.” He answered. “He’s been the Soldier for so long, likely tortured, brainwashed…” The possibilities of what could have happened to his best friend ran through his mind and it was enough to make him feel sick. “Finding him isn’t going to be easy, June. I accepted that after I woke up in the hospital when he pulled me from the river.” He went quiet, wondering if in some way, he could draw the real Bucky back to the surface.

Blue eyes lift to look at her, tilting his head at the gesture. He was still adjusting to the new way so many thought in the day to day, so he waited before wanting to ask. Before he could, however, she suggested he lay down and for the first time in days, he let his body give into the exhaustion and he adjusted to lay down over the blankets, one arm moving to rest under his head. “Are you gonna sing to me?” He teased with a light smile, the movement just barely curling his lips up.

Recovery |theempathywithin

theempathywithin

Juniper felt guilty. She couldn’t help it that her empathic ways drew her into him tonight, a night he probably would have sat drowning in his own guilt and anger. She decided that now would be the perfect time to really explain herself to him – hopefully to supply some relief to his incessant feelings. “It doesn’t. I am sure by now that you have figured out I am not like everyone else. Yes, I am an empathe, meaning I can sense other’s feelings. I have been this way for a long time Steve, and I have seen many, many different emotions. I have felt them all. That’s why I wanted to be here with you tonight. No one should have to be alone, feeling the way you are.” she explains, her tone soft and endearing.

Her hand stretched out gently, and encompassed as much of his in her own as she could. It was an innocent gesture, but one to make him feel less alone, less lost. She wanted him to know that it was alright to feel, and that it was better to let it out than bottle it up. Juniper would stay as long as she felt necessary, even if it meant making herself comfortable in his chair while he rested that night.

Steve looked at her as she spoke. “That may be true, but doesn’t it make it harder to concentrate since I feel my emotions much stronger? Or is it just a normal feeling?” he asked, tilting his head as blue eyes watched her. “I feel this way every now and again. Losing the last tangible lead on Bucky…it hurts.” he replied. He wanted so badly to try and explain why it hurt so much, the love he’d lost, the brother he’d never had buried beneath whatever conditioning that made him a mindless pawn, the memories that Bucky didn’t have anymore even though he was alive. The entirety of the situation made Steve feel a lot of things, and sometimes he wished he could just keep it all in forever. 

Feeling her hand on his, he looked down, turning it over to let their palms touch. Juniper was innocent in some ways, but she still understood. It was weird to have someone so open to trying to understand what it was he was feeling. “…Thank you, June.” he murmured, leaning to kiss her head. “Not being alone in this makes me feel a little better.”

Recovery |theempathywithin

theempathywithin

Juniper could feel his desperation radiating off of him in waves, she didn’t need to hold his hand to know that he was distraught. “Well good thing I was here to make it up for you then. You know they say you sleep better when your bed is made.” she comments, attempting to lighten the mood.

Steve continued to skulk though, and that concerned her. Since she met him, Steve was this happy go lucky kind of guy, typically burying down his feelings for the sake of others. Here he was comfortable enough to let go, probably realizing Juniper was capable of incepting his feeling anyways.

“I’m sorry about him Steve. I know how much he means to you. We’ll find him though, I just feel it.”

Juniper never made empty promises.

Steve wasn’t sure when he had figured out that Juniper had some sixth sense when it came to emotions. IT was just a knowledge he had one day, with no real time frame as to when he figured it out. Hiding his emotions was pointless around her, and he’d learned she wasn’t willing to ignore when she felt someone was off. So it made sense that she was here now, when he was letting himself feel in the amplified way he did since the serum. He managed a weak chuckle at her words, taking another drink from the tumblr and reaching across to set it down on the nightstand. 

“I know you do.” he answered after a long moment. “I don’t know why you seem so attuned to me, June. I just know that you don’t get angry that I have other emotions than strategy and happiness. But I feel emotions on a higher level than most people, it can be rough from time to time and I’m sorry if that throws you off.”

Oh Cap | themusechronicals

theempathywithin

Juniper jolts awake from the feeling of someone’s fingers slipping into her hair, followed by a raspy, but familiar voice. With half lidded eyes, she smiles up at Steve who finally has a bit of color to his cheeks. “Steve, you are up.” she hums.

She half thought to go get the others to let them know that Steve had finally woken, but deep down she wanted to be selfish for just a few moments and enjoy it being just the two of them. Her hand reaches over to his and gives it a comforting squeeze. “How are you feeling?”

Steve chuckled weakly as she jumped, but seeing her relax made it easier to focus on what she was saying versus the pain that ached along his body. “Like I got hit by a truck.” he grimaced. “How long have I been out? You look like a mess. Have you been here the whole time I was out?” he asked, frowning a little. He adjusted a little so the pain in his chest eased up, then looked back at her. “How’s the team?”

ღ [from Steve]

theempathywithin:

1. Who’s the first to wake up in the morning?
While I feel like both Steve and Juniper would have difficulty sleeping at times, I feel like Steve would usually wake up first in the morning. Juniper just loves to be snuggled all warm in the covers, especially when the covers still smell like Steve.
2. Who’s the one to make breakfast?
Honestly, I can see them both making breakfast. Juniper loves to cook Steve a nice big breakfast, especially when Steve has been away on a mission or something. Occasionally they will cook together in the morning, and enjoy a nice meal at the table.
3. Who’s the one to serve the other breakfast in bed?
Definitely Juniper. Steve works so hard and she loves to make sure that he knows how much she appreciates it. She cooks his favorite all American breakfast including eggs, toast, bacon, etc, and brings it to him as a token of her gratitude.
4. Who would suggest a quickie in the morning before work?
They both have suggested it. Sometimes mornings can be hectic, being an avenger and all, so sometimes when they have a quiet morning they like to endure a bit. Juniper suggests it if Steve has been gone for a while. She just misses him too much.
5. Who suggests they both ditch work to lay around all day?
Juniper for sure. Steve has a good work ethic and rarely stays home from work. But when Juniper is looking up at him with those big pleading eyes, he can’t say no to her. The two of them end up laying around in their sweats all day, being as close to each other as physically possible.
6. Who chooses the movies?
Depends on what kind of mood they are in. Steve loves to show Juniper the old movies he used to watch when he was younger. Juniper loves to show Steve the current movies. They both give each other a few options and allows the other to choose depending on what kind of movie they want to watch at that time.
7. Who initiates kissing, thus distracting the other from the movie all together?
Steve. That boy can’t get enough of her. She’d be super into the movie, eyes completely fixed on the screen. Steve would start to trail his index finger along her thigh or arm. Then he would pull her in close, and the next thing you know he’s kissing along her jaw. Juniper becomes like putty in his hands and one thing leads to another, and the movie is forgotten.
8. Who orders lunch?
Honestly, I feel like it would be Steve. Juniper is really good at forgetting to eat, specifically if she has something going on. Juniper gets hyper fixated and won’t stop to eat until she’s done. So Steve frequently has to order lunch and make her stop what she’s doing. Juniper never argues, and thanks him after.
9. Who steals food from the other’s plate without asking?
Juniper does this all the time. If Steve has any type of dinner roll, Juniper just sneaks it away. She loves bread. Steve never minds though, he actually thinks it’s kind of cute.
10. Who curls up next to the other and falls asleep due to a full tummy?
This is a such a Juniper thing to do. In general, she loves to snuggle. The warmth the other can provide is so soothing. So after a big meal if Steve is sitting on the couch either reading or watching tv, she settles herself right into him and falls asleep within ten minutes, snoring away.
11. Who distracts the other from trying to work at home?
Neither honestly. Sometimes Juniper will want attention, but she knows that when Steve has stuff to work on, he really needs to get it done. They both respect that boundary.
12. Who asks to go get ice cream like a five year old?
Juniper. He doesn’t eat ice cream often but when she gets that craving, she just HAS to have it.
13. Who takes pictures of the other eating ice cream?
Steve. He has so many pictures of Juniper. He finds it so funny when she gets some on her nose, and she tries to look at it cross-eyed before wiping it off.
14. Who makes a sexual joke about the dripping ice cream on the other’s face?
Neither. Sexual jokes aren’t really either of their style.
15. Who cooks dinner?
They alternate. Sometimes Steve will surprise Juniper with a big meal. Other times Juniper will make him his favorite meal. Others they cook together. Depends on who is tired.
16. Who cleans up the kitchen after?
Whoever doesn’t cook.
17. Who stays up until 2 am reading?
Steve has so many books and he loves to read. At the end of the night, Steve loves to sit up in bed and read while Juniper snuggles up. Sometimes he will read to her to help her fall asleep. She loves the sound of his voice, and they have the same taste in books.
18. Who stares at their partner while they sleep?
Juniper can’t get over how beautiful Steve is. If she can’t sleep she will just look at him. The way he looks so peaceful makes her happy.
19. Who kisses their partner while they are asleep?
Steve always wakes Juniper up with a kiss if he wakes up earlier. Whether it be on her forehead, or on her lips, the sweet wake up all has become a tradition in their household.