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?”

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.

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.”

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.”