Steve blushed even brighter and smiled. "Hi." He said, lingering just a moment longer than he needed to before helping her up. He made a mental note to kick Bucky's ass later.

Gemini gasped a little. These...feelings were completely new to her, but she found she didn't mind them. After a moment, she managed to gather her thoughts and pull away. She blinked up at him, slightly breathless. "Well." She said calmly. "I can't feel anything from Steve anymore."

"Sorry I couldn't help it." Tony grimaced a little. "I can't help it when a girl gets like that." He didn't sound sorry or embarrassed just matter of fact.

"I hate to ask but would you mind helping me upstairs?" Aurora glared at Bucky daring him to say something. "Go ahead Steve...I'll just hang out here."

Gemini looked away, still blushing. "No, my bad. I guess in some ways I'm more animal than human. It's a hazard of being a half-breed." She said, one ear twitching as she spoke. She seemed to realize something was different and looked up, but of course couldn't see the top of her head. "My ears are showing, aren't they?"

Steve raised an eyebrow but shrugged. "Okay, sure." He said, moving to help her. He almost told Bucky not to go anywhere, but decided against being a smartass.

"Yes they are." Tony stared at them. "What happens if I touch them?" he asked curious blinking when he saw Steve walk by with Aurora but held his tongue.

Aurora leaned against Steve stumbling a little as they headed upstairs. "Thanks Steve." she said when they reached her door. She kissed his cheek then headed inside falling asleep as soon as she hit the bed.

Gemini didn't think it was possible to blush more. "Er...well..." She cleared her throat. "Apparently my ears are rather sensitive. When I was little I loved having my ears scratched, but after a certain age the feeling changes, and it's rather like..." She couldn't continue. It was too embarrassing to admit that touching her ears turned her on.

Steve paused outside Aurora's door. He managed to mumble "you're welcome" as she closed the door. He put a hand on his cheek, blushed, smiled and went back downstairs.

"Oh really?" Tony smirked a little. "I'll have to keep that in mind the next time you turn your kisses sexy." he chuckled and kissed her one last time. "Ready for bed?" he asked pulling away leaving her in a flustered state.

Gemini stayed against the wall, regretting that she had told him the truth about her ears. Ugh...what the hell is it about that guy? She wondered.

Steve had composed himself by the time he got back to Bucky. "Everyone is getting ready for bed. They'll be more open to the idea of untying you after they've slept. I'll hang out with you if you want."

"You should sleep to Steve." Bucky sighed a little. "not that I'm likely to sleep but." he shrugged.

Tony went off to bed smirking a little he wouldn't admit it but he really liked the Gemini.

Steve paused. "I'll sleep on the couch, at least." He said. That way if Bucky needed anything, he could just wake him up. "Oh, by the way...Gemini's an insomniac, so if you see a redhead wandering around...that's her." He said before heading to the couch and promptly passing out.

Gemini waited for everyone to wander off to bed before moving. As per usual, she went to sit by a window so she could whittle the night away staring outside. Distracted by her thoughts, she was completely unaware that Bucky was right across from her.

Bucky studied her. "Your the other one they sent me after." He mused. "You have the Aether in you."

Gemini jumped slightly, surprised by someone talking to her. "Huh? Oh, I didn't see you there." She sighed. "Yes, I'm currently the...host...for the Aether. And you're Bucky, Steve's friend, right?"

"That would be me...or at least that's what my memory's tell me." Bucky shrugged. "Thor knows a way but he hasn't figure it out yet." He snorted a little. "Love how I have evil knowledge just floating around.

Gemini raised an eyebrow. "I suppose it's not that surprising. You probably picked up a lot over the years. Knowing those people, they probably didn't think much of revealing information around you." An idea made her pause, then smile. "Actually, that's probably the key to getting the others to untie you. If you can offer any kind of inside information, they'll really appreciate it and be willing to trust you more." She said.

"Well some of them may never trust me." Bucky shrugged. "I don't think Black Widow will ever like me even if Steve and I give her a thousand reasons to like me."

Gemini made a face and shrugged. "I mean...I can't really blame her, considering the circumstances. But personally I think everyone deserves another chance." She said this with conviction, as if it was something she had to believe in for her own sake as well. "Either way, they'll put it to a vote. And whether she trusts you or not, Nat's smart enough to see the benefits of this situation. I don't know how much my vote will count for...on one hand, I'm an empath so I know your intentions. But on the other hand, I've been around these guys for less than a week. They probably don't trust me very much...especially with what the Aether does to my powers."

"Well I have at least two votes." Bucky chuckled. "I don't think I'll have Howard juniors or Aurora's maybe Nat. The others I'm not that sure. Steve and you for sure at least Steve trusts me even after I tried to kill him."

"Steve's a loyal friend." Gemini said. "Wait...Howard junior?" She asked, confused. "Forgive my lack of knowledge about these people, I'm foreign." She added quickly, embarrassed.

"The Stark man I knew his father back when he was about the same age...nothing's changed with that family." Bucky chuckled. "I'll have to ask him how his father is in the morning."

Gemini's eyes widened in understanding. "Oh, you mean Tony." Her expression suddenly changed. She didn't know the history of anyone in the group, but she had picked up a few things. "You should probably not ask him that." She said. "As far as I know, his father's dead."

"What!? How?!" Bucky looked shocked and surprised. "He was a great person and he helped the Howling Commando's out a lot. I'll ask Steve then."

Gemini shook her head. "I don't know how or when. I only know that he's not alive." And that there are some unresolved issues between Tony and his father. She thought, but decided against saying it. The things she learned as an empath weren't hers to tell. She looked out the window, her thoughts far away. "You know, you're the first person I ever met that I couldn't read. I'm still having a bit of trouble, actually. I'm getting a few basic emotions, but nothing solid."

"Well I did have all emotions and memories erased from my mind." Bucky shrugged. "You learn to keep your mouth shut if you feel anything towards a target."

Gemini nodded. That made sense. "Well, I don't know if this will mean anything to you, but you feel much more human now. Hydra's influence is clearing away quickly." She said.

"That's because of Steve helping me." Bucky shrugged. "Thanks to the return of my memory's I'm not Hydra influenced any more well not as much anyways."

"It feels like you'll be fully clear by tomorrow afternoon, at the latest." Gemini said. It was already easier to read him than it had been when they started talking.