In any other circumstance, Steve would have rather enjoyed Peggy being so close, speaking so softly. Her hand on his arm. But this was different. It was weird. How could Erskine be dead? Even if they were fighting a war, it was so difficult to comprehend someone so alive and well to suddenly have gone.
He rubbed his chin with his free hand. Serious conversation or not, he was hardly going to shrug Peggy away.
Steve knew why he'd been chosen. It had been made very clear that it wasn't muscle Dr. Erskine needed, or intimidation, or the skills needed to instill fear. He wanted kindness and compassion, someone that could use their mind as well as their brawn. Steve still doubted that he was fit for the job but now that the guy who believed in him was gone, he was hardly going to throw it all away.
"Alright. So, the professor is dead and the experiment, I take it, was a success?"