"Yeah, I'm fine," he says without hesitation. "Absolutely. I'm good."

He isn't, and there's a waver of uncertainty in his tone that he wishes wasn't there, but he's used to being the eldest in a group of teenagers who're no strangers to the threat of death, and all the other terrible things surrounding it. Vulnerability isn't a luxury he often allows himself, at least not when it comes to the truly bad stuff. Like dying.

It had been a little easier talking to Peter. It might have something to do with how odd Arthur had behaved when he and Steve first met, and then how cheery and friendly he'd been any time Steve had seen him after. It's hard to explain, but talking to Arthur now conjures the same kind of nervousness as visiting a dying grandparent in the hospital. Like he's compelled to put on a brave face.

"Are you?"