Loki wasn't certain he should sit with Tony and Steve. But for the most part Tony meant well. And he figured he should ask about the letter, the job offer. So he grabbed SHIELD's letter from the cookie jar. He held that in his left hand and his mug in the right. Loki walked up to the table and practically threw the stack of paper in front of Steve Rogers, pulled up a chair and placed it slightly closer to Tony, and sat down.

"What's that?" Steve asked though the question was completely muffled due to the large amount of cookie in his mouth.

Placing his mug on the table Loki smiled. "That would be a job offer from your boss. Apparently they finally have decided that I am no longer a threat. Or at least not a terrible one. Though more likely SHIELD thinks this will make me more willing to give information as if I haven't already given all they asked. And no, Captain, I don't want to join your team."

Tony had been drinking some of his coffee spit it out onto the table as Loki finished.

Loki gave him a look and said, "Now, was that really necessary."

Still slightly choking Tony said, "You...you would be an Avenger."

"No, Stark were you not listening. I said I'm not taking the job." Loki turned to look back at Steve and wiped at Tony's mess. "You may tell them my answer, if you wish. If not I'll tell them myself. I just...would you mind telling me who I have to talk to.

Steve finished chewing the chunk of cookie that was in his mouth, swallowed, and looked at Loki for a few moments before he attempted to answer. "I don't... I didn't even know an offer had been made."

"I believe Lady Natasha left the letter the last time she was here. I would have thought that if she was in charge of leaving a job application the rest your rather small team would have known about it. Though I suppose since I told you i need not worry about it now. I'm more then content in staying in my little shop. In all honest I have little to no clue why you would want me. Why anyone would want..." Loki's words seemed to fade. His eyes turned vacant and he certainly wasn't looking at Steve any longer.

The music that had been so quiet in the background of the shop cut off rather abruptly. The calm instruments were replaced with something Loki barely remembered overhearing from a younger patron of the shop. The loud drums made Loki flinch in his seat and then the first lyrics could be heard playing louder then what was normally played. "How does a bastard, orphan, son of a whore and a Scotsman..." Tears welled up in his eyes but he refused to let them spill. Toward the front of the shop some girl with a computer was obviously happy with the music choice as she sang along. Her soprano voice rose above those in the recording.

Loki tried to pick up his mug of tea. He tried to stop tearing up. He tried to breathe normally. Instead he failed to grip the mug and it shattered when it hit the table. His tears followed suit and he didn't even know what he was upset about. The girl, no women, child, he couldn't seem to make up his mind but he knew that she was still singing. And he didn't understand how she could be wasting precious air singing, "Well, the word got around, they said "this kid is insane, man." Took up a collection just to send him to the mainland. Get your education don't forget from whence you came..."

Tony stood up after the cup shattered. He could see Loki slipping but he had no idea what to do. Before he could even get close Loki tried to stand up and failed.

Steve's chair toppled to the ground as he stood up and went to Loki's side.

Loki didn't notice the two gathering around him. He didn't notice that his body was twitching, that he was bleeding through his glamor. He just kept hearing that young woman singing, "...Left him with nothin' but ruined pride, something new inside..." He curled in upon himself, as if he could finally disappear.

Steve got to Loki's side first. He sat down beside him and as Loki started practically convulsing he pulled Loki onto his lap. He held Loki close. He had seen men act like this when they had come back from the front lines. He understood then why Tony was so compelled to help. He whispered in Loki's ear like he did so long ago to people who must by now be dead. He tried not to think of them. He tried, instead, to only focus on the man fighting to breathe in his arms.

Loki could feel someone holding him and he couldn't remember the last time someone did that. Maybe Tony had been the last person to hold him though more likely it was- he shied away from the name his mind desperately wanted to fill his mind. Maybe Frigga had been the last to do this or Thor or Odin or Than- "No," he screamed or at least he thought he did. But at least the thought of screaming forced his mind into silence.

The young adult at her computer paused long enough to drink from their cup of hands didn't falter and their voice didn't waver. The song had changed but she kept going, "Death doesn't discriminate between the sinners and the saints. It's takes and it takes and we keep living anyway."

Steve ignored her. He ignored Tony and everyone else. He held Loki just a bit tighter and he talked. "A part of me hates you I want you to know that but this isn't right. Okay. You don't deserve this. No one deserves to live like this. And you wanna know something else? This business you got here, it's pretty great. Everyone seems to like it here. They care about you. You just have to pull yourself out of this. I know you can. If the men on the lines...no. I'm not going to compare you to them. I bet they always compared you to Thor. I bet that was part of the problem that started this in the first place. You are Loki, strong and able. You have done impossible things so I know you can do this too."

He didn't want to help Loki and a part of him did. Steve was starting to realize that the better part, the less vengeful part was winning out. And when Steve heard Loki mumble "no" he just kept talking till Loki stopped shaking like he was going to fall to pieces. He held onto Loki until the music in the shop cut off once more.

Loki slowly sat up. He noticed the blood and couldn't tell if it was his or someone else's or if it was another illusion. He bowed his head, choosing to ignore it at least for the time being, "Thank you, Captain."