Loki pressed the button for the elevator. Then he pressed it again and again. It didn't take long for him to realize that the elevator wasn't coming. Taking his eyes off of the Avengers for the first time since he arrived Loki looked at Jarvis's nearest camera, "Jarvis, you bacraut! Open the damn elevator door so I can leave."
Jarvis was calculating as fast as he could. He was reviewing the days and weeks since Loki started living in the tower and how that addition was affecting everyone that he was meant to care for. When Loki was in residence on his personal floors Clint was reluctant to leave his rooms. That self lockdown almost always continued even when Jarvis assured him that Loki was no longer in the tower. Bruce carried himself eleven percent stiffer since the god had taken up residence. Steve spent as much time in the gym as he had when he had first moved in. He and Thor were going through reinforced punching bags almost faster than Jarvis could anticipate in order to purchase more. Consumption of tea and liquor had increased across the tower and its occupants. The only one who didn't seem to be affected was Natasha. Though Jarvis always had the hardest time getting reading on her and her specific needs. If Jarvis could have sighed he most likely would have. "I am putting my metaphorical foot down. You are going to sit down and talk this out."
"There is nothing to talk about. I shouldn't have come up. It was a lapse in judgment. Now if you would kindly open the door I'll be on my way. If not I could just find a different route." Loki lowered his arm knowing that pressing the button wouldn't do anything at this point unless Jarvis allowed it. He never should have trusted the damned machine. At this rate the Avengers were more likely going to eviscerate him before Jarvis deemed the problem resolved enough for him to leave.
Walking in with two mugs Bruce stopped in front of Loki and held one out. "I don't necessarily like this whole situation. You living here and all that. But now that I know that you're not dead I don't think I'd be too comfortable knowing you were living anywhere else on Earth either. The whole you not being dead thing nearly made the other guy come out. He wasn't too pleased when Tony brought you here. Yet,Tony is obviously okay with you living here. Which means I guess I'm okay with you living here. The other guy will have to learn to deal with it like he has with our other problems and inconveniences. Besides you haven't tried to kill any of as far as I know. So yeah, I think I'm okay with you living here."
Loki tilted his head and just stared. He understood what Banner had said. He understood that he most likely should take the offered mug; it was a peace offering after all. But Loki only seemed able to stand there, a part of him still not comprehending what the man had just said.
"Ooookay. Look could you please take the tea these mugs are starting to get heavy."
"Oh, yes. My apologies," Loki sounded slightly bewildered, his voice coming out as a soft whisper of a thing. He quickly mentally shook himself before slowly taking one of the mugs from Banner. He made sure that not even a single drop would spill from either of the mugs. "My thanks," he said before breathing in the smell of the tea. The steam swirled around his face. His lips upturned in the smallest attempt at a smile possible before he took the smallest of sips of the chamomile tea.
After licking his lips and taking in a steadying breath Loki made a single small step toward Clint. "I...I know that no matter what I say, you will not believe me. You you will think I am manipulating you and everyone else in this tower. I can assure you that is not my intent. I don't mean you or anyone else any harm. But what I have to say hasn't meant much for longer than you've been drawing breath." Loki took another tiny sip of the tea. He didn't think it was poisoned but one could never be too careful. Once he swallowed he continued, "Maybe I am a monster. I've killed, forced others to kill for me, ensnared the minds of others even when I had fought for the same not to happen to me. Even if I had done none of what has angered you I still did such terrible things before I tried to rule Midgard. I attempted to destroy an entire world. I made sure Thor's coronation was postponed. And even if I had not done those things I've lived a life I was not meant to have. The Allfather should have walked past me. He should have let me die as I was meant to, cast out as infant." Loki was shaking slightly so he took in a breath. He held it for a few heartbeats before breathing out once more. "I can not change what I have done no matter how much I may wish to take some of those things back. I can not undo what I did to you or your people. I am sure that you and others will think I have not suffered enough. Perhaps you are right in that thought. I am a monster and monsters deserve to be punished." He looked down at the mug in his hands. More accurately Loki looked at his hands, the perfectly cast illusion. Maybe if he didn't wear an illusion like armor Barton would be more at ease. Maybe if he could prove himself worthy the pain wouldn't have been so harsh. Maybe if he hadn't been born a Jotun he wouldn't be where he is now.
Loki held out a hand for Clint to shake. "I swear to you on my life, on my tea shop, on any and everything I have left, I mean you and your people no harm. I swear I wish to live out my days. I swear all I mean to do is survive with limited amounts of torture as possible. Partially do to Jarvis and partially due to the fact that I would like to still live here I will do what I must to make everyone comfortable with my living here. Whatever the cost of ending this impasse, I will pay it."
Clint didn't move for several seconds after Loki was done with his speech. It was up to him. He was the one putting up the most fuss. He took a breath and shook Loki's hand. He quickly let go before saying, "Fine. You can...you can stay if you want just sit where I can keep an eye on you. And don't...don't do any hocus pocus right now. I'll let you know if there's anything else to help end this standoff."
With nod Loki's illusion slowly fell, "No more hocus pocus." Loki looked back down at his hands to see all the lines, burns, bent still sort of healing fractures. It didn't hurt any more than before he let down the illusion. He sipped at his tea and tried to be calm. He could deal with a little discomfort.
