Literally, this is an expanded AU version of the shawarma scene, except about twice as sappy.
Under bright stars burning
We will make our own ending
—Hey Marseilles, "Bright Stars Burning"
"Food's here!" Tony calls, coming in with two of his robots in his wake, both burdened with takeout bags. "I got shawarma. No idea what it is so I wanted to try it and there's a little place two streets over that delivers." He eyes Thor, Loki, and Steve. "I figure we've got three superhuman metabolisms so I ordered a ton, but if it's not enough, please leave some for the rest of us and we'll supplement with pizza. Or maybe good hot dogs. You've all been missing out."
"Thor," Loki says, and Thor replaces the carton he's already picked up, looking guilty.
"I guess that's our cue," Natasha says. She and Clint join Tony at the table, and Steve hangs back with the Asgardians to let the others go first.
"How's your head?" he asks Loki. "And…the whole rest of you, I guess."
"I have been better," Loki says wryly.
Bruce looks up from his plate, flushing. "I really am sorry about the, you know, smashing."
"You needn't be," Loki says. "It is a small price to pay for slipping the Titan's leash and frustrating his plans. If anything, I am in your debt."
"You're pretty much the whole reason we prevented a massive alien invasion," Bruce says, shifting uncomfortably, "so I think probably we're even."
"Besides, what's a little blunt-force trauma among superhero friends?" Tony says around a mouthful of something wrapped in a pita. "This is actually good, by the way. And people say I have bad taste."
Loki goes stiff at Steve's side, expression closing off like he's bracing for mockery. It's not a hugely visible reaction, but Steve notices because he's paying attention, and then it takes him a second to realize what it means. He supposes that answers his question of whether Loki ever managed to make other friends who weren't mostly there for Thor (and then he wonders whether anyone's ever called Loki a hero before, even by implication, even after one of the times his magic saved Thor and his friends).
He's about to put a hand on Loki's shoulder in response, but Thor beats him to it. Loki twitches very slightly, eyes flicking toward Thor and away again, and if he doesn't acknowledge the gesture he also doesn't do anything to reject it. For his part, Steve moves a little closer, letting his arm brush Loki's. Loki glances at him, expression faintly uncertain, but after a moment of silent support on both sides and not a single mocking word from the other Avengers, he relaxes into the contact, and Steve smiles to himself. It can only be a good thing, if Thor's learned to pay attention to his little brother too, and maybe, after all this…
"Okay, now you guys are just making me feel guilty," Tony says. "Come on, eat up, us vanilla humans have enough we're not going to wither away and die."
"Your generosity is truly boundless," Loki says dryly, but he takes a paper plate and starts loading it up as soon as Steve and Thor do.
"See, you make fun now, but that's just because I haven't broken out the good booze yet," Tony says. "Actually, hold that thought." He ducks behind the bar and starts rummaging around.
Loki takes a careful bite of his shawarma, and his eyebrows shoot up. "This is traditional New York food?"
"Well, it didn't start here," Bruce says.
"It's New York food now and that's what counts," Clint says, "so yeah, kinda. Halal trucks, anyway. I think that's kind of similar." He's been a little on edge around Loki since the scepter's control was broken, but not actively hostile, and he's at least talking in Loki's general direction, which Steve figures is another good sign.
"Ah-ha!" Tony straightens with a flourish and two dusty bottles. "I'm sure none of you heathens will really appreciate this, but take my word for it, this is the good stuff."
"I wish I had some Asgardian mead to share," Thor says. "Even a newer vintage could easily be older than all of you combined."
"Yes, and none of them would live much longer if you gave them more than a few sips," Loki says.
"Okay, no, I don't care what's good on Asgard," Tony says, handing around glasses. "This is the good stuff and I expect you all to at least pretend to enjoy it, and then we can start on shots if you want to go cheap. Cheaper. Fair warning, I've been known to drink a lot of people under the table."
Natasha raises one eyebrow. "Is that a challenge?"
Tony glances around the room, and Steve can practically see him thinking god, supersoldier, god, Russian, potential rage monster. "Uhhhh. Maybe between me and Clint."
Clint gives him a lazy smirk. "Yeah? Bring it."
"How about a toast instead," Bruce suggests.
"I'm sure that's safer for anyone likely to overestimate their abilities," Natasha says, eyeing Tony.
"I'm going to ignore that and pretend I wasn't just insulted in my own home," Tony says. "A toast, sure. To, what, not having to avenge the world after all? Kicking alien ass?"
Steve raises his glass. "To new beginnings."
"Aye," Thor says, "I will drink to that."
Loki meets Steve's eyes over the rim of his glass and smiles at him—a little tentative, a little fragile, but unmistakably genuine and god, Steve hadn't even realized until now how much he'd missed it. "As will I."