Loki watches him carefully. Part and parcel of being able to lie this well is to recognize the lies in others, and he's had centuries to perfect the art. And what he sees... Is a total lack of guile in the captain, in and of itself a veritable rarity.

"Hm. Discretion truly is the better part of valor." Which is the closest he'll ever come to stating he appreciates that particular discretion, so take it for what it's worth, Steve. "Well, then. With that out of the way we can get down to brass tacks, as it were. My offer still stands."