[Loki gets to see Steve's expression harden. He almost curls his lip as he instinctively recoils from that answer, but manages not to bare his teeth.]

I'm here talking to you, aren't I?

[Sarcasm being his initial reaction to a question that hits so close to home. But it doesn't mean he can avoid the question.]

The uniform doesn't have anything to do with it. But taking up the mantle made me better, because I wouldn't have learned that there was something better without it.

I let go of things I thought I needed.