Over the next few days, Tony did a lot of thinking about Loki. He had a lot of information that he was slowly feeding into a secret file JARVIS was compiling for him, but he was discovering the more he knew about Loki, the more of an enigma the man became. He played along with all of the schemes to find where Loki was, but he was pretty sure if Loki could hide from an all-seeing god, he could hide from them. What he focused on most was bringing his new suit up to combat readiness.

He was in the lab, going over the schematics of some final tweaks he wanted to make, when he had the distinct impression someone was watching him. As he turned, his heart sank.

"Oh no," he said, poised to run for the door of his lab even though he knew he wouldn't make it, "I only just got over your last visit. JARVIS get everyone down here now."

There was no response.

"JARVIS," he tried again, but he had an even bigger sinking feeling about the whole situation.

"Your artificial servant cannot hear you," Loki said, sitting casually on the lab bench; "unlike last time my magic has recovered, and I am hidden from all sight. However, you need not fret, Mr Stark, I am not here to harm you."

"Having an off day?" Tony asked as he tried to figure a way out.

Loki smiled at that and looked surprisingly amused, rather than derisive. Having been inside Loki's head he knew it was chaotic insanity, but the demi-god in front of him didn't look as insane as he had last time. In fact, Loki looked elegant in black pants and a green shirt in a very Earth, smart-casual way. There wasn't a hint of armour about him and his long hair was neatly pulled back into a low ponytail. He looked less Asgard and more Armani.

"I will admit, I deserve that," Loki said and then hopped off the lab bench to land lightly on his feet.

"Okay, I'll bite, excuse the pun," Tony responded, because he never did know when to shut up, "why are you here?"

"To thank you."

"What for?"

"Giving me back my reason."

That got all of Tony's attention. He stopped and properly looked at his uninvited guest.

"Care to run that by me again, with crib notes?" he asked.

Loki smiled a second time and it was almost a pleasant expression. Tony found it unnerving. However, it was more than unnerving when Loki reached into nowhere that Tony could see and pulled out a small box.

"I know you are aware that when we last met, I was completely insane," Loki said, as if it was a simple fact. "In fact, I do not believe I have been sane since my fall. That is no longer the case and it is your mind which pulled me from the downward spiral."

For once in his life Tony did not know what to say.

"I find it ironic that a mind full of chaos, such as yours, was the trigger mine required to realign, but I will not deny it," Loki continued to speak. "Hence, I came to thank you. In return for your aid I bring you a gift."

Loki placed the box on the tool table next to where Tony was standing and took a step back, as if not to spook him. It didn't really help, since he was all too aware how fast Loki could move, but it was an interesting gesture. Loki wasn't known for being placating, even if it was only a ruse.

"Let me just check, because I like to have my facts straight," Tony said, not going near the box yet, "you're not a fruit loop anymore and so you brought me a present?"

The way Loki smiled was even more amused.

"That would sum up my presence," Loki replied.

"You don't look as, well, vampy anymore either," he added.

"I am simply well fed," Loki said, amusement level dropping somewhat; "I am still what I am."

As if to prove it, Loki's skin went incredibly pale and the demi-god opened his mouth, exhibiting a newly extended fang. It was strangely attractive and just a little dangerous, which had Tony's libido sitting up and taking notice, but he ignored it with practiced ease. Since becoming serious with Pepper, he had been training himself.

"Been breaking into blood banks, or don't I want to know?" Tony asked.

This time Loki laughed at him.

"Oh, I have found that in the throes of passion your species fails to notice many things," Loki told him; "I have had little bother finding willing partners."

That was a lot better than it could have been, so Tony decided maybe the conversation wasn't going to end with him squashed like a bug.

"Not feeling homicidal anymore then?" he asked just to make sure. "You don't look like you want to rip my head off, but I just like to be positive about these things."

"I have no quarrel with you or your people," Loki replied, becoming totally serious now. "My madness has passed, and I owe you a debt, so I am here to repay it."

When it came down to it, Tony knew he could be confrontational, but he remembered the chaos of Loki's mind too much not to understand where the guy was coming from. He could have challenged Loki on the fact the demi-god owed Earth a debt as well, but he was pretty sure that would not end well.

"What is it?" he asked, looking at the box instead.

"An element from a dying star," Loki replied, "a very rare one you will not have seen before. I am sure a man of your intellect will find a use for it."

Tony almost stepped towards the tool table, but held himself in check.

"It's not radioactive is it?" he asked.

"Not to any degree which will harm you of those around you," Loki told him. "It has more interesting properties than that."

"Is it dangerous?"

"Very," Loki smiled as he said that and paused, "but not while it is in the box. You may open the box and examine it, but do not remove it until you are sure of its properties."

If there was one thing Tony could not resist it was a challenge and he gave in to his instincts and opened the box. There, suspended in a green mist was something about the size of a golf ball that looked vaguely metallic and writhed like it was trying to escape.

"Wow," he said, looking closer, because he had never seen anything quite like it. "Where did you get it?"

"I already told you."

"You got this from a dying star for me?" Tony didn't bother hiding his surprise.

"Well, I have had it for a while," Loki admitted with an amused smirk, "but I have never had a use for it until I saw into your mind. Some of your science is primitive, but you are quite remarkable; I am sure you will enjoy it."

Closing the box, Tony looked at his visitor and couldn't help wondering how long 'a while' actually was.

"Thank you," he said, "I'm sure I will."

It was a present from Loki, so he wasn't going to even probe it without full safety protocols in place, but his instincts told him the gift was genuinely meant.

"You know, I saw into your mind too; you're remarkable yourself," he added.

If half of what he had sensed when their minds met was the truth, then Loki made most human geniuses pale in comparison.

"Most would not agree," Loki replied.

"Yeah, well, jocks, what can you do?" Tony said. "Can't live with them, can't distract the enemy without them."

Loki lifted an aristocratic eyebrow at that.

"A jock would be Thor," he said, explaining without making Loki ask, "us, we're the brains, and jocks always try and make us look small, because we intimidate them."

"Thor does not have the brains to be intimidated."

Tony gave Loki a look of his own for that one; they both knew Thor was not an idiot.

"Our personal jocks might not have the same brain power we do," he said, "but if they were stupid, we wouldn't be bothering with them."

Loki did not look very happy with that statement, but did not argue it.

"That being said," Loki decided and began to turn away, "thank you again for your assistance, Mr Stark, but now I have revenge on Asgard to plan. Do give my brother my greetings..."

"Woah, wait just one minute," Tony said and surprisingly Loki did pause.

"What?"

"You don't hate Asgard."

Loki's features went completely cold in under a second.

"Please, do explain," Loki said and the tone was icy enough to make the temperature drop in the room.

"Don't be like that," Tony said, feeling just a little petulant; their chat had been going so well, "I've been inside your head, remember. I'm not saying you don't have issues with them, hell, I'd have issues with them too, but you don't hate them and I think you need me to tell you that because you're not thinking too clearly on this subject. You don't even hate your dad, although you have even bigger daddy issues than I do, which is saying something, and you definitely love your mum and your brother, no matter how big an idiot you think he is."

Loki's expression hadn't changed, but that said just as much as if it had; Tony knew he had shocked the demi-god. From being inside Loki's mind he knew that Loki's defences said if you don't know how to react, don't react at all.

"You would dare to tell me what I think?" Loki asked, voice no friendlier.

"No," Tony replied, "I'm just pointing out things I think you might be ignoring. I know it's easier to hate, I tried it with my dad, but it really doesn't work."

The way Loki's eye went distant for a moment told Tony the demi-god was at least thinking about what he was saying.

"Look, I don't know if you're going over your own memories or what you picked up of mine, but all I'm saying is you have options."

"Whether what you say is true or not, I have no options," Loki spat back almost instantly. "It matters little what I think or feel about Asgard; they would destroy me."

"They can't," Tony said and had to pause, because that had just popped out of his mouth.

Now Loki was frowning at him.

"You have no idea what you are talking about."

"Wait," he said, holding up his hand as he tried to chase down the thought that had caused him to speak.

"I am leaving."

"No, wait, it's," Tony knew it had to have been important, but he hadn't had much sleep and his brain was a little more chaotic than usual.

Loki turned away from him.

"You're free," Tony said triumphantly as he grabbed hold of the wayward thought, "by Asgard's law you're deemed punished and free."

"What nonsense are you speaking now?" Loki demanded, but significantly did not just disappear.

Tony grinned.