"By decree of Odin Allfather," Tony said as he revealed the information he had finally pried from his uncooperative brain, "no prisoner of Asgard shall be permanently harmed in any way until such time as their trial is complete and their punishment has been deemed just. If this law is broken the prisoner shall be deemed duly punished and all rights and property shall be returned to them with their freedom."

Loki was still glaring and clearly not quite following; the guy totally had blinkers when it came to his own situation.

"You're a vampire," Tony spelled it out. "I think that counts as permanently harmed, don't you? Asgard can't touch you and since we gave you to them to be punished, Earth can't touch you either. That gives you options."

"Odin will never allow that to stand," Loki protested.

"He doesn't have a choice," Tony replied, "it's the law."

"I am far too dangerous to be allowed free."

"Well, you were," Tony agreed. "No offense, but you were batshit, but we both know you're not anymore. Question is, are you going to make sure everyone else knows it too. You didn't used to be malicious, just a little bit misguided every now and then," he smiled to lessen that particular revelation, "but your dad's lies tipped you over the edge and the void finished you off, I get that, but you've got the chance to start again. You're a Prince of Asgard, free and clear."

It was totally obvious Loki had not remotely considered any of this as a possibility. To Tony's surprise, his guest actually sat down. For a moment the demi-god appeared kind of lost.

"Want a drink?" Tony offered, since it looked like Loki needed one.

The gaze that pinned him down was piercing, but also confused.

"Why are you trying to help me? I attempted a takeover of your planet and I threw you out of a window."

"But we both know you weren't really trying," Tony replied and then grinned, "and I've been on scarier roller coasters."

Loki frowned again.

"You got a bum deal from your dad," Tony changed tack since it didn't seem to be working, "and we have this thing called not guilty by reason of insanity. Thing is, you're not insane anymore which changes the whole game. I'd rather give you options than have Earth in the middle of your family problems."

"I told you, I bear this realm no ill will," Loki replied.

"Yeah, well, we seem to end up in the middle of things when it comes to you, your brother and your dad, so I'm taking no chances."

He poured two glasses of Scotch from his lab stash and carefully walked towards Loki, holding out one as a peace offering.

"I am a monster, Mr Stark," Loki said, without taking the drink.

"Yeah, well, aren't we all," Tony replied and refused to take back the glass.

For a few seconds the tableau held, until Loki finally reached out for the drink.

"I crave the life blood of others," Loki said, "if nothing else, does that not horrify you?"

"You haven't jumped me yet this time," Tony commented and took a swig of his whiskey, "so I think we can put that down to a one time, you were starving thing, which, really, when you think about it, turned out to be the right move for all of us."

For the first time ever, Loki looked at a total loss.

"You, Mr Stark, are an astonishing individual."

"I'll take that as a compliment," Tony replied with a grin, "and we're drinking together, you might as well call me Tony."

Loki shook his head and finally took a drink before making a face.

"This is foul," Loki said, "what is it?"

"Scotch," Tony replied, somewhat affronted, "expensive Scotch."

"Damn, it would seem I have found something else to cross off the list of delicacies I once enjoyed."

Loki appeared quite put out by that.

"Tastes changed?"

Placing the glass on the table Loki nodded.

"It would appear my palate has altered considerably."

"That sucks. Anything you do like I might have?"

"Since I do not believe that which I crave the most is on offer, I will simply say that I have found my tastes erring to the sweeter side," Loki replied, not sounding overly hopeful.

"Yeah, the whole blood thing was kind of mind blowing, but I'll have to pass; Pep would get jealous. I'll see what I've got in the cabinet," Tony said and walked back to the storage area where he kept his emergency supply. "How about some Coke in with it?"

He didn't normally hold with Coke in anything, but needs must. He popped the can and walked over to add it to Loki's glass. This time Loki sniffed it before trying to drink some, at which point the demi-god looked pleasantly surprised.

"The bubbles are not to my taste," Loki said, "but the flavour is palatable, thank you."

Loki being polite for a second time in ten minutes almost made Tony sit down in shock.

"Just don't tell anyone I mixed twenty five year old Glenlivet with coke," Tony said and grinned.

It was a superior smirk that came back at him from Loki, but the situation could almost be called pleasant as they drank their drinks. Of course, it couldn't last.

"Thank you, Tony," Loki said when they were both done, "but now I must leave."

"Why?"

Loki gave him an 'are you a complete idiot' look.

"You have options, Reindeer Games, remember," Tony said, feeling bold, "why not come upstairs instead?"

"Aside from the fact most of your friends would try to kill me; I seem to recall your living space is completely open to the sun and I dislike bright light."

"It's adjustable," Tony replied, "all I have to do is tell JARVIS and no sun. Come on, don't you want to see the expression on Captain America's face when he walks in looking for me and finds you sitting on the couch?"

"I must adjust my previous assessment, you are not astonishing, you are insane."

However, Loki's words belied the look of interest in his eyes. Tony knew he had hit on Loki's mischievous nature.

"Dare you," Tony said, just because he could.

The corners of Loki's mouth twitched, just slightly.

"Just so we are clear," Loki said, "you are inviting a vampire and a frost giant into your home."

"Heh, I have one god living on the premises, what's the matter with inviting a second?"

Loki lifted an eyebrow again; it seemed to be a favoured expression.

"Are you inviting me to stay?"

"Maybe," Tony said, not actually having thought that far through, but not seeing the downside; "I like you and this is my building."

The utterly stunned look was completely new.

"You like me?"

Loki sounded as if that was an utterly impossible concept.

"You're not entirely sane, but neither am I, so sure," Tony said. "You've been inside my head as much as I was inside yours, figure it out."

He knew he'd lost his guest again for a few moments as Loki's gaze clouded with memory, but when Loki blinked back to reality it was obvious they understood each other a little better.

"Will your artificial servant not immediately sound the alarm should my presence become known?" Loki asked, apparently no longer objecting.

"Not if I tell him not to," Tony replied. "Don't get me wrong, there are protocols for you showing up that I'll have to go through, because you know, glowstick of destiny and mind control and all that jazz, but JARVIS will be cool."

"It would be simpler for all concerned if I were to just leave," Loki pointed out.

"Yeah, but you don't want to and it's not every day I get to pick a master's brain about magic."

The taken aback look graced Loki's features again; it was all too clear this was one demi-god not used to being the centre of attention for anything but chaos. For a long few seconds Loki looked at him as if trying to puzzle him out some more, but he nodded.

"When I finish speaking, I will release the enchantment on your servant," Loki said.

"JARVIS, don't sound the alarm," Tony said the moment Loki stopped talking.

"Very well, Sir," JARVIS replied, "but protocol Glow Stick of Destiny is in effect."

"Yep, gotcha," Tony replied, "put the call through to Pepper."

Loki lifted an eyebrow.

"There is only one person qualified to say if I'm in my right mind," Tony told his guest with a shrug.

"Tony, this came through with an emergency tag," Pepper's voice came over the intercom, "what do you need?"

Tony grinned, that was his girl.

"I have a new house guest," he replied, "and I need you to confirm for JARVIS I'm not being mind-controlled."

"You're not?"

He was pretty sure that by now Pepper was bringing up the security camera footage on her work screen. In the case of an emergency, JARVIS had orders to feed it directly to whatever device Pepper had to hand.

"Nope, not even a little bit," he replied, "in fact me and my guest are having a very pleasant conversation."

"I am obliged to point out you have had no conversation, Sir," JARVIS added.

"I was hiding the discourse from your vision, Servant of Stark," Loki said without prompting, "the true events are in a locked file coded 7051."

Tony noted with interest that Loki's methods clearly employed magic, but in conjunction with technology as well. He really could not wait to bombard Loki with questions.

"File located and isolated," JARVIS replied, "analysing now."

"Pep, Loki is no longer loco," Tony spoke to Pepper while JARVIS went through the half dozen security protocols that were in place before anyone could view an unknown file on the network. "Turns out my kind of crazy was just what his kind of crazy needed to be, well, not so crazy anymore."

"Are you sure?"

"Well he hasn't tried to kill me yet, so I'm taking that as a positive sign."

"Tony," Pepper's tone was long suffering and a little on edge.

"Yes, I'm sure," Tony replied.

"Miss Potts," Loki said, standing and looking unerringly at one of the hidden cameras, "I came here today to thank Tony for his gift to me; I bear neither him, you nor your planet any ill will."

"But you're still there?" Pepper asked, as beautifully professional as ever.

"I invited him to stay," Tony put in.

There was silence from the other end of the call.

"Miss Potts, Sir," JARVIS interrupted before Pepper could reply, "I have analysed the footage. There is no indication that any mind control techniques have been applied, but I feel I must point out that it is possible the footage may have been tampered with or invisible techniques have been implemented."

"Nothing invisible going on here, promise," Tony said and smiled at Loki.

"Tony, we really should call SHIELD," Pepper said.

"Oh, but that will spoil the surprise," Tony whined.

He could almost hear the eye-roll from the other end of the line.

"Perhaps if Miss Potts were to alert your colleagues of a possible incursion, but not specify exactly what that incursion might be, she would be satisfied and so would you?" Loki suggested with the ease of one used to plots.

"What do you say, Pep?"

"You are impossible," is what Pepper replied.

"Please," Tony wheedled.

"Tony, sometimes you have to be a grownup," Pepper told him.

"I am," Tony replied, "haven't I let those doctors prod me once a day to make sure I'm fine?"

Tony wasn't sure why he was trying so hard. The sensible thing would have been to allow Pepper to call SHIELD and the other Avengers and just deal with it. It was possible Loki's mischievous nature had had an effect on him after all.

"Okay," he said, "but tell Thor first and give us a chance to get to the bar."

Loki lifted an eyebrow at this, but didn't seem overly concerned about the situation.

"Tony," Pepper said.

"Five minutes, that's all I'm asking," he replied and headed for the door.

Pepper sighed and Tony took that as a yes. He looked over at Loki who stood up and followed him.

"Bye, Pep," Tony said and blew a kiss at one of the hidden cameras; "see you soon."

He knew for a fact Pepper would be heading up from her office further down the tower as soon as she had alerted SHIELD. She would also be watching the monitors like a hawk until backup arrived. It was nice to know someone other than JARVIS really cared.

"JARVIS, tint the windows to 80% please," he said as Loki followed him up the stairs from his lab to the penthouse.

"Done, Sir," JARVIS replied. "Is there anything else I can do for you?"

Roughly translated that meant, 'Is there a threat I can neutralise for you?' Tony loved JARVIS almost as much as Pepper.

"No thanks," he replied, "that will be all."

When he had converted the tower to provide space for the Avengers, he had turned the penthouse level into a communal space, adding further structures above for him and Pepper. The lounge was open to all which made it a good place for the discussion he knew was coming.

"So," he said as he walked over to find them more drinks, "how severe is the problem with sunlight?"

"It is uncomfortable," Loki replied, "but with my magic, manageable. I am able to tolerate it, but I would prefer not to."

"Understandable," Tony replied with a grin, "but at least I know if someone takes a pot shot at the windows you're not going to go up in flames."

"Nothing so dramatic," Loki replied, smirking just slightly at him.

"Here, try this," he said, pouring a sweet melon liqueur into a glass and sliding it towards his guest; "it's your colour."

Loki sniffed it and took a small sip and then smiled; he looked quite delighted in fact.

"Thank you," the demi-god said, "it is most palatable."

"Then it's all yours," Tony said and poured himself another Scotch; "it was bought for a cocktail night that was interrupted by SHIELD and no one has touched it since."

"Sir," JARVIS interrupted politely, "Mr Odinson is enroute, he will be here in approximately twenty seconds."

"Thanks, JARV," Tony replied. "Shall we?" he asked and indicated the couches.