It was a rare occurrence when Tony had nothing to say, and this might top the list. The playboy opened and closed his mouth several times, trying to put some smart words together. But each retort that popped into his head sounded stupider than its predecessor.

"Well, Man of Iron?"

"You know, you're getting awfully close for someone who was so sure he could kill me earlier."

"Does that make you nervous?" The trickster leaned closer still, his eyes fixed on the faint blue light under Tony's shirt. He put a cold hand to it, and Tony fought to hold back a whimper.

"I've never seen anything like this on one of your kind. I'd be quite interested in hearing the story behind your glowing chest piece." Eyes full of curiosity looked up into Tony's, and he was able to relax slightly.

"First why don't we sit down? This is kind of a long story." He wasn't exactly happy that Loki stepped back, but he was relieved. Any longer and he wasn't sure what he would have done. Tony sat across from the trickster, and began spilling the story behind the arc reactor. He told Loki about being kidnapped and nearly dying, and having the arc reactor implanted. His friend had died, and Tony built the Iron Man suit and fought his way out of captivity. The playboy fixed the arc reactor, making it stronger than what his captives had left him with, though he was plagued by its still fatal weakness. Just pulling it out would kill the man, but it wouldn't be a nice, quiet death. It would be slow, and he would live just long enough to feel everything die around him. And Loki listened with complete fascination, his expression changing slightly as Tony told the story.

"You humans do atrocious things to one another."

"Don't start. I've read about some of the stuff you guys do. Fucking horses being one of them."

Loki scowled, shooting Tony a warning glare before speaking.

"That is a different matter entirely. We aren't like you. And just because there's another race out there doing something horrible doesn't mean you should do it as well."

"Hey, I didn't make any of that happen. And if you think about it, if that hadn't happened, you'd probably have taken over."

"Cocky aren't you? Are you taking credit for my defeat?"

"Well, not for nothing, but I did sort of save the city and stop those monsters with that bomb." Of course he was cocky. Tony Stark was nothing without his ego, and he made sure everyone knew that. Loki sniggered at Tony's confidence, but had to admit that it was refreshing. It wasn't the arrogance of a bull-headed idiot, but rather the arrogance of complex person. There was more to Tony Stark than what the surface layers revealed.

"Were you afraid?"

"Of dying? I guess. There are worse things that can happen. I would have been even more scared if I couldn't do anything to stop you."

"My, how valiant you are. Though your nobility is well shrouded by ego."

"I try." Tony grinned and sipped his coffee. He was enjoying this little conversation. It had to be the first time he'd spoken with the fallen god without getting punched or thrown out a window.

"So, what's your sad story?"

"You know it already."

"No, I know what your brother told me. And he was pretty plastered."

Loki wrinkled his nose in distaste. "Of course. Leave it to the true king of Asgard to disgrace himself that way."

"You don't like him do you?"

"Do not mistake my words, Tony. I love my brother." Loki paused for a moment as he heard himself say those words. Deep down, he still did. "I always loved my brother. But he is the greatest fool I've ever known. He's arrogant and spoiled, and sees only one solution when there are infinitesimally more."

"Sounds to me like you're jealous he's king."

The trickster grinned coolly and swirled his drink. "Is that all you can muster? That I'm jealous that my brother was handed the crown of a dismal little kingdom while I was overlooked? No. You are sadly mistaken. I was never jealous of not being king." He hesitated, and licked his lips slightly. "I was jealous because he saw nothing else in that gift. He didn't understand what it meant to be king. And he still doesn't. It would take more than a few days on earth for him to truly understand that being king is more than a title."

"Something you clearly knew already."

"I will not lie to you Tony Stark, I acted out of anger and loathing. But I saw more for Asgard and the Nine Realms than Thor was willing to grasp. The bumbling oaf rushes into everything screaming, and I'm sure you witnessed this yourself on more than one occasion."

Oh he'd witnessed plenty. Like Thor getting so drunk he nearly knocked down a building. Or the time he got into a fight with the Hulk several thousand feet in the air on a helicopter full of people. Or the time Thor summoned his hammer without thinking it would smash right through an office building. The list went on really.

"Point taken."

"All I ever wanted was to be seen as an equal. Not the forgotten child or the outcast, but as a brother and a son. That's it. I cannot express to you how much I loathe being looked at as if I were a weak creature. I detest that pitying look more than you could ever understand. And for all my life, it was the only look my family ever gave me."

"Must suck, huh? The only look I ever get from people is either awe or rage. Usually a mix of both."

"You are a greater fool than words can express. But I suppose that adds to your charm."

"Oh, I'm charming now?"

He liked the way that sounded, especially when Loki said it. The two spoke for quite some time, switching from one subject to another until Tony decided to actually fix his living room. It really wasn't too bad, and considering who Loki was related to, it could have been worse. He would forever remember the time he'd been stupid enough to let Thor drink at his place. From then on, he vowed never to have alcohol in the tower. Pepper thought it was a mixed blessing, though she always shuddered when she remembered that night. It took almost three months to finish rebuilding Stark Tower, and Tony was pretty sure JARVIS still held a grudge against the god. Not that it made much sense considering he was an AI, but he was pretty sure there had been more than one occasion when Thor was either shocked or locked outside.

"JARVIS, make a couple calls for me. I need new furniture and windows."

Already done sir. Anything else?

"A television, obviously. And see if maybe we can't get this room repainted gold. I'm getting tired of white walls."

Of course sir.

Tony set about the task of cleaning up debris, Loki soon joining in. He kept his gaze elsewhere while they cleaned, and tried to play off his guilt as something else entirely. It took almost three hours before the mess was gone, and Tony's new furniture arrived. In no time at all the room looked brand new, a fresh coat of glistening gold paint on the walls.

"There, looks better doesn't it?"

"It certainly looks as though it belongs to you now."

"Oh? And what's that supposed to mean?" Tony saw the look of distaste on Loki's face as the trickster glanced about. It certainly wasn't his color of choice. Seeing the extravagant color reminded him of home, and then of course, of no longer being there. But he supposed that it was better than any other color the eccentric playboy could have chosen.

"The color suits you."