"Well that reindeer games is where you would be wrong. Your brother Thor's been busy" He said grinning before lunging for the God. Loki reared back in surprise. What was happening? This pathetic mortal must be tricking him, but how had he escaped the body lock?
"How are you free!?"
"I hear its something called a mind swap, interesting technique"
Loki hissed. Thor and that Tom. But that must mean others were here and if they were here Odin might have sent Tom which would mean...
"My father, did he sent my mortal self here" He shouted grabbing Stark by the throat "Are there others"
"I'm sure you'll find out soon enough" muttered Tony starting to gasp for breath. Loki cast him to the floor. How had his plans gone so badly wrong? The avengers were coming, probably with their powers just like Loki had. And then if he and Tom touched, he would be back in his own body. Odin could send him back if he was weak but if he managed to stay strong he could not send him back as he could shield himself. However he didn't know how he would feel after a mind swap, better not to risk it. But to fight the avengers in this mortal form? He needed life force.
Tony saw an unsettling glint in the villains eye as he turned towards him. He jumped up and starting backing off, looking for a weapon. But he couldn't seriously harm this guy if Tom was to go back in the body. Damn, what did he do! Still he grabbed a knife as he was backed into a corner. "Just back off and nothing will happen" Said Tony.
Loki didn't stop advancing and reached out and grabbed Tony's wrist, squeezing it until he dropped the knife into his waiting hand. He pointed the knife towards his chest...
The avengers had gathered in the prop room and started searching for their weapons, whilst waiting for Tom. Hawkeye had found his Bow, Captain America his shield but the Black Widow's gun was a fake. She had left in search of real weapon. Tom burst through the door holding the staff, he found a bow being aimed at him.
"No its me Tom, I swear. Odin gave me the spear and look I have the tablet!" He opened his hand to reveal the metal capsule.
Hawkeye lowered his bow. "Where's Agent Romanoff?" He said moments before she burst through the door.
She tossed a gun to Hawkeye and the Captain. "Found these on the guards at the nearby bank. I don't think they minded"
Everyone very much doubted that but wisely kept quiet. The only one missing was Stark but that was because he was at the flat, hopefully holding Loki off.
"Right we need to hurry, Stark could be in trouble"
"IS IN TROUBLE!" interrupted Tom clutching his head. "I've just steered a knife away from his chest!" With that they sprinted towards the exit. And saw that a police car awaited them.
"When you said the guards didn't mind, would these be the same guards you borrowed the car off of" Said Tom turning to the Black Widow.
"Yep, Now lets move"
Loki screamed in frustration as he threw the knife away from him. TOM! Seeing his chance Tony shoved Loki over and sprinted for the exit. If he could lure him out into the open that would make it easier for the avengers to...
Suddenly Loki was in front of him. How had he, no wait Loki wouldn't waste teleport energy like that. Taking his chance he barrelled towards him and was relieved when he ran through an image rather than actual Loki, goodness knows how that would have ended. He heard an angry scream behind him and pelted down the stairs. He just made it into the open air when a knife hit his throat. He stood stock still feeling Loki behind him.
"Any false moves and I cut" He hissed into Tony's ear. "On the other hand I need the energy so.."
Just as he was about to cut the avengers appeared in the police car, throwing themselves out and into a defensive position. Tom stood awkwardly to the side.
"Let him go Loki and you don't have to get hurt." Said Hawkeye aiming for Loki, but unable to get a clean shot because of Stark.
"I don't think so, harm me and he gets it" Shouted Loki pressing the knife more firmly against Stark's throat.
"Loki" Shouted Tom, making everyone turn in surprise. "Let him go" He raised the sceptre, then held it to his own throat. "or I'll do it"
"What are you doing"Shouted Captain America, moving towards Tom
"If I'm correct, I die, he dies. Or at least I die and he stays mortal." Loki hissed in anger. "So lets do a trade, give them Stark and I'll go with you. No tricks"
"I know what happens if we touch, I will not be returned to Asgard!"
"It's only if we touch through skin, as you know. And if you don't return Stark I will do it." He said and Loki noticed that he had drawn a thin line of blood at his neck.
"I agree but we must leave in peace. If they follow I will kill you no matter what the consequences!"
"Fine then my request is that I leave the sceptre with them" Loki's eyes narrowed. "Take it or leave it"
"Cuff yourself first then we have a deal"
Tom looked to the others and handed Captain America the sceptre. Doing so he whispered "Follow the device" He then drew back cuffed himself and walked halfway to Loki. "Release Stark" Loki did so and shoved him towards the avengers grabbing Tom and disappearing.
"What do we do now!" Said Hawkeye in frustration.
"Well he gave me the sceptre and this device"
Tony grabbed it and examined it. "A tracking system, this blokes cleverer than we thought! His signal should appear when Loki's done moving... any second now." They all stared expectantly at the screen. Then a red dot flashed up.
"Where is he?" Asked the Black Widow.
"Well if I'm correct he appears to be inside the empire state building..."
"That's hours away!"
"Well we better get started then, Tom's still got that pill, hopefully he'll have used it before we get there." Said Tony running towards the Police car.
Loki opened his eyes and was pleased to see he had ended up where he had hoped. The avengers would never think to look here.
"So what are you planning to do with me" He spun round to face Tom who was casually leaning against a wall.
"What no ideas, fine well I will take the first action" He said raising his hands towards his mouth.
"What are you doing" Screamed Loki, smacking his hands away and spotting something falling to the floor. He picked it up and chuckled. "That would not have worked if you had taken it before I had switched bodies you idiotic mortal." He said.
"Oh, well thanks for confirming the theory for me. I did wonder why Odin didn't just make me take it on Asgard."
He hated this mortals smarminess. "So like I said before. What are you going to do with me?"
"When I have regained enough strength we will enter the dream and then I will drain your lifesource. Then when you are so weak you cannot stand I will kill you where you lie."
Tom looked genuinely scared. He started backing towards the door only to hear it slam shut. "I don't think so do you?"
"Well im not just going to fall asleep."
"You will, your body is drained of energy and being out of that body's normal realm is draining it even faster. I would go with another two hours."
Well that wasn't what Tom was hoping to hear.