Avengers’ Isle: Picklesticks

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“Oh, picklesticks,” Natasha Romanoff grumbled. She pulled her gun out of its holster. “Ugh, I knew it.” She tossed it aside, sitting down on the warm sand and glaring at the endless ocean. Water and guns never mix.

And of course she had to be stuck with Stark.

“Picklesticks,” she growled.

She should be grateful that he actually saved her, but this was one of her worst nightmares. One of them. There were plenty worse, but this was one of the few nightmares that hadn’t come true.

Until now.

Alone, on an uninhabited island, with Tony Stark. At least, she hoped it was uninhabited.

Tony came over and sat down next to her, sighing. “The suit’s shot. I’m not sure what went wrong with it. We’re lucky we weren’t far from this island.”

Natasha sighed. “So we’re stuck. What are the chances that we’re going to be found?”

He grinned drily. “Not sure you want to know. Only slightly worse than our chances of surviving, though, I believe.” He balled up a fist. “It had to have been that friend of yours. It certainly wasn’t Loki, and with his arrow things he could easily blow up the helicarrier.”

“It’s not Hawkeye’s fault!” Natasha snapped. “Even if it was him, it’s Loki’s mind control stuff that’s making him do it.”

Tony held up his hands defensively. “Okay, okay. Sorry, didn’t mean to insult your pal. I’m just saying.” He took stock of her face and changed the subject. “I wonder if any of the others made it through.”

Natasha shrugged. “Who knows. I–”

“Hello?” a voice said hoarsely from nearby. Both of them froze and stared towards the voice. It was coming from the other side of the rock that protruded into the water. Natasha looked at Tony, waiting to see what he would do. He shrugged.

“Who is it?” Tony asked, his tone tough and angry, but Natasha rolled her eyes at his obvious bluffing.

There was a humorless laugh. “Just the person I wished to be marooned with.”

Natasha’s eyes narrowed and she groaned. “Oh picklesticks.”

Tony frowned. “Picklesticks?”

“Loki.”

Loki pulled himself over the rocks and landed on his feet. “Well, having a few chums here will be better than being alone, I assume.”

Tony growled. “Chums. Ha. Listen to me. One wrong move and you will be wishing you were marooned alone.”

Loki smiled. “Ah, I don’t think so.”

Now this was a nightmare. Picklesticks.