As deserted islands went, Natasha had been in worse situations. The night was warm and there were minimal bugs. The fish that Phil had caught earlier were roasting over the fire, they had some water to drink, and Loki could build a serviceable shelter. She'd been stuck in survival scenarios with far less competent companions.

"So, Logan, where do you come from?" Phil innocuous question drew a sharp glance from her but she immediately softened it. Her friend was testing Loki's memory. It could backfire on them but Natasha confessed to being curious as well.

"London." The answer came easily and there were no signs of distress. "Grew up in a project, joined the army, and was recruited to HYDRA after. You?"

"I was recruited by SHIELD out of a pool of CIA hopefuls." Phil smiled thinly. "Turns out that SHIELD gets first dibs on applicants for government jobs."

"That's surely not how you joined, Natasha," Logan replied, looking across the fire to her.

"No, I was working for another party when I was recruited by Barton and Phil." Natasha felt her chest catch, just as it always did when those old memories were dragged to the surface.

Loki tilted his head. "That sounds interesting."

Natasha stiffened at the implied question. "I thought Barton had told all my secrets to you."

Loki snorted. "Not me. Barton was the one who put me here. It's safe to say we don't get along."

"Why?" Natasha wondered if it had something to do with being shot in the eye by Barton.

"I think he's jealous, since I got one of the few successful batches of super soldier serum in the modern era." Loki leaned back and tucked his hands behind his head, looking nothing like the man who'd tried to invade New York. Natasha doubted that tyrant would let two mortals see him with dirty, broken fingernails and blood caked at his hairline.

"Ah." Phil nodded and was quiet for a long moment. "This fire needs a beer."

"If we're wishing, how about a steak?" Loki added with a chuckle.

"I'll take a charged satphone, thanks." Natasha grinned at the men, enjoying their expressions after her witty retort.

Phil reached forward and tested the fish, then handed one of the speared carcasses to her. The second went to Loki, and he claimed the last. "To a delicious dinner," he said, toasting with the fish.

"To not having to eat bugs," Loki said, raising his own fish.

Natasha laughed at their silliness, even if she knew this was the only way they'd survive without killing one another. We might still kill each other, she mused as she nibbled on her dinner. The flesh of the fish was light and flaky, if a little dry. "My compliments to the chef." Natasha smiled at Phil, watching the way that the fire painted his skin with gold. His answering expression made her wish they were alone and could finish what they had started in her apartment.

"Do I need to take a walk down the beach?" Loki's smirk would have been teasing if they had been better friends. As it was now, it was annoying. Worse, it was the most Loki-ish thing she'd seen from him yet. Was the psychotic godling's personality coming back now that he was away from HYDRA? As horrifying as the brainwashing was, Natasha didn't think Loki would be nearly as accommodating as Logan was.

"No." Natasha let her annoyance show in the single word.

Loki laughed, a chillingly familiar sound. "It's not a problem, I swear."

Natasha could see it was a problem, though she couldn't say why. His words were right but his body language spoke of jealousy and anger, and his tone had contained a caustic undertone. "It's fine. I think Phil and I can contain ourselves."

"I've been saying 'no' for years. A few more days won't matter." Phil spoke more to his fish than to her. Natasha glared at him and he lowered the meal. "I didn't mean it the way it came out-"

Loki's eyes widened as he grinned mischievously. "You guys haven't had sex yet."

"Not yet." Phil attempted to be casual about the topic. Natasha thought the tension in his voice was sexual deprivation until he said, "Sex isn't the most important part of a relationship anyway. It's only part of intimacy." His blue eyes locked with hers and she felt a shiver of desire.

"What do you want from me?"

"Everything."

Natasha didn't stop the heated look she gave Phil. "You two are killing me." Loki rose restlessly and headed for the water. He stopped before reaching the edge, his lean form a dark shadow against the moon-silvered sea.

"Think he feels like a third wheel?" Phil asked when he was out of earshot.

"I don't know." Natasha took a bite of fish thoughtfully. "I do know that he really believes he's Logan, Agent of HYDRA."

"Yeah, and that's creepy." Phil watched as Loki finished the fish and tossed the stick and bones into the water. "When he cracks, it'll be bad."

"Not if we help him through it." Natasha hadn't been aware she'd been considering it seriously until she spoke. Phil's expression became incredulous. "I know, Phil. If that break is coming, we will be in a position to help him."

"We'll have to if we want to survive it." Phil shook his head, frowning.

"To help him survive, too." Natasha glanced at him. "Thor's my friend and he still loves his brother."

"Alright." Phil sighed but wasn't upset. "The things you talk me into."

Natasha leaned over and kissed Phil lightly. Tossing her bones and stick into the fire, she rose and walked toward Loki. She didn't want to startle him, so she called, "Hey, Logan."

He turned, the distant fire giving her just enough light to see his mocking expression. "That was fast."

"Relax, nothing happened." Natasha moved to his side and looked out over the ocean. "We'll try not to do that anymore."

Loki turned with her, his head tilted. "Why?"

"Because two people having sex and leaving the third person out is rude, at best." Natasha smiled at him before turning her gaze out toward the ocean. "Besides, I think you want my boyfriend."

The choked sound from the other man made her smile. After a long moment, he said, "I'm not . . . Fuck. You noticed."

"Phil didn't, if you're worried." Natasha's foot bumped something and she bent down to dig a shell out of the sand.

"But you're not." When she glanced up, Loki had the most adorable look of suspicion on his face. "Why are you not worried?"

"I trust Phil. If he wants to have sex with you, he'll tell me. We'll talk." Natasha stepped out into surf and washed the sand off the shell, wondering if it was a pretty one. "In my business, you learn that sex and love are not the same thing."

When the godling spoke, he was so soft Natasha almost missed what he said. "If I loved him, that would be different?"

Natasha swallowed her surprise at the question - that was the last thing she'd expected from Loki. "Very." She stood up and faced him, feeling the waves wash back and forth over her bare toes while she struggled with a response. "We've been through some traumatic events. That can create deep bonds. Do you love my boyfriend?"

"No." His response was quick and almost sad. "I'm envious-" He cleared his throat. "He thinks I killed him so I'm not sure love's in the equation."

Natasha smiled. "Phil was going to kill me when we first met. Got as far as putting the gun to my head." Loki blinked at her. "If you want to hear his story, then ask him. But Logan - be sure you're ready to hear his story, and not just blow him off. He deserves better than that."

She left the Invader of New York standing in the sand, mulling over death and love. There were worse ways to spend an evening on the beach.