Disclaimer: MacGyver's ideas in this story have not been tested, and some probably have a better chance than others of working in real life. MacGyver is the property of Paramount; recognizable Avengers characters and plotlines are the property of Associated British Corporation; all original characters and story © 2021 FemaleChauvinist.
Do not post without permission. Do not copy/print without including the above disclaimer in its entirety.
A/N: I really like MacGyver, who hates guns, but one of the things I like about Gambit is his use of guns. So I was wondering what would happen if you put them together…and this story is the result. It's set post-show Avengers and pre-show MacGyver, but I really didn't have to stretch either timeline. If you're not familiar with the Avengers, you can just count those characters as OCs, and vice versa if you don't know MacGyver. Barbie
1981
Somewhere in Germany
MacGyver stirred slightly and then wished he hadn't, the throbbing in his head enough to convince him that remaining unconscious would have been the better option. He was lying on a hard surface, but his head seemed to be on something slightly softer. As his senses slowly came back to him, MacGyver realized it felt strangely like someone's lap, and wondered where he could possibly be.
Forcing his eyes open to slits, he made out two blurry identical faces bending anxiously over him. He groaned softly. "Are you twinsh…or am I sheeing double?"
"You took a bad knock on the head," a woman's British-accented voice told him, her fingers pressing the lump on his head.
"Ow," MacGyver moaned, feebly attempting to move his head away. "Wish ya wouldn't do that."
"Sorry."
MacGyver ran his tongue over his lips and swallowed, finding his mouth dry and sour tasting. "Ya got any water?"
"No; sorry. Would you like a peppermint?"
"Yeah…sure."
His head was shifted gently, and MacGyver winced as the painful lump came in contact with a harder surface. There was a rustling across the room, and then the woman returned, the sound of her heels painfully loud to MacGyver's ears.
"Better sit up so you don't choke," she warned, and MacGyver groaned as she pulled at his shoulders to help him sit slumped on the edge of the pallet. Then something cool and smooth touched his lips, and he opened his mouth to accept the candy. He sucked at it intently for a moment, letting it moisten and refresh his mouth as the peppermint eased his nausea.
"You'd better let me see your eyes," the woman suggested.
The room seemed to tilt as MacGyver forced his eyes open. The two figures he seemed to see in front of him swirled and shifted, and for a moment nearly coalesced into one. Then with a groan, he closed his eyes and dropped his head into his hands.
"Do you remember your name?"
"MacGyver. You?"
"Purdey," she responded.
"Sho, Purdey, what'sh the diagnoshish?" he mumbled, his words slightly slurred and muffled in his hand.
"You'll live," she responded with false brightness. "Unless they have another go at you."
"Guessh we better get outta here before they come back."
"My…Gambit will be looking for me; he'll rescue us sooner or later."
"Don' like the sound of 'later.'" He groaned and rubbed the back of his neck, then spoke without lifting his head. "Wha' kinda lock'sh that door got?"
Purdey crossed the room and peered through the barred window. "An iron bar in a slot," she reported.
"No padlock?"
"No." She stuck her hand through the bars and wiggled it. "If my arm would fit through further, I could open it from here."
"Yeah…" He lifted his head and attempted to look around the room, then gave up and resumed his former position with a groan. "You're gonna hafta be my eyes; I can't see straight."
Purdey frowned and returned to his side, sitting beside him in concern. "Your eyes for what?"
"Gettin' outta here. Anythin' in the room to work with?"
Purdey looked around and shook her head slowly, not understanding what he was getting at. "It's a bare room."
In MacGyver's experience, very few rooms were absolutely bare, but he didn't press the point. "Guessh we gotta pool our resourshes then." Working his hand clumsily into his pocket, he fumbled at the contents until they spilled into a tangled pile on the pallet. "Got anything shides peppermints?" he asked as he worked at the other pocket.
Wondering vaguely if he was delirious with concussion, Purdey rummaged through her purse. "I've got an aspirin, if you want it."
"Anticoagulant…better not," MacGyver murmured with real regret, though he knew one or even two aspirin would do little more than take the edge off his headache.
"They took my gun," Purdey added apologetically.
MacGyver waved a hand dismissively, then had to catch himself on the other hand as the gesture nearly overbalanced him. "Doeshn't matter; don't have much use for thoshe things anyway."
He pulled a piece of string free of the random odds and ends he had pulled from his pocket and began toying with it, idly tying one end into a loop. "Ya got a bobby pin?"
"Not exactly; will this do?" Purdey questioned, pulling the clip from her hair.
MacGyver blindly held a hand out, and Purdey pressed the clip into it. "Yeah…that'll do," he murmured, feeling over the object. Working by feel with his eyes still closed, he bent the clip out into a makeshift hook, then tied it to the end of the string.
"Okay…sh'up to you now."
"What is?" Purdey asked blankly.
"Drop the loop down behind the bar," MacGyver told her. "Then drop the hook in front, an' catch the loop."
"Oh! So I can use the string to pull up the bar from this side!" Purdey exclaimed.
MacGyver flashed her a quick grin that made him wince. "You got it. Careful ya don't get your wrist caught," he added; "I don' have any shoap to grease ya out."
Purdey rotated her hand thoughtfully. "My wrist's pretty narrow; I think I'll be okay."
Biting her lip in concentration, Purdey swung the string in the tips of her fingers. "I think… Got it!" she exclaimed, though keeping her voice muted for fear someone would be close enough to hear.
"Wunnerful."
The bar creaked on its pivot as Purdey slowly pulled it up with the string, then tied the ends firmly around the window bars to keep it from falling back down.
"It's open!"
"Great. Now gimme a hand up," MacGyver asked, clumsily gathering his belongings and stuffing them back into his pockets. Accepting Purdey's hand, he let her pull him to his feet and stood swaying slightly.
"Can you walk?" Purdey asked anxiously.
"Dunno," he mumbled, attempting a step and nearly falling.
"Here, let me help you," Purdey offered, pulling his arm over her shoulders.
"Thanks." His eyes half closed, MacGyver stumbled blindly at her side.
"Better lock that," he suggested as he sensed they had passed through the doorway. "Leave 'em guesshin' how we got out."
Purdey pushed the door shut and attempted to pull the string free, but found she had knotted it a little too tightly.
"Gotta knife in my pocket," MacGyver offered.
"No, thanks; I have one," Purdey responded. Pulling the chain with its little penknife from behind her dress, she tugged it over her head and quickly sliced through the cord. "Just don't let Gambit know I'm cutting good string," she remarked, pulling it free and letting the bar drop into place. She glanced over her shoulder. "Come on; we'd better get going."
As they walked, she attempted to bend her hair clip back into shape and paused long enough to slide it into place.
As they passed an open doorway, Purdey froze at a slight noise. Then with no more warning than that, a man appeared in the center of the doorway, gun drawn and ready.
Next chapter coming next week!
I proofread all my stories at least once before posting, but if you see any mistakes I might have missed, please let me know!
Please note that I have only minimal internet access, and may not have time to respond to all reviews/messages. (But they are much appreciated, even if you're reading this story long after I originally post it!) If you have questions regarding my MacGyver or Avengers alternate history, check my profile first to see if they're answered there. Thanks for your understanding! Barbie