Inwented in Russia

He wasn’t surprised when they finally came for him. If anything, he was relieved. It meant the waiting was over. And the waiting... that was perhaps the hardest part. 

Finnick could have given him a hundred reasons as to why that was likely a bad thing, but he bit his tongue. There was no need to share more negativity with someone Finn was well aware had too much of in the past. Instead, he nodded slowly. “That sounds like a good idea. Start small, and build it up.” Feeling like he should contribute now that he’d supported the idea, he took a moment to think. It reminded him of his therapy sessions – techniques he’d learned to help Annie too. “We’ve.. been getting some food.”

“Zhat’s true! Zhey could be starving us but zhey haff been giving us food.” Perhaps it wasn’t the most nutritious food. Maybe it wasn’t doing the most it could be for them... but at least it was something, when nothing could have been expected. “Ve can keep our strength up.” --Which would be inevitably important for when they bust out of here! Pavel continued on, forcing a more ', “And... Ve haff been given zhis time togezher. To talk and not be stuck in zhe tiny cells. Zhat’s a good zhing.” 

“Maybe here they do.” Maybe in the districts they don’t. He can’t imagine Hanssen being overjoyed at the loss of a second senior doctor, and really, people might well think he was a criminal but they’d start to doubt the government over Zoe’s arrest. “All I did was exist in the same place as you lot. I refuse to believe that everyone in this country thinks that’s a crime.”  He shook his head. “Ok. So. I’ve been attacked on multiple occasions by patients, I’ve been trapped in a collapsed quarry before, and I’ve almost been blown up. Twice. But I’ve got no reference point for this, not in the way that you all seem to. All those things? They have an end point.” That end point often appeared to be death, but at least he knew, then, that it was coming to an end. “Where does this end?” Do you really want an answer to that question?

Tate was glad that Pavel understood his point, but the conversation made him sad. He didn’t like it when Pietro got upset or frustrated, knowing he couldn’t change it, or make it easier for him. “Yeah. He has to deal with that every second every day. Now he doesn’t even have Wanda to help him. It’s sick, right?”

“...yeah. Keeping him stuck here, vith barely any room to move around. At least not zhe vay I’m sure he vould like-- And his sister. Zhey have a special bond. At least, zhat’s vhat Vanda told me. It’s not right, any of zhis. I know zhat goes vithout saying but... it feels good to say it. It’s not right.” 

“Hey, thanks.” Tate’s smile reached his eyes, grateful to have someone else in his life to care for. It made the Capitol situation more difficult, of course, but he could be concerned about that later, when shit hit the fan. “Yeah Wanda’s… special. They both are, but she’s beautiful.” It was obvious by the way Tate spoke of them that he dearly loved them both. “He can be. It’s hard for him though, y’know? It’s not his fault, the speed thing.”

Pavel gave a little nod of agreement. Wanda was beautiful, that much was true. As was Tate’s assessment on why Pietro was the way he was. “It must be so hard... To be able to go so fast, like zhat but haff everyone around you go so slow. And now, here, locked up... It must be even harder. I don’t blame him for frustrations.” 

“You don’t ever stop playing their game, even after you’ve left the arena.” Gaze not focused on anything in particular, Finnick replied almost mechanically, as if he were reciting something familiar. He’d certainly thought it himself a countless number of times. Blinking a few times, dragging himself out of his own memories, he glanced over at Pavel again, recognising his words and the hope within them.

Finnick wasn’t planning on giving up the fight anytime soon; but still, this was setback, and one he knew he couldn’t do anything about. They’d need help if they were to get through this alive. But hope was the first thing they took from you in the Capitol. “You should try and hold onto that for as long as you can. Most of us will need to hear it.”

“...I’ll try,” Pavel answered honestly. Despite the hope he tried to project, he wasn’t sure just how much he actually believed in his own words. When the Rebellion lost friends and family to the Capitol in the past, they were always able to rescue them in the end. Not all of them, tragically, but most of them. What if this was the time they couldn’t. “Maybe I vill try to make a list of all zhe good zhings zhat haff happened. Like... Since zhe party, zhey haff left us alone mostly. Zhat’s a good zhing.” 

Chekov, drugged in the medbay: Life is like an egg.

Bones: Care to explain?

“So are you sayin’ we’re friends now?” Tate smiled, he always enjoyed making friends, since he’d grown up without any. It seemed like he was drawn to people with accents naturally, anyway. “Yeah! Pietro. Petey. He’s my best friend. Guessin’ you know him, huh?”

“Of course ve’re friends.” Pavel replied. It was difficult to be put into this sort of situation and not make friends with those around you. Although, Pavel had a feeling that even if they were back with the rest of the rebellion, he would still try and make an attempt at developing a friendship. “I’ve spoken to him vnce or tvice. And his sister Vanda. She seemed friendly. Pietro vas... impatient.”

“God, you are really full of it, aren’t you?” Still, though, she knew he was right. Not that she’d admit that to anyone. Ever. 

“Only full of knowledge on how to fix the tablets.” 

Finnick heard his attempted rebuttal, but noted the surrender immediately. A part of him had actually hoped the younger man would’ve had some optimism to share – perhaps some of it would have actually rubbed off on Finnick. Clearly, he could’ve really done with some.

Sighing again at Pavel’s questions, he eyed the mirrored walls as if he were looking for something. “I don’t think we have too many options. .. If any, really.” He added with a shrug, shoulders heavy as he gave up on his search. There was no doubt in Finnick’s mind that they were being surveyed every second of the day. “Anything we plan will be overheard anyway. Seems our lives are, once again, in someone else’s hands.”

Pavel knew they wouldn’t be able to come up with a plan-- Not while they were being watched the way they were. Still, there was some small thought of his that they’d be able to come together and fight their way out. Somehow. But Finnick was right. They wouldn’t be able to speak privately and they were almost entirely powerless in their current situation. The best solution was to sit tight, but it didn’t feel right. 

“Again. And again. Zhis just keeps happening...” Pavel felt almost immediately guilty for complaining. After all, Finnick saw and experienced much more than Pavel did. “But... I’m sure somezhing good vill happen. Soon.”

Tate held up a hand in surrender, surprised by the reaction he’d managed to get out of the boy. He couldn’t stop himself from smiling, though, finding the whole topic rather funny. “Alright, alright. Just friends, no freaky business. I can always try askin’ Pete again for that. - Hey, thanks. See, that ain’t so bad, is it? Givin’ me a compliment?”

For just a few seconds, Pavel actually found himself a bit annoyed by Tate’s smile. But then his frown broke way to a smile of his own as he laughed over the ridiculousness of the conversation. “If you ever vant somevne to talk to, I can be zhat kind of friend. But no, it vasn’t so bad.” A breath passed and he quirked a brow, “So... who is zhis Pete?” Pavel had to think about it, before hazarding a guess, “...Pietro?” 

Tate was good at distracting people, it seemed. Perhaps that was simply due to the fact he never stopped talking whilst they were behind bars, and even now in the main room. “Yeah, hooking up doesn’t have to mean you go all the way. Unless you want it to.” Which he suddenly felt weird about, considering how he felt about a certain someone. “It has a nice look? That’s cute. You can call me handsome, I won’t blush, promise.”

“I don’t vant to go any way!” Pavel said, as though jumping to cut off any thought Tate might have had but didn’t express just yet. Because yes, this is exactly the situation to be having a conversation like this. “Just friends, I zhink, okay? But... yes. Fine, vhatever. Handsome. Don’t let it go to your head.”