July 16th, 211 ADD.

Carefully, Revan picked his way through the debris. A few rocks crumbled beneath his feet, sending him sliding down further into the remains of the Arena.

"Fuck," Revan hissed, scrambling to catch his balance as he hit the ground hard. He lay for a moment, gasping, staring up at the clouded sky above. He had to get up- had to keep moving.

Had to keep searching.

He saw what had happened on the cameras, watched Reign heartlessly attack Pluto, and Revan simply couldn't stand by and let that happen. Maybe he could get to Pluto in time; if he just hurried, and stopped wasting time, he could save him.

There was no gurantee, but maybe just maybe there was a chance.

As soon as he caught his breath, Revan was on his feet again, pushing closer to the looming dome overhead. As far as Revan knew, he might not even be able to get into the Arena. None of the cameras were showing the true extent of the destruction; the Capitol didn't want to give away how bad the damage really was, to save face for their ever precious Games.

All Revan could do was hope he'd be lucky. Lucky enough to find his way in, lucky enough to find Pluto.

Lucky enough for the risk to be worth it.

The closer Revan got though, the faster what little hope he held slipped away, as the destruction was far worse then he'd thought. He picked his way through piles of rubble, climbing higher and higher. But soon enough he was stopped by a wall of rubble. There wasn't a single gap that he could find, not a speck of light coming through. No way in.

Nothing but an impenetrable wall of twisted metal and crumbling concrete between him and Pluto.

After a few more minutes of climbing, Revan stopped, sinking down to sit for a moment to catch his breath. There wasn't any way he was getting in- he simply had to accept whatever happened to Pluto, whether he be dead or alive.

There wasn't a thing Revan could do to change what he'd find upon returning to camp.

With a deep, shuddering sigh, Revan stumbled to his feet, beginning to make his way back through the rubble. It'd be a precarious and long hike back to camp, but at the very least Revan could tell himself he'd tried- he'd made an effort to do something.

Pluto wouldn't know that though. Pluto wouldn't know that Revan had done his best to save him- done his best to keep his promise.

But at least I'd tried- was all Revan could repeat to himself, as he slowly made his way through the rubble again. At least I'd tried.

It wasn't enough. Revan would never be enough.

"Hello?"

A soft voice echoed from somewhere Revan couldn't quite pinpoint. He froze, whipping his head around to try and find the source.

"Is there somebody there?" the voice called out again; this time, Revan could find its source. He turned, making his way towards whoever it was, clambering up a large chunk of concrete. As he poked his head over the top, he spotted the source of the cries. It was the boy from Six, half buried in the debris; his face and jacket were coated in blood, his eyes wide with fear.

"Now how the fuck did you get out here?" Revan asked, the boy looking even more terrified as the words left his mouth.

"I- um… are you gonna kill me?" Six asked, shaking like a leaf in the wind.

Revan had every chance to leave. He had every chance to simply turn around and leave, and nobody would ever know. This kid would die, and Revan would move on with his life like nothing ever happened. He knew he should just walk away, just turn around and go home, because, really what was the point? All Revan would be doing was deviating from the plan he'd agreed to follow, and this could very well cause more issues for him that he didn't need. Revan had every chance to not make this his problem.

But maybe this was his chance to choose his own path.

Revan had never been the kind to help others. The Capitol had forced him to play their game, forced him to do their dirty work, and because of that, ruin followed him like a shadow. But for the first time in years, Revan had full control over himself. It was all up to him to make what he wanted happen. And now, he'd been given another chance, the kind he couldn't just give up.

Even if he couldn't do a thing for Pluto, maybe could do something for this boy.

"No." Revan shook his head as he pulled his helmet off, forcing a half grin so as to not terrify the boy more. "I don't think so. Revan Allerix, pleased to make your acquaintance. Let me see what I can do for you."

Maybe Revan Allerix could finally be enough for somebody.

Revan wove through the halls of the Resistance base, feet dragging with every step. He'd hardly taken a moment to rest the past few days, and it was very quickly catching up to him. Revan needed a minute, just a minute to himself.

But that minute wouldn't come just yet.

"Allerix," Omega said, catching Revan by the arm. "Do you have a minute to-"

"No," Revan replied, halfheartedly trying to wrench his arm out of Omega's grasp, but failing."I really don't."

"Well, too bad," Omega grunted, dragging Revan along with him into a nearby room- a small office.

"Fine, whatever," Revan growled, sinking into one of the chairs. "Hit me with it; you're gonna chew me out for deviating from the plan."

"I don't think you really understand the weight of what you've done," Omega . "Bringing that boy back could mean the death of us all if the Capitol finds out he's here."

"I understand that, but what was I supposed to do? Just leave him there to die? I couldn't just stand by and do nothing," Revan shot back, holding his head high. "It was a split second decision but it was mine to make, so go ahead and place the blame on me."

Omega placed his head in his hands, exhaling deeply. "You can't just make these decisions on your own, especially not when it could risk everything we stand for."

"I thought the Resistance was supposed to take people in who've been wronged by the Capitol. Whatever happened to being welcome to anybody, huh? It's not like you can't hide people here; everyone here's been hiding out from the Capitol for years. So why is Diesel any different?"

"I…" Omega trailed off. "You don't ever think of anybody but yourself, and you'll get us all killed because of it."

"That is not true!" Revan shouted, shooting up to his feet. "You know nothing about me, so don't try and pretend like you do."

"You're living in your own world where your actions don't have any consequences, clearly because you don't understand a thing," Omega shot back, his voice steadily rising. "Just because you thought of one other person for once in your damn life doesn't mean a thing. Saving that kid won't bring your tribute back, Revan! And petending to play hero won't do a fucking thing to change that."

Pluto would never come back.

"Fuck you," Revan whispered, pushing himself out of his chair. He'd known Pluto hadn't made it, but to hear it out loud made it an unavoidable truth. Pluto didn't have a chance - never did - but Revan was enamoured with him just enough to believe he might. "Don't… just leave me alone."

He rushed from the room- he didn't want to sit around and argue any longer. There was no point. He'd been stupid enough to hold out hope that maybe, just maybe, things could go his way for once, and Revan had been dead wrong. Maybe things would've been different if he hadn't left- maybe things would've been different if he'd followed through on his promise.

Maybe things would've been different if Revan Allerix was enough.

Keeping his head down, Revan navigated through the halls of the Resistance base, feet carrying him back to the room he'd been assigned. Flinging the door open, he robotically discarded his armour, throwing it into a pile in the corner. He sank into his bed just as the first tears began spilling from his eyes. Desperately, Revan tried to wipe them away with the backs of his hands, but more and more replaced them.

It was only inevitable that everything would come flooding out. He'd never let himself mourn because he knew what would happen if he did; Revan forced himself to hold everything together so that day would never come. And yet here he was, crying like he hadn't in years, curled up in the stark sheets of an unfamiliar bed, in a place far from everything he'd ever known.

All he wanted was to go home, but there was no home to go to. Nothing and nobody to comfort him, not a single person in the world who really, truly cared about him.

Revan was starting to think nobody ever would.

"Allerix," A familiar voice called, somebody shaking him by the shoulder. "C'mon kid, wake up."

"Fuck off," Revan growled, smacking the hand away. "I don't want to talk. Or wake up."

"Clearly," Havoc snorted. "But I have good news! Don't you want good news?"

Revan sighed, rubbing his eyes- he couldn't even remember falling asleep, much less how long he'd been out for. His entire body ached like he'd just walked out of the worst fight of his life, and the last thing he wanted to do was deal with Havoc.

"Just tell me what you want. I'm not in the mood," Revan said after a few long moments, pulling his hands away from his eyes.

"Well, your little friend is stable!" Havoc exclaimed, far too loudly considering how recently Revan had woken up.

"Oh. Good?" Revan muttered, sitting up finally. He'd nearly forgotten about Diesel; Revan had planned on asking about him at some point the night before, but he'd crashed before getting the chance.

"Yeah!" Havoc nodded enthusiastically. "You can go visit Diesel whenever you want, if you were wondering about that."

"Oh. Um… okay," Revan nodded. He didn't know Diesel, but it wasn't like he could just leave the boy alone. He'd been completely and entirely alone when he'd woken up after the Games, scared and confused- nobody deserved that.

"I did want to talk to you though," Havoc said, perching on the corner of Revan's bed instead of hovering like he had been. "You were certainly right about us wanting to help people- I mean, how do you think half the people here got here? But Diesel being here could very well screw all of us over. I think we both know that, don't we?"

"Yeah…?" Revan trailed off.

"So I was thinking we could put you in charge of him. Like… like his warden! You are the one who brought him here, and I'm sure you're more than capable of making sure he doesn't try anything stupid."

"Oh, I see, I…"

Did Revan even really want this? Anybody who ever got close to him ended up dead, and who was to say that Diesel would be any different? Who was Revan to decide that Diesel should live a life hidden away from all of Panem? Alive, sure, but so far away from his friends and family in Six? Perhaps he should've thought of that before he acted, but he hadn't. And he couldn't go back now and change his mind. It was his fault Diesel was here at all, and so the least Revan could do was make sure he remained safe.

"That's fine." Revan said, sitting up further. "Where is he? Down in the medbay?"

"Yeah, they'll point you to his room when you get down there. Just uh, let me know if you need anything, okay? I know my brother was… not easy on you."

Pluto would never come back.

"Yeah,"

"I don't think you particularly care about my opinion, but you were right. We can hide him here, my brother just uh… well he's got quite the stick up his ass. So just… don't mind him," Havoc said. "Remember, he's not really in charge here, is he?"

"No he's not," Revan shook his head.

"Well then, get moving! You don't have all night!"

"Okay," Revan agreed, and in the blink of an eye Havoc was out the door with a grin and a wink.

Peeling himself away from the blankets, Revan ransacked the room for something to wear, finding some clothes stuffed into the small cabinet near his bed. After a short enough walk, and a trip in the elevator, Revan found himself in the medbay. Stopping at the front desk for a moment, a nurse pointed him down a hall to Diesel's room. Revan found the right door easily enough; gingerly pushing it open, he couldn't help but blink at the now unfamiliar boy before him. Diesel's face was covered in bandages, tubes and wires trailing from his body to the machines clustered around the bed. With a sigh, Revan pulled up a chair from along the wall, curling up in it next to Diesel.

There wasn't much more he could do, really. Nothing but wait and watch - and somehow, Revan didn't mind. Maybe Diesel would wake up and want nothing to do with him, but the least Revan could do until that day came was watch over him. After all, he couldn't help but be a little curious about Diesel- about what he was really like, past the machines and bandages.

Maybe one day Revan could try meeting him again.

July 27th, 211 ADD.

Diesel startled, as Revan loudly dropped the stack of boxes onto the table next to him.

"Oh. Sorry, uh, hi, I'm here," Revan said.

"Hi! Um… what are these?" Diesel asked, peering at the boxes curiously.

"Board games. I thought you might like them; it'll give us something to do," Revan explained. "Do you want to pick something?"

"Uh, sure?" Diesel responded, studying the boxes while Revan pulled one of the small side tables over. Diesel pulled a box out, handing it to Revan who promptly dumped its contents out.

"How do we set it up?" Revan wondered aloud, unfolding the board. "I dunno how it works."

"That's okay," Diesel shrugged. "We can just, uh, make the rules up I guess. Or… well it looks like there might be rules here… let me read them over."

Revan nodded as Diesel unfolded a piece of paper contained in the box. It'd been a few days since the boy woke up, and although Revan had visited every day since, he couldn't help but be completely baffled by him. Diesel never seemed particularly bothered about his lack of connection to the outside world, save for asking about his District partner. He clearly a lot cared about her, but Revan wasn't entirely sure why. Whatever the reason, Revan tried to keep a vigilant eye out for news about her.

As much as Diesel talked about Verity though, he'd hardly said a thing about himself, and Revan wasn't entirely sure why. Perhaps if he wanted to know something about Diesel, he needed to take it upon himself to ask. It'd worked for Pluto, so why wouldn't it work for Revan?

"So what's your home like?" Revan asked, nervously after a few moments.

Diesel looked up at him, blinking, as if caught off guard. "Um… fine? I like my job… and the District isn't the worst."

"Oh yeah? Where did you work?"

"A mechanic's shop," Diesel said, dealing out a handful of cards to Revan.

"So you're a mechanic?"

"Yeah," Diesel nodded. "I mean… I was. Uh… considering…" Diesel gestured to his missing hand with his handful of cards.

"Ah… yeah. That might pose a few problems."

Diesel chuckled softly. "Yeah, maybe a couple."

They lapsed back into silence as Diesel rolled two of the dice, moving his piece around the board. "Your turn."

"Okay," Revan said, squinting as he rolled the dice- a seven. He shifted his piece accordingly.

"What about… um your home? If you don't mind me asking?"

Revan barked out a laugh. "Five's a shithole, really."

"Oh yeah?" Diesel hummed quietly. "Why?"

"Well, it's overrun with gangs and violence. You really never know what you'll find when you walk out the door every morning. And it's just… gross. You can't even see the sky, the air is so gross."

Diesel cringed slightly. "That doesn't sound very nice. I hope you like it here better."

"I think I do," Revan nodded- and he didn't think he was lying. He did like getting up every day and seeing Diesel, even if the other boy wasn't too keen on sharing. Revan didn't mind a bit, either; he was more than content to sit in silence with Diesel, if just for the company.

Maybe Revan could even call him a friend one day. A real friend.

September 3rd, 211 ADD.

"Would you mind passing me the little wrench?" Diesel asked, running a hand through his matted hair. Revan nodded and slid the requested wrench over before turning back to the laptop in front of him. They'd given him all sorts of things to sort through: reports detailing the Capitol's post-Victory procedures, a collection of documents about the inner workings of the Games, and a few old Arena schematics from before Revan's time.

"Thank you," Diesel half whispered, pushing his goggles down again. "Find anything interesting?"

"Mm, not really," Revan shook his head. "I'm not really looking for anything in particular right now, just sorting through all this stuff since nobody else wants to do it."

"Makes sense," Diesel agreed, bobbing his head as both fell silent. It felt normal; few things ever felt truly normal in Revan's life, but his time with Diesel seemed to be the exception. Nothing was ever complicated with Diesel Malstrom- he was simply a constant presence, never wavering no matter what life threw his way.

Perhaps Revan could learn a thing or two from Diesel.

After a few moments, Diesel let out a deep sigh. Revan raised his head inquisitively. "Everything okay?"

"Fine," Diesel responded quietly, the furrow in his brow deepening; he seemed frustrated. Revan suspected he needed a break, but Diesel was never good at taking those of his own accord.

"Well, my head's starting to hurt. How 'bout we take a walk?"

"Huh…" Diesel blinked, pushing the goggles off his face letting them hang around his neck. "That's… a pretty good idea."

Revan cracked a half smile, closing his laptop as he scrambled to his feet. He hadn't entirely lied- he could feel a familiar ache settling in behind his eyes, and this was the perfect excuse for a break. Diesel followed suit, pushing the half finished model of a hand to the side. It was taking shape rather quickly, although Revan still wasn't entirely sure how it worked- Diesel had attempted to explain it to him, but most of the explanation hadn't stuck.

"Do you really think it's gonna work?" Revan asked as they turned out of the small side room in the workshop.

Diesel shrugged, thinking for a moment. "I'd, uh… like to hope so. But if not, I'll just try again until it does."

"Oh, huh. Have you ever built anything like this before?"

"No," Diesel responded, shaking his head."It's, um… way more complicated than anything I've done before… and more precise as well. Cars and trains are much larger."

"Well, that makes sense," Revan laughed, leading them out into the hallway; they walked side by side, with no particular destination in mind. "Why did you start fixing stuff in the first place?"

"My dad," Diesel responded simply. "He got me the job. I uh… just stuck around. I liked it. Gave me something to… do, I guess."

It occurred to Revan that this was the first time he could recall hearing anything about Diesel's family

"Your dad?" Revan questioned. "What's he like?"

"Quiet, I guess," Diesel said. "We don't talk much. Neither of us are home much."

"Ah… and your mom?"

"Gone," Diesel mumbled, casting his eyes towards the floor.

Revan went quiet at that, responding a few moments later. "Ah."

"What about… your family?" Diesel asked suddenly. "If you don't mind me asking."

"Dunno them. My brother uh… stole me from them when I was a baby."

"Pardon?"

"Yeah, he stole me," Revan shrugged. "Apparently they sucked, but I guess I'll never really know."

"So your brother… raised you?"

"Pretty much, yeah, him and his gang. It wasn't great but it could've been worse. Then I got dragged into the Games at fourteen and here I am."

"I'm sorry," Diesel whispered. "That's… quite young."

Revan had never really thought about how young he'd been - how young he still was - but Diesel was right. He'd only been a child when everything was ripped away from him- his family, his life, everything he'd ever known. And maybe it hadn't been the greatest life, but it was still his.

It'd all been gone by the time he was fifteen.

"I uh. Yeah, I guess," Revan stuttered over his words. "It could be worse though."

"Mm," Diesel hummed unconvincingly.

"What? It could. I could be all alone right now," Revan snorted, recovering as quickly as he could manage.

"That's true. I could be dead right now," Diesel agreed, cracking a slight grin.

"See? At least you have a friend-" Revan continued, catching himself on the last word- friend. Diesel really was one, but neither of them had ever actually said it. Revan turned, staring at Diesel, who had visibly brightened.

"Friend?" Diesel laughed nervously. "Um… yes! Of course! I uh… I mean… I wouldn't want to be alone here, and all that."

Revan laughed quietly as they turned another corner - he was pretty sure they were going in circles at that point - into what Revan assumed would be another empty hall. But that wasn't so; rather, a single figure leaned against the wall near the center of the passage way.

Reign Legatus himself.

Revan held an arm out as he planted himself firmly in front of Diesel. Revan was aware they'd been keeping Reign under tighter watch - something about outbursts and arguments - but it wasn't like Revan had cared enough to find out more. Clearly, though, as he was freely standing before them, he'd been released.

"What…?" Diesel whispered. "Oh."

"Screw him, we're going the other way," Revan replied.

"I can hear you, I hope you know," Reign remarked, not bothering to look up. "I don't bite."

"No worries, we'll be going," Revan responded, turning and leading Diesel back down the hall a few steps.

"I know you're the one who captured me," Reign stated simply. "You know, maybe it would've been better if you'd just killed me there."

"I can't say I disagree," Revan laughed bitterly, turning to face Reign again. "In fact, if given the chance I'd put a bullet between your eyes right now."

"Revan," Diesel bent down, whispering in his ear, a gentle hand brushing his shoulder. "We should just go."

Revan clenched his jaw, staring down the hall at Reign, a lazy grin spread across his face- Diesel was right.

Reign Legatus was hardly worth the breath it took to threaten him with.

"What are you waiting for then? Go ahead." Reign sneered.

Revan didn't bother responding, turning his back on Reign instead. He quickly guided Diesel away, his hand in the middle of Diesel's back the whole walk back. He didn't dare move it.

Revan would not let harm come to Diesel- not to the one person he had that was truly worth hanging on to.