Chapter 4: Deal


The next day is the day of the interviews. Kurt knows this, and he's as ready as he can possibly be as he makes his way through the hallway and towards the waiting room. He takes a seat next to Sophia on a plush couch and they watch the interviews of the other tributes while they wait their turn. The tributes from One, Two, Three, and Four are all charming enough, but the few that stand out to Kurt—he doesn't want any of them to stand out—are the boys from Two and Four and the girl from One.

The girl from One is pretty—she's gorgeous, actually—with her shiny brown hair and her shocking green eyes. She'd be intimidating enough with that striking combination, but then Kurt sees her teeth when she smiles. They're like fangs, as sharp as razors. Kurt has a feeling that she'll live up to her title as a Career.

The boy from Two is enormous. He can't be much shorter than six feet and his muscles are bulging out of his arms and shoulders. There is no doubt in Kurt's mind that he could squash Kurt or anyone else like a bug, and it terrifies him. He makes note to stay away from the boy, who scored a ten in his session, once they get to the arena.

And finally, the boy from Four. He's not particularly bulky or muscular, and he's not even noticeably handsome. There's just something in his eyes that sends shivers down Kurt's spine. Something cold. Something cruel and unforgiving. Kurt doesn't ever want to find out what caused that darkness, and he definitely never wants to be at the mercy of it.

Above all, though, because he promised himself, he doesn't let himself remember any of their names. If he does, he'll remember that they're all human beings. He'll remember that he has to kill in order to get back to Blaine. He'll remember that this is different than hunting rabbits with his dad when he was very young. He'll remember that this is his reality, so much worse than any nightmare.

When it's Sophia's turn to go up, he reaches out for her hand to offer reassurance. That's when he sees the cast on her arm. His heart drops and he looks at her questioningly, but she just shakes her head. "I'll tell you later. Don't worry about me."

Kurt holds her uninjured hand and squeezes gently, nodding. "Good luck out there. You'll do fine. They'll love you, I promise."

She doesn't look convinced, but she nods and forces a smile anyway before turning and walking out to meet Caesar, center stage.

Kurt sneaks out of the room and watches her from the side of the stage. Out of sight but still able to hear the interview.

"Sophia!" Caesar announces as she takes a seat in the swivel chair beside him. "Sweet Sophia, how are you tonight?" he asks kindly. Kurt would almost believe it were sincere if it weren't for where they were and why.

"I'm doing well, Caesar," she says with a shy smile. Kurt smiles widely. She's already pulling off the sweet and loveable "act" that Haymitch told her about—not that she needs to put on a show for people to love her, but she was told to crank it up a notch for the interview. Kurt's proud of her. He's hoping it'll earn her sponsors.

"That's all?" Caesar presses, humming curiously.

She shrugs. "Well, Caesar, I'm going into an arena full of people who want to kill me tomorrow. I think I'm doing as well as I can be at the moment." Kurt flinches at the words. She says them so nonchalantly, like it doesn't even matter that Kurt's going to lose her and it could be in the next twenty-four hours.

Caesar clicks his tongue sadly, leaning forward. "Well, I hope I speak for everyone when I say we're rooting for you, sweetheart."

She forces a smile but Kurt can see the way it falters. He watches in horror as she tenses up and looks out at the audience, as if reminded for the first time that they're there. She reaches blindly out to the side as if to steady herself. Then, in an instant, she's falling out of her chair, unconscious on the wood of the stage. Kurt gasps and wants to run to her, but he feels hands on his shoulders stopping him. Cooper.

"Cooper, I have to help her. What's going on?" he asks, panicking.

"Calm down, Kurt," Cooper says, spinning him around to make eye contact. "They'll take her to the hospital and she'll need you when she wakes up. She'll need you to be calm."

Kurt takes a few breaths before he's able to think somewhat clearly again. "What happened? Why did she pass out?"

"She had a panic attack," Cooper sighs, sadly. "I hate to be the one to say this, but it's your turn to go up."

Kurt's eyes widen. "What?" he demands. "I can't go out there. I have to go see Sophia. I have to make sure she's okay."

"No, you have to go out there and do the interview," Cooper says coolly, a warning in his eyes. "If you don't, Snow will make things worse for you and Sophia. You don't have a choice, I'm afraid." Then his expression softens and he pats Kurt's shoulder gently. "I'll go find Sophia, okay? She's going to be just fine. Now go."

Reluctantly, Kurt does as he's told. He winces at the bright lights of the stage before unsteadily taking his place in the chair beside Caesar.

"It's so good to finally meet you, Kurt," Caesar says, moving as if Sophia hadn't just passed out onstage. Kurt has to stop himself from glaring at the man. Heartless. They're all heartless in the Capitol. "So, I'm sure you've already seen your boyfriend's interview back in District Twelve," he says, prompting a discussion.

Kurt forces a smile that soon becomes easy. Thinking of Blaine always manages to calm him down and make him happy. He just has to focus on that to get through this interview. "Yes, I saw it. It was nice being able to see his face again. I… I really miss him," he says honestly, and the audience emits a chorus of 'aww's and 'ooh's.

"Oh, of course you do!" Caesar exclaims. "With a handsome fellow like that on your arm, I'm sure you want to spend every minute you can with him," he says with a wink.

Kurt blushes at the insinuation. Even if it's true. "Well, I do, but it isn't just about the outside or the physical. I'm in love with him. I always have been and I always will be." He smiles a bit dreamily. "That's why… I was going to propose the day after the reaping. But there were… complications, as I'm sure is obvious." He swallows nervously. Blaine would know about the ring now. They'd talked about it, of course, but to really go through with buying a ring—that was something different, something real.

Kurt misses Caesar's next question over the surprised and excited gasps from the crowd. "S-Sorry?"

The crowd laughs as Caesar does. "You two must really love each other," he says, growing serious.

Kurt nods earnestly. "He's my forever. I couldn't live without him, which is why I volunteered. I can't imagine my life without Blaine and I don't ever want to find out what it'd be like."

"Believe me when I say that I hope you don't have to," Caesar says with the first sincere smile of the night. Kurt's surprised by it, but not necessarily in a bad way. "I'm afraid that's all the time we have, folks!" he announces, and the sincerity is gone. "I'll be back with my good friend Claudius for the evening recaps—"

Kurt stops listening to him, remembering that he needs to get to Sophia. He waves before walking off the stage and then dashing towards the medical unit. As soon as he finds Sophia's room, he walks in quietly so as not to disturb his young friend.

"Has she woken up yet?" he asks Cooper, who shakes his head. Kurt sighs and takes a seat beside Sophia's bed, holding her uninjured hand. "What happened to her hand? She wouldn't tell me."

"She wasn't supposed to tell anyone. In her session, she was climbing the net course and she fell. She broke her wrist and got a concussion."

Kurt narrows his eyes. "That's why she passed out, isn't it?" Cooper nods. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I had to get you to your interview and I knew you wouldn't go if you knew it was serious," Cooper explains. To his credit, he at least looks guilty. "I'm sorry."

Kurt sighs. "What am I going to do?"

"I don't know if there's anything you can do."

They're silent for a while before Kurt speaks again. "I think I have an idea. I need to talk to President Snow."

"I—"

"Cooper," he says sharply. "It's important."

Cooper sighs. "I'll arrange it."

Kurt smiles. "Thank you."


That night, Kurt waits in his room. He was told that President Snow would meet him in there, so he just has to wait. A few minutes later, the door opens and Snow walks in. Kurt immediately tenses. He resists the urge to wrinkle his nose at the foul stench that now fills his room. Roses, blood, and too much perfume.

"Good evening, Mr. Hummel," the president says in an all-too-gentle tone that makes Kurt shiver. "Are you going to invite me to sit down?"

Kurt quickly apologizes before gesturing to one of the couches. Kurt sits on the other. "H-Hello, Mr. President."

The man smiles but it's much too cold to be called friendly. Kurt cringes internally. This is a mistake, he tells himself. But no, he has to do this for Sophia. He has to try. "I asked you to come here because—"

"I know why," Snow says. "You want to save that poor little girl from the arena." Kurt nods quickly. "Of course. Believe it or not, this isn't the first time I've been asked for a favor like this. The last time, it was Finnick Odair." Kurt tenses. He associates that name with… "And we both know how that ended for him."

Kurt gulps. Nods. "Y-Yes, sir."

"Are you prepared to offer the same kind of deal in return for the girl's safety, Kurt?" No, no, no, Kurt wants to say. He wants to cry and scream and run away with Blaine and take Sophia with them, but he can't. He doesn't have a choice anymore. "Are you prepared to offer your, ah, services for those who can pay the price?"

Kurt squeezes his eyes shut to block out the tears. After a moment, he opens them and meets Snow's eyes. With surprising confidence, he responds, "Yes. I'll do it. Just promise that Sophia will be safe. Promise that she won't have to go into the arena."

"My word is my honor, Mr. Hummel," he says with a sweet smile. Kurt doesn't trust that smile, not even a little bit, but he has no other choice if he wants to give Sophia the chance she deserves. His father will let her live in their home, he's sure of it. And Blaine will help provide for her. He'll make sure she's taken care of, no matter what.

"Wait," Kurt says before Snow can leave. The man turns to him, slowly, and tilts his head. "I-I need it in writing. I'll sell my fate in exchange for hers. All I ask is that she's kept out of the arena. I just… I need proof."

Snow laughs, amused and dark. "You don't trust me."

"And you don't trust me," Kurt counters.

"Fair point, young man."

"Won't this be easier for both of us if we just agree to trust each other's signatures rather than meaningless words?"

Snow smiles, almost impressed. "I think you're quite right. I'll have the contract sent to you in the morning with my own signature already signed."

Kurt deflates a little in relief. "Perfect. Goodbye, Mr. President."

"Goodbye, Kurt," the man says with an unreadable smile before leaving.

Kurt collapses on his bed, feeling better than he has in days. He may have just essentially sold his soul to the devil, but he was saving another soul that was perfectly innocent, perfectly pure. He was saving Sophia.


A/N: Yay, another chapter! I'm impressed with myself, considering I've been bedridden for the past day and a half and I feel like the walking dead right now. Anyway, hope you enjoy the chapter :)

I know these chapters are shorter than what I usually write, but that's because I'm trying to keep it to a few major events per chapter. I think this counts as major ;)

Until next time!

Review please :)