The car ride to the coffee shop had been almost completely silent except for the ding of the text message Kurt had sent.

Kurt: I'm sorry about this, but I need to talk to Adam tonight and try to let him down easy. I'll see you tomorrow?

Blaine had wanted to call, but thought it might be best to wait until he didn't feel breathing fire. So he responded.

Blaine: I'll be waiting.

Sebastian and Blaine were now sitting in the same coffee shop, in the same seats, as the last time they had met to talk. It was the only seat available, just an unfortunate coincidence. It's fitting, Blaine thought, because his entire life felt like a big unfortunate coincidence right now.

"Well doesn't this feel familiar..." Sebastian commented sardonically, rolling his eyes. "You want Kurt?" Sebastian wasn't stupid, and saw what was happening. It had happened before.

"Yes. You are a wonderful person and I am so sorry. You deserve a soulmate and I hate to be just another notch on your arm, but I don't have a choice."

Sebastian looked resigned, but with an enigmatic air. He was up to something. "And Kurt wants you?"

"I wanted to talk to you about that. His other candidate is going to try and steal him back. I can't let that happen. They are together right now."

"You feel like if you lose him it will be losing part of yourself? Like it would fundamentally change you into a bitter person?" Sebastian stared into his eyes hard. "Like you'll never feel innocent or hopeful again and your life is totally meaningless?"

"Oh, Sebastian..." Blaine reached out to clasp his hand, wanting to comfort him somehow, but Sebastian snatched it away.

"I've been thinking that maybe I should be a candidate counselor, you know. Open my own business with it."

"You would be great at it, Sebastian."

"Yes, yes I would. And since you are ripping me apart, spitting out the pieces, and stomping on them, you owe me." Sebastian appeared to be steeling himself for something difficult.

"Well, I guess I, um, well..."

"I am going to make sure you get Kurt. And you are my first charge. You will recommend me to the Board and you will let me use your story, with your full name, in a published article in The Journal of the American Candidate Association."

Blaine let out a sigh of relief. His family wouldn't like publicity, but it could have been a lot worse. "Of course I will do that for you. So you'll help me?"

"That's what I said, isn't it? So tell me, how far do you think Adam will go to keep Kurt?"

"He would resort to violence, he already has." Blaine showed Sebastian his arm and told the whole story, voice only cracking a couple of times in the retelling. He managed not cry at all, and was proud of himself.

"Then you are going to have to resort to violence too." Sebastian smirked, looking pleased with himself.

"But I'm not a violent person, and I barely even know what I am capable of doing. I've never been in a real fight. Anyway, what good what it do if I beat him up? He would just beat me up right back and tell Kurt."

"No Blaine, legal violence."

"You don't mean....a real competition? Like they used to do 100 years ago? That's barbaric, nobody does that anymore."

"I did it once."

"What?" Blaine whispered.

"We don't talk about it in public, but it still happens on occasion. It's actually safer, when you're dealing with angry and violent people. It will take some mental and physical preparation, but in time you will feel ready to-"

"I'll do it." Blaine was still whispering. They were talking about something extremely taboo. "I'll do anything for Kurt. If I have to."

Blaine figured it was better not to mention this to his official candidate counselor or his parents, so he locked the door to his room before going to the website Sebastian had given him.

Do not enter this site unless you are 18 or over.

Ha. He'd heard that one before. He clicked on the link. The screen background was a dark green, and stylized text filled the screen. It kind of looked like it was supposed to resemble a crossed out mark on someone's arm, and made Blaine's skin crawl.

Fastly Candidate: Life is short, win your soulmate.

He found a linked titled FAQ, as good a place as any to begin.

Isn't this illegal? No. The laws are not often utilized but they are still on the books. This is federally regulated.

Can the winner be contested? No, the winner in a competition is final.

Is there an age limit? Yes, the competitors must both be over the age of consent in their individual state.

What weapons are allowed? There are regulation weapons agreed upon by both parties prior to the competition. No one brings their own weapons.

Has anybody ever died in a competition? Very rarely.

Where do the competitions take place? The location of the competition is kept private to everyone involved besides staff. GPS devices are prohibited on the premises.

How can I apply? Click HERE, or go to the homepage and click on the application tab.

The mouse hovered over the link for a minute, then Blaine clicked. He might as well be informed as possible, just in case.