1

Ianto took a deep breath and let it out slowly as he checked his kerchief with trembling fingers, still unable to believe Tosh had done this to him.

Behind his back and with such glee.

They had sat and watched the TV series together, laughing and choosing favourites and now here he was.

Married at first sight.

Oh Gods help him he had no idea what she had filled out, what they were basing everything on but after Lisa he was just willing to let someone else choose.

Not like his choice had been all that bloody swish.

He did find it strange that his intended would be the one waiting, he always thought the woman was the one to walk but anything was possible today, a day of impossible things.

The suit was a nice cut and the button hole tasteful with the colours and music he had chosen accepted by his intended, so he hoped she was happy so far too, soon find out. He ran his hands over his lean frame, reassuring himself that there were no creases.

Tosh had kissed his cheek and lit out leaving him with the TV crew as he took final instruction on where to stand, pause for the cameras and such.

Show time.

Ianto walked across the grass, around the little pathway that led him past lovely gardens but he saw none of that, only each foot fall ahead of him counted in his head as he earthed his feet with growing fear.

Lisa had been a large, domineering woman and Ianto just hoped the the woman waiting was less bossy and more willing to act like a partner, not a boss.

The crushed shell made crunching noises underfoot as he turned to find the wedding party, all with their expectant faces and he was surprised to feel Tosh's hands pulling him into place even more frantic.

This had been her idea, now she had cold feet?

Ianto came to the spot he was to stop and he looked up at the celebrant with a timid smile and then turned as instructed to look at his intended.

Ianto automatically smiled softly and took a deep breath as he inhaled pine, spices and a deep musky maleness.

Then came the confusion.

A man?

"Tosh?" he hissed out of the corner of his mouth and her hand found his lower back, shoving him forward so he was now committed as hands grasped his and he was now certain that the man beside him was his chosen mate.

"Hi" his voice was soft and warm, a good sign. Right?

Ianto swallowed and replied in kind, then felt himself pulling back towards Tosh so he forced himself to turn to face the celebrant and begin …whatever the hell this was.

He had signed the papers, agreed to the contract.

He was committed to six weeks with this person chosen by their experts as a supposed perfect match and he supposed it was worth the try. If only go the paycheque at the end of it.

Win or lose, he would have enough for what he needed.

So, maybe he had wanted to win, so what if he had secretly hoped for a soul mate. His heart instinctively restricted to protect what little living part of it was still beating and accepted this was all about the show.

Jack.

His name was Jack and Ianto rolled it around in his head as he recited the vows he wouldn't even remember afterwards.

Then those hands shifted and a ring was being slid onto his finger. Ianto was led to repeat the action and he felt calluses on those fingers and a small voice whispered military or maybe Heddlu?

Definitely a trigger finger.

His Da's hands had once held those same calluses from his days patrolling the street as an upholder of the law before coming home to beat his wife and children while drunkenly coming onto his room at night for other …things.

Don't judge him.

Don't compare him to that man.

Ianto took a deep breath and smiled softly as he leaned in for a chaste kiss to please the cameras and live audience watching.

He did not expect the warm arms pulling him in or the lips that plundered him like he was a chocolate drop with a liquid centre, being sucked and imploding into the clutch.

Holy shit.

Ianto moaned and canted his head for a better connection and found his own hands grabbing for traction on the man ….Jack ….Jack's arms as he felt his knees giving way.

Holy mother of the goddess.

Clapping and cheers started to grow louder as his beating heart calmed and he realised he was still in Jack's arms as he was being manipulated towards the noise.

People shaking his hand, people all talking at once and he could only apologise and say thank you for coming over and over again as that strong hand in the small of his back pushed him along until the shell were underfoot again.

He felt a spike of alarm as he smelt that same spicy heat and realised it was Jack, not Tosh guiding him.

And now they were alone.

"Well, this is a bit of a clusterfuck" Jack huffed, "I don't know if this was some sort of joke or if they wanted to do this for the ratings but I take it you didn't want this either given the shock on your face."

"I …my friend filled out the forms but I know she clearly put that I was hetro" Ianto felt himself bristle as he was so rudely rejected, even if it was not his idea ether there was no need to be so openly rude, "If you are not happy with me then, by all means say so but in the spirit of things can we not at least try to survive each other for the next six weeks? I really need that money."

Jack sighed and nodded, rubbing his face. He wasn't in this for the money, after a lifetime of short term romances he had really hoped that giving himself to this experiment would yield a soul mate.

"I am sorry, but you have to voice your decision" Ianto huffed.

"Why? For the mic still on us?" Jack snarled, his anger spiking as the thin man before him blinked behind those softly tinted glasses. Who did he think he was, all primped and shiny with those silly old fashioned frames to hide behind.

"Is that what you think?" Ianto asked with open shock, "That I am still putting on a show when we are clearly away from the cameras?"

"Well, we are still mic'd" Jack huffed, feeling a bit contrite at his outburst.

"Well. You really have drawn the shitty end of the stick, haven't you" Ianto yanked his hand away and Jack started as he had forgotten he was holding it, "I suggest you go ask for a recount or whatever the fuck they do when choosing a mate. They have obviously done you wrong."

"Hey!" Jack spluttered as he tried to grab for his new fake husband but Ianto was too angry to care as he stumbled in the direction he had memorised as being away from the noise.

It was only when he fell that Jack saw his horrible mistake.

Ianto couldn't see the rocks along the edge of the path and twisted his ankle as he walked into them and wind-milled his arms as he cried out with anger and fear.

Ianto Jones was blind.