This one-shot was prompted by Giccix 
"Here's an idea for the one-shots: Kitty Powers Matchmaker au."
Sorry, it's incredibly awkward! I was trying to stay true to the game.
~~~

"How about him?" Kitty sighs, turning her computer screen so Mark can see the eighth possible match she's found for him. "His name is Sean," she continues. "But friends call him Jack. He likes video games, music, food... and he has a lot of energy."

Mark lets out a breath that he'd been holding since he turned down her last option. He's immediately entranced by the vibrancy of the man on screen, whose picture is an array of colors. Red, black, green, pink, blue... "He has blue eyes," he muses. Mark has always been a sucker for blue eyes.

"And green hair," Kitty sings, probably getting tired of Mark's indecisive nature. He can't help it, all the guys she's shown him so far had seemed very... Incompatible. But not Sean- no. Mark really likes Sean's profile. "Wanna give it a go?" Her deep, velvet tone drags Mark back to reality.

He leans forward, "is he available?"

"Of course, pumpkin, he wouldn't be on my roster if he wasn't!" She chortles, tapping her pink heel on the tile floor.

"I mean, is he free for dinner?" Mark reiterates, finding himself unable to look away from her eyes.

Kitty gasps, clapping her hands joyfully. "Oh, honey, if he wasn't free, I'd have to kidnap him! Where would you like to go?"

Mark almost tells her that he'd go anywhere with that man, but instead decides to keep that to himself. Knowing Kitty, she'd send them to France for the first date. Her agency has been trademarked by their tendency to go a bit overboard. "Just tell him to meet me at seven. I'll be at the Greek restaurant downtown. It's the only one."

~~~

He picks at his nails as he sits in the parking lot, contemplating turning back now- before it gets to be too late. He's never dated a guy before, let alone date anyone through a dating service. It's embarrassing, really. He worries that he's chosen the wrong outfit, or that Sean won't show, or even if he'll like his pink hair. He's also scared because Kitty hadn't given him an ear piece to feed him advice- so Jack must be the one wearing it. It scares him because he knows how badly he needs help with saying the right things and not being weird, but if Kitty gave the ear piece to Jack, he must need significantly more help- meaning Mark is in for a rough date.

Somehow, he summons the courage to walk into the dimly lit cobblestone restaurant. He blinks as his eyes adjust, taking in the dark blue and white striped booths along each wall. The center of the dining area is filled with white tables and chairs, dancing in place like some sort of waltz that froze in time. Each table holds a lit candle that flickers upon it, gushing out a romantic atmosphere.

"You must be Mark! I'm Sean. You can call me Jack, though," a man, close to his height, commands attention with his loud voice as he approaches him. He must have been standing in the waiting area for some time.

"That'd be me," Mark shakes Jack's hand, stunned by how much more... colorful he is in person. As they sit at one of the tables, Mark notices Jack's shirt.

"That's the same shirt you're wearing in your picture," he says, trying to strike up a conversation. He silently berates himself for saying something so careless- but Jack doesn't seem to mind at all.

"It is indeed! Do you like it?"

Mark nods a little too eagerly, "of course! You look like Christmas!"

Jack giggles elatedly, "thank you! You look just as delightful."

Taking in Jack's sexy accent, Mark lets himself get comfortable. "Did you plan to wear that shirt?"

"No, actually, I just happened to throw it on this morning before she took my picture."

"You signed up today?"

"Yup!" Jack smiles.

"Been on any other dates?" Mark wonders aloud.

"No, you're my first. I couldn't find anyone that fit me, so Kitty told me she'd call me back for another session in a few days. Apparently you just signed up today as well- because she called me and told me a man with gorgeous chocolate eyes and enticing pink hair wanted to see me tonight. I would have remembered seeing you on the list."

He can't hide his darkening blush. Did Kitty really say those things? Or are they Jack's thoughts? "Do you think my eyes look like chocolate?" He asks, nervously chuckling at how awkward that phrase is.

Jack suddenly leans in, startling Mark just a bit. "Your eyes are better than chocolate."

His heart beats capriciously against his lungs, making it hard to breathe. "I prefer yours, to be honest," Mark whispers. "Blue is a bewitching color."

They can't look away from each other until a waitress, perpetually grinning, comes to take their order. "What'll it be?"

"Something with lots of meat!" Mark exclaims, at which Jack nods slightly.

"We have a special on vegetable stir fry, clam chowder, rosemary quinoa with tofu kebabs and hummus, and steak au poivre with a baked potato," she lists, ignoring his previous comment.

"Steak and potatoes for two then," Mark hastens the clueless broad's departure.

When she disappears into the kitchen, Jack's face lights up. "I'd say you're being racist, if I didn't know better," he jokes. "If you couldn't tell by my accent, I'm from Ireland: The Land of Potatoes."

"What a coincidence!" Mark is quick to reply, "I'm from... The Land o' Meat!"

The two laugh heartily, feeling like old friends. "I'm having an unbelievably enchanting time," Jack admits. "You're a really fun guy. Handsome too."

Mark is as intrigued as one can be by a person, and is on the brink of calling himself a xenophile. This Irishman is a dazzling sight to behold- but also a very interesting being. "You're not bad yourself," he lets his hand rest on the table, palm up. Immediately seizing any opportunity to touch his porcelain skin, Jack slips his hand into Mark's.

The night flies by, alive with persistent attraction and the promise of a fulfilling relationship. After dinner, they share a milkshake for dessert and walk hand in hand to the parking lot.

"Where's your car?" Mark asks.

"Oh, I uh, I took the bus."

"Oh, well, let me give you a ride home then!"

"Only if it's on your way..."

"No worries," Mark leads him to the passenger door of his car, trying to maintain a calm air. "I just wanted to ask this before we go..." He begins.

"I'd love to go out with you," Jack's prompt response makes Mark's jaw drop- but he soon feels a smile spread across his face like warmth in his heart.

They ride in pleasurable silence for a few minutes, with Jack occasionally telling Mark which streets to turn on to. When they pull up outside of Jack's house, Mark shuts off the engine. "So I'll give you a call?"

"Yeah, but, you know," Jack smirks suggestively, "I just got a new hot tub. You're welcome to come test it out with me tonight."

"I'd like that," Mark murmurs, jumping out of the car and opening the passenger door for his companion. Holding hands once again, Jack leads Mark to his kitchen, where he grabs a bottle of wine and two crystal champagne flutes. He hands them to Mark and they go out to the back deck.

"I was going to just relax alone tonight," Jack admits as he takes the cover off the already warmed up hot tub. "But it seems so much nicer to have someone join me- especially someone as impeccable as yourself." Intensely flattered, Mark barely has time to avert his gaze while Jack strips down to his tight green boxer briefs. "The alcohol," he extends his arm, raising an eyebrow at Mark- who can't seem to remove his eyes from the one clothed area on Jack's body. Taking the bottle and the glasses, he pours two cups of golden, sparkling liquid.

Shaking his head as if to rid himself of the mental pictures he took, Mark yanks his clothes off. Jack stares unashamedly at the marvel of a man before him. His toned muscles glow in the iridescent light, making his skin even more luminous. He lets out a low whistle, and then steps into the tub.

"Wait- the ear piece!" Mark reaches out to stop him from certain electrocution.

"Ear piece? I thought you were wearing it!" Jack turns slightly, but then quickly resumes movement when he realizes that his rear end is in Mark's face.

"N-no, I'm not," Mark slowly drops his hands and climbs in beside Jack. The hot water scalds them- but neither cares enough to ease in slowly.

"I guess... We both aren't then?" Jack hands Mark his champagne.

"Guess not," he sips. "Do you think Kitty forgot?"

They simultaneously shake their heads, dismissing that thought. Kitty is a perfectionist- she'd never have forgotten. "Maybe she didn't think we'd need it," Jack suggests.

Taking another sip of wine before setting his glass on the table behind him, Mark looks up at the stars. "You're probably right," his voice comes softly. Jack looks up too, scooting closer to his date. Instinctively, Mark puts his arm around Jack's shoulders, letting his fingers draw designs in the slickness on his pale skin.

They don't know when it happens exactly, or what calls it forth- but they click. They click into place like puzzle pieces, like a lock and key, like a match finally striking... They click, and warm brown eyes meet frigid blue. Neither dares to breathe. With only a moment's hesitation, Jack closes the distance between them. It feels so logical for them to be together. Mark can't help himself when he presses against Jack, his hands on his shoulders. They kiss, and kiss, and kiss. Jack reaches blindly to set his glass down, and misses by a mile. It shatters on the deck; they don't break apart to assess the damage. Instead, Jack's free hands grip Mark's hips and pull him even closer. There must be fireworks exploding, or cupids shooting heart-shaped arrow after heart-shaped arrow, for they simply cannot bear to separate and risk having the passionate fire of the moment fade. It didn't take months- but a love as destined as theirs need not take months. They're entrapped in each other's arms, captivated by each other's throbbing heartbeat, and seduced by each other's bodies. Though it would be a while before the first I love you's graced their lips, they both knew that what they shared that night was an undeniable burst of true love.