Wow, people actually reviewed last chapter! I can't help but be pleasantly surprised! So thanks!

This chapter's a bit longer, introduces a few new characters, and sets the basis for some CCshipping moments later. It also contains cross dressing (if this wasn't obvious from the last chapter) and snarky comments.
Also, just as a note, each chapter will focus more on a different character or relationship.

Disclaimer: I don't own Pokemon. This will remain true for the rest of this fic, so don't yell at me if I don't us a disclaimer.


Meeting Him

As Damion emerged from the back room of Riley's Café, he looked down at his outfit, grimacing. Audible snickers could be heard coming from Riley, Cynthia, and Marley, no matter how hard they tried to stifle them.

"Well I was right," Cynthia said, grinning. "It does suit you." Riley and Marley nodded in agreement.

Damion blushed slightly, but recovered. "Bah, dress or not, I'm gonna be the best waiter this place has seen!" He punched the air with a fist, fired back up again. A smile crept onto Riley's face. He definitely didn't make a mistake in hiring this guy…

OOO

"Waiter, could I get another coffee?"

"Oh waiter, you haven't taken out orders!"

"Waiter!"

Riley had never seen his shop so bustling with people since he first opened. The coffee orders kept piling in, and he and Cynthia were working double time. The same could be said for Damion and Marley, though their jobs were more hectic, juggling orders and serving coffee.

Balancing a tray on one hand, Damion weaved his was through the tables, handing patrons their coffee, scribbling down orders, and taking great care not to spill anything.

"Hey Marley, there are more people waiting at the door!" Damion shouted, swerving to avoid two people who had just stood up from their table. He swooped down to grab the tip before continuing on his way.

"I'm a bit busy at the moment…" Marley replied, jotting down the orders of a group of preteens, who were either whispering excitedly, snickering at Damion, or fawning over Riley behind the counter.

"Man this sucks," one of them whispered. "Of all days for the new place to be shut down…"

"Hey, at least the owner of this one is cute…" another replied.

Rolling her eyes, Marley strode over and handed the sheet of paper to Cynthia, who added it to the ever-growing pile. Damion has hoped Marley would be able to take care of the rather sour looking customer waiting at the door, but she was called over to another table. Sighing, Damion held his tray to his side, putting on a faux smile.

"Welcome to Riley's! Please, take a seat anywhere and I will take your order whenever you're ready."

The purple haired customer made no movements, and instead scrutinized Damion with his cold, mirthless eyes. Then something resembling a smile appearing on his face, although it was more like a cruel smirk.

"No wonder business sucks here. Everyone's scared off by the cross dresser."

Damion gritted his teeth, resisting the urge to sock the other male right in his mouth. It was his first day after all, and he couldn't go off getting fired already.

"If business sucks," Damion began, "how do you explain all these people?"

"Simple," the purple haired man replied, striding over to an empty table. "Today, you lack competition."

Damion was puzzled. What competition? Though it would explain how slow business had been up until today, according to Riley...

When Damion didn't reply, the other male only scowled. "I knew someone pathetic like you wouldn't understand the concepts of business." Damion opened his mouth to protest, but he was cut off by the cruel voice of the man. "Now I would like what I came in here for – coffee. Black."

The blond couldn't help but upturn his nose at the customer's coffee choice. 'But why am I not surprised this jerk likes his coffee bitter?'

Damion handed the order to Riley before picking up a few cups for the waiting customers. He sped through the café, dropping off cup after cup on each table. Riley tapped a bell on the countertop, signaling another order was ready to be delivered. Damion sighed as he stared into the cup filled with black coffee, sitting alone on the counter. If only Marley had seated the jerk and not him…

"Here's your coffee," Damion said, handing the purple haired man the cup, his voice sickly sweet.

"Didn't you know?" he said as soon as the blond began to walk away.

"Know what?" Damion wasn't stupid, but this guy needed to stop being so damn cryptic.

"A new, cutting-edge café just opened up down the street," the purple haired male informed Damion. 'A new shop? Riley hadn't mentioned anything about that…'

"Unfortunately, it's closed today for some last minute moderations," he continued, voice deadpan. Taking a sip from the cup, he wrinkled his nose in disgust. "And that's precisely why everyone was forced to come to this shabby place to drink mediocre coffee."

Damion clenched his fists, orange eyes glowering intensely at the other male. "Well if you don't like this place, then why did you even bother to come?!"

There was that unpleasant smirk again… "Because I heard rumors that a cute new waitress was working. And I was fortunate enough to have her as my server."

That was it. Damion didn't hesitate to drop his tray to the ground, his already-clenched fist connecting with the other's man's face. The punch landed on his cheekbone, right below the eye with a sickening smack. The blond simply stood there, breathing heavily as he glared at the purple haired man. He gingerly touched the swelling spot on his face before gazing up calmly at Damion.

Riley rushed over to the scene in an attempt to aid the injured party, who simply brushed him off with the wave of a hand. Damion watched him stand up and leave, the glare never leaving his face. The entire café was deadly silent, staring intently at the blond boy in a dress.

Riley quickly ushered him to the back, and hushed conversation resumed up front, undoubtedly about what just unfolded.

"Damion! What the hell were you thinking?!" Riley exclaimed. It was rare for the manager to lose his cool, but never before had violence broken out in his café, let alone by one of his employees.

"I wasn't, sorry," Damion replied, failed an disguising the scorn in his voice. "But you should've heard some of the crap he was saying!"

"That doesn't matter Damion. It's apart of the job. You get mean customers, you get nice customers, but you have to treat them all the same, as hard as it may be."

"But-!" Damion began, a pleading look in his eyes.

"No buts." Riley replied sternly, glancing out the small glass window looking out into the café. "Business is slowing down now, so I just want you to clean up and go home. Take some time to cool off. …Actually, why don't you just take tomorrow off as well? I know the first day can be rough."

"But, I'm not fired, right?" Damion asked.

"Damn lucky you aren't. But I don't expect anything like this to happen again, am I right?" The blond nodded meekly. "Good, not get back out there." Riley clapped him on the back, propelling him out the door. Cynthia opened her mouth, about to barrage Damion with questions, until she caught the dangerous look in Riley's eye.

'Guess it's best to keep my mouth shut about it now…'

Most of the café patrons were clearing out, leaving Marley and Damion to collect any tips and wipe the tables off. The only people left were two males, sharing an armchair by the fire. When Damion glanced over in their direction, the younger-looking one with light green hair and a major cowlick came bounding over to him.

"Hey man! That was a nice punch you threw back there!"

"Uh, thanks?" Damion replied bashfully. He wasn't expecting to get praised for what he did…

"What did he do to get you all riled up like that?" he asked.

"Called me a girl," the blond replied, tone resentful.

"Well you are wearing a dress," the other boy reasoned. "But don't feel bad," he added in a whisper, "I've worn one too before, just because Lucian likes it." He gestured to the person he was sitting with previously; a purple haired man with lavender-tinted glasses, engrossed in a leather-bound novel. Damion was taken aback by the boy's lack of shame in admitting this, but shrugged it off.

"I'm Aaron by the way!"

"Damion." They shook hands before Aaron returned to his spot at Lucian's side. The blond quickly headed into the back to change out of his "uniform". 'Riley have better gotten the right one for me by the time I come back to work…'

It was only his first day, and things were already hectic. Damion couldn't help but feel slightly relieved at having tomorrow off, although he was bounded to be restless all day. This new job gave him a way to expend his boundless energy… 'Hopefully that purple headed bastard won't ever come back here again and stick to his own stupid café.' Damion thought sourly.

Generally though, things never seemed to go the blonde's way…


Lame ending. D: But yay, Paul (although Damion doesn't know his name yet), Aaron, and Lucian all appeared! Aaron and Lucian will just be playing minor supporting roles later... As in they actually do have a reason for being there! All characters in this fic will be connected in one way or another, whether they just be friends, ex's, or a couple. Makes things seem less random.

Anyway, next chapter shifts focus onto Riley and a mysterious blue-haired girl... Does this mean some IronWillshipping?
/coughyescough/

Well, please review, telling me what you thought! It would be greatly appreciated!