As late winter sunlight began to leak through the small bedroom window, a large Pokémon stirred. It lifted its armored head and yawned, its long white whiskers swaying. It got up and stretched its legs, trying not to scratch the hardwood floors. It stood on its feet and looked over to the bed where its trainer and his partner rested.

The Pokémon strolled over to its trainer's side of the bed and poked his nose. The human stirred and gently bat the Pokémon's snout, drifting back into sleep. The Pokémon whined and sniffed its trainer's face, rubbing its wet nose on their face.

"Samurott..." The human groaned, "Go back to bed..."

Samurott spewed a bit of water at its trainer's face. The trainer sat up and gasped.

"Sammy!" He scolded, "What are you doing?!"

"Shut up..." The boy slumbering next to him mumbled.

Samurott's trainer sighed and glared at it, "What are you doing?" He whisper-yelled, "It's so early!"

Samurott shook its head and gestured to its trainer's phone. Its trainer picked up his phone and saw the time.

"Shit!"

"Gray!" The boy next to him hissed.

"Shit!" Gray whispered, scrambling out of bed.

Gray rushed to the closet and grabbed the first pair of pants he could. He threw off his pajama bottoms and struggled to put on the pants he grabbed. Shit- they were his boyfriend's skinny jeans. He didn't have time to grab a different pair, so he suffered through it.

"How do you wear these things?" Gray hissed.

His boyfriend didn't respond, seemingly have fallen back asleep. Samurott snickered as it looked at the skinny jeans. Gray scowled and grabbed his belt with his Pokéballs on it and weaved it through the jean loops.

"Shut up!" Gray whispered to his partner, "Go get my coat! My good one!"

Samurott rolled its eyes and walked out the bedroom door. Gray walked over to his boyfriend's side of the bed and kissed his head, getting lost in his dark blue hair. Gray scrambled out the bedroom door and into the main part of his apartment. He saw his partner Pokémon sitting at the door with his large coat in its teeth. He grabbed his wallet and keys from the end table near the door, swiftly put his shoes on, and took his jacket from his Pokémon.

As Gray put his jacket on, he sighed, "Maybe I can convince Danny to move to Alola..."

Samurott grunted and rolled its eyes. Its trainer was so ridiculous!

Gray opened the door and Samurott walked out, Gray trailing behind it. Gray immediately started bolting down the building's hallway. Samurott blinked in surprise and copied his trainer.

The second Gray pushed opened the building's front door, cold, harsh air hit him in the face. He immediately shuddered and cursed. He hated winter, and he hated that he agreed to go outside in it. He didn't have a car either, and Danny refused to let him use his. You crash a car three times and suddenly you can't be trusted...

Gray put his hood up, "I hate this! Why did I agree to this?"

Samurott rolled its eyes and sighed. It smiled as it saw the mist come from its nose. It chomped at the white mist in the air, happily pouncing along the sidewalk.

Gray chuckled and shoved his hands in his pockets. He blinked as a snowflake landed on his nose. He shook his head and looked up at the sky. The sun began to hide behind dark gray clouds, and a few snowflakes danced down from the gloomy sky.

Gray grabbed Samurott's Pokéball and returned his partner. He picked up the pace, being careful not to slip on any ice. He almost slipped anyway, naturally. Finally, he reached his destination- the cute little cafe that resided at the edge of town. Yellow and orange light leaked from the windows, and the usual outside seating was packed up and closed for the season. The snow began coming down harder, so Gray rushed inside, immediately sighing in relief at the warmth.

The man at the bar nodded at Gray in acknowledgment and went back to serving coffee to a woman sitting at the counter. Gray took a deep breath and looked around the familiar cafe. His parents used to bring he and his siblings here all the time when they were little. This place was older than him- but he loved it. His eyes landed on a couple sitting in a booth in the downstairs area. He grinned and rushed down the stairs.

A brunette noticed him first, "How are you and Illusion late?"

Gray blushed and sat across from two girls, "I'm sorry!" He apologized, slipping his jacket off, "I was up late!"

The brunette frowned, but the blonde next to her grinned, "That's okay! I totally get it! I've pulled dozens of all nighters just trying to meet deadlines!"

The brunette rolled her eyes, "There's no way he was up doing something important, though."

The blonde frowned, "Oh Juni! Have some faith!"

Gray smirked, "Yeah Juniper! Have some faith in your baby brother!"

"What were you doing then, huh?" Juniper asked.

Gray blushed, "U-Um...D-Danny..."

Juniper threw her head back and laughed. The blonde next to her sighed in defeat. At least she tried, right?

Just then, the waitress came by and took drink orders- the girls getting orange juice, Gray getting coffee, and they ordered a glass of water and an apple juice. The waitress took off and brought them their drinks fairly quickly.

"You the only one working again?" Gray asked as the waitress poured his coffee.

The waitress nodded, "Naturally."

Gray and Juniper looked at each other and chuckled a bit. Gray gave the waitress a quiet "Thank you" as she walked away.

Gray brought his cup to his lips and gently blew on the hot liquid, "So...how's working with Mom?"

Juniper groaned, "Has she always been crazy?"

Gray chuckled, "Uh...yeah!"

Juniper took a sip of her orange juice and sighed in dispair, "Pulp..." she whispered.

The blonde next to Juniper frowned and took a sip of her orange juice. She then switched her glass with Juniper's.

Juniper felt her eyes get misty, "B-Babe!"

"Sorry I'm late!" A voice announced, appearing next to Gray.

"The king decided to grace us with his presence!" Gray snickered.

The man flipped his long green hair and leaned against Gray dramatically, "Aren't you ever so lucky?"

The tiny red and gray fox in his arms chirped and snickered.

"So King Illusion," Gray said, "How was she?"

Illusion scowled and situated his tiny friend in his lap, "Not worth the headache she's gonna give me..."

"Gross!" Juniper gagged.

Illusion noticed the apple juice on the table and grinned, "Yeah yeah yeah," he said, grabbing the juice, "I'm terrible, I'm disgusting, etcetera!"

Illusion took a sip of his apple juice and sighed with content. Honestly, that was the most satisfying thing that he had experienced in twenty four hours. Gray took the glass of water and handed it to the Pokémon in Illusion's lap. Tiny red paws hugged the glass and a tinnier tongue lapped up the water.

Illusion suddenly turned his head. Everyone at the table gave him a confused look.

"What?" Juniper asked.

Illusion made a sour face, "Nothing...just thought I heard my name."

"Weird. Maybe you're insane."

Illusion opened his mouth to retort, but Gray, eager to get his siblings into a pleasant conversation, turned to his older sister's girlfriend, "So...Ellie!" He chirped, "How's...Tirtouga?"

The blonde across the table lit up, "Just as cute as always!"

The table spent the rest of their time talking about their lives. They spoke of their jobs, their Pokémon, friends, family, and relationships.

Juniper complained of her mother's strict rules around the bakery. When asked about his job, Gray, embarrassed, admitted he was living off his boyfriend's acting money for the time being. Ellie spoke passionately of her archeological discoveries, trying not to speak too much as not to spoil her showcase coming up. Illusion spoke briefly of working with his father, but mainly spoke of his soul crushing waiting job. He loved people, but Karens were a different breed...

Once the food reached the table, Illusion scarfed it down. He was starving! Well, he was always starving, but he hadn't eaten in awhile.

As he shoved another pancake in his mouth, he heard it again.

Illusion...

He whipped his head around suddenly.

"Are you okay, man?" Gray asked, cutting his waffle.

"Someone is calling my name!" Illusion said, continuing to look around.

"Maybe you're going crazy!" Juniper suggested, "Apparently it runs in the family..."

Illusion pointed his fork at Juniper, "It is not my fault you didn't know Mom was crazy! She makes it very clear."

Ellie finished her orange juice, "Maybe you're just tired! I'm sure you didn't get a lot of sleep, not being at home."

Illusion nodded slightly. Ellie was probably right- Illusion didn't sleep much when he wasn't home. Most women find it "off putting" having a Musharna in the room when they sleep.

"That's probably it," Illusion agreed, shoving half a pancake into his mouth, "Thamks Emmie!"

Ellie grinned, but Juniper scrunched up her nose in disgust as food flew out of her brother's mouth.

"Okay, I know Dad taught you to chew with your mouth closed!"