Mattis appeared in the sanctuary, looking around. He felt like he was needed here, that there was something wrong. Of course, since he decided to help Alexei out with his gym, he was sticking around the Fortree area. So it wasn't like it was strange to see him here.

He walked to the back, looking back and forth. "Alexei?" he called out, looking confused.

Where was he? He was usually around here.

"Hey! Where are you?" For some reason, he couldn't figure his way around the area. It just looked so... strange.

"Mattie?"

His name echoed through the hall, catching his attention. Mattis started toward the direction of the sound, but a familiar-looking Fletchling met him first, landing in his hair. "Well, look at that," he said, extending a finger to stroke the little bird's feathers and to get him off his head and onto his shoulder instead.

Alexei appeared shortly after, explaining the situation. "This guy? Attacking people? You've gotta be joking," he said, trying to look at the bird who refused to leave his nest of blue hair. "Me? I'm not the one that healed it."

Matt blinked. "That's a thing?" he asked dumbly. "I just sort of... pick them up as I go." He had heard of pokemon forming attachments to people like that, but aside from his original team, he had never really picked up on it.

Maybe he never payed too much attention to it.

"My Fletchling, huh?" Matt winced as he felt little claws digging into his scalp, refusing to move. "Okay, okay, you can stay there." He dropped his arm.

"I've never had a bird before... I've only dealt in bird boys." A wink was thrown at Alexei.

Since the bird seemed limp and tired, asleep in his hair, Matt slowly moved it from the position it was in, settling it down in a makeshift nest nearby. It was a cute bird. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to keep him around.

"Well, you're the only bird boy I've met, so you're the one that fits the bill," he pointed out, raising his eyebrows at him.

He placed his hands on his hips, stepping closer. "You don't like it? Being my bird boy?" Mattis asked with a whisper, tilting his head.

"You do like it! I knew you did," Mattis said, unable to hide how pleased he was with his reaction. He laughed, not because he was making fun of him. It was because of joy.

Wow. Who knew you could feel like this?

"What? So, I'm your rock boy then?" he asked, waiting for an answer eagerly.

Matt shrugged. "Absolutely nothing. It's great, in fact," he said, reaching to grab one of Alexei's hands. He lifted it to his lips, pressing a small kiss against the back of it.

It was the right thing to do.

"So, you feel this way too?" he asked, out of the blue. Like Alexei could read his mind. "Do you feel it?" He held Alex's hand against his chest.

"It was a guess," Matt admitted, though he got his answer. He couldn't help the smirk on his face, but it resolved into a gentle smile shortly. Because damn.

Alexei was really cute.

"This feeling... I've been having it for a while. I'm not used to it," he admitted, his own face turning a bit red. "It's always been a one and done sort of deal. But this isn't, Alexei."

He looked up at him. "I like you. More than your best friend. As a man. I really do."