Mallomor kept away from Niko the next morning, not wanting to confront him unless he had to.

Tsarina noticed that Mallo was off his game and crawled into his arms so he could pet her.

In an inversion, Niko sneaked up on Mallomor. "Just know that I forgive you. It wasn't your fault, it was the drink speaking."

"Can you forget it?"

Niko chuckled. "No, I cannot. We need to remember our mistakes to grow from them."

Mallomor sighed. Niko sat next to him on the couch. Mallomor put his arm around Niko's waist.

"I guess you're right. I won't repeat that mistake."

"You know, if you need a sexual partner, you can get one."

Mallomor's pupils narrowed. "An open relationship? You won't be jealous or anything?"

"I'll be jealous, but I can handle some less time with you."

Mallomor rubbed his side. "Niko, I'm not sure if I can handle less time with you."

Niko was a bit flustered by this comment, but didn't let it cloud his thoughts.

"I'm flattered."

"You should be." Mallomor ruffled his hair. "Elric said he'd help me figure out how to become a faery."

"Great! Have you been getting any trouble from other demons, like Donnatello?"

Niko put up several demon-proof locks around the houseboat.

"I really should've done this earlier, Mallo, but you probably know that planning ahead isn't my strong suit."

"Really? How come?"

"I just have trouble focusing and thinking ahead."

Mallomor's tail swished once. "We all have trouble focusing and thinking ahead from time to time."

"How about all the time?"

Mallomor chuckled. "Yeah, I think that's a you thing."

Niko groaned and went back to putting locks on the windows.

I guess if he's been gone for 100 years, he missed the part with the ASD spectrum.