Asher started hanging out at the bar more often while Orion was at work. He never drank alcohol, but he socialized and tried to get some information from anyone who might have it. But frequently the answers were confusing or strangely vague.

Sometimes there was live bands, the karaoke and some sort of bingo game he couldn't quite understand. It was the same bartender every night, she wasn't the only employee, but she seemed to be one of the only ones who was allowed near the alcohol.

The place was never very crowded, but it wasn't completely empty except right before opening. Very few humans seemed to occupy the place.

The bartender herself wasn't a human either, she was either a demons familiar or something demon adjacent. Either way she knew that Asher was part demon was kind enough to him, not everyone was. Especially not Vance.

“You still want water, or would you like me to whip you up a mock-tail?” The bartender asked him.

“I think a mock-tail would be nice.” He informed her.

“I know just the thing.” She said grabbing a few things from the fridge under the counter. She made quick work of it and began shaking it up.

“You technically work under Orion right?” Asher asked.

“What of it?” She said placing his drink in front of him.

“You wouldn't happen to know anything about who he works for do you?” Asher took a sip from the glass it was sweet but not quite enough to be a problem, it was very much something Orion would like.

“Don't bother learning to much, you'll forget about it anyway.” She shrugged.

“What do you mean?” He asked then thought ‘You’ll forget… they all seem to say that.’

“I’ve worked here more than a hundred years, I can only remember meeting him twice even though we’ve met several times. It goes without saying he's not human.” She said. “I’d love to tell you more but there's not much to say.”

“That's pretty much the same answer everyone else seems to have.” Asher sighed, “Is there really nothing else? Do you have any idea what he looks like? Even a little bit?”

“He has eyes.” She replied.

“He… Has eyes?” Asher asked.

“Yeah and he's tall.” She continued.

“Tall and has eyes. Got it.” Asher sighed.

“Sorry I can't be of more help.” She shrugged.

“It's fine. I didn't expect much, you already told me more than anyone else could about it.” Asher paused, “No one seems to care that I’m trying to look into him. Is he just unanimously hated or something?”

“It's more that Orion is well liked around here. He's got a lot of friends even if he can't remember us.” She said.

That too seemed to be a trend, the more permanent residents all thought fondly of Orion. Surely there should be someone that didn't, or even someone who had a neutral opinion about him. Somehow it seemed like it was all very intentional. This was likely a creature that could read minds and manipulate them to some degree.

That boss of his had a vested interest in keeping him alive. Orion had insinuated as much, but it was hard to fathom just how elaborate this whole thing was. To both protect and trap your prey in this manner; though Asher could tell the boss wasn't a demon, but he sure seemed to think like one.

Out of curiosity Asher stalked Orion to his job to try to figure out what exactly was going on. Sure, it wasn't the smartest idea, but he felt he just couldn't sit idly anymore. He needed to figure out where that aura was coming from and what sort of creature this boss of his was.

There wasn’t much to see outside the building, it looked much like any other building in the area, a bit run down but still presentable. The door was keycard entry only, but the windows were surprisingly not well secured. Asher documented the activity of the building from afar, it seemed most active around noon, but gradually grew quiet after the sun set.

Considering how frequently Orion went missing for weeks, Asher half expected to be waiting days for Orion to come out of the building, but he returned to the entrance no less than 13 hours later. Orion spotted Asher but he just locked eyes with him for a moment and didn’t say anything.

“Hey Orion, you- wait, where are you going?” Asher asked Orion who had already started walking away.

“I’m going home.” He explained.

“Home is the other way, Orion.” Asher said grabbing him by the shoulder.

“I can figure it out myself, John.” He brushed off Asher's hand.

“It’s Asher.” Asher reminded him.

“Right, Asher. I’d prefer it if you stayed safe and alive. Don’t come back here.” Orion started walking again. “I need to walk…”

“Where are you going?” Asher asked again, hoping for a more normal response this time.

Orion didn't respond he just kept walking. Asher followed him silently for several blocks, but Orion was going in circles.

“Are you lost Orion?” Asher asked.

“No. I know where I’m going.” Orion replied.

“This is the fifth time we've passed that bakery.” Asher informed him.

“That's the first time I’m seeing it.” Orion grumbled and kept walking.

“Maybe you should sit down for a little. Aren't you tired?” Asher asked.

“No, I have to get home.” Orion asserted.

“Then why won't you let me help you get back?” Asher asked.

“I can't let you get involved.” Orion explained.

“Involved in what? Going home?” Asher grabbed Orion’s hand. “Do you even know where you are right now? Or what's currently happening?”

“Don't patronize me.” Orion tried to pull his hand away.

“I’m not. Just tell me where you think you are right now.” Asher said gently.

“I…” Orion looked around then made an expression like he couldn't decide whether to scream or cry. He yanked his hands away and started walking again. “Fuck you.”

“You can't just keep walking in circles Orion.” Asher called out to him.

“I’m not.” He insisted.

“There's the bakery again Orion. That's the sixth time.” Asher tried to explain.

“That's the first time I’m seeing it.” He said again.

“Right, well I’m just going to sit here. You have at it I guess.” Asher sat down at a small table outside the bakery.

When Orion finally came around again he stopped walking and stared at Asher confused.

“Hi Orion.” Asher smiled.

“What are you doing here?” He asked seemingly bewildered.

“Oh, I’m just… hanging out, would you like to join me? You look tired.” Asher pat the chair next to him.

“I’m busy right now.” He said.

“Please? Just for a moment?” Asher begged.

“No, I-” Orion tried to argue.

“I insist.” Asher demanded.

“Uh… Sure.” Orion was puzzled. As soon as he sat down Asher pulled him into a side hug.

“Do you tend to walk a lot when you’re triggered or stressed or whatever?” Asher asked as he began unraveling that dark aura once again.

“What kind of question is that?” Orion mumbled leaning his head against Asher. “Is that… something you've noticed? I don't think anyone's ever brought that up before.”

“I know I see you pacing a lot when you're out of it... Either way I think that's why you keep getting lost all the time. Your sense of direction being scrambled and your desire to walk don't go well together.” Asher pursed his lips. “I’ll just have to deal with this a different way.”

“Deal with… Huh? I hear the words you’re saying but I am not processing a single thing.” Orion groaned trying to get back to his feet again.

“I’m taking you home.” Asher informed him, picking him up without much resistance.

“What are you doing? Put me down.” Orion yelped.

“What about a treadmill? Maybe some kind of treadmill will help.” Asher thought out loud. “But I don’t want you hurting yourself…”

“Don’t talk like I’m not here. And what are you even talking about?” Orion tried to escape. “Put me down I can walk by myself.”

“I’ll be frank with you Orion, if I put you down you’ll just keep walking in circles until you pass out on the streets.” Asher explained.

“Frank? I thought your name was John.” Orion continued to wiggle to no avail.

“It’s Asher.” He reminded him, he wasn’t entirely sure at this point if it was Orion’s disorder or the aura that caused this, but why did it always have to be his name? “I know you don’t get to choose what you remember, but it sure does feel like it’s on purpose.”

“I've never been good with names. Why would yours be any different?” He argued.

“Maybe because we're dating?” Asher sighed.

“Oh, we're dating? That would be a problem then.” Orion said flatly then raised an eyebrow, “Why are you dating me exactly?”

“Because I love you, Orion.” Asher replied.

“Yeah, but uh… Why?” Orion narrowed his eyes.

“You’re not a burden.” Asher assured him.

“I didn't say that I was.” Orion retorted.

“But you're thinking it aren't you?” Asher asked snidely.

“Maybe…” Orion looked away, “You have terrible taste, you know.”

“Oh, don’t start. I don’t quite get why Spork thinks anyone close to you is dating you and yet you think the exact opposite.” Asher sighed. “You still don’t believe me do you?”

“Who the fuck is Spork?” Orion’s eyes widened.

“Oh right. The other you that goes by Orion, it’s difficult to talk about both of you without getting confused. So, one day that you just pulled out a Spork from your pocket and said, ‘just call me this I guess’.” Asher explained causing Orion’s expression to drop, “What’s wrong?”

“That’s no fair. I wanna be Spork.” He whined, “Why do they get a nickname, and I don’t?”

“It’s not like I picked the nickname. Besides, you couldn’t even remember we were dating, wouldn’t it confuse you more if I suddenly called you by a nickname?” Asher explained.

“It would be easier if Spork was here instead, wouldn’t it?” He bemoaned.

“I wish you would stop being so insecure. I love all parts of you even if they don’t all love me.” He said thinking back to the weird note he found in Orion’s notebook.

“What do you mean?” Orion asked.

“I love you Orion.” Asher lifted Orion’s face closer to his own, “Do you believe me?”

“I can’t help but feel like I… Want to trust you…” Orion blushed furiously but allowed their lips to touch for a moment. He grabbed Asher’s face and kissed him back. The sudden shift in weight caused him to become unbalanced and he grabbed at Asher for stability. His hand managed to catch Asher’s choker and somehow managed to rip it off.

“Oops.” Asher just managed to keep Orion from falling out of his arms.

“S-sorry.” He whispered.

“Don’t worry about it, this thing was cheaply made anyhow.” Asher insisted shifting his grip to hold Orion in a steadier position.

“Mm…” Orion whimpered peering sadly at scrap of what was once Asher's poorly processed polyurethane choker.

“No, really it’s fine, I wanted a new one. Something not made with plastic. You… You look exhausted Orion, why don’t you rest your eyes for a bit?” Asher kissed his forehead.

“Mhm…” Orion relaxed in Ashers arms a bit more, he began drifting off. By the time they arrived back at the apartment Orion had completely fallen asleep in his arms.

While shuffling around to get him in the bed Orion’s notebook had fallen out of his coat pocket and onto the floor. Out of curiosity Asher checked the spot where he'd written a petty response a few days before.

He got a reply which said: “Can you keep this a secret?” Followed by a few more words Asher couldn't recognize.

“It's not hard to keep it a secret if I don't even know what it means.” Asher said to himself, “I might as well see if I can get anything out of this... It’s not like I’ll be able to stop him from going to work. I could barely convince him to stop walking in circles…”