Asher was an unfortunate man. He ended up in a pretty unpleasant situation. Never got on well with his family and couldn't hold a relationship or a job. It's not as if he didn't try, he was set up for failure from the get-go. His parents forced him to go to college, but he just wasn't built for it. After a hellacious fight over grades, he ended up getting kicked out of the house and dropping out of school.

He would've been more successful if he went to a trade school, he was decent with his hands after all. He could've become an electrician or a woodworker and been damn good at it too. But he only had the chance to pick up those skills much later in life, after he'd already got up to his neck in debt for something he never wanted to do in the first place. He fell in with a bad crew trying to scramble his way out of debt and ended up stuck in this place ever since.

He was miserable for a time. Every day was the same routine, selling, stealing, losing sleep. This wasn't the life he wanted for himself, but there's no way out once you're down on your luck. No amount of petty handouts can solve a broken system. Sure, it kept a scrap of food on the table but that was about it. Almost everyone who ended up here got stuck in the same cycle.

Things didn't change much until he met Orion.

The night after they met, Asher woke to an unfamiliar ceiling. The details of the night before were slowly creeping into his awareness. He'd tried to mug someone, and it went very poorly. His body still felt stiff, but he managed to sit up.

“I hope you're ready for breakfast honey. It’s the most important meal of the day!” The man from the night before called out from the nearby kitchen or he was a man last night. But they had a much different silhouette than he could recall. Their aura was the same though. The more he looked at the aura the stranger it seemed. “Honey?”

“What did you just call me?” Asher shot them a confused look.

“Honey? You're my boyfriend, right?” They asked. “Or do you not like pet names?”

“No, I-” Asher tried to speak.

“Oh. I was hoping this wasn't a one-night stand.” They sighed.

“That's not-” Asher tried again.

“Oh, thank god. Do you not like being called honey?” They asked.

“No. I’m-” he got cut off again.

“Ok. I'll keep that in mind.” They came out from the kitchen with two mugs in hand.

“Just let me fini-” Asher said.

 “Well anyway here's breakfast.” They handed him a mug.

“What’s this?” Asher asked.

“A cup brownie, you know like cup noodles but brownies?” Orion explained.

“This is not a breakfast food.” Asher quipped, he looked at them confused. “So, what exactly is going on here?”

“If you won't eat it I will. Oh. Wait, I know why you’re confused, I was probably a man when we met. I’m not catfishing you! Honestly! I’m a shadow so I'm just a bit of a shapeshifter. Don’t worry about it. Let me just.” Orion tried to focus, “Ok I might be too hung over to do it properly right now, but I promise I’ll be whatever you prefer when I figure it out.”

“Don't? That’s not the problem here.” Asher said.

“Oh. Then what is it?” They asked.

“Do you not remember anything about last night?” Asher asked.

“I must have forgotten did we have a fight or something? I’m sorry or uhh I forgive you.” They said quickly finishing the food, “Now that that's over. I need to go out and pick up some things, let’s go.”

“That's not a good idea.” Asher said. “I don't really go out during the daytime.”

“Are you some kind of vampire or something?” Orion eyed him carefully.

“No, I’m just part demon. It’s just not safe and I-.” He got cut off yet again.

“Then it’ll be fine. I’ll protect you.” They said stringing Asher along. “Come on. Hurry up.”

Asher followed Orion to a small marketplace he'd never seen before. He already knew he was far away from anything familiar, but this place seemed weirdly lively and almost wholesome compared to what he was used to. The only caveat being that a number of them had no souls.

“You've been awfully quiet this whole trip. Was the fight that bad?” Orion asked.

“You haven't really given me a chance to speak since I woke up.” Asher sighed.

“Oops. Sorry, I’m a bit scatterbrained like that.” They were clearly something more than scatterbrained.

“I just don’t understand what's happening.” Asher explained. “Last night you-”

“Wait! I’m really sorry. Please hold that thought I have to go to the bathroom.” They said in a sudden panic.

“Hey! Wait!” But they were already gone. “What the hell is going on?”

Asher found a place to sit down and wait. He’d have to find some way home from here and to do that he'd have to figure out where he is.

But was there even a place to return to now? He didn’t manage to make a dime last night going back wasn’t really an option. He pulled out his phone and swiped through his contacts, the others were probably sick of his couch surfing. It’s not like they were his friends.

“You know what? Maybe I can make this work. I mean the worst thing that could happen is just a repeat of last night. And if I find a way to remove that dark aura it might not.” He mumbled then nodded to himself. “Yeah. why not? Considering all the weird shit from last night this one’s definitely got money.”

“So, this is where you’ve been hiding Ash. Didn’t think you’d actually be showing your face.” A familiar pair approached him.

“Goddamn it.” Asher said under his breath.

“Do you have the money?” The other man asked.

“I can get you the money Vance, just give me a little more time.” Asher begged.

“I think we’ve given you enough time.” Vance replied. “The money isn’t the only thing I need from you now.”

“Shit.” Asher tried to run but was stopped short colliding into Orion.

“Oh, there you are. I figured out the gender thing.” Orion said proudly before recognizing Asher had some company, “Oh. What's going on here? Who are they?”

“Debt collectors.” Asher explained in a panic.

“It’s alright, I’ll handle this.” Orion assured him.

“But-” Asher tried to argue.

“My apologies but this is Sapphire Syndicate territory. Please leave.” Orion asserted.

“Just let us deal this issue and we'll be on our way.” Vance grumbled.

“I'm afraid that won't do.” Orion glared at Vance and wrapped his arms around Asher’s shoulders, “This… is my property. Please leave.”

“Who do you think you are?” Vance asked briskly.

“Don’t.” the other man stopped him. “Blue hair’s not someone you want to mess with.”

“Tch. Count yourself lucky for now, you better pay us back before he throws you away.” Vance said, “Or when he does, we’ll find you.”

They left without saying another word.

“How much do you owe them? Let me pay it off for you.” Orion said nonchalantly. He held Asher’s hand and started to lead him back to the marketplace.

“Why would you do that?” Asher asked.

“Why would I leave my boyfriend in debt? I don't want you to feel obligated to stay with me just because of them. I’m sure it's nothing the syndicate can't cover. Well, if it is than I can just eliminate them...” Orion shrugged. “I mean, It's bound to happen eventually at the rate we’re going, so what if it’s a little sooner.”

“No, that’s not what I meant.” Asher pulled his hand out of Orion’s grasp. “You’re being so genuine right now it’s making me feel bad. Why do you think we're dating?”

“Oh. Were you hoping for something more casual?” Orion said disheartened.

 “That's not-” he sighed “Do you even know my name?”

“What are you trying to say? It's…” Orion paused to think about it. “…John, right?”

“Why do you remember the fake name I gave you and not the fact that I tried to mug you?” Asher pressed his hands to his face.

“OH. I thought Orion brought you, but it might have been Katz.” He blinked, “I gave you ample time to make yourself scarce after you woke up. So, I assumed it was the latter.”

“You just assumed what now?” Asher raised his eyebrows.

“I mean you're my type, you were sleeping on my couch, and I was hungover this isn't even the first time that has happened.. I didn't even think of any other possibilities.” He said somberly. “I’m sorry, you must have had a bizarre experience. Just let me compensate you. You probably deserved it but, whatever Katz did is-”

“Just how many of you are there?” Asher asked.

“Why does it matter?” Orion retorted.

“I want an idea of what I’m getting into.” He explained.

“Huh?” Orion tilted his head.

“I’m just thinking it might be worth the trouble.” He said kicking at the ground.

“Now I’m the confused one.” He stared blankly.

“Well, I just thought… What would happen if you did remember? Or if you forgot again? I figured I might as well just make it up to you by going along with whatever this is. I can tell from your aura that you're a decent enough person. It’s a pretty safe option...” Asher explained “I mean, I don't have any reason to leave.”

“You don't have any reason to stay either.” Orion glared at him.

“You said I’m your type and well… I don't dislike the way you look.” He pursued his lips and muttered, “I can handle crazy.”

“I’m starting to think you're the one that's insane.” Orion sighed. “I’ve hurt you, haven't I?”

“I’ve had worse relationships.” He shrugged.

“That doesn't negate whatever I’ve done.” Orion replied.

“You don’t even remember what you did.” Asher waved him off.

“That doesn't make it better, that's worse actually. It might happen again.” Orion warned him.

“I don’t know if I’d mind that.” He said scratching his head.

“Are you some kind of masochist?” Orion looked at him with a mixed expression of disgust and intrigue.

“No!” Asher stopped for a second, “Maybe… You calling me your property definitely had me feeling some kind of way.”

“Right… Okay. That sounds… normal…” Orion squinted.

“Let's just start over, my name is Asher.” Asher offered his hand. “And I guess we're dating now?”

“This is… so… normal…” Orion said shaking his hand.

“So is assuming a stranger you have no memory of in your apartment is your boyfriend. We're both very normal people.” Asher assured him.

“What the hell did Katz do to you?” Orion shook his head.

“Not sure to be honest, something about a diminished fear response and Bio soldiers? But that wore off overnight.” Asher explained.

“I’m not sure if I believe that it has.” Orion stared at him.

“I still know well enough to run from danger so it can't be that bad.” Asher waved it off.