As I washed up and exited the lab Shiro was still following me, of course.

“Hey Orion, where are you going now?” He smiled gleefully. Which would have seemed pleasant if it weren’t so irritating.

“I’m,” I emphasized hoping to make it clear he was not included. “going home.”

“Can I-?” Shiro started to say before I cut him off.

“No.” I started to walk away.

“But-”

“No, you can’t come home with me.” I stated not looking back.

“Fine.. But what if I?”

“No.”

“I could always just-” He started to say to himself.

“Don’t even think about it.” I warned.

“Hey Orion, I’m sorry” He sighed. “I know I haven’t made a very good first impression and I just want to say.”

“Don’t worry about it. I am a little upset with you but it’s not like I hate you.”

“Really?”

“You making me feel claustrophobic and whatever the hell game you were playing with Diana is honestly the least terrible thing that’s happened so far today.” It’s always easier to say claustrophobic than it is to describe sensory overload, even if it’s not exactly accurate. But Shiro didn’t seem to trigger my sensory issues much, aside from the neck thing I didn’t really mind having him around.

‘Now that I think about it, my neck hasn’t always been this sensitive has it? It was getting so bad I had to change into a T-shirt. Maybe it’s from when my head got cut off, but it felt like that before too. It’s something else. But what could it be?’ I snapped out of my thoughts only to realize Shiro was still hanging around.

“Hey, I need to be alone for a while.” I reiterated hoping to convey that I had no intention of letting him follow me home.

“Oh.. Right. I understand. Sorry.” He had a sort of puzzled expression on his face as if he wasn’t sure where he should go now. Sure enough he seemed to figure out whatever was ailing him and headed back to the lab building.