Both earbuds show up as separate devices, only one works at a time.

I have been having an issue where both of the airpods, when in the case, have the status light flash orange repeatedly. When one is out of the case and in an ear, it functions as it should. However, when the other is out, it does not act as a single device. Rather, it begins to think that the two are two separate devices. I’m not sure why this is, and Apple hasn’t given any help.

Does anyone have an idea as to why this might be?