Chapter Text
On the night that Hugo returned and Vivian tried to sacrifice herself, Vivian pleaded to stay over at the proxies' place, if only to ensure that any potential corruption could be reversed. While the mayor insisted that she at least be monitored/assisted overnight (either at a facility or by an aid at home), he could not refute the fact that Phaethon was her best bet should she develop further symptoms. Either way, Vivian wouldn't really take no for an answer.
That left Hugo and Lycaon left to go their separate ways. Since Hugo didn't get there by car, and his place was on the way to Lycaon's, the thiren agreed to drive him home.
Before they left, Hugo urged Vivian to contact him immediately should anything come up. No matter how he was feeling, he was determined to go to her aid as fast as he could if needed. His car was parked at their house, unused ever since the day before he faked his death. After all, Vivian still hadn't gotten her driver's license. (Mockingbird's contacts would be able to get her anywhere with ease anyway.)
Hugo and Lycaon headed out the door.
In the car, they were mostly silent at first. Hugo mock-praised its eloquence, but Lycaon could sense something off in his voice.
"How are you feeling after...everything? Are you perhaps worried about Miss Vivian?" he asked.
"Well, obviously I am, a bit. Though I know she's in good hands, and I'm sure she is very happy where she is," Hugo laughed. "Otherwise... I don't know. It's been quite a long day, don't you think?"
"Indeed." Lycaon sighed. "However, I meant— are you still feeling anything due to the drug?"
"...Not that I can tell." He went silent for a moment, maintaining a perfect poker face as his eyes remained fixed on the road. "How about you just focus on driving?"
Lycaon glanced over at him. Although his acting was perfect, he was shaking ever so slightly. "...Hmph."
Meanwhile, Hugo was trying desperately to push all manner of thoughts out of his mind. Yet something tugged on his heart, continuously pulling them back in.
As they pulled up to the curb of Hugo's house, Lycaon's heart began to beat faster.
He still lived at their old house.
Lycaon got out of the car gingerly and escorted Hugo to the door. "Well, I suppose this is where we—"
"Do you want to see it?" Hugo offered, unintentionally cutting him off.
The thiren stopped in his tracks, frozen at the thought of seeing him inside. However, after a moment he cleared his throat and continued, "It would be impolite of me to decline. Lead the way."
Hugo held the door open for him and closed it behind him. It was much more refined inside than it had been before, partially because a young lady was also now staying there.
As Lycaon examined the interior with wide eyes, Hugo smiled at him. “You know, it is nice to see you back in here.”
“Hm?... Oh, yes. It’s... nice to be back.” A tiny grin appeared on Lycaon’s face, and his tail began to slowly sway side to side. “Ah, my apologies. It seems I’m getting a bit distracted."
No, it’s cute, Hugo thought. Please... Don’t stop. Don’t go.
Hugo closed his eyes and breathed in. “That’s alright,” he said softly.
He stared at the ground in front of him, unable to wipe the smile completely off his face. He could’ve sworn there was a fire burning in his stomach, causing him to heat up all over and blush uncontrollably. Wait, he thought. Isn’t this a bit...
He stumbled forward, barely catching himself before falling over. Just like earlier that day, Lycaon once again rushed over to his side immediately.
“Hugo, are you okay?” he asked urgently. “Do you need medical attention?”
“N— no, I’m fine, Lycaon. I’m just feeling.. a bit...” Hugo’s eyes fluttered shut and his head slumped forward, the rest of his body nearly going limp.
Luckily, Lycaon caught him and held him up. “...You need to get to bed.” After Hugo stayed silent, he exhaled. “Can you walk...? Do you need me to help you?”
Hugo could hear everything Lycaon was saying, he just... couldn’t respond for some reason. It was as if his mind had completely taken over his body.*
[*Note: not in a non-consensual, mind-controlled way, but a psychosomatic way. His usual physiological defenses were weak to psychological phenomena.]
The next thing he knew, the backs of his calves were pressed up against something, and he sat down. As he tried to open his eyes, he saw Lycaon standing over him, speaking. However, Hugo couldn’t process a word. All he felt was a profound sadness, a deep aching sensation in his heart, and absolute tiredness.
He steadied himself with one hand pressed into the surface he was sitting on— he could tell now that it was his own bed.
“Lycaon...” he groaned, reaching his free hand out through his blurred vision.
“Yes? Hugo?” Hugo finally heard him say. Lycaon grabbed his hand and gently held it in his own. “Can you hear me?”
“Hm...? Hnngh... Yeah.” Hugo broke free of Lycaon’s hand and put his on the thiren’s forearm. “But, Lycaon...” he started. “Can you stay with me?”
“What—?” Lycaon asked, incredulously. He blinked and stared at the man intently, shocked by his additional sudden change in behavior.
Could it be... Is he still under the influence of the drug? Lycaon wondered. No... He just seems... Ah, I don’t know. Damn it, I should be going. But he’s clearly...
Hugo’s eyes began to water, and he still had yet to meet Lycaon’s gaze. He was utterly lost in his own world; in his own mind.
“I’m... sorry... I just.....” Hugo murmured. “...I’m sorry.” He shakily shifted his body fully onto his bed, his strength wavering. Intense sensations of all sorts washed over his mind and body, overwhelming him.
Fuck... he thought. Maybe inviting him in here was a mistake. He turned onto his side and laid down, closing his eyes and letting a tear fall from one of them.
In truth, the intensity of Lycaon’s emotions in this moment were not far off from Hugo’s. He just had better control over them. He closed his eye for a moment and sighed, then stood up. “Hugo... listen.”
Hugo furrowed his brow and braced himself for whatever Lycaon was about to say next.
“If you really need someone to be here for you right now, I’ll stay with you.”
The man opened his eyes wide. His heart had skipped a beat, and suddenly even more tears threatened to well up in his eyes. He slowly sat up and groaned, then turned to finally look at Lycaon.
“Okay.”