Neverwinter Forest bad bad things

For a minute, Hide didn't think Orochi would be able to come up with anything to say. He'd just leave it at that's not true! and be done with it. But then the other boy pressed his skull into Hide's neck, and the younger paused. Blind eyes wide as he slowly leaned his own head down to reciprocate the hug, cheek pressed into Orochi's fur. 

You're my friend.

Not a burden, not a student, not a leech or a tagalong or an annoyance. A friend. Hide had hoped that Orochi thought of him that way, but hadn't allowed himself to expect it. He'd known Orochi was his friend all along, but the fact that his sentiment was echoed caused his breath to stutter and his face to scrunch up in what he knew was a super unattractive way. He let out a soft, choked-off sound, burying his face into Orochi's neck. 

"You're my friend, too," he whispered, blinking a few times to compose himself. "Thank you."