aw, beans

He craves Lycaon's company and attention, but his self-loathing keeps getting in the way, stopping him from being fully honest about wanting to be friends again. Lycaon too is a curious case because, rather than falling for the taunting whenever they meet, he's serious, can even joke around, and displays actual concern for Hugo, even when Hugo dismisses him (at times gently, other times rudely)

But I feel the key to their current relationship is in one trust event that has them talking about their past. In here, Hugo can't help feel guilty about Lycaon's legs, only to have Lycaon say this:

That's when it hit me. Lycaon is waiting to have Hugo back, but this can only happen when Hugo heals and attains the peace he wanted after forgiving himself. At least we know he's already on that difficult path, but he's doing it on his own.

What makes this duo so special is that Lycaon knows this and has seen through all of Hugo's barriers, and is more than ready to being his friend again, but he's patiently waiting for Hugo to feel like someone capable to mend their relationship.

Like, ofc is hilarious to see them bickering, but Hugo's trust events are illuminating as we see the classic "Friends to enemies" trope not be reduced to them arguing whenever they see each other, but actually be awkward in the other's presence, or even being able to lovingly reminisce about their youth together, then deeply regret how bad decisions and miscommunication stopped them from helping each other, and the guilt they both feel regarding how things ended.

Hugo's the only one that participates in the intense teasing, and that's because constant taunting is his self-defense mechanism, since he refuses to be vulnerable to the only person that could see the worst of him; the memories of their separation play a part in his refusal to accepting Lycaon's help. However, he ignores that this time around, Lycaon wouldn't abandon him.

If anything, Lycaon is waiting for the instant Hugo's defenses break down to immediately catch him and be together again. And Hugo is.... Open to this, since another trust event has him saying that, depending on the future, Lycaon could be either friend or foe ( though we know he's betting on being together once again)