[Friends. Well, it does make sense, they share a common "friend" (to put it lightly) in Sonic, so that does make them friends by proxy, right? Is that how this works? Well, that's how it works now, and Neo is perfectly content with it. The hug is different from when he hugs Sonic - but then, of course it is. They're two very different people with two very different relationships with Neo. Dorothea has likely never hugged someone quite like Neo either, but she doesn't seem to be hesitant or bothered by it at all. It doesn't take long for him to relax into it.]

You've already done so much for Sonic; I can never thank you enough for that. But still, allow me to thank you for this moment of weakness as well.

[He hasn't felt this damn tired in... well, ever, really. At least, not in this body. Maybe it's the stress of the situation, or perhaps the very idea of how horribly his death hurt Sonic, but regardless, all Neo wants to do right now is let himself be held, just for a moment longer. Things will make sense again soon enough and he'll be there for Sonic, but he can allow himself this one moment to feel all these conflicting emotions so vividly.

(And perhaps he's a little glad that he's in his own shell for this; he can't even begin to imagine how much more difficult this is for Sonic, who feels everything so vibrantly.)]