The late morning light filtered through the uncovered front window, almost blinding Hanna as she searched for Steve's car. She took another sip of her lukewarm black tea. It was only their second day here and she was already sick of the stuff. If there was anything to look forward to today, it would be a fresh cup of coffee. Plus the fresh clothes, she thought optimistically as she looked down at her dirty, ripe blouse and pants.90Please respect copyright.PENANACceb6scO9n
90Please respect copyright.PENANAxwQSID7uQm
As much as Hanna was looking forward to what he was bringing, she couldn't shake that nagging feeling that Steve might have told the dealers about Ethan originally. Ethan trusted him, but that didn’t mean much to her, so she decided to stay vigilante. If Steve was a greedy backstabber, then she knew how to deal with him, as she'd handled those kind of people her whole life. Keep your enemies close, Hanna thought coldly, and, preferably, within stabbing range.90Please respect copyright.PENANAh5hAGrTUU7
90Please respect copyright.PENANAfVT1RIxzgz
Hanna looked at her phone again, based on his last text, Steve should be arriving now. She checked the window for the umpteenth time but there was no sign of his car before she glanced back at Ethan, lying on the sofa, evidently still tired. Despite his closed eyes, she knew he was awake, the way his hands kept fidgeting was an obvious tell.90Please respect copyright.PENANAgSVyYZeFJN
90Please respect copyright.PENANAjxAWVSDpYC
"Steve should be here soon, you might want to wake up," Hanna teased.90Please respect copyright.PENANAP6g0Mm7FZ9
90Please respect copyright.PENANAe5xrNkTtEP
Ethan let out a quiet, irritated groan from the sofa.90Please respect copyright.PENANA21Y0947NV1
90Please respect copyright.PENANALDYmNAmz3C
Hanna wondered if this was going to be a bigger problem than she had thought, given his reaction.90Please respect copyright.PENANADdwaXFVmqp
90Please respect copyright.PENANA6hyyYrnyR7
"He doesn't have to come in, I can meet him outside," Hanna suggested quickly. "You won't have to see him."90Please respect copyright.PENANA6v5zq6w0dK
90Please respect copyright.PENANAlbMam4lwhO
"I want to see him.” Ethan scowled slightly at the ceiling. "He's my friend too."90Please respect copyright.PENANAbLKxQaSVcG
90Please respect copyright.PENANArZdTgb5L4G
"Okay, but are you going to be okay with this?" Hanna asked bluntly.90Please respect copyright.PENANAB8Il2yltot
90Please respect copyright.PENANAdO8P6gRHJF
Ethan shrugged noncommittally.90Please respect copyright.PENANAj0LwcFIr0N
90Please respect copyright.PENANAIadCUUSe8e
"Then... me talking to him won't be a problem?" Hanna pressed.90Please respect copyright.PENANA9ZPhF2ZSYY
90Please respect copyright.PENANAeui5kWpyuF
"You're not—" Ethan started to answer bitterly, then reconsidered. "You can talk to whoever you want to."90Please respect copyright.PENANACstf8nDyF4
90Please respect copyright.PENANAGbJevfhSnZ
"So you're not going to get... territorial or possessive or anything right?" Hanna asked awkwardly.90Please respect copyright.PENANAC2Nz5VyaZC
90Please respect copyright.PENANALlvyHWysi2
Ethan was very familiar with the Terran stereotypes about Charax heats. "No. That's not a symptom," he stated dryly. Maybe I'd feel more aggressive if every inch of me wasn't sore, he thought grumpily.90Please respect copyright.PENANAife7pzR6Xs
90Please respect copyright.PENANA8gjxkTHQyT
Their conversation was interrupted by the sound of a car outside. Hanna went to the front window to see Steve's silver car driving up in from of the building.90Please respect copyright.PENANAznqXQzMD8h
90Please respect copyright.PENANA8JIR3zgNCa
"He's here," Hanna announced, heading towards the door.90Please respect copyright.PENANA6U1ZjkqFwF
90Please respect copyright.PENANAtHtDXcDWrH
Ethan got up off the sofa, stretching his stiff muscles, preparing himself. His body only wanted to do two things right now. Pretending to act like a Terran was not one of those things, but he’d been doing that his whole life, a few minutes was nothing in comparison.90Please respect copyright.PENANAE889z8bUrF
90Please respect copyright.PENANA7UqnbwimUi
Hanna opened the door for Steve, who had way too many grocery bags in his hands, as Ethan walked into the kitchen. "Let me take those," Hanna offered, taking the bags from him and carrying them over to the kitchen easily.90Please respect copyright.PENANAnAjTVTwSJ7
90Please respect copyright.PENANAwkfoLjUbvo
"Thanks for coming." Ethan's gratitude was sincere, even if his pleased tone was a little forced.90Please respect copyright.PENANAfp6VY3iZDZ
90Please respect copyright.PENANAxKOZjLDyMA
"Yes, thank you for bringing these," Hanna added gratefully, setting the bags on the table.90Please respect copyright.PENANAbMXnjJNKgn
90Please respect copyright.PENANAduxoh0EFbi
Steve joined the two of them in the kitchen. "You're welcome, it's good to see you're both alive."90Please respect copyright.PENANAHYOu40Va1t
90Please respect copyright.PENANAesW0C4Ahg5
"Alive and kicking, that's us," Hanna joked back as Ethan started unpacking the bags silently.90Please respect copyright.PENANAziMPOugwLB
90Please respect copyright.PENANAvv2b3dSmeR
"So, it really was a gang? They were after Ethan specifically?" Steve asked curiously.90Please respect copyright.PENANA3CU5zU5rmI
90Please respect copyright.PENANAiPvM9bI1jM
"That's what it seemed like, looks like they knew what they were doing," Hanna answered vaguely, adding false uncertainty in an attempt to cover up her own knowledge. She’d avoided giving Steve too many details, out of concern that he might not accept her lies as easily as Ethan did.
"That's crazy. Hard to believe the rumours are true, that people really do hunt Charax for a living," Steve commented grimly, then he turned to Ethan. "But, hey, you got out alright. Looks like they messed with the wrong Charax this time."90Please respect copyright.PENANAhNtxM4Gvpf
90Please respect copyright.PENANAbZW46wvIBa
Ethan flinched as Steve gave him a friendly pat on the back.90Please respect copyright.PENANAOeX1xVM0Oy
90Please respect copyright.PENANAMrBOJ6ymdJ
Steve pulled his hand away. "Sorry, didn't mean to hurt you."90Please respect copyright.PENANADo16hlT30o
90Please respect copyright.PENANAvwuiCFYrgB
"It's nothing, just bruises." Ethan shrugged dismissively.90Please respect copyright.PENANAB3qrSWSZ2w
90Please respect copyright.PENANADah7w0OxP1
Hanna eyed him curiously. She'd seen every inch of him and knew he didn't have any bruises on the back of his shoulder. He’s probably just tired and irritable, she thought.90Please respect copyright.PENANAylElfKWsmG
90Please respect copyright.PENANA7cIVoGnHuF
"Was this all you could get?" Hanna asked quickly.90Please respect copyright.PENANAABCQwzqwhT
90Please respect copyright.PENANA3NhX2mnnA5
"Nope, there's more where that came from," Steve announced as he headed back out to the car.90Please respect copyright.PENANA86PSwtGNyh
90Please respect copyright.PENANA9Y37gGL0o5
"Is it okay if I help carry stuff in?" Hanna asked Ethan quietly.90Please respect copyright.PENANAKKaU7fXHKl
90Please respect copyright.PENANAQgdC9Ipja5
Ethan nodded hesitantly, so Hanna went to join Steve. He used the opportunity to take a deep breath, trying to steady the slight tremor in his hand. He resolved to try to focus his complete attention on the task in front of him and try to forget about the returning heat symptoms.90Please respect copyright.PENANADbTJb0CqkK
90Please respect copyright.PENANArUVxpS1xqg
Steve and Hanna brought the rest of the bags in, and by the time they were done, Ethan had already unpacked half the groceries.90Please respect copyright.PENANAKzF0c3YhZz
90Please respect copyright.PENANAFqhH7WDTHE
"What about the bag I asked you to pick up?" Hanna asked as she looked over the chaotic pile of bags spanning the kitchen and living room.90Please respect copyright.PENANAcIoC6i68fv
90Please respect copyright.PENANAGJmcY0fIOH
"Over there." Steve pointed to a black duffel across the room, near the hallway.90Please respect copyright.PENANAdqu7BCeWG7
90Please respect copyright.PENANA3ltyKswihE
Hanna saw the bag from her apartment, that she'd given him the access code for. "Clothes, yes!"90Please respect copyright.PENANAhZqlFimmz1
90Please respect copyright.PENANAWvPDVZM2Ot
"Exactly where you said, I was a bit surprised that you had a bag of clothes packed already," Steve commented.90Please respect copyright.PENANAukomgDzev4
90Please respect copyright.PENANAkV5VpmHFxt
"I packed it weeks ago for a trip that ended up cancelled and I never got around to unpacking it. Good thing I procrastinated," Hanna lied smoothly as she opened it up, checking the contents. She'd always had an emergency bag packed but she'd never needed to use it before, nor had she ever expected to use it for something like this.90Please respect copyright.PENANAIzlusI7vOY
90Please respect copyright.PENANA66mTOZWYLj
"Let me help you with that," Steve said as he walked over to join Ethan.90Please respect copyright.PENANAUfEDnP4MO1
90Please respect copyright.PENANAAnuHeE2mOj
"Sure," Ethan answered with false enthusiasm as he kept unpacking the bags, purposely avoiding Steve's gaze.90Please respect copyright.PENANAY00jbj7LEV
90Please respect copyright.PENANAySKaTLLivf
Ethan was almost done with the bag in front of him, the last item was a bag of potatoes. As he went to put them away, he accidentally dropped them. The heavy bag hit the kitchen floor with a loud thud, drawing everyone's attention, and Steve went to pick it up.90Please respect copyright.PENANAhbf7NqnaHa
90Please respect copyright.PENANADIXHpw8Flf
Ethan snatched the vegetables up before Steve could reach them. "I have it," he mumbled, sticking them in a cabinet. He noticed the tremor in his hand worsening.90Please respect copyright.PENANAtNepC6ypgK
90Please respect copyright.PENANAnYR9Wyweli
Hanna shot a puzzled glance over at the two men in the kitchen. She couldn't put her finger on what was wrong with Ethan. She'd have guessed that he was frightened, except that he had no reason to be scared of Steve... unless he had the same gut feeling she did.90Please respect copyright.PENANAe8e0nn3oqR
90Please respect copyright.PENANA29PVf59PAT
Ethan thought he was doing a better job of handling the tremors until he grabbed the jug of milk and it slipped out of his grasp onto the floor. "Damn," he swore at a low volume, reaching downwards towards the undamaged plastic container.90Please respect copyright.PENANALrRlq9kJoA
90Please respect copyright.PENANAC6AkovrCgj
"I've got it." Steve went to pick up the jug and his hand barely brushed Ethan's.90Please respect copyright.PENANA13FSIFXTox
90Please respect copyright.PENANATa4ca5yDZr
Ethan jumped away from Steve, as if shocked.90Please respect copyright.PENANAAdknFIvulR
90Please respect copyright.PENANAAwRZapW5Lh
The two Terrans stared at Ethan, suddenly very aware of his strange behaviour.90Please respect copyright.PENANAL5gFan8awo
90Please respect copyright.PENANAEhciVe3ei8
Ethan realized everyone was looking at him. "There are more bags to unpack," he stated awkwardly, trying to shift their attention away.90Please respect copyright.PENANAWxY1rGaXV2
90Please respect copyright.PENANA34IgGRpHrL
Steve didn't move other than frowning slightly, as if he didn't know what to make of the situation. Hanna stood on the other side of the room awkwardly, her forehead creasing. Despite his previous comment, Ethan didn't move from his position on the other side of the kitchen, rubbing his hand nervously.90Please respect copyright.PENANA2Iq742MAyp
90Please respect copyright.PENANAuIyayWQAgM
"Let's talk outside," Hanna told Steve before exiting through the door.90Please respect copyright.PENANATV6TyuFYfS
90Please respect copyright.PENANACZ4FQKd8bE
Steve glanced back at Ethan hesitantly before following Hanna reluctantly.90Please respect copyright.PENANAHGObbsQ3f6
90Please respect copyright.PENANA13ONkINqSY
Hanna stopped to the side of the door, taking a deep breath of the crisp spring air. Sunlight was filtering through the evergreens, bathing their surroundings in a relaxing glow, in a way she would have usually enjoyed, but she was too preoccupied to appreciate. She heard the door shut and the crunch of footsteps behind her.90Please respect copyright.PENANACLlmgIbf7I
90Please respect copyright.PENANAvRrpFaUZgn
"So what's—" Steve was abruptly cut off by Hanna spinning around to push him harshly against the wooden wall of the cabin and putting a knife to his throat. His expression reflected his state of pure shock.90Please respect copyright.PENANAlMcSWIbySc
90Please respect copyright.PENANAKoV5z7aV0R
"I'm going to make myself very clear. I won't turn you in. You can keep whatever fee you got.” Hanna pressed the blade into his skin without drawing blood. “But if you even think of selling Ethan out again, then there won't be anywhere on this planet where you'll be able to hide," she threatened lowly. "Don't get greedy or I will skin you alive, do you understand?"90Please respect copyright.PENANAY63KemrWPH
90Please respect copyright.PENANAKHnNkHgEhQ
"Whoa, hold on now," Steve replied, very still, very conscious of the knife pressed to his throat. "I did not tell anyone Ethan was Charax."90Please respect copyright.PENANASSDR5jGk5f
90Please respect copyright.PENANA7g0L5jmq6C
"Me and you are the only people who know Ethan is Charax. I know I didn't tell anyone," Hanna accused angrily.90Please respect copyright.PENANABH93mC3vsB
90Please respect copyright.PENANAO1AEg4jveS
"Then we aren't the only people who know," Steve reasoned in a rush. "But you figured it out without anyone telling you, someone else could too."90Please respect copyright.PENANAV5uEPbxjnn
90Please respect copyright.PENANA3feLY1rx8R
Hanna considered that as she continued eyeing him suspiciously, holding her blade steady.90Please respect copyright.PENANA10cxc1Qx48
90Please respect copyright.PENANAPNpb8UseMn
"I tried to tell him that he wasn't doing a good job of keeping the symptoms hidden but he didn't listen to me," Steve argued further, fear bleeding into his voice.90Please respect copyright.PENANAClZncNXR94
90Please respect copyright.PENANAKg0Tv98NAe
Hanna pressed her lips together. She had to admit he had a point. Someone else must have given Ethan the Trazinol, she reasoned, and Steve looks like he’s telling the truth.90Please respect copyright.PENANAIBiM0pBaDb
90Please respect copyright.PENANADmMpGTxUpz
"I've known him for years, don't you think I would have cashed in earlier if that's what I wanted?" Steve argued fearfully.90Please respect copyright.PENANAj13dgvfXZM
90Please respect copyright.PENANAB0X2GkbjaB
Hanna lowered her knife slowly, persuaded by his words. "Okay," she relented, taking a step back.90Please respect copyright.PENANAt8mfLbUrqb
90Please respect copyright.PENANA0k504wtsZy
Steve rapidly backed away from her, along the wall and away from the door. "You really think I would have come up here on my own if I'd sold him out?"90Please respect copyright.PENANAsJWWlNNJ8F
90Please respect copyright.PENANANJnDX9u5Lw
"Everyone gets greedy sometimes, and that can make them do stupid things," Hanna answered coldly.90Please respect copyright.PENANAZWVleRZXS2
90Please respect copyright.PENANARWzsmuJs7D
"Yeah, well, not me. I'm not going to get my friend killed for some cash," Steve defended bitterly.90Please respect copyright.PENANA0i4GBDiPOS
90Please respect copyright.PENANAMFi7coNIsb
Hanna twirled her shiny knife. "Still, if you tell anyone about—"90Please respect copyright.PENANA3Qn5Fqyn3C
90Please respect copyright.PENANAUjzk70VgZT
"You'll kill me. I get it," Steve interrupted. "But I wouldn't do that."90Please respect copyright.PENANA6pDeN9HGom
90Please respect copyright.PENANA3V0kcqamay
Hanna put the knife away. "Sorry, I needed to be sure. I hope you understand."90Please respect copyright.PENANAjEUzaYh8LF
90Please respect copyright.PENANA5PJHAECYLo
Steve chuckled awkwardly. "I'm sure this whole thing would make anyone paranoid."90Please respect copyright.PENANAKmwkQYCKUm
90Please respect copyright.PENANA1rBnzVBYzt
"Yeah, we're both a little on edge. Whoever kidnapped him is still out there." Some of them, that is, Hanna thought smugly, keeping those details to herself.90Please respect copyright.PENANARvzE7ho3bc
90Please respect copyright.PENANANKJ6sMdqT9
Steve nodded, accepting the excuse. "Um... I should go then."90Please respect copyright.PENANAn1mXlNRqo1
90Please respect copyright.PENANA0qvUB0BPGY
Hanna glanced back at the door, thinking about Ethan's earlier reaction. "That's probably for the best. Thanks again for helping us."90Please respect copyright.PENANAHMfEWGdXZ5
90Please respect copyright.PENANApxM1YeWaN2
Hanna went back inside as Steve got back in his car. She entered the main room to find that Ethan had vanished, the remaining bags left unopened on the table. That might have sent off alarms in her mind, but there was only one door to the place and she'd been next to it the whole time. He must still be here and, thankfully, there wasn't much cabin to search.90Please respect copyright.PENANAupZICQt2zs
90Please respect copyright.PENANA2703tLIFrF
Hanna hadn't expected to find Ethan sitting on the floor in the corner of the bedroom, of all places. In the bedroom itself, not strange. Sitting on the floor, a bit odd when there was a perfectly fine bed to sit on right next to him. In the corner, that just seemed uncomfortable.90Please respect copyright.PENANA02K2Qhj1ZA
90Please respect copyright.PENANAyYxNiCjpmv
As Hanna entered, Ethan didn't move from his position, his right leg stretched out in front of him with his forehead resting against the wall. He'd wrapped his left arm around him, between him and the wall, keeping it out of sight. It might have been an effective strategy if Hanna hadn't already noticed that the tremors were back.90Please respect copyright.PENANAADaUd9D4mY
90Please respect copyright.PENANAHH29KEvpsD
"There you are," Hanna remarked softly.90Please respect copyright.PENANAnstbt6UNwM
90Please respect copyright.PENANAlelWCGkgfi
"Yeah," Ethan mumbled.90Please respect copyright.PENANA5MC5BWZfPt
90Please respect copyright.PENANAFak3HH3004
Hanna sat down on the end of the bed. "How are you?"90Please respect copyright.PENANANBBHtciCiP
90Please respect copyright.PENANAl9YGW6pHj2
Ethan tilted his head up to look at her. "A little stressed."90Please respect copyright.PENANAC8OnsdoZd0
90Please respect copyright.PENANAsige5wAWQ7
Hanna nodded understandingly. "You looked... a little uncomfortable out back there."90Please respect copyright.PENANAAOb5V1Icts
90Please respect copyright.PENANAMUkrcfCVx6
"Yeah," Ethan agreed quietly.90Please respect copyright.PENANAy9TWHL1iWI
90Please respect copyright.PENANAhynmMFONmn
"Why didn't you say anything?" Hanna had an exasperated edge to her voice.90Please respect copyright.PENANAnL7AkMgNbv
90Please respect copyright.PENANAB78pBEA7k5
Ethan sighed softly into the wall. "I thought I would be able to deal with it."90Please respect copyright.PENANA2VZoZf3CLD
90Please respect copyright.PENANAa3eflu40YW
"With what exactly?" Hanna probed.90Please respect copyright.PENANAhh73XbvnJZ
90Please respect copyright.PENANAFSYxMoyYbM
Ethan paused briefly. "Someone coming into this space, being near me."90Please respect copyright.PENANALtfQcz1p0c
90Please respect copyright.PENANA2h6VnydSSJ
Hanna didn't know what to make of that. He'd been going to work the whole week... she'd never imagined the extroverted salesman would prefer to be alone. Maybe this is a heat symptom, she wondered. "Um... hey, at least you didn't try to attack him or do something crazy," Hanna tried to reassure him jokingly.90Please respect copyright.PENANAOHYVhg9ukZ
90Please respect copyright.PENANAhpdJ2gB4Xa
"It's not—" Ethan scowled then took a long breath. "I just felt like I had to get away."90Please respect copyright.PENANAYS4tLLiXpe
90Please respect copyright.PENANAYSmlYGkCRF
"Was this just about Steve?" Hanna probed gently.90Please respect copyright.PENANADGtucQoUja
90Please respect copyright.PENANAxWEp6awpqB
Ethan nodded, adjusting his arm to press into his side. "I really don't want to be around people right now."90Please respect copyright.PENANAJnLRIpgue3
90Please respect copyright.PENANAjFeRYH1WLA
"Am I okay?" Hanna asked hesitantly.90Please respect copyright.PENANA23UEaM9eAj
90Please respect copyright.PENANAprnulSMBGq
"Yeah," Ethan answered softly, taking her hand gently and nuzzling it. "You're always okay."90Please respect copyright.PENANAGKrfdpXH1E
90Please respect copyright.PENANA1RCjUIn92t
"Um... I'll keep that in mind," Hanna responded uncertainly, absolutely mystified by his behaviour. "You going to get up?"90Please respect copyright.PENANAdtt7tFqkzD
90Please respect copyright.PENANA4HAqd1i8sv
"I think I'm going to stay here for a bit." Ethan let go of her hand.90Please respect copyright.PENANA8Bro0p8Asg
90Please respect copyright.PENANAqOk5Dm8Cuc
"Okay," Hanna responded, before getting off the bed and walking out of the room.90Please respect copyright.PENANAKKLKyPwDFv
90Please respect copyright.PENANAVC4dSNiuaY
Ethan watched her go regretfully. Having her walk away from him... hit something inside him. It left him feeling empty, with undertones of a different kind of pain. He was struck by the realization that he wanted her to stay with him. He decided to ask her to stay, before noticing she had already gone and he had been staring at an empty doorway.90Please respect copyright.PENANAWtyP3TlMO0
90Please respect copyright.PENANA4DUSaZthde
Part of him was slightly unnerved by how dependent he'd become on her, and how rapidly. The heat was bad enough without his body punishing him for every moment they were apart. Irritation chased the thought, making him change his decision. He relaxed into the wall as he pressed his fingers into his injured ankle, letting one kind of pain wash away another. The emptiness inside him persisted, settling deeper as he continued to watch the open doorway.90Please respect copyright.PENANAV11Ud4cQu2
90Please respect copyright.PENANATVmRRsrD8K
Ethan was surprised to see Hanna come back into the bedroom a few minutes later. She'd changed into a t-shirt and skirt, a more casual outfit than he'd ever seen her in. The light mix of pink and orange suited her well, and matched her new upbeat mood. Without saying a word, she sat down next to him on the floor and opened the book she'd brought in.90Please respect copyright.PENANAqZ6DGptdyf
90Please respect copyright.PENANAFsdiQnFVtM
Ethan subtlety moved his hand away from his ankle as he glanced over her shoulder. "Crosswords?"90Please respect copyright.PENANAFolaEYNw0i
90Please respect copyright.PENANAoE3M78CV8U
"Yup," Hanna answered happily, pulling out a pencil.90Please respect copyright.PENANASYn15TEf5l
90Please respect copyright.PENANA2BZnOaiM0y
Ethan leaned his head on her shoulder, deciding to watch her solve it. He didn't want to admit to himself how much her simply being there made him feel better. The way she gnawed on the end of her pencil as she stared at the page intensely made him want to smile. He caught himself relaxing into her, pressing his body into hers, and consciously readjusted to not put too much weight on her. He hoped it hadn't been a noticeable mistake, given how Hanna was still engrossed in her puzzle.90Please respect copyright.PENANAwVpV0IrL12
90Please respect copyright.PENANAS1apDmEw41
Five minutes later, Hanna had yet to put in a single answer.90Please respect copyright.PENANAyNifU4XqBs
90Please respect copyright.PENANA128qCoakT1
Ethan sat upright, stretching out his neck. He'd already solved most of the puzzle in his mind and didn't actually need to look at it anymore to solve the rest.90Please respect copyright.PENANADmbBlodUHI
90Please respect copyright.PENANAr9CsiCUqGo
Hanna was now biting the end of the pencil, hard.90Please respect copyright.PENANA5LT5yOCWTg
90Please respect copyright.PENANArdrM7tlG9c
Ethan decided she could use a hint. "Seventeen down is pineapple."90Please respect copyright.PENANAvyY1bjWnU1
90Please respect copyright.PENANAvyoR1oqWQC
"Hey, this is my puzzle!" Hanna protested, angling the book so he couldn't see it anymore.90Please respect copyright.PENANAKXRU5FPWZG
90Please respect copyright.PENANABzEAh6FNzL
"So you don't want help?" Ethan asked, amused.90Please respect copyright.PENANAdx7HjrFS2y
90Please respect copyright.PENANAx41tLrbffl
Hanna muttered in annoyance as she wrote in the answer, pointedly not answering his question.90Please respect copyright.PENANA94cFS9uBsS
90Please respect copyright.PENANAvumWV44Iq9
Ethan silently watched her continue to struggle with the puzzle. Occasionally, she would glance up at him before returning her eyes to the page, the pencil still in her mouth. Minutes later, she still hadn't put a single word in.90Please respect copyright.PENANAtCqQUljRBZ
90Please respect copyright.PENANA8qfnzLwgvf
"Maybe you should start with an easier one?" Ethan suggested helpfully.90Please respect copyright.PENANAONF7AEPFAU
90Please respect copyright.PENANAhSVr31kwze
"No," Hanna answered stubbornly, without looking up.90Please respect copyright.PENANAGEHnc7cbtQ
90Please respect copyright.PENANATHSSFq7s97
Ethan smiled, already feeling much better, and relishing her frustration a little too much.90Please respect copyright.PENANAOMYJuhcCAN
90Please respect copyright.PENANAqV1TjhFjXC
Hanna struggled for a few more minutes. Nose still in the book, she suddenly spoke quietly. "Six letters. One of the five senses. Ends with N."90Please respect copyright.PENANAt7UTCe8aEh
90Please respect copyright.PENANAWAyd0M5X7H
Ethan paused for a second to think. "Vision."90Please respect copyright.PENANAgHXQ0N3CKF
90Please respect copyright.PENANAdGApSjHdQF
"Okay." Hanna marked down his answer. "Seven letters. A light source. Second letter is A."90Please respect copyright.PENANAuYyWR41GVi
90Please respect copyright.PENANA9otdJBiqfD
"Lantern," Ethan replied quickly.90Please respect copyright.PENANA0fUqaR02YS
90Please respect copyright.PENANADGClEeb4Nz
Hanna gave him a skeptical look and stared at the puzzle.90Please respect copyright.PENANAXkgqcMYBdX
90Please respect copyright.PENANAY6KNN8qnTP
"That's the answer. Lantern," Ethan repeated.90Please respect copyright.PENANAbcHP8Lz7kU
90Please respect copyright.PENANAUIb5XVz61y
"I'm just checking." Hanna said with a huff. She paused, staring at the page. "Seven letters. A piece of furniture like a foot stool."90Please respect copyright.PENANAFJUKUiexW0
90Please respect copyright.PENANA7PnNOEGjXJ
"Ottoman." Ethan smirked slightly as Hanna filled in the sheet again.90Please respect copyright.PENANA49RmV4TTBy
90Please respect copyright.PENANAK8J1YHjrZv
"You're good at this," Hanna commented.90Please respect copyright.PENANA0BcjkOk7Jf
90Please respect copyright.PENANAcFmNxoOGaC
Ethan couldn't resist smiling openly now.90Please respect copyright.PENANAjuoOB3RX9P
90Please respect copyright.PENANAnBlqx7gP3G
Hanna smiled back at him as she handed him the crosswords book and chewed up pencil. "You solve it then."90Please respect copyright.PENANAg1WCGtfl4F
90Please respect copyright.PENANAt0xoEmiKhR
"What happened to 'this is my puzzle'?" Ethan teased, smirking at her.90Please respect copyright.PENANAwenGCnFNaV
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Hanna laughed lightly. "You already solved half of it, I don't think it's mine anymore." She noticed the look on his face as she got up. "I'm not leaving the cabin, I just need a shower," she reassured him.90Please respect copyright.PENANArSrnBh1ru4
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Ethan quickly hid his expression and nodded slightly in response before turning his attention to the half-finished puzzle, aiming to complete it in the next couple minutes.90Please respect copyright.PENANAjR8qW75mtD