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.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlSXVxrYHSr
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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.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIPmE8YcehJ
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdi4Qo6FAzA
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.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB2h80YP6MD
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"Steve should be here soon, you might want to wake up," Hanna teased.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKMrooPJzQ1
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Ethan let out a quiet, irritated groan from the sofa.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsEHd9pK7p7
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Hanna wondered if this was going to be a bigger problem than she had thought, given his reaction.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqHmmWmM2Jb
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"He doesn't have to come in, I can meet him outside," Hanna suggested quickly. "You won't have to see him."162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqjlzKmJo6T
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"I want to see him.” Ethan scowled slightly at the ceiling. "He's my friend too."162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc2GmHOs35P
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"Okay, but are you going to be okay with this?" Hanna asked bluntly.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgBDl0Q1uLz
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Ethan shrugged noncommittally.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrgihsGqMNi
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"Then... me talking to him won't be a problem?" Hanna pressed.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡinClU2tSBf
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3VtFMVXbzA
"You're not—" Ethan started to answer bitterly, then reconsidered. "You can talk to whoever you want to."162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuhR3bnupeb
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTtlGgrDLYx
"So you're not going to get... territorial or possessive or anything right?" Hanna asked awkwardly.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8QnXXluQYe
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTybgOoO2gz
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.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGUmEmz2F7v
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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.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3FNNVLbLA1
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"He's here," Hanna announced, heading towards the door.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKNVVO3QDRf
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCWObLR5AZc
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.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTuuPQHEX9L
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgBsRbPZbL0
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.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYEnHNsmc3y
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"Thanks for coming." Ethan's gratitude was sincere, even if his pleased tone was a little forced.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5C96zzBLjs
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"Yes, thank you for bringing these," Hanna added gratefully, setting the bags on the table.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9HGmGWeLMI
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Steve joined the two of them in the kitchen. "You're welcome, it's good to see you're both alive."162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNru8tZ9UQW
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"Alive and kicking, that's us," Hanna joked back as Ethan started unpacking the bags silently.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuPA6swKRF8
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuZU0QeHAGZ
"So, it really was a gang? They were after Ethan specifically?" Steve asked curiously.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNd2u3I7RgH
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ359at5OuBA
"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."162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ78rJDvKpuw
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3NovqphplB
Ethan flinched as Steve gave him a friendly pat on the back.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQoyb6075nt
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Steve pulled his hand away. "Sorry, didn't mean to hurt you."162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVBWvRg3BKT
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"It's nothing, just bruises." Ethan shrugged dismissively.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGJliQMLx7T
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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.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD4UmuhZSwY
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"Was this all you could get?" Hanna asked quickly.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQYGKB9lgyd
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"Nope, there's more where that came from," Steve announced as he headed back out to the car.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡueVcxx3moB
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"Is it okay if I help carry stuff in?" Hanna asked Ethan quietly.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Uwdmyibf7
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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.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwpPHCICEHf
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Steve and Hanna brought the rest of the bags in, and by the time they were done, Ethan had already unpacked half the groceries.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCcfmoCUl2K
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"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.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTO8q4KJdby
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"Over there." Steve pointed to a black duffel across the room, near the hallway.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2weRspjJMs
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Hanna saw the bag from her apartment, that she'd given him the access code for. "Clothes, yes!"162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpP1QqpPLXT
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVcPS4MFNwU
"Exactly where you said, I was a bit surprised that you had a bag of clothes packed already," Steve commented.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡak8IwmPKfV
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlO2AlFKtbp
"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.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3psRUVUY0o
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"Let me help you with that," Steve said as he walked over to join Ethan.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWSs61T2FuB
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"Sure," Ethan answered with false enthusiasm as he kept unpacking the bags, purposely avoiding Steve's gaze.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5msHTSFZZT
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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.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbpaYhVZFRd
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6hHKjjvmuW
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.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5iQVMMxSit
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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.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkgY3CcqghL
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ZYJrceIzC
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.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYtmsYTXH4N
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"I've got it." Steve went to pick up the jug and his hand barely brushed Ethan's.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPBQ3SAvc4m
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Ethan jumped away from Steve, as if shocked.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXOT7ou4shb
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The two Terrans stared at Ethan, suddenly very aware of his strange behaviour.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4LfcUPyLFj
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Ethan realized everyone was looking at him. "There are more bags to unpack," he stated awkwardly, trying to shift their attention away.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUoZxX8emMe
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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.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLDGoasd13y
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"Let's talk outside," Hanna told Steve before exiting through the door.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe0CSnGTIit
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Steve glanced back at Ethan hesitantly before following Hanna reluctantly.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwBcVst8zgl
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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.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdw4uggM3bk
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2l5AUWrz7T
"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.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8YAQUcJByu
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwFQx49dA0R
"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?"162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlGUAQjiCzF
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdcqO8uUOI0
"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."162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvs7by7yrb2
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfRTprLanrt
"Me and you are the only people who know Ethan is Charax. I know I didn't tell anyone," Hanna accused angrily.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡweWlZhfhZ4
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"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."162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4gkTn8cflD
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Hanna considered that as she continued eyeing him suspiciously, holding her blade steady.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjEDMix9J4T
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"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.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYzZhMnbyAS
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBFkB1rHGxp
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.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFfNwQIA40I
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZaQ8ozKxIH
"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.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh44GyH54vo
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Hanna lowered her knife slowly, persuaded by his words. "Okay," she relented, taking a step back.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnQq8kkK1FO
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTUBeOubB3T
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?"162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4xs2ITGujZ
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"Everyone gets greedy sometimes, and that can make them do stupid things," Hanna answered coldly.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS3o4ypU1sw
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"Yeah, well, not me. I'm not going to get my friend killed for some cash," Steve defended bitterly.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjqNAZeJNrh
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Hanna twirled her shiny knife. "Still, if you tell anyone about—"162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡISf8QU4P37
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"You'll kill me. I get it," Steve interrupted. "But I wouldn't do that."162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxEg79sHEoX
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Hanna put the knife away. "Sorry, I needed to be sure. I hope you understand."162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8E7zuNBq7l
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Steve chuckled awkwardly. "I'm sure this whole thing would make anyone paranoid."162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvLqLWHyxqY
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2BE4nB39rR
"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.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡexn5IWvnI9
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Steve nodded, accepting the excuse. "Um... I should go then."162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq1lYOaYtv5
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Hanna glanced back at the door, thinking about Ethan's earlier reaction. "That's probably for the best. Thanks again for helping us."162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIRwIzwRmh3
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsNqrwVCpRW
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.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ44W4N63CNT
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoSpzf2rgS6
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.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhuLarWUYP2
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXZpoF0SVw1
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.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWvvBkZRwSU
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"There you are," Hanna remarked softly.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBINBlWyATx
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"Yeah," Ethan mumbled.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNvhJijPtPU
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Hanna sat down on the end of the bed. "How are you?"162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ12tELGcmdm
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Ethan tilted his head up to look at her. "A little stressed."162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡylULPSVaFl
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Hanna nodded understandingly. "You looked... a little uncomfortable out back there."162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyOc7IqjExg
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"Yeah," Ethan agreed quietly.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbNO1bRzEAE
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"Why didn't you say anything?" Hanna had an exasperated edge to her voice.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡinhZnwEkQN
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Ethan sighed softly into the wall. "I thought I would be able to deal with it."162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdYIytRvOFl
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"With what exactly?" Hanna probed.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbLCsZM2ffG
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Ethan paused briefly. "Someone coming into this space, being near me."162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpOv3bxw6pc
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQaPWqI7CDI
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.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ623Ab21k6i
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGdOok177bw
"It's not—" Ethan scowled then took a long breath. "I just felt like I had to get away."162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy8FNJX1XIj
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"Was this just about Steve?" Hanna probed gently.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUutffy3gXL
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Ethan nodded, adjusting his arm to press into his side. "I really don't want to be around people right now."162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡagRqBKPd6s
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD3vD09Z1Oy
"Am I okay?" Hanna asked hesitantly.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjpxqtU6fKO
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"Yeah," Ethan answered softly, taking her hand gently and nuzzling it. "You're always okay."162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxD3Dfy5mjI
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ96H2oTUHY4
"Um... I'll keep that in mind," Hanna responded uncertainly, absolutely mystified by his behaviour. "You going to get up?"162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6pi2XwnlUm
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC8qDQ9fcoi
"I think I'm going to stay here for a bit." Ethan let go of her hand.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfIuC4ywtAL
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"Okay," Hanna responded, before getting off the bed and walking out of the room.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1cMJPSQYzq
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjkNXVr7giz
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.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvsJPfNcKbK
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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.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3tyDjDnJXn
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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.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxDMiC2JHck
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI4I2psqcPx
Ethan subtlety moved his hand away from his ankle as he glanced over her shoulder. "Crosswords?"162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYvxV002dZT
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡky6b8lH6EL
"Yup," Hanna answered happily, pulling out a pencil.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE6UiYyTCrS
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWeNfsieSDr
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.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ961CThSQyJ
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuhDK4nF7Kq
Five minutes later, Hanna had yet to put in a single answer.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKcWV4FYdSd
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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.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡexpGq7Km7H
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Hanna was now biting the end of the pencil, hard.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPPzybw9rj9
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBi0rrdgyLR
Ethan decided she could use a hint. "Seventeen down is pineapple."162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBCJuLKoD1u
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8GZQvM3tkB
"Hey, this is my puzzle!" Hanna protested, angling the book so he couldn't see it anymore.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBIC2Fg9hFO
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZEAimjDLQ8
"So you don't want help?" Ethan asked, amused.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCM1zfF5VdY
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Hanna muttered in annoyance as she wrote in the answer, pointedly not answering his question.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB0yNY15tbh
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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.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwQQpWZuPvC
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5DRv1R4hwu
"Maybe you should start with an easier one?" Ethan suggested helpfully.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdfAOU8raAQ
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXi0Z9P3cab
"No," Hanna answered stubbornly, without looking up.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmnBzpvutPD
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Ethan smiled, already feeling much better, and relishing her frustration a little too much.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI2Dhzv2spr
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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."162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjUSbaRXzEZ
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcxKC72D9UQ
Ethan paused for a second to think. "Vision."162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9yxzyfoHMY
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7qp0fveTUe
"Okay." Hanna marked down his answer. "Seven letters. A light source. Second letter is A."162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLjgFHBSKG9
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq6dFkwnbMM
"Lantern," Ethan replied quickly.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzJblvYSYTE
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Hanna gave him a skeptical look and stared at the puzzle.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0H3utsNLDo
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"That's the answer. Lantern," Ethan repeated.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6AtWpjfLvE
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgKzE6XPwQI
"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."162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxgGYUsWcfn
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNCLeol8NOl
"Ottoman." Ethan smirked slightly as Hanna filled in the sheet again.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCozzAnKNF4
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"You're good at this," Hanna commented.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUUvJC30A85
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Ethan couldn't resist smiling openly now.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi1wFv2Upkr
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Hanna smiled back at him as she handed him the crosswords book and chewed up pencil. "You solve it then."162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZlVKfwJoVG
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsB034rIjVq
"What happened to 'this is my puzzle'?" Ethan teased, smirking at her.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZNxJ51eoLd
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Mfu8pFHAl
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.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6CD62gV03C
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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.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH6eVSLdJPA
