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.179Please respect copyright.PENANAIyLPozYbP5
179Please respect copyright.PENANAqlq8aw2cUs
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.179Please respect copyright.PENANAQBX4Y1hJW4
179Please respect copyright.PENANAFJhQhLyUIE
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.179Please respect copyright.PENANAkZEf4e4CXV
179Please respect copyright.PENANAqEr1GbvzlF
"Steve should be here soon, you might want to wake up," Hanna teased.179Please respect copyright.PENANA4KPQcbDHAz
179Please respect copyright.PENANADXZIxF3W0w
Ethan let out a quiet, irritated groan from the sofa.179Please respect copyright.PENANAaotfOCEYZ4
179Please respect copyright.PENANAHk9H6oUG5H
Hanna wondered if this was going to be a bigger problem than she had thought, given his reaction.179Please respect copyright.PENANAMj9P3DTG8b
179Please respect copyright.PENANANqvz8S7x9X
"He doesn't have to come in, I can meet him outside," Hanna suggested quickly. "You won't have to see him."179Please respect copyright.PENANAHwinLZb69v
179Please respect copyright.PENANAZg0PpVxNMu
"I want to see him.” Ethan scowled slightly at the ceiling. "He's my friend too."179Please respect copyright.PENANAVIXefJ8Mfl
179Please respect copyright.PENANA0pxWyHyScm
"Okay, but are you going to be okay with this?" Hanna asked bluntly.179Please respect copyright.PENANA14lonkqpfm
179Please respect copyright.PENANA9c6ZyNkyg2
Ethan shrugged noncommittally.179Please respect copyright.PENANAZAhQzphMjH
179Please respect copyright.PENANAoYHrKhW021
"Then... me talking to him won't be a problem?" Hanna pressed.179Please respect copyright.PENANA5PdSK2Ddkr
179Please respect copyright.PENANApvo8nTSn3g
"You're not—" Ethan started to answer bitterly, then reconsidered. "You can talk to whoever you want to."179Please respect copyright.PENANAINicWiOsJ8
179Please respect copyright.PENANAsfiwzmJsYF
"So you're not going to get... territorial or possessive or anything right?" Hanna asked awkwardly.179Please respect copyright.PENANAZigFgOrnyq
179Please respect copyright.PENANAxlMCNd2Lul
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.179Please respect copyright.PENANAXwKuLX5M9t
179Please respect copyright.PENANAfGywGOH4cp
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.179Please respect copyright.PENANAFiQotrLvAW
179Please respect copyright.PENANAchiFUZhqcr
"He's here," Hanna announced, heading towards the door.179Please respect copyright.PENANA9IHTzVBLU6
179Please respect copyright.PENANAgkn2SgKZgJ
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.179Please respect copyright.PENANA65v4nCIPyZ
179Please respect copyright.PENANASn0xs21c7i
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.179Please respect copyright.PENANAKqnxCaCiJO
179Please respect copyright.PENANAXPRZhLwWvG
"Thanks for coming." Ethan's gratitude was sincere, even if his pleased tone was a little forced.179Please respect copyright.PENANA9FFEZ5GBMk
179Please respect copyright.PENANA5k6U8beC0k
"Yes, thank you for bringing these," Hanna added gratefully, setting the bags on the table.179Please respect copyright.PENANAbWptJIXT9T
179Please respect copyright.PENANAvllVCIfHJm
Steve joined the two of them in the kitchen. "You're welcome, it's good to see you're both alive."179Please respect copyright.PENANAIcO9D1E1AN
179Please respect copyright.PENANAZuH1eufRPd
"Alive and kicking, that's us," Hanna joked back as Ethan started unpacking the bags silently.179Please respect copyright.PENANAGnNcKH6x3l
179Please respect copyright.PENANA4LidPvY9GF
"So, it really was a gang? They were after Ethan specifically?" Steve asked curiously.179Please respect copyright.PENANAIWRKLAQS40
179Please respect copyright.PENANAgXKEmMeBLG
"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."179Please respect copyright.PENANAIdG2sE11Oc
179Please respect copyright.PENANA5P7HIQiuog
Ethan flinched as Steve gave him a friendly pat on the back.179Please respect copyright.PENANAe4W9yf59DN
179Please respect copyright.PENANAiDZjXt6Aad
Steve pulled his hand away. "Sorry, didn't mean to hurt you."179Please respect copyright.PENANACW1PIPSLTP
179Please respect copyright.PENANAuM7vWeSvWI
"It's nothing, just bruises." Ethan shrugged dismissively.179Please respect copyright.PENANAe7NNG8yIEQ
179Please respect copyright.PENANAFV4tE8CzCn
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.179Please respect copyright.PENANA9u2M5arfZ8
179Please respect copyright.PENANA7jZZ2XAOLa
"Was this all you could get?" Hanna asked quickly.179Please respect copyright.PENANA4wdnzY9gaO
179Please respect copyright.PENANA1nOOjJO50G
"Nope, there's more where that came from," Steve announced as he headed back out to the car.179Please respect copyright.PENANA6Cr2KfPZuV
179Please respect copyright.PENANAhGrBdbdiNS
"Is it okay if I help carry stuff in?" Hanna asked Ethan quietly.179Please respect copyright.PENANA9gTQIxuv1Y
179Please respect copyright.PENANAJbv4OWpj5t
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.179Please respect copyright.PENANAu3znpePBMJ
179Please respect copyright.PENANAYXGWe6LSP3
Steve and Hanna brought the rest of the bags in, and by the time they were done, Ethan had already unpacked half the groceries.179Please respect copyright.PENANAmQbBHw6LWs
179Please respect copyright.PENANAwsVsIkQgO2
"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.179Please respect copyright.PENANAx2RQyKHt0L
179Please respect copyright.PENANAr7YNOnLeSE
"Over there." Steve pointed to a black duffel across the room, near the hallway.179Please respect copyright.PENANABnha3tWjXq
179Please respect copyright.PENANAA9XE4BbgSH
Hanna saw the bag from her apartment, that she'd given him the access code for. "Clothes, yes!"179Please respect copyright.PENANAmF6LKlPla2
179Please respect copyright.PENANAPcPvcUJNV0
"Exactly where you said, I was a bit surprised that you had a bag of clothes packed already," Steve commented.179Please respect copyright.PENANA2SprReZDme
179Please respect copyright.PENANAcva95Pxlc5
"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.179Please respect copyright.PENANA1vxVTZFIsG
179Please respect copyright.PENANAkzCopuDPX5
"Let me help you with that," Steve said as he walked over to join Ethan.179Please respect copyright.PENANAu67j7BmNzG
179Please respect copyright.PENANAxSE0w74u8H
"Sure," Ethan answered with false enthusiasm as he kept unpacking the bags, purposely avoiding Steve's gaze.179Please respect copyright.PENANAcS3bCkRaqh
179Please respect copyright.PENANADWYBIMfVSN
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.179Please respect copyright.PENANAef1DYiBRht
179Please respect copyright.PENANAP2o0zVzkW3
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.179Please respect copyright.PENANAfMKQoFoHzp
179Please respect copyright.PENANAcnnmV4D0xm
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.179Please respect copyright.PENANAegQqicK8HA
179Please respect copyright.PENANAqm8iSyvTJF
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.179Please respect copyright.PENANAYkqjrhG9TD
179Please respect copyright.PENANAlTKdU9x0OW
"I've got it." Steve went to pick up the jug and his hand barely brushed Ethan's.179Please respect copyright.PENANAL5feLmq5HY
179Please respect copyright.PENANAqdjjx0jmIw
Ethan jumped away from Steve, as if shocked.179Please respect copyright.PENANABhL6PeAvdG
179Please respect copyright.PENANAg9LOIAKGuS
The two Terrans stared at Ethan, suddenly very aware of his strange behaviour.179Please respect copyright.PENANAULWVL3Y1Fr
179Please respect copyright.PENANAk58i2KscZL
Ethan realized everyone was looking at him. "There are more bags to unpack," he stated awkwardly, trying to shift their attention away.179Please respect copyright.PENANAlI7Pww3uSB
179Please respect copyright.PENANATVyBxxA43E
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.179Please respect copyright.PENANA4TRnN0PeGf
179Please respect copyright.PENANAWDNlUafLzx
"Let's talk outside," Hanna told Steve before exiting through the door.179Please respect copyright.PENANAH2BBfeVyB1
179Please respect copyright.PENANAfheZR5t9Mz
Steve glanced back at Ethan hesitantly before following Hanna reluctantly.179Please respect copyright.PENANAqd5dlVyntk
179Please respect copyright.PENANACFMee7h4Bt
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.179Please respect copyright.PENANA1uWgknXcIX
179Please respect copyright.PENANALxyyJyWGxP
"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.179Please respect copyright.PENANA5tXS9mXdTn
179Please respect copyright.PENANA4cfYIv9RaM
"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?"179Please respect copyright.PENANAIj57KKmMik
179Please respect copyright.PENANAHZV6FrVffB
"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."179Please respect copyright.PENANA3Jj7HCNqqy
179Please respect copyright.PENANACoenVly6Zp
"Me and you are the only people who know Ethan is Charax. I know I didn't tell anyone," Hanna accused angrily.179Please respect copyright.PENANA5c2skQYlJm
179Please respect copyright.PENANAV5DHEUdKom
"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."179Please respect copyright.PENANAVRXyod8F81
179Please respect copyright.PENANAjm8TpcS5CF
Hanna considered that as she continued eyeing him suspiciously, holding her blade steady.179Please respect copyright.PENANALSFCARQRFF
179Please respect copyright.PENANAQ0J1ism9Je
"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.179Please respect copyright.PENANAJyMw5bcJt0
179Please respect copyright.PENANAni4zh694SH
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.179Please respect copyright.PENANAv45s1424Oh
179Please respect copyright.PENANA7jFBupBH2J
"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.179Please respect copyright.PENANAtVzPCClNiK
179Please respect copyright.PENANAqD1RYHnofr
Hanna lowered her knife slowly, persuaded by his words. "Okay," she relented, taking a step back.179Please respect copyright.PENANAlxTbbVlE0w
179Please respect copyright.PENANAaM77QpsxoM
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?"179Please respect copyright.PENANAPPKbPvUdxp
179Please respect copyright.PENANAhULkwGaOxX
"Everyone gets greedy sometimes, and that can make them do stupid things," Hanna answered coldly.179Please respect copyright.PENANAXUUeyme6Jb
179Please respect copyright.PENANADFcc8rOFmG
"Yeah, well, not me. I'm not going to get my friend killed for some cash," Steve defended bitterly.179Please respect copyright.PENANApW2PHB9aIF
179Please respect copyright.PENANAAizPSdu7lI
Hanna twirled her shiny knife. "Still, if you tell anyone about—"179Please respect copyright.PENANAnxPx8e5qur
179Please respect copyright.PENANAjPdfIETmrj
"You'll kill me. I get it," Steve interrupted. "But I wouldn't do that."179Please respect copyright.PENANAP7z24Jn5CF
179Please respect copyright.PENANAYwDzx6Du0F
Hanna put the knife away. "Sorry, I needed to be sure. I hope you understand."179Please respect copyright.PENANAR0xC3tTyfx
179Please respect copyright.PENANAIkWP6noYxW
Steve chuckled awkwardly. "I'm sure this whole thing would make anyone paranoid."179Please respect copyright.PENANAdATqWqp8FE
179Please respect copyright.PENANAUbvUdoui3J
"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.179Please respect copyright.PENANACy6GswHG8p
179Please respect copyright.PENANANdPqn5EDGp
Steve nodded, accepting the excuse. "Um... I should go then."179Please respect copyright.PENANA33o8UXOxQb
179Please respect copyright.PENANApkkxXRL0qa
Hanna glanced back at the door, thinking about Ethan's earlier reaction. "That's probably for the best. Thanks again for helping us."179Please respect copyright.PENANAw68Wla2PPv
179Please respect copyright.PENANAjFdsMAwgLE
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.179Please respect copyright.PENANAHLsH7jlovS
179Please respect copyright.PENANA2LfYsJLDbD
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.179Please respect copyright.PENANAmRuEfavOSP
179Please respect copyright.PENANA1tfjpdHVd3
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.179Please respect copyright.PENANA0FpYfNHRmb
179Please respect copyright.PENANApYfTVdXSZ2
"There you are," Hanna remarked softly.179Please respect copyright.PENANAGfL6ByYlmU
179Please respect copyright.PENANAHSX6VS9FAN
"Yeah," Ethan mumbled.179Please respect copyright.PENANAMk2ivDXp3f
179Please respect copyright.PENANAQNJm9i3FHs
Hanna sat down on the end of the bed. "How are you?"179Please respect copyright.PENANAYQYrGFtCKa
179Please respect copyright.PENANAruTjFZmtVi
Ethan tilted his head up to look at her. "A little stressed."179Please respect copyright.PENANADD08T4zr9K
179Please respect copyright.PENANAejIBGlnjt5
Hanna nodded understandingly. "You looked... a little uncomfortable out back there."179Please respect copyright.PENANAVNRgzmkUZL
179Please respect copyright.PENANAYpNU0f1haJ
"Yeah," Ethan agreed quietly.179Please respect copyright.PENANAgFb7GeOwmx
179Please respect copyright.PENANAaQmsOK2V7M
"Why didn't you say anything?" Hanna had an exasperated edge to her voice.179Please respect copyright.PENANAupXlO4126v
179Please respect copyright.PENANAPOzIiH1jr9
Ethan sighed softly into the wall. "I thought I would be able to deal with it."179Please respect copyright.PENANAXSSDRufaTd
179Please respect copyright.PENANAghu4a4bZRX
"With what exactly?" Hanna probed.179Please respect copyright.PENANA3BPsL3g5Qa
179Please respect copyright.PENANAvhEY8reiis
Ethan paused briefly. "Someone coming into this space, being near me."179Please respect copyright.PENANAviDZXgZupb
179Please respect copyright.PENANAJKdJHf699D
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.179Please respect copyright.PENANAxtYR6jImj2
179Please respect copyright.PENANAeqT0j9rqyQ
"It's not—" Ethan scowled then took a long breath. "I just felt like I had to get away."179Please respect copyright.PENANAAJd4ZHXhgE
179Please respect copyright.PENANA4AJWELVKyw
"Was this just about Steve?" Hanna probed gently.179Please respect copyright.PENANAidRhZ76k1E
179Please respect copyright.PENANAq1nbYtU1dw
Ethan nodded, adjusting his arm to press into his side. "I really don't want to be around people right now."179Please respect copyright.PENANA4EzgNYcvzk
179Please respect copyright.PENANA7Fnrgh8jQZ
"Am I okay?" Hanna asked hesitantly.179Please respect copyright.PENANAF8UbrzKC6Z
179Please respect copyright.PENANAyRRpWRzD3B
"Yeah," Ethan answered softly, taking her hand gently and nuzzling it. "You're always okay."179Please respect copyright.PENANAGMSYuLix5G
179Please respect copyright.PENANAiACJxUeZP4
"Um... I'll keep that in mind," Hanna responded uncertainly, absolutely mystified by his behaviour. "You going to get up?"179Please respect copyright.PENANAyyvSn2UPSd
179Please respect copyright.PENANA7LDAuaEInL
"I think I'm going to stay here for a bit." Ethan let go of her hand.179Please respect copyright.PENANAUbEfPeYfIV
179Please respect copyright.PENANAHnuBLTPmBx
"Okay," Hanna responded, before getting off the bed and walking out of the room.179Please respect copyright.PENANAR92ftyQ3sl
179Please respect copyright.PENANAW2qqY98maS
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.179Please respect copyright.PENANA22IyKNYTzc
179Please respect copyright.PENANAp8XES8ohcq
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.179Please respect copyright.PENANAnrlLQIXogj
179Please respect copyright.PENANAFDkg8jY1ov
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.179Please respect copyright.PENANA0y4Q83Vhnx
179Please respect copyright.PENANAwrwDEaCool
Ethan subtlety moved his hand away from his ankle as he glanced over her shoulder. "Crosswords?"179Please respect copyright.PENANAsr1y6RcWRK
179Please respect copyright.PENANAS1TyfLQfta
"Yup," Hanna answered happily, pulling out a pencil.179Please respect copyright.PENANAiDDiD0tLlv
179Please respect copyright.PENANAWSqM5hU6IU
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.179Please respect copyright.PENANAo3X2LsJnTC
179Please respect copyright.PENANAir3LoMns0i
Five minutes later, Hanna had yet to put in a single answer.179Please respect copyright.PENANAEM5NOs1GiS
179Please respect copyright.PENANAJR49xa8bEM
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.179Please respect copyright.PENANAoxLM5muzyk
179Please respect copyright.PENANAvIyNNdCrYt
Hanna was now biting the end of the pencil, hard.179Please respect copyright.PENANAIsKxyDNfsn
179Please respect copyright.PENANAc3qB8nJiq5
Ethan decided she could use a hint. "Seventeen down is pineapple."179Please respect copyright.PENANApgHOSeT4qT
179Please respect copyright.PENANAMYfKOTyGk0
"Hey, this is my puzzle!" Hanna protested, angling the book so he couldn't see it anymore.179Please respect copyright.PENANA2HWo0iijok
179Please respect copyright.PENANAGoiBkbU1fa
"So you don't want help?" Ethan asked, amused.179Please respect copyright.PENANARHFVicFiPS
179Please respect copyright.PENANATqqjik4CLV
Hanna muttered in annoyance as she wrote in the answer, pointedly not answering his question.179Please respect copyright.PENANANP3TwjTawd
179Please respect copyright.PENANA8cqGKIELkz
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.179Please respect copyright.PENANAtyYzVNHUFI
179Please respect copyright.PENANAfWPZHxbW4Q
"Maybe you should start with an easier one?" Ethan suggested helpfully.179Please respect copyright.PENANAsInuLu5Z3W
179Please respect copyright.PENANAdTr2hkDL8s
"No," Hanna answered stubbornly, without looking up.179Please respect copyright.PENANAs7GUpFDnOo
179Please respect copyright.PENANAoVQ11wgedC
Ethan smiled, already feeling much better, and relishing her frustration a little too much.179Please respect copyright.PENANAaqieMlweE8
179Please respect copyright.PENANAXmG7vRoegc
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."179Please respect copyright.PENANAmXfIogBAqO
179Please respect copyright.PENANAGu9enrC4QU
Ethan paused for a second to think. "Vision."179Please respect copyright.PENANA9TI6q3K9lY
179Please respect copyright.PENANAa3AVnoQd92
"Okay." Hanna marked down his answer. "Seven letters. A light source. Second letter is A."179Please respect copyright.PENANAKSl7Ly0C5e
179Please respect copyright.PENANAK66oeOMD7I
"Lantern," Ethan replied quickly.179Please respect copyright.PENANAlyAAfTw4BS
179Please respect copyright.PENANAdx3AQFRUhz
Hanna gave him a skeptical look and stared at the puzzle.179Please respect copyright.PENANAct4T87dUZX
179Please respect copyright.PENANAJsYoWNi6ym
"That's the answer. Lantern," Ethan repeated.179Please respect copyright.PENANAvuw7Cdpmj3
179Please respect copyright.PENANA7RxlmDcYBV
"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."179Please respect copyright.PENANAjMch2DiQPt
179Please respect copyright.PENANABcLWU6zkIi
"Ottoman." Ethan smirked slightly as Hanna filled in the sheet again.179Please respect copyright.PENANA95c8YbqimO
179Please respect copyright.PENANA4CQacg2Ir8
"You're good at this," Hanna commented.179Please respect copyright.PENANApzFspa9NGW
179Please respect copyright.PENANAYSFsYfaLnl
Ethan couldn't resist smiling openly now.179Please respect copyright.PENANAaj17cvwQHr
179Please respect copyright.PENANAh2wzFFAmI9
Hanna smiled back at him as she handed him the crosswords book and chewed up pencil. "You solve it then."179Please respect copyright.PENANAFEVJYf0yhl
179Please respect copyright.PENANAy5REt0VRDg
"What happened to 'this is my puzzle'?" Ethan teased, smirking at her.179Please respect copyright.PENANAaxQ5LPstqv
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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.179Please respect copyright.PENANApMDaxUEIBX
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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.179Please respect copyright.PENANAN8L3Xzfc7T