Hanna sat down at the table with a hot cup of coffee, alone. She set to braiding her hair, trying to keep her mind occupied. She began interweaving her dark hair so it would fall over her left shoulder, an old style, one that she didn't usually use, but she liked it. The last section was just being completed as Ethan walked into the room.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0bTPQGDPIu
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKbVghsLO9p
"Could we talk for a minute?" Hanna asked politely.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ7CADddeCA
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZFsGDmCyaV
"Sure." Ethan sat down at the table, sitting across from her.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXLGMWMguHF
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKWn5eh02cf
Hanna quickly added an elastic to finish her braid. "I was thinking about what you said earlier, about pheromones."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZh7gr9J4Wd
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiQmbPPIA4S
"Okay," Ethan said, slightly nervous about the topic of conversation.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡudZd7ilKqL
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkOkpKObCwP
"I have a friend, she's pregnant, and I was thinking if you met her, that might help. Maybe trick your brain," Hanna proposed uncertainly.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZzqKZ1p1C3
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQyy9izQhP1
Ethan's brow creased. He was reluctant to get his hopes up. "You think that might... work? Stop the heat early?"150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Uyf7gG8O7
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUliNlZUsmm
Hanna shrugged, she had zero expertise in this area. "From what you told me, it seems like it might."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3SflKQ9xAy
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBQngjNSMvf
Ethan turned to look out the window, his expression hidden. He was reluctant to get his hopes up, it seemed like a long shot, then there was the inherent risk of letting another person know their location.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtfgUOtWBEc
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0WnkYDWKZJ
"It's just an idea. You don't have to. It might not even work," Hanna babbled. She stared into her coffee mug, as if the dark, bitter substance had all the answers. "I know you're not very comfortable with people coming here. And I know it's risky, but Penelope isn't the smartest and I don't think she'd figure out your identity."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY1x4gAl0gs
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡriKM9TYU2c
Hanna stopped talking, allowing the room to settle into an awkward silence.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjwNDUkRP63
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIogeUvqK8I
It might be worth it, Ethan thought, weighing the options. He really did not want to spend another three weeks in heat. "It's a good idea. We should try it," he stated finally.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcS2tdaRGFV
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmI9m3pLZ2X
Hanna slowly set her mug down on the table. "Oh. Um, I'll see when I can convince her to come out here then."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMwCO1mEoZu
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ62CcySco20
Ethan nodded, gaze still fixed on the dreary forest outside. Hanna got up quietly and went outside to make the phone call. A few minutes later, she came back in to find Ethan sitting at the table, a half empty glass of water in front of him.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuw4lvEnuK0
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRyBZ9gEuKu
"Alright, she'll drop by in a few days," Hanna informed him, picking up her half drunk mug of coffee again.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS6nyrF6jei
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKiTIwGVJjD
"What did you tell her?" Ethan asked.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYZI19m34Nn
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTC0OS2ZY2b
"I didn't tell her you're Charax, for obvious reasons," Hanna paused, starting to realize she might have been a little presumptuous with her cover story. "I told her I wanted her to meet my new boyfriend."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4BJkiJj2jr
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpXa0qLax0A
Ethan shifted nervously. "Is this just a cover story or..."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQC00FUe5Xz
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjBRWRpX2wJ
Hanna chewed her lower lip nervously. "That's up to you. But make your decision later."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzUzEqairyS
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpB0tBkhezf
Ethan frowned slightly, somewhat confused. "I don't need time to decide that."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc8LWGmZzao
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQH5Jr9sX04
Hanna resisted the urge to sigh, his hormones were probably still messing with his brain. She had no clue how much of his behaviour was really his and how much was caused by the heat. Even if he said he wanted to be in a relationship... she wouldn't be convinced until he confirmed it out of heat. If he didn't want to be in a relationship... she didn't want to hear that right now either.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmN3LxT5kY3
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL5yKBd6dx1
"Wait until after the heat to make your decision," Hanna repeated firmly.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV7PGQrlQeP
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWRcy780DyP
"It won't change how I feel," Ethan protested mildly.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQZ4mrEFwLj
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡah6dWbeSLg
Hanna took another sip of coffee. "Then there's no harm in waiting. Boyfriend seemed like a good Terran term."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKsJHMSKrZQ
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4WQp3PRy3n
Ethan shrugged. "Okay, I'm not up to date on inter-species relationship milestones."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhtcUKqzr8d
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN1JRCg5Rl7
Hanna laughed, a light and carefree expression of joy. "Wait, I thought the scientists agreed we were technically the same species?"150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡarRM4AQWBJ
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuevJSRvTvq
Ethan smiled. "I think they're still debating it."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzQbrqwRjja
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUNZ9D0sC0G
"And they probably will be for the next hundred years or so," Hanna added jokingly.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZTF4merM1c
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFj9arh9K77
"...and what do you think?" Ethan asked tentatively.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ3uBwKtD7q
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEb4ThE09Uj
Hanna shrugged, obvious to the changing tone of the conversation. "That there will probably never be a consensus so it doesn't matter what they say." She went to fill up her mug from the pot on the counter. "So, anyways, 'boyfriend' was the closest Terran label I could think of, if you're alright with that."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnRcQXZWG4o
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEAwCDlXjwO
That's an interesting take on Charax-Terran relationships, Ethan thought, unwilling to push the subject further. "It fits. What's our cover?"150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyWM1hDT1SP
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0WI2nkoiSy
"The same one as before? Vacation?" Hanna suggested.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeFgITlHxev
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyIoLFFUbeW
"Is that believable? Out in the middle of the woods in the off season?" Ethan commented skeptically.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEnB8RUQi4M
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFRZ9D98UZc
"It was cheap?" Hanna suggested dubiously. "Alright, do you have any better ideas?"150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡesBCi23Ms3
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWlGkA2U8eM
Ethan opened his mouth, then shut it again.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuYwBeJv1XX
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXzFxwkdkMC
"I thought so," Hanna said smugly.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJFmmqIAYpk
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8xaCPlZuoT
"Renovations," Ethan suggested cockily.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdskroIZc6O
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnvRvDbswRR
Hanna glanced about the large room. The place certainly did look like it needed a new coat of paint. The counter had chips in it, the dinner table was scratched, the sofa was stained and the lounge chair was falling apart. But that was all typical of a well-used cottage. "Don't you think she'd notice no supplies around?"150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbRXoBhg1Pa
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqznFbODztr
Ethan walked over to the front entrance, gesturing at the large front window. "She doesn't need to come inside, we could hang up some sheets..."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsqMuyLrJIa
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvi8xhdZpz9
"That sounds like a lot of work," Hanna said, still doubtful. "I like the outdoors, I think she'd buy the vacation line."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU0fLaccjS6
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGiC6HAhRte
"You like the outdoors?" Ethan asked suspiciously.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDShixgDbFM
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7nR2aQOaVp
"I do, I like hunting," Hanna fibbed. She didn't like hunting that much but it was her typical excuse for why she had a bunch of guns and knew how to use them. She'd used it enough as a cover for enough of her missions that almost no one questioned it anymore.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiJv03NOhEa
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡycyXHNhRWE
"Really?" Ethan asked skeptically.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeBjwQm3MEY
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW9o8HoqBMd
"Yes." Hanna stuck firmly to the lie. "But it's the off season so we'll just pretend you don't like hunting or something."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCLM13Mow75
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz0AP8g7kaB
"I don't like hunting," Ethan said honestly.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡENzPWRRjrs
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUhiWUEQ448
"Perfect, you already know your lines," Hanna said, laughing lightly.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUWKtwHum8Z
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRNi78iCLf7
Ethan smiled slightly. "So, given we aren't hunting, what are we doing out here?"150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZY04Vdz48F
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjVvMCGgVYT
"Hiking? Fishing? Sexy picnics? Getting bitten by millions of tiny blood sucking insects?" Hanna suggested jokingly.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5YYeDR7nu5
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOfgbSS5Xxx
Ethan scowled. "The fourth option is at least true."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgU5OUAm1c6
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaaKAvphm2f
"It just has to be mildly believable, not actually true," Hanna suggested. "Even if she thinks we're actually doing something else, she won't mention it."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlHUPBggQSJ
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnY4yIR5yN6
Ethan shrugged. "You know her best, pick whatever you think will work."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiYMSjNn2rR
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN7eKq2169c
Hanna finished off her coffee. "Okay, I'll think of something... better. Later."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3FqP2YEfJO
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlHirIn9Qju
Ethan smiled slightly. "Good luck with that."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIPCtnJmvQA
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe2NyyahFBG
"Hey! Have some faith in my ability to come up with a believable excuse," Hanna protested jokingly.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr3hyHBMLWF
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrt699GHrnZ
Ethan flashed her his typical overconfident smile. "I'm sure you'll be able to come up with something if you put your mind to it."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXYjovoveV5
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiwfLgbbEBI
Hanna resisted the urge to roll her eyes at him and bit back the sassy comeback that was on the tip of her tongue. I've been good enough to fool you so far, she thought smugly. She put a small smile on her face. "I'm sure I'll manage," she said sweetly.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOH2megyvWc
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVDLcQ5BB8n
"But, all joking aside, I don't want my cover blown if this doesn't work," Ethan said seriously.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1RuYVoA8cw
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡidPsziEJyR
"It won't be," Hanna promised. "Penelope isn't the brightest bulb in the shed."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡquhUb4bVbp
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNzALvsuWtd
Ethan gave her a skeptical look, already questioning if this whole plan was one big mistake. He decided to let the matter drop and picked up the crossword puzzle book instead, hoping to distract himself from this new problem, at least until he had to deal with the usual one.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzdIWIvQnkO
Penana
search
Loginarrow_drop_down
Registerarrow_drop_down
