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.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMJX2c5kZFK
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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.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG4lmsPSQyj
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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.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgVD6SMQGEW
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"Steve should be here soon, you might want to wake up," Hanna teased.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgIEjGZIrsa
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Ethan let out a quiet, irritated groan from the sofa.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbQ4CW5AFYP
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Hanna wondered if this was going to be a bigger problem than she had thought, given his reaction.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLXzCFvhYwQ
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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."115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxkgpKNVw09
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"I want to see him.” Ethan scowled slightly at the ceiling. "He's my friend too."115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ44mmssRh17
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"Okay, but are you going to be okay with this?" Hanna asked bluntly.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAZEo7WeIq5
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Ethan shrugged noncommittally.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjbi3HZx9aD
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"Then... me talking to him won't be a problem?" Hanna pressed.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKWkKvDTL2Q
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"You're not—" Ethan started to answer bitterly, then reconsidered. "You can talk to whoever you want to."115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡESAygbuQWs
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"So you're not going to get... territorial or possessive or anything right?" Hanna asked awkwardly.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYupsfvplNU
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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.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSYxVkgDXWG
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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.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbt8GvgDevu
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"He's here," Hanna announced, heading towards the door.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXkpiWxNlIN
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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.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZdhKHywXfB
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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.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr2FQcrmbcy
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"Thanks for coming." Ethan's gratitude was sincere, even if his pleased tone was a little forced.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkT984kLaci
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"Yes, thank you for bringing these," Hanna added gratefully, setting the bags on the table.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcwWzO1o9iN
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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."115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8KSnlzqrqB
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"Alive and kicking, that's us," Hanna joked back as Ethan started unpacking the bags silently.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqMAi7uzTuh
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"So, it really was a gang? They were after Ethan specifically?" Steve asked curiously.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl03NfRaaQR
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"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."115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkkS6AyHr6l
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Ethan flinched as Steve gave him a friendly pat on the back.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOkTUrerZNF
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Steve pulled his hand away. "Sorry, didn't mean to hurt you."115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOu2uxRwNku
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"It's nothing, just bruises." Ethan shrugged dismissively.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4EtmqyvCQB
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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.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlOPQH2DD7L
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"Was this all you could get?" Hanna asked quickly.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT1tZ4l7JVd
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"Nope, there's more where that came from," Steve announced as he headed back out to the car.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJBBXtpzL6
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"Is it okay if I help carry stuff in?" Hanna asked Ethan quietly.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡETxceJcyPh
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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.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR2Nt2vwcKQ
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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.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd8a6PXQ5Xa
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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.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLn0g36JJ1M
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"Over there." Steve pointed to a black duffel across the room, near the hallway.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC2FNYOBzdA
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Hanna saw the bag from her apartment, that she'd given him the access code for. "Clothes, yes!"115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTZdF8f0tqX
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"Exactly where you said, I was a bit surprised that you had a bag of clothes packed already," Steve commented.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNgxAsJaYPF
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"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.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrAiV7XUndN
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"Let me help you with that," Steve said as he walked over to join Ethan.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7sufxWbEZP
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"Sure," Ethan answered with false enthusiasm as he kept unpacking the bags, purposely avoiding Steve's gaze.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX2m9v0VVaz
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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.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrCBkIf7cOQ
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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.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEg5Shdka7O
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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.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv0LyG5puIV
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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.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGUxZvVTYhD
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"I've got it." Steve went to pick up the jug and his hand barely brushed Ethan's.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPmzlbjliyH
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Ethan jumped away from Steve, as if shocked.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz1mjd5r49U
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The two Terrans stared at Ethan, suddenly very aware of his strange behaviour.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT7p2IIyzOb
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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.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡetxXHIvUHZ
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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.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmjDhcVKKnl
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"Let's talk outside," Hanna told Steve before exiting through the door.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBo0h1F1ZAi
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Steve glanced back at Ethan hesitantly before following Hanna reluctantly.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxLVRNjDfef
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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.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzFiJI7dJF4
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"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.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkpZek04gFk
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"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?"115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW6ao4FzCnj
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"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."115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqBQrabwE1l
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"Me and you are the only people who know Ethan is Charax. I know I didn't tell anyone," Hanna accused angrily.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡki0KCoMkIb
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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."115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbvgicRHsBf
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Hanna considered that as she continued eyeing him suspiciously, holding her blade steady.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUs3nqSUsg7
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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.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9YVKQAxGww
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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.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQcEaJx1CxW
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"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.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW4u36EOrK2
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Hanna lowered her knife slowly, persuaded by his words. "Okay," she relented, taking a step back.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpCONRi6t5f
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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?"115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy6o0UICxnD
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"Everyone gets greedy sometimes, and that can make them do stupid things," Hanna answered coldly.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjfgVnVUfdF
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"Yeah, well, not me. I'm not going to get my friend killed for some cash," Steve defended bitterly.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsiYULPj6L8
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Hanna twirled her shiny knife. "Still, if you tell anyone about—"115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMZudXagWEG
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"You'll kill me. I get it," Steve interrupted. "But I wouldn't do that."115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsXJsXJmtig
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Hanna put the knife away. "Sorry, I needed to be sure. I hope you understand."115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo34SHDsmra
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Steve chuckled awkwardly. "I'm sure this whole thing would make anyone paranoid."115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ63wbHjMnKC
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"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.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSQka02EQos
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Steve nodded, accepting the excuse. "Um... I should go then."115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqmVuURQyN7
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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."115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyrhjw2pY3H
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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.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSJNgoYXJs9
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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.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu0YRquE8lY
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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.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ceOCNNwy2
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"There you are," Hanna remarked softly.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5lnOSEg6dG
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"Yeah," Ethan mumbled.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9QuFSsmH8a
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Hanna sat down on the end of the bed. "How are you?"115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu2md574AYz
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Ethan tilted his head up to look at her. "A little stressed."115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjb8DbJLjPu
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Hanna nodded understandingly. "You looked... a little uncomfortable out back there."115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpMrDenAH2e
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"Yeah," Ethan agreed quietly.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrPuMNJbt1l
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"Why didn't you say anything?" Hanna had an exasperated edge to her voice.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSn9EmwAe6C
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Ethan sighed softly into the wall. "I thought I would be able to deal with it."115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu7xoZ3r3Yw
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"With what exactly?" Hanna probed.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7c2XCvgQVA
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Ethan paused briefly. "Someone coming into this space, being near me."115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKqJAN1rxR2
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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.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3imny5EL1p
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"It's not—" Ethan scowled then took a long breath. "I just felt like I had to get away."115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYtMXFkGU2z
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"Was this just about Steve?" Hanna probed gently.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyK1HDGczf2
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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."115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtjv4oc3wPj
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"Am I okay?" Hanna asked hesitantly.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMo2u3MNfKC
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"Yeah," Ethan answered softly, taking her hand gently and nuzzling it. "You're always okay."115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyeHXaskwKc
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"Um... I'll keep that in mind," Hanna responded uncertainly, absolutely mystified by his behaviour. "You going to get up?"115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL9AErH5N09
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"I think I'm going to stay here for a bit." Ethan let go of her hand.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCkPNZ82fzb
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"Okay," Hanna responded, before getting off the bed and walking out of the room.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAXjcsTsWwA
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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.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp8DhjXUr61
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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.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZuOOrGGIwo
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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.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqB6hWYyCld
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Ethan subtlety moved his hand away from his ankle as he glanced over her shoulder. "Crosswords?"115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ5LxSvIh05
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"Yup," Hanna answered happily, pulling out a pencil.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAdhHLMSVnp
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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.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5dPhiGNk14
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Five minutes later, Hanna had yet to put in a single answer.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqDoo0hwtY9
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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.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvh7JbnF6t9
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Hanna was now biting the end of the pencil, hard.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXUfHOHHaph
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Ethan decided she could use a hint. "Seventeen down is pineapple."115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP5J9KwpVyC
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"Hey, this is my puzzle!" Hanna protested, angling the book so he couldn't see it anymore.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbBTBv7Y5yz
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"So you don't want help?" Ethan asked, amused.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIPv2qv0B5V
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Hanna muttered in annoyance as she wrote in the answer, pointedly not answering his question.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDSDFbWafzH
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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.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnjOU27IBuw
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"Maybe you should start with an easier one?" Ethan suggested helpfully.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTDyBiqtIOl
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"No," Hanna answered stubbornly, without looking up.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUYkZzWimVD
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Ethan smiled, already feeling much better, and relishing her frustration a little too much.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPIezbdkbTj
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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."115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8nCnELA2RL
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Ethan paused for a second to think. "Vision."115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGenPp7KGCg
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"Okay." Hanna marked down his answer. "Seven letters. A light source. Second letter is A."115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFiLUMOVJeA
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"Lantern," Ethan replied quickly.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbROvE3MYx1
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Hanna gave him a skeptical look and stared at the puzzle.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiNwLxQYKCY
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"That's the answer. Lantern," Ethan repeated.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZrDYjX5VxB
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"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."115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡee5NTXN7Dw
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"Ottoman." Ethan smirked slightly as Hanna filled in the sheet again.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI02A8onLY9
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"You're good at this," Hanna commented.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzYQC96yUzV
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Ethan couldn't resist smiling openly now.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6xsSGMG3IO
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Hanna smiled back at him as she handed him the crosswords book and chewed up pencil. "You solve it then."115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6tb9nRY6tL
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"What happened to 'this is my puzzle'?" Ethan teased, smirking at her.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1GbcWb82ZM
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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.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoOkSaDeEbo
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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.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBQ6OD2xEwP
