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.114Please respect copyright.PENANAGdogjwMWz7
114Please respect copyright.PENANAFYARISwifv
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.114Please respect copyright.PENANA5vT0tI1Hpu
114Please respect copyright.PENANAmscQfx4zsd
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.114Please respect copyright.PENANAs8ze57DKXh
114Please respect copyright.PENANAK1wOk2A7qV
"Steve should be here soon, you might want to wake up," Hanna teased.114Please respect copyright.PENANA6nHRbRfkTs
114Please respect copyright.PENANAtCadVEYvjt
Ethan let out a quiet, irritated groan from the sofa.114Please respect copyright.PENANAg7bHJNoW1H
114Please respect copyright.PENANAT6QIa2YJH7
Hanna wondered if this was going to be a bigger problem than she had thought, given his reaction.114Please respect copyright.PENANAWfQdPc5cpx
114Please respect copyright.PENANA7DFaEshUU4
"He doesn't have to come in, I can meet him outside," Hanna suggested quickly. "You won't have to see him."114Please respect copyright.PENANA94SeHxKgXc
114Please respect copyright.PENANAfqT2EtNAIX
"I want to see him.” Ethan scowled slightly at the ceiling. "He's my friend too."114Please respect copyright.PENANAJDulrwBC0l
114Please respect copyright.PENANAKe6aXa4pI0
"Okay, but are you going to be okay with this?" Hanna asked bluntly.114Please respect copyright.PENANAmKjHZtbF0w
114Please respect copyright.PENANA3folg4Ralu
Ethan shrugged noncommittally.114Please respect copyright.PENANAqa0zM428Bs
114Please respect copyright.PENANAoemwQsnoy9
"Then... me talking to him won't be a problem?" Hanna pressed.114Please respect copyright.PENANAL58mlgLBCb
114Please respect copyright.PENANA6V7eRBUZ3C
"You're not—" Ethan started to answer bitterly, then reconsidered. "You can talk to whoever you want to."114Please respect copyright.PENANA118XVWGnGD
114Please respect copyright.PENANA1xWLJEQvYM
"So you're not going to get... territorial or possessive or anything right?" Hanna asked awkwardly.114Please respect copyright.PENANAkkZV1sbixs
114Please respect copyright.PENANAq9lXyY6enH
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.114Please respect copyright.PENANAwdRoJbe17u
114Please respect copyright.PENANAh8CK0cjj0t
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.114Please respect copyright.PENANA74blrw6bqE
114Please respect copyright.PENANA5BjVu1pEb3
"He's here," Hanna announced, heading towards the door.114Please respect copyright.PENANAPsNlar8X5F
114Please respect copyright.PENANAPPxst184do
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.114Please respect copyright.PENANAHCnu19lzXP
114Please respect copyright.PENANAxyBkrFyP3e
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.114Please respect copyright.PENANAuhAcpyjZUO
114Please respect copyright.PENANAz9zZgv2nlk
"Thanks for coming." Ethan's gratitude was sincere, even if his pleased tone was a little forced.114Please respect copyright.PENANA5r7QWeuc6F
114Please respect copyright.PENANALxBTN0vEp4
"Yes, thank you for bringing these," Hanna added gratefully, setting the bags on the table.114Please respect copyright.PENANA2iNPl29cGC
114Please respect copyright.PENANAxdBs5RsSJw
Steve joined the two of them in the kitchen. "You're welcome, it's good to see you're both alive."114Please respect copyright.PENANAoakD48AxDs
114Please respect copyright.PENANA6mxXvPZWTL
"Alive and kicking, that's us," Hanna joked back as Ethan started unpacking the bags silently.114Please respect copyright.PENANA73plDYjAqH
114Please respect copyright.PENANAAcKd7UXJ3s
"So, it really was a gang? They were after Ethan specifically?" Steve asked curiously.114Please respect copyright.PENANAyS1lThEbPj
114Please respect copyright.PENANAyvQhMLa0vG
"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."114Please respect copyright.PENANA5p8jFSWJH6
114Please respect copyright.PENANArlsegNfap3
Ethan flinched as Steve gave him a friendly pat on the back.114Please respect copyright.PENANAAmtUpzsmG8
114Please respect copyright.PENANAaQ0iB78R4d
Steve pulled his hand away. "Sorry, didn't mean to hurt you."114Please respect copyright.PENANA64XvDnmuYX
114Please respect copyright.PENANA1NUmepQbDz
"It's nothing, just bruises." Ethan shrugged dismissively.114Please respect copyright.PENANAgP9a49cFnG
114Please respect copyright.PENANAICMnq4u73Y
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.114Please respect copyright.PENANAeyhIHYx0HE
114Please respect copyright.PENANAY8LNizHeIr
"Was this all you could get?" Hanna asked quickly.114Please respect copyright.PENANAEtci1VcFAZ
114Please respect copyright.PENANAoT8koRT4sd
"Nope, there's more where that came from," Steve announced as he headed back out to the car.114Please respect copyright.PENANAMNFkJhAu51
114Please respect copyright.PENANAkEcRv0k7k1
"Is it okay if I help carry stuff in?" Hanna asked Ethan quietly.114Please respect copyright.PENANAiNlLEnzCCg
114Please respect copyright.PENANA7AIeez73J0
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.114Please respect copyright.PENANAZtACNyU4eo
114Please respect copyright.PENANAkmMvt1qptv
Steve and Hanna brought the rest of the bags in, and by the time they were done, Ethan had already unpacked half the groceries.114Please respect copyright.PENANADRuVrcG548
114Please respect copyright.PENANAxH5zMrorwh
"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.114Please respect copyright.PENANA51yqEawKsS
114Please respect copyright.PENANAazhSZiGAYQ
"Over there." Steve pointed to a black duffel across the room, near the hallway.114Please respect copyright.PENANAZtUZtuoSTA
114Please respect copyright.PENANAge68QgXQ8i
Hanna saw the bag from her apartment, that she'd given him the access code for. "Clothes, yes!"114Please respect copyright.PENANAMa14Lon1Ld
114Please respect copyright.PENANAjPtDIgTGko
"Exactly where you said, I was a bit surprised that you had a bag of clothes packed already," Steve commented.114Please respect copyright.PENANAnhSBTz4TIw
114Please respect copyright.PENANAxUdy3TEckW
"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.114Please respect copyright.PENANAOyUOISmy21
114Please respect copyright.PENANAE5pOzdDmWM
"Let me help you with that," Steve said as he walked over to join Ethan.114Please respect copyright.PENANACPn5UVKEX4
114Please respect copyright.PENANAmBnVS88mfC
"Sure," Ethan answered with false enthusiasm as he kept unpacking the bags, purposely avoiding Steve's gaze.114Please respect copyright.PENANANJaMve93v5
114Please respect copyright.PENANAHYdBVz8N46
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.114Please respect copyright.PENANAejfFMAdsaH
114Please respect copyright.PENANAIxFbQYv3Hj
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.114Please respect copyright.PENANAVeXdp3Nqd2
114Please respect copyright.PENANAGqI5dQrr8L
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.114Please respect copyright.PENANAr6G3Je6mPD
114Please respect copyright.PENANAna6opAhpiD
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.114Please respect copyright.PENANAYyXeBBRkXO
114Please respect copyright.PENANAc0kKhma4ZT
"I've got it." Steve went to pick up the jug and his hand barely brushed Ethan's.114Please respect copyright.PENANAIZgGT93csR
114Please respect copyright.PENANAItEwZafiQV
Ethan jumped away from Steve, as if shocked.114Please respect copyright.PENANANVtJyciaGW
114Please respect copyright.PENANAT4rD0oBurD
The two Terrans stared at Ethan, suddenly very aware of his strange behaviour.114Please respect copyright.PENANAUoSBMQcGfE
114Please respect copyright.PENANAm5E0K0Guy1
Ethan realized everyone was looking at him. "There are more bags to unpack," he stated awkwardly, trying to shift their attention away.114Please respect copyright.PENANAaubjBQDMOW
114Please respect copyright.PENANARvTEuLpl6h
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.114Please respect copyright.PENANAf1VUQdouQA
114Please respect copyright.PENANAjAefhM5LtP
"Let's talk outside," Hanna told Steve before exiting through the door.114Please respect copyright.PENANAymeFEFMuSo
114Please respect copyright.PENANAbTVtsqVF8O
Steve glanced back at Ethan hesitantly before following Hanna reluctantly.114Please respect copyright.PENANAbOWvajkw0N
114Please respect copyright.PENANAYyy3C7VQC7
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.114Please respect copyright.PENANAgLKwEY4LIU
114Please respect copyright.PENANAgvpk9gLd25
"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.114Please respect copyright.PENANAG97J8CWEuc
114Please respect copyright.PENANAqvE1QYf4h5
"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?"114Please respect copyright.PENANAFkVeFKb6uS
114Please respect copyright.PENANAR0J4IdnF7v
"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."114Please respect copyright.PENANAwb6qSsuBtT
114Please respect copyright.PENANAk7e0xppoma
"Me and you are the only people who know Ethan is Charax. I know I didn't tell anyone," Hanna accused angrily.114Please respect copyright.PENANAhnqMqmpHIJ
114Please respect copyright.PENANAGDECGEar0H
"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."114Please respect copyright.PENANAWDZO5Q93zO
114Please respect copyright.PENANAuRpeGMK2tj
Hanna considered that as she continued eyeing him suspiciously, holding her blade steady.114Please respect copyright.PENANAs8edt2ieci
114Please respect copyright.PENANABEueAoLSqo
"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.114Please respect copyright.PENANAMH8TjdJ3Cf
114Please respect copyright.PENANAl9zzZGAQdx
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.114Please respect copyright.PENANAY2hVNW5m4l
114Please respect copyright.PENANAvGt5RnTqWE
"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.114Please respect copyright.PENANAOvvnGEMZ18
114Please respect copyright.PENANAXGVTKSdizm
Hanna lowered her knife slowly, persuaded by his words. "Okay," she relented, taking a step back.114Please respect copyright.PENANA17aPkYzhKs
114Please respect copyright.PENANA94n2QMmF0N
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?"114Please respect copyright.PENANAekyQF9QEHb
114Please respect copyright.PENANAhtVFaNz5AE
"Everyone gets greedy sometimes, and that can make them do stupid things," Hanna answered coldly.114Please respect copyright.PENANAZV1Fyc6bzr
114Please respect copyright.PENANAnE84gp0vD3
"Yeah, well, not me. I'm not going to get my friend killed for some cash," Steve defended bitterly.114Please respect copyright.PENANAG7N9aGHt0Y
114Please respect copyright.PENANA165rrPpHrZ
Hanna twirled her shiny knife. "Still, if you tell anyone about—"114Please respect copyright.PENANAYd3iNLTL6R
114Please respect copyright.PENANAJtrGwaQIu9
"You'll kill me. I get it," Steve interrupted. "But I wouldn't do that."114Please respect copyright.PENANATNZRScV7DM
114Please respect copyright.PENANA5Jep7r6Iym
Hanna put the knife away. "Sorry, I needed to be sure. I hope you understand."114Please respect copyright.PENANAhPTbTfBoRP
114Please respect copyright.PENANAbWTJjffIuk
Steve chuckled awkwardly. "I'm sure this whole thing would make anyone paranoid."114Please respect copyright.PENANADM00WjMGRb
114Please respect copyright.PENANAZmfqXOKlTc
"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.114Please respect copyright.PENANA4nZmzLnWnc
114Please respect copyright.PENANA4RziuOD4Tl
Steve nodded, accepting the excuse. "Um... I should go then."114Please respect copyright.PENANASUNmBv5fwn
114Please respect copyright.PENANAyLLwBehLM3
Hanna glanced back at the door, thinking about Ethan's earlier reaction. "That's probably for the best. Thanks again for helping us."114Please respect copyright.PENANAla2ZhLj5X3
114Please respect copyright.PENANA31X9OdLRBm
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.114Please respect copyright.PENANA8vh5Td6QFZ
114Please respect copyright.PENANAWYtWSCMQ2i
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.114Please respect copyright.PENANAFZ0r5wI3qX
114Please respect copyright.PENANAcsKo4HkY0H
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.114Please respect copyright.PENANARuv34Wy9qi
114Please respect copyright.PENANAe9IGfOqBNR
"There you are," Hanna remarked softly.114Please respect copyright.PENANAUI7pzzli1B
114Please respect copyright.PENANASUorCzWaGe
"Yeah," Ethan mumbled.114Please respect copyright.PENANAtqDZEPTdYH
114Please respect copyright.PENANAhd3fmmwp5t
Hanna sat down on the end of the bed. "How are you?"114Please respect copyright.PENANABhTLgTHlr6
114Please respect copyright.PENANAKPFAAalSsi
Ethan tilted his head up to look at her. "A little stressed."114Please respect copyright.PENANAa3fbYVfqZX
114Please respect copyright.PENANAnzY5PYyOJo
Hanna nodded understandingly. "You looked... a little uncomfortable out back there."114Please respect copyright.PENANA9Y8czVWatk
114Please respect copyright.PENANAyqfs2zhVQC
"Yeah," Ethan agreed quietly.114Please respect copyright.PENANAS0O5oik4wF
114Please respect copyright.PENANAaZZsJYTElP
"Why didn't you say anything?" Hanna had an exasperated edge to her voice.114Please respect copyright.PENANATZGw0n8VCD
114Please respect copyright.PENANAHDMhWLljo2
Ethan sighed softly into the wall. "I thought I would be able to deal with it."114Please respect copyright.PENANAWZfgMZBTMW
114Please respect copyright.PENANAfLrK8jw8NW
"With what exactly?" Hanna probed.114Please respect copyright.PENANAeK6i0BUWrA
114Please respect copyright.PENANAjA5RhBqnQu
Ethan paused briefly. "Someone coming into this space, being near me."114Please respect copyright.PENANAnBAIHuT4SL
114Please respect copyright.PENANAGjd1lFZ5b4
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.114Please respect copyright.PENANAnKmtfAzQ8Z
114Please respect copyright.PENANAlH1eQ8n56W
"It's not—" Ethan scowled then took a long breath. "I just felt like I had to get away."114Please respect copyright.PENANAZ1nCfAsISs
114Please respect copyright.PENANAYLF4Zne7x6
"Was this just about Steve?" Hanna probed gently.114Please respect copyright.PENANAH3JPR66hox
114Please respect copyright.PENANA8u48V7wAqe
Ethan nodded, adjusting his arm to press into his side. "I really don't want to be around people right now."114Please respect copyright.PENANAlZX99GIOgh
114Please respect copyright.PENANAXDKf1W69sN
"Am I okay?" Hanna asked hesitantly.114Please respect copyright.PENANAvtQdzsirQ6
114Please respect copyright.PENANAF9mMw4gUoV
"Yeah," Ethan answered softly, taking her hand gently and nuzzling it. "You're always okay."114Please respect copyright.PENANA41xtsGn13Y
114Please respect copyright.PENANA99qD6ZwSw8
"Um... I'll keep that in mind," Hanna responded uncertainly, absolutely mystified by his behaviour. "You going to get up?"114Please respect copyright.PENANA0WhXavvUA2
114Please respect copyright.PENANAce2Ndvy0zr
"I think I'm going to stay here for a bit." Ethan let go of her hand.114Please respect copyright.PENANAeuH34GsYnz
114Please respect copyright.PENANAxp3wAPu9ul
"Okay," Hanna responded, before getting off the bed and walking out of the room.114Please respect copyright.PENANAf7WaRJ1hL3
114Please respect copyright.PENANAZXSS1l7sv9
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.114Please respect copyright.PENANAzVRftAH26o
114Please respect copyright.PENANASAqvbA8Mj1
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.114Please respect copyright.PENANAkcxUH9THYG
114Please respect copyright.PENANASBT0iwplQQ
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.114Please respect copyright.PENANAp8WTCiHFgB
114Please respect copyright.PENANA8fH7UGElms
Ethan subtlety moved his hand away from his ankle as he glanced over her shoulder. "Crosswords?"114Please respect copyright.PENANAu7LD3b122m
114Please respect copyright.PENANAAgT85e1uKz
"Yup," Hanna answered happily, pulling out a pencil.114Please respect copyright.PENANA4tWzXia2mL
114Please respect copyright.PENANAs9XaqfZ9UY
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.114Please respect copyright.PENANA7BQFEL1fYm
114Please respect copyright.PENANAKwqMbA1Pwq
Five minutes later, Hanna had yet to put in a single answer.114Please respect copyright.PENANAZbrXPnabqD
114Please respect copyright.PENANAJ87YweIUjB
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.114Please respect copyright.PENANAkIR0ke45Uk
114Please respect copyright.PENANAzJhFSczV71
Hanna was now biting the end of the pencil, hard.114Please respect copyright.PENANANlTu73Rfhi
114Please respect copyright.PENANAK6EuIwWFFr
Ethan decided she could use a hint. "Seventeen down is pineapple."114Please respect copyright.PENANAnCauD1LlUf
114Please respect copyright.PENANAhOmmusjlU2
"Hey, this is my puzzle!" Hanna protested, angling the book so he couldn't see it anymore.114Please respect copyright.PENANAD3hskOo6NE
114Please respect copyright.PENANALw70MREW8o
"So you don't want help?" Ethan asked, amused.114Please respect copyright.PENANAiAze2rqs2n
114Please respect copyright.PENANAUBFzNUB9Rd
Hanna muttered in annoyance as she wrote in the answer, pointedly not answering his question.114Please respect copyright.PENANAL95YPOpChq
114Please respect copyright.PENANAkYuxFS5NjI
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.114Please respect copyright.PENANA586d1gpJRQ
114Please respect copyright.PENANAbp3OuXpl13
"Maybe you should start with an easier one?" Ethan suggested helpfully.114Please respect copyright.PENANA2L9DD48CK5
114Please respect copyright.PENANAaDBYVeOApC
"No," Hanna answered stubbornly, without looking up.114Please respect copyright.PENANAsRD7k5Mxma
114Please respect copyright.PENANAgmxqNOD5aW
Ethan smiled, already feeling much better, and relishing her frustration a little too much.114Please respect copyright.PENANAk9Sps0oKGK
114Please respect copyright.PENANAzzTvXDXDyM
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."114Please respect copyright.PENANAwP7ozFJmPz
114Please respect copyright.PENANAYgjsndbfZL
Ethan paused for a second to think. "Vision."114Please respect copyright.PENANACUaSYpBZkh
114Please respect copyright.PENANAOPWnAievVS
"Okay." Hanna marked down his answer. "Seven letters. A light source. Second letter is A."114Please respect copyright.PENANAjOdDwS2HtU
114Please respect copyright.PENANAh2aeZJb1ex
"Lantern," Ethan replied quickly.114Please respect copyright.PENANADW93AAPERO
114Please respect copyright.PENANAsdpdf8BNMw
Hanna gave him a skeptical look and stared at the puzzle.114Please respect copyright.PENANAgy59Q1hmDo
114Please respect copyright.PENANASRjwJfQsPi
"That's the answer. Lantern," Ethan repeated.114Please respect copyright.PENANAtFhVosb4YC
114Please respect copyright.PENANAkBblk2ed1v
"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."114Please respect copyright.PENANAVzQhFUVzS8
114Please respect copyright.PENANAblCBwprVZm
"Ottoman." Ethan smirked slightly as Hanna filled in the sheet again.114Please respect copyright.PENANAgZWkyStZ7B
114Please respect copyright.PENANAfuSYGLqsy1
"You're good at this," Hanna commented.114Please respect copyright.PENANAH5sLWN4OVo
114Please respect copyright.PENANAQGnisyPiSG
Ethan couldn't resist smiling openly now.114Please respect copyright.PENANAtWk4EwxfcX
114Please respect copyright.PENANAj3V1uzCpbF
Hanna smiled back at him as she handed him the crosswords book and chewed up pencil. "You solve it then."114Please respect copyright.PENANAxAhM6OWl0H
114Please respect copyright.PENANAvbt23PosZd
"What happened to 'this is my puzzle'?" Ethan teased, smirking at her.114Please respect copyright.PENANAlVb9ESCEh1
114Please respect copyright.PENANApXM2anG7fB
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.114Please respect copyright.PENANATcnwiskOyw
114Please respect copyright.PENANAfMZKus0ySq
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.114Please respect copyright.PENANA9aNDWUzWFG