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.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwD4xn9kjOv
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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.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ6KpDwDq3t
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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.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNX3eSL19XB
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"Steve should be here soon, you might want to wake up," Hanna teased.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEIunW16wxX
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Ethan let out a quiet, irritated groan from the sofa.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLEhseowlFV
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Hanna wondered if this was going to be a bigger problem than she had thought, given his reaction.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnHkkVRFf8D
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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."145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7irtlWDNsS
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"I want to see him.” Ethan scowled slightly at the ceiling. "He's my friend too."145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKsslccu71M
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"Okay, but are you going to be okay with this?" Hanna asked bluntly.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYl1pFhFnqn
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Ethan shrugged noncommittally.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcCEIq73shR
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"Then... me talking to him won't be a problem?" Hanna pressed.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNftyqlmAVb
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"You're not—" Ethan started to answer bitterly, then reconsidered. "You can talk to whoever you want to."145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw2oDe0IxuM
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"So you're not going to get... territorial or possessive or anything right?" Hanna asked awkwardly.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGb85KPKTeV
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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.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcRcfWUEx2v
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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.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkdNubzVysK
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"He's here," Hanna announced, heading towards the door.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMd8SHeNtsV
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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.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7nZBLpHU0C
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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.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjQaWNLRHBE
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"Thanks for coming." Ethan's gratitude was sincere, even if his pleased tone was a little forced.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjIRGA7tXbW
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"Yes, thank you for bringing these," Hanna added gratefully, setting the bags on the table.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVbjdr1pTIU
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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."145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAhkRI60lBw
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"Alive and kicking, that's us," Hanna joked back as Ethan started unpacking the bags silently.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ55lnFFIvb
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"So, it really was a gang? They were after Ethan specifically?" Steve asked curiously.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd8QJImhYZu
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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."145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWi28sQ5yEp
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Ethan flinched as Steve gave him a friendly pat on the back.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaIqrrLRN3X
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Steve pulled his hand away. "Sorry, didn't mean to hurt you."145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwRnB45siPt
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"It's nothing, just bruises." Ethan shrugged dismissively.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOGlFe98yUt
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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.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN8DSVgrUGZ
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"Was this all you could get?" Hanna asked quickly.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTwfOOQKOcJ
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"Nope, there's more where that came from," Steve announced as he headed back out to the car.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVxj8zfevZq
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"Is it okay if I help carry stuff in?" Hanna asked Ethan quietly.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4BUVh2lekF
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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.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSdYUkInzLC
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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.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhVk4YrLxrd
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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.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdBjsF6riKL
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"Over there." Steve pointed to a black duffel across the room, near the hallway.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqRlogRDNHU
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Hanna saw the bag from her apartment, that she'd given him the access code for. "Clothes, yes!"145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM936Qgya0Q
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"Exactly where you said, I was a bit surprised that you had a bag of clothes packed already," Steve commented.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7dHrCD8NBL
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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.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdYfLTYW1sa
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"Let me help you with that," Steve said as he walked over to join Ethan.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD448fE2ybS
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"Sure," Ethan answered with false enthusiasm as he kept unpacking the bags, purposely avoiding Steve's gaze.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ5qAHDHRlD
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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.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7uWkpKnLSg
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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.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9kQ8FEyiVC
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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.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhC4kZkd1g9
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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.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQDhrgLYImT
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"I've got it." Steve went to pick up the jug and his hand barely brushed Ethan's.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgQaemzVPCw
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Ethan jumped away from Steve, as if shocked.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzx6USJqTIw
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The two Terrans stared at Ethan, suddenly very aware of his strange behaviour.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpeLqKysQg6
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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.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkQtcMaDlZu
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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.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjQk2T04rNg
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"Let's talk outside," Hanna told Steve before exiting through the door.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5YMAMgyNYd
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Steve glanced back at Ethan hesitantly before following Hanna reluctantly.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUgNUNZ6sD1
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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.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ10oOcIL7xg
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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.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ5PCREmddw
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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?"145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs2qhFu5fJu
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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."145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVvnzM8zd7r
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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.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqkMYshdgso
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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."145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP3KUE3eqRk
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Hanna considered that as she continued eyeing him suspiciously, holding her blade steady.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsVC1AGZFPj
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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.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRNXEmKoLnP
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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.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0nFImo5T0q
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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.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXCybvhEbmX
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Hanna lowered her knife slowly, persuaded by his words. "Okay," she relented, taking a step back.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWSLaPxFMcT
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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?"145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl2cB6VL1WL
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"Everyone gets greedy sometimes, and that can make them do stupid things," Hanna answered coldly.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf8ccAACMOK
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"Yeah, well, not me. I'm not going to get my friend killed for some cash," Steve defended bitterly.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvhAjsdqVsv
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Hanna twirled her shiny knife. "Still, if you tell anyone about—"145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0kgre0S3Gx
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"You'll kill me. I get it," Steve interrupted. "But I wouldn't do that."145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe0yR19cvLw
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Hanna put the knife away. "Sorry, I needed to be sure. I hope you understand."145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOgnAmwjrww
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Steve chuckled awkwardly. "I'm sure this whole thing would make anyone paranoid."145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe6vYbRkSBV
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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.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡppmjjoANrC
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Steve nodded, accepting the excuse. "Um... I should go then."145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfYYQNqdmen
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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."145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9K4sJ6eFBt
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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.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqoelYgebVw
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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.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOozkb0FMp5
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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.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqPPIBdDfVK
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"There you are," Hanna remarked softly.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyE0PAhiqez
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"Yeah," Ethan mumbled.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ73P0cfdtbh
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Hanna sat down on the end of the bed. "How are you?"145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcPE48VQVmI
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Ethan tilted his head up to look at her. "A little stressed."145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ15vAokRNsU
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Hanna nodded understandingly. "You looked... a little uncomfortable out back there."145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnv1Lgiv6EX
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"Yeah," Ethan agreed quietly.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPELXzQuMgO
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"Why didn't you say anything?" Hanna had an exasperated edge to her voice.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF0TguNqcVg
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Ethan sighed softly into the wall. "I thought I would be able to deal with it."145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYQseXApOSU
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"With what exactly?" Hanna probed.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0FAWcya58h
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Ethan paused briefly. "Someone coming into this space, being near me."145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5n8aFkuNw4
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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.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡikBXsrnxlq
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"It's not—" Ethan scowled then took a long breath. "I just felt like I had to get away."145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw9Ru5hObWJ
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"Was this just about Steve?" Hanna probed gently.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR1HPmw35ta
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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."145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7AIDwU9k4f
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"Am I okay?" Hanna asked hesitantly.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLGockRHeIm
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"Yeah," Ethan answered softly, taking her hand gently and nuzzling it. "You're always okay."145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡguALrf9X6W
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"Um... I'll keep that in mind," Hanna responded uncertainly, absolutely mystified by his behaviour. "You going to get up?"145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtwktUvwVCB
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"I think I'm going to stay here for a bit." Ethan let go of her hand.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgcRbIiiDV8
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"Okay," Hanna responded, before getting off the bed and walking out of the room.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyuSk5nUVW0
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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.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWOWlx3N4KH
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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.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7cXP5ve5Nm
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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.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFY4h7XkMDp
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Ethan subtlety moved his hand away from his ankle as he glanced over her shoulder. "Crosswords?"145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDeyCFr3fff
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"Yup," Hanna answered happily, pulling out a pencil.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2NAMngXZGc
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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.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4W7t6k4o3u
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Five minutes later, Hanna had yet to put in a single answer.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ52BKd81MLA
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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.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaw5j1HHh8a
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Hanna was now biting the end of the pencil, hard.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ63WWLdSDZL
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Ethan decided she could use a hint. "Seventeen down is pineapple."145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHjpDMDl5D1
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"Hey, this is my puzzle!" Hanna protested, angling the book so he couldn't see it anymore.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEyeriIP0LO
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"So you don't want help?" Ethan asked, amused.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsZx64lnd21
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Hanna muttered in annoyance as she wrote in the answer, pointedly not answering his question.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyxAl0qjcU4
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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.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ZfqaYm2T6
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"Maybe you should start with an easier one?" Ethan suggested helpfully.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjLi64gRQjs
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"No," Hanna answered stubbornly, without looking up.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfcQaUZ9JfP
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Ethan smiled, already feeling much better, and relishing her frustration a little too much.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPhZNHr6Gfn
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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."145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfBpUzp0LZy
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Ethan paused for a second to think. "Vision."145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq0SLzh6JI6
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"Okay." Hanna marked down his answer. "Seven letters. A light source. Second letter is A."145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTE8VOs2jTA
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"Lantern," Ethan replied quickly.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUiFfrR4ywQ
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Hanna gave him a skeptical look and stared at the puzzle.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcgeeNNW6Zx
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"That's the answer. Lantern," Ethan repeated.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx1ZVg5kte2
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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."145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmddsH1Ova5
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"Ottoman." Ethan smirked slightly as Hanna filled in the sheet again.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIRAoOGUOLO
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"You're good at this," Hanna commented.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmLkg5h9SIZ
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Ethan couldn't resist smiling openly now.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIqlSwfoyTy
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Hanna smiled back at him as she handed him the crosswords book and chewed up pencil. "You solve it then."145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4X1kIfANje
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"What happened to 'this is my puzzle'?" Ethan teased, smirking at her.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFGwlP22K7N
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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.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOo1MtsRbkt
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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.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjdr99QmQiF
