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.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkQWUAvI6hO
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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.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMX6hQR5amy
189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdDVapYeyqi
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.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJyS8wW7gsC
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"Steve should be here soon, you might want to wake up," Hanna teased.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi9jAR0EXKb
189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡupmVFCeqIh
Ethan let out a quiet, irritated groan from the sofa.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7mA1Huynzc
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Hanna wondered if this was going to be a bigger problem than she had thought, given his reaction.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1gwWOr1kws
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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."189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsCsqPVkVOb
189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwZrygdCV8m
"I want to see him.” Ethan scowled slightly at the ceiling. "He's my friend too."189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNIkMruTon5
189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡymKOy8Btw5
"Okay, but are you going to be okay with this?" Hanna asked bluntly.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE1mYfCQANp
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Ethan shrugged noncommittally.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIrxgvArLP3
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"Then... me talking to him won't be a problem?" Hanna pressed.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsiWQNQsfzi
189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhHy4ZNLW9b
"You're not—" Ethan started to answer bitterly, then reconsidered. "You can talk to whoever you want to."189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsFptSvW1eF
189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ZtjKxMBpQ
"So you're not going to get... territorial or possessive or anything right?" Hanna asked awkwardly.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSU0ydmofwv
189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj733GrfNU5
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.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQjqBEDQMfZ
189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkdGR93HBOp
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.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMmSlOjVMyq
189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1PGaDgkLJA
"He's here," Hanna announced, heading towards the door.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkjtIM2XDmc
189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsgPtMmAMJD
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.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEMIlBMs8ub
189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpkwJgY2frO
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.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC2nqZ2fPW2
189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiwiEKBW9RS
"Thanks for coming." Ethan's gratitude was sincere, even if his pleased tone was a little forced.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvPPtieVcuF
189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYBCCQDLcGr
"Yes, thank you for bringing these," Hanna added gratefully, setting the bags on the table.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqCa0obUkv7
189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeLzAdvB0ID
Steve joined the two of them in the kitchen. "You're welcome, it's good to see you're both alive."189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVUKmPTZDf0
189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVEGgRBa33P
"Alive and kicking, that's us," Hanna joked back as Ethan started unpacking the bags silently.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWq8sMW0OfM
189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9BWKS3SLw7
"So, it really was a gang? They were after Ethan specifically?" Steve asked curiously.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsmDDynuu8q
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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."189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuqU4RtUdKf
189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrbdPITu9dr
Ethan flinched as Steve gave him a friendly pat on the back.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3B242MOavJ
189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtpBPjkomhS
Steve pulled his hand away. "Sorry, didn't mean to hurt you."189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6bPUpG1YvU
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"It's nothing, just bruises." Ethan shrugged dismissively.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAzRC4IyO81
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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.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3AbIQPjywf
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"Was this all you could get?" Hanna asked quickly.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKJYhdhZGcg
189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb0w0WVbsPR
"Nope, there's more where that came from," Steve announced as he headed back out to the car.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp3ktmE8YKn
189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaaVq6SEYWs
"Is it okay if I help carry stuff in?" Hanna asked Ethan quietly.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6h0LiS0hXH
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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.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSgaWT5NfVG
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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.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI1kTFOV9pm
189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4j6MaLdzHB
"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.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwlDzkpELRY
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"Over there." Steve pointed to a black duffel across the room, near the hallway.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrdaxbJdfFk
189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4EUjP7zq8S
Hanna saw the bag from her apartment, that she'd given him the access code for. "Clothes, yes!"189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2wqorHla6f
189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8eDngmq1Sh
"Exactly where you said, I was a bit surprised that you had a bag of clothes packed already," Steve commented.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtDUkTjvlhg
189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcTaRLALWBZ
"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.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyQiWLo3G6S
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"Let me help you with that," Steve said as he walked over to join Ethan.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxyx2d1ucoc
189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEmzbxfyAF3
"Sure," Ethan answered with false enthusiasm as he kept unpacking the bags, purposely avoiding Steve's gaze.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR0ngj3SUfH
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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.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5oLJwXluN0
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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.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoQcvON47RH
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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.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdUvp2ivGMg
189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLSOpBQ2rf5
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.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRZtSBN6MwM
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"I've got it." Steve went to pick up the jug and his hand barely brushed Ethan's.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfTYWSvr07p
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Ethan jumped away from Steve, as if shocked.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbqCGmC1pNx
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The two Terrans stared at Ethan, suddenly very aware of his strange behaviour.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIgKwC5gxdu
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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.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZVnyjfmB94
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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.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpUCPUnqOSw
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"Let's talk outside," Hanna told Steve before exiting through the door.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3DZTzCzCOx
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Steve glanced back at Ethan hesitantly before following Hanna reluctantly.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkDPhND9T0P
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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.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbItGwkypWH
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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.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD5k21GWOt0
189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAmPUPNWUSm
"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?"189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1NMqXT1QRb
189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1E8Msyy5AK
"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."189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡteBxtf4ayA
189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKFKYgrVSnO
"Me and you are the only people who know Ethan is Charax. I know I didn't tell anyone," Hanna accused angrily.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb0AlJAaskl
189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP8ogkoGyRH
"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."189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYsIMiDaTCl
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Hanna considered that as she continued eyeing him suspiciously, holding her blade steady.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqAU2FHRmjT
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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.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7yBZdZz4b8
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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.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlEKYysCOaI
189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAUKompnVVp
"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.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu6ECqqRK7k
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Hanna lowered her knife slowly, persuaded by his words. "Okay," she relented, taking a step back.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoZdj2j0CfT
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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?"189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiNHpGSEe2o
189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZiSyrrFs3t
"Everyone gets greedy sometimes, and that can make them do stupid things," Hanna answered coldly.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr4NUyWyYO8
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"Yeah, well, not me. I'm not going to get my friend killed for some cash," Steve defended bitterly.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZJ4FMZqJ4P
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Hanna twirled her shiny knife. "Still, if you tell anyone about—"189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGBYxFBJc1R
189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCr43U43cjZ
"You'll kill me. I get it," Steve interrupted. "But I wouldn't do that."189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV7Pk4mqYzZ
189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsnHOAiDWLS
Hanna put the knife away. "Sorry, I needed to be sure. I hope you understand."189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO2Gm3kIj7E
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Steve chuckled awkwardly. "I'm sure this whole thing would make anyone paranoid."189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1SzE6C7KYP
189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ34rEMojjXn
"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.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvWkb0oB1Gu
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Steve nodded, accepting the excuse. "Um... I should go then."189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi5RXuEJY0J
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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."189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvEZPqwc1DF
189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5igFZTkZOh
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.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS2nnZx9h4M
189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyNG1Yj2iev
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.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyp8VHl6JFG
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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.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1MnI92bIa3
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"There you are," Hanna remarked softly.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrcueHzl3uz
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"Yeah," Ethan mumbled.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcrNKXozkbl
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Hanna sat down on the end of the bed. "How are you?"189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQI9SWBBlE8
189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ23mv1wvNGM
Ethan tilted his head up to look at her. "A little stressed."189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYRsJ1KAELv
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Hanna nodded understandingly. "You looked... a little uncomfortable out back there."189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMYYkNzS0kr
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"Yeah," Ethan agreed quietly.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9hTxDn8DSR
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"Why didn't you say anything?" Hanna had an exasperated edge to her voice.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs8zpYv0Nua
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Ethan sighed softly into the wall. "I thought I would be able to deal with it."189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDeSBcaOX9S
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"With what exactly?" Hanna probed.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqBDRBsV01F
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Ethan paused briefly. "Someone coming into this space, being near me."189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLNxDAYi7OA
189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJCaIlR7FnE
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.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡckcB9lyFWy
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"It's not—" Ethan scowled then took a long breath. "I just felt like I had to get away."189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYzWl05XXLC
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"Was this just about Steve?" Hanna probed gently.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡENJ8n9fztW
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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."189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKlF2RUfpe2
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"Am I okay?" Hanna asked hesitantly.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMHxwm0KByQ
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"Yeah," Ethan answered softly, taking her hand gently and nuzzling it. "You're always okay."189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmoYalZZ4ax
189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxrU00hGSTJ
"Um... I'll keep that in mind," Hanna responded uncertainly, absolutely mystified by his behaviour. "You going to get up?"189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcBlrc7n8m5
189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7VsJQH4NOv
"I think I'm going to stay here for a bit." Ethan let go of her hand.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyqMklchmfN
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"Okay," Hanna responded, before getting off the bed and walking out of the room.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsfN1eA5RAM
189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYYGURv4qAP
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.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5dAkGzQrFi
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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.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡml6J4xyged
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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.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHG9nOhoDz7
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Ethan subtlety moved his hand away from his ankle as he glanced over her shoulder. "Crosswords?"189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE2FAowJbpq
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"Yup," Hanna answered happily, pulling out a pencil.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVWSTnNjy4t
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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.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpBhXSTT6z9
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Five minutes later, Hanna had yet to put in a single answer.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUK5kjGu8rZ
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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.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0YSUfJrEn1
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Hanna was now biting the end of the pencil, hard.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmWYEdF8RXn
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Ethan decided she could use a hint. "Seventeen down is pineapple."189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRs7G35DeMf
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"Hey, this is my puzzle!" Hanna protested, angling the book so he couldn't see it anymore.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHvmmqpluBG
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"So you don't want help?" Ethan asked, amused.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5dEjlWR3Et
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Hanna muttered in annoyance as she wrote in the answer, pointedly not answering his question.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVnYqtDJyJJ
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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.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtMWvapW2xY
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"Maybe you should start with an easier one?" Ethan suggested helpfully.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGrYuNn0p7H
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"No," Hanna answered stubbornly, without looking up.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcj46AQW5mh
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Ethan smiled, already feeling much better, and relishing her frustration a little too much.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3A5nrC70mb
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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."189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvGT3EyhXD8
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Ethan paused for a second to think. "Vision."189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkXXJauujd3
189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAQEnlY5f9l
"Okay." Hanna marked down his answer. "Seven letters. A light source. Second letter is A."189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPOW9qOGeMx
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"Lantern," Ethan replied quickly.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPHyqTNOmiz
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Hanna gave him a skeptical look and stared at the puzzle.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFuacIRrkdY
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"That's the answer. Lantern," Ethan repeated.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYsPYMgIHLL
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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."189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk5DpeSt7qv
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"Ottoman." Ethan smirked slightly as Hanna filled in the sheet again.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJNU1YdQHD4
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"You're good at this," Hanna commented.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpSYPL2HL2I
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Ethan couldn't resist smiling openly now.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoOxftcXkLf
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Hanna smiled back at him as she handed him the crosswords book and chewed up pencil. "You solve it then."189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs4taL1HrTO
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"What happened to 'this is my puzzle'?" Ethan teased, smirking at her.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPWEwsvnYdH
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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.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmCgNAphEVT
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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.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ypyPVHWx8
