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.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUT6Bu4vP5e
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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.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0BMEv2Wu0u
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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.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRUAIF5QLar
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"Steve should be here soon, you might want to wake up," Hanna teased.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAkUFeFcfR8
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Ethan let out a quiet, irritated groan from the sofa.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡge4oZgDGJu
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Hanna wondered if this was going to be a bigger problem than she had thought, given his reaction.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMO3Pk7AEOO
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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."160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPpGtMuFaAv
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"I want to see him.” Ethan scowled slightly at the ceiling. "He's my friend too."160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG2GURNBbQe
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"Okay, but are you going to be okay with this?" Hanna asked bluntly.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKmZzdkuX1n
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Ethan shrugged noncommittally.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmfW1mRCPxV
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"Then... me talking to him won't be a problem?" Hanna pressed.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDFuWkw1jq8
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"You're not—" Ethan started to answer bitterly, then reconsidered. "You can talk to whoever you want to."160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6XUAT69iou
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"So you're not going to get... territorial or possessive or anything right?" Hanna asked awkwardly.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhNNwLNUUJK
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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.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvAy6Kld1m0
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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.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8tk6qd4Njg
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"He's here," Hanna announced, heading towards the door.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMba4qQLb7Y
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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.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2fltsGQ435
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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.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgCyTcrUOpo
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"Thanks for coming." Ethan's gratitude was sincere, even if his pleased tone was a little forced.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjMwZH4Do3e
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"Yes, thank you for bringing these," Hanna added gratefully, setting the bags on the table.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjkwKk1kCJ5
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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."160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNFwS9vVGvZ
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"Alive and kicking, that's us," Hanna joked back as Ethan started unpacking the bags silently.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFHmmn2CxjB
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"So, it really was a gang? They were after Ethan specifically?" Steve asked curiously.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdyoTdpBpu9
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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."160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKCYGQ55MPI
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Ethan flinched as Steve gave him a friendly pat on the back.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzksKiPlq1t
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Steve pulled his hand away. "Sorry, didn't mean to hurt you."160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnOB2Q2Xpjg
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"It's nothing, just bruises." Ethan shrugged dismissively.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8KzFSCTUL7
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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.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡORrON6Eloi
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"Was this all you could get?" Hanna asked quickly.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXBlJlRChYu
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"Nope, there's more where that came from," Steve announced as he headed back out to the car.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM9ATAflXGe
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"Is it okay if I help carry stuff in?" Hanna asked Ethan quietly.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡncRnBhtFN4
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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.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6wTS0ZN8Ch
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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.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5llOOevu44
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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.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡahOhXpK4LD
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"Over there." Steve pointed to a black duffel across the room, near the hallway.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPtciGJEtne
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Hanna saw the bag from her apartment, that she'd given him the access code for. "Clothes, yes!"160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF4K2etNC24
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"Exactly where you said, I was a bit surprised that you had a bag of clothes packed already," Steve commented.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG76RsaHfBo
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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.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAaCDEHvphP
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"Let me help you with that," Steve said as he walked over to join Ethan.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp0rpUsb7xS
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"Sure," Ethan answered with false enthusiasm as he kept unpacking the bags, purposely avoiding Steve's gaze.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0S2c67fag2
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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.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡom80HCI009
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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.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡosAegbsRE8
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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.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFq3DDHkUAs
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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.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWUx7gar4cb
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"I've got it." Steve went to pick up the jug and his hand barely brushed Ethan's.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9m5yIo39vZ
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Ethan jumped away from Steve, as if shocked.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaQvfJD6oQB
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The two Terrans stared at Ethan, suddenly very aware of his strange behaviour.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI6BhavlQ2I
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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.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAkOwaaUDgv
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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.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt6ExGhHKrf
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"Let's talk outside," Hanna told Steve before exiting through the door.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOZontbXLe1
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Steve glanced back at Ethan hesitantly before following Hanna reluctantly.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvFb5byQDCO
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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.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHZfXjJjQTY
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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.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEZqd1XscZ8
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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?"160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcppIe2FwJn
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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."160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrKg44GMvoI
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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.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxd6FQOgaOQ
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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."160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ORstUIknX
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Hanna considered that as she continued eyeing him suspiciously, holding her blade steady.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡus3XDNZg2V
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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.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaIbv4YTA9s
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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.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnmwaHfs2Jy
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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.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3idqCARswY
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Hanna lowered her knife slowly, persuaded by his words. "Okay," she relented, taking a step back.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeV5W9Iie81
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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?"160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ82UtSQcvBQ
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"Everyone gets greedy sometimes, and that can make them do stupid things," Hanna answered coldly.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeLh1xdr1lP
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"Yeah, well, not me. I'm not going to get my friend killed for some cash," Steve defended bitterly.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxHjSctgHRy
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Hanna twirled her shiny knife. "Still, if you tell anyone about—"160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq4zxZKmW8C
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"You'll kill me. I get it," Steve interrupted. "But I wouldn't do that."160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbSySmTYlGF
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Hanna put the knife away. "Sorry, I needed to be sure. I hope you understand."160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpBzFxexC0k
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Steve chuckled awkwardly. "I'm sure this whole thing would make anyone paranoid."160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ69fKk5eg76
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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.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡton0lKprIN
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Steve nodded, accepting the excuse. "Um... I should go then."160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWpzJgpBSkE
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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."160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC7gQgUHyeJ
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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.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl1Vjo5WSe0
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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.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBVmWJ1SmTw
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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.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Hd8Kk44gv
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"There you are," Hanna remarked softly.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoE27FiNXiD
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"Yeah," Ethan mumbled.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYA24QtqmoY
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Hanna sat down on the end of the bed. "How are you?"160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Pft4hFaXr
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Ethan tilted his head up to look at her. "A little stressed."160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY91c1y0Lcg
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Hanna nodded understandingly. "You looked... a little uncomfortable out back there."160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnczpde7nOM
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"Yeah," Ethan agreed quietly.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCX61dY82VL
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"Why didn't you say anything?" Hanna had an exasperated edge to her voice.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb81p6rkDi7
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Ethan sighed softly into the wall. "I thought I would be able to deal with it."160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGWfAFCsN4B
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"With what exactly?" Hanna probed.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJhtAAjK5GC
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Ethan paused briefly. "Someone coming into this space, being near me."160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0I02huoZom
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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.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYDUtY5Bydf
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"It's not—" Ethan scowled then took a long breath. "I just felt like I had to get away."160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvnZI95yI1L
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"Was this just about Steve?" Hanna probed gently.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡflXso2H0tI
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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."160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCpoGYHjewv
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"Am I okay?" Hanna asked hesitantly.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrZklHsv67a
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"Yeah," Ethan answered softly, taking her hand gently and nuzzling it. "You're always okay."160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkTV5H7CMJq
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"Um... I'll keep that in mind," Hanna responded uncertainly, absolutely mystified by his behaviour. "You going to get up?"160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhDS05oDkxY
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"I think I'm going to stay here for a bit." Ethan let go of her hand.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc379exp4yE
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"Okay," Hanna responded, before getting off the bed and walking out of the room.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM2lo3BSsG3
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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.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGOUc0GN8fL
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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.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIHZdRH0duc
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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.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQgSBp3N60S
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Ethan subtlety moved his hand away from his ankle as he glanced over her shoulder. "Crosswords?"160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfG9CnnfbbJ
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"Yup," Hanna answered happily, pulling out a pencil.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFmcIHK1esB
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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.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWwMrrAsRoy
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Five minutes later, Hanna had yet to put in a single answer.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCymShqb8W2
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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.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmZo0KCylmu
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Hanna was now biting the end of the pencil, hard.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7wVtHN7nk1
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Ethan decided she could use a hint. "Seventeen down is pineapple."160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZmC8SrJUnL
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"Hey, this is my puzzle!" Hanna protested, angling the book so he couldn't see it anymore.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZKeekYOidQ
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"So you don't want help?" Ethan asked, amused.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgp6N6L9iya
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Hanna muttered in annoyance as she wrote in the answer, pointedly not answering his question.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡboBJYnSLy4
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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.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2lninLj825
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"Maybe you should start with an easier one?" Ethan suggested helpfully.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGD87neajSE
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"No," Hanna answered stubbornly, without looking up.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡueF5hdLXXl
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Ethan smiled, already feeling much better, and relishing her frustration a little too much.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡijM6GU5PaS
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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."160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwS1zQVrHYw
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Ethan paused for a second to think. "Vision."160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRhrUs3CEWP
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"Okay." Hanna marked down his answer. "Seven letters. A light source. Second letter is A."160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRnQn1QjTws
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"Lantern," Ethan replied quickly.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1CtkVZS7GI
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Hanna gave him a skeptical look and stared at the puzzle.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2vKqVHPeJl
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"That's the answer. Lantern," Ethan repeated.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡecif3asY0T
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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."160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAwA80pJITo
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"Ottoman." Ethan smirked slightly as Hanna filled in the sheet again.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTaxkZ3IAmO
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"You're good at this," Hanna commented.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC4m6K67rji
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Ethan couldn't resist smiling openly now.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBChzt99HmK
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Hanna smiled back at him as she handed him the crosswords book and chewed up pencil. "You solve it then."160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz5Wl5J9Z6P
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"What happened to 'this is my puzzle'?" Ethan teased, smirking at her.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2EfG4GHSQR
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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.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFdsKYUNqiW
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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.160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgJfyCY18nJ
