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.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbkylpyvoZ9
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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.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrEaoEeJVXV
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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.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHeHg0Ll2gX
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"Steve should be here soon, you might want to wake up," Hanna teased.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡonIUJMBJNs
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Ethan let out a quiet, irritated groan from the sofa.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQJ6KKInyqB
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Hanna wondered if this was going to be a bigger problem than she had thought, given his reaction.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGRvmC4nWeI
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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."40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd5WYyMCcrB
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"I want to see him.” Ethan scowled slightly at the ceiling. "He's my friend too."40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWeP1KHOSYy
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"Okay, but are you going to be okay with this?" Hanna asked bluntly.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1AiWtk2HrO
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Ethan shrugged noncommittally.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK0x0x7iKyN
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"Then... me talking to him won't be a problem?" Hanna pressed.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUWpW9GiQpU
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"You're not—" Ethan started to answer bitterly, then reconsidered. "You can talk to whoever you want to."40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoVVMZoUdJI
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"So you're not going to get... territorial or possessive or anything right?" Hanna asked awkwardly.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvDsmM67Bg8
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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.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9765MFVUfu
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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.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU3G8wKalaC
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"He's here," Hanna announced, heading towards the door.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrYkHjdJqlV
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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.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPGQdpP5GZg
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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.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE8uA7u0L7K
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"Thanks for coming." Ethan's gratitude was sincere, even if his pleased tone was a little forced.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQGTR9dT6ah
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"Yes, thank you for bringing these," Hanna added gratefully, setting the bags on the table.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhTaHobvfij
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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."40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpV4v9Ojcp5
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"Alive and kicking, that's us," Hanna joked back as Ethan started unpacking the bags silently.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4lYE5lXrWY
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"So, it really was a gang? They were after Ethan specifically?" Steve asked curiously.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF8mHwsLGMe
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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."40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLeC9r3uov4
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Ethan flinched as Steve gave him a friendly pat on the back.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm4jpAN46JC
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Steve pulled his hand away. "Sorry, didn't mean to hurt you."40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxNezhBb8LI
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"It's nothing, just bruises." Ethan shrugged dismissively.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhym7roaRW8
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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.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKaY8RqB4zR
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"Was this all you could get?" Hanna asked quickly.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMBZtajGYhq
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"Nope, there's more where that came from," Steve announced as he headed back out to the car.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm81VhR9JmF
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"Is it okay if I help carry stuff in?" Hanna asked Ethan quietly.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqvzKnmVzgF
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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.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJdfk4z8wDp
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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.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEiWwelYGWv
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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.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgGVpQDsDI1
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"Over there." Steve pointed to a black duffel across the room, near the hallway.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxawygC3XRz
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Hanna saw the bag from her apartment, that she'd given him the access code for. "Clothes, yes!"40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwBFzia9tnK
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"Exactly where you said, I was a bit surprised that you had a bag of clothes packed already," Steve commented.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRiHgt5r6EU
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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.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbzFFn8n558
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"Let me help you with that," Steve said as he walked over to join Ethan.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWtWIQ90wvo
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"Sure," Ethan answered with false enthusiasm as he kept unpacking the bags, purposely avoiding Steve's gaze.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfGKhRSs3nD
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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.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbcPiFPAQUk
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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.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSQjtm5wVdn
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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.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ58tgwwtUYa
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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.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbD9jjtyY1c
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"I've got it." Steve went to pick up the jug and his hand barely brushed Ethan's.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAZE7gqYNR7
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Ethan jumped away from Steve, as if shocked.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiSfjoDNzzV
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The two Terrans stared at Ethan, suddenly very aware of his strange behaviour.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIMRcIncyY2
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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.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPSoSCfdhpn
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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.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnX7O0dSrrk
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"Let's talk outside," Hanna told Steve before exiting through the door.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTsWQRZ8RfR
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Steve glanced back at Ethan hesitantly before following Hanna reluctantly.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWwhwrfUHuB
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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.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFlihUoEzc0
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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.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAuuIkzOZqo
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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?"40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2KydV8UDK9
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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."40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlcYfOmE4yb
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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.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZC9ujjHMPu
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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."40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsRI8fLFxdO
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Hanna considered that as she continued eyeing him suspiciously, holding her blade steady.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJeUMlQ5SSC
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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.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwMFtZnOHTY
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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.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzaataPOhK8
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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.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwwBxgLA1WC
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Hanna lowered her knife slowly, persuaded by his words. "Okay," she relented, taking a step back.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡozhI1NrSAz
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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?"40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0xEHo1pZgh
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"Everyone gets greedy sometimes, and that can make them do stupid things," Hanna answered coldly.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGr2YyMrVSu
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"Yeah, well, not me. I'm not going to get my friend killed for some cash," Steve defended bitterly.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3TIsYiICux
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Hanna twirled her shiny knife. "Still, if you tell anyone about—"40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7AULzK4gpf
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"You'll kill me. I get it," Steve interrupted. "But I wouldn't do that."40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtM6NKbnTsq
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Hanna put the knife away. "Sorry, I needed to be sure. I hope you understand."40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeiSBk2gGGo
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Steve chuckled awkwardly. "I'm sure this whole thing would make anyone paranoid."40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVaMFSnmf0s
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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.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPW20fusnAt
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Steve nodded, accepting the excuse. "Um... I should go then."40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOL75Vv1wo9
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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."40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAbzFRCRP21
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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.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡweNTeq9Txq
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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.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcwJucNdT5Z
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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.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2xAJN1E1yC
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"There you are," Hanna remarked softly.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzd8S0bfKyk
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"Yeah," Ethan mumbled.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8T8V5cmSrl
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Hanna sat down on the end of the bed. "How are you?"40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡluNldwuXVS
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Ethan tilted his head up to look at her. "A little stressed."40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNApzBsQOnO
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Hanna nodded understandingly. "You looked... a little uncomfortable out back there."40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcXsb17ePMN
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"Yeah," Ethan agreed quietly.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbwqTWg0p0P
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"Why didn't you say anything?" Hanna had an exasperated edge to her voice.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIgQZzuHxeQ
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Ethan sighed softly into the wall. "I thought I would be able to deal with it."40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyCT4JiSaMG
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"With what exactly?" Hanna probed.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHVhGk1wsES
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Ethan paused briefly. "Someone coming into this space, being near me."40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvoD7zNshk4
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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.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3zwh3SurCS
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"It's not—" Ethan scowled then took a long breath. "I just felt like I had to get away."40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ83NFigXBTi
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"Was this just about Steve?" Hanna probed gently.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ83sVItEfwk
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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."40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqokcQhBh47
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"Am I okay?" Hanna asked hesitantly.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvu1SjSoyHD
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"Yeah," Ethan answered softly, taking her hand gently and nuzzling it. "You're always okay."40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9GU8afsStp
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"Um... I'll keep that in mind," Hanna responded uncertainly, absolutely mystified by his behaviour. "You going to get up?"40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyA9peeZKoP
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"I think I'm going to stay here for a bit." Ethan let go of her hand.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeeTIuzP44C
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"Okay," Hanna responded, before getting off the bed and walking out of the room.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJbGENx0JdM
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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.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM9Ztfy2IMR
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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.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI7wbaNYWXK
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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.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr8MqSlACOh
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Ethan subtlety moved his hand away from his ankle as he glanced over her shoulder. "Crosswords?"40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvbJlfwXbO4
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"Yup," Hanna answered happily, pulling out a pencil.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdUw9ZoFGNx
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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.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBrY22GWbn0
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Five minutes later, Hanna had yet to put in a single answer.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbA80heKCjM
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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.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjwyXYZlke4
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Hanna was now biting the end of the pencil, hard.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE2ldlVna2z
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Ethan decided she could use a hint. "Seventeen down is pineapple."40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx9JLmszWjM
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"Hey, this is my puzzle!" Hanna protested, angling the book so he couldn't see it anymore.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡISLZFoqhKM
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"So you don't want help?" Ethan asked, amused.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3jtHck9MQR
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Hanna muttered in annoyance as she wrote in the answer, pointedly not answering his question.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3gljSnHlDO
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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.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNlT1cYeNN4
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"Maybe you should start with an easier one?" Ethan suggested helpfully.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqsMqLxkrqz
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"No," Hanna answered stubbornly, without looking up.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyGrczumu5n
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Ethan smiled, already feeling much better, and relishing her frustration a little too much.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1qpJM4gwdX
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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."40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVFXgHnt7jn
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Ethan paused for a second to think. "Vision."40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOcnutX7hBl
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"Okay." Hanna marked down his answer. "Seven letters. A light source. Second letter is A."40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnRd0PObOTV
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"Lantern," Ethan replied quickly.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdEea8tEPOV
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Hanna gave him a skeptical look and stared at the puzzle.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyM23JbC8zs
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"That's the answer. Lantern," Ethan repeated.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTUOk5QdiXp
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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."40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKRRPZKFEe8
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"Ottoman." Ethan smirked slightly as Hanna filled in the sheet again.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWx4QEY2c0x
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"You're good at this," Hanna commented.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR7QZ3D2Sfc
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Ethan couldn't resist smiling openly now.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8JYZEjz29E
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Hanna smiled back at him as she handed him the crosswords book and chewed up pencil. "You solve it then."40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZAWApUvMCH
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"What happened to 'this is my puzzle'?" Ethan teased, smirking at her.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV5xcpDJkK5
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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.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr6v2MBwTYa
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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.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJJMT4nGyBu
