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.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2vEWGIxVFt
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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.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMqjpqDGMKx
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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.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe6Ml4O5Cs4
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"Steve should be here soon, you might want to wake up," Hanna teased.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡke5Z7ooZc9
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Ethan let out a quiet, irritated groan from the sofa.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOGlEto1Enx
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Hanna wondered if this was going to be a bigger problem than she had thought, given his reaction.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8V5o3vzp2Y
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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."75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡORfPxHAZab
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"I want to see him.” Ethan scowled slightly at the ceiling. "He's my friend too."75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡioWhgM2ymI
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"Okay, but are you going to be okay with this?" Hanna asked bluntly.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdCEGuGBYUQ
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Ethan shrugged noncommittally.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIr8YvZL7vi
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"Then... me talking to him won't be a problem?" Hanna pressed.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmeAZcIXuvo
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"You're not—" Ethan started to answer bitterly, then reconsidered. "You can talk to whoever you want to."75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFN9nnUaEVl
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"So you're not going to get... territorial or possessive or anything right?" Hanna asked awkwardly.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsRmPORoN8x
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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.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2fRQdmDGim
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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.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc3PA5wvf4D
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"He's here," Hanna announced, heading towards the door.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp1NQHoWVG6
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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.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFor8PVCRVl
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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.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHe02M4jLNC
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"Thanks for coming." Ethan's gratitude was sincere, even if his pleased tone was a little forced.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj2U3UCy1i9
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"Yes, thank you for bringing these," Hanna added gratefully, setting the bags on the table.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTiphRs3y08
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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."75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfXjFPejRAl
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"Alive and kicking, that's us," Hanna joked back as Ethan started unpacking the bags silently.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTZXluF5AXi
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"So, it really was a gang? They were after Ethan specifically?" Steve asked curiously.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrIYbwdkXBu
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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."75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcRksamJHV9
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Ethan flinched as Steve gave him a friendly pat on the back.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzAeexmPdQB
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Steve pulled his hand away. "Sorry, didn't mean to hurt you."75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVqO2eQphAQ
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"It's nothing, just bruises." Ethan shrugged dismissively.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDpz3WOW5x5
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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.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJAouBUSHw2
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"Was this all you could get?" Hanna asked quickly.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOXhvJgLhPv
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"Nope, there's more where that came from," Steve announced as he headed back out to the car.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFQnlx6CnH2
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"Is it okay if I help carry stuff in?" Hanna asked Ethan quietly.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfj3DJLdBq6
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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.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyVg12YCJDK
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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.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjQr5IrWPRG
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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.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUNocEz2YCL
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"Over there." Steve pointed to a black duffel across the room, near the hallway.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjJruqFih67
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Hanna saw the bag from her apartment, that she'd given him the access code for. "Clothes, yes!"75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzodLgFbZQJ
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"Exactly where you said, I was a bit surprised that you had a bag of clothes packed already," Steve commented.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9VBFhPMlSH
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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.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2lXqxUPqm0
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"Let me help you with that," Steve said as he walked over to join Ethan.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPcBNCEB7pf
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"Sure," Ethan answered with false enthusiasm as he kept unpacking the bags, purposely avoiding Steve's gaze.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJjtJWqP6f
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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.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOADSEIYu7P
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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.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡinucFOV6aO
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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.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL47ZRJncAa
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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.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCx6EsrA3kj
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"I've got it." Steve went to pick up the jug and his hand barely brushed Ethan's.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXhFzZYdB1N
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Ethan jumped away from Steve, as if shocked.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNTFbMApx4K
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The two Terrans stared at Ethan, suddenly very aware of his strange behaviour.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDbW1T62vlK
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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.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE85DHCyS5G
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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.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1bTlAFJvXl
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"Let's talk outside," Hanna told Steve before exiting through the door.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1I9JJdJ81r
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Steve glanced back at Ethan hesitantly before following Hanna reluctantly.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLUu79UDMLM
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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.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPq1Y0OOTyO
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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.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMGeNb3CYDp
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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?"75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGa7Tfkx1bM
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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."75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKdAhhbjs42
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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.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdqqeDyjdiO
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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."75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7wUkqTM1yJ
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Hanna considered that as she continued eyeing him suspiciously, holding her blade steady.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG2Wyw2zxmr
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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.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw8FLmPydBq
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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.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe3D6rmw9Qd
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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.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9K8OswBzX4
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Hanna lowered her knife slowly, persuaded by his words. "Okay," she relented, taking a step back.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoTyJ3JuRbR
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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?"75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXFei7iMvPH
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"Everyone gets greedy sometimes, and that can make them do stupid things," Hanna answered coldly.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbKdwZZ0f5p
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"Yeah, well, not me. I'm not going to get my friend killed for some cash," Steve defended bitterly.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUkGMNFI776
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Hanna twirled her shiny knife. "Still, if you tell anyone about—"75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtBBHpCHIic
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"You'll kill me. I get it," Steve interrupted. "But I wouldn't do that."75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjwQuHozmMG
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Hanna put the knife away. "Sorry, I needed to be sure. I hope you understand."75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvsN8WSeVHR
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Steve chuckled awkwardly. "I'm sure this whole thing would make anyone paranoid."75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhF9nys7kgi
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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.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi2xDAiPm26
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Steve nodded, accepting the excuse. "Um... I should go then."75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzN6hNNBecW
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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."75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK5VqLdDrJO
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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.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2mWAjVGJpc
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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.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCj0daC2yri
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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.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTWwo3LjmWx
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"There you are," Hanna remarked softly.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjxUYo8YIPA
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"Yeah," Ethan mumbled.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIdrWCwiTpT
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Hanna sat down on the end of the bed. "How are you?"75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBLpxsEss86
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Ethan tilted his head up to look at her. "A little stressed."75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiAg0bfmHG6
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Hanna nodded understandingly. "You looked... a little uncomfortable out back there."75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCUGW9LHKEx
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"Yeah," Ethan agreed quietly.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4cTR61xdrS
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"Why didn't you say anything?" Hanna had an exasperated edge to her voice.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe7xyDNb0tZ
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Ethan sighed softly into the wall. "I thought I would be able to deal with it."75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Z0QLWAYkG
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"With what exactly?" Hanna probed.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAL5zbcSPnb
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Ethan paused briefly. "Someone coming into this space, being near me."75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdAoBcAtdyv
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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.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXKpl6cOxjd
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"It's not—" Ethan scowled then took a long breath. "I just felt like I had to get away."75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAvNZD8DQyP
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"Was this just about Steve?" Hanna probed gently.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB3SV7ctwpV
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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."75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXT6ERvvSAV
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"Am I okay?" Hanna asked hesitantly.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlAYwzakUVl
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"Yeah," Ethan answered softly, taking her hand gently and nuzzling it. "You're always okay."75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCU80DVf7Zz
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"Um... I'll keep that in mind," Hanna responded uncertainly, absolutely mystified by his behaviour. "You going to get up?"75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAg7vYNDmQN
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"I think I'm going to stay here for a bit." Ethan let go of her hand.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX34KU0XxyK
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"Okay," Hanna responded, before getting off the bed and walking out of the room.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjHcsuLcD6s
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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.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8w8ZFtlEN1
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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.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSBmBky9sSe
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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.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv6EugqhYJ4
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Ethan subtlety moved his hand away from his ankle as he glanced over her shoulder. "Crosswords?"75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡby9lwHFgES
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"Yup," Hanna answered happily, pulling out a pencil.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6WNDBZHpeA
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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.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtRiQ9SPOBE
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Five minutes later, Hanna had yet to put in a single answer.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT80PMHJjsa
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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.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTDLkRpjSZx
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Hanna was now biting the end of the pencil, hard.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOQgqehmGdP
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Ethan decided she could use a hint. "Seventeen down is pineapple."75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBjNgKuDTt1
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"Hey, this is my puzzle!" Hanna protested, angling the book so he couldn't see it anymore.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwkfb47xdQ0
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"So you don't want help?" Ethan asked, amused.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLMTTkIETI1
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Hanna muttered in annoyance as she wrote in the answer, pointedly not answering his question.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYDPk8kZdkC
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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.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIZrGd2gqOI
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"Maybe you should start with an easier one?" Ethan suggested helpfully.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjHbOuMw0IS
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"No," Hanna answered stubbornly, without looking up.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTpZIuVLk9b
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Ethan smiled, already feeling much better, and relishing her frustration a little too much.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcFtGcQQXQX
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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."75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuXOAK7jHi6
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Ethan paused for a second to think. "Vision."75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN1PO2XhYUg
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"Okay." Hanna marked down his answer. "Seven letters. A light source. Second letter is A."75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPCIZQVM74W
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"Lantern," Ethan replied quickly.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFrz6Z8ApGE
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Hanna gave him a skeptical look and stared at the puzzle.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiD0NmjNGZ9
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"That's the answer. Lantern," Ethan repeated.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEzSxzPXHmt
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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."75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFg0vf7Vwbx
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"Ottoman." Ethan smirked slightly as Hanna filled in the sheet again.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR5a3AXvlaN
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"You're good at this," Hanna commented.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡine4d0oSX9
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Ethan couldn't resist smiling openly now.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZXG7etPDg3
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Hanna smiled back at him as she handed him the crosswords book and chewed up pencil. "You solve it then."75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9QpYY75Hmv
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"What happened to 'this is my puzzle'?" Ethan teased, smirking at her.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRkkwShOTTV
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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.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQq8pr8omY6
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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.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT3xcRqOQ1B
