Ethan woke up first from to the early morning light flooding the room, the openness of the curtains very apparent. He instantly tensed up, as if from a bad dream that he couldn't remember, then relaxed as he took in his surroundings.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbwHDKHSi51
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC4kpRsB2oj
He was at the safe house. They'd made it out. Hanna was here, he felt her next to him. Her arm was draped across his chest and she was using his shoulder like a pillow. He could feel her breath gently rustling his chest hairs. She looked so peaceful and surreal. He'd half expected she would have been gone by the time he awoke.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMNc486JaWH
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtqA0KnWLhf
The hazy morning daze cracked away when he started to recall the events of the previous day. Ethan let out a soft sigh. There was so much he needed to sort out. His eyes drifted to the glass of water on the nightstand and wondered when she'd put it there. Then he remembered how thirsty he was and, after carefully extracting himself without waking her, downed the whole thing.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4yiR5w77gi
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpD0OclDMOT
For the first time in a couple days, he felt like he had actual energy, not just heat energy, and he wasn't going to waste it on worrying. First order of business, he had wiped a lot of the blood and dirt off, but it was still obvious that he needed a shower. After that, he changed the bandage around his ankle, which had finally stopped bleeding.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM9WIEhUoqE
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Afterwards, he silently got some of the clean clothes out of the dresser, to avoid waking Hanna. He couldn't help looking at her with a touch of disbelief, still have a hard time believing she was here. It was no surprise that she was still asleep, no doubt that whole ordeal had been traumatic and exhausting for her. He resisted the urge to run his hand through her hair to wake her gently. He wanted to talk to her while his mind was clear, before the pressure of the heat returned.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMHhcSvvH0r
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsXpeASjBc7
Deciding her rest was more important, he took the time to call Steve and sort out some items concerning Midas Financial. Given he was going to disappear anyways, there was technically no need to quit his job. However, Hanna was not in the same position and he wanted to do what he could to smooth over her unexpected leave. His life was already screwed up, at least he could try not to take her down with him.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqk3Coe9Oek
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Ethan felt slightly relieved as Steve reassured him that Hanna likely wouldn't be fired, although Sarah wouldn't be happy with her. Steve was surprisingly understanding of the whole situation, and glad that were both safe, as Ethan explained what would happen next. Now that two people he trusted knew his secret, he wasn't looking forward to a new life without them.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡspj0MKCJPk
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfRMfqqyChF
That sorted for the moment, he figured he should at least get somethings done before she got up, like breakfast. It had been so long since he'd been here, he'd forgotten what he'd stocked.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWszMUZalnO
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGydFEOyhlN
He walked into the kitchen and opened the fridge first, out of habit and forgetting it had been unplugged, and thus completely empty. The pantry had lots of canned soups and other dry foods. He was satisfied there would be more than enough for food both of them for at least a week, even though he'd never planned on stocking this place for two. At the end of his search, he found he wasn't actually hungry and didn't end up eating anything.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ9rtzfSvhP
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2WTQWUO6M8
He ended up on the sofa, waiting. The undeniable arousal sensation of the heat wasn't back yet but he had no clue how long that would last. He very much wished he had asked his father a lot more questions about this, like how long it would last or if there was a way to get rid of it. It was just another thing to add to the list of regrets he had about his teens.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt5X70G1Q8R
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHY289Kpnud
His gaze drifted to the number on the back on his left hand. The number eighteen in clear black ink. The sight of it made his stomach turn. He wanted to get rid of it desperately, erase anything he could about that day. He went to the kitchen sink and he scrubbed the area until his skin was pink but the number was still there, hardly even faded.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2KxQ9EKBu9
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUxLUV20iIG
Anger and frustration flared up within him as he scrubbed harder. Before long, without realizing, he'd left his hand painfully raw with the ink still shining boldly. He leaned against the sink, trying to calm himself down, this wasn't working. In the end, he threw a bandage over it to cover it up, resolving to figure out how to get rid of it later.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIoexqvYHIU
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhrBFW4ica3
Ethan checked in on Hanna again, this time, he noticed the mound on the bed moving and flicked on the lights. Irritated muttering emanated from the mound. He resisted the temptation to laugh at her childish behaviour as he sat down on the bed next to her.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfGOs6bPnp3
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Ethan stroked her hair until she cracked opened her deep brown eyes. "Thank you."84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp1spIjbjOd
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG511Q0byS3
Hanna peeked her head out, still blinking sleep out of her eyes. "What?"84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8qhUJGQvsU
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡptUBNKqpnm
"Just thanks for coming to get me." Ethan cleared his throat. "And everything else."84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3HS5X7HIbx
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFdiV5fyTiV
Fleeting emotions ran through Hanna's foggy brain until her anger jerked her awake, the memories still fresh in her mind from the previous day. "I was never going to let them use you like that." Her temper flared up just thinking about it. The idea they'd wanted to use him like an animal disgusted her immeasurably. She shuddered at the memory of the corpse on the metal table and she silently wished that he never asked about what their plans for him had been.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfO3xme8x3g
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSH07TINgJs
Now we can make our own plans, Hanna thought victoriously. She subtly observed how much better he looked today. He wasn't sweaty, he looked like he'd actually slept and there wasn't a hint of any tremors. It was like he wasn't even in heat.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtBKtTBZ9QN
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJk6Sjekl6
"Is the heat over?" Hanna asked bluntly.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcwMUmYiFeh
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"Um, no," Ethan answered, confused.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYr4JRXTiF0
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Hanna looked him over again. "But you seem- The symptoms went away?"84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYb1rOoGr0F
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡncjb0RNIui
"Um, they're only gone temporarily because..." Ethan left his explanation unfinished, beginning to dread where this conversation was going.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYIn8CPFVD6
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjfdIPTtQ3B
"Because of us?" Hanna suggested helpfully.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8B903KjAc2
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlwNy6yQdwu
"Yeah. They'll come back," Ethan answered dejectedly.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaJ1VkT6EAs
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"Do you know when the next time will be?" Hanna asked.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjvVXopP1Ft
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She assumes there will be a next time, Ethan realized, tensing up. He had to ask the question he'd been avoiding. "Uh, no, but does that mean you're alright with staying here?"84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBhl1MfnDZW
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"Yeah, it's fine. You can't go back to the city right now anyways, it wouldn't be safe," Hanna answered nonchalantly.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrKVz3SfQNy
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"I mean, you're okay with staying with me?" Ethan clarified hesitantly.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZx3Af2QXfF
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Hanna looked at him curiously. "You're asking if I'm going to leave you here? On your own?"84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFoOGFIHZb5
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Ethan nodded, his bright blue eyes searching her face for her reaction.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Nou5ZparW
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"I'm not going to do that to you." Hanna took his hand comfortingly. "I'm staying. Unless you want me to go."84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeuwxifOx8O
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Ethan gripped her hand tighter. "You know what you're agreeing to?"84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDV984VPjpT
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Hanna smirked playfully. "I think I got a proper introduction last night." She winked. "Just let me know if you're planning anything really out of the ordinary."84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy6p8pRYMwM
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"Um... that's not... it's just..." Ethan stumbled over his words.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUba457MxE9
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"Breathe," Hanna told him softly. "Think about what you're going to say."84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRqXdC3IFsU
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Ethan took a deep breath. "With heat sex... I'm not all there sometimes. I might end up hurting you. And it might not always be... enjoyable."84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNZIpgM4qo3
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Hanna shrugged. "I've had rougher and I've had worse. You're not going to scare me off."84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9OofIYwg1E
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For the first time, Ethan eyed her with suspicion. She was being a lot more eager and accepting than he'd expected, this was not how he'd thought this conversation was going to go. Maybe it was just recent events making him distrustful, but this whole thing seemed way too coincidental.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjwEP5sfFaT
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtCMV5cnIVe
Her appearance, her willingness, her acceptance. This seemed too good to be true. His gut was telling him something was off, but it could very well be his own nerves, he still felt very on edge. He wasn't sure he'd ever be able to shed the low level anxiety that had taken up residence at the back of his mind after this ordeal.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUOQxOhewma
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On the other hand, this week had been so hellish that maybe his luck had finally turned around. Maybe Hanna just had that attitude towards the Charax. It had been made clear to him yesterday that he didn't know his coworker that well.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPwWbIlfpJB
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrviaNO6dfH
Ethan stared at her uncertainly. "You're sure?"84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ35wsIA3CGP
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Hanna smiled as she ran a hand down the side of his face. "I am. I meant what I said and I'm not going anywhere."84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKPNla98mBZ
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He looked at her intently, suspicion hiding behind his eyes.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKWsdlBQPqB
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"You're wondering why," Hanna suspected.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDilcEe0Uo2
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"Yeah. I am," Ethan admitted. "Why would you do any of this?"84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡolwMwZcZe8
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡURMcdrMcd6
"You're so blind. Because I like you, even when you're an idiot and refuse to listen to me," Hanna said as the corner of her lip twitched upwards, betraying the smile she was trying to hide.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡclGz9mJPay
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Ethan hadn't been expecting that answer. He recalled the warning she'd given him days ago. Pieces fell into place. She'd known what he was, what had been happening to him and tried to tell him that others were figuring it out too. All without him realizing it. Clearly, he hadn't been doing as good job of hiding the symptoms as he thought he had.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm13Cs0phTO
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"You knew." Ethan rubbed his hands over his face.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9SmYgrGsbO
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Hanna laughed at his reaction. "Obviously." Then, her face fell. "I'm sorry."84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnQAgF5Tgk0
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What does she have to apologize for? Ethan wondered, feeling his stomach twist at her reaction. "Why?"84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIYj3DEJRo9
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrzdjkTNJa5
Hanna's gaze fell to her hands as she twisted the sheets in her hands. "I should have told you. Then you could have left before things got out of hand. None of this would have happened to you." She looked at him sadly. "I'm sorry."84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaZbciTOMFS
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBLYVxHfReT
Ethan felt the knot inside him untangle. "You don't need to apologize. This is my problem. I should have listened to your warning."84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3JDHJVkL45
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBrhLUhO9bN
Hanna hugged him, burying her face in his shirt. "None of them. You are such an idiot! You can't just walk right into traps."84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv5FHBNwRqZ
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Ethan wasn't sure how to react to that. He patted her shoulder cautiously. "Normally I do, I was just distracted this week."84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeropjg2AsN
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Hanna let go of him. "I got that, but it was still way too obvious. You never should have been working."84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0CzD4hjEhI
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"Who else knows?" Ethan asked seriously. "Did you tell anyone?"84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvs970lXcQc
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3J3FRg0GDz
"I didn't tell anyone. I know how to keep a secret," Hanna answered confidently, almost proudly. "The dealers wouldn't have shared that information either but Steve seemed suspicious," she added on. The Crimson Keys would have tried to avoid alerting their competition, wanting to get their prize as cleanly and quickly as possible, she thought.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMGGJHyi99b
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"Steve already knows," Ethan revealed casually.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxveCAwY3ig
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Hanna was astonished he'd told anyone. He was going to get caught sooner or later with those kind of slip ups, she thought. "Oh, okay then," she said quietly.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMEef4RGXYN
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Ethan nodded automatically. He was staring out the bedroom window, almost as if he was looking at the brightly lit pines, but his eyes were unfocused. His expression only got more troubled as the seconds ticked by.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiZI3MFbbjN
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"What are you thinking about?" Hanna asked curiously.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6zJjlyGuKG
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Ethan sighed heavily. "Just trying to figure out how my life got so messed up."84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDBuHeG0HKU
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwJqMTEr2zW
"It's not messed up," Hanna protested quickly. He shot her a look. "Okay, it's not that messed up." The only loose end is whoever tipped off the dealers and I can take can of that, she thought, nothing a well aimed bullet can't fix. "We'll be able to deal with it."84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHSE50C7qQb
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Ethan recalled how she had set the place on fire, destroying any record they were there. "How can you be so certain?"84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkr3l2MQmTQ
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"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it," Hanna reassured him vaguely. "Don't worry about it."84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcGybZr7g9j
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Ethan was strongly tempted by the opportunity to procrastinate. After all, they weren't in danger right now. He didn't need a new identity this instant. He could wait out the heat here, with her, and deal with that all later. Things could be easy for once in his life.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡihCWhCjb5d
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"You look much better than yesterday," Hanna remarked, breaking his train of thought.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9QxMuAMWam
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"Water and sleep helped a lot." Ethan smiled down at her. "You too." She flashed a smile back.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE8SSflwC7z
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"Does the Trazinol help?" Hanna asked curiously.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcJUSc5nsYW
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Ethan frowned slightly. "It does but I don't have it. It wasn't in my bag."84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP8t6mzNUN2
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Hanna looked troubled. "It's going to be impossible to get without making people suspicious. Are you going to be okay without it?"84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC5gulBjA9H
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"I think so. You work a lot better," Ethan answered confidently. As long as you decide to stay, he added on mentally.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8vVFk26ZfE
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJWNY6ucy3I
Hanna blushed at the compliment. She sat up, her neck achingly from her previous position and she rubbed it lightly, recalling her missing injuries. "What do you think happened to the burns?"84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjKegGie4QH
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Ethan pushed her hair aside, as if to confirm the injuries were still gone. Her skin was as smooth and unblemished as it was yesterday.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKrn1O7kSeO
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"None of my injuries are healed, so my thinking is you're the one with special healing powers," Ethan reasoned.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPOB7owcRZC
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Hanna looked him over, noticing he still had his assortment of bruises, some starting to turn an ugly colour. She didn't really buy his explanation. "I'm Terran, we don't get healing powers."84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY86hZSGfQj
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Ethan fell silent at that comment.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ00oM4pXxeg
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"Charax, on the other hand..." Hanna trailed off after noticing how he had stiffened.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDGUJDC6dIL
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"Those are just rumours," Ethan tried to reply dismissively, attempting to cover up his underlying agitation.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbJJrJOnE33
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"There's lots of rumours," Hanna argued.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIDThmC6Lsh
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There were lots of myths that Charax body parts had mysterious healing capabilities, which fuelled the black market. Hanna felt her stomach start to twist at the thought. It was disturbing how many people were willing to commit cannibalism. Even more disturbing was how people tried to rationalize the Charax as non-human to argue it wasn't actually cannibalism.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOS7vAPYmuk
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"There are lots of rumours. Rumours that have nearly gotten me killed," Ethan stated dryly.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq8lcNPlssb
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Or kidnapped, Hanna mentally added as she shivered at the memory. "Obviously, we can't tell a single person or let anyone figure it out. If it is true... I don't want to think of the consequences." That thought scared her more than anything, he was in enough danger already.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2nxdxvffKW
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Ethan nodded in grim agreement.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMuhvIoe32e
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"We should know at least. We could test it with something small," Hanna suggested.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBuCp7LeQht
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"No," Ethan answered, extremely serious. "I'm not going to let you hurt yourself for an experiment on me."84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgTCWwXSCUp
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Hanna couldn't think of a good rebuke for that. "I was thinking more along the lines of just waiting until I get a bruise or something."84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ31z94djRLQ
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Ethan eyed her suspiciously. "No, I don't..." He sighed, taking hold of her hand. "Just promise me you won't do this."84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTD8fjJ3gP1
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Hanna couldn't refuse a request like that. She was fairly certain she was right, but if he wanted to ignore it then there wasn't much she could do without pushing him away. Besides, pretending it didn't exist could be the safest course of action, for both of them.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvl0e3Nkl7o
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"I promise," Hanna agreed softly. "But if I get a black eye and it mysteriously disappears, people are going to ask questions," she joked, trying to lighten the mood.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR7E1cSmwN7
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Ethan let his shoulders drop in relief. "You don't need to worry, that won't happen."84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTxD5Petf9v
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQ8PXdfh75
"Okay," Hanna yielded. She pointed at his new bandage. "Speaking of injuries, what happened to your hand?"84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUF0HsbQsBe
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnJWuFOJUvC
Ethan pulled his hand in towards him, rubbing the white tape unconsciously. "Nothing... I was covering it up."84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3kAy3rA5os
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3jKlHU6yOE
"Covering up what?" Hanna asked, confused. She couldn't remember him hurting his hand yesterday.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡff93HqLYQP
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXd2YCSNoR7
Ethan pulled off the bandage and showed her the number underneath. If Hanna was surprised or alarmed by the raw skin, then she didn't show it. Her face only hardened.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡomLy6yef8b
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRnw7iLsiu9
Hanna felt a surge of anger at the sight of the leftover marking. "One second," she said, getting up and throwing on her clothes from yesterday. "Let's get rid of that," she stated flatly.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYxWgIcvEzZ
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTpKNiYFdrl
Ethan stuck the bandage back on, feeling newly dispirited. "I tried that already."84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5fQaL9sYjp
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhJUu4GkEW0
"It won't wash off." Hanna pulled out a small bottle from the medical kit. "It'll come off with alcohol, come on."84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4xH2zY4DrC
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtka2cxNhNT
Ethan followed her into the washroom halfheartedly, watching as she drenched a washcloth with the pungent liquid. He pulled the bandage off his hand, holding it palm up over the sink as he reached for the cloth in her hands.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSwlmBfEHfK
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCnURWLZcn4
"It's alright. I'll do it," Hanna soothed, stepping forward to take his marked hand delicately.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBiTlVNpted
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpJZ1TYZJkY
Ethan watched Hanna rub the raw, inked area gently with slow motions, until the dark numbers started to fade. The tinted liquid began to run off his hand, forming small droplets at the tips of his fingers. He watched the drops slowly fall and splatter on the white porcelain, leaving grey dots all over the surface. For some inexplicable reason, it mesmerized him.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8BQEeowYgY
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNnsrHIX4cv
Ethan's mind drifted away, the stinging sensation on his skin barely registering and irritating smell a distant memory. Eighteen. Seventeen before. That's almost more Charax than I've met, Ethan thought sadly, and how many were in heat? Probably most, if that's how they find us.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjx9ich9Xpo
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiM4bo1iWHT
He couldn't stop thinking about what the dealers had been talking about. It was like they'd known more about heat than he did, an idea that unsettled him to no end. He actively tried to ignore what they'd said, but he couldn't forget it. Nor could he forget what he'd done.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡADiKpVTNhQ
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBSZL0Ngqe4
Hanna squeezed his hand, causing Ethan to jerk and look at her, before letting go. "Are you listening to me?"84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcESo0xYtdI
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvpJCWlzucc
Ethan blinked at her. "What?"84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpJc3bOwb2V
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Hanna wore an expression of mild concern. "I said it's gone, you can wash your hands now."84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWQ0uQK1Ik4
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAYPeveJDDT
Ethan looked down at his hand, free of black ink. "Oh, thanks." He turned on the tap and began to rinse his hands rapidly. Hanna suddenly hugged him. She wrapped her arms around his waist carefully, mindful of his injuries, as she let her cheek rest lightly on his shoulder.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8L9l3TOHrr
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbBxOSymFHu
To his surprise, Ethan relaxed at her unexpected soft touch. It was warm, genuine human contact and it put him at ease. The effect her simple action had on him was impressive.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPub7iZT5lA
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb3jKSZjFyr
To his annoyance, her closeness was arousing him again, mixing with his lingering dread. He shifted more of his weight to his injured ankle, causing the pain there to build. He used it to push back against the pressure, unwilling to combine the two emotions, unwilling to taint the mood.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjI5nNUFnLj
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyii5XkYHZS
It was only lasted a few seconds before Hanna unwrapped her arms. She glanced at his reflection in the mirror. "I know that look," she teased.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2E2rtpmljo
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3itZ0nLZP1
"What?" Ethan asked innocently.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxhYAUqCYZn
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Hanna winked at him. "That's your holding back face. You can be honest with me."84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQMSJZghet
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"Okay, I'm not there just yet but... soon. Don't go far," Ethan admitted, reluctantly giving her the half-truth.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkEPtnuG190
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEG9qKzy6CI
Hanna chuckled and gestured out the window to the trees outside. "Not much place to go, out here." She paused, studying him. "And you don't have to wait until you feel like you're going to explode. Next time, we can be... preemptive."84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmGG7PQvAVF
84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmOP8t02tBE
"I'll keep that in mind," Ethan replied noncommittally.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCedevOSv0G
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