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.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqhs0Le457H
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡceyMl6BWce
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.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHjTZ9JY75p
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsXsiyMiFJD
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.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡywGGsZZ2gM
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"Steve should be here soon, you might want to wake up," Hanna teased.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡokiFrIT0WW
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEXdYpw1GOS
Ethan let out a quiet, irritated groan from the sofa.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLoPxpTb6X0
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Hanna wondered if this was going to be a bigger problem than she had thought, given his reaction.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQfjjQHoz2U
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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."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyPqJRt8tHN
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdvI3x2oHcx
"I want to see him.” Ethan scowled slightly at the ceiling. "He's my friend too."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡifAMoDHzWe
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgweuEzBUdd
"Okay, but are you going to be okay with this?" Hanna asked bluntly.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgkkiJvst5t
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOuaRPmDH98
Ethan shrugged noncommittally.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZVgdnuQrZ4
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"Then... me talking to him won't be a problem?" Hanna pressed.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1cg6IUfpSF
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo6gwreCP82
"You're not—" Ethan started to answer bitterly, then reconsidered. "You can talk to whoever you want to."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoJ00kepmCb
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqqHvLhzhiv
"So you're not going to get... territorial or possessive or anything right?" Hanna asked awkwardly.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPeTDGDTDU7
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkRKpNLMvIM
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.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyfMq3JQi2m
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIvWD7E9RaQ
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.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4w5Nn0PNDW
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRiYDLoKNBk
"He's here," Hanna announced, heading towards the door.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4IpcNMfLlA
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkPYlH9HCci
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.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnbqhoZ5Y4E
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKjnEtu1BuI
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.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWbE1PrBrZP
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9dSTaCUHiC
"Thanks for coming." Ethan's gratitude was sincere, even if his pleased tone was a little forced.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡITcZ03hRyz
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSFcJeWIzJx
"Yes, thank you for bringing these," Hanna added gratefully, setting the bags on the table.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcRKBJz2iv7
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMkmsmFvOgH
Steve joined the two of them in the kitchen. "You're welcome, it's good to see you're both alive."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMoQJCOIuWB
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbMZLcV1CcH
"Alive and kicking, that's us," Hanna joked back as Ethan started unpacking the bags silently.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd0k9CRTrXV
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzDI0WIBbp1
"So, it really was a gang? They were after Ethan specifically?" Steve asked curiously.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnN3PdcGYqx
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5qXMr5qSlt
"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."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAjs9gnl0Ix
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCZINY0fudy
Ethan flinched as Steve gave him a friendly pat on the back.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0kJW11zgmu
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuWMzhzaOzg
Steve pulled his hand away. "Sorry, didn't mean to hurt you."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2hZmJhS6Xx
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"It's nothing, just bruises." Ethan shrugged dismissively.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD5nFL5WNBU
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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.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmhO1AYgaCW
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"Was this all you could get?" Hanna asked quickly.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2MylikVWdJ
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM1TznZw226
"Nope, there's more where that came from," Steve announced as he headed back out to the car.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnlgHa5mF8a
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuNVC1dQ0td
"Is it okay if I help carry stuff in?" Hanna asked Ethan quietly.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt1orQrLJAu
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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.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2BvteTDKQg
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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.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOQbu44tr3j
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPeIlL0G9pW
"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.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvY03UceZKS
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm3WWOItWd6
"Over there." Steve pointed to a black duffel across the room, near the hallway.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3yAsyPW6mD
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHw4HGRIld2
Hanna saw the bag from her apartment, that she'd given him the access code for. "Clothes, yes!"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4t2bmF8WXn
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLoGptuKp2i
"Exactly where you said, I was a bit surprised that you had a bag of clothes packed already," Steve commented.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAp19blVFXi
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE19TP2YVcc
"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.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaEcZPh5zcw
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRCdXWiyCur
"Let me help you with that," Steve said as he walked over to join Ethan.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3h3akX4ZzO
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0FayMyrcj1
"Sure," Ethan answered with false enthusiasm as he kept unpacking the bags, purposely avoiding Steve's gaze.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfbR5iL1vyW
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmE61YTy9wZ
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.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3JncmlC1kF
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy00Tj9JTOD
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.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKoir8chrRv
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkPX9gV6cN0
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.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKfvUh5T6Xj
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCl5dJSq50w
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.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoZ6zxbGrYb
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI6hh4mjv1W
"I've got it." Steve went to pick up the jug and his hand barely brushed Ethan's.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO8Ul9RQoYs
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Ethan jumped away from Steve, as if shocked.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1oopo0BfUP
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The two Terrans stared at Ethan, suddenly very aware of his strange behaviour.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR0gHw5RgHm
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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.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxyJIOhgYg4
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxNCqdUvCCJ
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.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHQOIXoD6pX
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqQAzyJxJoU
"Let's talk outside," Hanna told Steve before exiting through the door.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIcvrhpDqAP
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Steve glanced back at Ethan hesitantly before following Hanna reluctantly.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5fc3qmB6oW
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPcpg7BfPo6
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.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNuCCjZPXDr
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeiXNY7SOTa
"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.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4LcdHMXrOA
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4sPVf6fpZW
"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?"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLJet19jHhP
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg7CVljUfIB
"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."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwgaz7tHd0s
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh9tbJI7YWS
"Me and you are the only people who know Ethan is Charax. I know I didn't tell anyone," Hanna accused angrily.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRqrTq2XkTr
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ10saBOwnq
"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."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdD1MY15Pzq
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Hanna considered that as she continued eyeing him suspiciously, holding her blade steady.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtOlcAswYHt
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPw06jz3Nq0
"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.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6epWuILBmp
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy3OMOlkzv4
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.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAz1fLfB2Kh
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9vE85RaP1r
"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.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwLnVWyJOMm
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Hanna lowered her knife slowly, persuaded by his words. "Okay," she relented, taking a step back.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuVB3Nr5sUW
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtkO6PmUPUF
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?"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIhKoFS74Ee
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfg3GuIHbn6
"Everyone gets greedy sometimes, and that can make them do stupid things," Hanna answered coldly.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtDi7UFGSXB
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbsvKOEgrFe
"Yeah, well, not me. I'm not going to get my friend killed for some cash," Steve defended bitterly.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFrmFdX8bw1
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Hanna twirled her shiny knife. "Still, if you tell anyone about—"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvrpzZcLoZP
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDlZJIixn0D
"You'll kill me. I get it," Steve interrupted. "But I wouldn't do that."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfvMKAzPS4f
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEfQWGYwbGy
Hanna put the knife away. "Sorry, I needed to be sure. I hope you understand."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvcu1WCYC55
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Steve chuckled awkwardly. "I'm sure this whole thing would make anyone paranoid."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPxyBRfLMjb
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoTjywnEser
"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.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWofiJGCkuA
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡruEmWBVvqK
Steve nodded, accepting the excuse. "Um... I should go then."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Fnf6ctetX
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTqOCag1XHP
Hanna glanced back at the door, thinking about Ethan's earlier reaction. "That's probably for the best. Thanks again for helping us."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtMWtf6ul31
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxQWJa2XpG9
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.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwOfFmxNTGX
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNhCMJwfq4t
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.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ50PIa7Wmaz
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsJTSUBjO7M
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.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMgNJXGvnER
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTy9xEz08DT
"There you are," Hanna remarked softly.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvKhDDC7qSE
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"Yeah," Ethan mumbled.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCvKzQp9XbY
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Hanna sat down on the end of the bed. "How are you?"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsXyIshS4Bh
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYTDqEGT8EA
Ethan tilted his head up to look at her. "A little stressed."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7qmhKWzyIi
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Hanna nodded understandingly. "You looked... a little uncomfortable out back there."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeWNkwg382m
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"Yeah," Ethan agreed quietly.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuJ9dezkWRv
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"Why didn't you say anything?" Hanna had an exasperated edge to her voice.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡixbiIpoinZ
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Ethan sighed softly into the wall. "I thought I would be able to deal with it."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGYyN3wwunZ
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSzmbCwX68y
"With what exactly?" Hanna probed.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡATlAm1ljzg
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Ethan paused briefly. "Someone coming into this space, being near me."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMqAwhaEmZq
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6oV9WWry1Z
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.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcTCFPjesWH
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ94AJ9KY7h4
"It's not—" Ethan scowled then took a long breath. "I just felt like I had to get away."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcj8ppVpFVa
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXAcqqoxkJx
"Was this just about Steve?" Hanna probed gently.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0m0vv2eU0y
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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."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEq91kSSmNG
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT5Vo9oKK0x
"Am I okay?" Hanna asked hesitantly.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnEI00MwepT
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnN6IIkAW7S
"Yeah," Ethan answered softly, taking her hand gently and nuzzling it. "You're always okay."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnxCsGFzDNS
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoHC3HnfKkl
"Um... I'll keep that in mind," Hanna responded uncertainly, absolutely mystified by his behaviour. "You going to get up?"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJlHDw05fw8
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu36eKOagXD
"I think I'm going to stay here for a bit." Ethan let go of her hand.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJbRbIgTFVb
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3JMbfTprNa
"Okay," Hanna responded, before getting off the bed and walking out of the room.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFGML2DLWPw
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0spwBrj8w2
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.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdVIMqos1sA
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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.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRFfroLYiJh
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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.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTRrxREA1pN
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Ethan subtlety moved his hand away from his ankle as he glanced over her shoulder. "Crosswords?"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjjF0fEtofO
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ89bhceyZ7n
"Yup," Hanna answered happily, pulling out a pencil.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT0leidy9qa
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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.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR7pdYBtmjz
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Five minutes later, Hanna had yet to put in a single answer.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm21wdM7sFO
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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.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4swA2KfQgv
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Hanna was now biting the end of the pencil, hard.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZk0i3lxUdZ
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Ethan decided she could use a hint. "Seventeen down is pineapple."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyRzhb9jtZR
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"Hey, this is my puzzle!" Hanna protested, angling the book so he couldn't see it anymore.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqEChUmo0yA
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"So you don't want help?" Ethan asked, amused.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvp54Hoci5o
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Hanna muttered in annoyance as she wrote in the answer, pointedly not answering his question.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOLMbouOMUJ
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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.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZn68WNc1UV
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"Maybe you should start with an easier one?" Ethan suggested helpfully.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsBa1XsdFkc
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"No," Hanna answered stubbornly, without looking up.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvlkSWMEI4Q
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Ethan smiled, already feeling much better, and relishing her frustration a little too much.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDEHgUVjg6s
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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."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn6StDwtn5S
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Ethan paused for a second to think. "Vision."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn67f9vgL1H
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"Okay." Hanna marked down his answer. "Seven letters. A light source. Second letter is A."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzdfEj8ynsH
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn7amqZO3on
"Lantern," Ethan replied quickly.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9wKvoHwAlT
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Hanna gave him a skeptical look and stared at the puzzle.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNWZS7QjGmm
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"That's the answer. Lantern," Ethan repeated.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGIVc4u6Owo
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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."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEMtzT169V1
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"Ottoman." Ethan smirked slightly as Hanna filled in the sheet again.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD8rNE0omoP
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"You're good at this," Hanna commented.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnjxNHFQVlj
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Ethan couldn't resist smiling openly now.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8wM6RKn9el
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Hanna smiled back at him as she handed him the crosswords book and chewed up pencil. "You solve it then."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC5QM0bemVn
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"What happened to 'this is my puzzle'?" Ethan teased, smirking at her.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0V7aHrWzJX
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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.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3yHRFiSYSh
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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.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzPufODLUrJ
