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.76Please respect copyright.PENANA62igtydch4
76Please respect copyright.PENANAVt4rmvCcbH
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.76Please respect copyright.PENANAzjUNxMyuEF
76Please respect copyright.PENANAEZd72NvhAB
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.76Please respect copyright.PENANAn4bBZod83I
76Please respect copyright.PENANAa6h9W3oKgJ
"Steve should be here soon, you might want to wake up," Hanna teased.76Please respect copyright.PENANA2BVjMJXLqA
76Please respect copyright.PENANAaculqIzoxJ
Ethan let out a quiet, irritated groan from the sofa.76Please respect copyright.PENANAQoaE75ttU5
76Please respect copyright.PENANArf1SbnVY1Z
Hanna wondered if this was going to be a bigger problem than she had thought, given his reaction.76Please respect copyright.PENANAfqOsZM1W4S
76Please respect copyright.PENANAnCFVal0zRN
"He doesn't have to come in, I can meet him outside," Hanna suggested quickly. "You won't have to see him."76Please respect copyright.PENANAdvaxntomDL
76Please respect copyright.PENANAP5Tp7MrxSG
"I want to see him.” Ethan scowled slightly at the ceiling. "He's my friend too."76Please respect copyright.PENANAT1UzmbzZMA
76Please respect copyright.PENANAXI3q2bN3aF
"Okay, but are you going to be okay with this?" Hanna asked bluntly.76Please respect copyright.PENANAPWaDS62CVN
76Please respect copyright.PENANApwb5qHvxe4
Ethan shrugged noncommittally.76Please respect copyright.PENANAlFefqrsaRe
76Please respect copyright.PENANAs9E4bnHwje
"Then... me talking to him won't be a problem?" Hanna pressed.76Please respect copyright.PENANAnojgtLduZl
76Please respect copyright.PENANASj9KohnfiJ
"You're not—" Ethan started to answer bitterly, then reconsidered. "You can talk to whoever you want to."76Please respect copyright.PENANA7KR2BnCg4s
76Please respect copyright.PENANAf4wChgc8Mz
"So you're not going to get... territorial or possessive or anything right?" Hanna asked awkwardly.76Please respect copyright.PENANAUOwpfAS6sn
76Please respect copyright.PENANAlfUtZav8Oz
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.76Please respect copyright.PENANAkuhqGJAK1a
76Please respect copyright.PENANAVQxg6XLEb2
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.76Please respect copyright.PENANA4wpVPF6Ble
76Please respect copyright.PENANAt0pKmmiOCs
"He's here," Hanna announced, heading towards the door.76Please respect copyright.PENANADwV9kE585X
76Please respect copyright.PENANAs7g6s73SM8
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.76Please respect copyright.PENANAMklOhHa7Lm
76Please respect copyright.PENANAAviNtfhuUp
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.76Please respect copyright.PENANAPziYNVcUqe
76Please respect copyright.PENANAg6ESPc2VcK
"Thanks for coming." Ethan's gratitude was sincere, even if his pleased tone was a little forced.76Please respect copyright.PENANAM6ZNOOYlAu
76Please respect copyright.PENANAZZfkw2J2ZL
"Yes, thank you for bringing these," Hanna added gratefully, setting the bags on the table.76Please respect copyright.PENANASoEW2FReRh
76Please respect copyright.PENANAPH7TPXgYKo
Steve joined the two of them in the kitchen. "You're welcome, it's good to see you're both alive."76Please respect copyright.PENANAcyJGjnetOA
76Please respect copyright.PENANAh7TaHUaGit
"Alive and kicking, that's us," Hanna joked back as Ethan started unpacking the bags silently.76Please respect copyright.PENANAq1k4YlyjRH
76Please respect copyright.PENANArfB36bCHFn
"So, it really was a gang? They were after Ethan specifically?" Steve asked curiously.76Please respect copyright.PENANAUWK6iqJKvp
76Please respect copyright.PENANArQiLPB0Kxo
"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."76Please respect copyright.PENANAp2cSQOHGRe
76Please respect copyright.PENANAMsGGCJcpC8
Ethan flinched as Steve gave him a friendly pat on the back.76Please respect copyright.PENANArdLv2nrWb0
76Please respect copyright.PENANACYBe1LAuQW
Steve pulled his hand away. "Sorry, didn't mean to hurt you."76Please respect copyright.PENANA4OrmPLlTah
76Please respect copyright.PENANAJeCTZOzYMt
"It's nothing, just bruises." Ethan shrugged dismissively.76Please respect copyright.PENANAKdP30l0sid
76Please respect copyright.PENANAtBdt8khsm8
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.76Please respect copyright.PENANAPI4jyAYmgx
76Please respect copyright.PENANAcuEaYky720
"Was this all you could get?" Hanna asked quickly.76Please respect copyright.PENANAgLVSy243Sd
76Please respect copyright.PENANAfKAPFSmQ12
"Nope, there's more where that came from," Steve announced as he headed back out to the car.76Please respect copyright.PENANAlhTTG3n0UH
76Please respect copyright.PENANA16MWYOqCUV
"Is it okay if I help carry stuff in?" Hanna asked Ethan quietly.76Please respect copyright.PENANAMBDdRzriQn
76Please respect copyright.PENANA9RahHkAAjL
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.76Please respect copyright.PENANA2OgK9pPYCV
76Please respect copyright.PENANAVivRFAbotB
Steve and Hanna brought the rest of the bags in, and by the time they were done, Ethan had already unpacked half the groceries.76Please respect copyright.PENANAud3b5YdfZQ
76Please respect copyright.PENANAlf5kEzgssY
"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.76Please respect copyright.PENANA3v5SBeW2Qx
76Please respect copyright.PENANAlQKE5SjWaF
"Over there." Steve pointed to a black duffel across the room, near the hallway.76Please respect copyright.PENANAGxgvlGtrM3
76Please respect copyright.PENANAxNrnSKYC8a
Hanna saw the bag from her apartment, that she'd given him the access code for. "Clothes, yes!"76Please respect copyright.PENANAh0OUGp2T3X
76Please respect copyright.PENANAd8ffID9mYV
"Exactly where you said, I was a bit surprised that you had a bag of clothes packed already," Steve commented.76Please respect copyright.PENANAMWaGENRMTL
76Please respect copyright.PENANAZQzJsj54K1
"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.76Please respect copyright.PENANA7pWcQxn1OA
76Please respect copyright.PENANAG0oU7psUiZ
"Let me help you with that," Steve said as he walked over to join Ethan.76Please respect copyright.PENANAxmel1BzKJJ
76Please respect copyright.PENANAwC48i2ZMpu
"Sure," Ethan answered with false enthusiasm as he kept unpacking the bags, purposely avoiding Steve's gaze.76Please respect copyright.PENANAo9Z3YlyQfs
76Please respect copyright.PENANAy8XVCO39cY
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.76Please respect copyright.PENANA82EBgOH2vM
76Please respect copyright.PENANAfyAi1doVfd
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.76Please respect copyright.PENANAzX7YuU9mUX
76Please respect copyright.PENANA25wDKibmsS
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.76Please respect copyright.PENANAUdJpFbMVrc
76Please respect copyright.PENANAP3z1SqtPl6
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.76Please respect copyright.PENANAHMPe0tRHXV
76Please respect copyright.PENANA6vwErD5eJO
"I've got it." Steve went to pick up the jug and his hand barely brushed Ethan's.76Please respect copyright.PENANA4x0Sl7t2Ww
76Please respect copyright.PENANAJZRO8jOrKm
Ethan jumped away from Steve, as if shocked.76Please respect copyright.PENANA1VikiuT6i5
76Please respect copyright.PENANAAHvEAGPA5o
The two Terrans stared at Ethan, suddenly very aware of his strange behaviour.76Please respect copyright.PENANAdVYxehHujD
76Please respect copyright.PENANAgK6yyVAQ3M
Ethan realized everyone was looking at him. "There are more bags to unpack," he stated awkwardly, trying to shift their attention away.76Please respect copyright.PENANAu4lu9HyZGk
76Please respect copyright.PENANAhAYj7tEdkX
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.76Please respect copyright.PENANAoqoTdskGIt
76Please respect copyright.PENANABurrKsnXUD
"Let's talk outside," Hanna told Steve before exiting through the door.76Please respect copyright.PENANADdErw6PWpX
76Please respect copyright.PENANAuVQOGoAi9H
Steve glanced back at Ethan hesitantly before following Hanna reluctantly.76Please respect copyright.PENANAAuhccxK9YG
76Please respect copyright.PENANAqUQ7Sn7wxG
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.76Please respect copyright.PENANAgFdUTru6WI
76Please respect copyright.PENANAqXDY7uT1LM
"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.76Please respect copyright.PENANAsmfuyiuN7r
76Please respect copyright.PENANAN9OYNjvvHB
"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?"76Please respect copyright.PENANAqWscGHCoKh
76Please respect copyright.PENANATE6SUAshLB
"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."76Please respect copyright.PENANAtFnDiwtb9v
76Please respect copyright.PENANAzFGyRph09d
"Me and you are the only people who know Ethan is Charax. I know I didn't tell anyone," Hanna accused angrily.76Please respect copyright.PENANAHOVOVCCGLO
76Please respect copyright.PENANA3ZfglusBiZ
"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."76Please respect copyright.PENANAEAtsTuL2oJ
76Please respect copyright.PENANAXXDL8g4iAa
Hanna considered that as she continued eyeing him suspiciously, holding her blade steady.76Please respect copyright.PENANAppJmtO2wvm
76Please respect copyright.PENANAGaPuYJR82b
"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.76Please respect copyright.PENANAf6bU91kt1E
76Please respect copyright.PENANA0nw2L3roji
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.76Please respect copyright.PENANA1Zlotejob6
76Please respect copyright.PENANAzuC93glKYH
"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.76Please respect copyright.PENANAyBUpY4BqWG
76Please respect copyright.PENANAr6DBEggY8l
Hanna lowered her knife slowly, persuaded by his words. "Okay," she relented, taking a step back.76Please respect copyright.PENANAZ4QuodXhuW
76Please respect copyright.PENANA0Al2lKGC7o
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?"76Please respect copyright.PENANA3f8F4o3DDN
76Please respect copyright.PENANAkX9Ras5iW1
"Everyone gets greedy sometimes, and that can make them do stupid things," Hanna answered coldly.76Please respect copyright.PENANAR1F48jqYHg
76Please respect copyright.PENANAuyrY1eg5AA
"Yeah, well, not me. I'm not going to get my friend killed for some cash," Steve defended bitterly.76Please respect copyright.PENANAWez4aY2yiW
76Please respect copyright.PENANA9y15ZRFHSK
Hanna twirled her shiny knife. "Still, if you tell anyone about—"76Please respect copyright.PENANAyH5FLbyWeA
76Please respect copyright.PENANA1eK6FnHAj6
"You'll kill me. I get it," Steve interrupted. "But I wouldn't do that."76Please respect copyright.PENANAVZNFh5LWzD
76Please respect copyright.PENANAEw65dxvXNs
Hanna put the knife away. "Sorry, I needed to be sure. I hope you understand."76Please respect copyright.PENANAWY5gcLeK3p
76Please respect copyright.PENANAUQheGltEK6
Steve chuckled awkwardly. "I'm sure this whole thing would make anyone paranoid."76Please respect copyright.PENANAbUawk6mui1
76Please respect copyright.PENANA9tQu83Z3FR
"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.76Please respect copyright.PENANA2jtG3OhAeO
76Please respect copyright.PENANA5PQWTFLBkg
Steve nodded, accepting the excuse. "Um... I should go then."76Please respect copyright.PENANAFHbFcFsqlZ
76Please respect copyright.PENANAyTWfoXLKEU
Hanna glanced back at the door, thinking about Ethan's earlier reaction. "That's probably for the best. Thanks again for helping us."76Please respect copyright.PENANA0W2wdSGuZA
76Please respect copyright.PENANAQu5qEeT2et
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.76Please respect copyright.PENANAiALkpqt0kz
76Please respect copyright.PENANAiTZB6mg5ML
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.76Please respect copyright.PENANAibFmRHVC5X
76Please respect copyright.PENANAZI7wgix9P4
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.76Please respect copyright.PENANA54CzUVnR94
76Please respect copyright.PENANAWAHxH4GUhm
"There you are," Hanna remarked softly.76Please respect copyright.PENANA0KusBwtFlG
76Please respect copyright.PENANAqwsXAgG0J3
"Yeah," Ethan mumbled.76Please respect copyright.PENANAvE5DYXTSh9
76Please respect copyright.PENANAeKsQbWCg8s
Hanna sat down on the end of the bed. "How are you?"76Please respect copyright.PENANA91Wiw5NMuh
76Please respect copyright.PENANA2cWEy0QEL8
Ethan tilted his head up to look at her. "A little stressed."76Please respect copyright.PENANADKPQo2q8yY
76Please respect copyright.PENANAeyeNryZJQ6
Hanna nodded understandingly. "You looked... a little uncomfortable out back there."76Please respect copyright.PENANAXuYBn3BNKM
76Please respect copyright.PENANA2Ge3AaQRBD
"Yeah," Ethan agreed quietly.76Please respect copyright.PENANA62Djc9c1dK
76Please respect copyright.PENANA2Kjx7XS56T
"Why didn't you say anything?" Hanna had an exasperated edge to her voice.76Please respect copyright.PENANAsj2mNHOaKw
76Please respect copyright.PENANAdm8Kuo8fry
Ethan sighed softly into the wall. "I thought I would be able to deal with it."76Please respect copyright.PENANA6pFjFM4dgM
76Please respect copyright.PENANAj6ximjJa7W
"With what exactly?" Hanna probed.76Please respect copyright.PENANAIjEmAl3uO5
76Please respect copyright.PENANAdX4EfQcUGy
Ethan paused briefly. "Someone coming into this space, being near me."76Please respect copyright.PENANAF7C4aoG9Gq
76Please respect copyright.PENANA1H35L3CyjI
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.76Please respect copyright.PENANAVm04d2vlqE
76Please respect copyright.PENANAUdiDfeRM5i
"It's not—" Ethan scowled then took a long breath. "I just felt like I had to get away."76Please respect copyright.PENANAvNkOD8J06e
76Please respect copyright.PENANApy838ATIYQ
"Was this just about Steve?" Hanna probed gently.76Please respect copyright.PENANAaxFTnIl5ds
76Please respect copyright.PENANAehkkSzYzm2
Ethan nodded, adjusting his arm to press into his side. "I really don't want to be around people right now."76Please respect copyright.PENANAUVf7v50Yx4
76Please respect copyright.PENANA2Sv2RSusRn
"Am I okay?" Hanna asked hesitantly.76Please respect copyright.PENANAIMzmyOn4uI
76Please respect copyright.PENANAecq3BUBWjT
"Yeah," Ethan answered softly, taking her hand gently and nuzzling it. "You're always okay."76Please respect copyright.PENANAOhQlHwC2h7
76Please respect copyright.PENANA8ELDrCTg0j
"Um... I'll keep that in mind," Hanna responded uncertainly, absolutely mystified by his behaviour. "You going to get up?"76Please respect copyright.PENANAgrETP9jt92
76Please respect copyright.PENANAwJf7uPQ2oo
"I think I'm going to stay here for a bit." Ethan let go of her hand.76Please respect copyright.PENANAAUoySG5FiG
76Please respect copyright.PENANAP1i49uEe2s
"Okay," Hanna responded, before getting off the bed and walking out of the room.76Please respect copyright.PENANAp4D8DmsIiY
76Please respect copyright.PENANA2Oq8Z0BEcn
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.76Please respect copyright.PENANAzH3URaS2VT
76Please respect copyright.PENANAzlk5KKsY3G
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.76Please respect copyright.PENANAs9fo0jPfxB
76Please respect copyright.PENANAtrCZPt0QK2
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.76Please respect copyright.PENANA1yQBcjFzI2
76Please respect copyright.PENANAL9MJkGGZ0F
Ethan subtlety moved his hand away from his ankle as he glanced over her shoulder. "Crosswords?"76Please respect copyright.PENANAvpxPyehRRt
76Please respect copyright.PENANASvbrCjGjMR
"Yup," Hanna answered happily, pulling out a pencil.76Please respect copyright.PENANA4ymzWlviFx
76Please respect copyright.PENANAqNZdiVGnQJ
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.76Please respect copyright.PENANAKN2DC51pqC
76Please respect copyright.PENANAVR5ZOafpqK
Five minutes later, Hanna had yet to put in a single answer.76Please respect copyright.PENANAbIxN954ZKS
76Please respect copyright.PENANA49cGwe1ZEO
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.76Please respect copyright.PENANA8G0UQCruj2
76Please respect copyright.PENANASYLikij6x0
Hanna was now biting the end of the pencil, hard.76Please respect copyright.PENANA7zI1dhEHcc
76Please respect copyright.PENANAtRZDGLE60E
Ethan decided she could use a hint. "Seventeen down is pineapple."76Please respect copyright.PENANAPQHWRdPkEA
76Please respect copyright.PENANAzUt3tGulcn
"Hey, this is my puzzle!" Hanna protested, angling the book so he couldn't see it anymore.76Please respect copyright.PENANAf6i0M9qIg0
76Please respect copyright.PENANAON19Nrw1gO
"So you don't want help?" Ethan asked, amused.76Please respect copyright.PENANAMrhYKc4OyV
76Please respect copyright.PENANAm7qh87azr9
Hanna muttered in annoyance as she wrote in the answer, pointedly not answering his question.76Please respect copyright.PENANAl232OmgC5T
76Please respect copyright.PENANAqCjpb6FCAP
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.76Please respect copyright.PENANAnDDaJqjE5Z
76Please respect copyright.PENANAv0yBSacZqn
"Maybe you should start with an easier one?" Ethan suggested helpfully.76Please respect copyright.PENANAL6KWdNcWm4
76Please respect copyright.PENANALOWCFGhZLA
"No," Hanna answered stubbornly, without looking up.76Please respect copyright.PENANAqQAkphJrWi
76Please respect copyright.PENANAtHKQBxrZ5O
Ethan smiled, already feeling much better, and relishing her frustration a little too much.76Please respect copyright.PENANAk2KEIUGiGr
76Please respect copyright.PENANAPxSrMvIRlV
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."76Please respect copyright.PENANAQ6CdUv1r48
76Please respect copyright.PENANA7JTqWH8ac3
Ethan paused for a second to think. "Vision."76Please respect copyright.PENANAZCbfSXw5C2
76Please respect copyright.PENANAYsMqkXT3IG
"Okay." Hanna marked down his answer. "Seven letters. A light source. Second letter is A."76Please respect copyright.PENANAk82j96MZY9
76Please respect copyright.PENANAWqwuDW57QR
"Lantern," Ethan replied quickly.76Please respect copyright.PENANAINDctiTm4a
76Please respect copyright.PENANASQTCImOO3B
Hanna gave him a skeptical look and stared at the puzzle.76Please respect copyright.PENANAjnQaYIbIqF
76Please respect copyright.PENANAg6Yfr1cTnl
"That's the answer. Lantern," Ethan repeated.76Please respect copyright.PENANAi9vn1Vsqu4
76Please respect copyright.PENANA89PlFTRaV0
"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."76Please respect copyright.PENANAaVg41nYAj2
76Please respect copyright.PENANA0NOqQDGJHm
"Ottoman." Ethan smirked slightly as Hanna filled in the sheet again.76Please respect copyright.PENANA19QtJn2yGh
76Please respect copyright.PENANA8uvelnfJnL
"You're good at this," Hanna commented.76Please respect copyright.PENANAXbDriT0dbc
76Please respect copyright.PENANA7UwcKUmeSv
Ethan couldn't resist smiling openly now.76Please respect copyright.PENANAavc1x1C95z
76Please respect copyright.PENANAh0UPcCDnB6
Hanna smiled back at him as she handed him the crosswords book and chewed up pencil. "You solve it then."76Please respect copyright.PENANAXKr5wpAfeY
76Please respect copyright.PENANAu4wnOz9dJW
"What happened to 'this is my puzzle'?" Ethan teased, smirking at her.76Please respect copyright.PENANA3pdqyZFTXu
76Please respect copyright.PENANAos1tVpbebT
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.76Please respect copyright.PENANACDPkTHHsV3
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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.76Please respect copyright.PENANA4sxw60kFGE