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.143Please respect copyright.PENANAcWZ6XsqjOD
143Please respect copyright.PENANAhvRtCDjrnb
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.143Please respect copyright.PENANA1qtVPgLEHu
143Please respect copyright.PENANAGbYUKEwbcX
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.143Please respect copyright.PENANA32NtVxtWUN
143Please respect copyright.PENANAd7bho4SprN
"Steve should be here soon, you might want to wake up," Hanna teased.143Please respect copyright.PENANADpa9OX2u7R
143Please respect copyright.PENANAPHUt8AqnFG
Ethan let out a quiet, irritated groan from the sofa.143Please respect copyright.PENANAZBdIzWIOVT
143Please respect copyright.PENANAcHvOvs36KM
Hanna wondered if this was going to be a bigger problem than she had thought, given his reaction.143Please respect copyright.PENANA2vixpJq7EG
143Please respect copyright.PENANA3gxA4THuXF
"He doesn't have to come in, I can meet him outside," Hanna suggested quickly. "You won't have to see him."143Please respect copyright.PENANAkZDtArk3kS
143Please respect copyright.PENANAENHqP3tKsE
"I want to see him.” Ethan scowled slightly at the ceiling. "He's my friend too."143Please respect copyright.PENANAJ6SUCfHlB7
143Please respect copyright.PENANADuU2H6K0Iv
"Okay, but are you going to be okay with this?" Hanna asked bluntly.143Please respect copyright.PENANA3yQ8UoN1Zl
143Please respect copyright.PENANAGNn6eOBTOF
Ethan shrugged noncommittally.143Please respect copyright.PENANARrAN7LHc1d
143Please respect copyright.PENANAn8AQ2EcQ1B
"Then... me talking to him won't be a problem?" Hanna pressed.143Please respect copyright.PENANAMppa9Kg9Zg
143Please respect copyright.PENANARHXwhjbnTc
"You're not—" Ethan started to answer bitterly, then reconsidered. "You can talk to whoever you want to."143Please respect copyright.PENANAM6empQ5wpq
143Please respect copyright.PENANARDd2BQL7tw
"So you're not going to get... territorial or possessive or anything right?" Hanna asked awkwardly.143Please respect copyright.PENANALp2kbdaAoi
143Please respect copyright.PENANAqp8WzgPbMD
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.143Please respect copyright.PENANAf4FII6pkNT
143Please respect copyright.PENANAPqMklNqlQX
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.143Please respect copyright.PENANAQvaomwEeLw
143Please respect copyright.PENANAKZ9lLQ2C9T
"He's here," Hanna announced, heading towards the door.143Please respect copyright.PENANASsMmukneGg
143Please respect copyright.PENANAU5GQejzfOc
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.143Please respect copyright.PENANAaxGOtWgPPl
143Please respect copyright.PENANANQdkmqTq6h
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.143Please respect copyright.PENANAQsnqG6y9LU
143Please respect copyright.PENANAcf44CSfzWs
"Thanks for coming." Ethan's gratitude was sincere, even if his pleased tone was a little forced.143Please respect copyright.PENANAefu6Kul72m
143Please respect copyright.PENANAVw6QdinMNc
"Yes, thank you for bringing these," Hanna added gratefully, setting the bags on the table.143Please respect copyright.PENANAyKXWDNWy8I
143Please respect copyright.PENANAXAj5TNvrbw
Steve joined the two of them in the kitchen. "You're welcome, it's good to see you're both alive."143Please respect copyright.PENANA5Gnb1RUSTS
143Please respect copyright.PENANAHQuL4MAMqi
"Alive and kicking, that's us," Hanna joked back as Ethan started unpacking the bags silently.143Please respect copyright.PENANApxEcmh4G7d
143Please respect copyright.PENANA85ejWPetPL
"So, it really was a gang? They were after Ethan specifically?" Steve asked curiously.143Please respect copyright.PENANA7hj4T9tgd3
143Please respect copyright.PENANAAOLSA05kkd
"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."143Please respect copyright.PENANA27iX0BOMOf
143Please respect copyright.PENANAOqvrGbC8Ni
Ethan flinched as Steve gave him a friendly pat on the back.143Please respect copyright.PENANAQLnypLpaKQ
143Please respect copyright.PENANAozyi6xlgpL
Steve pulled his hand away. "Sorry, didn't mean to hurt you."143Please respect copyright.PENANAy3fiRIVnkA
143Please respect copyright.PENANAzT1U9PcIuO
"It's nothing, just bruises." Ethan shrugged dismissively.143Please respect copyright.PENANASpZwTAzT3C
143Please respect copyright.PENANAvY2rI1OTyV
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.143Please respect copyright.PENANAjIZeL789eC
143Please respect copyright.PENANAUgI1fbPaFH
"Was this all you could get?" Hanna asked quickly.143Please respect copyright.PENANAdSpBRDMd2l
143Please respect copyright.PENANAmESyiQgOZc
"Nope, there's more where that came from," Steve announced as he headed back out to the car.143Please respect copyright.PENANABwjICRS59w
143Please respect copyright.PENANAoNAAdl96c2
"Is it okay if I help carry stuff in?" Hanna asked Ethan quietly.143Please respect copyright.PENANAkRGDgUufHp
143Please respect copyright.PENANA4VSnEndiVn
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.143Please respect copyright.PENANAXQvZ6FngqI
143Please respect copyright.PENANAcnuHEgwsXM
Steve and Hanna brought the rest of the bags in, and by the time they were done, Ethan had already unpacked half the groceries.143Please respect copyright.PENANASSWDYz48f5
143Please respect copyright.PENANAERf7vZSYWG
"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.143Please respect copyright.PENANAMFsi7kPeyV
143Please respect copyright.PENANAoBk2IP5wo0
"Over there." Steve pointed to a black duffel across the room, near the hallway.143Please respect copyright.PENANA3TbYsnbltw
143Please respect copyright.PENANAA4PvaVVLvV
Hanna saw the bag from her apartment, that she'd given him the access code for. "Clothes, yes!"143Please respect copyright.PENANA3nifEYTmaa
143Please respect copyright.PENANA2E4Y6Uv32l
"Exactly where you said, I was a bit surprised that you had a bag of clothes packed already," Steve commented.143Please respect copyright.PENANApg5O2DhUHM
143Please respect copyright.PENANACK1epXDGu0
"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.143Please respect copyright.PENANAjNpzPaSOqd
143Please respect copyright.PENANAL0TpirNglX
"Let me help you with that," Steve said as he walked over to join Ethan.143Please respect copyright.PENANAZFodQkTRoB
143Please respect copyright.PENANAZjJW7qjdeO
"Sure," Ethan answered with false enthusiasm as he kept unpacking the bags, purposely avoiding Steve's gaze.143Please respect copyright.PENANAIZhQu6gsIp
143Please respect copyright.PENANA4y9QIQ8YmG
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.143Please respect copyright.PENANAe7b57js8QR
143Please respect copyright.PENANAhk6mtcIxJ3
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.143Please respect copyright.PENANAIS2mlUjEy8
143Please respect copyright.PENANAncRNZcWfHY
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.143Please respect copyright.PENANAevi6EsEhk9
143Please respect copyright.PENANANGrpowKoV8
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.143Please respect copyright.PENANAs42QIzW2mr
143Please respect copyright.PENANA4X3hNBTFXk
"I've got it." Steve went to pick up the jug and his hand barely brushed Ethan's.143Please respect copyright.PENANA347ZbuPxY9
143Please respect copyright.PENANAOFgksRZQbQ
Ethan jumped away from Steve, as if shocked.143Please respect copyright.PENANAwLrfgJayPA
143Please respect copyright.PENANA82btMsd2Mo
The two Terrans stared at Ethan, suddenly very aware of his strange behaviour.143Please respect copyright.PENANAsOIfYV9Z9g
143Please respect copyright.PENANAoMLNSTGFIJ
Ethan realized everyone was looking at him. "There are more bags to unpack," he stated awkwardly, trying to shift their attention away.143Please respect copyright.PENANA1VzKVk4o7f
143Please respect copyright.PENANA7Zqnkgdwkj
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.143Please respect copyright.PENANAM9KPAyyJZT
143Please respect copyright.PENANAoI7rCPmjms
"Let's talk outside," Hanna told Steve before exiting through the door.143Please respect copyright.PENANAs7D7cQlEPv
143Please respect copyright.PENANA5ZngOedfaZ
Steve glanced back at Ethan hesitantly before following Hanna reluctantly.143Please respect copyright.PENANApeYE7IJMCR
143Please respect copyright.PENANAIZfLVTBvQx
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.143Please respect copyright.PENANAWMZ3u5PqFa
143Please respect copyright.PENANAEC4aekiapj
"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.143Please respect copyright.PENANAFhXhOwuywi
143Please respect copyright.PENANAtvd2RmTgTp
"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?"143Please respect copyright.PENANAdVGVWZNy1H
143Please respect copyright.PENANA6mzLf91pSs
"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."143Please respect copyright.PENANAOof5TMDP80
143Please respect copyright.PENANAimmnHfVgYg
"Me and you are the only people who know Ethan is Charax. I know I didn't tell anyone," Hanna accused angrily.143Please respect copyright.PENANAOmoI81LJy7
143Please respect copyright.PENANAJXXpQfHTEX
"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."143Please respect copyright.PENANAKxo9Le6q3K
143Please respect copyright.PENANALeaYsxoDSu
Hanna considered that as she continued eyeing him suspiciously, holding her blade steady.143Please respect copyright.PENANAizK4oSksZ0
143Please respect copyright.PENANAdxyVK8Ox9v
"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.143Please respect copyright.PENANAsuqMY1rfBZ
143Please respect copyright.PENANA3AAfKXM9Oa
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.143Please respect copyright.PENANAspWHkKOB9h
143Please respect copyright.PENANAMfUtEt1UEs
"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.143Please respect copyright.PENANAug3jSfWDOZ
143Please respect copyright.PENANAnfIH9FotPC
Hanna lowered her knife slowly, persuaded by his words. "Okay," she relented, taking a step back.143Please respect copyright.PENANApWoMzxkQnW
143Please respect copyright.PENANAXIInND1gs8
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?"143Please respect copyright.PENANA6d0t87aQgm
143Please respect copyright.PENANA0kjs7D3Q8G
"Everyone gets greedy sometimes, and that can make them do stupid things," Hanna answered coldly.143Please respect copyright.PENANAJmOmi3FECm
143Please respect copyright.PENANAszTHbrjKJj
"Yeah, well, not me. I'm not going to get my friend killed for some cash," Steve defended bitterly.143Please respect copyright.PENANAt6tFUooZis
143Please respect copyright.PENANA2cqaH0Rsth
Hanna twirled her shiny knife. "Still, if you tell anyone about—"143Please respect copyright.PENANAcCJoBDbqDP
143Please respect copyright.PENANA9MAbkyHMG1
"You'll kill me. I get it," Steve interrupted. "But I wouldn't do that."143Please respect copyright.PENANAsVYiY00JvM
143Please respect copyright.PENANAd54bOqOtPC
Hanna put the knife away. "Sorry, I needed to be sure. I hope you understand."143Please respect copyright.PENANAiJNfivjNen
143Please respect copyright.PENANA9hom9O2Ab2
Steve chuckled awkwardly. "I'm sure this whole thing would make anyone paranoid."143Please respect copyright.PENANAELxFyd7zvq
143Please respect copyright.PENANA8oy6hNWtLZ
"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.143Please respect copyright.PENANA4JJnJjeQri
143Please respect copyright.PENANAVjp5lcDCwd
Steve nodded, accepting the excuse. "Um... I should go then."143Please respect copyright.PENANA6UYVp1Aoyj
143Please respect copyright.PENANAetkQyGhZNp
Hanna glanced back at the door, thinking about Ethan's earlier reaction. "That's probably for the best. Thanks again for helping us."143Please respect copyright.PENANAswPGfamDiZ
143Please respect copyright.PENANAmO9BEjHygk
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.143Please respect copyright.PENANAizbOipxXyZ
143Please respect copyright.PENANAJKX2JieUSg
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.143Please respect copyright.PENANADghHGFKOrY
143Please respect copyright.PENANA9Qt4HW8EJ5
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.143Please respect copyright.PENANAA1D5l9ldqE
143Please respect copyright.PENANAPbWBggPyUh
"There you are," Hanna remarked softly.143Please respect copyright.PENANAksQgnaqmBo
143Please respect copyright.PENANAHXvJ3ZCnUc
"Yeah," Ethan mumbled.143Please respect copyright.PENANAAmxN8T71wu
143Please respect copyright.PENANA1tDIUmsEIY
Hanna sat down on the end of the bed. "How are you?"143Please respect copyright.PENANA4138tcO13u
143Please respect copyright.PENANAWoET0fmOfD
Ethan tilted his head up to look at her. "A little stressed."143Please respect copyright.PENANApjU8erxkPX
143Please respect copyright.PENANAGvvVfOZpU0
Hanna nodded understandingly. "You looked... a little uncomfortable out back there."143Please respect copyright.PENANAaaQZwzTRQY
143Please respect copyright.PENANAyj3rZSjZzI
"Yeah," Ethan agreed quietly.143Please respect copyright.PENANAx1fgExpCbm
143Please respect copyright.PENANAbJhEAfQ9bl
"Why didn't you say anything?" Hanna had an exasperated edge to her voice.143Please respect copyright.PENANAdDq7MJZ8MH
143Please respect copyright.PENANA3YkJZoYHNE
Ethan sighed softly into the wall. "I thought I would be able to deal with it."143Please respect copyright.PENANAAPKC8bgHJ9
143Please respect copyright.PENANAyczpCyZIAi
"With what exactly?" Hanna probed.143Please respect copyright.PENANAiEVyWqsOvx
143Please respect copyright.PENANAbFrqbMNGi1
Ethan paused briefly. "Someone coming into this space, being near me."143Please respect copyright.PENANARhUK56AHGP
143Please respect copyright.PENANAr12ub3mmKe
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.143Please respect copyright.PENANAYnfIiQy9gM
143Please respect copyright.PENANAZXbE87MkNj
"It's not—" Ethan scowled then took a long breath. "I just felt like I had to get away."143Please respect copyright.PENANAx3zrVv2aVf
143Please respect copyright.PENANARE93Ckq2O4
"Was this just about Steve?" Hanna probed gently.143Please respect copyright.PENANAYVE34TMAqJ
143Please respect copyright.PENANA157HotYBVI
Ethan nodded, adjusting his arm to press into his side. "I really don't want to be around people right now."143Please respect copyright.PENANAxto8LYZxAF
143Please respect copyright.PENANALknvU8QtTS
"Am I okay?" Hanna asked hesitantly.143Please respect copyright.PENANAfW9fb6CWUE
143Please respect copyright.PENANAM663mtyXLC
"Yeah," Ethan answered softly, taking her hand gently and nuzzling it. "You're always okay."143Please respect copyright.PENANAzCRIGJDWVd
143Please respect copyright.PENANAnccFkjYMfD
"Um... I'll keep that in mind," Hanna responded uncertainly, absolutely mystified by his behaviour. "You going to get up?"143Please respect copyright.PENANAdc65m7wkdf
143Please respect copyright.PENANABid9DTdmRV
"I think I'm going to stay here for a bit." Ethan let go of her hand.143Please respect copyright.PENANAlkLKoZnawp
143Please respect copyright.PENANAXLruinjAX6
"Okay," Hanna responded, before getting off the bed and walking out of the room.143Please respect copyright.PENANApe78AIpBWB
143Please respect copyright.PENANArXlNJOv77x
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.143Please respect copyright.PENANACByoK98f2K
143Please respect copyright.PENANAQ4mmCjd2pa
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.143Please respect copyright.PENANARlouI5L3Nr
143Please respect copyright.PENANAt42rl2Trk8
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.143Please respect copyright.PENANAqEKNTP9gVf
143Please respect copyright.PENANACsXdaAAarv
Ethan subtlety moved his hand away from his ankle as he glanced over her shoulder. "Crosswords?"143Please respect copyright.PENANAXjMA8iqj49
143Please respect copyright.PENANA9D9hQ5trMz
"Yup," Hanna answered happily, pulling out a pencil.143Please respect copyright.PENANA7JyoADSdiE
143Please respect copyright.PENANAUb67xApPx3
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.143Please respect copyright.PENANAMVesxBE9gH
143Please respect copyright.PENANAGsMfZawCWd
Five minutes later, Hanna had yet to put in a single answer.143Please respect copyright.PENANAYGlBiKMW4O
143Please respect copyright.PENANABjIiMdbest
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.143Please respect copyright.PENANALt0w5uOTNQ
143Please respect copyright.PENANAWP9fe1PXg3
Hanna was now biting the end of the pencil, hard.143Please respect copyright.PENANALfUQWOYP3v
143Please respect copyright.PENANA61mVoGTQpy
Ethan decided she could use a hint. "Seventeen down is pineapple."143Please respect copyright.PENANA68waBt3EoJ
143Please respect copyright.PENANA7JnPUSdoR1
"Hey, this is my puzzle!" Hanna protested, angling the book so he couldn't see it anymore.143Please respect copyright.PENANAI8kK1W75AX
143Please respect copyright.PENANAtXDLPmxkPO
"So you don't want help?" Ethan asked, amused.143Please respect copyright.PENANAIUmsiRmM3R
143Please respect copyright.PENANATfUOfwfyCT
Hanna muttered in annoyance as she wrote in the answer, pointedly not answering his question.143Please respect copyright.PENANAsHxlSEpuAC
143Please respect copyright.PENANAXr9sMs8myE
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.143Please respect copyright.PENANAPtPyjMF2f8
143Please respect copyright.PENANAFBCKlnBjo3
"Maybe you should start with an easier one?" Ethan suggested helpfully.143Please respect copyright.PENANAbOejtE5fUe
143Please respect copyright.PENANA3vQ8Wq67Gq
"No," Hanna answered stubbornly, without looking up.143Please respect copyright.PENANAxLs7zJyOEV
143Please respect copyright.PENANAObHsxr7VOF
Ethan smiled, already feeling much better, and relishing her frustration a little too much.143Please respect copyright.PENANAUGhkJ6uLMs
143Please respect copyright.PENANAul7swOSwpK
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."143Please respect copyright.PENANALYeXllg5X9
143Please respect copyright.PENANAryj9cE3ZAw
Ethan paused for a second to think. "Vision."143Please respect copyright.PENANAXxPpym4p60
143Please respect copyright.PENANA50Yd6W188P
"Okay." Hanna marked down his answer. "Seven letters. A light source. Second letter is A."143Please respect copyright.PENANAMriDB5x43N
143Please respect copyright.PENANAWKJT1wupYS
"Lantern," Ethan replied quickly.143Please respect copyright.PENANA6kGI6kt2e6
143Please respect copyright.PENANArufyRvBzom
Hanna gave him a skeptical look and stared at the puzzle.143Please respect copyright.PENANA9XmpnAe9AG
143Please respect copyright.PENANA4UyK1FmFBO
"That's the answer. Lantern," Ethan repeated.143Please respect copyright.PENANAwEXa6S5cnB
143Please respect copyright.PENANAMVDUIWnaxs
"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."143Please respect copyright.PENANA9J9GW1AmvW
143Please respect copyright.PENANAxCC219jtkb
"Ottoman." Ethan smirked slightly as Hanna filled in the sheet again.143Please respect copyright.PENANA2KpWOYobGc
143Please respect copyright.PENANAoJPolZHjFk
"You're good at this," Hanna commented.143Please respect copyright.PENANAeQQXdOPn6P
143Please respect copyright.PENANAqXeYhQo7HG
Ethan couldn't resist smiling openly now.143Please respect copyright.PENANAwaJEO65MAP
143Please respect copyright.PENANAYUVqPsO3D4
Hanna smiled back at him as she handed him the crosswords book and chewed up pencil. "You solve it then."143Please respect copyright.PENANAryEJWQKojB
143Please respect copyright.PENANAPYUzADGi8O
"What happened to 'this is my puzzle'?" Ethan teased, smirking at her.143Please respect copyright.PENANAu0fCb5UttW
143Please respect copyright.PENANA4b7ypD6gKQ
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.143Please respect copyright.PENANAP1gIu4gPYS
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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.143Please respect copyright.PENANAKFUeLjIB6w