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.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBPOuOOEaCw
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As much as Hanna was looking forward to what he was bringing, she couldn't shake that nagging feeling that Steve might have told the dealers about Ethan originally. Ethan trusted him, but that didn’t mean much to her, so she decided to stay vigilante. If Steve was a greedy backstabber, then she knew how to deal with him, as she'd handled those kind of people her whole life. Keep your enemies close, Hanna thought coldly, and, preferably, within stabbing range.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8rknyPjCoo
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Hanna looked at her phone again, based on his last text, Steve should be arriving now. She checked the window for the umpteenth time but there was no sign of his car before she glanced back at Ethan, lying on the sofa, evidently still tired. Despite his closed eyes, she knew he was awake, the way his hands kept fidgeting was an obvious tell.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP550Yxsxb0
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"Steve should be here soon, you might want to wake up," Hanna teased.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLRGqj0VaCN
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Ethan let out a quiet, irritated groan from the sofa.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzXSDWJ1SUG
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Hanna wondered if this was going to be a bigger problem than she had thought, given his reaction.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuyodsb2wyz
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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."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQQ4qgFONzD
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"I want to see him.” Ethan scowled slightly at the ceiling. "He's my friend too."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAHCM7Jc3wg
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"Okay, but are you going to be okay with this?" Hanna asked bluntly.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqAhPR5o0t4
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Ethan shrugged noncommittally.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwwxyKiK5NS
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"Then... me talking to him won't be a problem?" Hanna pressed.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsDKnbTOB4O
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"You're not—" Ethan started to answer bitterly, then reconsidered. "You can talk to whoever you want to."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxTebN8dYRi
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"So you're not going to get... territorial or possessive or anything right?" Hanna asked awkwardly.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2rZVUuytcD
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Ethan was very familiar with the Terran stereotypes about Charax heats. "No. That's not a symptom," he stated dryly. Maybe I'd feel more aggressive if every inch of me wasn't sore, he thought grumpily.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdNxXesqtAS
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Their conversation was interrupted by the sound of a car outside. Hanna went to the front window to see Steve's silver car driving up in from of the building.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNdOCrvapfp
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"He's here," Hanna announced, heading towards the door.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL0wCNSCRu2
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Ethan got up off the sofa, stretching his stiff muscles, preparing himself. His body only wanted to do two things right now. Pretending to act like a Terran was not one of those things, but he’d been doing that his whole life, a few minutes was nothing in comparison.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXf910nzYRn
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Hanna opened the door for Steve, who had way too many grocery bags in his hands, as Ethan walked into the kitchen. "Let me take those," Hanna offered, taking the bags from him and carrying them over to the kitchen easily.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNlKsCZGTxq
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"Thanks for coming." Ethan's gratitude was sincere, even if his pleased tone was a little forced.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjM3q2cv3Rs
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"Yes, thank you for bringing these," Hanna added gratefully, setting the bags on the table.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzRMThChg4W
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Steve joined the two of them in the kitchen. "You're welcome, it's good to see you're both alive."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7vQQlpXwno
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"Alive and kicking, that's us," Hanna joked back as Ethan started unpacking the bags silently.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOfdReEUWic
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"So, it really was a gang? They were after Ethan specifically?" Steve asked curiously.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVfukRp6zRr
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"That's what it seemed like, looks like they knew what they were doing," Hanna answered vaguely, adding false uncertainty in an attempt to cover up her own knowledge. She’d avoided giving Steve too many details, out of concern that he might not accept her lies as easily as Ethan did.
"That's crazy. Hard to believe the rumours are true, that people really do hunt Charax for a living," Steve commented grimly, then he turned to Ethan. "But, hey, you got out alright. Looks like they messed with the wrong Charax this time."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7JhKUHryzY
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Ethan flinched as Steve gave him a friendly pat on the back.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTqM9qoSjRQ
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Steve pulled his hand away. "Sorry, didn't mean to hurt you."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6KospBxmx2
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"It's nothing, just bruises." Ethan shrugged dismissively.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWFsI8SdRj2
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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.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWobHJVr97i
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"Was this all you could get?" Hanna asked quickly.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsBbV9PELWh
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"Nope, there's more where that came from," Steve announced as he headed back out to the car.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡojxkoIfZow
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"Is it okay if I help carry stuff in?" Hanna asked Ethan quietly.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNfnSyuS1h5
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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.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSEW1W8YBKT
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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.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB1P1kbEb69
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"What about the bag I asked you to pick up?" Hanna asked as she looked over the chaotic pile of bags spanning the kitchen and living room.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNl2NoZ0JIH
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"Over there." Steve pointed to a black duffel across the room, near the hallway.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTia7N4ICjL
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Hanna saw the bag from her apartment, that she'd given him the access code for. "Clothes, yes!"141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvJLbBuR2MC
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"Exactly where you said, I was a bit surprised that you had a bag of clothes packed already," Steve commented.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgcj87uCSGr
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"I packed it weeks ago for a trip that ended up cancelled and I never got around to unpacking it. Good thing I procrastinated," Hanna lied smoothly as she opened it up, checking the contents. She'd always had an emergency bag packed but she'd never needed to use it before, nor had she ever expected to use it for something like this.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVqNhVRD0C5
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"Let me help you with that," Steve said as he walked over to join Ethan.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8EAopJY26G
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"Sure," Ethan answered with false enthusiasm as he kept unpacking the bags, purposely avoiding Steve's gaze.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDDQo6EkDpE
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Ethan was almost done with the bag in front of him, the last item was a bag of potatoes. As he went to put them away, he accidentally dropped them. The heavy bag hit the kitchen floor with a loud thud, drawing everyone's attention, and Steve went to pick it up.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcyrKt2QV8g
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Ethan snatched the vegetables up before Steve could reach them. "I have it," he mumbled, sticking them in a cabinet. He noticed the tremor in his hand worsening.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyW5QcQyyvR
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Hanna shot a puzzled glance over at the two men in the kitchen. She couldn't put her finger on what was wrong with Ethan. She'd have guessed that he was frightened, except that he had no reason to be scared of Steve... unless he had the same gut feeling she did.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWlwfrnIkJe
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Ethan thought he was doing a better job of handling the tremors until he grabbed the jug of milk and it slipped out of his grasp onto the floor. "Damn," he swore at a low volume, reaching downwards towards the undamaged plastic container.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLzUVETes31
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"I've got it." Steve went to pick up the jug and his hand barely brushed Ethan's.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ciqZEDvBo
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Ethan jumped away from Steve, as if shocked.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvIIntnKPUR
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The two Terrans stared at Ethan, suddenly very aware of his strange behaviour.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoqkAZO2mAl
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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.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRcBPcGYXbo
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Steve didn't move other than frowning slightly, as if he didn't know what to make of the situation. Hanna stood on the other side of the room awkwardly, her forehead creasing. Despite his previous comment, Ethan didn't move from his position on the other side of the kitchen, rubbing his hand nervously.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQO8qXGKAdh
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"Let's talk outside," Hanna told Steve before exiting through the door.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL7XpsM6vbF
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Steve glanced back at Ethan hesitantly before following Hanna reluctantly.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA4u2YY2Gk4
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Hanna stopped to the side of the door, taking a deep breath of the crisp spring air. Sunlight was filtering through the evergreens, bathing their surroundings in a relaxing glow, in a way she would have usually enjoyed, but she was too preoccupied to appreciate. She heard the door shut and the crunch of footsteps behind her.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3tk5ZAXFra
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"So what's—" Steve was abruptly cut off by Hanna spinning around to push him harshly against the wooden wall of the cabin and putting a knife to his throat. His expression reflected his state of pure shock.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYYRWVljmRC
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"I'm going to make myself very clear. I won't turn you in. You can keep whatever fee you got.” Hanna pressed the blade into his skin without drawing blood. “But if you even think of selling Ethan out again, then there won't be anywhere on this planet where you'll be able to hide," she threatened lowly. "Don't get greedy or I will skin you alive, do you understand?"141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡusKnmIBCz5
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"Whoa, hold on now," Steve replied, very still, very conscious of the knife pressed to his throat. "I did not tell anyone Ethan was Charax."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjrzUL3U4Dp
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"Me and you are the only people who know Ethan is Charax. I know I didn't tell anyone," Hanna accused angrily.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxDPGpe77VX
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"Then we aren't the only people who know," Steve reasoned in a rush. "But you figured it out without anyone telling you, someone else could too."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVhUNeSLrfe
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Hanna considered that as she continued eyeing him suspiciously, holding her blade steady.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFvivk6bGxZ
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"I tried to tell him that he wasn't doing a good job of keeping the symptoms hidden but he didn't listen to me," Steve argued further, fear bleeding into his voice.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡowHjiodRXM
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Hanna pressed her lips together. She had to admit he had a point. Someone else must have given Ethan the Trazinol, she reasoned, and Steve looks like he’s telling the truth.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsAo9R7id7R
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"I've known him for years, don't you think I would have cashed in earlier if that's what I wanted?" Steve argued fearfully.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6sXuLIUomJ
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Hanna lowered her knife slowly, persuaded by his words. "Okay," she relented, taking a step back.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMMMt4XgJf7
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Steve rapidly backed away from her, along the wall and away from the door. "You really think I would have come up here on my own if I'd sold him out?"141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡclobpXzagC
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"Everyone gets greedy sometimes, and that can make them do stupid things," Hanna answered coldly.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ24KKZpSy0B
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"Yeah, well, not me. I'm not going to get my friend killed for some cash," Steve defended bitterly.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrdsnxr9eWK
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Hanna twirled her shiny knife. "Still, if you tell anyone about—"141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8t37RSJmwN
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"You'll kill me. I get it," Steve interrupted. "But I wouldn't do that."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxhlqhjQee1
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Hanna put the knife away. "Sorry, I needed to be sure. I hope you understand."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC1vXoXT4q8
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Steve chuckled awkwardly. "I'm sure this whole thing would make anyone paranoid."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdScyOSCrDh
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"Yeah, we're both a little on edge. Whoever kidnapped him is still out there." Some of them, that is, Hanna thought smugly, keeping those details to herself.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi3lDdUeUAT
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Steve nodded, accepting the excuse. "Um... I should go then."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtzEBD9Qo2b
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Hanna glanced back at the door, thinking about Ethan's earlier reaction. "That's probably for the best. Thanks again for helping us."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJI2A3EFBZM
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Hanna went back inside as Steve got back in his car. She entered the main room to find that Ethan had vanished, the remaining bags left unopened on the table. That might have sent off alarms in her mind, but there was only one door to the place and she'd been next to it the whole time. He must still be here and, thankfully, there wasn't much cabin to search.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMVkSV1spjE
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Hanna hadn't expected to find Ethan sitting on the floor in the corner of the bedroom, of all places. In the bedroom itself, not strange. Sitting on the floor, a bit odd when there was a perfectly fine bed to sit on right next to him. In the corner, that just seemed uncomfortable.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA4Cz1bQABd
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As Hanna entered, Ethan didn't move from his position, his right leg stretched out in front of him with his forehead resting against the wall. He'd wrapped his left arm around him, between him and the wall, keeping it out of sight. It might have been an effective strategy if Hanna hadn't already noticed that the tremors were back.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzPYW0x0Fhp
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"There you are," Hanna remarked softly.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5sQ15OBIkS
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"Yeah," Ethan mumbled.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6aJ8HPNxmx
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Hanna sat down on the end of the bed. "How are you?"141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcvMOai74pT
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Ethan tilted his head up to look at her. "A little stressed."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSqvySbkr5K
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Hanna nodded understandingly. "You looked... a little uncomfortable out back there."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTqo1TAkJSo
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"Yeah," Ethan agreed quietly.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHLMgS0ohUo
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"Why didn't you say anything?" Hanna had an exasperated edge to her voice.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeE7p1NOb6e
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Ethan sighed softly into the wall. "I thought I would be able to deal with it."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHwIV8cBk08
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"With what exactly?" Hanna probed.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIc1zAhO2bp
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Ethan paused briefly. "Someone coming into this space, being near me."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW2xYMK6ZBG
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Hanna didn't know what to make of that. He'd been going to work the whole week... she'd never imagined the extroverted salesman would prefer to be alone. Maybe this is a heat symptom, she wondered. "Um... hey, at least you didn't try to attack him or do something crazy," Hanna tried to reassure him jokingly.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWiWhZKY4JM
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"It's not—" Ethan scowled then took a long breath. "I just felt like I had to get away."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBfj6Q9aSKd
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"Was this just about Steve?" Hanna probed gently.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdyabYt0gDT
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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."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7j0YfI1Z8F
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"Am I okay?" Hanna asked hesitantly.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJnTDiBUoFU
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"Yeah," Ethan answered softly, taking her hand gently and nuzzling it. "You're always okay."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSttenqDVo9
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"Um... I'll keep that in mind," Hanna responded uncertainly, absolutely mystified by his behaviour. "You going to get up?"141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIX01Q5OgTE
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"I think I'm going to stay here for a bit." Ethan let go of her hand.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtxPkEjLIdy
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"Okay," Hanna responded, before getting off the bed and walking out of the room.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKbG09QKQ2F
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Ethan watched her go regretfully. Having her walk away from him... hit something inside him. It left him feeling empty, with undertones of a different kind of pain. He was struck by the realization that he wanted her to stay with him. He decided to ask her to stay, before noticing she had already gone and he had been staring at an empty doorway.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb0PPIchwjl
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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.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWg9VopVoI6
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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.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbRg8kA5Xxj
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Ethan subtlety moved his hand away from his ankle as he glanced over her shoulder. "Crosswords?"141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqf45VV9jbY
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"Yup," Hanna answered happily, pulling out a pencil.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5K6rT8oUtl
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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.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxW5oJdMH46
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Five minutes later, Hanna had yet to put in a single answer.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk38VhYBQHb
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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.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEsxRav8Kos
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Hanna was now biting the end of the pencil, hard.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP5BgUg83BJ
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Ethan decided she could use a hint. "Seventeen down is pineapple."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡegpcSzTqIQ
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"Hey, this is my puzzle!" Hanna protested, angling the book so he couldn't see it anymore.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSPi6ErHkif
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"So you don't want help?" Ethan asked, amused.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZABWjT56jB
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Hanna muttered in annoyance as she wrote in the answer, pointedly not answering his question.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcls7g1VMd2
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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.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmk5nF6bCxp
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"Maybe you should start with an easier one?" Ethan suggested helpfully.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ6jIuW0Kvg
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"No," Hanna answered stubbornly, without looking up.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWnvgwa6jNq
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Ethan smiled, already feeling much better, and relishing her frustration a little too much.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDzk2HodLSM
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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."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo64rhA2llj
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Ethan paused for a second to think. "Vision."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL7E29fLBqT
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"Okay." Hanna marked down his answer. "Seven letters. A light source. Second letter is A."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡomX8DifkAw
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"Lantern," Ethan replied quickly.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8FF3DQ8HP4
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Hanna gave him a skeptical look and stared at the puzzle.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsEq9dxzY06
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"That's the answer. Lantern," Ethan repeated.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf0lpwa5U4n
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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."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Ss2k8yBrs
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"Ottoman." Ethan smirked slightly as Hanna filled in the sheet again.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpz85gFCR78
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"You're good at this," Hanna commented.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd6mGhAhoL0
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Ethan couldn't resist smiling openly now.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP07DFcuhTR
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Hanna smiled back at him as she handed him the crosswords book and chewed up pencil. "You solve it then."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFL282Es3Wy
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"What happened to 'this is my puzzle'?" Ethan teased, smirking at her.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGxeDc3JMeu
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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.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9DpXGGLZD3
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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.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjrrZbG8OU7
