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
141Please respect copyright.PENANAlVWog2nDQO
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
141Please respect copyright.PENANAIDv3DpYE03
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
141Please respect copyright.PENANAwkHnnTWozC
"Steve should be here soon, you might want to wake up," Hanna teased.141Please respect copyright.PENANALRGqj0VaCN
141Please respect copyright.PENANAEULYjFRE43
Ethan let out a quiet, irritated groan from the sofa.141Please respect copyright.PENANAzXSDWJ1SUG
141Please respect copyright.PENANA9zVeSJ2Rud
Hanna wondered if this was going to be a bigger problem than she had thought, given his reaction.141Please respect copyright.PENANAuyodsb2wyz
141Please respect copyright.PENANAvydX0oPGeK
"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
141Please respect copyright.PENANAvrMpgDEUf3
"I want to see him.” Ethan scowled slightly at the ceiling. "He's my friend too."141Please respect copyright.PENANAAHCM7Jc3wg
141Please respect copyright.PENANAmrpzp9xojs
"Okay, but are you going to be okay with this?" Hanna asked bluntly.141Please respect copyright.PENANAqAhPR5o0t4
141Please respect copyright.PENANAMyADb9rk6a
Ethan shrugged noncommittally.141Please respect copyright.PENANAwwxyKiK5NS
141Please respect copyright.PENANAO2smNcybpy
"Then... me talking to him won't be a problem?" Hanna pressed.141Please respect copyright.PENANAsDKnbTOB4O
141Please respect copyright.PENANAAeveHMKgCk
"You're not—" Ethan started to answer bitterly, then reconsidered. "You can talk to whoever you want to."141Please respect copyright.PENANAxTebN8dYRi
141Please respect copyright.PENANAG4FfiC4Wri
"So you're not going to get... territorial or possessive or anything right?" Hanna asked awkwardly.141Please respect copyright.PENANA2rZVUuytcD
141Please respect copyright.PENANAhwddPWyCkn
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
141Please respect copyright.PENANADAJyvwE6ah
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
141Please respect copyright.PENANAajssuMxCEu
"He's here," Hanna announced, heading towards the door.141Please respect copyright.PENANAL0wCNSCRu2
141Please respect copyright.PENANAjgmVJRoiJ1
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
141Please respect copyright.PENANAjxzDxAQL18
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
141Please respect copyright.PENANAPARbRZqoFg
"Thanks for coming." Ethan's gratitude was sincere, even if his pleased tone was a little forced.141Please respect copyright.PENANAjM3q2cv3Rs
141Please respect copyright.PENANAezqHec4H9i
"Yes, thank you for bringing these," Hanna added gratefully, setting the bags on the table.141Please respect copyright.PENANAzRMThChg4W
141Please respect copyright.PENANAaR40mRwTPf
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
141Please respect copyright.PENANAKbeapcM0F6
"Alive and kicking, that's us," Hanna joked back as Ethan started unpacking the bags silently.141Please respect copyright.PENANAOfdReEUWic
141Please respect copyright.PENANAQXAnoGpKcQ
"So, it really was a gang? They were after Ethan specifically?" Steve asked curiously.141Please respect copyright.PENANAVfukRp6zRr
141Please respect copyright.PENANAiKY83PmaKG
"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
141Please respect copyright.PENANAitmzovWMX2
Ethan flinched as Steve gave him a friendly pat on the back.141Please respect copyright.PENANATqM9qoSjRQ
141Please respect copyright.PENANAU5aI23vN9Y
Steve pulled his hand away. "Sorry, didn't mean to hurt you."141Please respect copyright.PENANA6KospBxmx2
141Please respect copyright.PENANASnmlRqwYz0
"It's nothing, just bruises." Ethan shrugged dismissively.141Please respect copyright.PENANAWFsI8SdRj2
141Please respect copyright.PENANA8bDvACPDSs
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
141Please respect copyright.PENANAgckEsX3tcx
"Was this all you could get?" Hanna asked quickly.141Please respect copyright.PENANAsBbV9PELWh
141Please respect copyright.PENANANMdoyNxUMv
"Nope, there's more where that came from," Steve announced as he headed back out to the car.141Please respect copyright.PENANAojxkoIfZow
141Please respect copyright.PENANAVS0dQ2L0MB
"Is it okay if I help carry stuff in?" Hanna asked Ethan quietly.141Please respect copyright.PENANANfnSyuS1h5
141Please respect copyright.PENANAVKlERPvG7y
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
141Please respect copyright.PENANAQhLzGtk4Kc
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
141Please respect copyright.PENANA6em3pkci73
"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
141Please respect copyright.PENANAW64NbflXkV
"Over there." Steve pointed to a black duffel across the room, near the hallway.141Please respect copyright.PENANATia7N4ICjL
141Please respect copyright.PENANAF5KqguOsuI
Hanna saw the bag from her apartment, that she'd given him the access code for. "Clothes, yes!"141Please respect copyright.PENANAvJLbBuR2MC
141Please respect copyright.PENANAXI2XAVcC3z
"Exactly where you said, I was a bit surprised that you had a bag of clothes packed already," Steve commented.141Please respect copyright.PENANAgcj87uCSGr
141Please respect copyright.PENANALOMKnLUSdR
"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
141Please respect copyright.PENANA4enOjOvBZK
"Let me help you with that," Steve said as he walked over to join Ethan.141Please respect copyright.PENANA8EAopJY26G
141Please respect copyright.PENANA5Pu5wJieJ7
"Sure," Ethan answered with false enthusiasm as he kept unpacking the bags, purposely avoiding Steve's gaze.141Please respect copyright.PENANADDQo6EkDpE
141Please respect copyright.PENANAfc0uzMBbPd
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
141Please respect copyright.PENANA1eRs5hRytx
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
141Please respect copyright.PENANAN6glb6ZOEh
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
141Please respect copyright.PENANAStbVDpYawd
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
141Please respect copyright.PENANAC5xhu24And
"I've got it." Steve went to pick up the jug and his hand barely brushed Ethan's.141Please respect copyright.PENANA2ciqZEDvBo
141Please respect copyright.PENANAR1XnmXnz9B
Ethan jumped away from Steve, as if shocked.141Please respect copyright.PENANAvIIntnKPUR
141Please respect copyright.PENANACYwLJ8T4lq
The two Terrans stared at Ethan, suddenly very aware of his strange behaviour.141Please respect copyright.PENANAoqkAZO2mAl
141Please respect copyright.PENANAeWTwGRWow6
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
141Please respect copyright.PENANAJpMyRXQYEd
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
141Please respect copyright.PENANA7Or8IA0L8X
"Let's talk outside," Hanna told Steve before exiting through the door.141Please respect copyright.PENANAL7XpsM6vbF
141Please respect copyright.PENANASt9gbRHxF8
Steve glanced back at Ethan hesitantly before following Hanna reluctantly.141Please respect copyright.PENANAA4u2YY2Gk4
141Please respect copyright.PENANAIQfOMB6JaU
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
141Please respect copyright.PENANAf1GGo3srzN
"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
141Please respect copyright.PENANAq5iVkdb6ff
"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
141Please respect copyright.PENANArl2IXxtrNG
"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
141Please respect copyright.PENANArBw1dgZAdi
"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
141Please respect copyright.PENANAbn7saG6EGw
"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
141Please respect copyright.PENANAioJUCbi14F
Hanna considered that as she continued eyeing him suspiciously, holding her blade steady.141Please respect copyright.PENANAFvivk6bGxZ
141Please respect copyright.PENANA8EwwZAfOPA
"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
141Please respect copyright.PENANAvp9RxSoA8x
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
141Please respect copyright.PENANAQV9AfEoKU2
"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
141Please respect copyright.PENANA196JOuoJb1
Hanna lowered her knife slowly, persuaded by his words. "Okay," she relented, taking a step back.141Please respect copyright.PENANAMMMt4XgJf7
141Please respect copyright.PENANAKNsEBljTFW
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
141Please respect copyright.PENANAdwtzyz1gZa
"Everyone gets greedy sometimes, and that can make them do stupid things," Hanna answered coldly.141Please respect copyright.PENANA24KKZpSy0B
141Please respect copyright.PENANAaL34MR1e5Z
"Yeah, well, not me. I'm not going to get my friend killed for some cash," Steve defended bitterly.141Please respect copyright.PENANArdsnxr9eWK
141Please respect copyright.PENANAVb5qZbO2FB
Hanna twirled her shiny knife. "Still, if you tell anyone about—"141Please respect copyright.PENANA8t37RSJmwN
141Please respect copyright.PENANAw7apCGMDqZ
"You'll kill me. I get it," Steve interrupted. "But I wouldn't do that."141Please respect copyright.PENANAxhlqhjQee1
141Please respect copyright.PENANAXbsunq2TMH
Hanna put the knife away. "Sorry, I needed to be sure. I hope you understand."141Please respect copyright.PENANAC1vXoXT4q8
141Please respect copyright.PENANAiCMlA4G3id
Steve chuckled awkwardly. "I'm sure this whole thing would make anyone paranoid."141Please respect copyright.PENANAdScyOSCrDh
141Please respect copyright.PENANAi0nzJElVt1
"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
141Please respect copyright.PENANAKWpxATzgGM
Steve nodded, accepting the excuse. "Um... I should go then."141Please respect copyright.PENANAtzEBD9Qo2b
141Please respect copyright.PENANAIaF4PljIvm
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
141Please respect copyright.PENANATdmcggbiYf
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
141Please respect copyright.PENANAWrEF7ESOsU
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
141Please respect copyright.PENANAM2sbIeaejk
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
141Please respect copyright.PENANAreZQRD71Jk
"There you are," Hanna remarked softly.141Please respect copyright.PENANA5sQ15OBIkS
141Please respect copyright.PENANArnBL6ybKSD
"Yeah," Ethan mumbled.141Please respect copyright.PENANA6aJ8HPNxmx
141Please respect copyright.PENANA7VAIRgrOKr
Hanna sat down on the end of the bed. "How are you?"141Please respect copyright.PENANAcvMOai74pT
141Please respect copyright.PENANA7Li2A7VsZL
Ethan tilted his head up to look at her. "A little stressed."141Please respect copyright.PENANASqvySbkr5K
141Please respect copyright.PENANAzzXtA6K4wa
Hanna nodded understandingly. "You looked... a little uncomfortable out back there."141Please respect copyright.PENANATqo1TAkJSo
141Please respect copyright.PENANAOWKXsk1GZR
"Yeah," Ethan agreed quietly.141Please respect copyright.PENANAHLMgS0ohUo
141Please respect copyright.PENANAnXsCJsgY6Q
"Why didn't you say anything?" Hanna had an exasperated edge to her voice.141Please respect copyright.PENANAeE7p1NOb6e
141Please respect copyright.PENANAKVJO9DgVVd
Ethan sighed softly into the wall. "I thought I would be able to deal with it."141Please respect copyright.PENANAHwIV8cBk08
141Please respect copyright.PENANAxvkBgji3nI
"With what exactly?" Hanna probed.141Please respect copyright.PENANAIc1zAhO2bp
141Please respect copyright.PENANAxYKQVw5mxa
Ethan paused briefly. "Someone coming into this space, being near me."141Please respect copyright.PENANAW2xYMK6ZBG
141Please respect copyright.PENANAZyIDLyJHqX
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
141Please respect copyright.PENANAxkXndv0jBW
"It's not—" Ethan scowled then took a long breath. "I just felt like I had to get away."141Please respect copyright.PENANABfj6Q9aSKd
141Please respect copyright.PENANAMJk1Fx2xN3
"Was this just about Steve?" Hanna probed gently.141Please respect copyright.PENANAdyabYt0gDT
141Please respect copyright.PENANAXII9ADrFVw
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
141Please respect copyright.PENANAYrqw7pnYg7
"Am I okay?" Hanna asked hesitantly.141Please respect copyright.PENANAJnTDiBUoFU
141Please respect copyright.PENANAb9oL1RUKIn
"Yeah," Ethan answered softly, taking her hand gently and nuzzling it. "You're always okay."141Please respect copyright.PENANASttenqDVo9
141Please respect copyright.PENANAo7WyY0Dvl8
"Um... I'll keep that in mind," Hanna responded uncertainly, absolutely mystified by his behaviour. "You going to get up?"141Please respect copyright.PENANAIX01Q5OgTE
141Please respect copyright.PENANAYjc452Nt3A
"I think I'm going to stay here for a bit." Ethan let go of her hand.141Please respect copyright.PENANAtxPkEjLIdy
141Please respect copyright.PENANAsRQ1y2Ef86
"Okay," Hanna responded, before getting off the bed and walking out of the room.141Please respect copyright.PENANAKbG09QKQ2F
141Please respect copyright.PENANAtvus7Omqnx
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
141Please respect copyright.PENANA82Jufyj79s
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
141Please respect copyright.PENANAJ6oAzj9Mn3
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
141Please respect copyright.PENANAsmqVpZQgEj
Ethan subtlety moved his hand away from his ankle as he glanced over her shoulder. "Crosswords?"141Please respect copyright.PENANAqf45VV9jbY
141Please respect copyright.PENANAJbjYNkUjZX
"Yup," Hanna answered happily, pulling out a pencil.141Please respect copyright.PENANA5K6rT8oUtl
141Please respect copyright.PENANAXcsP09LPrY
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
141Please respect copyright.PENANAODQDaPF7LJ
Five minutes later, Hanna had yet to put in a single answer.141Please respect copyright.PENANAk38VhYBQHb
141Please respect copyright.PENANAlWsXt6us1d
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
141Please respect copyright.PENANAgbR4m5QfeE
Hanna was now biting the end of the pencil, hard.141Please respect copyright.PENANAP5BgUg83BJ
141Please respect copyright.PENANAmA2iXuP8JQ
Ethan decided she could use a hint. "Seventeen down is pineapple."141Please respect copyright.PENANAegpcSzTqIQ
141Please respect copyright.PENANAj50CCSS4LK
"Hey, this is my puzzle!" Hanna protested, angling the book so he couldn't see it anymore.141Please respect copyright.PENANASPi6ErHkif
141Please respect copyright.PENANAurrshMJJGA
"So you don't want help?" Ethan asked, amused.141Please respect copyright.PENANAZABWjT56jB
141Please respect copyright.PENANAMzadMe2KV5
Hanna muttered in annoyance as she wrote in the answer, pointedly not answering his question.141Please respect copyright.PENANAcls7g1VMd2
141Please respect copyright.PENANAAKiaSKjJBI
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
141Please respect copyright.PENANAMsrGBEXdRk
"Maybe you should start with an easier one?" Ethan suggested helpfully.141Please respect copyright.PENANAJ6jIuW0Kvg
141Please respect copyright.PENANAo0upqPgEOi
"No," Hanna answered stubbornly, without looking up.141Please respect copyright.PENANAWnvgwa6jNq
141Please respect copyright.PENANA3cjD9MZbYc
Ethan smiled, already feeling much better, and relishing her frustration a little too much.141Please respect copyright.PENANADzk2HodLSM
141Please respect copyright.PENANAY9Mzr9U0CM
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
141Please respect copyright.PENANAW3KY9Fglq6
Ethan paused for a second to think. "Vision."141Please respect copyright.PENANAL7E29fLBqT
141Please respect copyright.PENANAvVCA0b9zNb
"Okay." Hanna marked down his answer. "Seven letters. A light source. Second letter is A."141Please respect copyright.PENANAomX8DifkAw
141Please respect copyright.PENANAv9ch54O67n
"Lantern," Ethan replied quickly.141Please respect copyright.PENANA8FF3DQ8HP4
141Please respect copyright.PENANARgrMSwAQDT
Hanna gave him a skeptical look and stared at the puzzle.141Please respect copyright.PENANAsEq9dxzY06
141Please respect copyright.PENANAcIWqXpDwG8
"That's the answer. Lantern," Ethan repeated.141Please respect copyright.PENANAf0lpwa5U4n
141Please respect copyright.PENANAcjp6MuKKBL
"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
141Please respect copyright.PENANASFHhzXtvTo
"Ottoman." Ethan smirked slightly as Hanna filled in the sheet again.141Please respect copyright.PENANApz85gFCR78
141Please respect copyright.PENANAO5Fw9P6pan
"You're good at this," Hanna commented.141Please respect copyright.PENANAd6mGhAhoL0
141Please respect copyright.PENANAWpeStt8X3q
Ethan couldn't resist smiling openly now.141Please respect copyright.PENANAP07DFcuhTR
141Please respect copyright.PENANAZSJwm6BI77
Hanna smiled back at him as she handed him the crosswords book and chewed up pencil. "You solve it then."141Please respect copyright.PENANAFL282Es3Wy
141Please respect copyright.PENANAgCsPk7HEF4
"What happened to 'this is my puzzle'?" Ethan teased, smirking at her.141Please respect copyright.PENANAGxeDc3JMeu
141Please respect copyright.PENANAMTkPAl52Wy
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
141Please respect copyright.PENANAN9AtZNioFE
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