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.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaeBfPMDhsb
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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.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrV4dPEnNua
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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.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo3IP7PUoNf
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"Steve should be here soon, you might want to wake up," Hanna teased.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgQLqKxYubc
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Ethan let out a quiet, irritated groan from the sofa.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡos5WL6Dchz
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Hanna wondered if this was going to be a bigger problem than she had thought, given his reaction.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQS16avta5S
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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."100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ25S9OKviZc
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"I want to see him.” Ethan scowled slightly at the ceiling. "He's my friend too."100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgT8n6wAySb
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"Okay, but are you going to be okay with this?" Hanna asked bluntly.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡltaTVoZbt5
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Ethan shrugged noncommittally.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQv5P3J162b
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"Then... me talking to him won't be a problem?" Hanna pressed.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkHcfK7xIOF
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"You're not—" Ethan started to answer bitterly, then reconsidered. "You can talk to whoever you want to."100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkhAxtaUzgh
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"So you're not going to get... territorial or possessive or anything right?" Hanna asked awkwardly.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1hoeod9WCO
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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.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ya8AEXVFh
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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.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYPWXJm5p6f
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"He's here," Hanna announced, heading towards the door.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVNsU7RPilN
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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.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYfD5bSmhpx
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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.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxXQEXfWBMs
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"Thanks for coming." Ethan's gratitude was sincere, even if his pleased tone was a little forced.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7s9Lf1g8qJ
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"Yes, thank you for bringing these," Hanna added gratefully, setting the bags on the table.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtzFnoQppwC
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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."100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1LVgIOwTec
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"Alive and kicking, that's us," Hanna joked back as Ethan started unpacking the bags silently.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaKXLDYYMvR
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"So, it really was a gang? They were after Ethan specifically?" Steve asked curiously.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOAeydYHHsZ
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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."100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiLTxG5yki4
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Ethan flinched as Steve gave him a friendly pat on the back.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKy7IuJ65Sb
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Steve pulled his hand away. "Sorry, didn't mean to hurt you."100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5bMWuPhS1Q
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"It's nothing, just bruises." Ethan shrugged dismissively.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcfzR6mVWMx
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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.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgzrYZToXy8
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"Was this all you could get?" Hanna asked quickly.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ43L2KpnPPs
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"Nope, there's more where that came from," Steve announced as he headed back out to the car.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGgz9CBZZ42
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"Is it okay if I help carry stuff in?" Hanna asked Ethan quietly.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG6OBPNZJP3
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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.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwu4eGbzJel
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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.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjwv3KUqJrF
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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.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfB6Zhf9t7S
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"Over there." Steve pointed to a black duffel across the room, near the hallway.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDUxjL7oEFG
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Hanna saw the bag from her apartment, that she'd given him the access code for. "Clothes, yes!"100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeF5dzZV20u
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"Exactly where you said, I was a bit surprised that you had a bag of clothes packed already," Steve commented.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡymwEkl0xw2
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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.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBZRz5c6uXJ
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"Let me help you with that," Steve said as he walked over to join Ethan.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTSDEtpvYZZ
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"Sure," Ethan answered with false enthusiasm as he kept unpacking the bags, purposely avoiding Steve's gaze.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd7unRR8XCg
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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.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvwe9nb4cbv
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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.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBKewvtx4kv
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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.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSs9iUJVC0A
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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.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiKLAQuZW2R
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"I've got it." Steve went to pick up the jug and his hand barely brushed Ethan's.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡraPQWheAfM
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Ethan jumped away from Steve, as if shocked.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiR6033PCEt
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The two Terrans stared at Ethan, suddenly very aware of his strange behaviour.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhgtYTzRHrC
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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.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2htSNk81ps
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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.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE6dJydaNLN
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"Let's talk outside," Hanna told Steve before exiting through the door.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6GwpfTc7Yy
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Steve glanced back at Ethan hesitantly before following Hanna reluctantly.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFg9cURVO6N
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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.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW5jqb3Y7uj
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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.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ6Hf1tgcDg
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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?"100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbB8wcCgGwO
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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."100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgCs5VvLIIg
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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.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡchts69exoB
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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."100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡluZJzRY1ix
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Hanna considered that as she continued eyeing him suspiciously, holding her blade steady.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Rf4fGqOQW
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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.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡORcoRu3PRG
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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.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy4rr8i70Y5
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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.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIkuzhZ0QbL
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Hanna lowered her knife slowly, persuaded by his words. "Okay," she relented, taking a step back.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwBMaSe2r4j
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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?"100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMq9WGGmmhb
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"Everyone gets greedy sometimes, and that can make them do stupid things," Hanna answered coldly.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Hw8CNIEMS
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"Yeah, well, not me. I'm not going to get my friend killed for some cash," Steve defended bitterly.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmOQclKrdQg
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Hanna twirled her shiny knife. "Still, if you tell anyone about—"100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJYrZRFeJAI
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"You'll kill me. I get it," Steve interrupted. "But I wouldn't do that."100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWSqGI1OpTx
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Hanna put the knife away. "Sorry, I needed to be sure. I hope you understand."100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyDL7Ln8br5
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Steve chuckled awkwardly. "I'm sure this whole thing would make anyone paranoid."100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAl4h4nOcgb
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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.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2t0k1yacNU
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Steve nodded, accepting the excuse. "Um... I should go then."100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuE4vpxHe1a
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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."100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7kcOg7pKzf
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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.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgyp8BTLDLb
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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.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlMSbDdOHpV
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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.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡso9HFTPeU0
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"There you are," Hanna remarked softly.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdqeJquJSgN
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"Yeah," Ethan mumbled.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4UhaTS0vZM
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Hanna sat down on the end of the bed. "How are you?"100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU4th8UY4rG
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Ethan tilted his head up to look at her. "A little stressed."100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbUFnVmZnIY
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Hanna nodded understandingly. "You looked... a little uncomfortable out back there."100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWAurs3VXbk
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"Yeah," Ethan agreed quietly.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHa83CZ3gzS
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"Why didn't you say anything?" Hanna had an exasperated edge to her voice.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgpfjKbsSGh
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Ethan sighed softly into the wall. "I thought I would be able to deal with it."100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeY4NeMxeIz
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"With what exactly?" Hanna probed.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLS9OTYBdp4
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Ethan paused briefly. "Someone coming into this space, being near me."100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7MnMTQK0bB
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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.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsaNKC7qt67
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"It's not—" Ethan scowled then took a long breath. "I just felt like I had to get away."100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgpBfDrPQeB
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"Was this just about Steve?" Hanna probed gently.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY1sndOSCwX
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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."100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQzXMxvdol
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"Am I okay?" Hanna asked hesitantly.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJPyFV2nUAI
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"Yeah," Ethan answered softly, taking her hand gently and nuzzling it. "You're always okay."100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgj1uuzZxzT
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"Um... I'll keep that in mind," Hanna responded uncertainly, absolutely mystified by his behaviour. "You going to get up?"100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw6g3aCq77c
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"I think I'm going to stay here for a bit." Ethan let go of her hand.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmB9zBz8AuZ
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"Okay," Hanna responded, before getting off the bed and walking out of the room.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBDLWI6Trg7
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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.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiMPFryDGqS
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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.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe9KwlojJ9N
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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.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBhnVcosty5
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Ethan subtlety moved his hand away from his ankle as he glanced over her shoulder. "Crosswords?"100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡniBQJPha2K
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"Yup," Hanna answered happily, pulling out a pencil.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlqd5srQEjP
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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.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbsqX9Ag4v8
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Five minutes later, Hanna had yet to put in a single answer.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYlmSJzJpri
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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.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFdlwVavs1i
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Hanna was now biting the end of the pencil, hard.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ69KzCMeBsR
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Ethan decided she could use a hint. "Seventeen down is pineapple."100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnyDfJbKIwa
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"Hey, this is my puzzle!" Hanna protested, angling the book so he couldn't see it anymore.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwmsYoN9NGC
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"So you don't want help?" Ethan asked, amused.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGSxN1DmI45
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Hanna muttered in annoyance as she wrote in the answer, pointedly not answering his question.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLQBRz6bU9d
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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.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtTp9RXga8R
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"Maybe you should start with an easier one?" Ethan suggested helpfully.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOfE3HuWpZQ
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"No," Hanna answered stubbornly, without looking up.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBqDt3x543v
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Ethan smiled, already feeling much better, and relishing her frustration a little too much.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyzDQqjrhGO
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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."100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcZ9dHldDkY
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Ethan paused for a second to think. "Vision."100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKVMm71zwSE
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"Okay." Hanna marked down his answer. "Seven letters. A light source. Second letter is A."100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKOLZV8kbzw
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"Lantern," Ethan replied quickly.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhUw5Dft049
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Hanna gave him a skeptical look and stared at the puzzle.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKvahUltohV
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"That's the answer. Lantern," Ethan repeated.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTsqO1BTAMq
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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."100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTjDa2X2O02
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"Ottoman." Ethan smirked slightly as Hanna filled in the sheet again.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeye7Bj6Yy9
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"You're good at this," Hanna commented.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqVlwb7QCgp
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Ethan couldn't resist smiling openly now.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8wbc8Y15UF
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Hanna smiled back at him as she handed him the crosswords book and chewed up pencil. "You solve it then."100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcwwchsj5gy
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"What happened to 'this is my puzzle'?" Ethan teased, smirking at her.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkbyxWSRbls
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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.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgwEOFi9e4G
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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.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcqlEW7sY7L
