Hanna sat down at the table with a hot cup of coffee, alone. She set to braiding her hair, trying to keep her mind occupied. She began interweaving her dark hair so it would fall over her left shoulder, an old style, one that she didn't usually use, but she liked it. The last section was just being completed as Ethan walked into the room.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcOj3bimKVi
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0hwrGqAHpu
"Could we talk for a minute?" Hanna asked politely.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsNOR4wIJbN
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEnUudbm7VQ
"Sure." Ethan sat down at the table, sitting across from her.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbHhTOMkYHW
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQvAuJjiLwp
Hanna quickly added an elastic to finish her braid. "I was thinking about what you said earlier, about pheromones."132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡySzmoRNUR8
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxlVRz58BEJ
"Okay," Ethan said, slightly nervous about the topic of conversation.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxsyyaHblFw
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC4qkuVt5KB
"I have a friend, she's pregnant, and I was thinking if you met her, that might help. Maybe trick your brain," Hanna proposed uncertainly.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDKAwXXx4QO
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQY4fbM0V6A
Ethan's brow creased. He was reluctant to get his hopes up. "You think that might... work? Stop the heat early?"132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu85Ctxkugq
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbU0DyzNMcs
Hanna shrugged, she had zero expertise in this area. "From what you told me, it seems like it might."132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSKSgW7R28K
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ01aEdXoswj
Ethan turned to look out the window, his expression hidden. He was reluctant to get his hopes up, it seemed like a long shot, then there was the inherent risk of letting another person know their location.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2hWP8mJp7v
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdxzyZF1BJ7
"It's just an idea. You don't have to. It might not even work," Hanna babbled. She stared into her coffee mug, as if the dark, bitter substance had all the answers. "I know you're not very comfortable with people coming here. And I know it's risky, but Penelope isn't the smartest and I don't think she'd figure out your identity."132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK9jgTDWzl9
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC1vvwNEmSx
Hanna stopped talking, allowing the room to settle into an awkward silence.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaFnJU6C7mv
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGA3vPQO4gM
It might be worth it, Ethan thought, weighing the options. He really did not want to spend another three weeks in heat. "It's a good idea. We should try it," he stated finally.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbaV77wOnSX
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbCd13zRhQq
Hanna slowly set her mug down on the table. "Oh. Um, I'll see when I can convince her to come out here then."132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiEHELcaKwJ
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Mc67eiLVA
Ethan nodded, gaze still fixed on the dreary forest outside. Hanna got up quietly and went outside to make the phone call. A few minutes later, she came back in to find Ethan sitting at the table, a half empty glass of water in front of him.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEaGmO8TMb5
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDo13zn8aMF
"Alright, she'll drop by in a few days," Hanna informed him, picking up her half drunk mug of coffee again.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6qZglo7lt3
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGmUUtlJXiG
"What did you tell her?" Ethan asked.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWHKaMVMjB3
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbNUiwX4GH0
"I didn't tell her you're Charax, for obvious reasons," Hanna paused, starting to realize she might have been a little presumptuous with her cover story. "I told her I wanted her to meet my new boyfriend."132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmvyeHP7DI6
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf3UOeNXe7O
Ethan shifted nervously. "Is this just a cover story or..."132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgg7FXV7Qee
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYl1gv3PNWI
Hanna chewed her lower lip nervously. "That's up to you. But make your decision later."132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhZe4nAAhWF
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuU0Ypf3ywm
Ethan frowned slightly, somewhat confused. "I don't need time to decide that."132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIOpRyBLV4R
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkUFwtCjIPf
Hanna resisted the urge to sigh, his hormones were probably still messing with his brain. She had no clue how much of his behaviour was really his and how much was caused by the heat. Even if he said he wanted to be in a relationship... she wouldn't be convinced until he confirmed it out of heat. If he didn't want to be in a relationship... she didn't want to hear that right now either.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeMANL6PvDH
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqM2MPoJEty
"Wait until after the heat to make your decision," Hanna repeated firmly.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ9fs2b8yhT
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡriSydcpxaU
"It won't change how I feel," Ethan protested mildly.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhfx4rxFTuU
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyhhtwDIWjY
Hanna took another sip of coffee. "Then there's no harm in waiting. Boyfriend seemed like a good Terran term."132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPmrb4kRZJS
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaJc5XmuTyL
Ethan shrugged. "Okay, I'm not up to date on inter-species relationship milestones."132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHjLcmlhcXb
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4iygl9eDd0
Hanna laughed, a light and carefree expression of joy. "Wait, I thought the scientists agreed we were technically the same species?"132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq6j6FWlb6i
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIU4RYIiqEn
Ethan smiled. "I think they're still debating it."132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwj3fNMi6rf
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhv9Sff9KQy
"And they probably will be for the next hundred years or so," Hanna added jokingly.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX6N7fX3S9d
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXKruCwUFlS
"...and what do you think?" Ethan asked tentatively.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGqK8lRF3LK
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY5IokZkPoo
Hanna shrugged, obvious to the changing tone of the conversation. "That there will probably never be a consensus so it doesn't matter what they say." She went to fill up her mug from the pot on the counter. "So, anyways, 'boyfriend' was the closest Terran label I could think of, if you're alright with that."132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF3ojd3fhGM
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPmdCnDatjU
That's an interesting take on Charax-Terran relationships, Ethan thought, unwilling to push the subject further. "It fits. What's our cover?"132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaujA06uWZ9
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeGhqUrwest
"The same one as before? Vacation?" Hanna suggested.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK8eQjOhvnC
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIyrshnkBzk
"Is that believable? Out in the middle of the woods in the off season?" Ethan commented skeptically.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnDsuyOPJ6r
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcxXr9HHFIz
"It was cheap?" Hanna suggested dubiously. "Alright, do you have any better ideas?"132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoQAIXhTU3m
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgtMuiLY0YG
Ethan opened his mouth, then shut it again.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYZUZwe7KB6
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFvQC271CKr
"I thought so," Hanna said smugly.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWJxmMrIafM
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0IL8IUuJkv
"Renovations," Ethan suggested cockily.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc9oRkzqmFq
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkDwP9oNAEC
Hanna glanced about the large room. The place certainly did look like it needed a new coat of paint. The counter had chips in it, the dinner table was scratched, the sofa was stained and the lounge chair was falling apart. But that was all typical of a well-used cottage. "Don't you think she'd notice no supplies around?"132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Whg3Hs6yA
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvlvHr1XHMN
Ethan walked over to the front entrance, gesturing at the large front window. "She doesn't need to come inside, we could hang up some sheets..."132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhVfgX0FvBx
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFQ3bYlXqoJ
"That sounds like a lot of work," Hanna said, still doubtful. "I like the outdoors, I think she'd buy the vacation line."132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtykOEGdkMN
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmaz3WMhupW
"You like the outdoors?" Ethan asked suspiciously.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9d78S6MNAS
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy1rnNwh3Jm
"I do, I like hunting," Hanna fibbed. She didn't like hunting that much but it was her typical excuse for why she had a bunch of guns and knew how to use them. She'd used it enough as a cover for enough of her missions that almost no one questioned it anymore.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKlaDNeIz3r
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXrEAtvoRtw
"Really?" Ethan asked skeptically.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT4VcOSWObO
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBz2BQ3rjza
"Yes." Hanna stuck firmly to the lie. "But it's the off season so we'll just pretend you don't like hunting or something."132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH0SV2Xwjj0
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPe3KV6tLVd
"I don't like hunting," Ethan said honestly.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ70UjebUlUU
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw4CVZAoC1u
"Perfect, you already know your lines," Hanna said, laughing lightly.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3I9ig6PfUL
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8QLtxzBw1k
Ethan smiled slightly. "So, given we aren't hunting, what are we doing out here?"132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmg2KnkWWJ7
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOQ8WM699NB
"Hiking? Fishing? Sexy picnics? Getting bitten by millions of tiny blood sucking insects?" Hanna suggested jokingly.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAo5IwZodfn
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGcwElg8hg9
Ethan scowled. "The fourth option is at least true."132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVO7eUqt2eF
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡntyOTRrgbi
"It just has to be mildly believable, not actually true," Hanna suggested. "Even if she thinks we're actually doing something else, she won't mention it."132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuz2uG36iLJ
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR28XjmzfhP
Ethan shrugged. "You know her best, pick whatever you think will work."132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeIhRiZEwoo
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaF1d5Re3qB
Hanna finished off her coffee. "Okay, I'll think of something... better. Later."132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw8XnMpGr2F
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡODNZ622x1Y
Ethan smiled slightly. "Good luck with that."132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyBBpMCRkbd
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfIKrvt7Ntb
"Hey! Have some faith in my ability to come up with a believable excuse," Hanna protested jokingly.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2JuI1x2wS2
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4tpb3ciWeM
Ethan flashed her his typical overconfident smile. "I'm sure you'll be able to come up with something if you put your mind to it."132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiH04qZq6uA
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMR6we9zYDJ
Hanna resisted the urge to roll her eyes at him and bit back the sassy comeback that was on the tip of her tongue. I've been good enough to fool you so far, she thought smugly. She put a small smile on her face. "I'm sure I'll manage," she said sweetly.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk4xhHz6WzF
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuks7GK2F7s
"But, all joking aside, I don't want my cover blown if this doesn't work," Ethan said seriously.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjMR5Beep3b
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlMxAmChDnB
"It won't be," Hanna promised. "Penelope isn't the brightest bulb in the shed."132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1GroaZ8STN
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwhXsPMRMTH
Ethan gave her a skeptical look, already questioning if this whole plan was one big mistake. He decided to let the matter drop and picked up the crossword puzzle book instead, hoping to distract himself from this new problem, at least until he had to deal with the usual one.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsXVFbqmWLA
Penana
search
Loginarrow_drop_down
Registerarrow_drop_down
