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.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ZfsFEBfXQ
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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.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFcul2uLnG2
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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.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVub8MtRhfj
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"Steve should be here soon, you might want to wake up," Hanna teased.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ40mk9lhJGc
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Ethan let out a quiet, irritated groan from the sofa.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUS8sjtzGn6
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Hanna wondered if this was going to be a bigger problem than she had thought, given his reaction.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr2eg0wdjx6
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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."104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWVyuadAVwj
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"I want to see him.” Ethan scowled slightly at the ceiling. "He's my friend too."104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaLoQe2gMz9
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"Okay, but are you going to be okay with this?" Hanna asked bluntly.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgxfpgTQxkQ
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Ethan shrugged noncommittally.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9iUIUIBgBV
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"Then... me talking to him won't be a problem?" Hanna pressed.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq1kgTL54PT
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"You're not—" Ethan started to answer bitterly, then reconsidered. "You can talk to whoever you want to."104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNQe6pPo0ub
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"So you're not going to get... territorial or possessive or anything right?" Hanna asked awkwardly.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhDqa41sUbh
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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.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfuuhIERoOq
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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.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡreiGAch1GC
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"He's here," Hanna announced, heading towards the door.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2y9VIPUY3C
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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.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ390cJFJkuv
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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.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdRsKt6DGqF
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"Thanks for coming." Ethan's gratitude was sincere, even if his pleased tone was a little forced.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ06cjzcdm81
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"Yes, thank you for bringing these," Hanna added gratefully, setting the bags on the table.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtA2QVPEW8T
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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."104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMeZb1I5818
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"Alive and kicking, that's us," Hanna joked back as Ethan started unpacking the bags silently.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwcQAnPn7Yu
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"So, it really was a gang? They were after Ethan specifically?" Steve asked curiously.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcCYKZRpe2i
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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."104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1cE32YRXBO
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Ethan flinched as Steve gave him a friendly pat on the back.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd3xklXVSTw
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Steve pulled his hand away. "Sorry, didn't mean to hurt you."104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ53YhVIIup5
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"It's nothing, just bruises." Ethan shrugged dismissively.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhAAgr9FBn0
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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.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGcaTRN0cCI
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"Was this all you could get?" Hanna asked quickly.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdXEke0XXbn
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"Nope, there's more where that came from," Steve announced as he headed back out to the car.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN7aCq2yom6
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"Is it okay if I help carry stuff in?" Hanna asked Ethan quietly.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ68AhDC7lAe
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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.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG759T8RyeI
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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.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ06G0EB7SwG
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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.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡexv8PhB034
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"Over there." Steve pointed to a black duffel across the room, near the hallway.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrTRktV4KOl
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Hanna saw the bag from her apartment, that she'd given him the access code for. "Clothes, yes!"104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4AYTS7AcYS
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"Exactly where you said, I was a bit surprised that you had a bag of clothes packed already," Steve commented.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVN7WVUwdGH
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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.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSMtsE7cLZd
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"Let me help you with that," Steve said as he walked over to join Ethan.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTmCljVl1rN
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"Sure," Ethan answered with false enthusiasm as he kept unpacking the bags, purposely avoiding Steve's gaze.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkw2NcVIXHp
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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.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4i45HyDj77
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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.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9tDyGGwYQV
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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.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN5XeDt8PtW
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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.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMdlelpy2bj
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"I've got it." Steve went to pick up the jug and his hand barely brushed Ethan's.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhWtz6yhjyU
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Ethan jumped away from Steve, as if shocked.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRdSaVInTvK
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The two Terrans stared at Ethan, suddenly very aware of his strange behaviour.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCwcy1PK4cG
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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.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgD8ragNdv0
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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.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp3ajzBq5fK
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"Let's talk outside," Hanna told Steve before exiting through the door.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl2xR54PptN
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Steve glanced back at Ethan hesitantly before following Hanna reluctantly.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVEsuVb0Mlp
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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.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoJgb1i5qPA
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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.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU7UdmxUpaj
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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?"104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWqla2auX5q
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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."104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK9yefoEM3U
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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.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz9DziTzqGr
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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."104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnxZanTonkq
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Hanna considered that as she continued eyeing him suspiciously, holding her blade steady.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpwZDMRCEgY
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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.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCQhhIKIG8c
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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.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5bwtnU4ZM6
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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.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡklos0XDY7E
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Hanna lowered her knife slowly, persuaded by his words. "Okay," she relented, taking a step back.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQB4dmm3a7b
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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?"104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtxyGyzR7cn
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"Everyone gets greedy sometimes, and that can make them do stupid things," Hanna answered coldly.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0LwraGwBbb
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"Yeah, well, not me. I'm not going to get my friend killed for some cash," Steve defended bitterly.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ26PNqdhFWN
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Hanna twirled her shiny knife. "Still, if you tell anyone about—"104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpWisHbSKen
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"You'll kill me. I get it," Steve interrupted. "But I wouldn't do that."104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv5mpel1P1B
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Hanna put the knife away. "Sorry, I needed to be sure. I hope you understand."104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡps19WtNkrq
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Steve chuckled awkwardly. "I'm sure this whole thing would make anyone paranoid."104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl0HY7U4GeP
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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.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyyvhivkBl7
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Steve nodded, accepting the excuse. "Um... I should go then."104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg0gWhAhfSs
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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."104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmugxam5Xnz
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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.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvWq9aOa7JP
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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.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡutOsZq6Hh1
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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.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtgbfBnxyzw
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"There you are," Hanna remarked softly.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqrSVU0ikKD
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"Yeah," Ethan mumbled.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnNI3hkw8Cx
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Hanna sat down on the end of the bed. "How are you?"104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWXXMd1PGsQ
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Ethan tilted his head up to look at her. "A little stressed."104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEvw6zBYmSK
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Hanna nodded understandingly. "You looked... a little uncomfortable out back there."104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQfOCt0NQnP
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"Yeah," Ethan agreed quietly.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ox6ZrnQHz
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"Why didn't you say anything?" Hanna had an exasperated edge to her voice.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7C8rbAXFGo
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Ethan sighed softly into the wall. "I thought I would be able to deal with it."104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkz3AzCatwA
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"With what exactly?" Hanna probed.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ18rXKA1wij
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Ethan paused briefly. "Someone coming into this space, being near me."104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvKb5wUddUJ
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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.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO77pffaZSg
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"It's not—" Ethan scowled then took a long breath. "I just felt like I had to get away."104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgWUqFwoQT1
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"Was this just about Steve?" Hanna probed gently.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCzWapvqR1O
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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."104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg3avN2Tz9V
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"Am I okay?" Hanna asked hesitantly.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcHp9TK88O6
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"Yeah," Ethan answered softly, taking her hand gently and nuzzling it. "You're always okay."104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2XKR5kxvYF
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"Um... I'll keep that in mind," Hanna responded uncertainly, absolutely mystified by his behaviour. "You going to get up?"104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh4GhATMpxX
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"I think I'm going to stay here for a bit." Ethan let go of her hand.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdjg1pQVgbm
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"Okay," Hanna responded, before getting off the bed and walking out of the room.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhIxJlnX2Gj
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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.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdaMFxU6mYk
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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.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNecaUW9gxN
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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.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJSyx169Nte
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Ethan subtlety moved his hand away from his ankle as he glanced over her shoulder. "Crosswords?"104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkklLaEJc0t
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"Yup," Hanna answered happily, pulling out a pencil.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrSkO7j75Jb
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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.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbL2jNzdelg
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Five minutes later, Hanna had yet to put in a single answer.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOwgRTFpZTw
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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.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGnvQsXTwDj
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Hanna was now biting the end of the pencil, hard.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR3uoWsLoVY
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Ethan decided she could use a hint. "Seventeen down is pineapple."104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy79PrbDZSy
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"Hey, this is my puzzle!" Hanna protested, angling the book so he couldn't see it anymore.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTfwAv7nLro
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"So you don't want help?" Ethan asked, amused.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡteEk5wc3wJ
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Hanna muttered in annoyance as she wrote in the answer, pointedly not answering his question.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWlHwMV0GR2
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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.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDt5RYRB4fV
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"Maybe you should start with an easier one?" Ethan suggested helpfully.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTf5vHPYiih
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"No," Hanna answered stubbornly, without looking up.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJwpykfIz69
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Ethan smiled, already feeling much better, and relishing her frustration a little too much.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnwpj8fMkTn
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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."104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbdoAZ8OR7R
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Ethan paused for a second to think. "Vision."104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡacfetINGFE
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"Okay." Hanna marked down his answer. "Seven letters. A light source. Second letter is A."104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGDhWrDNvcr
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"Lantern," Ethan replied quickly.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzfngvbShVo
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Hanna gave him a skeptical look and stared at the puzzle.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYWWyDmdjhh
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"That's the answer. Lantern," Ethan repeated.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAqMZoXjd8P
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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."104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbIDhk5M2KF
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"Ottoman." Ethan smirked slightly as Hanna filled in the sheet again.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbvHbMcRBZQ
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"You're good at this," Hanna commented.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1IvXFNar8G
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Ethan couldn't resist smiling openly now.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXwvcEA12TF
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Hanna smiled back at him as she handed him the crosswords book and chewed up pencil. "You solve it then."104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWmVmMhk3uY
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"What happened to 'this is my puzzle'?" Ethan teased, smirking at her.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdcpadlVJxI
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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.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEZwNoEj7G2
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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.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu0UmSgkbdX
