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.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlMd19Hua8J
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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.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEPwpxbx4rm
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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.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRflMLGU3us
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"Steve should be here soon, you might want to wake up," Hanna teased.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡITFvwdelC5
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Ethan let out a quiet, irritated groan from the sofa.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOy8ZqyZnto
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Hanna wondered if this was going to be a bigger problem than she had thought, given his reaction.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgrK29V15PH
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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."119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8sv2kC4nWG
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"I want to see him.” Ethan scowled slightly at the ceiling. "He's my friend too."119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO4bALwiGuk
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"Okay, but are you going to be okay with this?" Hanna asked bluntly.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0mIW8XK9me
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Ethan shrugged noncommittally.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq9OkrCaJdu
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"Then... me talking to him won't be a problem?" Hanna pressed.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyzbvw0bhpJ
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"You're not—" Ethan started to answer bitterly, then reconsidered. "You can talk to whoever you want to."119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrlcnXm8R6N
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"So you're not going to get... territorial or possessive or anything right?" Hanna asked awkwardly.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0T0Ff9YglA
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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.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4nvJweIjEN
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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.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVqXAdvmeRc
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"He's here," Hanna announced, heading towards the door.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYi2PM7mqjo
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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.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW1HjcNjEY4
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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.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2tFNP5uXmJ
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"Thanks for coming." Ethan's gratitude was sincere, even if his pleased tone was a little forced.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTr93WSI3rg
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"Yes, thank you for bringing these," Hanna added gratefully, setting the bags on the table.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqMq9tEjZ39
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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."119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcG88cHhb1q
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"Alive and kicking, that's us," Hanna joked back as Ethan started unpacking the bags silently.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSfoqdgyAm2
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"So, it really was a gang? They were after Ethan specifically?" Steve asked curiously.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwckRH5mvib
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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."119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa5WLRc5ubW
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Ethan flinched as Steve gave him a friendly pat on the back.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡriFQUfY7tD
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Steve pulled his hand away. "Sorry, didn't mean to hurt you."119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzrvwNWjA2y
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"It's nothing, just bruises." Ethan shrugged dismissively.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqRuOBYNFtL
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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.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ23wVAQF9hs
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"Was this all you could get?" Hanna asked quickly.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ53IQjIxooH
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"Nope, there's more where that came from," Steve announced as he headed back out to the car.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0zXc9gZERz
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"Is it okay if I help carry stuff in?" Hanna asked Ethan quietly.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ66rc5KSsS1
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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.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRWOz28PvtD
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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.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzqA0N5jSTx
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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.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw5MNG94Usq
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"Over there." Steve pointed to a black duffel across the room, near the hallway.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA906mWrbEo
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Hanna saw the bag from her apartment, that she'd given him the access code for. "Clothes, yes!"119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwdqJwbHZ5J
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"Exactly where you said, I was a bit surprised that you had a bag of clothes packed already," Steve commented.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbqHA6rgNJQ
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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.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzZe3kWjnIG
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"Let me help you with that," Steve said as he walked over to join Ethan.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAxqIWcfISN
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"Sure," Ethan answered with false enthusiasm as he kept unpacking the bags, purposely avoiding Steve's gaze.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIZw27i5CuX
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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.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiMHgfGkVzX
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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.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkdBkfLX8E8
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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.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4dbKomnqdx
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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.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhmUNPqJNuA
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"I've got it." Steve went to pick up the jug and his hand barely brushed Ethan's.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfBv5r2QEqa
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Ethan jumped away from Steve, as if shocked.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKNBO2AME0J
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The two Terrans stared at Ethan, suddenly very aware of his strange behaviour.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpDSXYoGo1C
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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.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOrk2nEw2y1
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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.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnEkHIKqpuB
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"Let's talk outside," Hanna told Steve before exiting through the door.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdRzKRcGIFL
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Steve glanced back at Ethan hesitantly before following Hanna reluctantly.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJge3F3gvRK
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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.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡogjAp7BedE
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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.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGwclg3LsC2
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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?"119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXXuRH5ZDiD
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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."119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiL6y5atdk1
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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.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv7rcIcYXxK
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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."119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡilAE80DEu6
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Hanna considered that as she continued eyeing him suspiciously, holding her blade steady.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Z62Tvpy4U
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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.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQMANex8GSA
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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.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGuN0QF5Avi
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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.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡshpUzxWii0
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Hanna lowered her knife slowly, persuaded by his words. "Okay," she relented, taking a step back.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCG7jV5zLFt
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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?"119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFos75QxLuU
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"Everyone gets greedy sometimes, and that can make them do stupid things," Hanna answered coldly.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP9nWgO9ZHX
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"Yeah, well, not me. I'm not going to get my friend killed for some cash," Steve defended bitterly.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzYBJk1p7dU
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Hanna twirled her shiny knife. "Still, if you tell anyone about—"119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL43sXI9CFJ
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"You'll kill me. I get it," Steve interrupted. "But I wouldn't do that."119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ01ymqi1jEp
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Hanna put the knife away. "Sorry, I needed to be sure. I hope you understand."119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlwL6n9MdJZ
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Steve chuckled awkwardly. "I'm sure this whole thing would make anyone paranoid."119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPpvlNBQVql
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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.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrWYP2M9dQF
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Steve nodded, accepting the excuse. "Um... I should go then."119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAhmVB3YRSk
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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."119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBVlqIt9RHH
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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.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrxhAOnluPY
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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.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzaSP2sfBqj
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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.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgkg8sdttQ3
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"There you are," Hanna remarked softly.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP5vHprvyLV
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"Yeah," Ethan mumbled.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEtNP2yLMcs
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Hanna sat down on the end of the bed. "How are you?"119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZjPMYS16oI
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Ethan tilted his head up to look at her. "A little stressed."119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyywCNOiW6S
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Hanna nodded understandingly. "You looked... a little uncomfortable out back there."119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5SK6tcGfo9
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"Yeah," Ethan agreed quietly.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEYKlJ5oN23
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"Why didn't you say anything?" Hanna had an exasperated edge to her voice.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm1QXJqEaxc
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Ethan sighed softly into the wall. "I thought I would be able to deal with it."119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQlxSn3EsE
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"With what exactly?" Hanna probed.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq1tG8Rfix0
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Ethan paused briefly. "Someone coming into this space, being near me."119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxpGv8KNQ0o
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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.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlBzdzfbvR5
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"It's not—" Ethan scowled then took a long breath. "I just felt like I had to get away."119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLT8JKJUhIl
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"Was this just about Steve?" Hanna probed gently.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUAhY26hfJ1
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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."119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7zVo6dn8j3
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"Am I okay?" Hanna asked hesitantly.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ujoXfm4e6
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"Yeah," Ethan answered softly, taking her hand gently and nuzzling it. "You're always okay."119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkEc7jeUcgN
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"Um... I'll keep that in mind," Hanna responded uncertainly, absolutely mystified by his behaviour. "You going to get up?"119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ54nd6Bvujc
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"I think I'm going to stay here for a bit." Ethan let go of her hand.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfDZU46AW48
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"Okay," Hanna responded, before getting off the bed and walking out of the room.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU4fuEYZ8gV
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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.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmVJGJ4uri4
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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.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEsNMnochsq
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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.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe2XmO6VH2U
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Ethan subtlety moved his hand away from his ankle as he glanced over her shoulder. "Crosswords?"119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCuLuWEZII5
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"Yup," Hanna answered happily, pulling out a pencil.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjuMTDTuyyG
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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.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa6XfrDmkZ3
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Five minutes later, Hanna had yet to put in a single answer.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRiYJV3Xz6N
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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.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsrGW8fjmZ4
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Hanna was now biting the end of the pencil, hard.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs6UXmF8RRj
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Ethan decided she could use a hint. "Seventeen down is pineapple."119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSO9nTrQB6Y
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"Hey, this is my puzzle!" Hanna protested, angling the book so he couldn't see it anymore.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQGVUy300Nr
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"So you don't want help?" Ethan asked, amused.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjWKHOlTVEB
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Hanna muttered in annoyance as she wrote in the answer, pointedly not answering his question.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBvn3Ujph95
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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.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLToYWzZO3d
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"Maybe you should start with an easier one?" Ethan suggested helpfully.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvOmlGp3pnY
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"No," Hanna answered stubbornly, without looking up.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkHaC3ZoqfN
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Ethan smiled, already feeling much better, and relishing her frustration a little too much.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgvkfBLPAKP
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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."119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQnOkRsKhh3
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Ethan paused for a second to think. "Vision."119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeWgTX7WakJ
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"Okay." Hanna marked down his answer. "Seven letters. A light source. Second letter is A."119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn6eb1xjVI2
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"Lantern," Ethan replied quickly.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbG4tld8nJc
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Hanna gave him a skeptical look and stared at the puzzle.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCGEkbb1iJQ
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"That's the answer. Lantern," Ethan repeated.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8uFbcCpT9b
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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."119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg0BCtCbzna
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"Ottoman." Ethan smirked slightly as Hanna filled in the sheet again.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGr2d8QfZYF
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"You're good at this," Hanna commented.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTImmTiis1s
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Ethan couldn't resist smiling openly now.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKt3lbZeldZ
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Hanna smiled back at him as she handed him the crosswords book and chewed up pencil. "You solve it then."119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd2QsJM0Lxs
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"What happened to 'this is my puzzle'?" Ethan teased, smirking at her.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ZUOVdOsE3
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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.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡooLgZluedk
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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.119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv7p0HnFXYl
