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.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwxv5c6cM4L
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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.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDYIR5esdNY
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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.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo2oAgJu4r7
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"Steve should be here soon, you might want to wake up," Hanna teased.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX5NsURffVa
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Ethan let out a quiet, irritated groan from the sofa.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiDMIPDCZC4
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Hanna wondered if this was going to be a bigger problem than she had thought, given his reaction.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI4TXTu99sg
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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."121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSC8P72L0SK
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"I want to see him.” Ethan scowled slightly at the ceiling. "He's my friend too."121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡagTYBt2mGQ
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"Okay, but are you going to be okay with this?" Hanna asked bluntly.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxVqSCZINye
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Ethan shrugged noncommittally.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbHtSyiveJm
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"Then... me talking to him won't be a problem?" Hanna pressed.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Bw6Ec6Dbv
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"You're not—" Ethan started to answer bitterly, then reconsidered. "You can talk to whoever you want to."121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvGDzD0DAbX
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"So you're not going to get... territorial or possessive or anything right?" Hanna asked awkwardly.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa1QLN7xzcN
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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.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHC5UdoQj2v
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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.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBRuC6ro6pK
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"He's here," Hanna announced, heading towards the door.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzv4umSmmRd
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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.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa7CKWJZIwx
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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.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyVXm7QxmvH
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"Thanks for coming." Ethan's gratitude was sincere, even if his pleased tone was a little forced.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzIAi2KYdYY
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"Yes, thank you for bringing these," Hanna added gratefully, setting the bags on the table.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAb7mEASkxW
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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."121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkXhPQ9u7Bt
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"Alive and kicking, that's us," Hanna joked back as Ethan started unpacking the bags silently.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFZR7ODJKOx
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"So, it really was a gang? They were after Ethan specifically?" Steve asked curiously.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdeMtklQK2Z
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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."121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL6kXDWqLJy
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Ethan flinched as Steve gave him a friendly pat on the back.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhHRFQado5t
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Steve pulled his hand away. "Sorry, didn't mean to hurt you."121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtLrIQKuiUU
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"It's nothing, just bruises." Ethan shrugged dismissively.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYBpNOmE6CQ
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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.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl9L533wkA8
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"Was this all you could get?" Hanna asked quickly.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdBOqCYIjYv
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"Nope, there's more where that came from," Steve announced as he headed back out to the car.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRJj0pZi0p6
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"Is it okay if I help carry stuff in?" Hanna asked Ethan quietly.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡITEpADbxdP
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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.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡshdIR2KVQd
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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.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAPtWvgmMxj
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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.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5y0Hkyke48
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"Over there." Steve pointed to a black duffel across the room, near the hallway.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOOlW2wntQA
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Hanna saw the bag from her apartment, that she'd given him the access code for. "Clothes, yes!"121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP7tvYrkUZG
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"Exactly where you said, I was a bit surprised that you had a bag of clothes packed already," Steve commented.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡviWDxm4x99
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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.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRIOfqLM2Wa
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"Let me help you with that," Steve said as he walked over to join Ethan.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfhukJerBKg
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"Sure," Ethan answered with false enthusiasm as he kept unpacking the bags, purposely avoiding Steve's gaze.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5kz4AEz08S
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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.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ54pblEAhul
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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.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTYsHHDabFM
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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.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPQZZnHPHyw
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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.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeYBbrVYVhb
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"I've got it." Steve went to pick up the jug and his hand barely brushed Ethan's.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQfxbp4t0q3
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Ethan jumped away from Steve, as if shocked.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8DnepGzvtj
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The two Terrans stared at Ethan, suddenly very aware of his strange behaviour.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1OESF2uEax
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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.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDn9yfAQCuC
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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.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZQMcjO6KC2
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"Let's talk outside," Hanna told Steve before exiting through the door.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ49Qh2AdGbJ
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Steve glanced back at Ethan hesitantly before following Hanna reluctantly.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqFvgSPZicj
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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.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFJ69JLVOGT
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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.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuU3ClrLH6r
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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?"121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfJGJpLloqp
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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."121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFECpxlqjqF
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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.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡquaCYkkTF1
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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."121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF6c25AEOuK
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Hanna considered that as she continued eyeing him suspiciously, holding her blade steady.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡimZPHmIDNy
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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.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHXTfRuQCj7
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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.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ53W5udOlLt
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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.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYNPbezINzA
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Hanna lowered her knife slowly, persuaded by his words. "Okay," she relented, taking a step back.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUOyc9Q0uAS
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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?"121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwtMrpv545T
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"Everyone gets greedy sometimes, and that can make them do stupid things," Hanna answered coldly.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWjFP77YNOT
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"Yeah, well, not me. I'm not going to get my friend killed for some cash," Steve defended bitterly.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQZJdu93j6s
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Hanna twirled her shiny knife. "Still, if you tell anyone about—"121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEe4aD6ShGE
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"You'll kill me. I get it," Steve interrupted. "But I wouldn't do that."121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj8iSHrRN4Q
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Hanna put the knife away. "Sorry, I needed to be sure. I hope you understand."121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4vjozEnMOw
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Steve chuckled awkwardly. "I'm sure this whole thing would make anyone paranoid."121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJppZ3l4ivl
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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.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhHmMtuWft6
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Steve nodded, accepting the excuse. "Um... I should go then."121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2l61iqOQ9Z
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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."121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD4EdtaOgTh
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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.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl0CP25F7wc
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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.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAdw5h60QAO
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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.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbQdQfimvEH
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"There you are," Hanna remarked softly.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeOSUtPRjmm
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"Yeah," Ethan mumbled.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs6tjvSHBz8
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Hanna sat down on the end of the bed. "How are you?"121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnbeLvIanFl
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Ethan tilted his head up to look at her. "A little stressed."121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeOFziGKfYC
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Hanna nodded understandingly. "You looked... a little uncomfortable out back there."121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdidYHeKBFK
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"Yeah," Ethan agreed quietly.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD34tByPARH
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"Why didn't you say anything?" Hanna had an exasperated edge to her voice.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo5pJbEjHAw
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Ethan sighed softly into the wall. "I thought I would be able to deal with it."121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSZKPsmbGaY
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"With what exactly?" Hanna probed.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6hWpJgltDb
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Ethan paused briefly. "Someone coming into this space, being near me."121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAzaTgm1WWr
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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.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQqmYmn0MGo
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"It's not—" Ethan scowled then took a long breath. "I just felt like I had to get away."121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL19jh3SRjK
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"Was this just about Steve?" Hanna probed gently.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdVCd9EDNUA
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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."121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyZWBaxtPNf
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"Am I okay?" Hanna asked hesitantly.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ69rTmhQvt3
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"Yeah," Ethan answered softly, taking her hand gently and nuzzling it. "You're always okay."121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeie8MMoi6Z
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"Um... I'll keep that in mind," Hanna responded uncertainly, absolutely mystified by his behaviour. "You going to get up?"121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVP84yJ72Dn
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"I think I'm going to stay here for a bit." Ethan let go of her hand.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzlad4978ij
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"Okay," Hanna responded, before getting off the bed and walking out of the room.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJrDjirsSjI
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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.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKSyZ9gtOu6
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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.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgr1PTyNUjG
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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.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoh8HeMS7Ym
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Ethan subtlety moved his hand away from his ankle as he glanced over her shoulder. "Crosswords?"121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKPsSfwIL0m
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"Yup," Hanna answered happily, pulling out a pencil.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡimOKF1o5ZS
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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.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrYOo1c8liL
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Five minutes later, Hanna had yet to put in a single answer.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP8zD8AnyFR
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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.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4xK2v5An9l
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Hanna was now biting the end of the pencil, hard.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWmFKoabEIe
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Ethan decided she could use a hint. "Seventeen down is pineapple."121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHwwv8LJZKv
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"Hey, this is my puzzle!" Hanna protested, angling the book so he couldn't see it anymore.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQzezSVlFfH
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"So you don't want help?" Ethan asked, amused.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSt7e1kcNUQ
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Hanna muttered in annoyance as she wrote in the answer, pointedly not answering his question.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkLIXpLyBi1
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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.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Xzif63pPm
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"Maybe you should start with an easier one?" Ethan suggested helpfully.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUXRHb08vFi
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"No," Hanna answered stubbornly, without looking up.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZrYyNqbTuL
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Ethan smiled, already feeling much better, and relishing her frustration a little too much.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1CZpBqIdJS
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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."121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUaC5Dvb4Az
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Ethan paused for a second to think. "Vision."121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDgJSzyWoM4
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"Okay." Hanna marked down his answer. "Seven letters. A light source. Second letter is A."121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0FL63o18EA
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"Lantern," Ethan replied quickly.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvqZsVmr7AF
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Hanna gave him a skeptical look and stared at the puzzle.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwiTv2gJF0F
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"That's the answer. Lantern," Ethan repeated.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmh69nK4rFu
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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."121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz85BvCvfXp
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"Ottoman." Ethan smirked slightly as Hanna filled in the sheet again.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡof2LUZDylI
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"You're good at this," Hanna commented.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2uLBKbd9tz
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Ethan couldn't resist smiling openly now.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsSRXknNYJm
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Hanna smiled back at him as she handed him the crosswords book and chewed up pencil. "You solve it then."121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5quD6uRSPV
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"What happened to 'this is my puzzle'?" Ethan teased, smirking at her.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0iokADVOyl
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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.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOdBZCsdale
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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.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuljK2YXD72
