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.126Please respect copyright.PENANAaGPaKQLxDd
126Please respect copyright.PENANAacHgRpDSYr
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.126Please respect copyright.PENANAmqPGrQTWzw
126Please respect copyright.PENANAoh4VLo6dXd
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.126Please respect copyright.PENANAoMYwjhArH0
126Please respect copyright.PENANAwj72gWSNyv
"Steve should be here soon, you might want to wake up," Hanna teased.126Please respect copyright.PENANAiES7xuBKEL
126Please respect copyright.PENANAl8chdJ27EJ
Ethan let out a quiet, irritated groan from the sofa.126Please respect copyright.PENANAGScXycsp9h
126Please respect copyright.PENANAoHur7G06rF
Hanna wondered if this was going to be a bigger problem than she had thought, given his reaction.126Please respect copyright.PENANAURu8yssg0D
126Please respect copyright.PENANA6CHqd8KxXY
"He doesn't have to come in, I can meet him outside," Hanna suggested quickly. "You won't have to see him."126Please respect copyright.PENANATNyGDplYkN
126Please respect copyright.PENANAlNAxIAMm0u
"I want to see him.” Ethan scowled slightly at the ceiling. "He's my friend too."126Please respect copyright.PENANAhNkVgG9nT9
126Please respect copyright.PENANAZsoDZOXh9Q
"Okay, but are you going to be okay with this?" Hanna asked bluntly.126Please respect copyright.PENANAlBzmpEkz0v
126Please respect copyright.PENANAvwF2vmOV63
Ethan shrugged noncommittally.126Please respect copyright.PENANARxeWBjCOtF
126Please respect copyright.PENANAvEUfcgTGVe
"Then... me talking to him won't be a problem?" Hanna pressed.126Please respect copyright.PENANApqAdHwyCMx
126Please respect copyright.PENANAaBNtpPxUa2
"You're not—" Ethan started to answer bitterly, then reconsidered. "You can talk to whoever you want to."126Please respect copyright.PENANA3qVFPPQcGZ
126Please respect copyright.PENANAVe2ueC34QU
"So you're not going to get... territorial or possessive or anything right?" Hanna asked awkwardly.126Please respect copyright.PENANAW686GCbq4M
126Please respect copyright.PENANAoyA0rlABEQ
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.126Please respect copyright.PENANADLt6RzdgRp
126Please respect copyright.PENANAXFckfjbOAf
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.126Please respect copyright.PENANAKkB5w0WLh2
126Please respect copyright.PENANADSIauXmv2J
"He's here," Hanna announced, heading towards the door.126Please respect copyright.PENANAONUY8DjfEK
126Please respect copyright.PENANAH6D7nMpskd
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.126Please respect copyright.PENANA1VMIQzgN0F
126Please respect copyright.PENANAYYC0b4yYz9
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.126Please respect copyright.PENANASQRbfIQobz
126Please respect copyright.PENANAxzJRjurW7h
"Thanks for coming." Ethan's gratitude was sincere, even if his pleased tone was a little forced.126Please respect copyright.PENANATvC7Vr6OzM
126Please respect copyright.PENANATP63fgx7KR
"Yes, thank you for bringing these," Hanna added gratefully, setting the bags on the table.126Please respect copyright.PENANAXZ9CrLdNZc
126Please respect copyright.PENANAlnnQle6qoy
Steve joined the two of them in the kitchen. "You're welcome, it's good to see you're both alive."126Please respect copyright.PENANA6hpULPQDw6
126Please respect copyright.PENANA35hXKfaXiM
"Alive and kicking, that's us," Hanna joked back as Ethan started unpacking the bags silently.126Please respect copyright.PENANA0RT5gvRsc0
126Please respect copyright.PENANAaqaoMKtgcO
"So, it really was a gang? They were after Ethan specifically?" Steve asked curiously.126Please respect copyright.PENANA0kijaUN2fo
126Please respect copyright.PENANAOam4VGSJgm
"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."126Please respect copyright.PENANAUxbdiUO7cy
126Please respect copyright.PENANAG3q5cyVpeX
Ethan flinched as Steve gave him a friendly pat on the back.126Please respect copyright.PENANA35j7gGvHda
126Please respect copyright.PENANAiDQV0G5tPx
Steve pulled his hand away. "Sorry, didn't mean to hurt you."126Please respect copyright.PENANAH866t4Lk6H
126Please respect copyright.PENANAUyXG28JKWy
"It's nothing, just bruises." Ethan shrugged dismissively.126Please respect copyright.PENANAQ6kDLZB5wg
126Please respect copyright.PENANAJPkK2aNE5g
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.126Please respect copyright.PENANAFgdNM0cGqO
126Please respect copyright.PENANA7iO5cFuYI3
"Was this all you could get?" Hanna asked quickly.126Please respect copyright.PENANAPhgygZAvmj
126Please respect copyright.PENANAwTonOtiWn4
"Nope, there's more where that came from," Steve announced as he headed back out to the car.126Please respect copyright.PENANAMOBElA0Lsg
126Please respect copyright.PENANAtlLjF2yDLN
"Is it okay if I help carry stuff in?" Hanna asked Ethan quietly.126Please respect copyright.PENANAWSipSBVHu9
126Please respect copyright.PENANApyUM2vAM4E
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.126Please respect copyright.PENANA11la7qpifm
126Please respect copyright.PENANACHCcXYs6z6
Steve and Hanna brought the rest of the bags in, and by the time they were done, Ethan had already unpacked half the groceries.126Please respect copyright.PENANAylG6VLeouy
126Please respect copyright.PENANACwuXxkKiwt
"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.126Please respect copyright.PENANAtpqYf9aysx
126Please respect copyright.PENANAairEDn4GmU
"Over there." Steve pointed to a black duffel across the room, near the hallway.126Please respect copyright.PENANAFRA4xNedkN
126Please respect copyright.PENANAdgKbe2xcFP
Hanna saw the bag from her apartment, that she'd given him the access code for. "Clothes, yes!"126Please respect copyright.PENANAR0xZDqJ3TI
126Please respect copyright.PENANA5cr7U4Iuck
"Exactly where you said, I was a bit surprised that you had a bag of clothes packed already," Steve commented.126Please respect copyright.PENANAFQYlcxQrrZ
126Please respect copyright.PENANAaiRowylpDi
"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.126Please respect copyright.PENANAQj3UXIPpIt
126Please respect copyright.PENANA1JBsKO6jDw
"Let me help you with that," Steve said as he walked over to join Ethan.126Please respect copyright.PENANATaMr1NALb7
126Please respect copyright.PENANAKvPnGHRizQ
"Sure," Ethan answered with false enthusiasm as he kept unpacking the bags, purposely avoiding Steve's gaze.126Please respect copyright.PENANAMj30E4zrG6
126Please respect copyright.PENANAcYWl41FXbw
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.126Please respect copyright.PENANASmdcTWz132
126Please respect copyright.PENANAld4QSmQwEf
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.126Please respect copyright.PENANAs5S2UQpilY
126Please respect copyright.PENANAYpQ1bLezMj
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.126Please respect copyright.PENANAfcClhMlF76
126Please respect copyright.PENANAmIEhVD6wQG
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.126Please respect copyright.PENANAhXViDpiRHh
126Please respect copyright.PENANAYuozheXUWf
"I've got it." Steve went to pick up the jug and his hand barely brushed Ethan's.126Please respect copyright.PENANAmYXbzBKoLu
126Please respect copyright.PENANATkPaUePh5o
Ethan jumped away from Steve, as if shocked.126Please respect copyright.PENANAvWiz9FoCmw
126Please respect copyright.PENANACGYgZLVXy4
The two Terrans stared at Ethan, suddenly very aware of his strange behaviour.126Please respect copyright.PENANA4AzsWfCJbe
126Please respect copyright.PENANA82pn2M6p4t
Ethan realized everyone was looking at him. "There are more bags to unpack," he stated awkwardly, trying to shift their attention away.126Please respect copyright.PENANAoRKQiUVC6O
126Please respect copyright.PENANA4xf9d5lY3Z
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.126Please respect copyright.PENANA6NZwyxQWYC
126Please respect copyright.PENANAOFlRDJ34Ow
"Let's talk outside," Hanna told Steve before exiting through the door.126Please respect copyright.PENANAHHQsX7ueyo
126Please respect copyright.PENANAUEx34ckCuy
Steve glanced back at Ethan hesitantly before following Hanna reluctantly.126Please respect copyright.PENANAEglXcspfHS
126Please respect copyright.PENANA04JVRXDfx5
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.126Please respect copyright.PENANAmRwxqPoYr3
126Please respect copyright.PENANAgnBmgY83eG
"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.126Please respect copyright.PENANAQ589f9ywCS
126Please respect copyright.PENANAS465JXSvfh
"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?"126Please respect copyright.PENANAKSr96Ngy4v
126Please respect copyright.PENANAbYqfwXxyAI
"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."126Please respect copyright.PENANA0xK4ot2yUw
126Please respect copyright.PENANAj4q12nPkdf
"Me and you are the only people who know Ethan is Charax. I know I didn't tell anyone," Hanna accused angrily.126Please respect copyright.PENANABSPxYvlyPa
126Please respect copyright.PENANAHqWcki62wx
"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."126Please respect copyright.PENANAcmdmIJDf49
126Please respect copyright.PENANAPty7IN4Fwg
Hanna considered that as she continued eyeing him suspiciously, holding her blade steady.126Please respect copyright.PENANAnPZQQ32y88
126Please respect copyright.PENANADMJNF0R1Qg
"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.126Please respect copyright.PENANABLz38OPwiS
126Please respect copyright.PENANA1aTYePrCNl
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.126Please respect copyright.PENANANjW3Bt0qAu
126Please respect copyright.PENANA22Ib1Bpe23
"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.126Please respect copyright.PENANAOT0rOMPaUj
126Please respect copyright.PENANA3B0BQAVoMe
Hanna lowered her knife slowly, persuaded by his words. "Okay," she relented, taking a step back.126Please respect copyright.PENANAJoqJJ4RkOW
126Please respect copyright.PENANAL66N2nxas5
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?"126Please respect copyright.PENANA9oLkbSJ8TG
126Please respect copyright.PENANARukkx5PaCP
"Everyone gets greedy sometimes, and that can make them do stupid things," Hanna answered coldly.126Please respect copyright.PENANAxT6W6Tr7FP
126Please respect copyright.PENANAWpQMSIVzcS
"Yeah, well, not me. I'm not going to get my friend killed for some cash," Steve defended bitterly.126Please respect copyright.PENANAww7zm5lXfT
126Please respect copyright.PENANAMNVZw6zBGc
Hanna twirled her shiny knife. "Still, if you tell anyone about—"126Please respect copyright.PENANAspajhWs6ox
126Please respect copyright.PENANAejHAYa2Rvh
"You'll kill me. I get it," Steve interrupted. "But I wouldn't do that."126Please respect copyright.PENANAE0m1pUzqyv
126Please respect copyright.PENANAtQhOrdJz27
Hanna put the knife away. "Sorry, I needed to be sure. I hope you understand."126Please respect copyright.PENANAdIiSp5IKsP
126Please respect copyright.PENANAuluoJJDh8e
Steve chuckled awkwardly. "I'm sure this whole thing would make anyone paranoid."126Please respect copyright.PENANA3zNB4WnAin
126Please respect copyright.PENANAoTO3wFKkDy
"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.126Please respect copyright.PENANAWTeIfYXinE
126Please respect copyright.PENANAtL8NY5SbZs
Steve nodded, accepting the excuse. "Um... I should go then."126Please respect copyright.PENANABt2axWL0Om
126Please respect copyright.PENANAKPWZlGT0gs
Hanna glanced back at the door, thinking about Ethan's earlier reaction. "That's probably for the best. Thanks again for helping us."126Please respect copyright.PENANAcqwmV08OUk
126Please respect copyright.PENANAXbQw2RBQxo
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.126Please respect copyright.PENANAzOeXtfzCrw
126Please respect copyright.PENANAAkamUjdUAY
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.126Please respect copyright.PENANA2DtkaEiGlH
126Please respect copyright.PENANAuleskIvQ2C
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.126Please respect copyright.PENANA0PCMUXVKTe
126Please respect copyright.PENANAnm1aec9Ssr
"There you are," Hanna remarked softly.126Please respect copyright.PENANAwJxojtKl44
126Please respect copyright.PENANArUCcIiUBUo
"Yeah," Ethan mumbled.126Please respect copyright.PENANAvSbMmXNDJ9
126Please respect copyright.PENANA73HF4RtePJ
Hanna sat down on the end of the bed. "How are you?"126Please respect copyright.PENANA5mkZlLOH2h
126Please respect copyright.PENANAgAtnWPl2yQ
Ethan tilted his head up to look at her. "A little stressed."126Please respect copyright.PENANAzfksrsafLJ
126Please respect copyright.PENANAcwo70hONn5
Hanna nodded understandingly. "You looked... a little uncomfortable out back there."126Please respect copyright.PENANAKyghlg583I
126Please respect copyright.PENANAB2nlpVsgs9
"Yeah," Ethan agreed quietly.126Please respect copyright.PENANAXoVFemoueE
126Please respect copyright.PENANAEDe0udBsfd
"Why didn't you say anything?" Hanna had an exasperated edge to her voice.126Please respect copyright.PENANAahpkbOoHLa
126Please respect copyright.PENANArFU0kG9IAU
Ethan sighed softly into the wall. "I thought I would be able to deal with it."126Please respect copyright.PENANAdH8GwQ5VrV
126Please respect copyright.PENANAuTLparp1BQ
"With what exactly?" Hanna probed.126Please respect copyright.PENANAKB5eobL0w6
126Please respect copyright.PENANAUneU8UC3W1
Ethan paused briefly. "Someone coming into this space, being near me."126Please respect copyright.PENANAzerwZNschs
126Please respect copyright.PENANAYjPXZRyxB1
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.126Please respect copyright.PENANAHlBBchbzzT
126Please respect copyright.PENANA37PBPEmE5V
"It's not—" Ethan scowled then took a long breath. "I just felt like I had to get away."126Please respect copyright.PENANAnCdD8aCXwJ
126Please respect copyright.PENANAzpZHDWanwR
"Was this just about Steve?" Hanna probed gently.126Please respect copyright.PENANACrkJ65227E
126Please respect copyright.PENANAYnEQRYIQRS
Ethan nodded, adjusting his arm to press into his side. "I really don't want to be around people right now."126Please respect copyright.PENANAsbLNaezm87
126Please respect copyright.PENANAYaAtwliEs5
"Am I okay?" Hanna asked hesitantly.126Please respect copyright.PENANAHwgFOLtyq4
126Please respect copyright.PENANAvk3Hz8N3mk
"Yeah," Ethan answered softly, taking her hand gently and nuzzling it. "You're always okay."126Please respect copyright.PENANAFwwbkq7sho
126Please respect copyright.PENANAsieyES9ujS
"Um... I'll keep that in mind," Hanna responded uncertainly, absolutely mystified by his behaviour. "You going to get up?"126Please respect copyright.PENANAlzY8KD8AXo
126Please respect copyright.PENANANebheIwQIl
"I think I'm going to stay here for a bit." Ethan let go of her hand.126Please respect copyright.PENANARHXNln1XFr
126Please respect copyright.PENANAGyzzNTMGjV
"Okay," Hanna responded, before getting off the bed and walking out of the room.126Please respect copyright.PENANA6r5goqHbv4
126Please respect copyright.PENANAGXYJIDOlAl
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.126Please respect copyright.PENANA7baHivQRO5
126Please respect copyright.PENANAMPYy6z3JJo
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.126Please respect copyright.PENANArmhSYtmccF
126Please respect copyright.PENANAed6R2Tf9oi
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.126Please respect copyright.PENANAtUJqUCinTj
126Please respect copyright.PENANAYswG0wyhBV
Ethan subtlety moved his hand away from his ankle as he glanced over her shoulder. "Crosswords?"126Please respect copyright.PENANAI7wiYwfNU2
126Please respect copyright.PENANA2VWYbov6bM
"Yup," Hanna answered happily, pulling out a pencil.126Please respect copyright.PENANAiGiqkD1hwI
126Please respect copyright.PENANAugMMWkX1Nc
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.126Please respect copyright.PENANATBjisqr78Z
126Please respect copyright.PENANADrc8Ob0MvB
Five minutes later, Hanna had yet to put in a single answer.126Please respect copyright.PENANA7yCEcis40R
126Please respect copyright.PENANAILtxjBi8E4
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.126Please respect copyright.PENANAQPV0qAYxzN
126Please respect copyright.PENANAByo2B7M7ys
Hanna was now biting the end of the pencil, hard.126Please respect copyright.PENANArqzEXRQQoB
126Please respect copyright.PENANAcoH3NdIMzf
Ethan decided she could use a hint. "Seventeen down is pineapple."126Please respect copyright.PENANAJVR2IBdgO0
126Please respect copyright.PENANABMXI9klB7f
"Hey, this is my puzzle!" Hanna protested, angling the book so he couldn't see it anymore.126Please respect copyright.PENANALoe0KcR1fE
126Please respect copyright.PENANAg0VrR79CZu
"So you don't want help?" Ethan asked, amused.126Please respect copyright.PENANAhrDrTHosF4
126Please respect copyright.PENANAFf3ihGsPES
Hanna muttered in annoyance as she wrote in the answer, pointedly not answering his question.126Please respect copyright.PENANAPsD1di7STd
126Please respect copyright.PENANA8FRu4XMqPz
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.126Please respect copyright.PENANA6O2Rt9Mrvf
126Please respect copyright.PENANAslcJ7fx9Zl
"Maybe you should start with an easier one?" Ethan suggested helpfully.126Please respect copyright.PENANAAZjhcxvW7k
126Please respect copyright.PENANAKVPjHJlxdz
"No," Hanna answered stubbornly, without looking up.126Please respect copyright.PENANAqk34gB2eTr
126Please respect copyright.PENANAd3Dwsd3w9O
Ethan smiled, already feeling much better, and relishing her frustration a little too much.126Please respect copyright.PENANAuZN8uMupWK
126Please respect copyright.PENANAJBhqcWLU3o
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."126Please respect copyright.PENANApVanLi38f0
126Please respect copyright.PENANA7YUS23nJBU
Ethan paused for a second to think. "Vision."126Please respect copyright.PENANAROLH0yVkr9
126Please respect copyright.PENANAkcyjJJrSqQ
"Okay." Hanna marked down his answer. "Seven letters. A light source. Second letter is A."126Please respect copyright.PENANAyCNlyNNrpJ
126Please respect copyright.PENANAR4WAQSSFS4
"Lantern," Ethan replied quickly.126Please respect copyright.PENANANDlwzxNtjw
126Please respect copyright.PENANANh04lfI0By
Hanna gave him a skeptical look and stared at the puzzle.126Please respect copyright.PENANAxbSKawnvLb
126Please respect copyright.PENANAFcOBkKc8Gt
"That's the answer. Lantern," Ethan repeated.126Please respect copyright.PENANAkIZZwPcMeJ
126Please respect copyright.PENANAUu1c0l3zXh
"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."126Please respect copyright.PENANABHJpnyTsAE
126Please respect copyright.PENANAbMqKWqkpuI
"Ottoman." Ethan smirked slightly as Hanna filled in the sheet again.126Please respect copyright.PENANAqQEWBqZyRP
126Please respect copyright.PENANAKCLnKywOBL
"You're good at this," Hanna commented.126Please respect copyright.PENANAuejcBfhuvb
126Please respect copyright.PENANAZ9L66YIwlC
Ethan couldn't resist smiling openly now.126Please respect copyright.PENANAVKnRFcU6U0
126Please respect copyright.PENANAZgs1iWqyW6
Hanna smiled back at him as she handed him the crosswords book and chewed up pencil. "You solve it then."126Please respect copyright.PENANA615s1Ipj3v
126Please respect copyright.PENANAmCelxEQ5kH
"What happened to 'this is my puzzle'?" Ethan teased, smirking at her.126Please respect copyright.PENANAy4lgNTZa0b
126Please respect copyright.PENANAaGITcXJ4s8
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.126Please respect copyright.PENANAB898dnPyxn
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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.126Please respect copyright.PENANAVuRORE5Rn7