Chapter Text
“I know what you’re doing you know,” said Adaire.
Fero tilted his head to look around the non-functional cattle feeder. “If you do then why am I here doing it? You could at least give me a hand with this thing.”
“Not that,” said Adaire. She glanced over her shoulder, making sure they were alone. She’d been watching Fero for a while now, and he was always on the move, squirrelled away somewhere or ingratiating himself with Hadrian. She’d run enough cons to know when someone was trying to pull one. “The other thing. The real reason you’re here.”
“This is the reason I’m here,” said Fero. “That and the fences.”
“Sure,” said Adaire. “ The fences .”
“Yeah,” said Fero. There was a scraping sound and then Fero sat back on his heels, making a face at the machinery.
“The fences you still haven’t finished,” said Adaire.
“Well it’s a big project,” said Fero. “Like I told Hadrian when I started, it’s going to take a while if it’s just me doing it.”
“Sure,” said Adaire. “Listen, just… I’m watching you.”
“Okay,” said Fero, squinting at her, “but what I’m doing right now isn’t that interesting to watch.”
“That's not- Look,” said Adaire. “Just, I know Hadrian seems like an easy mark, and he is, but Hella cares about him and I care about her, okay? So you're not going to get one over on him.”
“I don’t want to get one over on anyone.” Fero paused. “This is a pretty weird double bluff.”
Adaire blinked. “What?”
“I mean, you’re obviously here to do some kind of scheme,” said Fero, waving a hand, the screwdriver he was holding barely missing the bag of grain next to him.
“I’m not here to do anything of the kind,” said Adaire.
“Sure, okay, well, I’m from Rosemerrow, so,” said Fero.
“So what?” said Adaire.
“So I can recognise a scheme when I see one,” said Fero. “I can sense it in the air.”
“First of all, that is not exactly convincing me that you’re not running some kind of con,” said Adaire.
“I’m not!” said Fero. “I’m just fixing the cattle feeder!”
“That’s exactly what you would say if you were running a con,” said Adaire, “or trying to.”
“That’s exactly what someone who was trying to double bluff me would say!” said Fero.
“Fero, can you please keep it down?” said Lem, his head poking around the doorway. “I’m trying to experience nature.”
“Maybe you should try going more than five steps away from a building,” said Fero.
Lem made a face. “I would but every time I try to go without you, you yell at me-”
“I don’t yell at you-”
Adaire snorted.
“I don’t!” said Fero. “And you get lost if you try to wander around without me!”
“That’s only happened a few times,” said Lem.
“ Every time,” said Fero. “Listen if you really want to experience nature or whatever we can go for a walk in like an hour.”
“Oh,” said Lem, his expression clearing, “that would be lovely. I’ll meet you out the front of the barn?”
Fero turned back towards the cattle feeder, his cheeks flushed. “Sure.”
“Well, I… I suppose I’ll see you then,” said Lem.
Adaire looked from Lem’s retreating back to Fero’s expression, raising her eyebrows at the now deep pink blush on his cheeks.
“Are you serious?” said Adaire.
Fero seemed to shake himself. “What?”
“ That’s why you’re here?” said Adaire.
The blush on Fero’s cheeks darkened. “I don’t know what you’re talking about-”
“Hey Fero- Oh! Hey Adaire,” said Hella. “I, uh. I didn’t know you were out here.”
“Just having a chat with Fero,” said Adaire.
“Oh, uh, cool,” said Hella.
She paused, looking towards Adaire. Adaire pretended to be engrossed by what Fero was doing, studying the paper diagram he was apparently working from. Hella cleared her throat. Adaire was very careful not to look up.
Fero leaned around the cattle feeder. “You need something?”
“Just wanted to see if you needed a hand,” said Hella. “If you and Adaire needed a hand, I guess?”
“Nah, we’re good,” said Fero. “Should be done within the hour.”
“Well, great,” said Hella. “That’s… Oh, hey, I have to be getting back, I said I’d help Hadrian with… I have to go help Hadrian.”
“Okay,” said Fero. “Well, say hi for me or whatever.”
“I- Sure,” said Hella.
Adaire could feel Hella’s eyes on her until Hella turned away. Adaire looked up to see Fero giving her a pointed look. He waggled his eyebrows.
“Don’t,” said Adaire.
“What?” said Fero. “I wasn’t going to say anything!”
“ Good ,” said Adaire.
There was a long pause. Fero tapped the screwdriver against his palm.
“So I guess you’re not running a scheme,” said Fero. He wrinkled his nose. “Or, you sort of are, but not like that.”
“It’s not a scheme ,” said Adaire.
“Wow, you got it that bad?” said Fero.
“Oh, you want to go there?” said Adaire. “With how you reacted to Lem just asking you to-”
“ Alright , okay, yeesh,” said Fero. “I’m just saying, y’know. I can relate.” He paused. “Maybe we can help each other out.”
“I don’t need help , and certainly not from you ,” said Adaire.
“Wow,” said Fero, “okay, it was just an offer, since Hella, like, talks to me about stuff.”
“What, no she doesn’t,” said Adaire.
“Sure she does,” said Fero. “We bonded from being on this weird road trip a couple years ago where we maybe, allegedly caused a small house fire.”
“That was you ?” said Adaire.
“And Lem. Allegedly,” added Fero hurriedly.
“Adding the word allegedly to your statements doesn’t make you immune from prosecution,” said Adaire.
“Yeah, but it can’t hurt,” said Fero.
“Your actual best bet would be to keep your mouth shut,” said Adaire, “but I can see that’s not your strong suit.”
“Hey!” said Fero. “I thought you were cool.”
“Just because I’m not going to say anything doesn’t mean you should tell everyone you meet,” said Adaire.
“I don’t tell everyone ,” said Fero, “just people who I think can handle it. Also I thought you already knew because, y’know, Hella.”
“Hella’s not a big talker,” said Adaire.
“Only when she’s got a crush on someone,” said Fero. “Otherwise she can talk about whatever-”
Adaire’s eyes snapped towards Fero. Fero’s eyes widened.
“Uh,” said Fero, “I mean. Allegedly. She allegedly does that.”
“You- What did she tell you?” said Adaire.
“She didn’t tell me anything,” said Fero. “Also I have to go.”
“You’re even worse at lying than you are at running a con,” said Adaire.
“I’m not doing either of those things,” said Fero. “Maybe you should just ask Hella about it? But, uh. Don’t tell her I told you to ask.”
“I know how to keep a secret,” said Adaire.
“Well, good,” said Fero. He stepped towards the doors before he turned back. “And you owe me one.”
“I’m not stopping by to give Lem a hint on my way through,” said Adaire. “That’s enough payback I think.” She paused. “Even though I think that would fix your particular problem.”
“I don’t have a problem,” said Fero.
“Sure,” said Adaire. “Just… maybe follow your own advice here.”
Fero made a face. “You want me to talk to Hella?”
“Talk to Lem,” said Adaire.
“Absolutely not,” said Fero.
“Suit yourself,” said Adaire. She paused. “And have fun on your date.”
“It’s not a date,” said Fero, his blush returning in force.
“It could be,” said Adaire.
“So could your’s,” said Fero.
Adaire hummed, not willing to tempt fate either way. Fero wrinkled his nose.
“I’m just saying-” Adaire let out a breath. “You know what? Good luck.”
Fero huffed something close to a laugh. “To both of us.”