Luna's paranoia

“The Moon has been long linked to madness and lunacy. Even today, people sometimes superstitiously blame the Moon, especially the full Moon.”

— Ken Crosswell

. . .

Hiro tried to vocalize his still-existing concerns, but it was difficult to speak when any movement felt like asking for a fight and Hiro was instantly felt pressured to say yes, just for her to stop looking at him.

But…

“No,” he managed to let out.

Those eyes seemed to glitter like distant stars as Lunamor regarded him, solemnly. “No? You’re saying no to a perfectly reasonable, mutually beneficial agreement? Why is that?”

Lunamor suddenly started to lean towards him and Hiro, for one moment actually panicked at the very thought that she might actually try to kiss him... especially with his limbs feeling like Jell-O. Fortunately, she just inclined her head towards him.

Hiro tried not to deflate in disappointment.

Why was he even disappointed...?!

“I’ll think about it if you explain the rest of the terms because I’m sure that’s just not it.” Hiro subtly tried to step around her, their shoulders brushing as he did so.

Hiro had never wanted more in this moment than to walk out of his own office, but figured that would be really rude, not to mention, undignified no matter how much he really, really wanted some space from her. For goodness’s sake, of course Lunamor wasn't about to kiss him (why the hell does he keep thinking that she will?), the thought that she might so much as even try was so absurd, but Hiro wasn’t taking chances no matter how much Lunamor made it pointedly clear that she wasn’t interested in him.

And yet…

He still felt like she was too close for Hiro to think properly. Well, that, and Hiro wasn’t just used to having anyone this physically close to him.

Lunamor regarded him as he smoothly sidestepped her, gaze tracking his every movement as he did so like a predator tracking it's prey, before she politely folded her hands behind her back, turning as she did so, as if to keep him on her line of sight.

“Very well,” she conceded, “One of the main reasons why I want you to be seen with me in public is due to the fact that there are too many people who forced themselves on my space during such events. It would be quite… beneficial for me to appear to be already involved with someone else, someone that is not influenced by them. As I have explained to you back then.”

Well, yeah.

She had kind of mentioned something along the lines. But still… “Oh, wow,” Hiro’s stare flattens at that, “I can’t believe you. Antisocial much–”

She ignores the quip, “With you by my side, I will have plenty of excuses not to entertain them, especially marriage prospects. And the press will see it as the two of us being official even without having the need to make an official statement. Win-win.”

Hiro’s stare flattens even further.

“…who take things to the next level?”

She only shrugs at that.

“Look, you sure it’s okay if you suddenly start going out with me around the same time that you stop taking regular classes? Wouldn’t that be kind of… scandalous?”

Hiro didn't like it.

People might assume Lunamor got kicked out from the AST academy because of their… relationship, or worst-case scenario, Hiro will actually get fired based on those grounds, even with Lunamor's hold on the dean and the chairman.

“Then, they’ll have something to talk about.”

“Oh sure,” Hiro drawls, sarcastically, “Good for them.”

Lunamor waves a dismissive hand at him, “Stop worrying. Give yourself some credit, you’re intelligent. I know you won't say anything stupid to embarrass yourself, let alone me.”

“Uh… thanks?”

Half-baked, or outright vague explanations aside, it just didn't seem like a good enough reason to actually want him (of all freaking people) as a date, but maybe, in Lunamor’s standards–no matter how highly unlikely–it was…? Hiro didn't actually know anything about the sort of people Lunamor normally went out with.

Maybe Lunamor’s standards are pretty low.

Or maybe Hiro really was just a convenient option.

Considering why she might want Hiro to be her date reminded Hiro of the most pressing issue. Megan was threatening to have Hiro fired over some stupid rumors (that are sort of… going to be true) and just thinking about that immediately brought back Hiro’s desire to get even.

Come to think of it, other than sacrificing some of his time and getting a lot of headaches in the process, being in a false relationship with Lunamor wouldn't be such a high price to pay.

She wasn’t even asking much of him.

She’ll even help him.

…although, if he were to stop to really think about it, Hiro was a hundred percent sure Lunamor was getting the better end of the bargain.

“Fine,” Hiro finally spat, “As long as me or my sister will not be hounded by the press… but you also have to help me get back on Megan and to not get fired from my job during and even after we split up. If you can help me with that, then I’m all for it.”

Jokes on her, though. It is going to be Lunamor’s problem once she finds out that Hiro wasn't joking when he said he is a really horrible date.

So there.

She stared at Hiro for a moment.

Hiro almost thought that she was surprised or relieved that he had officially agreed to this insanity… or that she somehow read his thoughts, but he had to hand it to her, Lunamor has an excellent poker face.

“So, we have a deal.”

“Yup. Wanna shake on it, kid?”

She threw him an irritated look, “No. And stop calling me that.”

Lunamor suddenly turned away from Hiro and went back to his desk to pick up her messenger bag before pulling out a tablet computer. He gave her a dull look. Just how many gadgets does she have on that bag? “For now, we should discuss the official terms of agreement and boundaries so that we can have that contract ready.”

Hiro’s eyebrow raised, “Now?”

“No, tomorrow, you egghead. Of course I mean now!” Lunamor snapped, before casting the room a suddenly suspicious one-over, “Wait. Why, is this room bugged...?”