Hot-Headed (Now also a podfic on spotify!)

Chapter 12

Prince Nate reemerged from his room later that evening and cooked dinner for them, once again surprising Ochako with his generosity and his practical skills. She'd expected him to be aloof, possibly a jerk. She never imagined he'd be down to earth and kind of all things. It seemed like he actually wanted to be around them and talk to them.

Over the course of dinner they learned more about him and he more about them (although avoiding the fact that they were still students of course). It was mostly Ochako and Nate talking, Bakugo only speaking up if he was pointedly asked a question

He learned more about their quirks and what led Ochako at least to want to become a hero. They learned that he was one of the minority of people who was quirkless and that was part of the reason he needed heroes to protect him. He seemed to not be very down about it, though. It had never been his dream to become a hero or anyone who would use their quirk to further their career. He had always conformed to being royalty and expected nothing more from his life than to travel around as a diplomat and he was happy like that. She couldn't relate but she understood why he was comfortable with his lifestyle.

After dinner, Bakugo went back to his room without a word, leaving her alone with Nate as she picked up dishes and started washing them. Nate helped her by drying and putting them away, all the while chatting about this and that, like how different things were for him in Japan and such.

After they finished with the dishes, he grabbed a bottle from the wine cooler (because why wouldn't this room have a wine cooler?) and opened the cabinet, turning to her, "Will you have a glass of wine with me?"

Ochako hesitated. She'd never had any alcohol before and she was still under legal drinking age.

Seeing her hesitation he shrugged, "You don't have to. In my country the legal drinking age is 18 and we're in a private location so you would be fine. But I won't make you or anything. I just don't like drinking alone."

She hadn't yet revealed her age to him, he only assumed her to be young by how she looked. And if she revealed it now, she knew that would likely reveal that she was still in high school. After speaking so much with him, she doubted he would truly mind if he found out they weren't fully licensed pro-heroes but she was also strictly warned not to let him know they were still training. 

But she also understood his logic and only one glass would likely not affect her, especially after having a full dinner. Not to mention, Bakugo was just in the other room and while she knew he wasn't going to interact with the prince any more than he needed to, he would likely not let her make a fool of herself if the wine somehow did go to her head.

She acquiesced. "Ok, just a glass, though. I don't want to not be able to do my job, you know?"

He nodded in agreement, "I get it. You're a professional and you're on the job. No worries."

He grabbed two glasses and poured a dark burgundy liquid into both, handing one to her and sitting back at the dining room table. 

She joined him, taking a sip of the drink and trying not to make a face as she felt it swirl around her mouth. She had always imagined wine would be sweet and something easy to drink, like juice. It was made from fruit after all. But this stuff somehow tasted... dry? Which was weird to say about a liquid. It was slightly sour and bitter. Ochako imagined it must be an acquired taste but found it bearable enough be polite and share drinks with Nate.

He chuckled, "I take it wine isn't something you usually drink."

She shook her head. "I don't really drink. It's a common thing for business people to go out and share drinks after work but hero work doesn't really end."