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

Chapter 30

Deku was waiting for them on the sidewalk dressed in what Ochako figured was probably the nicest clothes he had. A black dress shirt with a cream colored vest and matching cream pants.

He cut a nice figure and she wondered if Nate had noticed.

From the broad smile gracing his features upon stepping out of the limo, she'd say he had and Deku's answering blush said that he'd been hoping for a reaction like that.

"You look nice," she commented to Deku, flashing a sweet smile

"Thanks," he replied, hand coming to rub at the back of his head as Katsuki came up behind her, laying a hand at her lower back.

They entered the restaurant, Nate holding the door for them all then talking to the host, who was more than happy to accommodate them. The perks of being a party of 3 heroes and a prince, she supposed.

They were seated near the back- as they often seemed to be- in a half circle booth that had more than enough room for the four of them. Ochako sat with Nate to her left, Katsuki to her right and Deku took up the area to Nate's left.

She'd been worried for a moment that Deku might sit next to her. Sure, they'd mended their bridges a bit and were on their way to being friends again, but that didn't mean Katsuki would take kindly to Deku being so familiar with her as to take the seat next to her.

Fortunately for everyone, Nate had nonchalantly slid in to the spot beside her, no words having even needed to be spoken. Ochako couldn't tell if he had read the atmosphere, was just trying to do what would make her most comfortable, or didn't notice any of that and was trying to make himself most comfortable.

It had been an accurate assessment to think this place was expensive. Some of the entrees here were enough to buy her groceries for a week. Food this expensive made her nervous. How was Nate just so accepting with paying for four people's meals here?

He didn't seem to mind at all, even when Katsuki unapologetically ordered one of the most expensive items on the menu.

Ochako gave him a look as if to say, "Are you serious?!" which he returned in kind with a look saying, "Yeah and?"

Well... he was a prince after all. And, thankfully, a pretty generous person. That or just completely distracted by the "hottie" sitting next to him.

Deku talked and laughed with her and Nate, Katsuki doing his usual aloof affectation, an arm slung casually over the back of the booth behind her. She knew he wasn't completely uninterested though, as he kept jumping into conversations sometimes to add his two cents or sass her when she said something about him.

But Deku seemed so happy and spirited sitting there conversing with them. It seemed like he'd grown a bit doing all of the introspection he had.

Unlike her and Katsuki, he had truly healed from the ordeal between them those three months apart, had moved on with his life, and was doing well. Seeing that made her less apprehensive about the way he looked at Nate.

For his part, Nate was open and excited to learn more about Deku's life as a hero and share his own experience as the crown prince of an entire country. He seemed flirtatious in a way Ochako had never seen him be, even knowing he'd liked Katsuki before in some fashion. She knew from him talking about his past that he had rarely liked guys who had liked him back or had been good for him and now it was fascinating to see him knowing that the other guy was interested.

She wondered if being in this new situation made him feel confident enough to be more himself around Deku or maybe Nate had done some of his own growing in the past year.