#sofa 2020

Author’s Notes:

This is a gift for Mahokoyuki for the @seasons-of-anime-exchange 2020! I hope you enjoy your gift!!!💖 I had a lot of fun writing it!!!😊💕

(Title from "Payphone" by Maroon 5)

Universal Truth: If Truth means a statement the content of which corresponds to reality, and if Universal means always and everywhere then a Universal Truth is a statement which corresponds to reality regardless of time and space. An example might be ten is greater than five - not exactly profound, but always true.

The fact that Izuku Midoriya and Katsuki Bakugou loved each other was a Universal Truth. Yet somehow everyone except them knew it.

Deku and Kacchan had been inseparable as kids. Both child’s parents could see as clear as day that the toddlers greatly cared about each other. Every opportunity they had they were with each other.

At school they sat beside each other, never letting the teacher separate their seats. After school they ran and played at the playground, joyful laughter and screams piercing through the air. At each other's homes they spent hours having fun in their very own world; chatting about whatever random thing popped into their little minds, pretending to be heroes and villains locked in a glorious battle, making up stories and creating worlds as they played with their toys.

When the day finally came to an end both mothers had to practically pry their crying kids from each other. Both would cling to the other, not wanting the fun to end quite yet.

The earth trembled and ripped a bottomless chasm between them the day Bakugou got his quirk. Hours spent together turned into minutes. Most of their time was now spent apart, Bakugou with his new friends and Midoriya with his. The two still occasionally spoke with each other, but instead of the kind words of imagination it was the cruel words of reality. They were no longer friends. Bakugou no longer loved his childhood friend, yet Midoriya still loved him.

The chasm only grew wider throughout their years at Aldera Junior High. Hours spent together turned into minutes and the words exchanged grew even harasher. Despite the way Bakugou treated him, Midoriya couldn't extinguish his love for his lost friend. He missed the explosive blonde and wished they could be friends again, but Bakugou was long gone.

Their first year of U.A. High School was rough and bumpy. Bakugou still antagonized the green haired boy who still clung to the empty shell of their friendship. Despite the death grip Midoriya had on their strained relationship he still had come to terms with the fact that his old friend was long gone. So despite the small flame of hope he held close to his heart he set out to better himself, to grow into the hero he longed to be, to no longer let the angry blonde hold him back.

Their classmates watched them bump heads the first half of year one. Despite the two growing apart and making new friends they still somehow always drifted back to each other. Paired up during training, their friend groups hanging out together, somehow next to each other during fights.

Slowly that tiny flame received some kindling. Throughout the year Bakugou was struck in the metaphorical head with quite a few reality checks. He was forced to grow and change for the better. He was still loud and angry but he wasn't mean or thought himself better then everyone. By the end of their first year that tiny flame was now a roaring fire.

Over the course of their next two years at U.A. Bakugou and Midoriya mended their broken friendship. At first an awkward tension hung in the air between them, but slowly that dispersed and a familiar warmth emerged. It wasn't the same as when they were kids, but it was leagues better than when they were in middle school.

Within their new found friendship something new began to bloom. Butterflies fluttering in their stomachs, hearts skipping beats for unexplained reasons, light dusting of pink on their pale cheeks. Everyone in their class knew they were in love, yet both seemed oblivious to that fact.

Both heroes in training were too scared to confess, afraid to lose their best friend for a second time. So they stayed silent, secretly pining for each other. At times it was hard for their classmates to watch, yet there was nothing they could do. This matter was between the blonde and green haired boy.

Despite their best efforts their feelings still lead to losing each other once more. After their graduation the two young men drifted apart. From weekly hang outs, to monthly to once a year. They blamed it on being busy sidekicks, then busy pro-heroes, then just being too tired from all the intense work they had to do; but they were just flimsy excuses of two scared men.

In their time apart they each tried to rid themselves of their suffering. Countless dates ending in failures, relationships that didn't last, crushes that didn't even make it off the ground. Nothing could make their feelings go away.

Somehow despite the distance, Katsuki and Izuku still loved each other.

🧡◯◯◯◯💚

It wasn't until a few years later that fate finally brought them back together.

The pro-heroes worked at hero agencies they had each created with their friends. Ground Zero worked alongside Red Riot, Chargebolt, Pinky and Cellophane while Deku worked alongside Shoto, Uravity, Froppy and Imperium. Both hero agencies didn’t see much of the other while on duty, but after the clock they hung out whenever their schedules allowed it (with the exception of their two oblivious friends).

That careful routine was uplifted and rearranged when both angeices decided to work together for a mission. A dangerous villain, Earth Breaker, was causing havoc in Musutafu. Their quirk, Earthquake, allowed them to make the ground they touched tremble. Earthquakes had been reported all over the city in the past week, destruction leaving room for the villain to take whatever they wanted from their target while everyone fled to safety. No info was known about the villain besides their quirk and short height. They draped themselves in baggy black clothes and a mask, hiding anything that could be used to identify them. This villain was clever, taking them down would require the best of the best.

That’s what led Deku to Bakugou’s agency this morning. They had changed a lot since they had last seen each other; both a little bit taller, more muscular, wearing slightly different hero costume designs. Yet despite everything that had changed the tension still lingered between them, glaringly obvious while the heroes discussed plans on how to take down Earth Breaker. The air between them could be cut with a knife, yet if their friends noticed they politely ignored it just like the two hopeless idiots did.

After the meeting the other heroes quickly dispersed, leaving Bakugou and Deku alone. Silence filled the space, both men tried to break it at once.

“Hey Kacchan, how have you been?” “So, how are things with you?”

Nervous laughter escaped Deku’s lips while Bakugou grunted and stood up.

“I um, have training I need to do so; see ya later, nerd.” The blonde made his way to leave but was quickly stopped by the green haired man.

“Oh! What a consequence! I was going to train too, mind if we train together?”

Silence once again claimed them, eyes never leaving each other as the explosive man pondered the question. Everything screamed it was a bad idea, this would only make his suffering worse. Yet he couldn’t say no to him.

“Sure, let’s go.” Bakugou gestures for him to follow, Deku eagerly doing so.

When they got to the training ground it was empty of any life besides them. Without a word they readied themselves for a fight. There was no spoken go, despite the years apart they were still in sync with one another.

Fists flew, legs kicked, bodies jumped, quirks fired. No punches were held as they fought. They had trained numerous times together back in their years at U.A. High. By now they knew each other's moves by heart, both easily able to avoid harming the other. Though it had been a few years since they’d last trained together, they each had some new tricks up their sleeves.

That lapse in info resulted in Bakugou manganging to get the upper hand, a perfectly planned swipe of the leg sending Deku to the ground. The blonde quickly pinning the other in place, winning their little sparring match.

The two heroes didn’t realize their position, too busy trying to regain their breaths. As the air refills their lungs it's swiftly stolen from them once again. Gradually the implications of their position sinks in. Deku is sprawled on his back, his hands held above his head by the blonde straddling his hips. Their cheeks flush crimson yet neither make an attempt to move away. Slowly but surely their eyes fell closed, mouths drifting closer and closer and-

The door to the training ground burst open loudly, the sounds of casual conversation shattering the silent atmosphere. Bakugou jolted away from Deku, quickly jumping to his feet and swiftly walked towards the door.

“Hey Bakubro! Want to train with us?” The blonde brushed past the spiky red head, pointedly ignoring the stares from him and the rest of their friends. Bakuogu exited the room without responding. “What’s his deal?”

The group took in the sight of Deku still laying on the ground, eyes wide like a deer in headlights as his face burned red. Understanding washed over them.

“Ah! Sorry Deku! We didn’t mean to interrupt you two!” Uraraka rushed over, apologizing profusely and helping him to his feet.

“It’s okay! You weren’t interrupting anything!” Deku refused to meet any of their eyes.

“Really?” Shoto’s brows were raised high. “It looked like you guys were finally going to kiss.”

“It did! PLEASE tell me you two were about to kiss. I’m not sure how much longer we can watch you idiots pine after each other.” Mina continued to ramble while Deku was struck with a realization. Kacchan had leaned into the almost kiss as well, Kacchan liked him too.

It took Izuku Midoriya 25 years to learn the Universal Truth that everyone around him had known all along.

◯🧡◯◯💚◯

The next day, Deku had a plan. When he sees Kacchan he is going to get him alone and confess to him. They’ve waited so many years for this moment, he wasn’t going to wait another day. So when he entered Bakugou’s agency that morning he immediately headed towards the spiky blonde. Deku found him chatting with Kaminari and Sero, though a better word might be arguing. Bakugou was glaring at his friends while they countered with mischievous grins. The group quickly went silent as Deku approached. Sero turned to leave, waving goodbye while dragging Kaminari along with him. The electric man shot them a wink and a thumbs up before disappearing. Deku cleared his throat.

“Hey Kacchan, can I talk with you? Like alone, just the two of us?” The green haired man questioned, desperately trying to not turn 50 shades of red. The other man opened his mouth to answer, but alarms cut off his response. Sirens wailed and lights flashed, there was a villain attacking the city. All the heroes present quickly prepared themselves and raced towards the scene.

Earth Breaker was wreaking chaos, their earthquakes collapsing buildings left and right. The pro-heroes were in motion as soon as they arrived, swiftly freeing civilians and evacuating them. No one knew where the villain was, yet they could feel the effects of their quirk no matter where they were. The heroes split into teams of two; Uravity & Froppy, Shoto & Imperium, Pinky & Red Riot, Chargebolt & Cellophane; and of course, Ground Zero & Deku. Each group went in different directions to help as many people as possible.

Bakugou and Deku made quick work of helping the civilians in their section. Though the farther they journeyed the harder it got, the tremors increasing in strength as they went. By the time they saved everyone from their part of the disaster zone, Earth Breaker was upon them.

Before they knew it the ground crumbled beneath them. Quick like lightning they jumped, launching themselves to stable ground.

Their relief however, was short lived. The building above them cracked, a large chunk coming loose and plummeting towards the ground. Straight towards Deku.

Though the green haired hero didn't notice it, he was too preoccupied battling the mysterious villain; but Bakugou saw it, and without thinking he pushed Deku out of the way of the incoming debris.

Deku landed safely out of harm's way, while Bakugou was crushed in his place.

Deku saw red.

He didn't remember taking down Earth Breaker, nor did he remember collapsing to his knees next to the injured blonde.

Deku quickly snapped out of his dazed state, checking the state of his partner. The explosive hero was alright, luckily the debris had only hit one of his legs. Though he wasn't able to free himself and was rapidly losing consciousness from the onslaught of horrendous pain.

“Hey, hey! Stay awake Kacchan, it's going to be okay! I’m going to get you out of here.” Deku used his quirk to carefully free the trapped man. Bakugou hissed at the pain as the rubble shifted off of him. Deku winced as he lifted the injured man, carefully holding him bridal style. He walked as quickly as he could without provoking Bakugou’s wounds towards the nearest ambulance. “I’m so sorry, this isn’t how today was supposed to go. I should’ve been paying more attention, then you wouldn’t have gotten hurt. I’m so sorry-”

“Oi shut the hell up.” Bakugou groaned. “I’m fine, it wasn’t anything too major. Though that doesn’t matter…” His speech was starting to slur, sleep over taking him. “I’d do it a hundred times again just for you.” And with that he was out.

Deku’s eyes fought back tears, refusing to let them blur his view in case he dropped the unconscious man in his arms. As soon as he reached an ambulance they loaded Bakugou in with Deku beside him while they refused towards the hospital.

◯◯🧡💚◯◯

At the hospital Bakugou is quickly attended to and healed, much to his everyone’s relief. Afterwards the blonde slept like the dead, his body regaining the energy he had lost. Deku was by his side as soon as visitors were allowed, waiting patiently for him to wake up.

Luckily the explosive hero wakes up only a few hours later. As soon as red eyes flutter open Deku launches himself at Bakugou, arms wrapped tightly around him.

“You’re awake! I’m so happy you’re okay! I-” Deku mumbled into the man’s chest. Bakugou stopped his rambling with a flick to his green head.

“Oi calm down. You’re acting like I almost died.” Despite his rough words his voice and face were soft, as were the arms that wrapped around the tearful man in his arms. His voice was nearly a whisper as he mumbled into the green locks tickling his face. “I love you.”

“I love you too.” Deku spoke, just as softly. “I always have.”