Chapter Text
One of the first things anyone who knew her would tell you about South, it’s that she has a temper. A vicious temper that has gotten her into a lot of trouble on many occasions. The second thing people could tell you, it’s that she isn’t a natural leader. Never has been, never will be. She wasn’t a people person, she didn’t like people. That was all her brother. He got all the charisma, she got stuck as the bitch, not that it bothered her anymore. But really, whose brilliant idea was it to put her in charge of a bunch of children? Sure, she wasn’t directly in charge of them, that was Aizawa and the other teachers, but still. She was expected to teach them. Fuck that.
She harshly tossed her gym bag on the floor as she entered UA’s training facility. It was weird to be back, she had to admit. The area looked exactly the same as it had the last time she was here, if not a bit older. Maybe it was because she had grown older or if the equipment needed to be replaced. Either way, South felt a little out of place.
She knelt beside her bag and opened it. Reaching in, she pulled out her hand wraps. Connie had gotten her new ones for her birthday, making sure that they were the same light purple that matched her armor.
Get yourself a woman who got you custom made hand wraps in your favorite color so you can beat the shit out of someone in style. Or something. South didn’t discriminate.
Quickly checking her phone to make sure she hadn’t missed any important messages from Connie or Aizawa (or Aleks, but she wasn’t about to admit that one), she zipped her bag shut and stood up to stretch.
She finally noticed the only other occupant in the room. A younger boy, probably a student. He couldn’t be older than 15. Honestly, he reminded South of Wash when he was younger.
He had messy blond hair, and sharp red eyes that seemed to track her movements. He was wearing a black short sleeve shirt and a pair of loose shorts.
He was clearly here for a workout, but that didn’t explain why he was watching her so intently. She grit her teeth and turned away from him. She had more important things to do than get distracted by a potentially feral child.
(He had the same sharp gaze Wash did. Cold and calculating. It set her edge, knowing exactly how that kind of unchecked rage could affect another person. She and Wash were both perfect examples of it.)
She made sure to stretch everything out before grabbing the nearest available punching bag to hit. She didn’t need to pull a muscle. There was no way she was gonna go crawling to York to ask for healing. The half-blind bastard got enough satisfaction just by dating Aleks.
Rolling her shoulders, South slammed her fist into the bag as hard as she physically could. The stand wobbled dangerously, almost tipping over in the process. It definitely needed more weight. Either that or she had gotten too used to throwing Maine around for fun.
She brought her other arm up and swung, a little lighter this time. For once in her life, she didn’t want to break something. She was here for fun, not to blow off steam.
South wasn’t sure how long she spent punching the bag, but her focus was drawn by the sound of someone shouting.
“Oi!”
She backed off and looked around the bag to see who was talking.
It was the little blond brat.
He was glaring at her.
Fucking hell.
“What?” She snapped, already frustrated with this arrangement.
Couldn’t she just punch villains and be a badass? Why did she have to deal with fucking teenagers?
“Spar with me,” he demanded.
South snorted at that.
“Yeah, no thanks. I’m not in the mood for a one sided fight.”
Was she a little cocky? Maybe. But this kid definitely didn’t have a chance in hell at beating her. He was one of Aizawa’s new students if she remembered correctly.
Definitely not worth fighting.
“What the fuck did you say to me?” He shouted, small explosions sparked in his hands.
Oh god, his quirk was gonna be like Donut’s.
“I said I’m not interested. Now, fuck off, I’m busy,” she replied with a wave of her hand.
She slipped back into a fighting stance, bringing her hands up again.
Before she could get back to hitting the back, a louder explosion echoed throughout the room.
“DON’T FUCKING IGNORE ME!” The blond brat yelled, smoke rising from his palms.
South sighed angrily.
“Last I checked, giving you an answer doesn’t count as ignoring you. You’re not gonna bully me into fighting you just cause you throw a little temper tantrum.”
This kid reminded her way too much of how she used to be. Loud and arrogant, reckless, and angry.
She had wanted to fight everyone and everything, regardless of the circumstances. Determined to be stronger than everyone else.
What a shitty way to act.
“Haaaaah? What the fuck did you say to me?” Blondie shouted.
“Quit throwing a tantrum and grow up. This is a hero school, start acting like you belong here instead of being an ungrateful brat.”
Maybe she was being a little harsh, but this was something this kid needed to hear. His actions would have consequences and she wanted to make sure he knew this before he did something stupid.
The blond brat let out a rage filled scream and launched himself at her, explosions propelling him forwards.
South rolled to the side, eyes never leaving blondie’s form.
If it was a fight he wanted, then it was a fight he would get. He launched an explosion at her, one that was too big to dodge. She grinned, rushing through the fire without a second thought. She barely felt the fire as it stung her arms and face. She reached out and grabbed blondie’s arm, pulling it behind his back. She forced him down onto his knees.
Like she said. An easy fight.
“Let me go!” He shouted, flailing wildly.
South snorted. First few days of class have been going well, clearly.
“I told you this would be one sided,” she said dryly. Her eyes snapped to the side as she felt heat radiate from his free hand. The little fucker was going to blow her up from here. Without hesitation, South kicked his hand away and pushed him further into the ground. Blondie grunted angrily, unable to fight back.
“You done?” She asked, annoyed.
“Fuck you!” Blondie spat.
South rolled her eyes. Fucking brat.
“We can stay here all day, I’m not in a rush to go anywhere.”
Not necessarily true. She had agreed to watch a shitty movie with Carolina and Tex tonight, but she could make a point.
Eventually, Blondie ceased struggling, going limp in South’s grasp.
“If I let you go, are you gonna attack me again?”
Jesus, he really was like a mini her.
Aleks had always told her she didn’t know when to quit.
“Ugh, fine!” He snapped, tugging the arm in her grasp desperately.
South released her grip on his arm and stepped back. She brushed her hair out of her face, smearing some of the ash across her forehead as she did so.
The burns barely hurt, but she did need to talk to York about getting these healed up. She could go to Recovery Girl but…she was pretty sure the old woman would kick her ass if she did.
“Ugh, the fuck is your deal?” Blondie growled, rubbing his arm.
“Last I checked, you’re the one who attacked me first, dumbass. Think before you act next time.”
Blondie snarled at her, eyes burning with an all too familiar rage.
“I don’t need to listen to some bitch who wouldn’t even give me a fair fight.”
South scoffed. “I told you no the first time. Maybe learn to listen, and this shit won’t happen again.”
Blondie’s glare intensified as he got to his feet. “Who in the hell do you think you are? You don’t get to tell me what to do.”
“I’m a hero , dipshit. I’m telling you this for your own good. Don’t start fights you can’t finish, it’ll only get you in trouble. Especially with all your arrogance. ”
“The fuck?!”
“Listen to me kid, you gotta get your shit together if you want to be a hero. You’re gonna crash and burn with your attitude. Fix the attitude, or you’re gonna fail.”
South crossed her arms and returned the glare. Her own attitude was almost her downfall a few times. She knew this. She was harsh and rude, not one for formalities or kind words. She knew just how much damage that could do to a person’s reputation and their relationships.
South didn’t want to see this kid fail because he was too much like her.
“Oh, you think you’re such hot shit, huh? I bet you want me to fail! I’ll fucking prove you wrong!”
“Good. Prove me wrong. Show me that you have what it takes to be a hero without all the shit talk and meltdowns when things don’t go your way.”
If this kid wanted encouragement, he would have to go talk to Aleks. If he wanted motivation, South would give it to him.
She’d challenge him to be better, the same way Tex and Carolina had challenged her to be better.
She was gonna whip this kid into shape. If Aizawa had a problem with it, well. South wasn’t sure she cared.
“What’s your name, brat?” South asked.
“Bakugo. Bakugo Katsuki,” he replied gruffly.
“South Dakota. Now then, show me what you’ve got this year, Bakugo. I’ll fight you again if you prove to me you can be better.”
She grinned sharply, eyes gleaming with excitement.
“ Deal,” Bakugo responded with the same feral gleam in his eyes.
Y’know, maybe this whole teaching thing wouldn’t be so bad.