The Straw That Broke the Camel's Back [Zac]

[RC Manne]

RC didn’t know what do think about all this. He’d heard about the prank at The Talk; word travelled fast, and contrary to popular belief he did have friends. What had really solidified everything for him was when he’d heard JD, his roommate, getting chewed out by another student for his hand in the matter. The whole thing…it made his stomach turn. Contact embarrassment set in anytime he even thought about it. And JD was a good guy! He couldn’t think of anything that would make him do something so low down…
That was until he heard about the masterminds.

He should have known.

He’d never gotten along with Zac, and it was only recently that he’d actually started disliking his teammate. LaRousse was egocentric and rude, mean on almost every occasion. He was a bully. RC could usually let his comments slide, but it bugged him. It really bugged him. Having always been the easy-going one, RC was caught off guard by his rage on the entire matter.

Zac had not only broken the law and gotten away with it, but he’d possibly ruined some people’s lives. And that Misato kid?

RC had to take a break in his laps, shaking his shaggy hair free of pool water as he glowered at the poolside, thinking what he would have done if one of those people had been one of his siblings. Velma or Conrad, exposed like that? Or worse, one of the little ones if they had been old enough? The thought of someone putting Jean or Elle’s or the twins’ business on display like that…

RC growled quietly and pulled himself out of the pool, taking in several deep breaths to calm his nerves. It was going to affect his next mock swim meet if he didn’t reel in his anger correctly. Even if he was just swimming for kicks against fellow Hammelites, he needed to focus. LaRousse could be bothered with later. RC doubted administration would let him compete, even if he was a talent in the pool.

[Zachary LaRousse]

It was safe to say that Zac totally did not expect the whole thing to be of this magnitude. While he expected some form of backlash, he wasn’t expecting it to affect the whole school. And in his mind, it never would’ve been this big, had it not been for the little pixie suddenly storming off. Bitch had to play in the sympathy card. And it worked to a tee.

And while he wasn’t regretful of what he did, he was getting rather tired of the hate. No matter how hard he tries to drown it out, those piercing stares are really driving him nuts, but not in the way one would imagine. One could only play the façade of indifference for so long after all. And those detentions with Mrs. Morgenstern really know how to chip you down fast.

So really, he needed a break. From those stares, from the blaming, from school, from all of this. Unfortunately for him, his father had taken his car away, so unless he wants to use public transportation or walk to town, he’s a goner. His room can provide some isolation, but considering that the only thing he can do back there is be a bum, it’s not an option. The silence of the library will kill him, he says, and he doesn’t think the research labs would allow a stranger like him in their midst. So that leaves him with one last option: the pool.

There’s a certain spring in his step as he walked across the grounds, both the prospect of being in the water again and having a little bit of time to himself making him a little too giddy than normal. His dream of solitude was shattered almost immediately when he walked into the pool however, and saw someone doing laps. Damn.

Well, he’s just one person. It’s RC even. Zac figures he can handle whatever shit he might throw at him. If he’s ever going to throw some at him.

He silently went in the changing rooms and showered, stretching for a bit once he’s out. “Your form’s a little off. Remember the power of the dolphin kick lies on the flick of the ankle,” he nodded, once again picking on the boy and giving unsolicited advice. Old habits die hard after all.

[RC Manne]

RC bristled when he heard Zac’s voice echoing around the pool. Of course. Such was his luck. Still dripping, RC marched over to his towel, mouth contorted into a grimace. “You’d know all about bad form, wouldn’t you LaRousse?” He snapped, running the terrycloth through his hair. RC had by no means mastered the art of confrontation, and so his comeback was slightly lost in the towel on his head, but the fact he’d said anything at all was likely a surprise.

Normally RC just let Zac’s critiques roll off his back. Zac was a bully. A brat. He was a spoiled only child whose family life ---RC was sure--- had been replaced by money and material things. What else could make someone such a dick? Normally he just thanked God that he had parents and family that loved him, despite everything that was wrong with him.

Then he usually called Velma.

But that was another story.

Today, he didn’t want to hear any of his big sister’s pep talks. What he really wanted to hear was someone taking some responsibility for things. From what he heard neither Mia nor Zac were in any way remorseful. Breaking the law so nonchalantly was dangerous, and it was the reason a lot of people hated Metas.

[Zachary LaRousse]

If the sudden widening of his eyes was any indication, RC’s retort had caught the pompous teen off-guard. In fact, it would’ve been accompanied with quite the jaw drop, had he not caught it ahead of time. Zac had to take a few steps back (both physically and mentally) to keep his feet steady. He may be derailed, but he’s determined that it’s just momentary.

While RC’s tried time and time again to snap back at him, this is probably the first time he’s heard such conviction behind his voice. And for once, he could feel that it’s not just because he critiqued his form (he’s done it dozens of times already). “Woah, woah, woah. Finally managed to reform a spine from all the goo you leave around?” He didn’t know why the boy snapped back so harshly, but he would, soon enough. He promises he will.

Unfortunately for RC, while for the most part his assumption was right, he made a big mistake on the other – his dad loved him deeply. Though his family life indeed had money and other earthly luxuries, his parents’ love – both from his mom and his dad – were present throughout. Aside from the brief dark period he had experienced when his mother died in that still esoteric baffling car crash, he lived a life of comfort.

And it’s what made him quite the brat.

His father loved him so much that he was treated like he was the center of the universe when he was young. No matter how hard his father tried to keep an iron fist, one little lip wobble and it’s already eroded in the wind. It was this overdose of love that somehow corrupted the kid, not the absence of familial love. Quite the odd case really.

Just one of the reasons why he hates when people try to psychoanalyze him, trying to tell him why he became what he is. (Like he hates himself).

Sending a wink to RC, he went up the 3-meter springboard and dove down to the water. He stayed submerged for a good minute or two, before rising up, brushing his wet hair off his face as he waded towards RC. “While I feel a profound sense of achievement having caused you to snap back like that, I would really wish to know what exactly I did to cause you to act like that,” he grinned sheepishly, crossing his arms on the edge of the pool and placing his chin on top. “Who knows, I could just start an institute in which I help people with low self-esteem such as you and help them find that missing, gooey spine of theirs. I’d make millions.”

[RC Manne]

“The last thing you need is more money, I’m sure.” RC said, wrapping his towel around his waist. “And I guess you could say I hopped on the indignant bandwagon with everyone else.” RC would have pointed out that Zac’s behavior just further legitimized his hated of the other guy, but that would be kind of mean.

Sure RC wasn’t happy, but that didn’t make him suddenly a dick wad.

“And I have a spine like everyone else.” RC furrowed his brow, opting to finally just shut up and let it slide. He’d been frustrated enough that he’d sort of just strewn his things about the pool area. Now he was kicking himself for not being neat; he’d have to gather them up in Zac’s presence, which meant listening to him some more.

The last thing RC wanted.

RC was torn between wanting to sock Zac in the mouth (as usual) and just run off and not bother. His parents would have encouraged him to do just that: let it go. But it was getting really hard! Zac was a bully, and he really needed to be taken down a peg. But countering bullying with bullying was really not going to do it.

As he started gathering up his belongings to leave, RC dejectedly added “Just drop it LaRousse.”

[Zachary LaRousse]

“Normally I’d say you’re right, this case, you’re actually wrong. Very wrong,” he said with a shrug, hoisting himself off the pool with his arms, “In case you don’t know, not only am I currently powerless, I’m also abso-fucking-lutely penniless too. No credit cards, no debit cards. Zilch.” How cruel really. His allowance has already beed reduced to a mere 10% of its original amount (which is quite substantial no matter how hard Zac tries to make it look small).

The pompous teen’s eyebrow twitched slightly when he heard that RC joined the bandwagon. He wished he could say ‘I expected more from you’, but then in retrospect, he figures he should’ve expected it. All those people he’s bullied for so long finally having the majority behind them, of course they’ll jump in and join. Finally have stronger people backing them up now, he thinks. Guess he should be ready for a number of other spontaneous spine formation sooner or later.

“Well, now you do,” he smirked, slowly walking towards RC, sizing him up. Time to see if that spine holds on then. “Drop what? This?” And he promptly gave RC a not-so-light shove.

“Make me.”

[/justify][/font]

[RC Manne]

“Yeah, I heard. It’s called being grounded.” RC grumbled, the anger thin yet extraordinarily apparent in his voice. “You ought to be in jail.” RC added, finally shoving the last of his things into his backpack. He turned around to see Zac sizing him up.

You can’t be serious. RC looked anguished, shaking his head in a wordless don’t you dare to Zac. Was this kid really that stupid? They had to have put him on some kind of watch program; a probation of sorts. And he was going to start a fight?

RC dropped his backpack when Zac shoved at him, stumbling back. It was really stupid to be fighting in a towel. It was really stupid to be fighting period. RC panicked a bit.He’d never been in a fight before. But he certainly wasn’t going to run. “Zac, don’t start.” RC warned, though he circled the opposite way from Zac in a defensive style. “I’m serious.”

Suddenly the thought occurred to him: he had the upper hand.Not in the sense that Zac didn’t have his powers, but in the sense that Zac wasn’t used to being…well, to be really frank…Zac wasn’t used to being slippery. RC? Absolutely. If push came to shove (and it seemed it was going to), RC actually thought he might be able to win.

[Zachary LaRousse]

Technically, yes – the gravity of his actions in Dr. Neville’s Talk has put him in some sort of probationary status. He could still remember Mrs. Morgenstern’s warning to him, telling him that he’s just a thin thread away from setting a precedent to expulsions from Hammel. Well what did you know, he’s quite the leader, isn’t he?

But then, he couldn’t just let RC tell him off like that. Nope, his ego’s raging, especially about the part about him deserving jail. He’s rather sensitive about that, mostly because he insists that he’s not that much of a criminal. The fact that Dr. Neville seems to have rather strong intentions on sending him there (so much for an objective mind from the higher ups) doesn’t lessen the hurt one bit. “So what are you now, a judge?” he snorted, rolling his eyes, “Whatever happened to innocent until proven guilty?”

Seeing RC stumble brought Zac back from what would’ve been a rampage, as it were. The sight of the boy, who so bravely tried to act macho around him, flailing after one shove made him crack up, which somehow calmed him down. “Hey, I’m not starting. I haven’t thrown a punch yet, didn’t I?” he grinned after he got his composure back. In any case, he’s actually waiting for RC to throw the first one; that way, he can claim self-defense.

Not like it’s happening anytime soon though.

“Dude, you’re hilarious,” said Zac as he gave RC’s back a rather loud slap, which he would later claim to be a soft pat should he be questioned about it, “Next time you go and try to grow a spine, make sure it won’t turn into goo halfway through, ok?” Ending his statement with a wink and a small salute, Zac turned around to go back into working on his dives.

[RC Manne]

Most of the way through Zac’s mini-rant about being innocent or something, RC began to feel a little strange. Zac’s voice became like an annoying buzz in his ears; sure he was definitely hearing and understanding but it just grated on him more than usual. His heart thumped in his ears in a quiet tic-ticking that made the palms of his hands tickle. He balled them into fists to alleviate the sensation, knuckles going slightly white as Zac just went on and on.

Later, RC would realize the weird feeling was what most people thought of as ‘seeing red.’

Ignoring Zac’s comment about innocent until proven guilty (That only worked when you didn’t go around bragging about your crimes), RC just ground his teeth. He wobbled a bit as the stinging slap came down on his back, and closed his eyes. He was so tired of this. So tired of ass holes like Zac pushing him around and getting away with it. So tired of being shut down and not being able to pipe up for himself. Tired of being silent. And most of all tired of not being able to show Jean how to not take shit from anyone else.

Zac was going to rue the day he turned his back on RC.

“Zac.” RC called, waiting for the other boy to turn around (he wasn’t about to sucker punch somebody). He squared off against Zac and walked back over to him. “Now I’m a judge.”
RC had never punched anyone before, and wasn’t really prepared for the throbbing in his knuckles. Nor was he prepared for the smug sense of satisfaction he gained from crashing his hand directly into Zac’s face. Who knew he had such an angry right hook?

[Zachary LaRousse]

Guess he should’ve seen that one coming.

Since the Talk, no one’s laid a hand on him yet. He’s received a dozen letters (and counting) about someone waiting for him after class by the pond, behind the training rooms, on the fourth floor janitor’s closet – but nothing happened. He’s never really afraid of a physical confrontation. Even without his powers, years of working out means that he’s in tiptop shape. Not to mention those few nights with Mr. Romanov teaching him how to box.

He was oddly surprised that it took this long for someone to punch him because of what happened. And oddly enough RC wasn’t even involved in the whole thing. (Or was he?)

Cupping his chin with his right hand as he proceeded to massage it (it hurt, surprisingly), slowly turned back to RC, smug grin still planted on his face. “Just where did you learn to punch like that?” he chuckled, rolling his eyes. (But since closing his mouth is a bit of a challenge, his words may have come a little garbled already).

Screw the whole probation thing. He didn’t throw the first punch, RC did. Self-defense and all that crap. And his words before, while taunting, aren’t exactly confrontational. If anything, he could blame the administration for this. He’s heard that they think physical confrontation would happen; they should’ve put more ‘bodyguards’ around him then.

“Let’s just hope you can take it as much as you can give.” And sent one aimed at the boy’s stomach.

[RC Manne]

“I’m just as solid as everyone else, and just as tired of you.” RC shot back, emboldened by Zac’s labored speech. It didn’t have to continued. He’d proved his point. RC had managed to prove that he wasn’t a wiggling puddle of goop (At least not in the figurative sense), that he was a legitimate human being with just as harsh of a sting as everyone else. It could have just stopped.

But nothing was that easy, and RC was prepared to see this thing through to the end. “Bring it.” He goaded. Probably not smart, since Zac was just as in shape (if not more so) than RC. RC was more of a endurance kind of guy. Sure he had some muscle on him, but it didn’t compare to Zac’s…at least he didn’t think so.

Could he take it as much as he could give it? Yes. RC could get beaten around all day, more than likely. He could always go gooey and avoid the pain for the most part. But that would be cowardly, spineless…almost as validating to Zac’s opinion of him as if he hadn’t fought at all.

He’d take it, but only to prove a point.

He grit his teeth against sudden nausea when Zac’s punch connected with his abs, sounded a heavy, wet thwack! Grunting, RC drove a punch towards Zac’s side (the closest thing he could reach), wobbling into a more upright position.

[Zachary LaRousse]

Twisted as it was, Zac was (oddly) enjoying the fight. True, there’s a chance that he might get creamed by RC (a way small chance, he insists, that renders it insignificant), not to mention be discovered by the authorities (a big chance at that), but he doesn’t care. It’s been long since he felt the adrenaline in his system go into overload like this, and he rather likes it.

He’s been longing to have some way, someone, to release all his pent up frustration on the crap people are slinging endlessly towards him. Exchanging blows with RC seems to be the best idea so far.

The smirk he had on his face got even wider when RC goaded him. Oh how he wishes the boy’s shown this side of him earlier; maybe then teasing him would’ve been a whole lot more rewarding.

He tried to remember the (brief) training he had with the Head of Security, bracing himself for RC’s comeback. Surely he can handle at least one punch right?

And bam, there goes his answer. Right on his side, straight on and with enough force to make him wobble and move to the side for a few steps to regain his footing. He must’ve bit on something in the process as he tasted blood in his mouth. Its either his tongue or his cheek. Not good.

Once he’s sure he’s gotten his stance back, he promptly rushed towards the younger boy, pushing him down the cold pool floor. Sitting on RC’s shoulders to effectively render his arms useless and pin him down, he bent over and began using his left arm to choke the Manne boy. “Think you’re so tough, did you RC?”

[RC Manne]

While falling to the floor, RC had the split second thought that Zac was complete insane. This was why people didn’t run in pools. The floors were hard, and gritty. RC became very intimate with that fact as his back grated along the concrete, his shoulders impacting harshly. He had the presence of mind to keep his head from cracking against the floor, but only barely (he'd definitely have a knot later).

He still was stunned enough for Zac to land his choke. Anger burned in his eyes as Zac bore down on him, cutting off the circulation of his blood stream. Really? Zac was going to choke him out? He was that pissed? That nuts? RC drove his knee up into Zac’s back, hoping to distract him or throw him off balance long enough to buy himself some time.

For once, RC wasn’t ashamed to use his power. Concentrating his anger into focusing properly, RC liquefied, but not totally. Under Zac it must have felt like barely-hardened jello, a gloppy, gross feeling like gelatinous gravy. But it was enough to RC to wiggle out from under him.

Reforming himself was more difficult. He was thinking about so much, too much. He had to get solid in time to retaliate. He had to make sure he re-solidified correctly. And hardest of all? He had to keep hold of his swim trunks. RC really only made it in time for the last two, gripping his shorts around his waist just as his torso reformed. There was plenty of time for Zac to sneak in several strikes.

But the point was he wasn’t being choked anymore.

Success? Maybe? Probably not. RC could feel his back bleeding ever-so-slightly; in fact, it could have been just left-over moisture. But it hurt like hell: raw from his broad shoulders to his mid-back.

Panting, RC managed another verbal jab. “Think you’re smart, did you LaRousse?”

[Zachary LaRousse]

Eww.

That was probably the only thing – other than Get it off me! – that was running through his head as RC used his power. He was enraged, yes, but for the record, Zac was only planning on choking the boy to submission (whether that plan would be followed through would the Manne boy hadn’t used his powers remains to be seen though). He wanted to tell RC that while he is rather amused that the boy’s finally grown some backbone on him, he still had nothing on the mimic.

And in his ‘eagerness’ to teach him a lesson, he forgot all about the boy’s powers. One of the few reasons, aside from his incredibly low self-esteem, why he began picking on him in the first place.

As it was though, RC need not any distraction to buy him time. The kick by his back wasn’t that painful –it annoyed him more than it hurt, which is (probably) the real purpose behind it anyway. But really, the sight of seeing someone turn into goo, and feeling it wiggle from underneath is enough to make Zac’s breakfast (and lunch) travel back up to his mouth.

The shock combined with the sheer grossness (at least for Zac) of RC’s display was enough to freeze the pompous teen in place for a good minute or two. He just stood there (or kneeled rather) with his eyes wide open and his jaw agape. Though it was mostly his knees that got direct contact with the goo that was RC, he could feel himself shivering all over. It was a really nasty feeling that had RC not spoke, he’d be staring into the space where the boy once was still.

“Not really, but I think I am now.” Once again he pounced on the poor boy, wrapping his arms around him as he threw both of them in the water. Not that he could drown RC to deathsubmission, but he figures the water will prevent him from pulling any of his icky tricks.

He could hope.

[Jean Manne]

All Jean wanted was RC's help with homework. That was all. And so he trotted on his merry way to the pool because RC spent most of his time in the pool. What he expected to see was his brother swimming around and avoiding other people like the goo-dork he was. What he saw instead was Zac LaRousse grab RC forcefully and topple into the pool, both teenagers with uncharacteristic looks of rage (on RC's part) and revulsion (on Zac's).

What. Was going. On.

The twelve year old stared at the scene for a few moments until his brain decided that it really looked like someone was trying to drown someone and either way, it was looking a little scary. So, he looked around, thinking of a way to grab their attention.

While Jean was pretty sure Hammel didn't have a water polo team, they did happen to have water polo balls. That will do. So, the boy ran over, grabbed one, and hefted it at the wrestling teens.

"HEY!" He yelled, "What are you guys doing?"