Obsession

He Thinks I Murdered Your Father

There are the following triggering themes included in this story: mentions of suicide; sexual descriptions and implied sexual acts; homosexual relationships; infidelity; drama and angst; murder/mystery-themed; profanity; and descriptions of stalking/undiagnosed mental illnesses.

"Jason! Turn that music down!" Marcy screamed.

The electric guitar's distortions and heavy bass vibrated through the walls of the house, showcasing, "Fuck You Like An Animal," by Nine Inch Nails. Upstairs, in the furthest room from the stairs was Jason, the younger brother of James.

Ever since their father died, Jason struggled. He briefly tried working in his father's furniture store during and after high school, while it was being managed and continued by Marcy, but his mental health continued to decline with his inability to cope with stressful situations. In the end, he quit his job and moved back home. He was couch surfing at friends' apartments and houses, barely existing, but Marcy put her foot down and moved him home.

Jason, unfortunately, had front row seats to Marcy's endless string of flings, one night stands, and failed relationships. It didn't help his mind to see his mother with a new man more often than she changed her underwear. He hated seeing his mom numb to her grief.

So Jason occupied his time by chasing the idea that his father, Liam, did not die in the manner in which officials declared. Jason was convinced that Liam was murdered, but he was never able to explain effectively to where anything could be investigated. The police and coroner all declared Lliam's death a suicide.

Jason, however, was not convinced. James never did understand from where the idea came. He assumed it was, as the family therapist said, Jason's inability to accept Lliam's poor mental health. Although, everyone in Liam's life simply did not see the signs. The family therapist said it was an expected response to the grief. Some people aren't ready to let go, so they invent reasons to not let go.

"Goddamnit, Jason! Turn that fucking shit off!" screeched Marcy, gripping a handful of her own hair in both hands on either side of her head and pulling down in frustration.

James and John both startled a bit at the outburst, both conscientious of the abnormal behavior but not willing to further agitate the woman with questions. John finally looked in James' direction with a raised eyebrow, and somehow James blushed at the action. Not a single thing about John's behavior at the moment indicated any kind of flirting, but the attention had the poor young man flustered like he had never been, before.

The slightest of a smirk lifted one side of John's lips and disappeared as John looked toward Marcy. James almost missed it. He even questioned if he actually saw it or if his imagination was now running rampant.

"Darling, it'll be okay," John quietly placated, rubbing the woman's back in gentle circles as he continued to whisper calmly closely to her ear.

Marcy turned and faced John, wrapping her arms around him and resting her head on his shoulder. He responded by wrapping his arms around her waist. They sat at the table wrapped up in each other for several minutes. James was well aware that this was comfort, and that there was nothing wrong with it. Nothing inappropriate. But the embrace still left him feeling like he was watching something he wasn't supposed to see.

And John was able to pick up on James' discomfort.

The couple ended the embrace when the music's volume decreased to a tolerable level. Marcy returned to her plate, while John addressed James.

"I do apologize, James, for the display of affection in front of you," John politely offered.

James remained silent, simply blinking with his mouth hung open. Eventually, he shrugged his shoulders and looked down.