Story bits

"Can someone please tell me why I'm here?" James asked.
Detective Sanchez sighed and sat down. "Mr.Griffin-" "Just call me James. I'm only 17." He interrupted. "James." Sanchez corrected. "You're here because last night, at 10:39 PM, your uncle, whom we know you had a very strained relationship with, was found murdered in his home. And we think you might've done it."
"Wha- you think I murdered my uncle? Why?"
Detective Green sighed. "Look, it's no secret that in the Griffin family, there's some... issues. And there's that video of you two fighting from the other year-"
"Oh, so because I argued with my uncle at Thanksgiving over him saying some stupid shit, I killed him? That's fucking ridiculous." James scoffed.
"You watch your mouth." Sanchez snapped. "Now, unless you can tell us where you were between 7 and 8 last night, we're gonna have to keep you here."
"Fine." James said, crossing his arms and leaning back. "I'll stay as long as you need me too. Because I didn't kill my uncle. As much as I hated the asshole, he wasn't worth the effort of killing."
"Then maybe you didn't kill him. Maybe you hired someone. Your family certainly has no shortage of money." Sanchez suggests.
"Maybe, but I don't have free access to it. Most parts of my life is micromanaged by my bitch of a stepmother and whore of a mother. I have to get pre approval to buy a pack of gum from a convenience store. I don't even get access to any money in my accounts without having a group of accountants analyze whether or not I need the money. And where the hell am I going to hire a hitman? At one of my so-called parents stupid parties?"
"Watch your attitude. Now, tell us, where were you last night between 7 and 8?" Green asked.

James glared at him, and he sighed. "Fine. You wait here. Maybe one of your siblings will come up with an alibi for you."
He got up, and both him and Sanchez started to walk out of the interrogation room.
James sighed. "You really want to know where I was?"
Sanchez turned. "Yes."
James inhaled deeply. "And this doesn't get back to my parents?" "Depends on what you say." Green states.
James covers his face with his hands and sighs. He mumbles something unintelligible before running a hand through his hair. "Say that again?" Green asks. James mumbles again. "Kid, speak up. Or I'm walking out that door."
"I was with my boyfriend, okay?" James snapped. "We went to his house after school."

Lieutenant Graham raised their eyebrows. "Wow." "So, the youngest child of the Griffin family is gay. Never thought I'd see the day." Ross said.

"And what exactly were you and this so-called boyfriend doing?" Sanchez asked. "Ever heard of Netflix and chill?" James asked dryly. The two detectives exchanged a confused look, and James sighed. "We were screwing, okay? His parents were out of town and mine weren't home, so instead of messing around in the back of my car we went to his place. I was there until around 9. Then his sister got home. I said hi talked to her for a bit, then went home. When I got there, my parents still weren't back, and my step brothers were in the backyard yelling at each other."
"And that's the story you're sticking with?" Green asked.
James's eyes narrowed. "Look, I'm telling the truth. Why else would I be telling two random detectives I was screwing with my boyfriend? My family doesn't even know. And I'd prefer if it stayed that way."
"Prove it." Sanchez said.

James rolled his eyes and pulled his shirt collar down his chest. There was a smattering of small purple bruises across his collarbone. "That proof enough for you?"
Green pulled out his notepad and pen, placing them on the table. "Name, number and address of this boyfriend. Then we'll check your story out." James rolled his eyes and scribbled on the paper. "You might already know him. He got a speeding ticket a few weeks back."

Green took the paper. "We'll check this out. Don't go anywhere." He said, opening the door. "It's not like I can leave!" James called after them.

_____________________
"What do you want? I paid the fine for the ticket." Keith asked, leaning in the doorway. "Can we come inside?" Green asked. Keith rolled his eyes and stepped aside so they could come in, closing the door behind them. "We were wondering where you were between 7 and 8 last night." Green started.
"Here." Keith answered, heading to the kitchen.
"By yourself?"
"No. I had company."
"Company by the name of James Griffin?" Sanchez asked, and Keith stiffened. "Yeah. Why?"
"What exactly were you two doing?"
"Why are you asking so many questions?" Keith snapped.
"Last night his uncle was found dead. We're trying to eliminate him as a suspect." Green informs him. "And if you told s what you guys were doing, it'd help a lot."
"We were fucking, alright? Then we watched some TV, my sister came home and they talked for a few minutes, then he left."
"And this was instead of the usual romp in his car?" Sanchez asked with a smirk.
"Look, my parents may be fine with me being gay, but James's family would go crazy if they found out. Especially if they found out he was dating me." Keith sighed, posture softening a little. "We've been together for about a year. My parents, my best friend and my sister know, but nobody else. And I'd like to keep it that way. For James's sake."

"Keith? Hello?" Another voice called. "In here!" A man with black hair and a scar across the bridge of his nose came in the room. "There you are. I was wondering what-" He looked at the two detectives before frowning. "Keith, did you get another speeding ticket?" 'One time! It happened one time!"
"Actually, Mr.-" "Shiro." The man said, interrupting Green. "Shiro, we're here to ask him about James Griffin." The man's expression turned to one of concern. "Oh no. Is he okay?" "James is fine. It's his uncle we're asking about. He was found dead last night, and we're trying to eliminate James as a suspect." Green explains.
"Well I can assure you, he was here at 5. I came in to grab something from the rec room, heard some things, and immediately left." Shiro said with a chuckle.
"Shiro!" Keith exclaimed. "We're going to need a little more than just you gentlemen's word for this." Sanchez said. Keith sighed and began pulling up his shirt. "Whoa, what are you doing?" Green asked. "Giving you proof." Keith said, bunching his shirt up on his neck and turning.
Shiro let out a low whistle at the scratch marks on his shoulders and few stray hickeys. "Well, that seems to match up with Mr.Griffin's own set of... markings. We'll let him go. But I'd advise you two to limit communication. With what we've been told, this kind of news would cause.. tension, in the family. And with the murder investigation, they'll be watching him like a hawk."
______________________

James and the boy smiled at each other. "I missed you." James says, leaning his head on the boy's shoulder. "I missed you too." They kissed, short and sweet, smiling at each other after. But when they leaned back in for another kiss, it was different. James grabbed the other's collar and they held the back of his head, pulling him close. James crawled into his lap, straddling his thighs and threading his hands into their hair as they placed his hands on James's hips.
A moan is heard, but you can't tell who it came from. The two continue to make out, no space between their bodies. They pull apart, panting heavily, and they begin to kiss down James's neck.

Mr.Harrison pauses the video there, turning to the judge. "James's uncle possessed this footage. If he knew about it, that gives us reasonable doubt that it was not in fact my client with the greatest motive to kill Andrew Griffin, but James. In fact, it gives James an even bigger motive to kill him than Cara. He had to hide the fact that he was gay, and his uncle could've been using this against him. Money, having him on his side in meetings, getting more information about the company, lots of things."
"If he knew the tape existed. I'm guessing by the lack of restraint these two show, they were unaware of the camera." Mrs.Holt argues.

Judge Bradley thinks for a moment. "Bring the Griffin family in. I want them to see this." Mrs.Holt started to object, but he raised his hand to silence her. "I understand that this is highly inflammatory. But the defense has brought up James Griffin's sexuality several times during the duration of this trial, both in court and in chambers. I want to see if there's any merit to these accusations. Bring the family in at 9 o'clock tomorrow. We'll have a closed courtroom. After, I'll give my verdict on whether or not this can be used at trial."
Mrs.Holt frowned as Mr.Harrison nodded solemly.
_________________________________________________________________

9 THE NEXT MORNING
"Defense council has something they would like to show you all. I ask that you try and remain calm." Judge Bradley said. Then he nodded to Mr.Harrison. He inserted the disc and pressed play, the video appearing on the screen.
James's face immediately loses all color, and the rest of the family's jaws drop. As it continues, James gets paler and paler, and the majority of the family looks more and more enraged.
Mr.Harrison pauses it at the same place he did in cambers, and the room is silent. "James Griffin, did you know that this tape existed?" Judge Bradley asked. "I-I- no. That, that-how did-"
"What. Is. THAT?" Carla Griffin snaps. "James, tell me that is just someone who looks like you with that boy." Mr.Griffin says.
"I-I-" James stuttered before his face fell.

"James Alexander Griffin, what. Is. That?" His father asks. "Is that someone else?"
James shakes his head.
"Is that- is that you?" Alice asks.

James nods slowly. "Yes." He whispers hoarsely.
Then all hell breaks loose.

The rest of the Griffin family, minus Alice and Astrid explode, and begin yelling at James, who's holding back tears.
"How could you?- ruin the family name!- Disgusting!- dare you- why would- stupidest- faggot- monster- terrible decisions-"
"ORDER, ORDER!" Judge Bradley demands, banging his gavel. "What is wrong with you? WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU? " Mr.Griffin asks, grabbing his collar and yanking him up to his feet. "WE GIVE YOU EVERYTHING, AND THIS IS HOW YOU REPAY US?"
James opens his mouth to say something, but then he starts throttling him. "I RAISED YOU BETTER THAN THIS! YOU ARE NOT LIKE THIS MAN! YOU ARE A GRIFFIN DAMMIT! A GRIFFIN MAN! AND YOU DO NOT LAY WITH OTHER MEN!"

The court officers have to pull him off of James, who's a mess. Hiccupping sobs escape his mouth as he buries his face in his hands, sitting far from the rest of the family.
"You will not play that at trial!" Carla snaps. "It's bad enough that you're dragging our name through the mud with this made-up murder charge, we don't need you showing a video that makes one of us seem like a faggot! I don't care what you think this will do, but you will NOT play it at trial! I want that tape destroyed, every single copy of it." She snapped at Mr.Harrison. "And you!" She said, whirling around to face James. "We will talk about this later. And you are going to be getting some serious counseling. That is unnatural. Now stop your crying and get up. It's time to go home."
Mrs.Holt stood. "Your honor, I ask that James Griffin be placed in protective custody, along with the other person identified in the video."
"On what grounds?" Mr.Harrison snaps. "On the grounds that his family poses and immediate and serious threat to him and his well being."
"Motion granted." Judge Bradley says, banging his gavel. "Judge!" "Don't push me Mr.Harrison, or I'll have the whole lot for them cited for contempt. Officers, please escort Mr.James Griffin out of the court room. And the rest of you-" He gave the rest of the family a stern look. "-I expect better from someone or your stature. We're adjourned for the day. Court will reconvene tomorrow at 10 o'clock. I'll see counsel in chambers."

"What was that?" Judge Bradley asked. "Proof of motive. you saw the family's reaction to the tape. If they found out about James's extracurricular activities, they would explode. And they did." "You also saw James's reaction. He was horrified. And what I'd like to know is how his uncle got that video. Did James know that the camera was there? If that video does contain evidence of sexual relations between the two boys, correlating with his statement to the police, then that's sexual images of two minors, and inadmissible in court. Your client obviously didn't want people to see it." Mrs.Holt argues.
"I have to agree with Mrs.Holt. This is inadmissible. And if I were you Mr.Harrison, I'd listen to your client and destroy that tape, along with any similar to it. Who knows what the press will do with it."
_____________________

They found out what the press would do with it three days later. It was all over the tabloids. And it wasn't just the one video. Pictures from other videos were out there too. Him at school with the other boy, at his house, in his car, by a motorcycle. The videos were undoubtably posted somewhere, and their team of hackers were searching diligently for them. "James Griffin- gay or straight?" "Afterschool romp for the youngest Griffin" "Not as straight as he seems" "James Griffin- caught in the act" "James Griffin- getting down and dirty in his backseat" and other headlines were everywhere.
The press even got on Altea Academy grounds and bombarded him with questions. "James Griffin! What do you have to say about recent photos of you having sex with another male?" "James Griffin, who is in the pictures with you?" "Mr.Griffin! What are you going to do now?" "Mr.Griffin! How has your family reacted to this news?" "What concealer do you use to hide the hickeys?" "Is this the first time you've been with a male?" "James Griffin, are you gay? Bi? Pan? What do you identify as?"

James didn't answer any questions. He had silver sunglasses on to hide his eyes, and a black sweatshirt. The pictures would be all over the media the next day. There were two bodyguards and a limo waiting, the same that had dropped him off that morning. His car was locked in the garage at the Griffin mansion.
The videos weren't the worse parts. It was the screenshots and frames from the videos that were the worse. No shirt, hickeys all over his throat and collarbone. White button up hanging off his shoulders, gripping the other's shoulders with his head thrown back. His legs over the other's shoulders, him placing kisses on the other's neck, reaching for his clothes. They at least had the decency to blur the other's face and sensor their bodies, but other than that they held nothing back.
It was humiliating.
______________________

"Who leaked this? Was it you?" Mr.Harrison yelled at Mrs.Holt. "Why would I leak this? It makes it seem like James had a reason to do it. It makes our case look bad. We have just as much reason to keep this away from the media as you!"
"I want this to stop. This is slander against me and my family." Carla snaps. "How? It's just concerning your son." Mrs.Holt reasoned.
"He is not my son. He is my step son, and only by marriage. And no, it's not just concerning him. Somehow, there's a video of when you showed us the video for the first time. Anonymous sources are coming forward saying that my real children and my family have made homophobic statements in the past. This is going to destroy our image. Add the murder charges, and it becomes even worse!"
___________________

"The other male in the circulating video of James Griffin having sex in his car has been identified by multiple sources as Keith Kogane, son of Marmora Tech's CEO. These sources have also confirmed that the two are close, and are often seen hanging out together after school. If the two are officially together or are just fuckbuddies is unknow, but-"
"This is enough." Krolia said, turning off the TV. "I want these pictures, all of them, and these videos, taken down, right now. I know someone from your family leaked them to the press. To make you seem innocent. It's bad enough that they exist, but publishing them to the media and humiliating our children? James has been through enough Carla. Whether you like it or not, he is your son. It is your job to take care of and look after him. Alexander entrusted him to you." Krolia said.
Carla shrugged, taking a sip of her water. "And Alexander took half of my assets in the divorce."
"He let you keep his name. The words 'Carla Griffin' are very powerful. And he left you with a beautiful child."
"He's not even mine." Carla snapped. "And he's making my family look bad."

Krolia sighed. "Carla, you've been telling people that for years. But I'm pretty sure he is."
Carla as silent.
"He has your grandmother's eyes. You can't tell me he doesn't look a little like her. No one in Alexander's family has purple, or, amethyst eyes, as Keith likes to say. And he has your cheekbones."
Carla shook her head. "He is not my son. Part of why we divorced was because Alex was running around with another woman. In the six years we were married, not once did I have his child."
"I never said he was Alex's son. He was born two years into your marriage, and was four and a half when you two got divorced. So maybe it wasn't just Alex that was running around. Maybe you were too. Maybe that's part of the reason you and Christopher got together so soon after the divorce. Maybe he's James's father."
Carla shook her head.
"You have to admit, they do look similar. Same hair color, same build, similar facial structures. Change James's eyes color and they could be a set of before and after pictures." Krolia said softly as Carla kept shaking her head.
"Christopher is James's father, isn't he? That's why you won't say he's your son. That's why you don't claim him. Because if you do, Alex will say that he's not his son, and that will leave only one person. And that, would be an insult to your good name. For people to know that you were cheating on your husband for five out of your six years of marriage. Christopher is James's father."
Carla took in a shaky breath and nodded. "Yes. Yes, Chris is James's father."
"Why don't you tell him? Why won't you tell James that he really is your son?" Krolia asked softly.
Carla sighed. "Krolia, you of all people know how hard having these family names can be. You have to uphold the image. I didn't want him to be under that pressure. It ruined what was supposed to be me and my sister's childhoods."
"Carla, don't lie to me. Being told he's not your son has been damaging to him. And telling the press? They've been asking Alex and him who his real mother is for years. And supposedly being a Griffin only in name? He has to prove himself worthy of the name."
"No one can know." Carla said sternly.
"I'm not asking you to have a press conference. I'm asking for you to tell James. Just James. With everything that's happening, he needs to know someone is there for him." Krolia stated.
"Why doesn't your son do it? They're dating."
Krolia sighed. "Judge Bradley said that to preserve the integrity of the investigation and case, they can't have contact with each other. You're his mother, Carla. The only mother figure he's ever had. He loves you. All he wants is your affection. For you to be proud of him. And look what you've done to him. Told him his entire life that he's not your son. Controlled almost everything he did, everywhere he went. His uncle gets killed and he becomes a suspect, just like the rest of your family, and you do nothing. You offer no alibi, don't have Mr.Harrison represent him. When you find out he's gay, you blow up at him in court. The Judge agreed to have him put in /protective custody/. That's how bad your reaction was. The videos and photos are leaked to the press, and you all but disown him. You bar Astrid, the only one of his family members that he's actually close with, the actually cares about him, from talking to him. From what I know, which is actually very little, he's been living in a hotel room for three weeks, guarded by police 24/7, barred from outside communications, and been taking virtual classes for the past two weeks. Carla, if you care for your son, tell him. Before he stops talking to you."

"I can't. I can't tell him that Chris is his father." Carla said quietly, shaking her head.
"Why?"
"He was terrible when we found out. That- that James was gay. He got so mad. He stated shaking him, and-and yelling at him. He has such a terrible temper. There's no dealing with him when he's mad."
Krolia's eyes widened. "You didn't kill Xander, did you? Chris did. When you guys went to his house for dinner, he had an ulterior motive. He knew about the tapes, didn't he? He knew about the tapes, and he went to Xander's house to get them and destroy them. But Xander said no. And when he said no, him and Chris fought. And Chris ended up taking a knife from the kitchen and stabbing him. That's what happened, isn't it? You didn't know he was dead until you found him. You didn't know Chris had killed him, and you didn't know why. He told you later that he killed Xander. You didn't know about the camera, photos and videos until that day in court. Chris is also the one that leaked the photos and videos, isn't he? He did everything. Didn't he? Didn't he?" Krolia said, starting to stand.

"Yes." Carla chokes out. "Yes. He told me, he told me he did everything."
"You have to tell the police! You didn't kill your brother, and you can prove it."
"No Krolia, I can't. I'm worried about what he'll d to the kids. And-and James- god, he killed Xander, what if he kills him too? I can't lose my little boy."
Krolia looked down. "You might've lost him already. He thinks you hate him."
"But I don't!" Carla cries. "I just can't believe I had a child with that scumbag! And yes, yes, they look alike. The only difference is the eyes. And yes, James has my grandmothers eyes. But that's part of why it's so hard to be around him. On one hand, he reminds me of my grandmother, with his eyes and the energy he has. Even with how we treat him and all the things that have happened, he still finds a way to be happy. But on the other hand, I look at him and see Chris. He was so kind and sweet in the beginning. But now, lately, he's been so aggressive and-and rude. I just- I want better for my kids. Especially James and Astrid. I know- I know our family is messed up. But they-they've still retained some of their innocence. They can still see the good in people. They don't look at someone and think 'what can I get from you? What can you give me?' Like him and Keith. I've seen the way they look at each other. Me and Chris used to be like that. And me and Alex."
"Carla, if you want these opportunities for your kids, you have to come forward. Tell the police what Chris did. Fix your relationship with James while you still can. And you can't do that serving 20 to life in an 8 by 8 cell. So here." Krolia handed Carla her phone. "Call your lawyer and arrange a meeting with the DA. Tell them what Chris did."
Carla took the phone with shaky hand, dialing Mr.Harrison. "Charles? Hi. Yeah, I need you to arrange a meeting with the DA. I'll explain later. Yes. Ok, thank you. bye."
"Feel better now?" Krolia asked. Carla nodded. "Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, I do."
_______________

The doorbell rang. "James, honey, can you get the door?" Carla asked. "Um, sure." Astrid smiled and pulled out her phone, her and her mother following.
"Hi!" Krolia said as James opened the door. "Krolia! Hi! I-I didn't know you were coming." He said, looking back at his mom. "No, we wanted to surprise you." "We?" James asked. Krolia stepped to the side with a wide smile and James's eyes ballooned. "Keith!" He yelled running out the door. Keith caught him and spun him around in a hug as James Koala hugged him. "Hey babe." He said as he set him down. "Hey yourself." James chuckled, wrapping his arms around Keith's shoulders as he held his waist. Keith glanced at Astrid and Carla. "Is it okay if we-" "Yeah. They're fine with it." James said, blushing a bit as they made eye contact. Keith grinned and leaned down, capturing James's lips in a kiss.
__________________________________

"James Griffin and Keith Kogane spotted holding hands leaving Altea Academy yesterday before getting in a car together. The two also posted matching pictures on their social medias, officially declaring them a couple.