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Lana stared at the man through the glass. The man who used to be her coworker, her fellow detective.
…Her friend.
The man that stared Lana down right now, Jove Justice, he was so…different from the man that she had gotten to know. A far cry from the man she knew before, the man she had immediately befriended when they worked together on that first case when they were police officers, the man she had worked tirelessly with on the most troubling cases, the man she called her…friend. They stuck by each other’s side, no matter what. He still stuck by her when she was fired from the police force, and when she was kicked out of the “legendary trio”. And even when nobody believed in her, not even her own sister, Jove did. Through Lana’s worst times, he was there, a smiling face that kept her going.
But that was years ago, before VL-7. He was so different now, the smiling and laughing Jove, now cold and detached, no longer making jokes with the police officers or pranking the prosecutors. Lana tried to stay by his side, like he had so long ago, but it was hard when he refused to open up. After VL-7, when Jove had changed forever, easygoing warmth replaced by a calloused coldness. He built up walls around himself, he refused to open up to her no matter what, he pushed Lana away.
Lana didn’t understand it, why he pushed her away. She was his friend, didn’t he see her as his friend anymore? Did he not value their friendship?
Did he…not trust her?
As the man she once knew stared at her, their eyes meeting, Lana wasn’t so sure anymore.
“…Lana.” Jove simply said.
Lana had immediately come to the detention center, when she had learned that Jove Justice had been arrested, for murder. She couldn’t believe it then, and she still couldn’t believe it now. Sure, Jove had changed for the worst, but…he wasn’t a murderer. That man was selfless, almost to a fault. He would never take another life, Lana believed that with her whole heart. Even when she had her doubts, doubts that screamed in her head as she stared at the cold uncaring man that used to be her friend. He wasn’t a murderer, he just wasn’t. She knew, she just did.
“What…what happened, Jo?” Lana asked, finding that her voice quivered much more than she would’ve liked.
“I killed someone, it’s as simple as that.” Jove simply said.
Lana had known Jove for years, and though she didn’t have the same tell spotting talent as Apollo, she still knew. Jove was lying right now, about killing that man. Her eyes widened as she realized this, alarm bells of his lies going off in her head, even though she didn’t know what alarmed those sirens. He was lying, he was lying about killing someone. But why? Why would he lie about that? Lana didn’t understand it, she really didn’t.
“Jo, I know you. I’ve known you for years. You didn’t…” Lana trailed off.
Jove scoffed. “Oh please, you “know” me? People change, Lana.”
“I know that people change, but…”
“There’s no “but”, Lana. I killed a man, and now I’m going to jail for it. It’s that simple.”
“…You’re lying.” Lana simply said.
Jove’s eyes darted around the room in a panic. Lana remembered, when Apollo had told him that it was his tell for panicking. It seemed so far away, the times before now. Before Lana had gotten fired, before Jove became chief prosecutor, before everything. The times when they were happy together, when Jove would put a lizard in Payne’s folders and they’d laugh when he jumped up in surprise, when Apollo and Jove would invite Ema and Lana over to their house and they’d laugh the night away.
But those times were long gone, no matter how much Lana hated it. Things could never become like they used to be.
“…Tch. Me? Lie? As if you can tell.” Jove said with a scoff.
“I’m not Apollo…but I know when you’re lying, Jo.” Lana then chuckled, humorless. “You weren’t ever good at keeping secrets from me.”
Jove stayed silent.
“…Why, Jo? Why are you lying?”
“Jove.” Jove corrected sharply.
“Jo…please.”
“Why are you so hellbent on pestering me, Lana? I’m sure you’ve got better things to do.”
“Because we’re friends.” Lana said, and when Jove’s gaze softened, she continued. “Jove, you stayed by my side, so why wouldn’t I stay by yours?”
“That’s…that’s different, Lana. You were innocent. I’m…” Jove sighed. “…I’m far from innocent, Lana.”
“Even if you’re not innocent, you didn’t kill a man, Jove.”
“…I murdered him.”
Lana sighed. Even when he had changed, he stayed as stubborn as ever.
“…Do you have a defense attorney?” Lana asked.
“As if any defense attorney would be insane enough to take my case.” Jove replied. “I don’t need an attorney. My fate was sealed the moment I plunged that knife into the man’s chest.”
“You…” Lana frowned. “You say that like you don’t want a defense attorney.”
Jove stayed silent, refusing to meet her gaze. Lana already knew the answer.
“…Why? Why are you doing this, Jo?”
“You wouldn’t understand, Lana.”
“Then…then help me understand.” Lana pleaded. “Please, Jo. Tell me, tell me so I can understand.”
When Jove’s eyes met hers, she wasn’t sure what emotions were swirling in them. A complex web that she could never hope to untangle. She could see it, the thousands of words that were stuck in his throat, the millions of emotions that threatened to burst from his chest. That he refused to ever let out, no matter what. A cold ice that froze everything over, that refused to thaw, no matter how much those he loved wanted the ice to finally melt away.
And perhaps Lana knew, from the start, that it was a foolish hope.
“…It’s better that you forget about me, Lana.” Jove finally said.
“So you don’t care, then? About us, the legendary trio, our friendship?” Lana replied.
“Of course I care.” Jove tried, weakly.
“Then why?” Lana found bitterness slipping into her tone, she didn’t care. “Why are you doing this?”
“Everything I’m doing, there’s a reason for it.” Jove said.
“Then tell me.”
“I can’t do that.”
“Why? Why can’t you? Think of all the people you’re leaving behind, Jo. Think of Apollo.”
“You don’t get it, Lana. This is all for Apollo.”
“Really now? Going to jail, leaving him without a father, this is all for him?”
“Yes. Everything I do, it’s all for him.”
Lana frowned. “I refuse to believe that, Jove. Letting yourself go to jail, lying about murdering a man, this can’t be for him.”
“But it is.” Jove replied.
“You’re a selfish man, Jove Justice.” Lana said.
“Yes. I’m selfish, I’m a horrible man, I’m a murderer! Isn’t that enough?” Jove’s hands were trembling, shaking like his voice. “Isn’t the fact that I’m a monster enough to throw me in jail?”
“But you aren’t a murderer.” Lana said.
“…I’m never going to change your mind, aren’t I?” Jove asked.
“And I won’t change yours.” Lana replied.
“Then…then leave.” Jove spat out bitterly. “We aren’t going to ever change each other’s minds, so stop wasting your time and mine, and just leave.”
“I…I won’t leave you, Jo.” Lana pressed her palm on the glass. “I won’t ever leave you.”
Jove’s eyes flickered to her, and she could see it, the guilt in them. He reached out, hesitated.
And then he turned his back on her.
“Leave.” Jove said more sternly. A command.
She got up from the chair and made her way to the door. Lana glanced back at Jove, and she could see that he was shaking. It was confusing, she didn’t understand it a single bit. Why? Why didn’t he let her help him?
Lana sighed, leaving the room, and leaving Jove to shake alone by himself in the visitor’s room.
━━━━ ❰ ･ ❉ ･ ❱ ━━━━
Lana knew Mia Fey’s sister, Maya.
Mia had mentioned it to her a few times, Maya’s interest in becoming a defense attorney. When she had last checked on the Fey & Co. Law Offices, Maya had inherited the law firm from her sister. So, she wasn’t exactly surprised when she saw Maya, at the defense’s bench with Apollo by her side. Lana went to every single day of the trial, watching as Maya valiantly defended Jove with all she had. And it was fascinating, how alike and yet different Maya was from her sister. Her tone was all too casual for a defense attorney, she could be a little petty at times, and she obviously didn’t have the years of experience that Mia did.
And yet, she was brilliant. She didn’t live up to Mia’s legacy, because she didn’t have to. She wasn’t the next Mia Fey, she was the next Maya Fey. A woman, a defense attorney, who would help anyone who needed help. Maya was determined, believed in her clients with the same ferocity as her sister, pieced together the bigger picture with each passing moment. She worked together with Franziska, and soon, they were able to unravel the years and years of corruption and evil that had affected many in the police department. And on the third day, as everything about the night of VL-7 Incident was untangled by the two lawyers, she was able to do it.
She was able to prove Jove’s innocence.
When Jove had laughed, the first time for years, Lana couldn’t help but smile. There he was, the Jove Justice she had known for years.
“Well, this trial has gone on far too long already.” The Judge had said, clearing his throat. “This court finds the defendant, Jove Justice…not guilty.” He banged his gavel, smiling as he announced. “Court is adjourned!”
Confetti flew all around the courtroom, Apollo let out a delighted squeal.
“Ms. Fey!” Apollo cheered from the defense’s bench, hugging Maya. “We did it! We got my dad acquitted!”
“I can’t believe it, Apollo!” Maya burst out. “Geez, that was the worst case of my life!”
“Ditto!”
“Apollo, you aren’t even a defense attorney!”
“But I was a co-counsel! And this is the worst case in my life ever.”
“And your only one, so it makes it your best too.”
“Ms. Fey!”
Everyone trickled out of the courtroom, and as Jove got up from the defendant’s chair, Lana approached him.
“Congratulations on the acquittal, Jo.” She said.
Jove jumped in surprise, looking at Lana. “Oh, Lana! I didn’t think you’d…”
“I was here every single day of your trial, Jo.” Lana said.
“Huh? But…why?” Jove asked, confused.
“Well…it was my little way of supporting you, I guess.” Lana said, then adding with a sigh. “I’m sorry I wasn’t able to help more.”
“No no! Knowing that you were there to support me…it feels nice.” Jove said.
“Yes.” Lana replied.
The two were silent for a moment.
And then, Jove sighed. “Lana, I…I wanted to apologize.”
“For what?”
“For acting like a jerk towards you. You were just trying to help me, and I kept pushing you away…and I’m sorry for that.”
“No no, I should apologize, Jo. I was too pushy, when you were obviously going through a lot.”
“Well, I brought them on myself.” Jove said with a chuckle.
“You were just trying to protect your son. I would’ve done the same for Ema.” Lana replied.
“I suppose so…” Jove trailed off, and he smiled at her. “And…thank you, Lana. For staying by my side. It means a lot.”
“You stayed by my side, Jo. Only fair that I do the same.” Lana said.
Jove laughed at that.
Just then, Lana heard the sound of a familiar scruffy detective.
“Mr. Justice! Come on, pal! We can sneak you into the defendant lobby so you can see your-” Gumshoe stopped when he saw Lana. “A-Ah! Ms. Skye!”
“Hello, Detective Gumshoe.” Lana greeted him with a smile.
“Hello, sir!” Gumshoe saluted her. “Nice to see you, sir!”
“There’s no need for that, Detective Gumshoe. I’m not a detective anymore.” Lana said with a light smile.
Jove laughed. “Old habits die hard, don’t they Lana?”
“Oh yes, they do!” Lana said.
The three laughed, and Lana found she missed this. Them, laughing together, like nothing wrong had happened in their lives. And though things had changed, that didn’t mean they had to end. Life was funny like that, how things could change, and people stayed just as close to each other.
“Well…I should leave you to your son, Jo. I’m sure you need to talk to him.” Lana said.
“Yeah, sir! I’m sure Apollo’s waiting for you.” Gumshoe said.
“He probably is. But…” Jove jumped to hug Lana. “I need to do this first!”
“W-Woah!” Lana laughed as she hugged Jove back. “Oh, Jove…”
“Thanks for everything, Lana. I appreciate it. I was a selfish man, and yet…you stood by my side.”
“You’re not selfish, Jo. I was just angry.”
“Nah, you were right Lana. I was selfish.”
“Can’t change your mind, can I?” Lana questioned with a smile.
Jove grinned. “Nope.”
They went their separate ways, and as Lana left the courtroom, a smile was on her face.
She would stay by her friend’s side, no matter what.
Like he had stayed by hers, all those years ago.