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They had been walking for hours all through kokomo, neither of them caring that it was snowing.
Amy had only been back in kokomo for a few months, but they have been the best few months of her life, mostly she was just happy that she got to celebrate christmas with her family. Next is the new years. Its already the 30th, so she doesn’t have long to wait.
Oliver, on the other hand, got a wish from the artifact. That wish bringing him back to earth to have it fulfilled, he’s excited to see fireworks in person, he’s only ever seen them through the RFP, but he’s heard they’re beautiful, granted, everything is more beautiful when Amy's around.
“What are you thinking about?” amy asked, staring at the boy as he thought hard about what to say.
“ i’m excited to see a firework.”
Amy just looked at him for a minute “ what's a firework?” she knew she sounded ridiculous, but she was just genuinely curious
“I’m not actually sure. I know that they glow, and are really big. But thats about it.”
“Okay, i’m excited too. Anything that glows i’m bound to like.”
***
It was getting later and they were way too far away for how dark it was, and somehow they had ended up past Willowbrook park.
“We should go back, its getting late,” as much as Oliver would love to stay and talk with Amy, he also didn’t want to worry Dr. Kim.
“Yeah, I’m glad you exist, Oliver.” all the poor boy could do after that was smile and blush.
***
Oliver placed his hand on the back of amy’s back, ushering her forwards “we should walk faster, its getting dark really fast,” the redhead just nodded
BOOM
Amy’s whole body jumped at the loud noise, her hands starting to shake as memories played in her head from months ago.
Obviously this didn’t go unnoticed by oliver, but he chose not to bring it up.
“Did you see it?!” Oliver asked excitedly
“See what?” amy's voice was shaky as she tried to talk normally.
“The fireworks! That's what that loud sound was,”
“Oh, no I didn't, sorry.” amy couldn’t get the images out of her head, the gun being pointed at her by that awful women, the FCP, her panic attack in the firing range.
Panic attack
Is she having a panic attack?
“Amy? Are you okay? Oliver had clearly been trying to get her attention for a while.
“Yeah, sorry.”
“You don't need to apologize, its okay.”
“Okay”
BOOM
Amy jumped again, this time falling to the floor, hand covering her heart as she struggled to breath. ‘Shes having another panic attack, its been months since she’s had one! She doesn’t remember what to do’
BOOM
BOOM
BOOM
‘Oh my gosh she’s gonna die, they’re gonna find her! They’re gonna shoot her and shes gonna die!’
“Amy! Can you hear me?”
‘oliver, olivers here, he can help her’
“Amy look at me. Okay, take a deep breathe, in, and out. Good.”
The boy was kneeled in front of her, holding her hand, squeezing them as he guided her in breathing.
BOOM
“Ahhh!” she hadn’t even realized she had screamed.
“Dang it” he was making progress.”
He moved down to sit next to her, and put an arm around her shoulders in an attempt to comfort her. He’s never been very great at this.
***
“Pigtails? Is that you?! Great, and you have your friend.”
Oliver recognized that voice, ‘oh no,’
“Oh i’ve been waiting for this,” scott starts running full speed at them with enough anger in him to shatter glass.
Swiftly, Oliver stands up, detaching himself from Amy as he gets ready to protect her.
***
Scott throws a solid punch at Oliver's nose, making him bleed and tear up. Which clearly scott wasn’t ready for as he took a step back questioning what had happened. Last time he threw a punch at this kid he was completely unfazed, And now he’s bleeding!
Oliver noticed a change in the boy's presence, so in the short amount of time, he punches scott in the stomach and books it back to Amy, who's still shaking and hyperventilating.
Quickly he grabs her hand, and they make a break for it. They had barely made it past Willowbrook park in the opposite direction before Amy finally gave in and started crying.
Thankfully they had lost Scott on the way, so Oliver was comfortable, sitting down and comforting Amy now.
“Can you talk?” He figured this was a good way to start, to see if he could do a normal exercise.
“ a bit.” amy gasped out. ‘Okay, thats enough’ he thought, the words were breathy though, so he’s gotta make sure he doesn’t ask too complicated questions.
“Okay, amy. Can you tell me what color your jacket is?”
There was a bit of a pause before her head started nodding and she let out a low “brown” followed by more hyperventilating.
“Good, you’re doing great, can you follow my breathing now.” another nod “okay, in, and out. Very good, you’re doing wonderfully”
After a bit more breathing and a few more questions, her breathing was back under control and the shaking was down to a minimum.
“Are you doing okay?” he asked, more concerned now that the attack was over.
“I am now, thank you.”
“Okay, do you know what caused it?”
“Yeah, could we talk about it later though?”
“Sure. I'm gonna walk you home, is that alright?” it might be inappropriate, he’s not really sure, he just wants to make sure his friend gets back home safely.
“Okay”
“Actually, Oliver? Do you think Dr. Kim would be okay if I spent the night at your house.
“Oh i’m sure.”
“Okay, could we do that instead?” she really wanted to, but she didn’t want to intrude on his space.
“Absolutely.”
“Shouldn’t you ask you’re parents first though? I don't think they’d be too glad with Dr. Kim if he practically kidnapped you tonight.”
“Oh, you’re right, I should definitely do that.”