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Things have been so much better since Simon got acquitted and the phantom was caught, but they aren’t perfect. After all, you can’t undo the trauma everyone has suffered; trauma is far too complicated. And for Athena, this means her panic surrounding courtrooms is still present despite the cause of this being resolved. Which, as annoying and unfair as it is, she just has to deal with.
But still, it is unnerving to know how quickly and easily someone or something can cause her to shut down, memories turning to flashbacks as she stands there and trembles, Widget going black. It is embarrassing and makes her feel like a failure of a lawyer, and there is little anyone can do to help other than postponing the trial and grounding her until the fear as stopped overwhelming her.
Thankfully, there is one positive in this rather upsetting and irritating situation: she has the support of the people around her. Mr Wright or Apollo stand beside her, and know what works best to calm Athena down when the panic strikes. The Judge and the detectives who regularly stand in court know not to make a big deal out of it, lest she get embarrassed and panic for even longer. And Simon, whenever he stands at the prosecutor’s bench, knows how to use a well timed ‘Silence’ to shut the gallery up, helping Athena deal with her panic by stopping her sensitive ears having to listen to everyone’s confused rambles. She is so grateful for the help she gets from them all.
But Apollo is definitely the best help. Her boyfriend knows how to talk in his softest tone and hold her hand, squeezing her fingers to ground her. And when they’re back in the defendant lobby, Athena gives him a grateful kiss.