She-Ra fics (2018)

Sinus cold

Thanks to her lack of self-care, Adora catches a cold. Never having felt warmth on sick days before, she is surprised when Bow and Glimmer tend to her needs.
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Despite feeling like she'd been chewed up, spat out and run over by the entire Horde army, she still insisted on her friends going out to the party. Adora didn't like showing weakness to anybody; determined to prove herself. She had rubbed at her temples, somewhat helping to ease the migraine beginning to build there. "You sure you're gonna be ok, Adora?" Perfuma asked at her bedroom door. "Yeah, like... we can do it another day," Mermista added. Adora waved a dismissive hand from under the blankets. "I'm fine," She mumbled, shutting her eyes. He could hear Perfuma sigh but offered no further speech.

She'd dozed on and off, twisting and turning to try and relieve the pressure building in her eyes and head. She'd finally found a comfortable position in which she could breathe fairly okay through one nostril only (because Light Hope hated her) when a tickling sensation sent her upright with a loud sneeze. Her aching joints screamed in protest and her head pounded something chronic, blurring her vision. She fumbled for one of the tissues Perfuma had left her to blow her nose.

"Ugh," a voice at the mouth of the room says. Adora resolutely keeps the surprise out of her body language, focusing on blowing her nose. "That's gross."

"Go away," Adora moaned as she threw the tissue to the floor, flopping back down and onto her bed, soft blankets weaved from all sorts wrapping her warm again. "Mermista, be nice," Adora opened one eye, shutting it again when the light burned. She brought her hand up in a single wave. "You poor thing," Glimmer cooed, rushing over. Bow slowly walked in, holding a basket of... something.

"I'm ok, 'lim. S'just a cold," She yawned, wincing when her jaw popped. "Bow! Come," She barked softly. Bow fumbled the basket but continued forward. Adora narrowed her eyes playfully and fake-gagged in his direction. Bow flinched backwards, tripping over the entryway mark and dropping the basket. He fell on his ass, bringing an irritated sigh from Glimmer's mouth. "You're mean," Bow whined, standing back up. "Relax, Bow-Meister," She sniffed loudly, trying to clear the cotton wool in her head. "S'a sinus cold. Not a stomach cold; I'm not gonna puke anywhere,"

Bow grumbled, rolling his eyes when Glimmer snatched the basket out of his hands. As he came closer, Bow couldn't help the low wince. Adora did look bad; bad enough to fully warrant hugs with a parent. Bow could imagine being curled up against his dad, sleeping while he cooked some soup. Except Adora didn't have parents... certainly not good ones.

Adora's smaller frame was shivering slightly, her hair lifeless. She was considerably paler, a high flush on her cheeks, but not from being flustered. Adora was sweating too, hot from both the thick blankets wrapped around her and her body fighting the sickness off. Bow wrinkled his nose briefly, a look of pity on his face. "You look awful."

"Don't remind me," Adora groans, closing her eyes and curling the blanket over her shoulder. Her words slur at the edges with exhaustion. "I feel just as bad, so leave me alone. Go enjoy the party and leave me to die,"

"You're not going to die," Bow argues, amused. "Besides, Perfuma told us you were unwell... she just didn't say howunwell..." He raised an eyebrow. "For good reason... Glimmer would've teleported everyone to you,"

Glimmer scoffed loudly.

Adora snorted, which resulted in a chain reaction of her coughing and hacking under the blankets, trying to spare the other people from her germs. She cleared her throat multiple times before she spoke, ears flushed dark red in embarrassment. "Sorry. Yeah, you're right, that's definitely kind of gross. Ugh."

Glimmer tutted loudly from the ground. "Adora; it's not nasty. It's a normal reaction to the sickness your body is fighting off." She rose from the ground, holding out a... something. Adora rolls his eyes, crossing his arms. "Yeah," She muttered, folding her feet under her knees as best as she could. Sure, her upper body was sweaty, but her feet were just so cold, it was almost unbearable. "Here, sit up,"

She winced and made a sound of discomfort at the movement; her back to the wall and legs stretched out in front. "I know, Adora. Drink this; it should help," Glimmer displayed a bowl of liquid. Adora took a tentative sip, eyes widening at the bitter taste. "Oh god, what the hell is in that?!" She rubbed her lips harshly. Bow snorted loudly. "A mix of all the healing herbs and spices needed to make a quick recovery," Glimmer said, slapping her friend. "It's awful, I know. But you'll feel better by the evening, and sleep better with it. Just try it... for me?"

Adora pulled a face at the soup. "Come on, it's not that bad!" Adora huffed and held the bowl out to Bow... who promptly gagged. "Oh, ugh. It smells awful!" He groaned. Glimmer sighed. "You're a baby,"

Deciding it couldn't be any worse than the rations they were forced to eat as food back in the Horde, she bared down and drank the rest.

Her stomach grumbled unhappily as she passed the bowl back over. She pressed a hard fist to her mouth; shutting her eyes and breathing deeply. "I know, it's awful. But I promise you'll be better soon, Adora," She passed the bowl to Bow, who took it with a grimace. "Can you wash it for me, Bow? And put it back before the healer skins us both?" Bow huffed. "As if they need more reason," He mumbled. "Don't die, please! We need you!" He called over his shoulder.

Adora's head dropped to her shoulder, her eyes falling shut quickly. Glimmer tutted. "Are you tired? I can wait with you until you fall asleep," She offered. Adora shook her head, groaning at how the simple movement made it spin wildly. Not only was there cotton candy in her ears and eyes, but a splitting migraine was beginning to take hold. She fought to keep her eyes open; fighting the effect of the soup. "Sleep, Dora," Glimmer chuckled from the ground. "I will wait,"

And she did.