Adora ignores the pain throbbing in her chest until it's a little too late.
~~~
Bow narrowed his eyes as Adora slowly walked into the common room. "There she is!" Sea-Hawk whistled, clapping a hand on her shoulder. Adora winced. "Careful Sea-Hawk, I'm bruised!" She joked. Sea-Hawk laughed and followed her over to the couch, even as Adora held an arm around her ribs. Bow nodded in greeting. "You get cleared by the healer?" He asked. Adora turned to smile at him. "Yup. Just bruising,"

Bow hummed unconvinced. "Surprises me. Usually, getting blasted into a tree cracks a rib or two." He said nonchalantly. Adora narrowed her eyes. "It's fine, Bow. Just bruises." Bow raised his eyebrows with a disbelieving hum. Adora rolled her eyes and twisted to face Mermista, wincing. Bow met Glimmer's eyes from across the room and nodded to the door. "Glimmer and I are going to talk to Angella. See ya at dinner later?" He said. Glimmer nodded and joined him by the door. "Ok! See you later," Frosta shouted.

Bow shut the door with a sigh. "I don't think she went to the healers," He said to Glimmer. She snorted. "I know she didn't go to medical. As someone who's also been smashed into a tree, it does crack a rib." She agreed. "So, whatever hero stuff she's got going on is gonna hurt her more in the long run," She said, nodding. Bow raised an eyebrow. "Since when do you care so much about Adora? I knew you liked her, but not this much," Glimmer shrugged a shoulder. "I'm not sure... After freeing Dryl we just... chatted. Turns out we have a lot more in common than we thought," She walked into the empty room where they waited for Angella and took a seat. "Such as?" Bow asked, smirking slightly. Glimmer puffed as she straightened his cloak.

"Wanting to be better than the rest,"

~

Adora exhaled shakily, her hands bracing herself against the sink. Maybe Bow was right... maybe she had cracked a rib. It sure as hell hurt like shit when she breathed... or moved for that matter. She hadn't stayed at the healers overnight, at the time, thinking it was just soreness. She'd gone to sleep ok, albeit sore, but ok. She woke up in the morning in agony, barely able to move. Adora being Adora stuffed some magic pill and whatever the hell else she could find down her throat and shoved on her clothes ready for the day.

She'd slowly walked in, being mindful of her pulsing side, as Sea-Hawk chatted happily and Bow side-eyed her from the other side of the room.

But as she took grating breaths in, she realised she should've asked the archer for help when she could. With every breath in felt like hundreds of needles being stabbed into her side. Tears brewed in her eyes.

She debated calling for help but couldn't bring herself to move. She shuddered and forced herself to stand upright, desperate to shout for help. Her hand grazed the door as her vision whitened out and she hit the ground.

~

Bow pushed open the bathroom door, gasping at Adora's fallen form. "Help! I need some help in here!" He shouted down the hall. "Adora? Adora? Buddy, can you hear me?" He asked, tapping her face. Adora groaned but did nothing else. "Help!" He shouted again. "What's happened-what the hell!?" Bow gestured. "I dunno! I knew something wasn't right! Help me get her up, Glimmer,"

The two friends hauled their other best friend up and out of the bathroom, encouraging her to wake whilst tapping her face. "Adora, buddy, you've gotta wake up," Glimmer tried. Bow lowered her against the wall. "Wait here, I'll get some water," He rushed over to the sink and grabbed a cup, filling it up. He threw the cold liquid in Adora's face, sighing in relief when she sputtered indignantly. "Oh, what the hell happened?" She asked, hissing. Bow shrugged. "I dunno, I found you on the floor out cold. Glimmer helped me get you here," He explained. Adora lolled against the wall. "I didn't go to medical," She whined.

Glimmer smirked at Bow, despite the situation. "I know you didn't. When I was smashed into a tree a while ago, it hurt... and it's ok to hurt, Adora," Glimmer sat down. "We called the healers, by the way. They'll be here soon and sort you out,"

As they'd said, Adora had broken a rib. She'd broken two, cracked three and bruised seven.

Bow was very smug when a doped-up Adora admitted she was right. Adora grinned from the painkillers. "You're a good pal, Mow," Bow wrinkled his nose. Not quite, but close enough. Instead, he grinned, patting her hand.

"I am good, Adora. I'm very good,"