Date at WcDonalds

Chapter 3 - It Ain't Easy Being Green

They stood in silence for a while for a while as the line moved up ever so slightly. Seliel kept glancing at him, and he could tell that she was trying not to stare or show how curious she was. He decided he'd have to tell her about it. They were more-or-less friends, so she deserved to know.

Soon enough they were able to order and find a seat. Cole steered them up a flight of steps to the mezzanine where it was less populated. The secondary floor was open to the first so that they still hear the chatter and bustle from below. One of the three walls was made up of windows, showing the shower outside. Cole and Seliel found a corner booth and sat across from each other.

"So what are you doing in the city?" he asked. "I thought you were still in your village with your father."

"Just visiting family," Seliel replied with a shrug. "I guess you could call it a vacation. What are you doing here? Any baddies I should know about?"

"Not that I know of. At the moment, I'm just trying to stay out of the rain."

"If you don't mind my asking, why does the rain bother you so much? I'm guessing it also has something to do with why my fist went right through your face?"

Cole heaved a sigh. "Our last mission ended up going a little south. It turned out alright in the end, we won and got our friend back, but . . . I made a mistake and now I'm paying for it." Cole lowered his hood and Seliel's eyes grew wide. She leaned over to one side, then the other, probably looking straight through him to the wall behind.

She blinked, and for a moment it seemed she had no words. "So you're . . ."

"A ghost. Yeah. And it's pretty permanent."

"Wow." Then she frowned leaned forward. "Are you trying to steal my schtick?"

"What?"

Seliel smirked and jabbed a thumb towards herself. "I'm the Phantom Ninja. 'Ghost Ninja' would just be a cheap knock-off. If you try to take my title, I'll sue. Just try me."

Cole smirked. "You know what? You can have it."

She shook her head and said in a playfully condescending tone, "Really, Cole. Are you so threatened by me that you had to try and copy my style?"

Cole scoffed. "I didn't see much 'style' worth copying when we fought together."

"Excuse me?" Seliel said incredulously, and for a moment Cole thought he'd gone too far. "Well maybe the next time Ninjago's in danger, I'll fight the bad guy just to show you boys how it's done." She grinned and crossed her arms in a very self-satisfied way.

"You know the invitation to join still stands," he offered.

"And let you all try to show me up again? Ha!"

He couldn't help but smile.

Seliel rested her chin on her hand and looked at him intently. "But be honest. What kind of cool stuff can you do?"

"Oh, you know, invisibility, possession, density shifting. Stuff like that."

"Now you're just bragging."

"I can't deny that it's come in handy on more than one occasion. Buuuut there are some drawbacks," he admitted. "Take the rain for instance."

Seliel glanced out the nearest window. The drizzle had turned into a downpour, confirming that he wouldn't be going anywhere for a while.

"Ghosts can phase through solid objects," he explained. "But liquids are so malleable that they're deadly to ghosts. One drop and I'll have to give up the ghost – permanently."

"Huh. Guess that means we can't leave until the storm passes. No wonder you were in such a hurry to get inside."

"You don't have to stay with me," Cole hurriedly reassured her.

"And leave you to fend for yourself? I don't think you'd survive the night!" Seliel teased. "Wait here, I'll ask the manager if it's alright if we stay until the rain stops." She got up to leave but paused. "And I promise won't say anything about your 'condition,'" she whispered with a slight smile. Then she rushed off before he could object.

Oh well, Cole would be glad of the company.