So like

I had another request for Cole with a different plot but I didn't remember all the details so I just wrote this thing

sorry

I'd do review replies but all of them are basically "Awwwwwww" so I'm just gonna say that's a popular opinion and go on with the story ;D

Not Alone – Cole

"Ahhhh, watch out! You're cornered!"

"Haha! Got you now!"

"You wanna bet on that, bluebell?"

"HEY! THAT'S CHEATING!"

"Says who?"

"THAT IS VERY OBVIOUSLY AGAINST THE RULES! THAT'S AN UNSPOKEN RULE!"

"Aw, be quiet, Jay." Cole grinned, running across the deck to a safe spot. The ninja were playing Ninjaball, their altered version of dodgeball in which they had changed the rules to make it more interesting. Jay had finally managed to corner Cole, the last one standing. However, when he had thrown the ball, the ghost ninja had simply let it go through him. As the redhead insisted repeatedly that it was in no way fair, the others laughed from where they sat on the floor. In the corner, Lloyd laughed too, but on the inside he felt really guilty. He felt bad every time he looked at Cole, or even thought about him. Because… it was his fault he was a ghost. When the others had told him the story of how he was turned into a cursed spirit, they had laughed at the irony of him being turned into something he feared, even Cole himself, but it had made Lloyd feel really bad. It was obviously his fault that they had to go into Yang's temple in the first place, since the only reason they had was to try to rescue him. If he had escaped when Morro had first possessed him, if he had fought harder when he first got the scroll… then Cole wouldn't be a ghost right now. It was his fault. But he couldn't tell them that. If they didn't realize it already, then he definitely wasn't going to tell them. He couldn't stand his brothers hating him on top of everything else going on. So he laughed with them, feeling empty and sad inside. With any luck, life would go on, and maybe, someday, this guilt would fade away.

But probably not.

"Hey Lloyd." Lloyd looked up from the book he was reading in the Bounty's living room to Cole walking towards him, stopping in front of the couch he sat on. "You've been looking kinda down lately. Is something wrong?" Oh. He noticed? How? He must be more transparent than he thought.

"Um…" he hesitated, shifting uneasily as he tried to decide whether or not to tell the truth. "…no, I'm fine."

"You look scared." Cole frowned, sitting down next to him. "Have you been having nightmares again?"

"No, it's not- it's nothing, it's-"

"Wait, is it me?" Cole's eyes widened, scooting away. "Is It because I'm a ghost? Am I reminding you of Morro? Should I-"

"No, no, it's not you!" Lloyd shook his head, cutting the earth ninja off. "I mean… it kinda is… b-but not like that!"

"Then what is it?" The blond boy shook his head again, pulling his knees up to his chest and hiding his face. "C'mon, Lloyd, what's wrong?" The green ninja hesitated before saying in a small voice,

"Promise you won't get mad."

"I promise." Lloyd was silent for a few moments before saying timidly,

"…you… you being a ghost is my fault."

"What? No it's not!" Cole argued instantly.

"Yes it is!" the blond boy insisted. "The only reason you went into Yang's haunted temple was to save me! If I hadn't been captured, you wouldn't've needed to!" He felt a lump growing in his throat, and his heart pounded as he waited to see if his brother was angry.

"Lloyd, no one forced us to rescue you. We did it because we love you. Besides, being a ghost isn't all bad. I can do basically everything I used to be able to, I just can't touch water, and I don't really mind that. It was kinda freaky at first, but I'm cool with it now." Cole stopped, and Lloyd looked up at him timidly.

"You're… not mad?" he asked, allowing a tinge of hope in his voice.

"'Course not. Why would I be?"

"I-I just thought... when I told you, y-you would realize it was m-my fault and be mad at me…" he blond boy stuttered, hiding his face again.

"Aw, I could never be mad at you, Lloyd. You're like my little brother. I mean, like, if you ruined my cooking, like you did once when you were younger, then I'd be mad, but not mad mad. I'd probably just, like, jump out at you and startle you and that would be the end of it." The ghost ninja rambled. "My point is, don't worry about it. It's not your fault I'm a ghost, and, even if it was, I'm fine with my new body." Lloyd felt Cole's comforting hand on his shoulder and smiled, shifting closer to the ghost as he lifted his head slightly.

"I'm glad you're not mad. At me…" he said in a small voice.

"Like I said, don't worry about it." The earth ninja wrapped an arm around his shoulders, pulling him up next to him and giving him a gentle squeeze. Lloyd smiled, looking up at the taller ninja.

"Thanks, Cole."

"No sweat." The black ninja grinned, squeezing him again before letting go. "C'mon, it's almost dinnertime. And I'm starving."

"You're always starving." The blond boy grinned, rolling his eyes. "But, honestly, I'm hungry too."

"Then off we go!" Cole hopped to his feet, waiting for Lloyd to follow suit before striding off towards the dining area. The green ninja followed, a smile on his face as he recalled what Cole had said to him. He was glad the earth ninja had pressured him into telling him what was wrong. And he was glad he was still his friend.

less fluffy than normal but

hope u enjoyed

~FFF