Patrol. That's what he did. It was so different here in Metru Nui. Back at the Tren Krom Peninsula, he'd had to live in the shadows, attack before being attacked. They were harsh living conditions, but he'd adapted. He'd survived.
Metru Nui was much different. Barring the occasional rogue Matoran, wandering Rahi, and natural disaster, it was rather calm after the defeat of the Kanohi Dragon. On fact, it was the fact that Metru Nui was a much easier place to live than the Tren Krom Peninsula that Nidhiki had chosen to make the city his home. But it was also the peace of the place that gave him anxiety.
He had to move. He had to know what was going on at all times. What if something big like the Kanohi Dragon went down? He had a responsibility to know that. He was the Toa from the hostile Tren Krom Peninsula. He thought quickest on his feet, read situations at a blinding speed. Everything depended on him, despite having eleven other team mates.
Most of the others are off on missions anyways, Nidhiki thought to himself. It's just Lhikan, Tuyet, and I. Tuyet is always off in her own world… Lhikan is good but… He frowned. I don't know if he's good enough, even though he's our leader. I just don't know.
The Toa Mangai of Air's gut brought him to Ta-Metru that night. He didn't know why, but he'd made it this far in life by trusting his gut, so he followed it. He sat in a shadow on the sill of a forge, surveying the ground below. The Matoran had gone home for the night, and the only noises were forges spitting and the rivers of molten protodermis bubbling and boiling.
Footsteps soon joined the miniature cacophony. Nidhii slinked deeper into the shadow and activated his mask, body and mind on edge and ready for whatever was coming.
He initially was not expecting a tall, strong figure in gold and red armor, a glistening golden Hau atop his face. Two seconds later, he was mentally kicking himself. Of course it's Lhikan. It's not like a Toa of Fire would be wandering around the fire sector of the city. Duh. Gah, I'm so stupid. I'm losing my edge. Get ahold of yourself, Nidhiki.
He deactivated his mask and jumped down, landing in front of his fellow Toa. Lhikan jumped back a little in surprise, a high pitched whine escaping his throat.
"Nidhiki!" the Toa of Fire croaked, a smile slowing blooming on his face. "I didn't see you there."
"You shouldn't have. Mask of Stealth. Remember?" Nidhiki had no such smile on his face and he stared at his compatriot, unblinking. "I know we haven't been together that long so… You get a free pass."
Lhikan laughed. "I remember. You just gave me a little fright, is all. I was just doing a bit of patrolling. What are you doing? Is Le-Metru alright?"
Nidhiki bit his lip. He didn't feel as attached to the air sector of the city as much as Lhikan did to the fire. But he wasn't going to admit that and seem weak and detached. He was a good Toa. He just did things a little bit differently. "It's fine," he said. "I was patrolling as well. Le-Metru's as quiet as it can be and my gut was pulling me here so… I listened."
Lhikan clapped a hand over Nidhiki's shoulders and started walking, leading the other down the street. "Always listen to your gut. Best advice I ever received. This one Toa of Fire told me that way back when when I was…"
As Lhikan droned on, Nidhiki shut out his voice. Lhikan hadn't let go of him, and he was pulled very close to the other. He's so warm. Talkative and annoying but… very warm. It feels nice… The Toa of Air blushed and grimaced, summoning all his mental power to push those thoughts out. He was a professional! He shouldn't be thinking things like that about his fellow Toa. Of course a Toa of Fire would be warm. But… it's different from physical heat. It's like, a warmth in my heartlight. What is this feeling?
"Hey, Nidhiki, are you listening? I think you got lost in your head." Lhikan removed his arm and looked curiously at the other.
Nidhiki froze. The warmth was gone. "I-I…. I'm sorry. I just had things on my mind." His voice was quiet and he looked down at the cobblestone below.
"Nah, it's fine." Lhikan flexed a little and looked around, eyes wide. "So… how's your gut?"
"It's alright now. Guess whatever it was happened." The Toa Mangai of Air wrapped his arms around himself and glared off to the side, heat still in his cheeks. He wasn't going to admit that the gut feeling disappeared when Lhikan appeared.
Lhikan opened his mouth, then closed it, then opened it again. "Hey… you want to go to Po-Metru and check out the Canyon of Unending Whispers? I heard it's really pretty and it'll be dawn soon so the sunrise has GOT to be magnificent."
His heart in his throat, Nidhiki nodded. "Sure."
The Toa Mangai of Fire grinned a large, blazing smile. "Awesome." He grabbed Nidhiki's hand. "Come on and I'll tell you all about my first job!"
Nidhiki grabbed on tighter and ran with Lhikan, a small smile on his mask and a large warmth bursting in his chest. In fact, he was glad he followed his gut.