Most of these short stories will be involving characters belonging to myself and my good friend DragonClaw92, as well as events and inspiration from role plays, which is why they may not make a whole lot of sense to random readers. I wanted a place to keep these stories organized.

This particular story takes place in DC's Bionicle story universe, specifically before the events of Light Through Shadows. I recommend you check out that story.

Short Story #2: Hlahlu eagerly awaits Matau's return home, only for a surprise visitor to ruin a potentially romantic moment.

Disclaimer: Hlahlu and Kelvar belong to DragonClaw92.

Baby Gates and Bugs

A Gukko bird swooped by the outside of the house, the sound of its wings drawing Hlahlu's attention to the open door. The view was unchanged since the last time she'd looked, the tree-dwelling village of Le-Koro appearing as peaceful as ever on this rather hot, lazy day.

Matau was due to return home any moment now.

The woman wasn't the only one on the lookout for the Turaga's return. A small figure toddled over to the door on confident, if chubby baby legs. One year old Kelvar pressed his tiny hands against the baby gate that kept him safely from walking out onto the walkways connected to every house in the village situated high above the ground. The gate, a detailed, wood carved little masterpiece, had been a gift from Onewa back when it was announced Matau and Hlahlu would be parents.

The Turaga of Stone had joked, "If Matau's gonna have a kid, something tells me they're gonna need extra security."

Hlahlu smiled and fixed her long, blue ponytail, watching her son with a warm smile. "Where's Daddy?"

The baby bounced on his legs, but didn't move from his post.

It wasn't uncommon for Matau to have to attend meetings with the other island Turaga, sometimes unexpectedly. Sometimes the get togethers would keep him overnight due to the distance- and it had taken a while for Hlahlu to convince her husband that yes, it was fine for him to take a night's rest before coming home because not even a Turaga of Air with the ability to fly should push themselves.

"I was once a strong-powerful Toa-Hero!" was Matau's response, chest puffed up in pride despite the sadness in his eyes. He was, in fact, not as strong as he once was where flight was concerned.

"And now you're a wonderful Turaga and we all need you, but if you're going to be around for us then you had better take care of yourself!" Hlahlu had insisted.

From then on Matau reluctantly agreed not to attempt the exhausting two-way flight between the village and the meetings at the Kini Nui in a single day. Hlahlu always made sure to pack him a bag of what he might need. This time she couldn't help but notice he'd taken the bundle of food, but the bag of supplies had been abandoned near the door as if he'd intended on taking them, only to forget.

His wife rolled her eyes with a small smile.

Matau could be counted on to not be exactly organized, even when the Turaga meetings were planned in advanced. He always showed up though, and always came back with a report on all the news about the other villages.

Hlahlu eagerly glanced outside yet again, scanning the vibrant atmosphere for her husband's winged figure.

This time, Hlahlu had news of her own to share when he got back.

She'd gone into the kitchen a moment later to check on a pie baking in the oven when Kelvar's delighted cries alerted not only her but the whole village that a certain someone was back. Hlahlu reached the living space just as the beat of wings cast a small burst of air through the open doorway.

The figure of a tall, winged man landed, staggering only slightly, and beamed a wide grin at the bouncing baby staring up at him.

"What's this?" Matau tilted his green head. "I don't think-recall assigning a new Le-Koro guard to my house."

Kelvar tipped his head back and burbled back at him in his own language.

"Scoot over, Kelvar."

Matau made to step over the baby gate, but the baby boy whined loudly in protest. From where she stood, Hlahlu crossed her arms and grinned, wondering if her husband would remember what their son was patiently waiting for.

Matau feigned surprise and stepped back. Kelvar toddled away from the baby gate and kept his gaze fixated on his father, already giggling in anticipation. Matau walked forward as casually as was possible, only to collide with the wood gate and topple forward. He landed flat on the floor of the living room. Ever since accidentally tripping over the gate once, Matau's son seemed to think it was the funniest event that ever did happen and outright expected it, as if it were normal for his father to trip on his way inside all the time. Matau, being the big softie Hlahlu knew he was, obliged the tiny boy every time.

Kelvar was dancing around, overjoyed.

Matau sat up with a groan and a smile on his face. "Whew," he snatched the baby close for a hug. "Nice to see you too, buddy. You take care of your Mama like I spoke-told you to do?"

"He sure did!" Hlahlu laughed as Matau gathered himself, his son in his arms, before rising to his feet. His wings folded carefully against his back as he turned to the Ga-Matoran, face splitting into a wide smile. They shared a kiss before Hlahlu took the baby from his arms, Matau taking a seat on the couch, visibly taking deep breaths from his flight.

"So, uh, there was a cave in, or landslide," Matau blinked and frowned. The sudden information had Hlahlu going still, staring at the Turaga. His gaze dropped to the floor. "One or the other in Onu-Wahi tunnels. Two dead, five were trapped, but they're safe-home now."

Hlahlu's throat tightened at the news, hugging Kelvar close. Tragedies were always hard to hear about, and even with Matau's awkward way of relaying the information she could see the somberness in his expression all the same.

"That's awful … is Whenua taking it okay?"

Matau offered a deep hum from his throat and shrugged, massaging his temple with one hand. "Grim-sad, but okay."

Hlahlu's eyes drifted over his face, zooming in on the hand rubbing at his forehead.

"W-Wait a minute." She hastily set Kelvar down and pushed Matau's hand and green hair aside, revealing a small, angry gash along his hairline.

"Matau! What happened?"

The Turaga smiled weakly, looking off to the side. "I just wanted to say hello-hi to my favorite tree."

Which translated to I flew into a tree.

"That needs some ice on it, Mister. I'm surprised you didn't lose consciousness!"

Hlahlu turned to go, but Matau caught her hand and tugged her back. The Turaga smirked. "If I wanted ice I could have kept on flying to Ko-Wahi."

He pulled her onto his lap and hugged her close, unusually silent for a few minutes.

"I missed you," Matau murmured, a bit of solemness tinging his normally cheerful voice. "Happy-glad you're all right."

Not often did the wild-spirited Turaga's antics allow him to calm down, so Hlahlu knew the soberness of hearing the recent news firsthand had grounded her husband for the moment. It was a sad thought, being reminded how quickly life could change and lives could end.

"Same goes for you, you know," Hlahlu sighed, managing a tiny frown. She slipped her arms around his neck, eyeing him carefully. "You didn't lose consciousness … right?"

Matau's lips pressed together, hiding a nervous smile. " … No?"

Hlahlu giggled. "Yeah. That's what I thought." She settled her head on his shoulder. Kelvar was currently fascinated with smacking one of his baby toys on the floor and paid no attention to his parents cuddling.

After a moment the Ga-Matoran smiled. "Um … hey, guess what? I know you've had to hear some pretty sad news, but-but what if I told you some … good news?"

"Eh?"

Hlahlu lifted her head, joy already surging up inside as she started to form the words to her little announcement … only to spy a brown and blue blotch on the wall behind Matau's other shoulder. A brown and blue blotch with legs.

The island of Mata Nui had proven to be home to some unique wildlife and insects that had never been recorded on their previous island. One example was that certain cockroaches were twice their normal size, and could sport vibrant, colorful patterns on their wings. Living smack dab in the middle of the jungle meant more than likely dealing with one or two of the colorful insects regularly.

Colorful or not, it was still a cockroach.

"Eeeek!"

Hlahlu's gentle hold on her husband's neck turned into a death grip.

"Hurk! H-Hlahlu-" The Turaga gagged and hacked as he bolted to his feet.

"Get it! It's on the wall. Get it!" Hlahlu hadn't let go of him when he stood, and was now clinging to him in stark terror.

"Ack! Okay," Matau coughed, walking/carrying his wife to the other side of the room to deposit her a safe distance from the terror on the wall.

He gasped when his throat was freed and rubbed his neck. He arched an eyebrow. "I don't get it. You're one of the few people who can speech-inspire a whole village, but a tiny bug scares you?"

"Matau!"

"On it." He stepped forward, taking off one shoe. "Come on, Kelvar! Daddy's gonna show you how to smack-bang a bug!"

The Turaga of Air proceeded forward, shoe raised, moving slower as he approached the massive insect lazily crawling up the wall. Hlahlu bit her lip, standing on her toes and ready to bolt if the bug decided to take flight. Her gaze slid over to the beautifully carved items and pictures that were mounted on the wall, then back to her husband's raised arm, shoe in hand. She bit back a worried groan. "Um, Matau … ?"

SMACK!

"Got it!"

Matau whirled around to give his spectators a view of the smushed insect on the sole of his shoe. Right as he paused to look over his own work, the cockroach's legs resumed moving, at a faster pace. Caught by surprise, Matau dropped the shoe- and the roach took flight.

"Where'd it go?!" Matau shrieked, wings fanning out in the living room as he turned this way and that, frantically searching himself. One of the long feathered limbs slapped the couch during the movement. The winged man grunted, one beat of his wings carrying him away a few paces and sending a current of wind through the house, ripping items from the walls and knocking over a chair.

Hlahlu winced. "On the-the floor!"

"Aha! Thought you could slip-sneak away … ?"

Matau retrieved his shoe, gave it a quick spin in mid air, then brought it down over the bug. Hard. He waited a moment before repeating the action several times.

"Okay, it's dead." Matau straightened upright, panting. He smiled and shuddered at the messy blotch leftover. "I'll, uh, wipe that up."

Hlahlu dropped her head and hugged herself, a fountain of giggles leaving her. Now that the crisis was over, the whole thing was ridiculously silly. Matau rubbed the back of his neck, staring at the blotch on the floor with a lopsided smirk. Kelvar was loudly praising his father, laughing and finding his antics to be the most entertaining thing he'd ever seen.

Matau glanced up and beamed. "You were speak-saying?"

"Oh, right! Right, um …"

The Ga-Matoran trailed off, looking at the wind-disturbed room and realizing the cockroach had entirely ruined what would have been a perfectly romantic moment to tell him her news. Bursting into a fresh batch of giggles, Hlahlu hung her head in her hands. "I'm sorry!"

"Kelvar, your father's a gukko-head," Matau stated to their son as he walked over to his wife. "He knows better than to wing-flap in the house."

To Hlahlu, he bent over, laughing nervously. "You aren't mad-stressed, are you?"

"Of course not," Hlahlu said around her laughter. "It's just … It's just so funny! The first time I told you something like this we were enjoying the sunset, and then you fell out of the tree, and now … and now …"

"What's that got to do with- ?"

The Turaga cut himself off, rearing back with a strange blank look across his face. "Are you speak-talking about … when you told me you were …?" His hand lifted, twitching aimlessly before feebly pointing over at their son. "Kelvar?"

The baby in question was busy lifting Matau's shoe and banging it clumsily on the wall.

Hlahlu smiled. She tilted her head and chirped, "Yup!"

The Turaga blinked. "Again?"

"Uh huh!"

"A baby, right? Again, a baby … again?"

"Yes!"

It took a few moments for the information to sink it, much like the last time. Instead of nearly fainting, thankfully, Matau's face split into an enormous grin. The next thing Hlahlu knew she was crushed in a powerful embrace, her feet lifting clear off the ground. Matau's overjoyed laughter filled the air as he rocked them both back and forth, his wings fluttering a little to keep him from losing balance. The tiny wind currents they created reminded Hlahlu of the days when he was a Toa of Air, expressing himself with his element.

He set her down again, but did not release her just yet, preferring to hold her while he caught his breath. Hlahlu beamed and tilted back to get a good look at his face. "What do you think?"

Matau quirked a hopeful grin. "I wish-hope it's a girl."