pathway., neteyam x reader

chapter four

You nodded again, scooting over a bit so he'd have room to sit by you. He reached the top where you were, looking at the sky and then the water, then sitting down.

"You must be cold." You say, continuing your work. "The water. It is cold."

"I'll be fine." He replied, eyeing your hands and how you worked your items together. "What is that for?"

"Dinners. Dances. Attire." You responded you smiled picturing how it would look at the end. Neteyam picked up one of the shells that rested on your side. "I like this one." He held it up by your head, you turned to look at him. The glowing dots on your skin matched the small patterns within the shell.

"Looks like you." He smiled, the ends of his teeth slowly revealed to you.

"You are random. Speak nonsense. How can one look like a shell?" You questioned, your ears are hot again. You took the shell in your hand, shaking your head while your thumb ran itself across its surface.

"It reminds me of you," He replied. His patience was strong.

"Reminds you of me. Well," You drop your needle-like tool and grabbed the bag. Putting it on your lap as you rummaged through it.

Neteyam leaned in, trying to look at whatever it was you were looking at.

"This." You pulled out a deep blue shell, its ends sharp and in a perfect scallop shape. Within the shell, were yellow stripes, with rigged sides. The shell was so sharp you could use it as a weapon.

"This." You held it towards him. "It reminds me of you,"

Neteyam took the shell from your hand, gently of course. He examined it for a few seconds, his eyes shifted to you. He glared at you, furrowing an eyebrow before a smile crawled onto his face.

He placed it on his palm, his fingers curling over it as he held it. "Will you add it?" He questioned.

You looked down at your bracelet you had been working on. "Yes." You replied, continuing to sew your items in.

"You will look very nice in this." You smiled to yourself, imagining what he'd look like with the bracelet on. Even if it was small, you thought it added to him.

He seemed to have taken a liking to the idea of wearing something you made specifically for him..that is whether you were originally making it for him or not.

He leaned in again, watching you sew precisely.

You noticed this, it was hard not to. His hair brushed against your shoulder. You inhaled softly. Looking over at him, he really was interested. He must've realized how close he was to you, and if you had taken that as an offense.

"Sorry," He apologized, this time he looked from farther away.

"Do you want to try?" You offered, dismissing his apology. "I will show you."

"Is it as hard as swimming?" He teased, you shook your head, laughing as you did so.

"Not if you pay attention. Take this as exclusive training."

"Exclusive training from Y/N, I must be special."

—

"You insert here, pull through this end.." Your hands guided his as he pulled the seaweed through one loop.

He was tense, your chin hovering right over his shoulder and your voice softly entering his ear. You were cautious to speak quietly.

He wasn't too good at it. Maybe it was just as hard as swimming for him. But you were patient after all. He will learn.

He was paying close attention to your words. Push through, pull, and come back out through the next loop.

He was also paying attention to your hands on top of his. Guiding him, his heartbeat began to increase in speed.

"You are doing great." You reassured him, a hand on his shoulder while your other rested on your side. You let him go off on his own.

After a few minutes of comforting silence between the two, Neteyam concentrated and you gently rubbed his shoulder while you watched. He finished one side.

"How did I do?"

"Your training pays off well," You replied, smiling as you took the half-done bracelet and needle from his hands. "You are a fast learner,"

"Do I get a reward?"

You looked at Neteyam, wondering what he meant.

"I think your friendship would be very rewarding."

"Perhaps. Perhaps my friendship is the thing you desire the most," You spoke teasingly to him. He rolled his eyes, nudging your shoulder. You couldn't help but let out quiet laughter, "We are friends Neteyam. We have been since the moment you trusted me enough to lead you through the water. To find your sister and to guide you,"

"If it is that important to you, we are friends."