But What If || Neteyam x reader

Passing Time By

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Tuk handed you the completed garments, there was a beautiful purple top and a different colored loincloth, newly made in more of a Metkayina style. "Oh Tuk," Smiles were exchanged between the two of you as you held the clothes. "I want to see them, go, go change!" She started pushing you to a secluded spot for your privacy. "Okay," you couldn't hide your excitement as you let Tuk shove you. "Change quickly!" You gave Tuk another smile before slipping out of her grip and out of view. You hurriedly changed, you started with your top. It only took you a few seconds until you were back and Tuk jumped in excitement with her mouth wide open and upturned. "It looks amazing!" You felt your cheeks flush as she made her way to you looking at her work. "They are truly the best clothes I've ever worn." Tuk's lips pursed and she wouldn't make any eye contact with you. "Really?" Her voice was quieter than before but still kept that optimistic tone. You nodded your head quickly, "Yes, Tuk I love them." You felt your tail swinging apace. Tuk slowly looked at your face, looking at your features with care before her face softened and she took your hand. "Mom is going to want to see you, she helped me with collecting everything." Her stride at first was less energetic than before but as she kept holding your hand and walking alongside you she seemed to quickly regain her energy.

"Mom?" Entering the Marui you could see Neytiri and Mr. Sully together, you hoped you weren't interrupting anything as they had talked about having a date night soon. "Tuk, oh (Y/N)!" When she saw Tuk she was smiling, when she noticed you her eye went straight to the garments. "Turn, show them." Listing to Tuk you gave a turn for her parents. "They look wonderful." Your face felt hot again having all the attention on you, although you secretly liked it. "Thank you." Tuk's hand made its way back to your forearm as she turned back to her parents. "Dad, what do you think?" Mr. Sully had a light expression on his face. "It looks good, I like how there's a spot for your knife back there." You had felt a loop of some sort when putting on the lion cloth but you didn't know if it was on purpose or not. "Oh is that what that's for?" Your hand flew back by your hip and fiddled with the loop as your head turned to Tuk. Tuk just laughed at your cluelessness. "Yes, where is it." Your head looked to your hammock where it layed safely wrapped in a cloth you washed and dried every night, the care you took for your knife was immaculate. "It's with my things, I'll go get it." Neytiri got up faster than you could set off and motioned her hand up. "Stay, I'll get it for you." Your heels fell back as you had already taken a step in the direction of your knife. You gave a nod as she turned around and found your knife with ease. "Thank you." When she turned and made her way over handing you the knife her hand made its way onto the back of your top. She looked to be examining it as you put the knife in the loop.

After talking longer with Neytiri and Mr. Sully the conversation took a pleasant turn. "We would appreciate it if you could help Neteyam keep an eye on his siblings." You couldn't remember how the topic of Neytiri and her husband having a date night came up but you loved the idea. "I'm flattered you would trust me." Your head dipped down shyly, talking to Mr. Sully was something you tip-toed around. You had spoken out of turn trying to convince him to bring you here and since then you were nervous about what you said. "Hey," he grabbed your shoulder, the feeling in your stomach started to twist. "I've seen how you are with the people here." Neytiri and Tuk had sat near the hammocks starting on some simple chores. "You've started to grow with my children and you've done well to show me that it was the right decision to bring you." With his last words, your heart couldn't help but swell, your ears folded back pressing to the sides of your head. It was all you had been trying to do was prove you belonged here, but actually hearing the words made you start to see how much progress you had actually made.

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Tisreya had invited Lo'ak, Neteyam, and you to go out swimming in the reef with your Ilus and you were all eager to join. All of you were swimming near the coral, gliding across the water naturally. You had gone out often on your Ilu's, every time you all left for the day at some point you found yourself on an Ilu. It was beautiful, you had really begun to feel the Ilu you were with. It was a bond you had never felt before, her breathing, and her emotions let you feel how to move around in the ocean. It was freeing, and swimming close to everyone without the fear of throwing them off was wonderful. You could get as close as you wanted, swimming around the coral was a sight to behold, and swimming with them was all the better. You often teased each other underwater, Neteyam and yourself like to swim together and race. To where neither of you knew, most of the time you kept going til one of you called it quits, but with Tisreya and Lo'ak accompanying you they kept you both circling around, swimming above, around, to the right, or underneath on another. There was a spot, in particular, you noticed a small moment between the Sully brothers as you and Tisreya had swum above seemingly dancing in the water. Neteyam and Lo'ak were swimming around coral that was tall and looked like a tree, they were both swimming in circles around it, Lo'ak reached his hand out to try and catch Neteyam only for Neteyam to notice and give chase with his brother. Bubbles escaped you, giggling at their interactions.

After some time, your swimming felt more like some free dance, watching the Ilu's gorgeously swim. When you saw Tisreya and Lo'ak swim upward in a circle you couldn't help but open your mouth in awe, it was such a wondrous scene you couldn't help it. Feeling a nudge Neteyam was to your right, he motioned to his brother and Tisreya before swimming around you. Hoping he was telling you to mirror them you set off. He was indeed telling you to do as they had and you both circled each other making eye contact. The smile he gave you didn't feel like the others, it seemed more appreciative. You couldn't help but smile back, any time he showed you his pearly whites it was hard to stop your lips from revealing yours.

Tisreya and Lo'ak had already risen from the water, Neteyam and you broke only a few seconds after. When you reached the surface you took in a sharp inhale. Neteyam whipped his head over to you his braid blocking his view momentarily causing you to give a chortle. "You are learning to breathe." His smile was still wide on his face, Tisreya had a proud look as she praised you all. You couldn't help but feel like you were dancing in the stars, your head felt like it belonged in the clouds. You just couldn't wait for tonight's lesson, you couldn't wait for the next day's events, and you couldn't wait for what might happen during Neytiri's and Mr. Sully's date night.