But What If || Neteyam x reader

All We Have Is Time

You watched the ocean as you walked along the sand. You would mostly walk on big rocks but the sand was warm and the breeze was cool. You kept watching, it was very calm as it was most days. Even when it rained the ocean had a calming wave rocking its shore. Today's sky was clear and the sun's rays were heating up your skin after every sea breeze whisked by. Tucking a braid behind your ear you spotted the two you were looking for, it was just the two of them sitting on the coral looking out to the ocean. You walked further to get a good look at them, they both looked focused. You ducked into a bush to watch as the lesson continued. "Move your butt." You heard someone familiar behind you when you turned your head back. You were face to face with the golden orbs you knew very well. "Neteyam?" He opened his mouth to talk when the voice from earlier was heard. "If you don't move I'll make you." Neteyam turned back to who was speaking and when he did there went his braids. You were so close to him that some of his braids found your face before setting back down. "Okay, I'm moving." He moved slightly behind you as you just smiled to yourself not knowing how to react at the moment. "I can't see her." You still looked at Neteyam as he turned back to you this time slower. "Then get closer, Ao'nung." Your ear twitched back when your head turned to see Ao'nung. Now you were curious about what they were doing out in the bushes. "What-" "Shh!" You were about to ask when Ao'nung gave an arrogated look to you. When he actually saw you his face went from annoyed to confused. "When did she get here?" You just kept a smile on your face and shrugged, Neteyam didn't answer him either. "Doesn't matter." He turned back to look before him, you looked where he was and saw Lo'ak and Tsireya.

"Are you two just here watching them?" Neteyam raised one of his eyebrow markings. "Isn't that what you were doing?" For a split second, you pursed your lips as you fully sat down in the flora. "No," You tried thinking of anything else to justify why you came this way. Why you lied you didn't know, it just seemed embarrassing to admit you were here to watch them. "Then what were you doing in the bushes?" Ao'nung gave you both another annoyed glance as Neteyam dropped his whispered tone. "Who cares, now will you two shut up?" You just looked at Ao'nung with a blank stare until he looked at both of you again before turning back around. Not wanting the chief's son to tell you to shut up again you looked to Lo'ak and Tsireya again, it was just their heads now that peered out of the water.

~{°○・＊☆＊・○°}~

"What, where are they going?" Seeing Lo'ak and Tsireya jump off the edge of the platform. "For a late-night swim, ~" Kiri and Neteyam were next to you and you all walked back to the Marui. You had spent the day with Kiri as she promised and Neteyam just happened to be heading back home when you were. "We can do that?" Kiri nodded, "If you get mom and dad's permission or I guess if it's for 'lessons'" Your head bobbed up as you took the mental note, going out for a swim at night only happened once. It was a peaceful night and Neytiri was out with Tuk, they weren't far from the water only to Neytiri's knees but you joined. Soon the whole family did and Lo'ak started slashing Neteyam by accident. He, however, did so enough that Neteyam turned with a mischievous smile and soaked him. Being close to Lo'ak, Kiri was also hit and by the end of the night you were all soaked.

"You could probably get away with going now, I can tell dad you went with Tsireya." You thought about it for a second, you did want to go but going alone at night didn't seem like a good idea. "I don't know..." Kiri shrugged and let the topic go. "It's fine if you don't want to go. You can always sneak out as usual." Your head turned slowly as you looked shocked at Kiri. "What?" She just gave you a smirk as she walked slightly faster, your ears folded back. "Kiri, h-hold on-" You didn't know what to say and frankly you were also nervous if Neteyam heard. "You're not that slick we've caught you out plenty of times." We? You then turned to Neteyam who was looking anywhere else. "When did you guys find out?" You looked between the two in shock. "Kiri caught you out first." Neteyam finally entered the conversation again after telling where Tsireya and Lo'ak were going. "It sounded like you awoke from a nightmare so I didn't pry." You cringed remembering the night you woke up in a frenzy. "He found out about a week later." Still remembering the night you awoke due to having a memory flash by your ears were pressing into your braids.

"You know, if you really want to go swimming (Y/N) I could take you." Changing the subject back your shoulders fell back as Neteyam scratched the back of his neck. "Really?" You knew Neteyam didn't have a bedtime like his siblings. "Sure, when do you-" "Does now work?" You desperately wanted to get your mind off of the memory, not to mention the idea of going out swimming at night excited you. "Now? I thought you weren't sure." You nodded your head and grabbed his arm, "I take it back, I want to go now." You started to pull him away and moved towards the ocean. "Wait-" Neteyam just let his body go with yours at first but then he started to lean away from you. "Kiri-" She just smiled and waved as you left her. "Have fun you two!" You pulled harder as he was still resisting you. "Kiri, can you inform mom and dad where we're going?" Kiri gave a nod, "Come on," Neteyam then turned his head around to you. "Okay stop pulling I'm coming." You stopped pulling as hard but still lugged him along as you called out to a couple of Ilu's. You finally stopped pulling him when you had to let go. You lowered yourself into the water taking it slowly as the freezing cold water made its way up your body. Every time you let more of your body into the water you felt a shiver run down. Your stomach felt like it was eating itself with how cold it was. When your feet reached the bottom you let your body quickly enter fully, diving your body fully under helped with the coolness. When your eyes opened you saw the sea, it looked stunning, everything glowed with a gorgeous bioluminescent. Everything glows with a different color that just so happened to look beautiful all put together. You touched anemone lightly letting it sense that you weren't prey, you played with it for a moment before seeing Neteyam over by two Ilu's. You reached your hand out while calling to the Ilu underwater. It came over to you with ease, you let it nuzzle your face before you made tsaheylu. Her eyes dilated for a moment, you moved behind her and grabbed a hold of the rein. You swam up to Neteyam, breaking the water's surface he turned to you. "Alright let's go." You smiled eagerly as you both took in a breath and submerged yourselves.