But What If || Neteyam x reader

Rapprochement

Feeling as though there was no risk in turning your face and having the color purple splattered over your face you turned to Lo'ak. "What does that mean?" He shrugged, "Don't ask me." You slowed your pace letting yourself stride next to Lo'ak with your eyes stuck on his. "You were the one who 'huh'd' at me." You started to glare at Lo'ak again, getting your hand at the ready. If he wasn't going to answer you then winning a round of pinching will have to do. "Forget it then, I didn't mean anything by it." As soon as he finished you pinched him and twisted. "OW!" His shoulders tensed as he jolted away from you. The Metkayina around you turned at his squeak. That blush from before started back onto his face. You silently laughed, doing your best not to let a single giggle exit your mouth. "You little-" "Hey, don't swear there's children around." He tightened his mouth as he looked around seeing the other villagers who had taken notice of you both.

When you both found your way back to the Marui again Tuk had woken and was over by Kiri. She still looked noninthusiastic about having people around her. At least Tuk made it so her parents had let up as they were now up and about cleaning with Neteyam. You saw the area you had previously been working on had been dealt with making it so you would have to start anew somewhere else. "Oh, (Y/N), Lo'ak you're back." Mr. Sully took notice of your return. Your ears perked at his voice. "Yes, sir?" You looked to Mr. Sully eagerly awaited what his next words were. "Lo'ak go help your mother, (Y/N) you can help Neteyam prepare the food." Neteyam's head whipped around, his hair hitting his own face in the process. You readily agreed, walking over to Neteyam smiling. "I guess it's just you and me (Y/N)." His smile was shyly displayed on his face. "I guess so." Isn't it always? "Alright then, let us go and get some food." You nodded, you weren't the best at catching fish but Neteyam was practical in everything he set his mind to.

With only seven mouths to feed you had a spear in your hand at the ready instead of a net. You stood perfectly still in the water ready to strike the next fish that kept close enough. You watched as a few fish swam together, minding their own business. You found them an easy target, raising your spear slowly. You brought the spear close, letting yourself take aim. You tense your arm and reel it back and was about to launch it when another arrow came flying down striking the fish first. He had been doing this the entire time, Neteyam. You whipped your head to look at him with frustration. He hadn't let you catch not one fish on your own. "I keep telling you an arrow is faster." You huffed angrily as you turned back. That was the last fish you needed for lunch. You plucked the fish out of the water, it was still flailing about until you brought the arrow over to Neteyam shoving it in his direction. He laughed at your childish behavior, you had stopped replying to his snide remarks when he had stolen the fourth fish from you. "Why not have me teach you how to use a bow?" He took the fish off the arrow and it stopped moving. "I am running out of lessons for you involving your knife." Remembering your knife being latched onto your side and its utmost beauty.

"Do you really wish to see me so bad you'll make any excuse?" You had been in a teasing mood since the morning and you meant it purely as a joke but Neteyam's face became purple fast. You blinked a few times in disbelief that Neteyam was blushing from a joke. "Uh- I was joking." Awkwardly you cracked a smile at him as his face only got more flushed. "I know." He looked at the fish quickly. "We should head back and start the fire and prep work." Looking to the side you agreed while scratching the back of your head. "Fine by me." It came out more nervous than you had meant. You went to help him grab the fish, "I've got it, you can just go and return the spear I'll meet you back at home." The atmosphere was still odd so you didn't put up a fight. "Okay." Letting the one fish you got ahold of into his hands you left quickly. Pressing your lips in a line when you were out of his view. All you could do was let yourself scream in your mind. Neteyam was not one to pick up on your sarcasm right away, this had happened a few other times before. Your hand came flying up to your head giving your forehead a good smack. Your hand dragged back and into your hair. Why were you so awkward?

Turning the last corner you hit something hard, at first you thought it was a tree. BUt when you were flat on your ass looking up you saw no one else than Ao'nung. You verbally grumbled, great him again. Why are you always running into him at the most inconvenient times? "I see you Ao'nung." Greeting him you did the motion as you stood up. "I see you (Y/N)." Your nose twitched, surprisingly his friends weren't around at least. You started to walk back on the path you were on. "I know you don't like me but, do you have to be so clear about it?" You turned, stopping in your tracks. Sure you didn't like him, you just didn't think it was that obvious. "I know you lied about not being the one to insist on leaving Lo'ak outside the reef but do you have to be so deceitful about it?" You were one to hold a grudge, definitely. You weren't passive about it either. Ao'nung didn't seem to appreciate the call-out either. "I- I never said that. Lo'ak did remember." Your nose twitched again, his face could just piss you off. "Then why didn't you say he was lying?" You didn't blink as you stared him down. "Well-I, I didn't want to call him a liar. And why do you care!? Lo'ak and I are on good terms now." Your face contorted in denial. "I doubt that." Ao'nung' a face matched your in disgust. "Are you calling me a liar?" You scoffed at him. "Well you're not exactly known for telling the truth. Especially when there is a scapegoat." He looked away from you with anger. "I'm not lying, we made up that night." You rolled your eyes, whatever, you had better places to be anyway. "Sure, whatever." You were getting ready to turn back when he said your name. "(Y/N)..." Your brow rose as you looked at him again. "Sorry, for calling you a freak."

It was quiet but you heard it crystal clear and you didn't know how to react. 'Cause you weren't going to say it was no problem because it certainly was. And you weren't going to say you forgive him surely. There was no way, maybe he was just saying this so he could get on your good side, but why would he want to get on your good side? "Uhhhh....." You really didn't know what to say. "Well don't look at me like that!" He had his ears flutter back. "Like what?" Anything that came out of your mouth near Ao'nung was always snarky. "Like you're frozen, and say something too." Moving your face so it wasn't stuck you scoffed. "I just did." He groaned. "There is no making friends with you is there? Didn't you get enough satisfaction from punching me in the face?" You couldn't help it. Thinking of that moment your face broke into a smile. "Maybe." He looked into your eyes desperately. "Maybe there is a future where we can be friends or maybe you didn't get enough satisfaction?" He backed up a few inches when speaking that last part. Still smirking you hummed as you gave it a thought. Punching him again would be funny but.... Mr. Sully and the others were doing their best to not make any trouble. Lo'ak so much he took the blame for the catfish in front of you. You looked back at him as he awaited your answer. You sighed, if this was to be your forever home you couldn't just go and cause trouble. Besides he was Tsireya's brother, you could at least give him a second chance. Not his other friends however, you could tell they were bad influences.

"Maybe we can be friends." His face widened, shocked at what you said. You weren't too keen about it either. "Thank you." Still trying not to let any walls down until you saw some change you kept a stern face on. "Yea, well I'm only giving you this last chance." You took a step forward coming close to him. "But you make one wrong choice again and I'll make the black eye I gave you seem like a paper cut in comparison." Your nose twitched as his ears bent down. You were only inches away from him glaring into his eyes as your nose kept twitching. "Got it?" He nodded, his front was up as he was starting to back away from you again. "Great, then I'll see you around." You backed off of him and tried to make your escape again. "Thank you again, and," he grabbed your wrist. Were you ever going to get away from him? "If you'd like as a start to our friendship I could introduce you to my spirit brother." You had learned about Tulkun and their spirit bonds with the Metkayina the day after Lo'ak was brought back from outside the reef. What better way to see his true colors than to meet a creature so beautifully honest. The talks of the Tulkun had intrigued you, that was certain, so why not? "Okay, sounds like a good start." You gave a sincere small smile as he let your wrist go and let you finally set off.