But What If || Neteyam x reader

Breath-Taking Recovery

"Come on! Let us go!" Glancing at Mr. Sully for approval for a moment he nodded, already taking notice of the rest of his kids' own excitement. With Mr. Sully's permission, you tug Neteyam further toward the water. "Alright (Y/N)," His smile tugged at you the same way you pulled him. "I'm coming." Shyly pulling your head away you called for any Ilu who would come and readily jumped in the water hand in hand with Neteyam.

The sea was crowded with Metkayina flooding to the large creatures you could see in the distance. You and Neteyam were both smiling at each other as you kept with everyone proceeding to greet the Tulkun. People were on their Ilu's and Skimwing racing to see their long-awaited friends. When the Ilus and the Skimwings started to intertwine with the Tulkuns you moved close to Neteyam, nodding your head to the side to make him give chase to you. He did exactly as you communicated and followed after your fleeting chase. You swam under and over Tulkun greeting a few as you took in their stunning magnificence. They were all enormous, their shadows engulfing you as you dipped under yet another Tulkun. The exquisite tattoos that underlined their bodies flowed along with every groove.

Breaking the surface and watching the excitement still unfolding, Neteyam caught up to you again. As you took in the sights of him smiling he was also watching the view. Flying Skimwings, rushing Ilu's, and dancing Tulkun they were marvelous. But looking at Neteyam everything appeared to be quiet. His star-struck appearance struck you and when he chuckled he undid you. He was everything, he could sweep you away at a moment's notice and you wouldn't care. You couldn't stay away from him, he was all you could see. He was the only person you could ever see. He was your everything and you had known it for a while. You knew when you wanted to kiss him that he was someone you needed.

"Will you two be joining the celebration later this evening?" Breaking your gaze from Neteyam there is Ao'nung. You would prefer to call him Catfish though. "What celebration?" Ao'nung sneered. "Our celebration for the return of our brothers and sisters," Trying to give this future friendship thing a try you kept your mind open. "It will be lively and loud. Everyone will be there." Sounded fun to you, Mr. Sully had been encouraging you to fit in with the Metkayina more. Maybe you could meet more people your age, kind ones, not the snarky and mean ones like Ao'nung's friends. "Well," You started speaking with a long start. "If everyone is going to be there I don't see a problem with it." Neteyam looked shocked and confused. He knew about your 'past' disdain for Ao'nung. "Right Neteyam?" He nodded readily. "Yeah, we'll be there," Ao'nung smirked, his Ilu getting closer to your own. "Great," He leaned towards you. "I told you I'd introduce you to my spirit brother." You had just made that agreement only a few minutes ago. But you did agree so there you were trying not to make it obvious you were rolling your eyes as you smiled.

"Alright then... Let's go." You sighed as you gave in, he was giving you an actual smile upon your agreement. "I'll come with you." Neteyam veered closer, Ao'nung looked to Neteyam confused. "Can she not come on her own?" You sat there, just watching, you had no idea what was happening but it felt off. "She is her own woman, she doesn't need a babysitter." Confused, you darted your eye between the two of them, it felt weird to be in the middle of things. "I am not her babysitter." Neteyam was glaring arrows at Ao'nung and Ao'nung wasn't backing off. "And she doesn't need someone like you dragging her off to do who knows what." Feeling the tension rise again you knew both you and Neteyam couldn't afford to get into another fight with Ao'nung. "Guys, I'm bored, can we just go? All three of us?" You looked sternly at the two buffoons. "Alright then, come let us go then." When Ao'nung turned to you he was definitely thrown off by Neteyam earlier but smiled at you. "Lead the way." Ao'nung's head went back to Neteyam, and back to his sneer. "Keep up, if you can, Forest boy." Ao'nung took a breath and went under and you were down and ready following him as he didn't hold back.

Swimming along was magical, Ao'nung was weaving through the Tulkun, and the more of the sights you took in the more you began to see. You passed Kiri and Tuk riding on Rotxo's Tulkun. You found them adorable and were glad Kiri seemed back to her usual self. Indulging in the world around her and having that whimsical smile on her face. You also passed Tsireya, she was talking to her spirit sister, she had told you her spirit sister was beautiful but she was much more stunning than Tsireya had described. Lo'ak was above watching her, you thought it was cute. He so liked her, and as always you were so going to tease him about it later. But, what shocked you the most was seeing Ao'nung's mother. She was smiling, you had never seen her smile, which was misfortunate. Her smile put most other smiles to shame, you had thought she was beautiful when you first arrived, but now she looked remarkable.

The amazing scenery never stopped, the reunion of these spiritual bonds and family was enough to make your chest swell with happiness, you could tell Neteyam was enjoying everything too as you saw his parents flash by. Both on one Ilu, ducking to the right you ventured further, following Ao'nung to where his spirit brother was. It didn't seem like he knew where he was either, bringing us around another Tulkun searching for his long-awaited friend.

When Ao'nung did spot him he turned back to you and pointed impatiently to him. Seeing him finally you beamed, looking to Neteyam for that same look. He grinned, picking up his pace again and taking second. You raced after not wanting to be in last. You were last, however, due to Neteyam catching you slacking during that last stretch. You and Neteyam watched as Ao'nung signed to his brother introducing the two of you. You greeted him with Neteyam. 'I see you, my name is (Y/N).' Ao'nung's Tulkun was happy to meet you, which you were pleasantly amazed by given the unpleasant welcoming Ao'nung had given you. You smiled as the Tulkun did a turn welcoming you to swim around him and gladly did so. The Tulkun was a gentle soul, letting children swim around as well. Neteyam popped out from the other side, circling around the Tulkun's fin. Other Tulkun were similarly gliding. Flowing as if they weighed nothing, you yourself felt like you weighed nothing.

Ao'nung had descended his Ilu and was watching his spirit brother interact with you. Neteyam, and the other children who were racing by. Beaming from touching his skin, he was enormous and bigger than you in more ways than you could imagine. He was everything you thought a Tulkun was when described to you in appearance. But, mind wise they were far beyond, as more time passed you stayed to see Ao'nung and his Tulkun talk Neteyam had gone off somewhere. You gave Ao'nung and his spirit brother some space, watching from a distance or playing with his tail fins. You quite enjoyed the company of Ao'nung's Tulkun. He was less judgemental. The longer you stayed where you were the more attached you got too, Tuk and Kiri had found you and urged you to join them with Rotxo's Tulkun. At first, you refused, happily playing around with Ao'nung's Tulkun.

'Please!' Tuk gave you a pouting face as she pleaded for you to join. Smiling, you looked back to try and find Ao'nung. You looked to where he had been moments before talking to his brother only to see he was no longer there. You started to look around, wanting to let him know you'd be leaving but couldn't find him. Had he left you alone? You were about to be fairly pissy when he appeared in front of you, he had been hiding under his Tulkun's fin. You had a snarky smile as he signed to you, 'scared you?' Not letting him have any satisfaction, you shook your head. 'Only in my dreams.' He rolled his eyes at you, a smile still playing on his lips. He looked back at you, finding himself closer. 'So you dream about me?' You looked at Tuk and Kiri who were right behind Ao'nung who had a smug face.

'I shall see you at the celebration.' His face changed. His brow markings crinkled and he turned to where you were looking over his shoulder. When he came back to you he seemed calmer. 'I'll see you then.' You nodded and lightly pushed yourself off of the Tulkun. You waved goodbye for now as his Tulkun turned. He gave you a farewell and you took a hold of Rotxo's Tulkun. You introduced yourself again. 'I see you, I am (Y/N)." Gleaming as Tuk took your hand. She was enamored with Rotxo's Tulkun. Kiri seemed to be having a good time too. Rotxo appeared underneath you three on one fin smiling as he signed to his brother to swim. Taking you all back into the wondrous view. The Tulkun, Ilu, Skimwing, and Na'vi all harmonious. Joyfully enjoying each other's presence. As you bask in the sights and feelings of bliss you couldn't help but wonder where Neteyam had gone off to.