But What If || Neteyam x reader

Festive Courtship

You heard a grumble come from Neteyam and his grip around you tightened. "Hey, what was that?" You looked around, you were gathering an audience. "Guys, maybe let's not do this here." You felt as if your request fell on deaf ears. "You could barely hold up with her." You started pulling away at Neteyam, trying to get them somewhere that wasn't as populated. "I was her partner, you chose Faoare." You could feel the mood dropping in spirit, especially your own. "I didn't choose to be her partner, she picked me out." You were looking back and forth between the two imbeciles, feeling quite embarrassed by their behavior. "So you thought you could just pick (Y/N) out from my arms?" They were getting in each other's face in a similar way they had before the fight. "She wasn't in your arms, you let her go." Ao'nung's face scowled further and he stepped closer, the tension was rising and you knew you had to step in now. "Guys." You pulled on Neteyam's arm, yanking him back a bit and glaring at Ao'nung. Now you had their attention. "Knock it off." Instead of taking things somewhere else now, you figured you would just end things. You could feel your spirit dying down as they looked at you stunned. Like you weren't going to be uncomfortable with their squabiling.

You moved your way out of Neteyam's grasp and started to walk away, hoping they were done arguing. "Wait," Neteyam quickly followed you. "(Y/N)." You glanced back at him and caught Ao'nung still standing there looking at you. In a split second you took Neteyam's hand and dragged him off, now feeling more frustrated than embarrassed. You had been swept up in the moment, definitely, but you had to admit it was out of character for Neteyam to make a bold move like that. It was odd, he totally left Ao'nung and Faoare in the dark and Neteyam was not known for being unreliable. You hauled him through the celebration and along the beach. When you turned a corner and could only see the edge of glow coming from the fire pit you whipped around to face him. "What was that?" His brow markings furrowed as he analyzed your face. "What do you mean?" You matched his expression with your own. "Stealing me away in the middle of a dance." Your neck stuck out as you started speaking louder. "In front of everyone, might I add." He looked away and backed off from you, pursing his lips together. "Do you know how mortifying that was for Ao'nung and Faoare?"

Upon hearing their names his eyes set back onto you which annoyance. "So this is about them?" Did he think you brought him out here for something else? "Well... yeah." You never had Neteyam speak to you sternly, you were starting to lose your composure. "You've never done something like that before." You could see he knew you had a point. "Ao'nung seemed pretty upset by what happened too." You saw his jaw clench and his nostrils flare. "You just pushed him out of the way, in front of all those people. People he has known his entire life." You were trying to hold your ground but it started to feel like you were rambling. "He wasn't the right dance partner for you." You scoffed and gave a chuckle. "Well he at least asked me." You quickly shut your mouth as his features hesitated to keep their composure. "Would you have danced like that with me had I?"

You didn't think you had danced any differently when they 'switched'. "I didn't dance any differently when you took me from Ao'nung." Your voice became small as he got closer to you, still obviously peeved. "Do you have to keep saying his name?" You were beginning to lose it, he was so close and your knees were getting so weak. You swallowed before answering him. "Ao'nung's?" He took a glance away from you again and gave up a huff of air. "I thought you guys were on good terms, well, before you humiliated him just now." Neteyam was shaking his head with a derisive smirk. "The way you were looking at him was..." For once Neteyam struggled on what to say next and you were curious as to what word he was trying to find. Hoping it was something that would change things. "Never mind." He shook his head and backed off from you. You, desperate to know what he was about to say, tried reaching out for his hand. "Wait," Neteyam started to speed off further into the beach. "Neteyam!" You followed him as he looked back and then went to the sea and called for an Ilu. "Wait!" As there was an Ilu always close it didn't take long and he was racing off. You quickly followed suit and called for your own that came fast.

You took off after him, you had plenty of races with Neteyam during your late night swims but he wasn't holding back right now. You kept your sights on him, feeling like you couldn't lose him, not now. Something was different, something felt urgent as if you would lose him forever if you couldn't stay with him. You stayed on his tail going faster every moment, your Ilu gladly giving you the right pace you needed to catch up with him and follow. You waited for the right instant to swim to his side, when he went up for air was when you struck. Flying up close enough to spook his Ilu and grab his bicep. "Neteyam." It didn't take much for him to exit your grasp, but you took your other hand and grabbed the other arm making him face you. "Hey, come on." He was looking everywhere except at you, his lips pursed showing he was holding something in. "Neteyam, please stop." It hurt you that he was now blatantly trying to run from you. "(Y/N), let me go." Your brows furrowed, there was no way you were going to do as he asked. "Why? Why won't you look at me?"

You could hear the cracks in your own voice. You saw Neteyam hesitate, trying his best not to look at you. "Neteyam." It took every ounce of courage to put your hand up to his face and lead it to you. "Please, look at me." He didn't look at you but he closed his eyes and leaned into your touch putting his hand over yours. The underglow from the reef was illuminating his skin with different hues that brought a new light to him. He moved his face further into your hand, his lips brushing along your skin. Any frustration or feelings for the dance situation dissipated seeing him like this. A side you wished only you would ever see. When he opened his eyes it was like a siren call, luring you in. His hooded eyes were dead set on you. His hand was still over yours keeping your hand against his lips, you were starting to hear your own heart again it was so silent. "I want you to only look at me like that." His breath was hot against your hand and you could feel a shiver run down your spine.

It took everything out of you not to reply with yes, sir. "I have only ever looked at you like this." His face paneled out of your hand and faced you directly. You could feel yourself inching closer to him and your breathing becoming more scarce. "What else do you only do for me?" He was almost towering over you as his other hand reached out for the base of your thigh right above your knee. Which would have buckled by now had you been standing. "(Y/N)." It was a low rasp, and he was so much closer now. You couldn't respond, your mind was either too silent and empty to answer or a million thoughts were running around as your eyes were darting between his eyes and lips. Your breath became shaky as your eyes were almost closed trying to look at his lips, he was still for a second, your lips barely touching. You wanted him to just move a centimeter closer, that was all he needed to do and he did.

He kissed you and though it was light it was also sweet. It was short too, when he pulled away you knew you needed him. The hand he had still in his grasp moved as he looked down at you feverishly. As your hand made its way to the base of his neck he captured your lips again, this time with a desperate force. You wrapped your arms around him, enclosing him further and deepening the kiss as his body started to weigh into yours. Feeling yourself getting lost in the kiss and the support of your body failing you from his weight. Your body fell too far back and as Neteyam's hands had begun to hold you closer, he didn't have the stability to stop you both from crashing into the ocean.

Neither of you broke away, you opened your eyes slightly to see him just as enamored with you as you were with him. One of his hands had made its way to caress your face while the other wrapped around your waist pulling you in enough your skin was touching. You tried letting the kiss last as long as eternity but due to not being able to catch your breath before going under you and Neteyam had to break apart. You untangled yourself from him, the paint near your lips had been smeared onto his face. You both made you way up putting only your faces above water and breathing in harshly. You were smiling as you reached your hand out to his.

He pulled you back in letting your forehead rest on his. You were still catching your breath, although staring into Neteyam's eyes was making it difficult. His arms snaked around your waist again as he had a cheeky smile on. "Neteyam?" He was busy getting lost in your own features to give a proper response so he gave you a low hum. "You know you are the only one I see." You brought your hands up to cup his face. His eyes gleamed with a stary gaze as his attention was caught in that one sentence. "Oel ngati kameie, (Y/N)." Your heart caught a flutter and your stomach flew out with it. You loved him and you wished you would stay here with him forever. "Oel ngati kameie, Neteyam" You leaned in for another kiss, both of you feeling the others lips upturned not being able to stop from smiling.