But What If || Neteyam x reader

Comatosed Congeniality

Neytiri rubbed her daughter's head and pulled you into a side hug and you resisted every instinct to close your eyes and drop. "Yes, of course, we can go." Neytiri planted a kiss on your forehead and you almost melted. She then kissed Tuk's forehead after, you loved this family and were starting to realize they love you too. "Now, bed, go Tuk." Tuk's shoulders dropped but she still had a smile as she turned and did just as her mother told her. "You can rest too (Y/N)." There were still a few things you needed to do before you could but you were happy to be dismissed. "Thank you, Neytiri." She gave you a light squeeze before letting you out of her grip. You walked lazily over to your hammock and started to rub off your paint. It wasn't coming off well in a few spots, in others it fell off in crumbles. You just rubbed harder as you also gathered your regular clothes, you wanted to sleep in something comfortable and you also wanted to take care of your gift. All of your gifts were taken with great care.

Although the Na'vi didn't have closets or a changing room you had made your own. Your hammock was placed off-set from the others and closer to a corner so you had taken a long sheet and tied it up giving you enough privacy to change and a blanket for those cold nights. As you were changing behind your make-shift changing room you were still trying to rub off your paint. Yet the more you tried and the harder you pressed, only a few pieces fell off. Your skin was starting to show dark purple from irritation. You just couldn't get it off, as you had gotten fully changed and set away the clothes gifted to you. Lifting the cloth away and seeing the others settling down you saw Neteyam with an admiring gaze. You shifted to the side, taking notice he hadn't realized you caught him staring. You started to wonder as you moved around more still trying to rub your paint off if he had been looking at you since you got home.

"(Y/N)..." Your head turned to Kiri who looked just as fatigued as you. "This should help get the paint off." She handed you a bowl filled with a semi-reflective liquid. "Thank you, Kiri." You took it from her and immediately sat down to apply it. "Yeah, yeah, I'm off to bed." She blew out one of the three candles that lit up the home. "Hey!" Lo'ak's tail swatted at Kiri's feet. "I was using that light." Kiri rolled her eyes as she started to nest. "Go use another one." You could feel your eyes dying, you hoped this petty fight wouldn't evolve. But, the fluid Kiri had given you worked like a charm which meant you might head to bed that much faster. When the light Kiri just blew out flashed back on so did Kiri.

"Blow it out." Kiri didn't sound like she was in a playful mood and her under circles made her look that much more pissed. "When I'm finished." Kiri was about to show Lo'ak a piece of her mind before Mr. Sully spoke. "Lo'ak." Everyone stopped, you stopped to look at him and Tuk had stopped giggling in her hammock. "Extinguish it and get to bed, now." Anything Mr. Sully said went and you could see the frustration on Lo'ak's face. "Yes, sir." He put out the candle and frustratedly tossed what he had into his bag. Everyone was tired, except Tuk, and it was showing. The irritation, the impatience, the sluggish posture but, that's what made this family real. Neytiri blew out another candle, normally hers was the last as it was the parents but tonight had been a long one so you didn't blame them for tapping out early. You started to rub off the paint faster, having most of your body washed off. You started making your way up to your neck and only had your face left. You knew going faster would just irritate your skin more but you didn't want to keep them all waiting.

"Neteyam..."A grumbling voice coming from Kiri was heard. "What are you waiting for, go to bed." You were solely focused on getting as much off as you could before all the lights went out and you wouldn't be able to tell if you had gotten everything off. "I just have to finish this." He then walked over to Kiri's hammock and bent down into it as if he was giving her a kiss on the forehead. You were making progress but your face had the most paint and was taking a little longer. When Neteyam's head left Kiri's hammock her head rose, looking your way for a brief moment before she slammed her head back. "Whatever." You could see Kiri shift her position in her hammock, facing away from Neteyam. "Thanks, Kiri." A huff was heard from Lo'ak and Neteyam went over to him next. "Hey, baby bro," Neteyam spoke in a soft whisper and you heard Mr. Sullys give away he was sleeping.

A loud snore was heard as Neteyam kept whispering to his brother. "I can help with whatever you were doing tomorrow, okay?" You heard a grunt from Lo'ak as Neteyam was leaning down in the same way he had with Kiri. "I promise." You were making progress and almost finished getting the paint fully off. "Fine." With that Neteyam gave a loving touch to his brother's head who leaned away. "Good night." He got no response as another snore was heard, you looked over to them seeing Neytiri fast asleep as well, her giveaway was being comfortably snuggled up to her mate. "Hey," Neteyam was now down to your level, his freckles luminating most of his face. "Take your time Tanhì." Your lips curved up instantly. Sanhì meant the stars in the sky, Tanhì however meant little star and felt like his little star. "Thanks." He gave a quick glance around before planting a small kiss on the cheek you had just finished cleaning. "Sweet dreams Tanhì." You found with every moment Neteyam opened his mouth you loved him more.

"You two Neteyam." He had drifted away from you and over to Tuk, who was very much still awake. You were almost done wiping your face and smiled as you saw Tuk notice her brother and retreated into her hammock which was bouncing from all her excitement. There was no way you were letting her have more than one sweet at the dinner tomorrow. You heard Neteyam chuckle at his youngest sibling and your heart skipped a beat. You loved Neteyam's everything but that laugh wasn't something you heard often enough and it was beautiful. As he knelt down close to her face you finished with the paint, you checked the reflective liquid one last time and set it away. You heard Tuk's suppressed giggles from her hammock and saw Neteyam's sweet smile as he gave Tuk a peck on her crown.

As you sit in your hammock and let your behind sink in you let yourself finally rest. "Finished?" You nodded to Neteyam, letting him know he could now let the candle out. When he did it all went dark and you couldn't stop your body from crashing immediately. As it was all black your mind started to fuzz and things got confusing. You didn't know if you liked the feeling or felt uneasy about it. It felt as though you were flying but nose-diving at the same time. "Listen..." You heard a voice, one that sounded familiar. "Listen to me..." Your heart dropped, it sounded like her. "You're here for a reason." You tried resisting hearing the speech in your head again. You had done what she said, you listened to the people and to Eywa. You had made a home here, why couldn't she just leave you alone? "To exist on your own." You looked straight ahead at her, fear, shame, and shock were some of the few emotions you were feeling seeing her. She was smiling and just standing there, all on her own.

"I never said that to you... to myself." You may have been different species but you both still had recognizable features. "I'm sorry." She was in front of a mirror, and this felt like another memory. "I should've been gentler with myself..." She was trying to say something but she was getting choked up. You weren't in her mind but you knew it was racing. "I should've been harder on myself too, if I had, maybe I would've seen him for who he was much sooner." She was holding back, it was plastered on her face. "I believe I can find happiness..." You knelt down to her height, your face now appearing behind her. "You will." You wanted to reach out to her as she was still smiling, still on the verge of crying when she bit her lip. "And I will," (Y/N) moved her gaze to her Na'vi self. "With you." You smiled back at her, it still looked as though she had a million words left to say. A million words you would say in her stead. A tear fell effortlessly from her left eye while you hadn't realized one had fallen from your right.

There was only silence surrounding you both but it was one of comfort. Looks being shared of understanding and warmth for the other even though it was just a memory. You'd never be able to actually comfort her but she didn't need it. Her comfort was you living for yourself. "Thank you." You felt it needed to be said, even though she couldn't hear you. But for a moment, it looked as though she had. Her smile gleamed as she took one last look in the mirror before disappearing and it was just you. You looked at yourself, feeling sturdy. You and she were one in the same and her memories would no longer torment you. Instead, they would be a comfort to you, reminding you how glad you were to be alive and with the Sullys and Neteyam. The Na'vi who'd had his bow drawn on you the moment you met to the Na'vi who kissed you good night on the cheek.