But What If || Neteyam x reader

Somber Presence

     It was like dancing underwater, you and Neteyam just swimming around each other constantly only going up for air momentarily. A smile was plastered on your face the entire time you two were swimming. The bubbles that trailed off his Ilu's fins as it swam reflected the light shining off of the bioluminescence of your surroundings. The water had a refreshing feeling to it as you swam, it was cooling but not cold. Until you brought your head up for a breath, your hair beads felt cold on your back as the air brushed against your skin, the two of you had been out for some time and everything was just glowing around you. Your wet hair was clinging to your face as Neteyam surfaced.

You started to take another long breath to go under when the first words in a while were spoken. "We should head back." You whipped your head to him with furrowed brows. "Already?" He gave you a slow nod, it didn't seem like he wanted to go back either. Your face fell as your eyes took another look at your surroundings. You gave some thought to going back, you knew your time together had to end but you were enjoying swimming at night. But, Neteyam was one to be responsible if he said you should head back you knew it was. "Okay." Your response came out in a sigh as you turned back. "We can do this again if you'd like." You were just about to go under when he piped up. "Are you sure? I did just drag you into this." He nodded, "It would be nice to spend more time like this with you." You were so glad it was night, in the day the purple that had made its way to your cheeks would have been clearly noticed. "Great does tomorrow work or were you planning on a lesson?" Your knife and self-defense lessons had been more inconsistent due to the both of you getting busier. You with weaving and helping with communal meals, him with watching Tuk and learning from the reef boys. "Yes, we can go tomorrow." You smiled, maybe this could become something you two did more often. "Good, Oh, and by the way, we're racing back." Quickly you took in a relaxed breath. Dipping under before him you set off fast, you just couldn't stop smiling as Neteyam's competitive side came out.

~{°○・＊☆＊・○°}~

You didn't have a one-on-one lesson with Tsireya but it was just you and the girls so it was close enough for you. She had brought you down to the bottom of the ocean floor as she reached her arm out to what she called a txampaysye. It was dark down in the depths so all the bioluminescence was glowing around you and lighting up your face. As well as the graceful creature Tsireya grabbed. She had Tuk come close to her, Tuk then pulled her Kuru in front of her as she turned around. Tsireya had been teaching you three about the creature when tsaheylu is made it feeds oxygen through the connection. Tuk smiled at you and Kiri as Tsireya was behind her putting everything in place. When Tuk felt the Tsireya was finished she turned back to her, Tsireya then started to sign to you. 'This will help you breathe underwater.' Thankfully Tsireya had done a wonderful job at teaching everyone sign language too, you could understand what she was saying but you often struggle with signing yourself.

Tsireya then brought you down further as you swam out farther, she led you to where others from her village were. They seemed to be collecting something from underneath a large piece of coral. When gave each of you a satchel she then signed for you. "Come, I will teach you how to collect-' You couldn't quite understand the last word, you still struggled with even reading sign language. It was one of the few things you were really having a hard time wrapping your brain around. But when she started showing what the others were doing you quickly watched closely, Tuk and Kiri seemed a bit distracted by the ocean's wonders but you were focused now. You hadn't been a moment ago when you glanced around at the villagers, that was until you saw Tsireya's mother Ronal, as soon as you saw her you turned and watched Tsireya vividly not missing a single instruction or step. '(Y/N), would you like to try?' She must have noticed how your eyes wouldn't look away and your eagerness was starting to catch up with you. With a nod of your head, you pulled out your knife and started the short process, after every step you looked to Tsireya for validation. She would smile and tell you to keep going every time, once you had finished she signed to you. 'Well done, here is a satchel for you to carry them in.' She then took off one of the satchels she had with her and handed it to you.