But What If || Neteyam x reader

Breath-Taking Recovery

    Wrapping the fish in their leaves was easy, Neteyam had prepped everything before you got back. You had remained silent on your return and it seemed as though everyone else was silent as well. You glanced around the room at everyone else, Lo'ak was sitting close repairing part of his hammock. How he slept so hard his hammock it broke you didn't know. "What?" Your gaze moved to Lo'ak's face. "Nothing." You shrugged and turned back to the food. Neteyam's head perked up looking between the two of you confused. "What, she was staring at me." Neteyam turned to you with a brow marking raised; you whipped your head up with your mouth a gap. "I was not." Lo'ak took another jab at you, as he sold you out in front of his brother. "Then what were you looking at?" You stuck your tongue out at him for your answer. Looking back at your work again.

It was only quiet for about a few seconds before Lo'ak opened his mouth again. "So, how many did each of you catch?" Being reminded about earlier you chose to keep your mouth shut. Neteyam didn't seem to answer him either. "What, did she outdo you, bro?" You wished you would've caught at least half had he not stolen every fish you had your eye on. "No, we caught about the same amount." Your eyes raced to look at him, your face rising much slower. Why'd he lie? For your pride, or maybe because he did want to admit to his younger brother that he didn't give you a chance. "Well, one of you guys had to have collected more. Who won?" You saw Neteyam about to answer and interrupted him. "(Y/-" "Neteyam, didn't even give me the chance to hit one fish."

Lo'ak smiled. "Ah, so he has returned." No longer agitated, you looked at Lo'ak with confusion. "Lo'ak don't." Neteyam shook his head, his body adjusting its position. "What?" Curious about what he was talking about, your eyes darted from the two. Lo'ak had his wide-eyed smile on. Neteyam was glaring at his brother as he opened his mouth to speak. Neteyam cut him off before he made a sound. "Lo'ak." Lo'ak's two strands of hair flew around when he turned his head to his brother. He was still smiling before he leaned close to you whispering.

"Neteyam The Mighty Fisherman." Upon hearing the nickname you couldn't help but to snicker. "Neteyam The Mighty Fisherman?" Upon hearing you repeat what Lo'ak said Neteyam shook his head and looked down at the food. "Yeah, it's a nickname our dad gave him." That was so cute, you thought about a younger Mr. Sully and Neteyam fishing together. "Then I really didn't stand a chance at catching any fish did I?" Lo'ak shook his head as you were both smiling. "Nope, not with Mr. Perfect." You both giggled when Mr. Sully spoke, making your heads snap to look at him. "Lo'ak, stop distracting (Y/N) and come help your mother with mats." Lo'ak looked at you annoyed and all you could do was give him a pitiful look as he left.

Continuing with tending to the food you kept glancing between what you were doing and Neteyam. He sat focused as your eyes darted at him and the food you could only think about a tiny Neteyam fishing. When Neteyam wrapped up with the last fish he detected your eyes on him. When he encountered your gaze his face cracked out in a smile. Rather than feeling anxious you widely beamed back. You also completed wrapping your last fish as you kept grabbing glimpses at him, he was nevertheless grinning at you too. He didn't take his sights off of you and you felt secure. Glad actually that he wasn't taking his gazes away, you felt solace in his eyes. You would've let yourself remain in his eyes if a noise hadn't enveloped through the Marui. The horn alerted you, Neteyam glanced at you as both of you proceeded to see why the horn was blown.

The rest of the family left the Marui staring wide-eyed at what was happening. "What was that?" Tuk looked to her father as you peeked your head out, amazement struck you. Everyone was filled with a liveliness you haven't seen before. Villagers were jumping and doing flips into the water eagerly. As the horn rang again you stepped out into the sunlight. You flinched as somebody leaped directly into the water right in front of you. It didn't affect you much as you smiled at their enthusiasm. "The Tulkun have returned!" You beamed seeing Tsireya in the water calling to everyone. As well as being informed about what all the excitement was about. "Everybody, our brothers and sisters have returned!" You looked back to Neteyam as he was stepping close to you. His face was also gleaming taking in the sights of the village. He seemed stuck in awe of the beauty in front of him, you took his hand in yours snapping him away from the scene.