But What If || Neteyam x reader

Remedial Weariness

               The next day you were all out by the Sea wall, with the adults gathering items for the village. Mostly for the last part of the celebration, which was to begin soon. Your coral bowl was filling up fast, peculiarly fast. You had seen Neteyam sneak extra items into Tuk's basket and inferred he was doing the same for you since his bowl was almost full anyway. Always one to help and never accept it so when he wasn't looking you slipped a few in his as well. You tried being indiscreet about it but sneaking up on Neteyam was a difficult task. But you had succeeded in putting five of your best-acquired Glider Fish in his bowl.

     Lo'ak was goofing off by the ledge, which pulled Neteyam's attention away and you were close enough to put another Fish in his bowl. "Lo'ak! Get over here!" Lo'ak wasn't listening as he was obviously trying to fit in with the Metkayina boys and somehow impress Tsireya at the same time. "Lo'ak!" You were almost about to slip the fish in when you heard your name. "(Y/N)." You snatched your hand and your fish back to yourself. Then you froze in your tracks as Ronal was coming up to you. "Oh, uhh yes?" You gained some composure. "Tsahìk Ronal, I see you." You greeted her respectfully and she approached closer. "(Y/N), Elder Ku'uu is asking for you." She held herself high and had a glow to her as she spoke. "Oh..." You didn't exactly know what it meant to be called upon by an elder but based on Ronal's squinted eyes and confused gaze you figured it might mean you should leave. "Okay, umm, I'll go now then?"

   She gave a silent nod and you turned to maybe try and give Neteyam your bowl only to not find him next to you anymore. "I shall make sure your preparations are complete." She held her arms out, awaiting your coral bowl. You gave it to her. She looked at you with an authoritarian glance. You scurred off to go see Ku'uu, calling an ilu over to get you there.

    You had made your way back to the village and skipped your way to Ku'uu's home, when you saw it you were captivated by the wide open entryway. You walked slower towards the home, in all your time here you'd never seen his home wide open. It was just open, you moved into the walkway from the sand and started looking for who you were there for. "Ku'uu?" You didn't see him from right outside the home so you tried peering in. "Elder Ku'uu?" You took a step into his home still trying to find him. "(Y/N), good you're here." Your ears fluttered back and you turned around, Ku'uu was there with a basket full of thread and large shells. "Come, you may be relieved from any preparation chores today." You didn't know what Ku'uu wanted from you but after being his rock yesterday you were becoming fonder of him. 

     "You'll be helping me make something, don't worry it won't take long, you'll be back for the last celebration." Ku'uu entered his home and ushered you to sit down with him where you had been last night. "Okay, what am I helping you with?" He pulled out the thread and shells from the woven basket. He then began to go on to explain who to weave them. He showed you the simple knots and said he'd do the more intricate ones. You followed his lead closely, doing well to keep up with him. The time was mostly silent, the only words being spoken were by Ku'uu and when he spoke he was telling you how to knot the threads together. The more difficult knots began when the shells got introduced as well as beautiful rocks buried in the bottom of the basket. 

    Ku'uu had encouraged you to not copy exactly what he was doing, in fact, he insisted you make them different. You started to use different sets of colors then and started cutting off knots faster or taking longer, liking the free will of the project. Ku'uu still kept teaching you new ways to tie in the large shells and gems. You made new patterns to link to the old ones and you were liking the design. "I'll tie the last knot, okay?" You nodded, noticing he was reaching the end, his hanging decor much longer than yours. "Okay," You liked yours short though, it gave a more filled look rather than a longbow look.

     "So, what are these for?" It looked as though he was on the finishing knot, ready to help you finish yours as you were close to being done as well. "They are totems to represent Ìyä and Awuu, their life." You looked back at the totem you had been tasked to do, feeling a pinch of guilt you didn't know which of the two you had just made such a sentimental piece for. You didn't know if either of them would have even liked your design. "Mine is for Ìyä, your is for Awuu." He gave a light chuckle. "She would have loved that arrangement and those colors." You continued to finish your final knots leading up to the hook. "Really? What was her favorite color?" He was smiling and fiddling with a stone on his totem for his late mate.