[LOOK AT ME] Nᴇᴛᴇʏᴀᴍ.S ˣ ᵐᵃˡᵉ ʳᵉᵃᵈᵉʳ

[Trouble in paradise]

"Listen, Neteyam." You fold your arms over your chest and stare at Neteyam making sure to catch his full attention.

His eyes flicker up to meet yours and you honestly regret demanding his attention at that moment.

"I'm not apologizing," You make clear, "But I want you to know, that fighting with you was not my intention." You don't care to mention the others involved. You just wanted him to know you didn't purposefully want to fight him.

Him being the only chance you have in tolerating the family. With all the trouble his little brother had put you through. Believe it or not Ao'nung has been a complete brat ever since his pride had been shattered by Lo'ak.

Yes, at the time you enjoyed getting a rise out of them, Neteyam in particular. But now? You don't have a full answer to that question anymore. You hate these on and off feelings.

Neteyam silently stared at you not knowing what to say. One wrong move could set you off for sure. He felt like he was walking on eggshells with you. Which was both fun and terrifying.

One moment you seemed fine then around everyone else it looked like you would give anything to swallow him whole and make his entire attempt at 'friend-making' one hell of a struggle.

He never expected any of these outcomes.

He couldn't understand you. Not one bit. And you gave him little to no opportunity to do so. It was frustrating. No one has ever treated Neteyam like this.

Besides being friends, just being 'okay' with each other would make things alot easier.

Neteyam takes in your words or tries to at least. Again, you were very confusing. He almost laughs out of sheer confusion. If that was even a thing.

You say you aren't apologizing, but all that basically sounds like one to him. So, he'll take it as he pleases. Apology or not.

"We cool?" Neteyam simply asks getting straight to the point.

Your a little taken aback by his straightforward approach, but you admire his almost blind confidence.

What in the world made this boy so interesting to you?

You wordlessly nod, brushing off your inner crisis and agreeing with Neteyam's peace making strategy.

"We're cool." You repeat more respectively and that's when you notice Ao'nung and Rotxo in the distance, looking far too proud for people who were meant to be apologizing to a specific someone.

That same someone who was surprisingly not with them.

Neteyam turns his head back noticing the glare directed behind him.

"What's got you so-" Neteyam was about to joke until he saw the victim(s) of your stare.

"I swear..." You sigh not taking your eyes off the two as you reach out to hold onto Neteyam's shoulder.

"Your brother?" You cautiously question the boy.

Neteyam's eyes almost burn wholes into Ao'nung and Rotxo's backs as he tried to figure out where exactly could Lo'ak be.

He definitely didn't head back to the hut because Neteyam would've seen him if he did. So that was a no.

"Tsireya's busy." You scratch out the idea that Neteyam was likely thinking and he almost shoots you a surprised look before he decides to just grin appreciatively.