But What If || Neteyam x reader

Laying In The Stars

     For the rest of dinner, you all talked about various topics, you enjoyed the food and were starting to help Lo'ak with clean up when you felt a light sensation on your back. You whipped your head turning to Lo'ak as he wasn't looking at you and seemed a little too focused on cleaning his plate. "You little-" Under your breath, you were ready to curse him when your hand moved to his back and pinched. Just as fast as your hand had made its way to his back it left even faster returning to the task at hand. When he looked over at you, you looked back at him with a face of ignorance. He just had his usual expression on his face when he turned back to cleaning. It wasn't until you moved to put a plate away you felt another pinch. You had bent down and when you felt the sharp feeling you stood straight up. Lo'ak again wasn't looking at you and was paying attention to what he should be doing. You squinted your eyes at him, it was game on. You waited for the right moment, otherwise, he would just grab your hand and stop you. You kept to what you were doing that was until he pinched you again as you put the last plate away. Your head almost hit a suspended basket when you stood up, the way you two would play this game was sneaky and yet neither of you had pinched twice in a row.

You stared at him with bewilderment, as if to say how dare you but he ignored you smiling. Your ears peeled back and your tail swept to the side harshly. "You know you're going to pay for that one right?" You spoke in a hushed tone as you took a step toward him. "Really? 'Cause I tend to win most of the time." He said at the same hushed volume as you not wanting to get caught by his two older siblings. You scoffed at him, "Only because you hide behind Neteyam when I'm about to get you back." Lo'ak's family members didn't like your little game, the only one who found any amusement in the game was Tuk and right now she needed to be settled down. You had dinner late and eclipse was over showing the beautiful night sky just outside the Marui. "I do not." "Do too." You annoyingly let your tone turn nasally as you spoke. He just rolled his eyes at you as he turned around to grab something. And there was the opening you were looking for, you pinched him hard and twisted as you did so causing Lo'ak to forget what he was doing and turn right back around. He grabbed your arm in an instant judging from his face you had definitely caught him off guard with the twist. "See I told you, you'd pay for that." Sass filled the air around you as you leaned your weight back and away from Lo'ak. "Really?" You smirked and slipped your arm out of his hand. "Yep."

You moved to the side picking up the last leaf to be put away, you kept Lo'ak in the corner of your eye just in case he tried something. He saw you eyeing him and knew you'd just swat his hand away if he tried anything. When you put away the leaf platter you started to make your way over to the top you had set down earlier. You didn't think Kiri saw the top you had started on for her but you wouldn't let it stay out in the open for much longer. The top was in the corner of the room over by a very lively Tuk and calm Neteyam. "I want to stay up til mommy and daddy return." You carefully picked up the top, not wanting it to unravel. "Maybe next time Tuk, come on let us get you to sleep." It was your first attempt to make clothes and well you were thankful it was less relieving making less work it was still a delicate piece. You moved away from Neteyam and Tuk stopping yourself from hearing any more of their conversation, you also let your body block the top from Kiri as you passed her. You placed the top carefully in a suspended basket when you started to yawn, for once you were actually tired when it was time for sleep.

"Quit is Lo'ak." Your ears twitch hearing Neteyam's voice so close, you turned around to see Neteyam holding Lo'ak's arm. Come on bro, we're just having fun." Neteyam gave him a stern look not letting go of his arm. You smiled in triumph, Lo'ak had made his escape from you so many times by using his family. Whether it was snitching on the both of you or just starting up a random conversation you would stop dead in your tracks not wanting to get in trouble. Especially when his dad was around. "I don't want you pinching her tonight, her wound needs to heal and I know you two only pinch each other's backs." Neteyam had only been present for the first time you two started pinching each other how he knew you two only pinched there you didn't know. "How do you know that?" Lo'ak asked what you were wondering and Neteyam's body hadn't faltered the entire time. "Because you two leave marks on one another's backs." So it was that obvious? Oops. Your face felt warm as your ears dipped for a moment. "Fine, I won't pinch if she doesn't." He looked at you with his eyebrows raised, you had on a cocky smile as you reached your hand out to him. "Truce then?" He took your hand and shook it. "Only for tonight."