But What If || Neteyam x reader

Festive Courtship

      The first beat hit and you were off, taking the lead in the dance instantly. Feverishly feeding into your body's instincts. You struck every move with intense precision and delicacy. Ao'nung was trying to keep up with you but you were beginning to prove the difference in natural instincts. Still, you smiled gracefully at him as he wouldn't take his eyes off you for a second. You made the moves tighten as he spun you into his arms close enough you could smell him. He smelled of the salt that consumed the ocean and ash from the bonfire in front of the both of you. It was a comforting smell but not the one you wanted to smell. You pivot your foot ready to set off more. You weren't done, you were giving your heart and soul into this dance and even more not to look at Faoare and Neteyam.

Being reminded of them again your body reacted with a strong kick, flaring your body out with a magnificence strength. Keeping the fire in your lungs blazing, making a trail to light a path. One for you to follow and for others to gaze astonished at. You weren't going to stop, not when you were starting to have fun, letting a powerful fit of laughter get away from you. You continued to smile from your own enjoyment. Loving the feeling of being turned, the wind swept your hair just right, the ground worked in well enough to give you the right footing. Ao'nung was still struggling to handle your performance and was doing his best to keep a hold of you as you both turned away from each other. "Nope, sorry." The disembodied voice was one you knew. He was very close, and then you could feel Ao'nung's hand slip away from yours. It was not supposed to. Yet you ultimately didn't care, if you had to dance alone you would. After all, you had begun to notice the admiring looks.

However, a hand found its way into yours and it wasn't Ao'nung's. It wasn't Metkayina either. It pulled you close, very close. That's when you saw that deep blue and those darker striped patterns that had been burned into your mind. You saw as he twirled someone away and took your hand.

Neteyam came for you.

"Nete-" He quickly moved you, putting you in position for the next move. You looked back at him, barely giving the move a second thought. He was focused, he was so cute when he was focused. You shifted again to the rhythm, letting yourself get a better look at him. Eywa had blessed him greatly with his looks. You weren't paying any heed to the dance now, you just wanted to be close to him, although he kept moving you. Moving you with his brute strength that he had trained many years for. You felt as light as a feather, and it tickled your insides as he moved you effortlessly. You proceeded to move as you had been taught, lifting your arms widely felt like spreading out wings. Dancing with him was exactly what you wanted and yet he was so distracting. It was hard not to fall into him and just let yourself sink in. Especially when the next move put you closer into his arms, that comforting embrace had you shaking. He had stolen you away, away from Ao'nung, away from your troubles, away from your past life.

You swept your leg around, veering around in a circle again. The dance was coming to a close, only a little longer, and feeling his warm skin touch yours would be over. It wasn't as if this was the only time he had ever touched you, he did all the time. Whether it was teaching you how to use your knife, putting ointment on you, or just holding your hand while walking with you he always found a way to be close to you. Before you thought nothing of these interactions, but now you thought the world of them. Holding hands with him while dancing felt as it always had, you just never noticed. Your hand fit into his like before, like they were always meant to be there, your hands were perfectly placed in each other.

When he swooped you down into the last move your eyes met and you could see stars. Your breath hitched, he was so close. The beat dissipated and you couldn't hear anything for a moment, except your heartbeat and both of your rapid breathing. You both stayed where you were for longer than you were supposed to. "Neteyam..." You spoke in a breathy whisper and with how his eyes laid still on you not moving, you didn't know if he heard you. You knew people were watching, and yet with him looking at you like that. You would've stayed there forever. Just as you thought that he moved and pulled you back up, and it was like you were both stuck again. As soon as you were on both of your feet again you were stuck in that golden honey-eyed gaze. Your eyes darted along his face entranced by him, wanting to memorize every inch of his face being lit by the fire. "Neteyam!" He whipped his head over quickly, being snapped away from you. You looked to where the voice was coming from and there was Ao'nung making his way to the both of you.