Engraved in the Sea (Neteyam x (f) reader ) Part 3
Word count is around 2.7k for dipping for five days. Enjoy dears :)
Teaching the sully's over the last few days had been going relatively well. Kiri picked up on everything without a hitch, much to your pleasure. Tuk just went along for the ride. Though you did smile at the sight of her perking up whenever you came over to help teach, it seemed you both enjoyed each other's company.
As the first few days revolved around teaching them how to sign underwater, or in Neteyam's words, 'finger talk,' then came the breathing lessons.
You walked up to the group, sitting in a circle near the rocks. You placed your gear for your scouting job aside and headed over to them. You caught the last of Tsireya's words as you stood behind Neteyam and Roxto.
"Breathe out slowly. Lo'ak, your heartbeat is fast. Try to focus," She said gently.
But as Lo'ak apologized, you could see the blush on his face and how he tried to avoid eye contact with her, he made the mistake of looking over to you, who was smirking at the sight, giving a knowing look to him. Lo'ak sighed in annoyance.
"Not that deep of a breath," Your sister said to him, unaware of his reaction to the others and you teasing him.
Neteyam smirked at his baby brother before looking at Roxto, who also laughed at the situation. He straightened up, however, when he heard a voice speak up behind him, "Looks like this is going well, sister."
She smiled at you, "are you coming to join us for the day?"
"I will, later today. I came to ask Roxto for my knife back," You stated before turning to him, "Finished fixing your saddle for your ilu?"
Roxto nodded and reached a hand to his waist tie to grab it, only to do a double take. He frowned, "I'm sorry, Y/n, I must have left it with my things,"
"Ah, I need it for my job this morning," You sighed, "It's alright. I'll go find another somewhere,"
You smiled at the group before turning, but before you could leave, a hand caught your wrist. You blinked in surprise at Neteyam as he let go of your wrist to grab a knife of his own, unsheathing it and offering it to you.
"You may borrow mine if you want," He smiled.
You beamed at him and took the knife from him, brushing his fingers as you did, which caused him to flinch a little in his seat.
You twisted the knife in your hand, observing its exquisite details. You flipped it up in the air and watched as it spun, catching it only to twirl it between your fingers.
"Show off," Roxto stated, but you shrugged your shoulders.
"Merely testing its weighting, it's a good one," You commented before patting the oldest sully's shoulder in gratitude, "Thank you so much. I'll give it back to you later."
They watched as you headed down the rocks, calling for your ilu, bag now over your shoulder and Neteyam's knife placed in your waist tie. You gave them one last wave before diving into the water and out of sight.
"Is your heartbeat going fast, brother?" Kiri asked Neteyam with a blank face.
He blinked out of his daze and looked away from where you were last to glare at his sister, "No, I am perfectly calm."
Kiri's eyes flickered to his hand, which subconsciously rubbed at the shoulder you patted in thanks. Kiri rolled her eyes but said nothing yet.
-----
By the late afternoon, the sully's had returned to their pod, sitting together as they ate their food.
Tuk sat beside her mother as she fiddled with some shells and vines she had collected, twisting them into a bracelet. Neytiri watched her youngest and smiled, "It's beautiful, Tuk."
Her daughter brought it up to show her more clearly, "Do you think she will like it?”
Jake looked at her bracelet as Neytiri brushed a braid away from Tuk's face, "Who?"
Before tuk could answer, a knock sounded out against the wood of the entranceway. The Sully's looked up to see you smiling at them, "I hope I'm not intruding."
Neteyam sat up and shook his head, "No, of course not."
Neytiri looked to her son after his quick reply, so was started slightly when Tuk sprung up from her spot and raced over to you." I made you something!" Tuk said, and you looked at her in surprise, eyes looking into Tuk's beaming ones.
You bent down slightly to observe the object in Tuk's hands and nearly got your nose hit, and she eagerly handed it to you. You twisted the bracelet in your hands and smiled. The blue and deep purple shells looked gorgeous and wrapped together.
"Thank you, Tuk, it's beautiful," You knelt so she could tie the bracelet around your wrist, "May I ask why you made one for me?"
"It's pretty like you," Your eyes winded at that comment, and Tuk's hand brushed over the scar on your face as she went to touch the seashell already in your braided hair, "And it matches the ones you already have."
"Pretty." You repeated back as your fingers rubbed at the end of your scar. You gave her a gentle smile, "Thank you, Tuk, you're pretty too. Maybe we could have matching bracelets."
The young girl beamed. You patted her shoulder before standing up to face the others. You smile bigger than before, "That was a nice surprise, but I originally came over to let you know that it's time for you to learn how to ride ilus."
You smiled at the sully kids before looking at Jake and Neytiri, "That means you as well, but my father will teach you two,"
You walked over to Neteyam, who stood up. You reached behind you and pulled out his knife, placing it in his hand, "Thank you for letting me borrow this. It was useful."
"Of course," Neteyam replied, a smile etching across his lips.
Neytiri looked between her kids and you, Tuk's smile and Neteyam's. Lo'ak was already grabbing his things, and even Kiri seemed to snap out of her bored state. She looked at you again, a little sense of ease washing over her. Even though everything was still new, you seemed to give her kids a comforting aura.
But one thing she couldn't help but notice was the lingering gaze you shared with her eldest son as you gave back his knife, something which she knew he most rarely ever wanted to share, not even with his siblings.
"Lo'ak, do me a favor and find my sister. She is grabbing all the saddles and gear," You comment, sharing a knowing look with Neteyam, who smirks.
"Yep, I'll do that now," He said, rushing out the entrance,
You couldn't stop the small laugh you let out before looking at his parents, "I believe there will be something between those two."
Neytiri looked to Neteyam, and his knife, which he twirled in his hands, gazed looking at you from the corner of his eye. Neytiri nodded, "Yes, I believe there will be."
---
Despite learning all this quickly, the Sullys still surprised you with their abilities.
Their first few runs with the ilu were humorous, such as Lo'ak getting ditched by his ilu. But even that took a quick talk with you, telling him to get a better position and to let go of his pride.
Your siblings and roxto were good teachers despite some of the teasings that came along with it. You could say the same while you sent praise to Tuk and smiles to Kiri, but there was something so enjoyable about teasing Neteyam that you couldn't help but do so.
You enjoyed the annoyed look he would give you when you sent your ilu right next to his, splashing water on his face—tickling his neck when he practiced his breathing, calling him a moron when he missed a turn.
But despite your teasing, he enjoyed it when you taught him, both older siblings who spared a few moments in their day to have fun. As he improved riding his ilu, you would have little races in the water. Wrestling to test each other's strength, he was surprised to find he had lost a few rounds.
When you and your siblings brought them underwater during the eclipse late at night, you showed them all the creatures that shone bright, the luminescence beaming in all colors. You watched as Kiri was interested in the fish, and Lo'ak swam with the others. Tuk followed Roxto around as he pointed out several exciting creatures to her.
You couldn't help but marvel at how light dotted across their skin during the night. As Neteyam swam by your side, you couldn't help but comment, signing to him, 'You look like a constellation.'
He smiled at signed back, 'All forest na'vi are like this. It's cool, right.'
You looked at the stars etched across his skin, 'it's beautiful.'
He blinked, unsure how to respond. He resulted in nudging your shoulder, "Skxawng,"
You gapped at him and went to pull his hair, but he ducked.
Your mother, picking at the barnacles nearby, heard the commotion and turned to find you chasing the young sully boy, who laughed at your antics despite being underwater.
Ronal could help but let out a small smile, enjoying the moments when you acted your age.
---
"Steady now, hold your stance," You said, raising your hand slightly to raise Neteyam's arm.
The morning sun was bright and warmed your back as you stood behind the boy who had your spear clutched in his hand. Your height towered over him ever so slightly so you could see exactly where the tip of your spear pointed.
You and the Sully kids were hanging out by the shore today, Kiri had minded her own business and her had head down in the shallow water, gazing at the sand. You didn't see where Lo'ak was, but you knew your sister had Tuk with her.
And so the eldest children of the two families now stood knee-deep in the water. Neteyam had expressed interest in your spear and hunting, so here the two of you were, keeping a steady gaze on one particular fish that trickled near you.
You move your hands to his shoulders, pulling them back slightly to better his pose, "Arm's steady."
Neteyam nodded and breathed out slowly, following the fished movement. However, his focus broke when you stepped closer behind him, arm stretching out around him to lower the spearhead slightly. He turned to look at you, and you did the same, both pairs of eyes winding when realizing just how close your faces were.
Neteyam thought about his sister's comment from their first few days here when she gave you her bracelet.
He couldn't help but be inclined to agree with your faces so close.
"Take the shot," You said, still looking at him.
You turned your head to the fish, which had slowed in its swim.
Neteyam shook his head slightly to get out of his daze. "Right the shot, I got it."
You stepped back slightly and watched, and he waited for a breath, the two. Neteyam then launched the spear forward, hitting its target straight on. You let out a laugh, both surprised and impressed.
"That was amazing," You said, shaking his shoulder with glee, "You picked that up so quickly."
Neteyam beamed and went to retrieve the fish and the spear, pulling it out from the fish before handing it to you. You smirked at him and his proud smile.
"Mighty warrior," You said teasingly, but you couldn't help but agree. Even others you have taught in the past haven't picked up a spear so quickly.
He smirked at the comment, "Maybe one day I'll teach you how to use my bow."
"I would love that," You beamed. The thought of using such a weapon got you buzzing with excitement.
Your excitement, however, was cut short when you two heard commotion further down the beach, the sound of your brother's voice and his friends ringing out, along with Kiri and Lo'ak.
"Ah shit," Neteyam whispered before heading over, you following hot on his tail. Gone was the fun, and now the two eldest siblings led the group.
The sight you two met was your brother and his friend pushing Lo'ak and Kiri around, the word 'freaks' being repeated.
"Leave us alone," Kiri managed to yell at them before Neteyam marched forward.
You watched as he shoved your brother away from Lo'ak, ceasing the group's laughter.
He raised a finger and got in Ao'nung's face, "You heard what she said. Leave them alone,"
One of your brother's friends went to the same something, a laugh bubbling from his throat, but you hissed, "That's enough. You know better than to call them such horrible words."
He stayed quiet, as did A’onung, who took in Neteyam's threat and backed off, the sully boy nodded, "Smart choice, and don't ever call them freaks again."
He stepped back, looking at you, who nodded, indicating you'll deal with these idiots. Neteyam nodded at you and grasped his brother's shoulder, heading over to Kiri.
You turned to your brother, "You know better than this idiot. Just because your friends have crap humour doesn't mean you stoop to that level."
"Hey!" What of them said, offended.
You glared, "I'll deal with you later."
Lo'ak spoke up, and you straightened up, and he headed back to the group.
You let your brother step forward and watched as Lo'ak raised his hand, calling them freaky.
You then sighed as you watched him ball each finger into a fist, knowing what would happen.
He sent two punches straight to your brother's face, who gasped in pain and surprise before falling over near your feet.
"It's called a punch bitch," Lo'ak stated, pointing at him and the others, "Don't ever call my sister a freak again."
Ao’nung heard nothing and yelled out before charging, ignoring you telling him to stop.
The others got involved, and all began hitting and fighting Lo'ak, who was losing on his own. Neteyam sighed and let out a laugh of disbelief before joining in, sending two boys spiraling to the ground.
You and Kiri watched as punches met faces and tails were pulled. Kiri laughed at their stupidity, and you couldn't help but laugh. That was before a solid punch hit Neteyam's jaw, and you started to see more bruises forming on the others.
You handed Kiri your spear, who looked at you with a questioning gaze, you cracked your fingers before looking at her, "They've had their fun."
The fight ended oh so quickly after. However, the commotion had caught the attention of Jake Sully, who, by the time he had arrived, saw his sons with several bruises and you pinching your brother's ear, dragging him and his friends away.
---
You waited near the mauri pod of the sully's, Lo'ak coming out and walking past you. Presumably, to talk to your brother and his friends. You watched as Neteyam soon came out too. You took in his split lip and frowned.
"You get in trouble too?" You ask him.
"Take a guess," he replied as he walked up to you.
You brought a hand to his face, thumb brushing over the cut on his lip. He allowed it as he watched you inspect the wound.
"They had it coming after being idiots."
"Dad was a little proud, just didn't want to admit it," He replied.
You smiled, "I was proud. I admire the way you all watch over each other."
"Even when getting into stupid fights," Neteyam asked, and you dropped your hand.
"Even when you act stupid," Your hand slid from his face fully and down to his wrist, dragging him behind you.
"Come on, idiot, let's get your pretty face patched up."
Neteyam said nothing in reply, too stuck on you once again calling him pretty.
