ˢᵃᵘᵈᵃᵈᵉ

neteyam sully 𝔁 fem! reader
𝕒𝕧𝕒𝕥𝕒𝕣: 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕨𝕒𝕪 𝕠𝕗 𝕨𝕒𝕥𝕖𝕣

❝ a pretty pearl for a pretty girl. ❞

𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐲𝐚𝐦 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐦𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐥𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐑𝐨𝐭𝐱𝐨 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐯𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐲𝐬. They were walking across the beach, shoving one another good-naturedly with joking jabs.

He was surprised that he felt comfortable in their presence, and that they were actually quite funny when they weren't trailing behind Ao'nung like lost ilu's. 

"So, you do not swing through trees?" Rotxo questioned.

"How many times do I have to say so for it to go through your thick skull?" Neteyam questioned with a smirk, causing the boy and the others to break out into snickers, shaking their heads.

Neteyam grinned at them, before his attention was brought to the water. The sea was beautiful, glistening in the bright sunlight, but an even prettier sight arose from the lapping waters. Your eyes opened, revealing the light green irises of your big eyes, gaze casting forward as you let out a breath. Neteyam blinked rapidly, his mouth parting slightly as he watched you swing a woven sack over your shoulder which was filled with clams, before a stunning smile pulled at your lips as he heard the sounds of girlish laughter. 

He turned slightly, finding Tsireya and two other girls running towards you, embracing you in a soft hug as they greeted you. Your smile was infectious, for Neteyam found himself grinning from ear to ear. Rotxo glanced over, wondering why the boy was so quiet, before he smirked mischievously as he came up beside him, crossing his arms.

"She will squash you like bug," he stated with a shake of his head.

"Who is she?" Neteyam demanded.

Rotxo sighed, facing the boy who continued gazing at you from afar. "Her name is Y/N. Best singer and dancer in the entire village."

"How do I get to know her?" the forest na'vi wondered. 

"Get to know her? Why don't you ask every other boy here?" Rotxo snickered. 

"I'll find a way," Neteyam murmured, eyes widening as you locked gazes with him. He didn't know what to expect, but he found himself cracking an awkward smile and wave as you offered him a cat-like grin, the other girls giggling around you as they whisked you off back into the village. 

For the past few days, you had been aware of the newcomer following after you. He had struck up small and meaningless conversations such as pointing out the weather, or the commenting on the many rope jewelry you made. That was one of your main hobbies, and you were known across the village for your beautiful creations, combining twine and seashells into pretty necklaces, bracelets and waistbands. You would go out every few days, and search for clams that promised you a luminous pearl and take long walks along the beach to find shells, Tsireya often accompanying you. 

As of right now, you swam through the water, holding onto the sack you always brought with you on your searches, swimming to the sandy ground where a cluster of clams sat. You pulled out your knife and began working on cutting the mussels from the slimy rock. 

Neteyam peaked out from the long stemming of coral, eyes softening as he watched you work on the clams. He didn't know how someone could look so gorgeous cutting clams, and yet, here you were, doing just that. He closed his eyes for a moment, before plucking up his courage as he swam over to you. Neteyam made his presence known as he tapped your shoulder, you snapping your head around to look at him, eyes widening as you were clearly perplexed at the sight of him.

Tilting your head in confusion, you watched as Neteyam pulled out his own knife, gesturing down to the mussels with a puffy-cheeked smile. You nodded after a moment, and soon, you glanced from the corner of your eye as Neteyam helped you cut the clams. 

A few minutes later, you placed your hand on his arm, the boy looking over at you as you pointed upwards. He nodded, taking one of the mussels and following you as you swam. You broke through the surface, Neteyam following as he inhaled a massive breath, shaking his head as his braids swayed with his movement. You shut your eye as the droplets fell on your face, before speaking, "Thank you. You did not have to help me."

"How could I not?" he asked with a smile. "I've wanted to speak to you for days."

"Ah," you trailed off with a grin. "So, that is why you have been following me around the village? You wished to speak to me?"

"Speak, hang out, get to know you," he listed off, shrugging his shoulder. You giggled, shaking your head as Neteyam watched you with a tilt of his lips. He then reached down, grabbing the last clam he had recieved, quickly digging his knife underneath it to open the lid. You observed the mussel as it opened, and Neteyam rifled through the insides, before grinning as he lifted his hand. "There. A pretty pearl for a pretty girl."

You felt heat rise to your cheeks as he revealed the pearl in his palm. It was pure white, glinting in the rays of the sun that shone down upon the both of you. You softly took it from his hand, analysing the pearl before raising your gaze to him. "Thank you..."

"Neteyam," he offered with a smirk.

"Neteyam," you repeated gently. "Thank you, Neteyam."

You bounced across the woven pathways of the village, clutching the armband in your hands. You had worked on the piece of jewelry for days, staying up late in the night as you worked, hoping to make it perfect for him. 

You grinned as you found Neteyam, playing with his little sisters in the water, the older girl watching on with a stern smile. She glanced up at you, before allowing a sweeter one to pull at her mouth. "Y/N!" she waved. 

You waved back, watching as Neteyam spun around, Tuk on his shoulders as she giggled, too swaying her little hands. "Look how tall I am!"

"My, my, so very tall," you acknowledged, laughing softly as she held onto Neteyam's head, causing a grimace of pain to overcome his face as her fingers poked at his hair and eyes.

"H-Hi," he stammered out as you made your way in front of him.

"Hi," you smiled, tilting your head at him. Kiri watched with a disgusted scowl as you both stared at one another, poking her tongue out at the pure sweetness and affection in both of your eyes.

"Ugh," she groaned, throwing her head back. "Tuk, let's go. Leave the love-ikran's to their pining and whining."

Tuk gasped as she looked between the two of you, before allowing Kiri to pull her off of Neteyam's shoulder, the boy barely noticing as he gulped, losing the game of eye-contact with you. "Sorry," he apologized, scratching the back of his neck. "My sisters can be a little nagging sometimes."

"No, no, please," you brushed off. "I love them. Kiri is very funny, and Tuk is so sweet."

"They think the world of you too," he stated, causing you to glance down to hide your blush.

I hope you do too.

They aren't the only ones.

You both shook your heads as to clear your thoughts, and you looked back up at Neteyam. "I made you something."

"Made me something?" he repeated with wide eyes. You nodded, before reaching down and pulling the band from your side. Grabbing his hand, you opened his fingers and placed it in his palm, watching as he raised it to his eyelevel. A slow smile pulled at his lips as he inspected it. It was an armband, made of dark brown rope, twining together with numerous white shells, before joining into the center piece. 

"It's the shell you picked out," you mumbled, seeing as his stare was very fixated on it.

"I love it," he whispered, causing you to hum in confusion as looked at you. Neteyam grabbed your hand, clasping your fingers in his as a bewitching smile overcame his face. "I love it."

Your ears flattened against your head at the compliment. Neteyam was uncannily sweet, and you offered him a soft smile, stepping forward. The water swirled around you, Neteyam swallowing a gulp of nervous breath as you smirked up at him. 

"Thank you, Neteyam. If this is the response I get, you will have an arm full of bands by the end of this moon." Turning around, you trekked out the of the ocean, throwing a grin over your shoulder before walking off into the village.

Neteyam threw his head back, placing his hands against his braids as he let out a breath. He could feel his heart beating against his chest, turning around to shut his eyes. "By Eywa, what are you doing to me?"