Chapter Text
𝚗𝚎𝚝𝚎𝚢𝚊𝚖 𝚜𝚞𝚕𝚕𝚢 𝚡 𝚐𝚗! 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚎𝚛
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He was visibly confused when you asked to compare hand sizes, eyes flicking back and forth between his hands to yours. When it came to Neteyam, he was a little more cautious, especially growing up around three troublesome siblings. There always has to be a catch when it comes to silly requests like these.
But after a few moments of awkward silence, he ends up obediently holding up his hand to you, earning a pleased smile from you.
“Are you playing tricks on me right now?” Neteyam had to make sure in case the situation calls for any medical attention. Kiri and his grandmother weren’t that far off from you guys.
“No I'm not, swear,” You laughed, raising your own hand towards him.
The air felt weirdly tense as he felt your soft palms brush against his, a strange warmth enveloping inside his chest. For all the times you guys have physically touched each other, whether it be to tend each other’s wounds or when he mindlessly latched onto your waist whenever he feels like there’s a threat approaching, he has never felt that intimate towards your touches.
Neteyam watched the pads of your fingers drag itself into the calluses of his palm, it made him slightly jolt from the ticklish sensation and you couldn’t help but quietly giggle at his reaction. He gave you a playful glare that silenced you, but there was still a smile on your face. Finally, you laid your hand flat over his— mirroring his outstretched fingers. Neteyam realized how much your hands were completely different from his.
He noticed how your fingers were a lot shorter compared to his. If he could close his hands into a fist right now, your hand would be completely engulfed by his slim fingers. This shouldn’t be a surprise to him, you were a lot more shorter than him by a whole foot— always having to crane your neck whenever the two of you talked or when he always teases you for being short. But somehow, Neteyam felt like he just learned the secret to Pandora. It made him melt inside a bit.
He couldn’t help but think your hands are adorable.
“You have baby hands,” Neteyam teases, his fangs flashing in his smirk. “Tiny and soft.”
There was blush that appeared on your cheeks, your eyebrows crinkled at his teasing, “They're not that small!”
Your mind couldn’t quite register the fact he also called your hands soft . It made you feel even more flustered.
His long fingers smoothly wrapped around your entire hand, restraining your hand completely. You tried to wiggle your fingers out of his firm grasp, but there was no use. You nodded in a defeated agreement, he was right— your hands are completely tiny. But with someone like Neteyam, he needed to hear it from you verbally.
“Say it,” Neteyam can be such an ass sometimes.
You rolled your eyes, tongue suddenly feeling heavy with denial. But you knew Neteyam wouldn’t let go of your hand until you admitted it. Childishly, you stomped your feet a couple of times before you spoke again.
“I have baby hands,” Your voice slurred with anger.
Neteyam smiled in satisfaction and slowly released your hand. You quickly snatched away and petted the delicate skin of your hand— comforting it after being restrained by his rough touch.
After that, Neteyam would always hold onto your hand whenever you went anywhere together. It could be when you guys hunted in the depths of the forest or just out of comfort, but there was always one sly comment about the softness of your skin or how tiny your hands are. Your hands are so cute, he would whisper teasing remarks until your ears grew red. The other Sully’s caught on and started to tease you as well. Now you had to deal with even more relentless teasing whenever you came to visit them. As a result, your new nickname became “baby hands.”
Although he could tease you about your small hands, you could always get him back for liking them.