The Prince of the Awoken

"...Is this a joke?" Katrina said, wide awake now.

It was the middle of the night back on Earth. That didn't stop Aro from calling up the rest of the clan to tell them the big news. Or at least making Erek tell them the news. It was his story to tell anyway.

Katrina was the one who was called as Aro knew she was the lightest sleeper. You wouldn't last very long as a Hunter in the wilds of you weren't. In contrast, Aro could Josef snoring in the background and his sister hitting him awake.

Everyone was taking the big reveal in their own way. Most of them were more hurt than angry that Erek didn't trust them enough to tell them. Especially after all they've been through.

Daniel, however, was angry. Or just as hurt or even more heart. Aro couldn't tell but he was pacing back and forth in the room they had gathered in.

"Could you tell Daniel to sit down?" Katrina asked annoyed.

"You can come over here and make me!" A yell came from off screen.

An exasperated sigh, "Fine, whatever. Erek? The truth. All of it," Katrina said.

The man sighed, "Yes, I am or at least was Awoken royalty. The Queen and the Prince are my younger sister and brother." He ran a hand over his recently shortened black hair.

"Younger? So were you heir to the throne?"

Everything went silent. Daniel had even stopped pacing with his back to the group, awaiting his answer.

"No," he answered after a few seconds, "The Reef is matriarchal in most aspects of society but not when it comes to choosing our leaders. Mara was simply more qualified, so she was chosen over me."

"Wait, wait, wait," Daniel said, "Is that why you left? Because you were denied the crown?"

"No, it's not. If you'd just listen-"

"Why should I? You go this long without telling us and just expect me not to question everything that comes out of your mouth now?"

"Daniel?" Aro called.

"It wasn't any of your business! Or anyone else's!" Erek shot back, "Besides, who the fuck are you to talk?! How long did you keep Lust's identity for me?"

"Erek, thats enough-" Aro said, standing up.

"Kayla and I were under orders!"

Without warning, Crona stuck her fingers into her mouth and blew as hard as she could. Nearly everyone in the room and even those on Earth cringed at the shrill whistle.

She calmly waited for the cursing and complaints to quiet down, "Now if you two are done, I'd like for Erek to finish his story," she beckoned him to continue.

After one last disdainful look at Daniel, he sat back down in front of the screen, "Nobody had any idea I was to be a Guardian. I was claimed by my Ghost on Earth. After...everything. My parents had a completely different set of goals for me," he continued.

"What do you mean?" Katrina asked. They could see the others behind her lean slightly closer to her to hear his answer.

"The ruler of the Reef has two "hands" if you will. The Right Hand is their more "public" face. A direct representative of the Queen or King, in both peace and war. That was to be Uldren's job."

"The Prince?" Asura asked, speaking up for the first time in hours, "They wanted him to be the Queen's public face?"

"He was a much softer person before I left. Both jobs take their toll on you." Erek answered, shoulders dropping slightly.

"Can we assume you were the Left Hand?" They heard May ask in the background.

"Yes. People would know who I am and my position but that would be it. I was to gather intelligence on, well, everyone. Those who would be of interest or a threat to the Queen and the Reef and if need be, deal with it directly and quietly."

The quiet in the room couldn't get any louder, "You were an assassin." Katrina said.

"Assassin, spy and occasional military commander. Its why I prefer a blade to a gun." Erek confirmed, leaning back, "It's just how I was raised."

"And then?"

Erek sighed, "And then I met Eren. A common Awoken woman from a common Awoken family."

"Are you not allowed to have relationships?" Aro asked.

"For the Left Hand, it's actively discouraged but not explicitly forbidden. This isn't the line of work you want too many people who could be used against you unless you were sure you were good enough to protect them. What is forbidden, is intermarrying between social classes so far apart." Erek glowered at the ground, "I grew sick of it. And of the life my parents decided for me. To make it short, I stayed for the entirety of the Reef Wars. During the celebrations, I grabbed Eren and we left for Earth."

"The Reef has social classes?" Josef's voice came offscreen.

"The commoners at the bottom, the military, the advisors to the Queen and the Royals at the top. In the upper classes, marriage is a matter of inheritance and status. Few lucky ones actually fall in love, like my parents," he explained, his voice dropping slightly at the mention of his mother and father, "I made...the "mistake" of falling love with a common girl. My parents vehemently disapproved and forbade me to see her for a long time. When they passed and Mara was crowned, she maintained the decision."

His hands started shaking, "She and Uldren took the advisors' side over me. Their own brother. I hated them but I stayed for the Reef Wars to make sure they and the kingdom were safe. But the second it was over, I ran. I don't hate them anymore but I still planned to never come back."

No one spoke for the longest time. Daniel had his back to the group again but it seemed he had cooled off a bit during Erek's explanation. Whether that meant he was okay with the deception was still unclear.

Not even Aro knew how he should handle this. What he did know was that it had been a long day and he was the one who had to be awake early, "Everyone out. Get some rest." he said, "We can discuss this another time."

"I plan to." Daniel rumbled, stalking away for the bathroom at the back of the room. Erek stood without a word or a look to anyone and walked out. Crona, Kayla and Asura slowly did the same until Aro was alone in the room he and Daniel shared.

Back on Earth, only Aashir was still in front of the monitor.

"What?" Aro asked tiredly after a few seconds of being stared at.

The Exo's bright blue eyes never shifted, "Just wondering how you plan to handle all of this."

"I'll...figure something out." he answered.

"Mmm." Aashir looked him up and down, "Try not to let anyone kill anybody else, leader." he said, clearly mocking him. The screen shut off without another word.

In the back, Aro could hear Daniel cursing quietly in the bathroom. Probably trying to figure out the shower. Aro exhaled tiredly and asked Kain to wake him up earlier than he planned. He'd have to shower in the morning.