To Know the Sky
by Ironraven

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"You really want to know why I live here on the surface." Aqualad rolled over, looking at the wall in the dim light filtering through window.

---- Atlantian Royal Court

"But... Your Majesty, I didn't do anything!"

The King closed his eyes, his fist clenched tightly. "You know our laws, you were raised to know them. You are the only surviving member of your house, and as such are answerable for the crimes of your patriarch, as it has been since we lived on the surface." He shook his head. "Orm commited treason, he tried to start a war with the surface dwellers, and he tried to murder my son. And when he failed, he attempted to destroy the world. He died for his crimes, but by the laws given to us by Neptune, you to must be punished."

The young man bowed his head. He did know the law. His father had been the King's brother. And his father had done these things. He was ashamed to be the son of a traitor, and he knew that under the law he was guilty for his father's sins. "I know, my King."

The muscular blond man stood, stepping down from the throne. He stoped barely an armslength from his nephew. "By our laws, I must sentance you to death. But by our laws, death and exile are one and the same." The King placed his hand on the shoulder of the dark haired youth. "I do not know if it is a kindness for you to live under the sky rather than to die under the waves, but I can not kill my nephew. We are not like your father."

"Yes your Majesty."

"You will not go alone. One of the Lemurian embassy has expressed an interest in joining you as you take the long swim in to the black waters- Tram will be your guide."

---- Titan's East headquarters, personal quarters

"So, there you go. I used to be third, then fourth in line for Crown of Atlantis. Then my father went crazy. Or maybe he always was crazy, and I just never saw it."

The person sharing his bed rolled over as well. Aqualad stiffened at the touch of a forehead between his shoulders, arms around him tightly. "I'm sorry." A long silence. "Do you regret the outcome so far?"

"No." Rolling over, Aqualad's fingers cupped the underside of the other's chin. "I can do more up here for Atlantis than I ever could down there. And there is a lot more to the world than just Atlantis. But that isn't the best part." He bowed his head, the long dark hair stroking Speedy's face as they kissed, lightly.

----
Author's notes
I know I'm not the only one who think that Speedy and Aqualad make a cute couple. There is nothing in current cannon that supports that Aqualad was the prince of Atlantis, but it make sense. This is part of my "Pain" series, which started with Starfire's first memory. I wonder who will be next.