Arik finds out what happened...and a confrontation ensues....
"Who is she?" Diyan’s voice held an aggressive edge as he fought grinding his teeth. He knew he had been lied to, to what extent, he wasn't sure yet. After how things had gone down just a few minutes before, he had ended up sending his First Mate up to retrieve Arik from the bridge, afraid he’d lose his temper up there, for all to see and hear. They still might hear him, as irritated as he was. Standing now, feet shoulder width apart and arms crossed over his broad chest, he cut an intimidating form, yet Arik met his gaze evenly. Whether that was a stupid move was yet to be seen.
Diyan’s mood was not exactly what Arik had expected when he’d walked in the door. Disappointment at being turned down, embarrassment at probably being slapped, pain at maybe even having his family jewels injured - those he could have anticipated. Diyan standing there looking like he wanted to remove Arik’s head manually had not been in the list of possibilities he’d been considering on the way down from the bridge.
"What do you mean, who is she? I thought we covered that topic when we were discovered?" Arik eyed Diyan suspiciously as he answered. What had happened during dinner for that to be the first question, and asked with such venom that he could almost feel the anger coming off his friend?
Diyan’s lips thinned as he pressed them together, looking down briefly before once more raising his head to pin Arik with a murderous stare. He knew he had been lied to, and he wasn’t buying the stupid act. "Why would she think Prince Diyan is an asshole, Arik? Some random woman you ran into, what exactly would she have to do with him? Even better question, old friend, why when she got mad would she then start to say she would almost think that I am the Prince who she was…” his jaw ticked and his brows drew lower, “she was what, Arik?" He saw the shock on Arik's face, obviously the beauty had fumbled exactly what Diyan thought she had. "She was what? Supposed to marry, maybe?" His brows rose, a sarcastic smirk forming on his lips. He was still trying not to just throttle Arik till the anger he felt was gone.
Riona truly being Inara was the only thing that made sense. He’d tumbled it over and over in his mind since she’d run from the room. He had desired her from the beginning, and she completely hated him. He should have agreed to the damn wedding. A little late now.
"Diyan," Arik was cautious, "what did you do to get her to say anything about your real name?" He was worried about her, and gave not one fuck about Diyan being upset. If he had to further confront Diyan he would, but he’d prefer not to. Feelings of protection for Inara were rising up quickly, making it hard for him to maintain the calm veneer. Obviously something serious had happened for this to be the current conversation.
"Answer. My. Question." Diyan knew that in a way Arik had, but he wanted to hear the man admit his deception.
"Answer mine first.” Arik’s head tilted slightly as he looked at Diyan. A sense of dread was settling in the pit of his stomach and it only fed his rising anger. “What did you do or say? You were seen in the hallway, with her upset, by more than one of the crew. I told you not to." His hands slowly closed to fists and opened as he stalked towards Diyan slowly. Why couldn’t Diyan get through one damn meal without upsetting Inara? It couldn’t have been that hard, Arik hadn’t upset her once in the entire time they’d been around each other, yet Diyan seemed to not be able to be in her presence without making her uncomfortable or upset. “What the fuck is wrong with you, Diyan? Do you have no ability to just STOP?” Now it was Diyan who was shocked and looked uncomfortable.
"I tried to kiss her." Diyan didn't miss the flare of anger that was instantaneous in Arik. There was a ticking in the other man’s jaw that was obvious and the way his brows immediately dropped lower over his eyes that became intense was not a positive sign. There was going to be a fight, and it was going to be brutal, he was now sure of it.
"You don't listen or learn, do you?" Arik shook his head, proud Inara had put him in his place at least somewhat, but now even more concerned about her. "Yes, the woman you keep completely alienating is Princess Inara. I don't know what more you did to make her invoke your now alter ego, but your disregard for anyone other than yourself probably played a part. That I care for her and we're building something didn't stop you from trying to kiss her. Her making it clear we're together the last time the three of us were in this room didn't stop you. Because goddess forbid you not get what you want, even if someone else has it. Even if that someone is me." His voice was a growl and he was fighting yelling at Diyan. He wanted to deliver the blow that would give his old friend that broken jaw he’d asked about earlier, but there seemed to be no satisfaction in that. All it would do was give him a sore hand.
Arik stepped towards Diyan, pointing one index finger towards him as his voice became colder and his expression harder. "I helped her escape rather than head down to a wedding neither of you wanted. I've kept her safe, vowed my life on it, and I won't have you breaking that. I loved you like a brother, Diyan. I see I was just another thing to be used by you. I'm going to go check on her. How you decide to handle this is up to you. I won't tell her who you are and you won't reveal it either, or that you've figured out who she is. You've done enough damage in the last 24 hours, I don’t need you doing any more. I used to think I knew you, it’s clear I never really did." He strode from the room before Diyan could respond. Arik was afraid if he did, he’d break more than Diyan’s jaw in response and ending up in the ship’s brig with Inara alone was NOT an option.
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