Stupid
by She's a Star
Disclaimer: Alias belongs to J.J. And after the end of s3, I just gotta say -- heaven help us all.
Author's Note: This is just a little pointless drabble I wrote a few months ago, set sometime during season one. Ahhh, back in the days when Syd and Vaughn were all inadvertently flirty and adorable. yearns for s1 DVDs
So . . . enjoy, or something. :-D
(Also, the Garfleck reference was completely and totally an accident. Forgive me.)
--
"You'll present the duplicate disk to Sloane, and give the CIA the original. By the time he figures out the difference, we should have—Syd?"
She looks up from the magazine stand, immediately adapting the most professional expression she can manage. She somehow doubts that Vaughn will be thrilled if he knows she's been yearningly eyeing the 50 Most Beautiful Celebrities issue of People instead of listening intently to the details of her newest counter-mission.
"I'm listening," she assures him, and is overcome with the childish impulse to cross her fingers behind her back.
"Really?" he asks, a hint of a smile playing at his mouth.
"Present the duplicate to Sloane, and give the CIA the original," she rattles off dutifully.
He studies her for a moment, as though wondering whether or not he should believe her, before changing tactics. "Nicole Kidman, huh?"
She blinks, surprised, and then looks down at the magazine. The actress smiles radiantly back up at her.
"Oh!" she says as realization strikes. "Right." He retrieves a copy, humouring her. She wonders if this is some weird attempt to guilt her into being more attentive.
"I'm sorry," she tells him; he tears his gaze away from Nicole and looks up at her with mild interest. "It's just that Francie and I have this kind of tradition, where we do this sort of commentary every time one of these lists comes out, and – it's stupid, I'm sorry. I should have been—"
Vaughn flips open the magazine and interrupts, his voice smooth and amused. "Josh Hartnett, the Pearl Harbor hottie who stole our hearts right along with Kate Beckinsale's."
She stares at him in disbelief for a moment before she feels a smile spill across her face. Inexplicably giddy, she leans closer to him and inspects the page.
"So, what do you think?" he asks, all business.
"I don't know," she says, feigning seriousness. "I think that I actually liked Ben Affleck better."
"Me too."
"You saw Pearl Harbor?"
"You sound surprised."
"Well, it's just not really a guy movie—"
"That's a little sexist, don't you think?"
"Did you cry?"
"What?"
"Well, it was sad. I cried a little."
"I didn't cry."
"Are you sure?"
"Pretty sure—"
"I think you cried."
"Sydney—"
"Are you two gonna stand around and argue all day, or is someone going to buy the magazine?" the vendor cuts in, glaring at them in obvious annoyance.
She exchanges a look with Vaughn and resists the urge to giggle. Instead, she apologizes and turns to go, muttering that she'll see him once she returns from London. As she walks away, she can't help herself.
A stupid, jubilant grin spreads across her face.