Something Different
Vala surreptitiously studied Cameron over her drink. Something was different about him tonight but she couldn't put her thumb on it. She'd been a little surprised when he invited her out, even more that it was just the two of them. They got on quite well when they were on missions, so long as she didn't go too far off the page. But ever since the high school reunion debacle, they hadn't spent any one-on-one time together off base. Most of the time she felt like he only tolerated her presence, but tonight he seemed more...friendly? No, that wasn't the right word. He was never unkind to her. He just seemed more...open. Yeah, that was it. Usually there was a line they never crossed, but that barrier was nowhere to be seen right now. Vala wondered when the shift had occurred and how she felt about it.
"Penny for your thoughts?" Cameron spoke up.
"Pardon?" Vala shook herself out of her reverie and smiled in confusion. "Why would you offer me a piece of copper for my thoughts?"
"It's just a saying, Princess." Cam laughed and placed a hand over hers. "It just means that I would like to know what has you thinking so hard right now."
"Oh," Vala looked down at their hands, surprised by the contact. It wasn't as though he'd never touched her before, but this seemed...intimate. And why was her skin tingling? "I was just thinking that we never do this. I mean, you and I never go out by ourselves. I've gone out dozens of times with Daniel and Samantha, even Teal'c once or twice, but never you. Why is that?"
"Does it really matter?"
"I suppose not, it's just...different."
"Good different or bad different?" Cam asked, leaning back in his seat and taking a swig of beer.
"I'm not sure yet." Vala answered, following his lead.
"Let me know when you figure it out, I'm really interested in your conclusion.
"Okay." Vala shrugged, smiling in bewilderment before setting the thoughts aside for the time being. She chose to focus on the present and let the rest work itself out. Perhaps something different would turn out all right.
The End