punchdrunk.

“  i  already  did  !  “  she  points  out  firmly  before  her  laughter  betrays  her .  she’ll  blame  the  champagne ,  maybe  point  fingers  to  the  cocktails ,  but  at  least  she  knows  the  tequila  has  her  back .  it  could  be  why  she’s  feeling  so  giddy  right  now ,  unable  to  even  keep  a  straight  face ,  just  simply  beaming  the  entire  time .    “  UM . .  rude .  i  feel  like  since  i  said  it ,  it’s  just  right ,  you  know  ?  ”   because  she’s  always  right ,  and  so  if  she  says  it  then  it’s  the  truth ,  obvi ! “  okay .  ”  she’ll  frown  a  little ,  gentle  tug  of  her  brows  because  she  knows  what  he’s  doing .  gaze  will  drift  over  him  as  he  moves  closer  and  it’s  in  her  dna  to  do  the  same ,  lips  pressing  before  she  shakes  her  head .  “  no ,  no ,  no !  just  wondering  —   but  it  is  the  last  party  of  the  year  so  you  should  have  fun .  ”

         “ A MEDIATOR ? ”   she makes, the term used in a slightly mocking term. cecilia didn’t even know that was a job, but it sounds awfully cheesy, somehow right up his alley.   “ that makes it sound like you’re a professional older brother. ”   sal wasn’t a very good mediator, from what she remembered, but nico’s at least tried this past year with her and anya. it’s not his fault he wasn’t very good at it.   “ alright, rude, ”   cecilia gives him a look, trying to hide the way the corners of her lips twitch upwards.   “ don’t worry, i won’t start renting it out on airbnb. ”   she could though, technically, and it’d definitely make her some easy money. who wouldn’t want to stay in an italian villa ?   it’s nice that he tells her not to worry, and not to thank him, but parker’s mad if he thinks she’ll just be able to roll over and accept this gift without knowing the repercussions behind it. when cecilia had joined caledonia, they had offered her a chance for whatever she wanted as a sort of  ‘ signing bonus. ’  perhaps she should’ve known that any job offer that came with a wish straight out from a genie’s lamp would be too good to be true, but cecilia wouldn’t make that mistake again. she trusts parker – something that’s not easy to admit – but this isn’t a good deed she’ll be able to forget. you’ve taught me more than i can explain. cecilia gives a small snort, unable to help herself.   “ what’s that, not to trust so easily ? ”   she asks, because she can’t resist.  the last thing she wants is to take MORE handouts from parker, but she knows he’s sincere in his offer. and, well, she won’t forget it.   “ you too. if there’s anything i can do… ”   her voice trails off, because cecilia knows she doesn’t really have anything to offer him right now, as embarrassing as it is. at leas the youngest casiraghi has always known how to be resourceful.

        CECILIA GIVES HIM A LOOK, because she doesn’t believe that for a second. parker is nothing if not chivalrous.   “ no, we’re not. ”   it seems a little silly of him to ask now, after she’s let him kiss her multiple times in a single conversation. cecilia doesn’t do anything she doesn’t want to do. his words are lost on her, eyebrows pushing together as she tries to understand it.   “ so, a lawyer, ”   she decides. is she wrong ?   “ it’s not often rich boys have a work ethic, ”   the brunette teases, smirking up at him. it’s an attractive quality, honestly, a hard worker.   “ you mean i can’t throw a party for all my italian friends ? ”   her words are heavy in sarcasm, because cecilia knows she’ll be returning to a country where she has no friends, and it’s not a pleasant thought. but she’s always been good at making friends.   “ if there’s anyone to expect, it’d just be anya. but i’ll let you know. ”   a pause, and her face sobers up a little.  “ i’ll never be able to repay you, you know, ”   she tells him, and cecilia isn’t just talking about money.   “ so… thank you. i’m really glad i’ve met you, parker. and not because of this. ”

        HIS KISS MAKES HER LAUGH, peering up at him almost curiously.   “ you’re going to make my date jealous, ”   she warns him, although she really does hope conor wasn’t around to see that.   “ have you ever thought about being the person that changes laws ?   i could see you working in politics. ”   he has the face for it, at least, plus parker’s pretty charming when he wants to be.   “ are you the type that can’t stand still ? ”   cecilia could see that ;   as long as she’s somewhere comfortable, she can’t relate.   “ that sounds like fun. ”   she’s listening to what he’s saying, but also thinking of home, how lovely italy used to be in the summer. a smile grows on her lips when cecilia realizes she’ll be there in just a few days.   “ about your offer ?   i’ll probably have to, i’m sure they’ll want to know why i’m living in a house, ”   she laughs.   “ i’d like to ask anya to stay with me as well, since she’s only around for the summer. it’s the least i could do. ”   she’d invite nico too, but he’d be way too up in her business.

“  definitely  wasn’t  an  accident . . ”  her  teeth  will  catch  her  bottom  lip  as  she  trails  off ,  thinks  it  was  completely  unintentional  but ,  hey ,  if  she  finds  the  opportunity  to  tease  him ,  she’ll  take  it .  “  i  don’t  do  stupid  things .  ”  she  does ,  but  she  wouldn’t  admit  to  it  ever .  just  like  how  she’d  never  seek  out  his  help  or  assistance  during  a  moment  of  weakness ,  those  were  for  her  to  deal  with  and  her  alone … or  grey ,  but  . .  where  even  was  he  ?  parker  may  know  she’s  not  all  that  stable ,  has  moments  where  she’ll  crack  slightly  but  he’s  never  seen  her  crumble  and  she  intends  it  to  stay  that  way .  he’s  too  good ,  she  thinks .  kind  of  likes  whatever  they’re  doing  and  she  knows  that’ll  change  things .  “  okay , ”  still ,  she’ll  say  it  like  she  means  it ,  gentle  smile  on  her  lips .  “  are … you  … going  slow  ?  ”  cori  wonders ,  tilting  her  head  to  look  up  at  him .  

      “I think that’s a safe assumption.” Even outside of the spy world. “Well, I guess.” She shrugs, never one to take a compliment easily. “As much as I hate to admit it, I haven’t actually thought that far ahead. I… Had some thoughts about leaving. But not anymore.” Cal offers a tight lipped smile. “But I’ll definitely take some form of TE next year.”

“you sure that beyonce isn’t the one that’s making us sign an nda?” he asked, chuckling softly. it seemed like something a celebrity would do, but then again, how would anyone be able to hide the fact that beyonce performed for them when social media exists? “yeah,” he admits, nodding his head. “what about you?” he gestured to parker with his drink. 

       SHE SMILES BACK AT HIM, because for the first time all year, cecilia thinks they’re finally on the same terms. it’s a nice feeling, even if it won’t be lasting for very long, when they’re back in two different countries.   “ and which do you like better ?   knowing the laws, or bending them ? ”   she tilts her head a bit. law isn’t something she knows very much about, nor being a lawyer, so she’s not sure which of them would actually make him a lawyer. cecilia always figured lawyers did both.   “ good for you, you deserve a real vacation. is washington dc a lot of fun in the summer ? ”   it was a fun city to visit, but cecilia can’t imagine it gets too wild. it’s certainly no london. his offer make her smile, chin tilting a little to look up at him better.   “ how about in the beginning of june ?   i don’t think i can handle non-stop sibling time for very long. ”   she’ll want the house and the company of someone not casiraghi related.

“ parker, ” he pinches a napkin and wipes at the clean bartop. “ whatever obligation you feel to converse with me because you’re sleeping with my sister is not necessary. ”

        “ I KNOW A PINKY PROMISE ISN’T LEGALLY BINDING, PARKER, ”   she gives him a look, but there’s a curve to her smile that’s affectionate, because it’s such a parker thing for him to say, and she’s going to miss it. it hits cecilia in small waves, the idea of missing people – not nearly enough of them to get too emotional about it, but once in awhile the feeling crashes into her. at least now she has a reason to see him again  ( a pretty giant reason ) .   “ are you sure you don’t want to be a lawyer ? ”   cecilia teases, taking his hand in hers and tugging him over to the dance floor.   “ what are your plans this summer ?   will you be in dc the entire time ? ”   she asks when they find a spot nestled around others, bringing her arms up to wrap loosely around his neck. 

        IT’S FUNNY,  because cecilia’s cover during her caledonia years had been that she had met a man who became her patron for her art career, and thanks to parker that part of her life was actually beginning to become a reality. cecilia could go back to london if she wanted, but she’s put anya and nico through enough this year, by their side is where she should be – at least for now.   “ i’ll never turn down flattery, ”   she smiles slyly at him.   “ deal. six months from now, i won’t forget. ”   cecilia offers him her pinky for a promise.   “ i’m leaving not long after nico’s graduation tomorrow, he’s already booked the flights. but if you’ll be around, let me know, we can plan something. until then, ”   she glances over at the rest of the party, before back to him,   “ dance with me ? ”

        “ I DON’T KNOW, but i wouldn’t want to. ”   cecilia shrugs her shoulders.   “ i’ll look into it. ”   since it seems like something he really believes in, and if he’s going to help her out like this, it’s the least she can do. she takes his compliment with a grain of salt, not because she doesn’t believe it, but because it’s not really about her.   “ it’s more of something i’m doing now, getting back in touch with my siblings, ”   she says,   “ so ask me in six months. ”   reconnecting with them could end with their relationship worse than ever  ( especially if they learned of the other big secret cecilia’s keeping ) ,   but she doesn’t mind the risk. it’s not the first time she would’ve had to dust herself off from family drama.   “ so you’ve talked, then ?   that’s good news. i’m sure it will, ”   she says, sincerely. maybe she’s biased, but it’s hard to stay mad at parker for long. 

he shook his head. “no,” he admitted, before letting himself think. “she’s probably with the entertainment. who better to protect beyonce than the president of a spy school?” he asked, laughing softly. 

she  likes  the  attention  he  gives  her ,  likes  how  he’s  so  intuitive  and  intelligent  while  also  being  completely  clueless  at  times .  but  there’s  something  in  the  way  he  holds  her ,  keeps  her  close ,  that  she’ll  sink  into  each  time .  “  that  sounds  . .  dirty ,  parker .  ”  cori  smirks ,  voice  a  little  hushed  and  she  knows  he  definitely  does  NOT  mean  it  like  that  but  it’s  funny  to  her  regardless .  arms   shrug  at  the  first  question ,  a  strong  nod  at  his  second .  “  mhm ,  i  am  !  some  of  my  bestest  ever  friends  are  leaving  after  tonight  so  .  .  i  gotta  give  them  a  proper  send  off .  ”  and  if  she  passes  out  before  she  can  have  a  break  down  that’s  a  bonus !