NYE Pt. 1

The bright morning sun bathed the room as Cress stared absently through the glass door at the balcony. It was already the day of New Year's Eve and in the past week, she and Illia had barely spoken. Illia was nowhere to be found Christmas morning, and Cress had left with Ian to visit her mom for a few days. Then, between taking extra shifts at the cafe and finishing an outfit someone commissioned her to make for a convention in January, Cress had been so swamped she couldn't even join Illia on her city searches. That wasn't to say they didn't speak at all; Illia had kept her apprised of her progress, though Cress had noticed the conversations had become increasingly vague.

"Is she hiding something from me? No, she wouldn't. Why would she? I'm not saying she can't have her own secrets, but if it's about her going home, why would she hide it? Is she worried that I'll sabotage any progress she makes to keep her with me?"

That couldn't be it. Cress shook her head, clenching the leg of her baby-blue leggings in her fist. If she'd known how agonizing the anxiety of love was… It was almost worse than what was caused by her arachnophobia. That was a lie of course. She shivered at the memories. She hadn't encountered any tiny Illias since the liquor store Christmas Eve, but the lingering paranoia she'd lived with had all but vanished during her time with her.

"What do you think, William? Do you think I should invite her? Or will she say that she's busy following a lead?"

"Would it not be easier to simply ask me?" Illia said, giving Cress a start.

"Y-You're here! I thought you left again this morning…"

"I did and just returned. But, more importantly, why are you hesitant to extend me an invitation to your event?"

"I, um, it's New Year's Eve and Vi and Kir wanted to go out to celebrate and I thought… we haven't spent time… you know…"

"I do not 'know'," Illia said, leaning over Cress from behind the couch. Her long hair was tied into a tight banded ponytail and its tip hovered just above Cress's nose. "So invite me properly."

"I- Would you like to go out with me tonight?"

"Yes," Illia said. All eight of her eyes glistened in the sunlight and she wore a wide toothy grin. "I would love to."

"IT WAS THAT EASY?! What the hell have I been stressing for then? Vi is going to kill me for complaining so much when it was my fault to begin with. No. She can't know. I'll tell Illia and we'll make up a story. Everyone still believes that absurd Libya origin and saying we made up from an imaginary argument is nothing in comparison!"

"There's a peculiar look in your eye, Cress. What shenanigans are you planning?"

"Nothing! No shenanigans. Just normal me being awkward," Cress said with an unconvincing laugh. "But are you going to be okay going to a party?"

"A party? I did not expect you to willingly attend such an event."

"They're not a big deal," Cress lied. "It's being thrown at some warehouse by one of Kirian's rich friends."

"A warehouse? Now I know something is amiss." Illia stepped her long leg over the couch and sat herself next to Cress. Her hand rested on Cress's loosened fist, her thumb rubbing over Cress's knuckles like a washboard. "The timid little sling I know would never willingly visit such a vulgar place."

"Well that Cress is gone! Thanks to a certain someone, she's not afraid of dumb things like that anymore."

"So it would seem." Illia squeezed Cress's hand before raising it to her lips and kissing it. "I look forward to tonight, my Little Sling."

Cress's face grew hot and she bit her lip. Apparently a "sling" was what people online called baby spiders and Illia had come to the conclusion that it was the equivalent of calling a partner "babe". Like being called "Croissant", she didn't particularly like or dislike the moniker; it was just embarrassing to have another weird nickname.

"Why couldn't she pick something normal? Then again, Illia came up with it on her own and a few months ago she didn't even understand nicknames. But I still don't have a cute name for her! Is there a word for tall sexy spider person?"

After mentally bashing her head against the wall several times, Cress text the group chat and tried to help Illia pick out an outfit for the evening. Though she'd tried to glean a dress code from Kirian, Cress had failed to get a concise answer, only "Don't worry about what to wear! Just wear whatever you're comfortable in."

"Are you sure my attire is not too… informal?"

"It should be fine," Cress said, tugging the skirt of Illia's bandage dress down in the cramped sewing room. The black dress itself fit Illia like a glove, but as usual, her height turned the mid-thigh length skirt into little more than a loincloth that struggled to hide her lower-body assets. Then again, the struggle had given Cress a first look at Illia's preference in underwear, so she couldn't really complain.

"BEGONE LUSTFUL THOUGHTS!"

With an enthusiastic tug, Cress pulled the skirt down to Illia's mid thigh, only for it to pop back up again.

"This isn't working and I don't think we have time to buy something else. What should we do?"

A sly grin raised the corner of Illia's mouth and laid her palm on Cress's head, cradling Cress's skull with her fingers. Then she twisted her hand, turning Cress around before she could object.

"There," Illia said a moment later, taking Cress's shoulder to turn her back around. The skirt of the black bandage dress rested comfortably on Illia's thigh. "A simple fix."

"Why did you let me struggle with it then?!"

"Curiosity? You are quite delectable looking when you're determined."

"Har, har. Very funny. Awfully bold of you to make a joke about eating me when I would've run screaming a few months ago."

"I would not say it was bold," Illia said with a shrug. "I believe I was told you are not 'afraid of dumb things like that anymore'."

"That's…" Cress's cheeks flushed and she bit the edge of her lower lip. "That's not what I meant and you know it. Now we need to figure out a jacket."

Illia shook her head. "Do not worry yourself. I have grown more accustomed to the weather-"

"Nope." Cress pulled an assortment of cosplays and dresses hanging next to her and tossed them at Illia's face. "It's bad enough you've been running around without one all week after being sick. I'm not letting you come if you don't wear a jacket."

"Then I will wear the one you presented me before."

Cress frowned, kicking the garments that had fallen off of Illia out of the way. "I thought you were a princess. Shouldn't you know more about dressing up?"

"My people do not often wear—"

"Exactly. So shut your trap and do what I say before I leave you home with William."

An amused smile that shone in all eight of Illia's eyes blessed Cress, creating a delightful shock in Cress's lower stomach that she'd started getting whenever Illia looked at her. Her excitement was always killed, however, when Cress saw the slight sunkeness of Illia's eyes and the thinness of her cheeks. To an outside observer she probably looked fine, but Cress had watched Illia intently for months. She had always been skinny, but there was a gauntness to her now that made Cress a little queasy.

"Illia… Are you sure you're feeling alright?"

"I am in perfect health. Have I given reason for concern?"

"N-No, nothing like that. You've just been out a lot and, like I said, you were just sick so I'm worried about you."

"There's no need." Illia's expression became rigid and she closed her extra eyes like a person trying to hide their exposed body. "I have not had any issues since that night." She paused before opening her eyes again to shower Cress with a playful smile. "Likely due to the 'healing spell' a certain someone cast on me out on the balcony."

A roll of black faux fur ribbon smacked Illia in the face and Cress stormed from the room with her face buried in her hands. It was obvious Illia was trying to distract her and she was ashamed to admit it had worked.

"Just figure it out yourself! If you can adjust that skirt that quickly you can make yourself a jacket before we have to leave."