This is my very first fanfic based on a game. I got XCX for Christmas, and I just finished the main story. Still playing the heck out of it, though.

Irina and Gwin are my favorites, so I decided to add to the fandom. For now this is just a drabble, but I want to make it something more.


Clicking

Bliss

There didn't have to be an intergalactic war. The Earth didn't have to be incinerated. Life could have continued as normal for Irina, and she still would have felt lost. Her brother's passing was only the cherry on top, because with him, the last of her true self seemed to bury under a thick layers of anguish, bitterness, and rage. She was an empty husk of a woman since the moment she realized her last words to her dear sibling were the very last. In all honesty, she couldn't bank on living too much longer, not with her state of mind anyways. Not that she was prone to cutting or jumping from buildings; she knew herself to charge into battle at the expense of herself, even if to protect her comrades.

Only a few moments on Mira were blissful, and the situation she stood in was one of them. Her team traveled to Noctilum for a mission—an easy one. They just finished when they all noticed night was near. It was only four of them, so she told her comrades to head on back to New LA while she took an extra side mission to collect data from a data probe. She saw the mission on the board in the Administrative District just before they left, and it was too easy and convenient way to grab a few more credits.

Half of the team left, which settled her with the ever-so-clingy Gwin following her. He always refused to leave her side outside of the city unless it was an absolute emergency. So Irina walked towards the fn site closest to them with the idiot trailing behind. This was not the blissful moment, not yet. She was silent. He knew better than to start up conversation until a mission was over, no matter the importance of their job.

Irina stepped up to the streak of light known as a data probe. She pulled out her com device and began working. Her eyes focused on the screen intently as she pressed a few touch buttons and waited for it to finish.

"Ah!" Gwin's voice rang out fearfully.

The dirty blonde's eyes widened, and her head whipped back just in time to see Gwin charging her. Everything seemed to happen in slow motion. His arms passed either side of her, his torso ramming into hers. She was instantly held close and sheltered as much as he could possibly wrap around her. Her device fell to the grassy land below. In that moment she was engulfed with his scent, warmth, and strong hold. For such a puppy-eyed person, Gwin was sturdy, and he could have easily knocked her over if he wanted (his longsword had a enough weight on its own).

A few seconds passed, and Irina spoke angrily as she wriggled, "what the hell are you doing?!"

He loosened his grip and looked up, "oh…I uh…thought it was something dangerous…"

She lifted her face from his chest and followed his stare to see billions of tiny glowing particles all around them. She flinched when she saw them, but she soon relaxed as they were touching her but not doing any harm. She sighed, "I heard that Noctilum has an energy mist sometimes…like some sort of weather. It's fine." She lowered her eyes and cut them to her companion, who she expected to be staring at the mist, but he wasn't.

Gwin's eyes focused on hers, and he bit his lip slowly. He clammed up and hesitantly let her go and stepped back. He then frowned with a furrowed brow and lowered his eyes to look away. "Sorry, Lieutenant," he murmured softly.

Another sigh escaped her as she knelt to pick up her device; the data collection was done. "We should get back home," she said before glancing at him again; much to her dismay, he was avoiding eye contact. It clicked then that he was most likely embarrassed; he really did screw up too much. She figured that he was tired of being an idiot, but oddly enough she didn't mind. Yet, as she stared at him, she realized something else… when Gwin thought the energy mist was dangerous, he wasted no time in throwing himself onto her to protect her, no matter the potential danger to his own self.

Gwin gradually left all thoughts of inadequacy and began to admire the mist. His boyish eyes followed the tiny dots of light.

Irina watched as he lifted his hand and tried to touch the energy specks; his eyes full of wonder, his hand turned slightly. Why did he have to be adorable like that? Better yet, why did he have to fight so hard when his soul was so gentle and honest? It all made her angry and sad that he ever joined her and her brother in this mess. Even if his involvement saved his life from Earth, what in the world did it cost his sweet soul?

He gave up trying to touch the mist and looked at Irina, who was frowning silently, staring at him with thoughtfulness. He blinked before frowning again, too, "Lieutenant?"

She slipped her com device back into her pocket and sighed, "what?"

He decided to change the subject, "it's really pretty, huh?"

A smile slipped, and she could feel her heartwarming by his gentle charm. "Yeah, I guess," she hummed as she walked past him. "Come on."

He followed silently.

In order to get back to New LA, they had to climb a rock formation to get to the path on the other side. At the top of that formation, Irina felt bliss. The energy mist shined so bright against the inky black night sky, that glittered with twinkling stars. Blotches of pink and blue backgrounded two moons. The view was amazing; it took her breath away.

Gwin spoke again as they both unconsciously stopped to stare up at the beautiful sight, "oh man…"

A shudder ran up her spine when she felt his eyes on her again. She turned her head to see just that.

He smiled, "wow…Irina, your eyes are so beautiful right now."

She knew if she could blush, she would have. Actually, his eyes were just as lovely as the glow of the mist reflected in them. She could only get out some bitter words, "yeah, so what?"

His expression only softened more as if he loved what she said. His voice lowered a bit, "I mean…they always are, but now…"

She was happy. Why? Why was she so happy about his compliment…his complimenting her. He always praised her, worshipped her, pined for her attention, so why was it now that she felt so…amazing?

He stiffened when he saw that she was just staring at him blankly. He frowned again and cut his eyes away.

Her very soul withered in agony; why did that hurt her? "Gwin," she murmured, and her saying his name was enough to perk him up again. "Stop frowning so much; you look like a stray dog," she muttered before making a move to the edge of the formation. But she slipped as her shaky boot hit the surface. She wobbled and knew she could catch herself, but Gwin grabbed both of her arms and tugged her towards him. She was ready that time, and twisted her limbs from him only to shove him out of reflex.

Gwin, however, wasn't ready; he had poor reaction time. His feet stumbled and knocked on a loose rock.

Irina's eyes widened as she watched him fall right off of the fifteen-foot tall formation, out of her sight. She looked over the side and called out to him, "Gwin!" Again her soul dared to cry out in agony as she saw his body lying on the ground with rocks littered around his form. She hurried down the formation to help him, hoping so much that he wasn't hurt.

He slowly lifted to a sitting position and cringed; he had fallen on his longsword.

"Gwin, are you alright?" she asked as she made it to his side.

He winced and held his side, "y-yeah. I'm okay."

She knew she had to apologize…

A weak grin stretched across his face, "really."

"You surprised me when you grabbed me like that!" she snapped; so much for apologies.

Any other person would have snapped back in her face, but Gwin smiled weakly, "sorry, Lieutenant."

Why was she like this? Why was she mean to him like that? "No one was hurt; that's all that matters," she muttered. She lent him a hand, "get up."

He held no anger…no hurt from her words and attitude. He only took her hand thankfully and stood. He winced again but didn't complain.

She knew she had to give him some kindness after that, "when we get home, I'll cook us something great."

His face blanked and awkwardly smiled again, "…great!" Irina wasn't the best cook, and many a time, he feared for his health when he consumed her experimental dishes.

Irina smiled, "you and I can eat together and chill out. How about it?"

He nodded, "sounds nice." That wasn't a lie; to him, spending time with her was the ultimate happiness.

She didn't waste any more time drudging them back to New LA. She would always remember that moment staring at the sky…next to him…next to Gwin…the idiot.


If any of you see typos, story errors, etc...please tell me so. I like feedback.

And if you like it, let me know if I should continue. I hope I keep them in character.