Thanks again to my army of betas, Elvira and Alena.
He watched resentfully as Ming Hua took off with that pretentious prick, Unalaq. Was she having trouble with her vision or was it a mild concussion? What in the world made a girl like her stoop so low beneath her level?
Ghazan had always liked her. Over time he grew to admire her perceptiveness, her twisted humor and how, despite everything she's been through, she managed to become the strongest person he's ever known. It didn't hurt that she was also sort of pretty, in her own way. After spending so much time together as they did, trapped as third wheels, sharing private jokes and deep conversations, falling for her was inevitable.
From this point, there were only two options – he either keeps it to himself, hides it from a woman who could basically read his mind, or – he actually tells her. If he does, there's always the danger of rejection. He could read her mind just as well, and he never saw any sign of attraction or flirtation on her part. She probably sees him as the brother she never had, and then he'll end up making a total fool of himself. Everything will get awkward between them and things will never be the same again. He couldn't let that happen.
There was also the possibility of her reciprocating his love, resulting in them becoming a Zaheer-and-P'li sort of couple. But what if he couldn't make that commitment, or something doesn't work out and they'd end up heartbroken to the point they can't even look at each other? Their little group will be destroyed forever, and he can't afford that. They were his family. He won't put it at risk by being careless. No, he'll keep his stupid emotions to himself.
When Ming Hua returned from her night of he-didn't-even-want-to-think-about-it with Unalaq, he couldn't help but ask.
"Well?"
"It's been an interesting night. He sure knew what he was doing," she simpered. There was a new glow to her that only made him feel worse.
"A bit unexpected from such a boring person," he forced himself to smile. "Did he convince you to kidnap the Avatar while you were at it?"
"No, but I'd probably agree to everything he'd say at that point."
The word gross played repeatedly through his mind. Poor Ming Hua doesn't have any standards.
A part of him knew they'd be perfect together. The other part knew that at some point, he's bound to mess it all up.
"So are you dating now?"
"As if I could make it through a dinner with him without rolling my eyes until they come out of their sockets. It's called a one-night stand, I'm sure you know all about it. I better get to bed now, I didn't get any sleep last night," she smirked and turned away from him.
He wondered if it's physically possible to be so relieved and yet so repulsed at the same time.