[ The short answer is: Yes. Especially for Hei, who lives his life at such extremes of indifference or intensity. Despite Li's facade of dull, run-of-the-mill normalcy, a guy who works hard at things he isn't a natural at, whose life and ambitions and loves are all ordinary-sized and paltry and not enough, Hei at his core has no patience for half-measures. All his emotions have been distilled -- whetted -- to razor-tipped apogees. He doesn't have room for petty resentments, small-minded hypocrisies, tepid affections. He loves remote, brilliant objects just beyond reach, something pure to devote himself completely to. That's the way it was with Pai. And his sense of revenge is as extreme as his loyalty. That's why he'd warped into such a hollowed-out, toxic monster after he thought Amber had betrayed him. ]
[ He wishes he could tell Korra, that she shouldn't use those rare little presents he gives her -- of himself,of softness -- as a measurement of what he feels for her. He considers those things meaningless. If he holds her to any value -- to a tender esteem -- his actions will telegraph it loud and clear. ]
[ Except he has no idea what's going through her head. At her petulance, his gaze narrows. The air around him crackles as if he's gathering himself for a blistering response. ]
[ But instead he shakes his head -- bewilderment, disgust, ]
How many drinks have you had?
[ Because what else would bring this on, but an alcohol-induced haze? ]
no subject
[ He wishes he could tell Korra, that she shouldn't use those rare little presents he gives her -- of himself,of softness -- as a measurement of what he feels for her. He considers those things meaningless. If he holds her to any value -- to a tender esteem -- his actions will telegraph it loud and clear. ]
[ Except he has no idea what's going through her head. At her petulance, his gaze narrows. The air around him crackles as if he's gathering himself for a blistering response. ]
[ But instead he shakes his head -- bewilderment, disgust, ]
How many drinks have you had?
[ Because what else would bring this on, but an alcohol-induced haze? ]