I thorughly enjoy the dispassionate way in which Nooj gauges all relationships by their ability to contribute to the strength of his team of warriors. Gippal and Baralai's relationship is acceptable because it might cause them to fight harder in order to keep each other safe. I also enjoy the subtle ways in which Nooj finds himself more closely emotionally bound to the group day by day as he develops pride and confidence in their collective abilities and even finds himself developing an insidious attractive for Baralai as well as Paine.
Author's response
What you must understand here is that Nooj has been celibate since his encounter with the Sin spawn. He is a man of strong appetites in every way and Spira is not a place where varying pairings is looked at with dismay. And Nooj is a thoroughly trained military man whose primary objective is the success of the army for whom he fights. You will see, later in the story, what that dedication has cost him.