This creates power imbalances. If one character provides all the emotional vulnerability while the other only provides utility, you have a recipe for a compelling "unrequited" or "learning to love" arc. Examples in Popular Tropes
The concept of "stool leg relationships" is a clever metaphor for the balance and stability required in romantic storylines. Whether you're writing a slow-burn romance or a high-stakes drama, The 3-Legged Stool: The "Essential" Romance stool leg sex
Starts with Vulnerability and History . The conflict arises when they finally introduce Friction (sexual tension/risk of losing the friendship). This creates power imbalances