Please picture with me an au where clark and bruce go to high school together and clark is the golden retriever jock and bruce is the wet cat goth and they are inexplicably best friends and bruce can occasionally be seen grumpily sitting in the bleachers with as little skin showing as possible, squinting in the bright sunlight to watch clark's football practice
Leo being put into a situation where there is absolutely no fighting, just verbal manipulation and perception games, would be amazing to witness. We see a lot in the series how good he is at subterfuge and how he uses his perception to manipulate to great effect, so it’d be so cool to really see it put to the test even more.
Manipulation is one of the most effective tactical strategies of all time, so just imagine Leo putting this skillset of his to the full test. Imagine the boys slowly get up to busting bigger and more powerful criminals, including those with networks of crime under their belt, and a simple fight isn’t enough to take them down. For criminals like this, Leo’s skills in subterfuge would be deadly.
Robin chose Steve. Robin made the conscious and deliberate decision that she could and would trust Steve. She already liked him! She had fun working and bantering with him! They were already on their way to being weird little bffs and the torture just expedited the process. Steve chose Robin just the same! He thinks she's fun and cool and likes her so much! He chose to be honest and open with her too, putting himself out there.
Even though their interests on the surface level don't match why wouldn't they share them? Steve clearly caves when Robin wants to watch a movie he doesn't think he'll like, Robin can watch a March madness game or five.
Stop trying to take away their bond oh my god people can be close to more than one person!!! Their best friend doesn't have to be dismissive or mean or whatever in order for a romance to be special to them!
Brennan was really COMING AFTER the intrepid heroes in Fearful Symmetry. He asks most all of them their fears and just describes these brutal, psychologically devastating situations for all their characters (except Kirsten but only because oh yeah he KILLED HER).
Like Emily tries to say, oh yeah Fig’s greatest fear is seeing her friends and families hurt and Brennan’s like NAH it’s actually the fact that you believe you are putting up a charismatic front and not good enough for anyone