What has Azriel done for Elain though?
What role did he play in her healing journey that apperantly happened off page? Cassian played an Important role in Nesta's journey and Rhys did in Feyre's. Not just as love interests but they were one of the reasons why the girls are now in a better place.
Azriel, unlike Lucien, sees Elain everyday. It was never ordered from him to stay away from her before, so why did he just stand there doing nothing? They got some finger touches, shy glances but nothing more? Azriel had always had the best chances to get to know Elain more. Plenty of opportunities to start something meaningful with Elain, but he did not? Meanwhile Lucien has to ask for permission to see his own mate and even then he gets monitored like he's a criminal. He rarely sees her and their bond is being used to control Lucien.
So this argument that Lucien doesn't care about her but Azriel does is so stupid, given that he did not care enough to find her and make sure that she's okay like Lucien did right after the war, literally after she made the killing blow KNOWING that she despises violence. Did not care enough to approach her in those 2 years and at least have some type of conversations. He did not care enough about her to trust her when she declared that she wants to help find the trove and is capable of doing that. He did not care enough to tell her to wait for a moment and that he'll be back instead of saying "this was a mistake". He did not care enough to just give the necklace back to the Shop owner, instead giving it to another women. He did not care enough to seek her out and apologize, instead he easily stayed away from her as he was ordered to. He did not care about her enough, like el/riels claim, to even look at her and that is going on for months and months after winter solstice. For El/riels to claim that he can't live without Elain, he seems to be doing fine and sure as hell is still breathing without her in his life.
Kinda same for Elain. What has she done for Azriel that got him to be able to heal a little. She made him laugh? Nesta and Gwyn also made him laugh. He's gentle with her than with anyone else? Actually, he's gentle to Nesta and Gwyn, Feyre, Mor and other women most likely too. His POV proved that he is feeling worse than good. Seeing someone as some type of goddess and himself as a monster is not some romantic sh*t people love to claim, especially when he did that with Mor too. Azriel always sees himself beneath everyone else.
Before someone comes in and declares some crap..yes, Gwyn hasn't done much for Azriel either and so hasn't Azriel for Gwyn, but keep in mind that Gwynriel just met after a traumatic event that happened 2 years ago. No one is claiming they're in love and they just started to be more comfortable around each other, especially Gwyn with Azriel.
Elucien too. They don't get the chance of even having a 5 min conversation without anyone monitoring them and without Elain still having plenty of issues with the fae life, specifically the bond.
But again- El*riel had plenty of opportunities in those 2 and more years. For people to claim that he cares so much about her, that Elain is healing and that Azriel can only heal with her in his life, it sure as hell doesn't look like it.
I'm sure he cares bout her, but not to the point of love. Not what El*riels claim to say.
You made so many good points in your ask and I also think the "Az hasn't done much for Gwyn" can be easily disproven.
Rhys, Cassian, and Lucien were there for their Mates in a way that made sense for them as individuals and their circumstance.
Rhys left Feyre alone as long as he did ONLY because it seemed to be what she wanted. But the second she called out for help he was there. And he KNEW that what she needed was someone to push her to reach her potential so she could find herself again. So she could believe in herself again. And that's what he gave her through their training, through the situations with the Attor, the Weaver, etc. Did it look a bit harsh? Tossing her into the deep end to see if she'd sink or swim? Yes but.....it's exactly what Feyre needed.
With Cassian and Nesta, sure he tried to give her space to figure out what she needed. But again, when that failed, he stepped in with his tough love. He pushed her to train, to find a healthy outlet for her anger and frustrations while also talking her through her deepest issues.
With Lucien, he stood by Elain's side as much as he was permitted (we all know he would have preferred to be more involved however Feyre and Nesta blocked him at nearly every turn). He continued thinking of things that might help her even when he wasn't being included by the others. Getting her outside, having a healer look her over, sitting with her himself and trying to reach out through the bond (which again, was interrupted by Nesta). And when he realized that she was starting to heal and needed time to herself, he volunteered to leave so she could have that.
The sisters experiences though, were not Gwyn's experience. They were all horrible but different. And what Az did for her did seem to be what Gwyn needed after being SA by a Male and nearly SA by other Males. The same Males who murdered her sister.
His first action for Gwyn was slaughtering everyone who had brought the nightmare upon her. He then covered her which I'm guessing she greatly appreciated after being so exposed. He then, respectfully handed her off to a female who might have the ability to set her at more ease than yet another Male she didn't know. And he gave her the time and space to surround herself with only females she felt safe with rather than pushing his way into her life and forcing his presence upon her.
I really think Az did do everything that was in his power to help Gwyn's healing because I don't think she would have wanted anything more from any Male until she decided she was ready for it.
As far as Gwyn, she brought Az a sense of calmness without even trying to. That's a pretty big deal for someone like him.
And I agree. Elain was in the HOW for months before Lucien arrived and she hadn't been eating, drinking, talking, etc. Rhys tells us that he, Az, Cassian and a few trusted servants were the only ones permitted access to her. Yet we're given absolutely no indication Az did anything for Elain during that time or whether he even tried to visit her. My guess is no but, even if he did, it's pretty apparent he wasn't able to do anything to bring her out of her depression. So Az, to me, gets no credit for helping Elain during the lowest moments of her life.
And after Elain did start to recover, I think she appreciated that Az was this polite human looking Male who sat quietly beside her but we're given no impression that she ever tried to get to know him during that time. Sure she "noticed" he rubs his head but......what about the deep stuff? If people are really going to claim they're in love than I'm a little confused what it is she loves about him. He says she doesn't know him and the deepest thing she's said about him is that he seems to get headaches from people. She called his scars or his siphons "beautiful" but did she ever ask him a question about either one? Sorry but I refuse to believe that all these deep moments happened off page and we're just supposed to believe they are in love without having witnessed the journey to get there. It doesn't make for a believable romance especially, when like you said, no one is preventing them from spending all their time together talking about everything under the stars.
(Honorable Mentions - he was about to pass out after the Hybern rescue and she kissed his cheek then walked to Feyre 😂)
