This is how it looked before. But not now. Helmeppo is more interesting than Coby from a psychological point of view. As a person who left a toxic parent, he essentially learned to live, love, and respect from scratch. He doesn't matter now without Coby. Absolutely his whole personality is reduced to Coby. At 100%.
Compare it to the duet of Smoker and Tashigi. They are boss and subordinate, but the more we see them, the more equal their relationship becomes. Tashigi can even make a remark to Smoker. She's minding her own business, she's late etc, and Smoker encourages her to be herself in every possible way. Moreover, that's the only thing he wants her to do—to follow her own principles.