Steban doesn't idolize Uli but I think that as someone who has also alienated everyone else in his social circles and managed to hold on to this one guy, he is keenly aware that by luck of the roll this gottwaldian molotov is HIS gottwaldian molotov and cares for him accordingly. Uli's a good friend, loyal to a fault, with an enviable encyclopedic knowledge of theory, and they get each other when they feel like rambling about the finer details of hope and despair for the world at 3AM.

Also clearly he trusts him enough that if Uli says get slapped he goes and gets himself slapped and enjoys it so uuuuh there's that. I'm sure it counts as SOMETHING. what kind of thing precisely is up for debate.