If we want to come up with a canon in character reason for Garak and Bashir growing apart instead of just ignoring it as bad, homophobia driven, writing (both approaches are good) I think it might have been because Garak was NOT what Julian needed after the Dominion War trauma set in. At the beginning of their story Julian has a lot of spoons and hope for the world and all of Garak's mystery invigorates him and being there for Garak in his trauma makes him feel needed but after years and years of war and hurt and seeing some horrible things I think he's just... not able to take on Garak's baggage anymore. Like he needs to play darts with Miles and drink a beer not have a cat and mouse conversation about Garak's past time committing petty atrocities for a fascist state. I think he simply changed. Garak's presence used to energize him and although he will always care about his friend I think it stopped energizing him and started draining him.
ALTfuuuuuuuuck
