History Main / BruiserWithASoftCenter

* [[Characters/GravityFallsGrunkleStan Grunkle Stanley Pines]] from ''WesternAnimation/GravityFalls''. He may be a tough, greedy old trickster with a mean right hook, but when it comes to his family he'd do literally anything for them, even [[spoiler: sacrifice himself for their sake]].

* Characters/{{Batman|TheCharacter}} is stacked like a brick wall, almost always ready to kick villain ass, and many people see him as a cold mofo (even some of the heroes). And yet his primary concern is always the safety of the innocents, be they in Gotham City or wherever he sets foot. He even has his [[Heartwarming/{{Batman}} moments]] [[https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/that_time_he_showed_a_little_girl_how_to_fly_photo_u2.jpeg every]] [[https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/16171e4b5e4b9efdf79df84d3bf5b04f.jpg once in]] [[https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/carpenter_all_star_batman_and_robin_9_page_22.jpg a while]].
* The Ever-Lovin' Blue-Eyed [[Characters/TheThing Thing]] of ''ComicBook/FantasticFour'' fame is very gentle and delicate with his love, Alicia. The Thing is also like this to practically every kid that thinks he's the coolest hero (especially kids who think he's cooler than the Human Torch). The Thing also has a special place in the Marvel superhero community as possibly the most ''widely'' befriended hero ever, much like Characters/{{Superman|TheCharacter}} or Characters/{{Nightwing|DickGrayson}} from DC.
* While Jiro from ''ComicBook/GetJiro'' is perfectly fine with beheading people for having poor table manners, he is otherwise proven to be a very humble customer when it comes to other people's food regardless of the "quality" of the kitchen it was made in. He enjoys Jean Claude's authentic European cuisine in spite of how filthy the kitchen is and enjoys a street vendor's gyro at a bus stop.

* ''Comicbook/TheIncredibleHulk'': The Hulk has been known to cuddle kittens and bunnies, and as seen in the page image, is also good with other animals and children, DependingOnTheWriter. Notably, one of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s plans to calm him down is putting him in the same room with a bunch of puppies. Even Hulk at his worst still has shade of this, as in ''ComicBook/WorldWarHulk'' he battles the Earth Mightiest Heroes in New York ''but was still [[IAmNotLeftHanded holding back]] [[NeverHurtAnInnocent so civilians wouldn't get hurt]]''.
* [[Characters/DCComicsLobo Lobo]], Tha’ Main Man, is bigger, meaner, and more of a bastich than ''anybody''. He also happens to love [[SpaceWhale space dolphins]].
* Marvel gods [[Characters/MarvelComicsThorOdinson Thor]] and [[Comicbook/TheIncredibleHercules Hercules]] can fall in here too. Thor has a huge soft spot for children; in one of his series, he goes to a ''favela'' in Rio to give the impoverished kids a hearty meal of space melons, elf chocolate and a haunch of roast dragon. As for Hercules, he deeply loves his cuddle toy Amadeus Cho, even tearfully admitting that he murdered his wife and children out of jealousy (not madness like the myths depict) in order to convince Amadeus to go down an ultimately self-destructive vendetta. Hercules also loves striking friendships with fellow immortals because it hurts him deeply to have to keep watching his mortal friends die off.
* ''[[Characters/MarvelComicsFrankCastle The Punisher]]'' is one of the most violent and downright ruthless individuals in the Franchise/MarvelUniverse to point where other heroes (e.g Captain America) openly hate his guts, but beneath his brutal nature is an emphatic man. This shown best when he protects children at all costs and his care for better heroes than himself, like [[https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/02a1607ade10d4f63aa2f58e64b286d0_4.jpg Spider-Man]] for instance.

* [[Characters/TeenTitansStarfire Starfire]] is a hot-headed warrior princess who can brutally kick the ass of almost any evil doer, but she's as gentle as a lamb with her friends and innocents.
* Characters/{{Superman|TheCharacter}}. Possibly the most sensitive and emotive mainstream hero out there, despite being the definitive brick and one of Earth's most powerful defenders. This is often contrasted with the more ProudWarriorRaceGuy personality of Characters/{{Wonder Woman|TheCharacter}}, another Justice League member who is (DependingOnTheWriter) around as strong as he is - though she's often as caring as he is.
* Characters/{{Wonder Woman|TheCharacter}} herself, in spite of being tall and a rival in strength to Superman, at least DependingOnTheWriter will fight only to defend justice and protect the innocent, and is an AllLovingHero to the point she will tell many of her worst foes she loves them. Played the straightest in ComicBook/New52 where she is first seen simultaneously swinging a sword around and [[http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A85Fvm5-WKw/URSCZ6AbT0I/AAAAAAAAACA/lSgj2eKe0Ok/s1600/wonderwomanicecream.jpg bonding with a girl over ice cream]], and in an even more heartwarming moment defends a little boy who looks up to her from his shallow friends.

* Strong Guy of ''Comicbook/XFactor'' - in a session with Doc Samson he reveals that his wit and banter are how he copes with tremendous, constant pain, both emotional and physical.

* ''Fanfic/SOE2LoneHeirOfKrypton'': Being ''Comicbook/{{Supergirl}}'', Asuka is easily capable to bring down a skyscraper with her bare fists. Throughout her super-heroine career she also learns to let her nicer, warmer side out and be more compassionate and more caring. So, she may be beating a thug and the next minute helping a girl to find her kitten.

This is a trope with a lot of neighbours: Compare with GentleGiant, GeniusBruiser, RealMenWearPink, MoralityPet, JerkWithAHeartOfGold, TheSoftHeartedWarrior, and {{Tsundere}}. Even a PapaWolf can turn soft when he's around his children. SuperTrope of EmotionalBruiser. Contrast both DevilInPlainSight and FaceOfAnAngelMindOfADemon.

** Wrex in the ''Franchise/MassEffect'' series is mostly angry and bitingly sarcastic, but he does have the occasional emotional moment (the end of his personal quest in the first game and his reunion with Shepard in the second, especially). The latter moment is rather like TheEeyore going Squee. By ''3'', if you've done everything you can to work with him, he is incredibly happy to tell you that even if everything goes to hell and the genophage cure doesn't work, he considers you [[BloodBrothers a blood-sibling]] and will make sure that every krogan for the rest of time knows your name.

* [[Characters/GravityFallsGrunkleStan Grunkle Stan[[spoiler:ley]] Pines]] from ''WesternAnimation/GravityFalls''. He may be a tough, greedy old trickster with a mean right hook, but when it comes to his family he'd do literally anything for them, even [[spoiler: sacrifice himself for their sake]].