History Main / WillTheyorWontThey

* FalseStart

->''"And now, rather than admit these feelings, you're dancing around one another with this mind-numbing and frankly boorish mating ritual. So please, for my sake, either quit your bickering, or pull over, tear off those clothes, and GET IT OVER WITH ALREADY!"''
-->-- '''Murray Bauman''', ''Series/StrangerThings'', "[[Recap/StrangerThingsS3E7ChapterSevenTheBite The Bite]]"

Though even fans of such relationships aren't without their complaints when shows rely on this a bit too much. Works that keep this plotline going for ''too'' long will be criticized as having a RomanticPlotTumor that overshadows the rest of the work. Or, if the work itself is romance-focused to begin with, fans will often just get frustrated waiting for the pay-off, while works make ever-more-desperate narrative leaps to keep these two characters apart, or may even have the characters hook up for a little while, [[RelationshipRevolvingDoor only to split up over and over again]], until by the time they finally ''finally'' let the characters get together for good. At which point, [[TheChrisCarterEffect the work has lost most of its audience anyway]].

Though even fans of such relationships aren't without their complains. Works that keep this plotline going for ''too'' long will be criticized as having a RomanticPlotTumor that overshadows the rest of the work. Or, if the work itself is romance-focused to begin with, fans will often just get frustrated waiting for the pay-off, while works make ever-more-desperate narrative leaps to keep these two characters apart, or may even have the characters hook up for a little while, [[RelationshipRevolvingDoor only to split up over and over again]], until by the time they finally ''finally'' let the characters get together for good. At which point, [[TheChrisCarterEffect the work has lost most of its audience anyway]].

Below are some tropes that are often associated with this phrase:

This is a colloquial phrase used to describe any relationship that is obviously filled with UnresolvedSexualTension but the characters resist going into a full blown relationship for a rather long time. Usually the two characters will be presented so that "they will" is the conclusion to root for; only rarely is the question of whether the writers think they should is in any real doubt. This includes situations in which the characters do finally get together, but do not last as the point of the term is to point out {{Shipping}}.

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Two characters, often [[BelligerentSexualTension combative]] but with obvious UnresolvedSexualTension, resist going into a full blown relationship for a rather long time. Usually the two characters will be presented so that "they will" is the conclusion to root for; only rarely is the question of whether the writers think they should in any real doubt.

Actually ending the dance is a tricky business. While there are works that can and have had the characters get together long before its conclusion, you'll find that most are very reluctant to risk losing the valuable source of dramatic tension that is the (seemingly) unrequited relationship. After all, without that lovely source of drama, your audience could cry that the work is either JumpingTheShark or suffering ShippingBedDeath depending on whatever replaces it. As such, the LastMinuteHookup tends to be the most common endpoint of this trope, with writers keeping the romantic tension building throughout the series, only revealing that they do (or alternatively, [[ShipSinking that they don't]]) in the midst of concluding any other major plot threads during the GrandFinale.

Of course, keep this plotline going for ''too'' long, and you may encounter complaints that [[RomanticPlotTumor the show suddenly has become about the relationship]], with that element overtaking everything else; including the very premise.[[note]]If the work was romance-focused to begin with, fans may just be frustrated waiting.[[/note]] In addition, a series ({{Long Runner}}s especially) can go out of their way to avoid resolving the relationship, making ever-more-desperate narrative leaps, or may even have the characters hook up for a little while, [[RelationshipRevolvingDoor only to split up over and over again]], until by the time they finally let the characters actually, finally get together for good and/or married, [[TheChrisCarterEffect the show has lost its viewership anyway]]. BelligerentSexualTension is often a victim of this.

Sometimes a LoveEpiphany can be used to have a character realize their feelings, but still not resolve the question, just add a new dynamic to it.

A fundamental {{Shipping}}-inducement strategy.

Related tropes include:
[[index]]

[[/index]]

See also AlmostKiss, HeldGaze, RelationshipUpgrade, LikeBrotherAndSister, MomentKiller, and DidTheyOrDidntThey. When a series ends without even a [[MaybeEverAfter hint of resolution]] to will-they-or-won't-they, it's NoRomanticResolution. If it's more ambiguous, it's MaybeEverAfter. Contrast FriendsWithBenefits, where they ''definitely'' do it, but without the emotional baggage.

Compare JustFriends and RelationshipUpgrade. Contrast PlatonicLifePartners and ShipSinking -- they won't. See JustEatGilligan if it's a major plot point. See also BreakUpMakeUpScenario when they separate for some dramatic reason, spend a time apart, then reconcile (usually with a kiss, which breaks the Will They Or Won't They)

!!No examples, please. [[Administrivia/DefinitionOnlyPages This only defines the term.]]

Generally a supertrope to:

----
!!Examples:

[[foldercontrol]]

[[index]]
* WillTheyOrWontThey/AnimeAndManga
* WillTheyOrWontThey/LiveActionTV
[[/index]]

[[folder:Comic Books]]
* This was a very persistent question for the fans of ''ComicBook/CableAndDeadpool'' who were wondering if one of the writers would hook them up after their series was full of HomoeroticSubtext between them.
* ''Creator/DCComics'':
** Dick Grayson with Barbara and Kori. ''Dear God, Barbara and Kori.'' Interestingly, ''ComicBook/{{Convergence}}'' solves this problem: [[spoiler:the Dick Grayson of ''New Teen Titans'' wins Kori's heart while the Dick Grayson pre-''ComicBook/{{Flashpoint}}'' wins Barbara's. Everyone wins!]] Currently Barbara and Dick have gotten back together again.
** Tim Drake and Stephanie Brown. They do -- just then she dies, comes back and then... Almost every meeting has a flashback to them meeting/hooking up, or a reference to that, or nearly hooking up. Combined with Tim's oft-jerkiness or dark and broodiness after Steph's return [[note]]nearly everyone he cared about died within months of each other starting with Steph, who he isn't impressed to learn just let him think she was dead the whole time[[/note]], and Stephanie trying to impress Batman, or otherwise prove herself as a hero, this trope is pretty extreme for 16-18 year olds. Notable that they have this after already being in a relationship together.
** Cyborg and Sara Simms were originally intended to be a couple, but Marv Wolfman changed his mind. Instead, we were met with one of the longest "will they, won't they" segments in comic book history.
** Basically, if they are a popular teenage or young adult pairing in the DC universe, they will almost never get a happy ending together and will be subjected to a never-ending 'Will They or Won't They' loop for years and years on end. Case to point: Every teen pairing in the New Teen Titans and ComicBook/YoungJustice.
** Franchise/GreenLantern Hal Jordan and Carol Ferris have had this dynamic since they were both introduced, spending long periods of time together and just as long periods of time separated (and sometimes, one of them is [[DatingCatwoman technically a supervillain]] and/or dead). While they ''do'' both love each other, Hal's job as a Green Lantern means that he often has to choose between her and his duty, and since said duty usually involves the fate of the universe... While he inevitably gets back together with her, circumstances just as inevitably break them up again.
* ''ComicBook/JusticeSocietyOfAmerica'' featured LikeBrotherAndSister grouping Atom Smasher and Stargirl, implying they got married in the future. Subsequently, he quit the team and she started dating FanPreferredCouple-style with Billy "Captain Marvel" Batson. When they broke up, she openly moped about Atom Smasher's later FaceHeelTurn and near-death experience to the point where ''that'' seemed like a reasonable coupling once more, but after another near-kiss with Billy, it's been fully revealed that Courtney and Al love each other. Then the team elders put the kibosh on the whole thing because of Al's age.
* ''ComicBook/LegionOfSuperHeroes''
** ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} and Brainiac 5 first met in 1961. Querl fell for Kara at first sight and she liked him back, but she couldn't stay in the 31st century permanently. Both teenagers spent twenty-three years, real time, dancing around each other and wondering whether they should or could get together until they hooked up. Unfortunately, Kara died in the ''ComicBook/CrisisOnInfiniteEarths'' one year later.
** Saturn Girl and Lightning Lad also spent many years pursuing and dodging each other before getting married.
* ''ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogArchieComics'':
** This went on between Sonic and Sally for a long time. Then they started an official relationship, but had a fight, and broke up. Now they're doing it ''again''. Knuckles and Julie-Su had hints of this in the early stages of their relationship, and Shadow and Rouge had this at points as well.
** Fortunately Archie opted to appease fans during this period by adding the AU ''Mobius: Twenty Five Years Later'' storyline as a back-up strip just to keep anyone from ditching the lead title as it went to hell creatively. This gave Sonic and Sally a more positive and progressive piece of character growth regardless of its canonicity. Two follow-up storylines set in this universe have since followed, though it could ease off a little on the constant time-travel plots...
** [=UNfortunately=], though, writer Creator/IanFlynn ultimately got tired of the ShippingWars caused by the two and, when the series went through a ContinuityReboot (and executive demands) made them JustFriends.
* ''ComicBook/SpiderMan'': Peter Parker and Gwen Stacy do this straight starting from her first appearance. They broke up once, but would've, [[spoiler:if not for the fact that she had an affair with Norman Osborn, had his children, pissed the Goblin right off and died for her trouble, though she was brought back through cloning and dumped Peter when it was strongly implied that he had always been in love with Mary Jane even when he'd been dating Gwen (MJ made her debut BEFORE Gwen in the comics as the "blind date" foil for Betty Brant and Liz Allen), but because of Gwen's emotional problems, coupled with a promise to look after her to the dying George Stacy, he stuck with her out of principle]], which seems like an attempt to settle the decades-long feud over whether Peter loves Mary Jane or not.
** All throughout ''ComicBook/UltimateSpiderMan'', Peter and Mary Jane have an on-again-off-again relationship. They've just barely reconciled before his "[[DeathIsCheap death]]". [[spoiler:Then he got better, and the last they were seen, the two ran off together.]]
* ''ComicBook/XMen'':
** Since 1963, Scott Summers "ComicBook/{{Cyclops}}" and ComicBook/JeanGrey "Marvel Girl/Phoenix" live in a constant cycle where they're unsure whether a relationship is a good idea or they should stay just friends, then they get together and are happy for a while, then one of them dies temporarily or something makes them break up, and the cycle begins anew. In ''ComicBook/AllNewXMen'', their time-displaced teenager counterparts (nicknamed Tyke and Jeen by fans) are stuck in the "unresolved sexual tension" phase due to this.
** Rogue and Gambit have been in a constant state of ‘on-and-off’ ever since Gambit first joined the X-Men, to the extent that it's practically a permanent sub-plot. While they both have declared love and devotion for one another on multiple occasions, the relationship never lasts too long before something happens and they end up separating again, only to reconcile at a later stage. This is partially due to the strain on the relationship caused by Rogue’s mutation, meaning the pair can never make physical contact, but also both partners carry some serious emotional baggage which surfaces every so often, sometimes leading to a break-up, whilst other times bringing the pair together. Finally ends when they marry.
** Though not as iconic and prevalent as the above, ''{{ComicBook/Sabretooth}}'' and ''ComicBook/MonetStCroix'' have stepped into this territory. They had a ShipTease in ''ComicBook/UncannyXMen2016'', with WordOfGod confirming their relationship was romantic in intent. [[EveryoneCanSeeIt Six characters]] have pointed out how they seem to have feelings for each other. Monet has had moments of ogling Creed, and he tends to be very protective of her. He also had a possible InterruptedDeclarationOfLove moment with her. But they haven't gotten together yet, and it's unknown if they will.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Fan Works]]
* ''Fanfic/AdviceAndTrust'':
** Subverted with Shinji and Asuka. At the beginning, they seem to be stuck in the "oblivious to each other's feelings" phase. Then it was revealed that they got together in secret a while ago.
** Touji and Hikari danced around each other for a while until their friends played matchmaker and helped them to get together.
** Misato and Kaji spent several months pretending that they weren't together again until Misato got tired of their self-denial and they got back together.
** Maya had a raging crush on Ritsuko that the older woman spent months trying to ignore.
* ''Fanfic/TheChildOfLove'': Shinji and Asuka loved each other but due to their multiple psychological issues did not dare to display openly their feelings. Then they slept together and Asuka got pregnant, which made their relationship harder for a while. In chapter 5, after several months of arguments and keeping an uneasy relationship, they [[spoiler:got together.]]
* In ''Fanfic/ChildOfTheStorm'' and its sequel, Harry and Carol spend an increasing amount of their shared screen-time dancing around each other, developing {{UST}} and increasingly FlirtingUnderFire, all while insisting throughout the first book that they're JustFriends and PlatonicLifePartners, then grudgingly admitting in the sequel that they do have feelings for each other that go beyond friendship. However, both of them have absolute stacks of issues - Carol's got a long running problem with [[EntitledToHaveYou 'nice guys' who try and befriend her with a view to getting in her pants]], plus generalised trust issues, and prizes her and Harry's friendship above anything else. Harry, meanwhile, has been through such an epic TraumaCongaLine that it's a genuine miracle that he's still sane, with Carol sometimes serving as his MoralityChain. Carol doesn't want to lose their friendship, and Harry doesn't want to date her simply as part of trying to stay sane. By this point, though, WordOfGod has hinted it'll be more of a matter of 'when', not 'if'. [[spoiler: The 'when' turns out to chapter 46 of the sequel, when they seal a RelationshipUpgrade with a BigDamnKiss.]]
* ''Fanfic/ChildrenOfAnElderGod'': Shinji and Asuka spent months dancing around each other until they got together in episode 16.
* ''Fanfic/ACrownOfStars'': At the beginning of the story, Shinji and Asuka are so emotionally burnt-out that they believe they can't possibly have a relationship. After over twenty chapters of therapy, talking and being gently coached by their friends, they open up to each other and Shinji says he loves her. Fifty chapter later, Asuka manages at last to say she loves him back.
* ''Manga/Evangelion303'': After thirteen chapters and hundreds of pages of [[BelligerentSexualTension fights]], [[OldSchoolDogFight dog fights]], arguments, paranoid behaviour, separations, reconciliations, [[spoiler:[[DrivenToSuicide suicide attempts]]]], [[TheHero Shinji]] [[BattleCouple and]] [[{{Tsundere}} Asuka]] [[spoiler:get together definitely.]]
* The [[WordOfGod promised]] (eventual) OfficialCouple of WIP ''FanFic/TheFledglingYear,'' Cor and Aravis, have been in love for some fifty chapters and counting, [[CannotSpitItOut without outright admitting]] their feelings on the subject (they’re usually [[BelligerentSexualTension too busy arguing]]). In the background, the BetaCouple (Corin and Hana) are giving them a run for their angst, with Corin being too impulsive and irresponsible to allow the steady, sensible Hana to accept her own feelings for him. The ShipTease is flying thick and furious, and it’s [[{{Squee}} fluffy]] as all-get-out, but no RelationshipUpgrade yet.
* ''Fanfic/TheFlowerPrincessAndTheAlchemist'': [[UnresolvedSexualTension Edward and Orihime]]. The only obstacle getting in their, [[CannotSpitItOut besides their inability to admit their feelings]], is [[LoveTriangle Orihime’s feelings for Ichigo]].
* ''Fanfic/GhostsOfEvangelion'': After three years of fights, arguments and reconciliations, Shinji confessed Asuka and -after arguing once again- they get together and stay together.
* In ''Fanfic/HellsisterTrilogy'', ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} and Dev-Em spend a long while bickering, arguing and fighting until Kara admits out loud she likes him.
* ''Fanfic/HigherLearning'': Shinji and Asuka danced around each other for several months, not daring to confess or acknowledge their feelings. Boldened by their new teacher's advice -and a bottle of sake- they finally opened up to each other.
* ''Fanfic/{{Hitchups}}'': Once Hiccup is back to Berk, he engaged into that sort of relationship with Astrid.
* In ''Fanfic/LastChildOfKrypton'', Shinji and Asuka spend several chapters dancing around each other until they opened up to each other and kissed.
* ''Fanfic/TheManyDatesOfDannyFenton'': Most girls Danny shows the mutual interest in make it ambiguous which one he chooses.
* ''Fanfic/NeonGenesisEvangelionGenocide'': Shinji and Asuka spent a good number of chapters arguing, fighting and hurting each other until they finally got together.
* ''Fanfic/OnceMoreWithFeeling'': Per Word of God, if the story reaches that point, Shinji and Asuka will get together after going past the “bickering and caring phase”.
* The ongoing ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'' fanfic ''Fanfic/PrisonIslandBreak'' is simply packed with this, thanks to the large number of relationships developed. There's definitely romance in the air; the author "Breech Loader" seems to be perpetually torn between who's going to get Doctor Amy Rose Blossom, and who's going to get Shadow.
-->'''Breech''': As ever I continue to work hard on this story, occasionally flipping a three-sided coin on which pairings to end with.
** It doesn't improve a whole lot as the story goes on, either...
---> '''Breech''': ''Now'' I know how to do it. I can quit flipping a three sided coin; instead, I’ve bought a four-sided dice! What you do to decide on your random pairing is… uh… OhCrap. Got any ideas?
* Lampshaded in ''WebVideo/RanmaOneHalfTheAbridgedChronicles'':
-->'''Ryōga''': Quit wasting our valuable screentime with your will they/won't they antics!
* Subverted in ''Fanfic/TheSecondTry'' due to time-travel craziness. Shinji and Asuka had this in chapters 2 and 4 when they were trying to learn to live and work together, and after a while they fell in love. However, they were together in chapter 1.
* ''Fanfic/TalesOfTheOtherverse'': At the end of the second story arc, Kara and Rogue get officially together after five chapters of angst, repressed feelings and sexual tension.
* In ''Fanfic/ThousandShinji'', Shinji and Asuka spent several weeks arguing and fighting before start getting along. They got together shortly after.
* In ''Fanfic/AWandForSteven'', Steven and Hermione are implied to have ''something'', but it is only ever implied. Steven invites Hermione to the Yule Ball were they accidentally fuse. They fuse later during the climactic battle.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
* The entire movie of ''WesternAnimation/{{Anastasia}}'', including IJustWantMyBelovedToBeHappy and {{Almost Kiss}}es.
-->'''WebVideo/TheNostalgiaChick''': "Ah, animosity! It must be love!"
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
* ''Film/LovingAnnabelle'': Annabelle and Ms. Bradley. The film toys with whether they'll act on their mutual attraction for most of its length. However, near the end they do and it leads to Ms. Bradley's ruin.
* In ''Film/PlanB'', the initial "Will they or won't they?" dynamic seems to be between Bruno and Laura who broke up in the past but are still sleeping together despite the latter having a new boyfriend. [[BaitAndSwitch However]], it gradually becomes clear that the ''true'' "Will they or won't they?" tension is between Bruno and Laura's new boyfriend Pablo with their friendship that Bruno initially started as only part of a scheme to win Laura back becoming increasingly homoerotic. [[spoiler:They do, with the ending shot being them dragging each other into the bedroom.]]
* ''Film/XMenTheLastStand'':
** Iceman and Rogue. Iceman seems disappointed that Rogue "cured" herself, even though she did it for both of them. It's unknown what their relationship is now, especially since [[spoiler:the cure is temporary.]]
** Iceman and Kitty is hinted at, especially during the ice skating scene.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Literature]]
* The ShipTease has been amped up in Literature/ArtemisFowl's sixth book, ''The Time Paradox'', especially when [[spoiler: after saving Artemis from a gorilla attack, Holly kisses him in her relief.]]
* In the ''Literature/AuntDimity'' series, Lori's repeated flirtations with men other than her husband Bill are often handled this way. To date, [[spoiler: nothing more than the occasional kiss has happened, but]] there have been a number of close calls, often when one or both characters has gotten wet from rain and needs to dry off and/or warm up.
* Harry and Murphy in ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles''.
* ''{{Literature/Emma}}'' - Emma and Mr. Knightley, with a few [[RomanticFalseLead Romantic False Leads]] along the way.
* Gaunt and Curth from ''Literature/GauntsGhosts'' are strongly implied to have feelings for each other in ''The Traitor General''. As of ''The Warmaster'', they continue to dance around the issue, with Gaunt dating two other women in the interim while Curth seeks brief (platonic) solace from his old friend.
* OlderThanRadio: Jane and Mr. Rochester in ''Literature/JaneEyre.'' Well...at first.
* ''Literature/HarryPotter'':
** Ron and Hermione, starting in ''[[Literature/HarryPotterAndTheGobletOfFire Goblet of Fire]]'' and ending in [[spoiler: a LastMinuteHookup in ''Deathly Hallows''.]] (In the movie adaptations, hints are dropped about Ron and Hermione's mutual interest as early as ''Chamber of Secrets''.)
** Harry and Ginny. [[spoiler:They do: as of the "fast forward several years" in the epilogue of ''Deathly Hallows'', Harry and Ginny are married with children.]]
* Early on in the ''Literature/HonorHarrington'' book, ''In Enemy Hands'', Hamish Alexander (the Earl of Whitehaven) suddenly gets interested in Honor, and Honor feels his interest through her empathic treecat. This is complicated by the fact that Hamish is also still very much in love with his wife, to whom he has been married longer than Honor has been alive. ''Two books later'' we're still getting this:
-->''"No other 'cat-human bonding had ever been so close, ever spilled across to the actual communication of emotions, and the depth of her fusion with her beloved companion was worth any price. Even this one, she told herself. Even the knowledge that Hamish Alexander loved her and of what might have been had the universe been a different place. Yet just as he would never tell her, she would never tell him ... and was she blessed or cursed by the fact that, unlike him, she would always know what he had never said?"''
** [[spoiler:They do. Late in the series, they even marry as both Grayson and Manticore allow polygamous marriages.]]
* Left ambiguous throughout ''Literature/TheHungerGames'' series if Katniss will end up with anyone at all. For one thing she doesn't want to fall in love, get married and have babies that might end up in the Hunger Games. For that reason she resists her budding feelings for [[spoiler:Peeta. Gale professing his romantic feelings confuses her and a minor triangle plays out for a few chapters of the second book. Ultimately she chooses to be with Peeta but doesn't start a family with him until fifteen years after the end of the war]]. The movies play it up like a big triangle by adding scenes that allude to [[spoiler:Katniss having feelings for Gale]] and remove the majority of the scenes that [[spoiler:shows she's falling for Peeta]], presumably to cash in on the shipper war hype of ''Literature/{{Twilight}}'' but it's mostly lead to a negative response and was toned down for the third film.
* Jenny Ng and Calvin [=McGuirk=] in ''Lovely Assistant'': pretty obvious {{UST}} from the first night they meet (Calvin insists she could stay at his place and nothing would happen, but they don't take the chance), and as [[TheLancer Heckler]] points out when [[spoiler: Jenny is kidnapped by the [[BigBad Big Bads]]]], EveryoneCanSeeIt. Unsurprisingly, they do...but only [[FirstKiss for a moment]], in TheClimax, because fate has other plans (which also neatly [[AvertedTrope sidesteps]] any ShippingBedDeath).
* In ''Literature/LoyalEnemies'', this is the question Shelena's and Veres' storyline ultimately points towards, what with their [[BelligerentSexualTension constant fighting but also obvious enjoyment of each other's company]], even though they're [[FoeRomanceSubtext nominally mortal enemies and remind each other of that regularly]]. EveryoneCanSeeIt, though (that is, everyone except Rest), and reactions vary from Delirna's "So, how's he in bed?" to the villain's "Get your monster girlfriend away from me!". It doesn't get any better after Shelena has a LoveEpiphany right before the final battle and is only resolved via LastMinuteHookup in the epilogue.
* Jace and Clary, to ridiculous levels in ''Literature/TheMortalInstruments''. Nothing much ever seems to happen until they [[spoiler:figure out they aren't related.]]
* Percy and Annabeth in ''Literature/PercyJacksonAndTheOlympians''. It's pretty bad when even the daughter of the god of war thinks that it's about time when you finally get together.
* ''Literature/PrideAndPrejudice''. Not just Elizabeth and Darcy but Jane and Bingley.
* In ''Literature/SenseAndSensibility'' it's Elinor and Edward Ferrars.
* Brienne and Jaime in ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'' - they've got plenty of BelligerentSexualTension, with an interesting twist on BeastAndBeauty thrown in, but it's as yet unresolved. Were the series less [[CrapsackWorld infamously]] [[AnyoneCanDie grim]], the odds might be more in their favour.
* The ''Franchise/StarWars'' ExpandedUniverse does this with Luke Skywalker and Mara Jade a bit.
** And it absolutely ''uses it to death'' with Jacen and Tenel Ka.
** And Jaina and Jagged.
* In ''Literature/WarAndPeace'', this tends to happen a lot. The [[LoveTriangle Love Triangles]] don't really help in sorting it out. This trope applies most to [[spoiler:Pierre and Natasha]], as that one's foreshadowed relatively early in the book, and [[spoiler:Nikolai and Marya]].
* ''Literature/TheWheelOfTime'' series brings us the relationship between Rand Al'Thor and Aviendha the ActionGirl, which lasts for an astonishing length of time. This is primarily motivated by Aviendha's own stubbornness, combined with the HonorBeforeReason stance of her culture and the cultural differences between her and Rand and the fact that Rand is in love with ''two'' other women and is very queasy about it. [[spoiler: Until later anyway. The three women get together and basically force Rand to [[MarryThemAll accept a relationship with all of them]].]]
* Dorn and Kara in ''Literature/TheYearOfRogueDragons''
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Music]]
* Music/TheDoubleclicks have a song called [[http://thedoubleclicks.bandcamp.com/track/will-they-or-wont-they "Will They or Won't They"]], comparing the narrator and some guy to multiple fictional couples. The joke is that she always looks good in the comparison, he comes across as a {{Jerkass}}, and as to the titular question — they won’t.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Roleplay]]
* ''Roleplay/DinoAttackRPG'' had quite a bit of UST between Hertz and Naomi Carver, as well as Frozeen and Gromtin, with the question of whether or not they will get together in the end.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Video Games]]
* ''VideoGame/AraFell'': Adrian has an obvious crush on Lita, but [[ObliviousToLove she seems oblivious]]. When they finally do share a romantic moment it's during a ''very'' emotional and confusing time for Lita, and they agree to work out their feelings afterwards. [[spoiler:They do in the epilogue]].
* In ''VideoGame/BrokenSword'', George and Nico seems to have a thing for each other, but never confess to each other and they never even contact each other in between the games timeline. George said in the beginning of the 3rd game that "things between them don't work out".
* ''VideoGame/{{Bugsnax}}'': Snorpy's subplot involves him trying to work up the nerve to confess his feelings to Chandlo, who himself constantly talks about his obsession with getting stronger so he can always protect Snorpy.
* ''VideoGame/CelestianTalesRealmsBeyond'': Isaac and Lucienne spend the entire game in what Reynard calls an "ambiguous relationship." [[spoiler:They finally get together in the ending]].
* ''VideoGame/{{Clandestiny}}'': Will Paula and Andrew get married? Paula really wants to, Andrew seems not so sure. Comes to a head when the two are about to drown and he finally asks her to marry him. [[spoiler:Her answer: "Hell no!", given everything she's been through that night.]]
* ''VideoGame/CriminalCasePacificBay'': Amy and Russell quite obviously have feelings towards one another: they constantly praise each other's works, and get exceedingly worried whenever the other is in trouble (in ''Deadly Legacy'' Amy freaks out when Russell went missing, while Russell gets uncharacteristically infuriated when [[spoiler:the Utopians brainwashed Amy]] in ''Dead Carpet''). However, aside from their occasional flirtings, nothing explicit ever happens between the two. [[spoiler:Until ''A Killer Among Us'', that is]].
* ''VideoGame/DungeonMakerIITheHiddenWar'' has one between the female main character and Greg the apothecary. She thinks he's too much of a genius to approach. He's too bumbling and shy to tell her how he really feels. Despite this, they're clearly crazy about each other.
* ''VideoGame/GabrielKnight'': It's obvious from the start that Gabriel and Grace care for each other, but they don't start to show this until towards the end of ''Beast Within''. [[TheirFirstTime Their first actual consummation]] in ''Gabriel Knight 3'' is followed by very awkward periods between the two, as well as with those around them.
* ''VideoGame/{{Lorelai}}'': The decision of whether or not Lorelai has the same feelings for Zack as he does for her is left up to the player. Thus, the game can end on either side of the question.
* ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid3SnakeEater'' had this almost all the way through with Naked Snake and EVA. [[spoiler:They end up having sex after the mission. EVA is later artificially impregnated with his clones. However, they never actually develop a relationship.]]
* ''VideoGame/{{Slammed}}'': Part of Ecstasy's romance line is how you're both interested in a relationship but never have the right time for one, leading to this.
* Usually with ''VideoGame/TalesSeries'' games, the canon pairing is right there as the lead male and female.
** ''VideoGame/TalesOfVesperia'' however, goes to great lengths of implying a will they/won't they relationship between ill tempered sorceress Rita and sheltered Princess Estelle ''as well as'' an Are They/Aren't They one with childhood best friends Yuri and Flynn. The [=PS3=] version only intensifies it.
** ''VideoGame/TalesOfHearts'': Kohaku and Kor spend the whole game on an "Unresolved Romantic Tension" dynamic. [[spoiler: at the very last second of the post-credits sequence, they do]]
* ''VideoGame/{{Tenchu}}'' fans have been at war since the beginning on whether Ayame and Rikimaru are just partners, clan brother and sister, or secret lovers. The extra futon in what certainly LOOKS like Rikimaru's house in Tenchu Z suggests the latter.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Visual Novels]]
* From ''Franchise/AceAttorney'' we have Detective Gumshoe and Maggey Byrde. It's all but said explicitly the Gumshoe has a huge crush on Maggey, going so far as to have Phoenix smuggle weenies into the Detention Centre when she's accused of murder (again) and 'confessing' to have committed a murder when he can see the evidence piling up to frame Maggey (again).
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Webcomics]]
* ''Webcomic/CheckPlease'' has this situation between the main leads Bitty and Jack. The first year has their relationship going from Jack screaming at Bitty to an eventual mutual respect, trust and friendship with lots of ShipTease sprinkled once they get closer. Year 2 tunes it way up by [[spoiler:Bitty falling for Jack and possibly vice versa]], but both being very ObliviousToLove, nobody does anything with it. In the finale of Year 2, [[spoiler:Jack runs across campus to find Bitty and kiss him, as off Year 3, they are the OfficialCouple of the comic]].
** The situation is downplayed, but still very much present between their best friends Lardo and Shitty, who overflow with UnresolvedSexualTension and dance around each other even more than Jack and Bitty.
* Viana Doesulen and Thomas Millwood are in this situation throughout ''Webcomic/DeerMe''. It's pretty clear the attraction is mutual, but each initially thinks the other isn't interested (or in the case of Thomas, fears that Viana would beat him up if he tried anything). While the webcomic has really presented several chances for a RelationshipUpgrade, it never reaches that point.
* Ellen and Nanase from ''Webcomic/ElGoonishShive''. They [[spoiler:[[RelationshipUpgrade get together]]]] after Grace's birthday party.
** This trope is referenced in the commentary of [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2009-10-26 this page]] regarding Agents Cranium and Wolf, with Dan Shive's answer to the question being: "there is no 'will they, won't they' issue with Wolf and Cranium. They have, they will again, and they utterly fail at hiding it."
** [[spoiler:Elliot/Susan]]. The latter's issues with intimacy and physical contact are probably the biggest obstacle to this ship setting sail.
* [[spoiler: Dr. Kinesis]] and [[spoiler: Alice]] in ''Webcomic/EvilPlan''. It's not for lack of trying, though. [[spoiler: Alice is clearly attempting to make moves, but seducing a sexually-repressed mad scientist is about as tough as it sounds.]]
* ''Webcomic/FauxPas'' has this with Randy and Cindy. Miscommunication and Randy's innocence keep getting in the way. [[spoiler:They eventually do get together and start a family.]]
* Lampshaded in [[http://girlyyy.com/go/52 this strip]] of ''Webcomic/{{Girly}}'', while playing the trope straight (no pun intended).
** [[spoiler:They do. BOY do they ever.]]
** [[spoiler:It's also good to know that the majority of the comic is the main couple together with very little romantic problems, most of the stress comes from other weird things happening and other characters getting together.]]
* In ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'', this is what Karkat and Terezi's relationship adds up to. It's been going on since before we knew those characters by name. They were never officially in a relationship, but they have had plenty of romantic tension. For example, Dave has stated once that he believes Karkat is jealous that his "girlfriend" (Terezi) has a thing for him, though neither Karkat nor Terezi (especially the former) like to talk about their relationship.
* In ''Webcomic/KeychainOfCreation'', this is a major background element to Misho and Marena's relationship. Misho is of the "won't" mindset, while Marena... let's just say she's [[http://keychain.patternspider.net/comics/koc0302.png not entirely in agreement]].
* In an early ''Webcomic/LeftoverSoup'' strip, [[http://www.leftoversoup.com/archive.php?num=12 Ellen makes it absolutely clear that she and Jamie won't.]] Naturally, [[http://www.leftoversoup.com/archive.php?num=25 this doesn't even stop her best friend from betting it will.]]
* Any and Professor T.X. from ''Webcomic/M9Girls'' The tension comes from the obvious age difference, but mainly because the Professor's allegiance is still doubtful. Any does not seem to mind, though.
* ''WebComic/MagickChicks'': Faith and Tiffany have had {{UST}} since the beginning of the comic. Tiffany's been fighting it because she thinks of Faith as her nemesis and because [[IfItsYouItsOkay she's straight]], though she's finally reached the point where she can [[http://www.magickchicks.com/strips-mc/omigawd no longer deny the attraction.]] Faith has [[http://www.magickchicks.com/strips-mc/official_girlfriend repeatedly]] [[http://www.magickchicks.com/strips-mc/take_things_slow made her feelings clear]] on the matter and awaits Tiffany's decision.
* ''Webcomic/MegaTokyo'': Piro and Kimiko for the longest time. With their relationship now on pause, Piro/Miho are also on the list. Yuki and Kobayashi.
* ''Webcomic/MenageA3'': Gary interactions with pretty much anyone, especially Zii, [=DiDi=], Sonya, and Yuki, tend to involve this trope. Sometimes, this is eventually answered, and sometimes it isn't. At some points, the trope manifests in the relationships between [=DiDi=] and Sandra and [=DiDi=] and Matt, too.\\\
Notably, Gary and Zii were clearly developing an increasing mutual attraction during the last few volumes of the comic’s run, complicated by the facts that (a) Gary thought that Zii was out of his league, (b) Zii thought of Gary as a hopeless {{geek}} and a little brother figure, and (c) they were both usually involved with other people (not that this tends to stop anyone in this comic). But then the comic ended. The creators have acknowledged that they set the pairing up as a serious possibility, but then decided not to do anything with it — but the fact that the option was never even discussed and rejected in the comic left it looking like an annoying dangling plot thread.
* Yun-lee and Dong-whi in ''Webcomic/NineteenTwentyOne''. Dong-whi does openly like her but after that and some slight jealousy it doesn't come up until it's resolved at the end.
* ''Webcomic/NoPinkPonies'' Jess and... unnamed guy ({{Fanon}} states his name is Cute Comic Guy or CCG for short)) in [[http://nopinkponies.keenspot.com/d/20060207.html No Pink Ponies]]. [[spoiler: They do]]
* In ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'', Elan and Haley. It goes between them for a very long time, [[spoiler: until their lives depend on it]].
* Although it's far from a central plot element, the title characters of ''Webcomic/PennyAndAggie'' are an example, with speculation and shipping occurring both in-universe (Sara, from the early arc "The Ticket" to the present) and within the fandom (which also has many Penny/Aggie anti-shippers). Complicated by the attraction being entirely one-sided at first; Penny has erotic dreams and occasional daytime "twinges" for Aggie, but not vice versa, although Aggie's dream in "The Lady and the Tiger" suggests she's subconsciously aware of the other's feelings. Also complicating matters is that, despite WordOfGod confirming that both title characters have "bisexual leanings", their principal romantic plotlines for the vast majority of the comic so far have all involved boys. That Aggie did eventually decide she was homosexual doesn't appear to have cleared up the issue. Later, [[spoiler:Penny made increasingly clear overtures to Aggie, and the interest was now seen to be mutual]], and they've now [[spoiler:shared their tentative FirstKiss]]. Then, judging from [[spoiler:[[http://www.pennyandaggie.com/index.php?p=1168 their action, and their friends' discussion of it in this strip]], they do. And now [[http://pennyandaggie.com/index.php?p=1213 confirmed]]]].
* ''Webcomic/PunchAnPie'' plays with this by starting the two leads as a couple, breaking them up, and then leaving it deliberately unclear whether or not they will get back together. [[spoiler:They don't.]]
* ''Webcomic/QuestionableContent'' was entirely built on the UnresolvedSexualTension between [[{{Tsundere}} Faye]] and [[UnluckyEverydude Marten]] for the first 500 comics until [[NothingIsTheSameAnymore the talk]], which killed whatever might have happened between them. However, the strip managed successfully to continue from that point and become arguably something different entirely. WillTheyOrWontThey also occurs in various other "relationships" that Faye lands into.
* ''Webcomic/RedString'': Eiji and Reika seemed poised to dancing around the issue until eternity, until [[spoiler:they finally hooked up. And there was much rejoicing]].
* Kat and Art in ''Webcomic/SequentialArt'' have been shown here and there throughout the series to have mutual interest in each other, but both seem unaware of this and too hesitant to do anything about it. Every time it gets brought up it feels like it's about to go somewhere, then doesn't.
* ''Webcomic/SluggyFreelance''. Torg's been pining after Zoe for years. He even hooked up with the Zoe from an alternate dimension. However he [[CannotSpitItOut never tells her how he feels]], and if he did Oasis might kill Zoe for stealing Torg's affection. To be fair, alternate dimension Zoe did die, and Torg still blames himself for failing to keep her safe. So he's developed his fear of Oasis killing Zoe into more then just an excuse and well into realistic territory.
** And it is realistic. Oasis's jealousy lead her to kill ''ice-cream'' after Torg said he loved chocolate ice-cream.
** The question was answered when [[spoiler:Zoe was confronted by an old enemy, and she was forced to come to terms with her relationship with Torg. Zoe realized not only that Torg loves her, but she loves him back]].
* In ''Webcomic/SomethingPositive'', Pee-Jee and Davan were like this for quite some time -- but [[WordOfGod as it turns out]], [[http://www.somethingpositive.net/sp05312009.shtml it's just the author messing with his reader's heads]]. (The ShipTease has dialed back considerably since Davan found a new girlfriend, of whom Pee-Jee is quite fond.)
* ''Webcomic/ThisIsNotFiction'' has the main characters Julian and Landon. They have so much ShipTease that a lot of people, including their mutual friend [[ShipperOnDeck Isaiah]] and [[AllGirlsWantBadBoys Julian's mother]] think they are dating. It's eventually revealed that Landon is indeed in love with Julian, [[spoiler:and it's reciprocal]]. They dance around the subject a lot and the situation eventually made the whole "Quest for Sidney Morgan" a [[TheArtifact background plot]], something recognized in-universe. Eventually, [[spoiler:during a party, they finally kiss, though whether they are boyfriends now is still discussed.]]
* After years of BelligerentSexualTension, Keith and Natani from ''Webcomic/TwoKinds'' seem to be ''slowly'' inching towards a RelationshipUpgrade. Justified in that both of them have boatloads of mental issues to work through.
* A.J. and Miranda from ''Webcomic/UserFriendly'' were like this for a ''very'' long time. They finally got together several ''years'' after they met.
** It would've happened sooner, but [[spoiler:Miranda deleted a "love e-letter" A.J. had sent.]] Very forgivable, as [[spoiler:the ''real'' "ILOVEYOU" e-mail worm was propagating at the time of that comic.]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Original]]
* Sasha Hunter and Daichi Hashimoto from ''Literature/GreekNinja''.
* Jaune and Pyrrha from ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}''. [[spoiler: They do, but is sadly cut short by Pyrrha's untimely death at the hands of Cinder Fall.]]
** Nora and Ren have this dynamic in spades, with Nora clearly crushing on Ren big time, and Ren being [[ObliviousToLove utterly oblivious]] to her feelings. [[spoiler: Nora finally kisses Ren in Volume 7, leading to a proper RelationshipUpgrade for the two of them.]]
** An unusual case involving Blake and Sun and later Blake and Yang. Blake and Sun follow this setup with clear attraction on Sun's part and a lesser degree of reciprocation from Blake. Over the course of several volumes they grow closer together but a romance never fully materializes. Starting in Volume 6 this is repeated with Blake and Yang. They rekindle their friendship and grow much closer over the course of several volumes [[spoiler: but unlike before they do end up together by Volume 9.]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Videos]]
* Alice and Andrew on ''WebVideo/ClassicAlice''.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Western Animation]]
* Sterling and Lana Kane of ''WesternAnimation/{{Archer}}''. Lampshaded in part three of "Heart of Archness":
-->'''[[Creator/DavidCross Noah]]''': Oh my God! Just screw already!\\
'''Buckey''': [[EveryoneCanSeeIt Seriously]].\\
'''[[Creator/PatrickWarburton Rip Riley]]''': [[BelligerentSexualTension Then kill each other.]] Then shut up. Then kill each other again. Then call me, so I can watch.
* ''Franchise/AvatarTheLastAirbender'':
** Katara and Aang from ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender''. Aang had a blatant crush on Katara from the first episode, while Katara was generally too focused on the ongoing war to figure out her feelings on the matter, not even realizing Aang liked her in that manner until the final season. Katara would only allow herself to return Aang's affections in the final episode.
** In the SequelSeries, ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'', Korra and Mako take this role for the first season. They're attracted to each other from the moment they meet, but then constant bickering, Mako getting a girlfriend despite his {{UST}} with Korra, and the main plot involving the Equalists and Korra getting kidnapped keeps them from getting together until the last episode. Then came the second season, where their conflicting personalities and life goals [[DeadSparks prove to be too much for their relationship]] and they break up.
* Ant-Man and Wasp in ''WesternAnimation/TheAvengersEarthsMightiestHeroes''. Three attempts he made during the first season to confess his love for her didn't go as planned, and [[spoiler: his quitting the Avengers further harmed their chances of starting a relationship]].
* Batman and Catwoman in ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'', despite Selina's countless attempts to seduce Bruce with her catty double entendres.
* Ulrich and Yumi of ''WesternAnimation/CodeLyoko''. Their 4-season long [[GenreBlind on-again-off-again-]][[GreenEyedMonster green-eyed-monster]]-[[JustFriends just-friends]]-[[CannotSpitItOut not-just-friends]]-[[LastMinuteHookUp vague-implications]] dance makes even their ''shippers'' cringe. At the beginning of season four, we had the "I dump you but we're still friends and it's not dumping because we were just friends all along" scene (yes, this sums up how exaggerated this trope was) ''just after the [[DeathOfTheHypotenuse only really dangerous rival was turned into a]] BigBad's [[DeathOfTheHypotenuse minion]]''. It's even more ridiculous when you consider that ''[[EveryoneCanSeeIt everyone but them]]'' considers the two a couple despite their constant [[JustFriends denials]].
* ''WesternAnimation/CodenameKidsNextDoor'' has Numbah 3 and Numbah 4 filling this spot.
* Sam Manson and Danny Fenton/Phantom from ''WesternAnimation/DannyPhantom'' have this throughout the entire series starting in the first few episodes. Continuous hints and leads point to this, to even a scenario where they both have the exact same dream of them dating, but nothing comes from it until the last episode, where they have a LastMinuteHookup.
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'': Fry and Leela. They (technically) married twice, but both marriages were very brief, albeit for non-personal reasons. One involved [[spoiler:time going at accelerated speeds, due to one of Farnsworth's "brilliant" ideas]], and the other [[spoiler:an aged version of Fry under an alternate persona who dumps Leela at the altar after realizing it will cause a time travel paradox.]] Fry claims to have been fallen in love with Leela at first sight, but that didn't stop him from dating or having sex with other women. Meanwhile, Leela very often snubbed his advances, sometimes rather harshly. After a decade, she finally admitted she loves him and they had an on-again, off-again relationship for a season before becoming an official couple in the last season.
* ''WesternAnimation/IronManArmoredAdventures'' gives us Pepper and Tony. Though YMMV with the last episode of Season 2 [[spoiler: where Tony kisses her on the cheek]].
* ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'':
** Green Lantern and Hawkgirl. After they finally admit their feelings for each other (at the end of "Wild Cards"), the very next episode ("Starcrossed") involves a big [[TheReveal reveal]] that causes them to break up and Hawkgirl to [[PutOnABus leave]]. By the time she returns from her TenMinuteRetirement, GL is dating [[RomanticFalseLead another superhero]]. In spite of this, the two still have feelings for each other. They still aren't a couple by the end of the series, but [[spoiler:the existence of their KidFromTheFuture, Warhawk,]] implies that they do eventually end up together. WordOfGod says they'll get together eventually.
** We also have Batman and Wonder Woman dancing to this, from Batman's insistence that they are JustFriends and frantically digging the rubble that had apparently buried Diana (even hiding his dirt-covered hands from her afterwards) and Wonder Woman herself flirting often with Batman and getting a bit shy after their FakeOutMakeOut in "Starcrossed".
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Kaeloo}}'': The relationship between Kaeloo and Mr. Cat is this in seasons 1-3. [[EveryoneCanSeeIt Even the other characters have figured out that they're in love with each other]], but they're both oblivious to the fact that the other likes them. From season 4 onwards, this was replaced with a situation where it is extremely ambiguous whether the two are just friends or already in a romantic relationship.
* In ''WesternAnimation/ReBoot'', Bob and Dot. It took them until the end of the last season to get together and engaged -- but it wasn't even [[spoiler:the real Bob]] anyway. In the comic continuation, they keep trying to get married but something always comes up.
* ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooMysteryIncorporated'': Fred and Daphne. [[spoiler: As of episode 26, Fred broke off their engagement because of drama. As of the ending, they admitted that they love each other and are apparently engaged in the new timeline.]]
* ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'' had a bit of this with Sadie and Lars, who obviously care about each other but are frequently at odds. Both go through separate CharacterDevelopment arcs and become friendlier afterwards. '' Steven Universe Future'' shows they [[spoiler:decided they were BetterAsFriends. Sadie is dating a new character, which legitimately upsets Steven who's in the middle of a HeroicBSOD and had for ages [[ShipperOnDeck assumed Sadie and Lars]] were [[EveryoneCanSeeIt meant for each other]]]].
* Sprx and Nova in ''WesternAnimation/SuperRobotMonkeyTeamHyperforceGo''. They spend 4 seasons with the routine of him teasing her and flirting to then get punched by her, saving each other in battle, getting jealous when the other shows interest in someone else and occasional near confessions on Sprx's part. They don't get some sort of resolution until the final episode where [[spoiler:Nova confesses her love for him to break him out of his BrainwashedAndCrazy state]].
* Starfire and Robin of the ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans'', from the day they first met (and [[LoveAtFirstPunch beat each other up]]), for the entire series.
** Beast Boy and Raven in the comedy-focused SpinOff series ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitansGo''. The show routinely teases their relationship, even devoting a whole episode to them almost getting married.
* Babs and Buster Bunny ([[RunningGag No relation]]) in ''WesternAnimation/TinyToonAdventures''.
* ''WesternAnimation/TotalDrama'' has Alejandro and Heather. The two are perfect for each other and EveryoneCanSeeIt, but their competitive natures prevented them from having an actual relationship [[spoiler:which they both realized in ''All Stars''. Once they were both eliminated, they could finally be together, and are confirmed to to be a couple in the finale.]]
** ''WesternAnimation/TotalDramaPresentsTheRidonculousRace'' has Carrie and Devin, a.k.a the Best Friends. She's been in love with him since they were kids but he's completely [[ObliviousToLove oblivious to it.]] [[spoiler: Eventually she decides to try and give up on him...just in time for him to realise he's in love with her. In the end he confesses his feelings and they end up together.]]
[[/folder]]

* ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid3'' had this almost all the way through with Naked Snake and EVA. [[spoiler:They end up having sex after the mission. EVA is later artificially impregnated with his clones. However, they never actually develop a relationship.]]

[[folder:Web Comics]]