Line #100 HeterosexualLifePartners/Literature


1	* In ''Literature/TheAdventuresOfCaterpillarJones'', while both C.J. and Sammy take wives, they're such close friends they're on the cover of the book together.
2	* [[Literature/TheAdventuresOfTomSawyer Tom Sawyer]] and [[Literature/TheAdventuresOfHuckleberryFinn Huckleberry Finn.]] At one point Tom hinted to Huck that he liked a girl and wanted to marry her, and Huck tried to talk him out of it, finally saying, "Only if you get married I'll be more lonesomer than ever." Tom's response? "No you won't, you'll come and live with me."
3	** In ''Huckleberry Finn'' Huck is told by Mrs. Watson about Heaven, thinks it sounds pretty boring, and makes up his mind not to go:
4	---> I asked her if she thought Tom Sawyer would go there, and she said not by a considerable sight. I was glad about that, because I wanted him and me to be together.
5	* Gafinilan and Mertil in ''Literature/{{Animorphs}}'' book #40. Also arguably Marco and Ax, briefly, after [[spoiler:Marco fakes his death.]]
6	** It's actually kind of an interesting question, since we don't find out whether Gafinilan and Mertil are gay or straight at all -- the book doesn't mention it one way or the other. As a result, it's possible to read them as Heterosexual Life Mates or to read them as a couple.
7	** It's established in Animorphs that Ax and Tobias are the Andalite version of Heterosexual Life Mates...except on his planet it's called "shorm" which translates to "tail blade"...meaning someone who you would trust to put their tail blade against your throat.
8	** [[ChildhoodFriends Jake and Marco]].
9	* The science fiction novella "Aqua Vitae" has heart-brothers, members of an alien species who have a lifelong relationship that shares some commonalities with romantic love, but isn't erotic.
10	* ''Literature/ArtemisFowl'' and his manservant, Domovoi Butler. Technically speaking it's Butler's job, and their relationship is harder to define as a result of the employer/employee aspect, but it's also clear the pair are much more attached to one another. Either way, they're partners and they will be together for ''life''. It's in Butler's job description.
11	* Creator/IsaacAsimov:
12	** ''Literature/TheCompleteAdventuresOfLuckyStarr'':
13	*** Dr Hector Conway, Augustus Henree, and Lawrence Starr were a three-man team working for the [[GovernmentAgencyOfFiction Council of Science]]. All three fell in love with the same woman, but Hector and Augustus gracefully accepted it when she married Lawrence. The two men decided to [[ParentalSubstitute adopt their son]] after the couple died.
14	--->''Neither Henree nor [Conway] had ever married, and for neither were there any girls to compete with Barbara in memory.''
15	*** David "Lucky" Starr and his {{sidekick}} John Bigman Jones have been living together since the end of the first novel. As the series goes on, their friendship and dedication is constantly reaffirmed. Lucky even claims his [[FakeDefector apparent betrayal of the Council]] was made easier when Bigman's life was on the line.
16	** ''Literature/RobotSeries'': Mike Donovan and Gregory Powell, the nearly inseparable field specialists for US Robotics. The two men work together in stressful conditions, and typically take their vacations together, too. While no ages are given, it's implied that the two maintain a working relationship for decades.
17	* Jack Aubrey and Stephen Maturin in the ''Literature/AubreyMaturin'' series.
18	** Diana Villiers tells Stephen in the second book that "anyone would swear you were married to that man".
19	** Stephen does seem to make some subtle passes at Aubrey, but Aubrey thinks Maturin is just trying to discuss gay sex and is not interested.
20	* Literature/AuntieMame and Vera Charles. VitriolicBestBuds they may be, but they're probably closer to each other than to the men in their lives.
21	* [[SwornBrothers David and Jonathan]] from ''Literature/TheBible''. When Jonathan dies, David laments that he loved him more than any woman. It could just be David's way of simply saying his relationship with Jonathan is BetterThanSex. David looked up to Jonathan; Jonathan was of legal age and killing Philistines before a young David was anointed, and Jonathan, knowing God's will, vowed to serve David loyally once David became king.[[labelnote:*]]Jonathan's father was ''King'' Saul[[/labelnote]]
22	* Joseph Corrigan and Joseph Feehan, aka Corrie and Fee, from ''Blessed Are The Cheesemakers''.
23	* Bernard and Helmholtz in ''Literature/BraveNewWorld''. Bernard gets intensely jealous when John forms an instant bond with Helmholtz, and Helmholtz thinks to himself at one point that Bernard's self-centeredness distresses him because he likes Bernard. Later on, Helmholtz manages to convince Bernard to agree to be exiled with him to a faraway island...off-page.
24	* Jim Pooley and John Omally from Creator/RobertRankin's ''Brentford Trilogy''. In fact, all of Rankin's heroes are straight males and nearly all have a "bestest friend" whom they "love in a manly, mannish way".
25	* Charles Ryder's friendship with Sebastian Flyte in ''Literature/BridesheadRevisited'' appears to fit this trope, though many readers interpret it differently.
26	* In the ''Literature/TheCattleRaidOfCooley'', Cúchulainn and Ferdiad. Unfortunately, they find themselves on opposite sides of the war between Connacht and Ulster. They fight for three days and at the end of each day, tend each other's wounds and spend the night in each other's arms. Cúchulainn kills Ferdiad at the end of the third day.
27	* Although their relationship is strictly divided by their rank and they never treat each other familiarly, Commissar Literature/CiaphasCain spends decades of his long life fighting by the side of his aide, Gunner Ferik Jurgen. Jurgen is unflinchingly loyal to Cain and Cain, by nature an intensely paranoid and self-obsessed man, describes Jurgen as the only man he ever fully trusts. Cain even gets quite annoyed on his aide's behalf that Jurgen is always left out of the stories that circulate about him and goes into shock when he thinks Jurgen has died--and that's only 13 years into their association.
28	* Harry Cat and Tucker Mouse, of ''Literature/TheCricketInTimesSquare''.
29	* In ''Literature/DanceoftheButterfly'', Skothiam and Jericho have been friends since elementary school. Now in their forties, they continue to work together.
30	* Gilbert and Isak, the "Mice" of Taylor Anderson's ''Literature/{{Destroyermen}}'' series. [[spoiler:They're actually half-brothers.]]
31	* Colon and Nobby from the ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' Watch series.
32	** Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg managed to evolve into Heterosexual Life Partners, as well.
33	* ''Literature/DonQuixote'' and Sancho Panza. Most loyal {{Sidekick}}s fall into this trope unless they have TheHero being abusive, and [[CantLiveWithThemCantLiveWithoutThem sometimes even then]].
34	* Ishmael and Razza in the ''Literature/DontCallMeIshmael'' series. They are closer to each other than to the rest of their TrueCompanions and Ishmael describes their friendship as stronger than steel ("hoops of carbon nanotubes"). They have a PlatonicDeclarationOfLove towards the end of the last book.
35	* Joshua and Miron of ''Literature/DoraWilkSeries''. One is an angel, one is a demon and they hanged together for over three centuries, no matter what.
36	* ''Literature/{{Dragaera}}'': Norathar e'Lanya and Cawti. They worked together as [[LovelyAngels assassins]] until one of them turned out to be next in line for the throne and the other married a mob boss. Several years later, [[spoiler: Norathar is helping Cawti to raise her child]], in spite of the vast difference in social class ''and'' Cawti's anti-Empire political beliefs.
37	* Literature/TheDresdenFiles: Harry Dresden and Michael Carpenter in the OddCouple of KnightInSourArmor and KnightInShiningArmor. They work together like a well-oiled machine despite their ideological differences and Harry is considered to be part of Michael's family as HonoraryUncle to all of his kids. Just how close are they? Ask any father if there are many greater trusts that he could place in another man's hands than the [[spoiler: life, sanity and virtue of his daughter.]]
38	* In ''Literature/DyingOfTheLight'', [[HeterosexualLifePartner Heterosexual Life Partnership]] is a huge institution on High Kavalaan. {{Deconstructed}} in that, according a main character, it began as a result of the planet almost being wiped out by a {{Gendercide}} weapon. Widowers started pairing as a way to cope.
39	* ''Literature/EarthsChildren'': Brothers Jondalar and Thonolan in ''The Valley of Horses''. They're closer to each other than anyone else, especially as Jondalar has some difficulty opening up to people, including going on a years' long treacherous journey across a whole continent together. When Thonolan settles down to get married, Jondalar stays with him even though deep down he wants to return home; Thonolan later points this out to him but Jondalar is reluctant to leave him. Serenio notes that Jondalar is far more devoted to his brother than any of his lovers, suggesting he should find someone like him if he wants a lasting romantic relationship; when Jondalar questions if this means he should be romancing ''men'' instead of women, Serenio explains she meant he should find a woman who completely and unconditionally accepts him the way Thonolan does. [[spoiler:Notably, Jondalar meets [[LastGirlWins Ayla]] at the same time Thonolan [[TragicBromance dies]]]].
40	* Eden and her best friend, Veronica, in ''Literature/EdenGreen''. When they're not at each other's throats over relationship drama, the two are fiercely loyal and sometimes mistaken for a lesbian couple.
41	* ''Literature/TheElenium'': Tynian and Ulath grow to be this during the course of the series. In the second trilogy, someone explains their constant banter as a way of saying they love each other--and embarrasses all of them; men aren't too comfortable with the word 'love' when it's applied to other men (even if he IS your best friend). Sparhawk and Kalten also meet the criteria. They were practically raised as brothers and will do anything for each other.
42	* Michael Moorcock's [[Literature/TheElricSaga Elric and Moonglum]]. They're both quite clearly and exclusively interested in women, and it's even expressly stated that neither one of them understands the bond that keeps them together. Outside their own understanding, and fully within the premise of the Multiverse, it turns out that [[spoiler:Elric is one of many incarnations of the Eternal Champion, and Moonglum is an aspect of the Companion to Champions, a sort of eternal sidekick. There's also an always-female Eternal Consort to the always-male Champion]].
43	* Robert and Arvid in "''Literature/TheEmigrants''" novels. They get to know each other when they work as farmhands at the same farm, and though Robert is much more intelligent than Arvid, they become very close to each other and go to America and search for gold together. [[spoiler: They both die young though.]]
44	* Emma and Miss Taylor/Mrs. Weston in ''Literature/{{Emma}}''.
45	* Caesar and Brutus start off as such in Conn Iggulden's ''Emperor'' series.
46	** Brutus (or Marcus as he's known in childhood) was a ward of Julius' family when they were growing up. They were close as brothers, though Marcus considered himself TheUnfavorite for the cool treatment he sometimes got from Julius' father. After they are reunited after Sulla's death, Brutus even surrendered command of his legion to Julius after they were reunited in order to honor ThePromise. After this, though, the trope begins to be [[{{Deconstruction}} deconstructed]]. Brutus grows jealous of Julius' military successes, which he feels he could have won just as easily, as well as angry over Julius' romantic relationship with Brutus' own mother. During the campaign in Gaul, there is a tension in their relationship, which Julius taking Brutus' loyalty for granted and Brutus growing frustrated at living in Julius' shadow. At one point, while on leave in Rome, Brutus [[ItMakesSenseInContext sleeps with Julius' sixteen-year-old daughter]], [[{{Squick}} whom he had known since she was an infant]]. When he returns to Gaul, the awkwardness of his friendship with Julius reaches even greater heights. All of this culminates during their triumphant march on Rome, when Julius selects Mark Anthony to stand as consul with him instead of his most trusted friend, neglecting to tell Brutus that it was because he wanted him to go with him to track down Pompey's army. This slap in the face is the final straw that drives Brutus to abandon Julius and join Pompey's forces. When Pompey is killed, Brutus is welcomed back by Julius, who remains torn because he wants ''so fucking much'' to hate Julius, but can't bring himself to do it. They start off as HeterosexualLifePartners but Brutus keeps blaming Julius personally for more or less everything Brutus wants but doesn't get, ignoring the fact that Julius is the son of a senator and Brutus the son of a commoner and a prostitute which means they have different places in Roman society to begin with.
47	** Rather heartbreaking considering that Julius never stops loving Brutus like a brother and considers him his heterosexual life partner up until his death. Brutus on the other hand... Also tragic considering that much could have been avoided if Brutus had, you know, ''talked'' to Julius about how he felt.
48	* ''Literature/TheEpicOfGilgamesh'' gives us Gilgamesh and Enkidu. After fighting each other to exhaustion, Gilgamesh and Enkidu (whom the gods created for the purpose of being a match for Gilgamesh) [[DefeatMeansFriendship decide to be friends]]. They are inseparable thereafter, each fighting wars constantly with the other at his side. When Enkidu dies, Gilgamesh's ManlyTears ensue. Naturally, the inclusion of this relationship in the world's oldest recorded great work of literature makes this trope OlderThanDirt.
49	* Given the focus of ''Literature/TheFaerieQueene'' Book IV is friendship, this is a given.
50	** Campbell and Triamond are brothers-in-law who travel and battle together with more regard for the others glory than their own. When Triamond is knocked out of TheTourney, Campbell impersonates Triamond and enters the battle to save his honor, and when Triamond catches wind of it, he does the same despite the deadly injury he got the other day.
51	** The squires Amyas and Placidas are both willing to reject the love of a beautiful lady and be enslaved in order for the other to be free and find their loves. The two are so close that most people, even Amyas' fiancee, can't tell the two apart.
52	** The island around Venus' temple is not only occupied by romantic lovers, but the platonic sort whose friendship are so strong to last beyond death. The narrator makes reference to historical and mythological examples of this trope (like [[Literature/TheBible David and Jonathan]], [[Literature/TheIliad Achilles and Patroclus]], and Pylades and Orestes) to give a sense of what he's talking about.
53	* Literature/{{Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser}}, both shown as enthusiastic heterosexuals. In the last book Fritz Leiber wrote, the Mouser wonders why he and Fafhrd have never extended their relationship into the sexual, and whether this is a weakness.
54	* Jiaan and Fasal in Creator/HilariBell's ''Literature/FarsalaTrilogy''.
55	** And Fisk and Micheal in her ''Literature/KnightAndRogueSeries''.
56	** And Wrayan and Brak in Wolfblade.
57	* Catherine Webb's ''Literature/TheFirstFifteenLivesOfHarryAugust'' between Harry and [[spoiler: Vincent]]. By the end of the book Harry wouldn't think twice if there was a sexual overtone between the two, but Vincent never seems to care. The story makes it hard to determine if they are "Life partners" but an argument can be made.
58	* Creator/DamonRunyon gives us Blind Benny and Little Yid in his short story "For A Pal." Blind Benny is, naturally, blind, and Little Yid goes everywhere with him, guiding him and describing things for him. The narrator spends several paragraphs describing their relationship: "I am telling you all this about Little Yid and Benny to show you that they are very close friends indeed. They live together and eat together and argue together, and nobody ever hears of a nicer friendship on Broadway, although naturally some citizens figure for a while that one or the other must have some angle in this friendship, as it is practically uncanny for a friendship to last all these years on Broadway."
59	* Locke Lamora and Jean Tannen, in Scott Lynch's ''Literature/GentlemanBastard'' series. Either one of them would die for the other. [[spoiler: And as of ''Republic of Thieves'' it seems Locke may have done just that.]]
60	* Redfern Jon Barrett's ''Literature/TheGiddyDeathOfTheGaysAndTheStrangeDemiseOfStraights'' focuses on the committed relationship of heterosexual roommates Richard and Dom, and their polyamorous union with Dom's girlfriend Caroline.
61	* In the glass thorns series by Melanie Rawn, Cayden Silversun and Meika Windthistle. Throughout the series both Cade and Meika are closer to each other than the other members of their theater troupe, at inns they share a room, and at multiple points we find them sleeping in the same bed when one or the other has a nightmare. They have both said more than once that they love each other, despite their vitriolic relationship, although that hasn't stopped them from frequently seeking congenial female company, especially after Meika's doomed marriage, which failed in part due to his wife's jealously of his relationship with Cade. They even end up buying and living in the same house.
62	* Howard and Orc in the ''Literature/{{Gone}}'' series. Sam and Quinn originally. And also female example with Orsay and Nerezza in the third book.
63	* Aziraphale and Crowley in ''Literature/GoodOmens''. Often MistakenForGay, despite the fact that they ''should'' be (im)mortal enemies as they're angel and demon, respectively. Both have spent thousands of years as the representatives of their respective sides on Earth, leading to a genuine interest in the world around them as well as a stronger sense of connection to one another than the Heaven and Hell they're supposed to be tied to. While other angels and demons are mostly busy trying to snare a soul here or there, or ignoring creation completely, they're busy enjoying their time and waiting for Armageddon. And humans, well, they're not around for nearly as long, are they? A lot of the confusion -- both [[MistakenForGay in story]] and [[HoYay by fans]] -- comes from the fact that Aziraphale calls Crowley 'my dear' (he calls everybody 'my dear'), and Crowley calls Aziraphale 'angel' (he is one).
64	* Hap Collins and Leonard Pine of Joe R. Lansdale's series of novels featuring the two of them, generally described as "The Hap and Leonard Books." "Savage Season" is the first. Well, Leonard is gay, but their life-partnership doesn't include sex and Hap is straight.
65	* Frank and Joe Hardy of ''Literature/TheHardyBoys'', despite actually being brothers, definitely count. Though they do have girlfriends throughout their various incarnations, [[SatelliteLoveInterest their relationships with]] [[OutOfFocus said girlfriends]] are nowhere near as strong as the brotherly bond they have with each other. They also have this type of relationship with their best friend Chet Morton, their most frequent, steadfast companion in their adventures.
66	* ''Literature/HarryPotter'' is full of these:
67	** James Potter and Sirius Black in ''Literature/HarryPotter''. One reason for this is that Sirius had big issues with his family and James was the only friend he could really confide in. Friends like that are hard to come by.
68	** Sirius and Remus, as well.
69	** Harry and Ron, obviously.
70	** The Weasley twins also count. Twins tend to be close anyway.
71	** Parvati and Lavender are rarely seen apart, either. This also stands out because of the fact that Parvati has a twin sister as well - although she's in a different school house only ever mentioned in passing.
72	** Crabbe and Goyle if you really think about it. [[spoiler:Up until the point where Crabbe got himself roasted alive by using magic he couldn't control.]]
73	** Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnigan are rarely seen apart. In ''[[Literature/HarryPotterAndTheDeathlyHallows Deathly Hallows]]'', it is mentioned that Dean rushed to see "his best friend" in the Room of Requirement.
74	** According to the Sorting Hat's song in ''[[Literature/HarryPotterAndTheOrderOfThePhoenix The Order of the Phoenix]]'', Gryffindor and Slytherin, as well as Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff were this before their inevitable split.
75	* The ''Literature/HeavyObject'' protagonists Quenser and Heivia do almost everything together, whether it's shoveling snow in the army or sabotaging giant superweapons. Their relationship thrives in spite of class differences, [[VitriolicBestBuds innumerable brawls over women]], and a serious battle in volume 10 [[spoiler:over what to do with the war criminal Nyarlathotep. Even though the latter ends with Quenser blasting Heivia to the ground, the first emotion Heivia feels afterwards is worry for him]].
76	%%ZCE* ''Literature/HerbertWestReanimator'': Herbert West and his Watson-esque assistant.
77	* Literature/HerculePoirot and his [[TheWatson Watson]], Captain Hastings. Poirot is unmarried, and generally avoids romance altogether. Hastings ''does'' eventually marry and move to Argentina with his wife, but remains Poirot's SarcasticDevotee.
78	* ''Literature/TheHeroesOfOlympus'': Percy and Jason become partners once they get past their initial antagonism. They snark at each other all the time, but clearly care deeply for the other. Annabeth even calls it a "bromance."
79	* ''Franchise/TheHitchhikersGuideToTheGalaxy'': Ford constantly saves Arthur's butt, even when it'd be more convenient for Ford to simply take off and leave Arthur behind--surprising, considering that Ford by nature is incredibly selfish and self-serving. Having Arthur around only makes Ford's life more difficult--everything needs explaining (and Arthur takes a while to catch on), Arthur has almost zip self-preservation instincts (to the point that Ford has to ''drag him away'' from an army of killer robots), and (perhaps the most irritating thing for Ford) Arthur never seems to want to ''do'' anything ("We're popping off to a party and having a bit of fun. Is that an idea you can wrap your head around?") By ''Mostly Harmless'', the two seem to be completely sick to the teeth of each other (to the point where Arthur seems to want Ford to kill himself), and yet they support and rely on each other anyway.
80	** One may notice that instead of becoming closer friends as the series goes on, bonding through hardship as usually occurs, the two like each other less and less as the books progress. In the first book, they seem to be close friends that consistently stick their necks out for one another. Ford also tolerates Arthur's cluelessness since it is understandable. Later on, they become estranged with the relationship. Then annoyed. Eventually they seem to truly dislike one another. And finally, they just sort of passively tolerate each other's presence. An odd-ball example of this trope. But an example nonetheless.
81	* Horace Harkness and Scotty Tremaine from the ''Literature/HonorHarrington'' series - they are 'always' invariably assigned to the same ship. [[spoiler:We later find out that this is because Harkness hacked the Navy's personnel files.]] They also have hugged several times throughout the series.
82	** In the "Torch" subseries, Anton Zilwicki and Victor Cachat become this. Both men are happily straight (and in stable relationships), but Anton actually uses the word "love" in reference to Victor late in ''Cauldron of Ghosts''.
83	* ''Literature/HoratioHornblower'', predecessor to both the above and inspiration for ''Literature/HonorHarrington''. Bush starts out as Hornblower's superior officer, but they earn each other's respect and when Hornblower gets promoted past him, he requests Bush as his second, and Bush happily accepts. They're joined at the hip for the next few ''decades'', through Hornblower's two marriages. In ''A Ship of the Line'', Hornblower has a minor HeroicBSOD when [[spoiler: his ship is destroyed... and Bush loses his leg]]. In ''Commodore Hornblower'', Hornblower thinks to himself that having Bush around is ''better than having a wife'' (he's been married twice at this point). Horatio has a much bigger HeroicBSOD in ''Lord Hornblower'', when Bush makes [[spoiler: a HeroicSacrifice]]. In the films, Hornblower's HLP is Archie Kennedy, and it's possible that ExecutiveMeddling [[spoiler: killed Archie off]] in part because he was interfering with the development of the Hornblower-Bush relationship.
84	* Bran Tse-Mallory and Truzenzuzex from Alan Dean Foster's ''[[Literature/HumanxCommonwealth Flinx]]'' novels. Justified because they were once operators of a Humanx Commonwealth stingship, which required their minds to be linked so closely that their mutual understanding has never faded.
85	* ''Literature/TheHungerGames'': Johanna Mason with Katniss in "Mockingjay".
86	* Jordan [=McKell=] and his partner Ixil from Creator/TimothyZahn's sci-fi murder mystery ''Literature/TheIcarusHunt''. Like [[Franchise/StarWars Han Solo and Chewbacca]] they're both male, one human, one decidedly alien, and have spent many years flying a two-person ship. [[spoiler:Apart from facilitating their murder investigation and flight from some particularly nasty alien highjackers, their partnership turns out to be a major plot point]].
87	* Mike Donovan and Gregory Powell in ''Literature/IRobot'', as the series' ThoseTwoGuys and PluckyComicRelief. The illustrated version of Creator/HarlanEllison's unfilmed screenplay even portrays them as having spent their entire lives after leaving US Robotics travelling through space together setting up transportation booth relays, eventually ready to die together as old men in one last adventure.
88	* Literature/JeevesAndWooster: Bertie and Jeeves, their official relationship notwithstanding. Several stories open with Bertie defending his habit of deferring to his valet by saying that he considers him more as a "guide, philosopher and friend". And when Bertie overhears Jeeves disparaging his intelligence, his reaction is exactly that of a wounded best pal. We're used to watching Jeeves employ ruthless tactics against Bertie to get his way, but in "Bertie Changes His Mind", as we're getting the story from Jeeves' POV, we're also shown a moment when he almost wavers in his plan out of affection for his boss:
89	--->'''Jeeves:''' I am fond of Mr Wooster, and I confess I came near to melting as I looked at his pale, anxious face.
90	* {{Literature/Kydd}} and Renzi.
91	* Joshua and Biff in ''Literature/LambTheGospelAccordingToBiff''.
92	* Literature/LandOfOz:
93	** The Scarecrow and the Tin Woodsman, who, after Ozma takes over as Ruler of Oz, decide never to be parted and live together in the Winkie Country. (In different houses). Not like it stopped them from frequent visits to one another and a few more adventures. John R Neil's lovely cover to The Marvelous Land Of Oz (2nd book of the Oz series) says it all.
94	** The Cowardly Lion and Hungry Tiger would fall under this category as well, as well as Dorothy and Ozma in later books.
95	* Natty Bumppo and Chingachgook of ''Literature/TheLeatherstockingTales''. Natty is even a sort of second father-figure to Chingachgook's son. This particular relationship was DoomedByCanon since in the [[Film/LastOfTheMohicans 1992 film adaptation]] he ''is'' Chingachgook's second son.
96	* In ''Literature/ALegacyOfLight", Tutankhamun and his faithful valet Semerkhet become best friends, eventually coming to look upon one another as brothers.
97	* Captain Woodrow Call and Captain Augustus McCrae of ''Literature/LonesomeDove''.
98	* Bruno and Boots, stars of Creator/GordonKorman's ''Literature/MacdonaldHall'' series. The plot of the entire first book revolves around their efforts to get back together after being forbidden to speak to each other and moved to separate dorms.
99	** Their friends, Cathy and Diane, could also be considered such.
100	* Donegan Bane and Gracious O'Callaghan in Derek Landy's ''[[Literature/SkulduggeryPleasant The Maleficent Seven]]'' seem to fit the trope. They are never seen apart, and seem comfortable in casual banter about who they would sleep with if they were gay.
101	%% * Possibly Newt and Alby in ''Literature/TheMazeRunner''. [[spoiler: Well, before Alby died, anyway.]]
102	* Tyl and Karl in Ursula Zilinsky's ''Middle Ground'' (though Tyl is bi leaning gay, there's no attraction there). Karl explicitly says he loves Tyl.
103	* Joly and Lesgle in ''Literature/LesMiserables''. Hugo specifically says they "hold everything in common", including Joly's mistress. Fanfic tends to portray them as a gay couple, probably due to the HoYay severely affecting the book's other male characters, but there was never any canon evidence that they were anything other than straight.
104	* There's a three-way version of this trope in ''Literature/NancyDrew'' with Nancy and her two best friends, Bess Marvin and George Fayne (who are cousins). Nancy has her [[OfficialCouple steady boyfriend]] Ned Nickerson and Bess and George (Bess in particular) each have a string of temporary love interests, but they always have each other.
105	* ''Literature/TheNecklaceOfPrincessFiorimonde'' has Prince Florestan and his servant Gervaise, who love each other "more than anything else in the world", even as Florestan falls for Fiorimonde's charms and intends to marry her, and Gervaise ends up falling in love with Fiorimonde's maid Yolande when he goes to accompany his master to court the Princess.
106	* Literature/NeroWolfe and Archie Goodwin. Granted, Nero was Archie's employer, but they had a hard time generally without each other. Archie was a well-reputed ladies man throughout the 30+ years of novels, and Nero was a famed asexual, living only for fine food and his orchids.
107	* Creator/EnidBlyton: "Noddy and Big Ears", who in more innocent times used to [[ThereIsOnlyOneBed share a bed]].
108	* The Artful Dodger and Charley Bates in ''Literature/OliverTwist''.
109	** Also, to a degree, Nancy and Bet. Though, in all fairness, Nancy's completely codependent on Bill Sykes, and Bet's got this thing with Toby Crackit.
110	* Jahir and Vasiht'h in M.C.A. Hogarth's ''Literature/{{Paradox}}'' universe are [[MindlinkMates mentally linked]] xenopsychologists. Vasiht'h's species is genetically engineered to have no sex drive and Jahir's have strong taboos against physical contact. Following ''Family'' they are brothers. The author has called the upcoming books about how they first met a [[http://mcahogarth.org/?p=11405 "Asexual Romance Duology"]].
111	* Cab drivers Bert and Cec from the ''Literature/PhryneFisher'' novels.
112	* ''Literature/ThePickwickPapers'' has got two sets of them: the [[TheAlcoholic hard-partying]] med students Ben Allen and Bob Sawyer, and the swindler [[MotorMouth Jingle]] and his sidekick Job Trotter.
113	* ''Literature/PrideAndPrejudice''
114	** Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley -- though it's more Darcy's doing things with Bingley and he recognizes early on that Bingley is too trusting and could easily get in with the wrong crowd if he's not careful. Thus, he starts the friendship with Bingley so that he can watch him and make sure he's making the right choices.
115	** Elizabeth Bennett and Charlotte Lucas were this for a long time...until Charlotte got married. To the smug, idiotic, pompous windbag Elizabeth had just turned down.
116	** Elizabeth and Jane are also candidates for this trope.
117	* [[DashingHispanic Inigo Montoya]] and [[GentleGiant Fezzik]] from ''Literature/ThePrincessBride''.
118	* Howard and Rob in ''Literature/ProudPinkSky''. At least at first.
119	* Literature/{{Psmith}} and Mike. Psmith loves having Mike around to listen to his rambling and hires him as his live-in secretary so they can stay together after they leave school. Being separated from Mike is one of the only things that can make him truly depressed. In the final book, [[spoiler:they end up married to the respective members of a female example of this trope]].
120	* Literature/{{Raffles}} and Bunny Manders. Raffles may treat Bunny cruelly sometimes, but when the chips are down, Raffles knows he can always count on Bunny, and Bunny would cheerfully die for Raffles.
121	* From ''Literature/RangersApprentice'' - Will and Horace.
122	* ''Literature/{{RCN}}'': Barnes and Dasi have no romantic intentions towards one another, but where one goes the other inevitably goes as well.
123	* ''Outcast of Literature/{{Redwall}}'''s Sunflash and Skarlath, to the point that Sunflash writes ''sappy poetry'' about Skarlath.
124	* Michael in ''Literature/{{Relativity}}'' spends much of his life as an orphan, and ends up become a pseudo-brother to Tony and Andy while in school (even spending Christmas vacation at Tony's house). As an adult, he becomes equally close to Ravenswood after saving his life.
125	* Andy Dufresne and Red in Stephen King's novella, ''Rita Hayworth and [[Film/TheShawshankRedemption Shawshank Redemption]]''
126	* Literature/RobinsonCrusoe and Friday. Crusoe describes the relationship between him and his native servant as akin to that of father and son. Friday is fiercely loyal to his master and leaves the island with him voluntarily instead of waiting for his real father to return. He accompanies Crusoe on his travels [[spoiler: until he gets killed in the first half of the lesser-known sequel ''The Farther Adventures of Robinson Crusoe'']]. Many modern readers see blazing HoYay.
127	* ''Franchise/TheShadowhunterChronicles'':
128	** ''Literature/TheMortalInstruments'':
129	*** Jace [[spoiler:Herondale]] and Alec Lightwood. Alec's sexuality and initial attraction to Jace notwithstanding, the two share a "parabatai" bond which is explicitly stated as being a permanent bond of partnership even stronger than that of brothers.
130	*** Jonathan Shadowhunter with David the Silent, inspired by their [[Literature/TheBible Biblical namesakes]] who were also examples of this trope. They were the very first ''parabatai''.
131	** In the same sense Will and Jem from ''Literature/TheInfernalDevices'' are also this. So much that even though both boys love Tessa, they are willing to let the other one have her and if Jem died after marrying Tessa, Will would never pursue Tessa as he feels it would be a betrayal to his friend.
132	* Literature/SherlockHolmes and Dr. Watson. They live together for years, and after Watson gets married and returns to medical practice he'll ditch his wife and patients at a moment's notice any time Holmes requests his company on a case. After Watson's wife dies, he quits his day job and moves back in with Holmes to be his full-time assistant and chronicler once again. At one point Holmes (probably jokingly) calls Watson "selfish" for "deserting" him by getting married.
133	* Monk Kokkalis and Grayson Pierce in James Rollins' Literature/SigmaForce series.
134	* ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire''
135	** Ned Stark and Robert Baratheon used to be. This being a series very far down the [[SlidingScaleofIdealismVersusCynicism sliding scale]], they both move away, get married to people they do not love (not at the time, anyway) and speak only once over the next 14 years (Ned has no interest in things in the south, while Robert is busy being king; it is notable that Robert's Hand was the mentor to both of them, and that once he dies, Robert immediately goes to Ned for the position despite the long gap since they were last together). When they finally do start hanging around each other again, [[spoiler: the consequences are fatal for both of them.]]
136	** Additionally, Ser Duncan the Tall and King Aegon V.
137	** Stannis Baratheon and Davos Seaworth, which is made particularly more impressive since the latter is arguably [[UndyingLoyalty the single most loyal character in the entire series]] and the former [[NoSocialSkills is]], [[BrutalHonesty well]]... [[ZeroPercentApprovalRating Stannis]].
138	** Samwell Tarly and Jon Snow.
139	* Leia and Winter are implied to be this in the ''Franchise/StarWarsExpandedUniverse'', though their relationship isn't fleshed out very much since Winter tends to be one of the more-overlooked recurring EU characters. ''Technically'', they are sisters by adoption but this detail [[{{Retcon}} wasn't established until fairly recently]] and they consequently tend not to refer to each other as such (presumably in part because they've always known they weren't biological sisters, even before [[TheReveal the reveal]] of Leia's true parentage).
140	* In Creator/JosephaSherman's ''Literature/AStrangeAndAncientName'', the main character (a half-elven (half-fairy?) prince) rescues Alliar, a wind spirit trapped in mortal flesh, and teaches the suicidal wind spirit to enjoy life in the flesh. They become very close friends, and the prince is about the only mortal Alliar can stand. When the prince's love interest almost writes him off - since he obviously loves Alliar and vice versa - Alliar explains to her that "flesh games" (sex) is so foreign to him, it's like trying to smell colors. And that's hardly the only place this is brought up. Kinda sad that our culture so identifies intimacy with sex that intimacy without sex must be made {{Anvilicious}} in order to even work.
141	* Creator/RosemarySutcliff, a celebrated English author of children's historical fiction, is all about this trope. Book after book of hers has as the main characters two guys who are lifelong best friends, often from childhood, who go everywhere together, fight and hunt side by side, hug each other, openly express love and devotion to one another, mingle their blood to become brothers, kiss each other's foreheads, cry in each other's arms. But they aren't lovers, both are implied to be straight though usually neither is shown having any affairs, and often one of them eventually marries without this disrupting the friendship. Examples: Drem and Vortrix in ''Literature/WarriorScarlet''; Lubrin and Dara in ''Sun Horse, Moon Horse''; Artos and Bedwyr in ''Literature/SwordAtSunset''; Marcus and Esca in ''Literature/TheEagleOfTheNinth''; Prosper and Conn in ''Literature/TheShiningCompany''; Beric and Cathlan in ''Literature/{{Outcast}}''; Justin and Flavius in ''[[Literature/TheDolphinRing The Silver Branch]]'' (they're also cousins of some sort); Simon and Amias in ''Literature/{{Simon}}''; Thomas and Tussun in ''Blood and Sand''; Randal and Bevis in ''Literature/KnightsFee''; Amyntas and Leon in ''A Crown of Wild Olive''...you get the picture.
142	* Technically, every [[ABoyAndHisX aviator and his dragon]] are life-partners in the {{Literature/Temeraire}} series, but especially the titular [[OurDragonsAreDifferent Temeraire]] and his captain Laurence.
143	* This shows up in the work of Ross Thomas whose ''Mac and Padillo'' and ''Artie Wu and Quincy Durant'' series have this. Both are about life long partners, but are shown to heterosexual with one happily married (Mac, Wu) and one a Casanova (Padillo, Durant) in each set.
144	* ''{{Literature/Tigana}}'' has Alessan and Baerd. Marius calls them "Pigeon" and "Pigeon Two", and Alessan names Baerd as "the only brother of his soul."
145	* In ''Literature/TimeRiders'', Liam spends a lot of time with Bob, going on every mission with him, chatting to him about how to appear more human and being affectionately pleased when he succeeds. Lampshaded by [[DeadpanSnarker Sal]] in ''The Mayan Prophecy'', when she suggests they GetARoom.
146	* Close friendships between men are a recurring theme in Creator/JRRTolkien's [[Franchise/TolkiensLegendarium work]]; the reason possibly to be found in Tolkien's personal UsefulNotes/WorldWarI experience, which shaped his belief that friendship was one of life's greatest gifts.
147	** ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'' has several examples:
148	*** Frodo Baggins and [[TheChampion Samwise Gamgee.]]
149	*** Legolas and Gimli turn into this over the course of the book, in the process overcoming Middle-Earth's long-lasting animosity between Dwarves and Elves. The appendices reveal that they took each other sightseeing through Middle-Earth, and finally sailed for Aman together on the last of the elven ships. In fact, Gimli is the only dwarf ''ever'' to make the journey to the Undying Lands, and he does it at least partially to be with Legolas.
150	*** Merry and Pippin are not seen without each other until they are separated by circumstance in ''The Two Towers'', which is kinda a big deal for them (especially for Pippin, who learns in the process to be more responsible and less dependent on Merry).
151	*** It's implied in the book that before they left the Shire this trope applied to Frodo and Merry.
152	** Túrin and Beleg in Tolkien's ''Literature/TheChildrenOfHurin''/''Literature/TheSilmarillion''. They forego the comfortable Elven halls of Doriath to live together in isolation for years; then, when Túrin is unjustly exiled, Beleg spends over a year searching for him in the wilderness, only to be captured and tortured to the point of death, rendering it necessary for Túrin to swoop in and rescue him; and that's just the beginning. Indeed, due to women being fairly marginalized throughout most of the volume, Tolkien rather unsubtlely uses Beleg as the DamselInDistress of the narrative...the amount of times he is captured, imprisoned, and rescued at the last moment would make any number of female Mary-Sues jealous.
153	** Maedhros and his cousin Fingon the Valiant.
154	* Lissa and Rose in ''Literature/VampireAcademy''. The two are psychically bonded to each other for life. In the fourth book, [[spoiler:Rose goes off to kill Dimitri, leaving Lissa behind. The separation leaves a toll on both, and at the end, when Rose comes back, Lissa tells her to not leave her behind again.]]
155	-->[[spoiler:'''Lissa''': I just wanted to say, after everything that's happened...well, I don't want us to ever have this kind of separation again. I mean, I know we can't be together every single second - and that's kind of creepy anyway - but we're bonded for a reason. We're meant to look out for each other and be there for each other.]]
156	* Kethry and Tarma, of Creator/MercedesLackey's ''Vows and Honor'' trilogy in the Literature/HeraldsOfValdemar series. Tarma's tribe is all but extinct, and Kethry is expected to restart it. Which she does. Fanfic is somewhat discouraged by the fact that Kethry is quite enthusiastically straight, and Tarma is asexual by divine directive. They're also sworn [[SwornBrothers blood sisters]], with that same divinity sealing the deal. That doesn't stop them from occasionally pretending to be lovers, or raising children together with Kethry's husband Jadrek, or living alone together when Jadrek dies and all of the children grow up. They do love one another, it's spelled out more than once--but they really aren't lovers.
157	* In ''Literature/WarriorCats'':
158	** Firestar and Graystripe, the first hero of the series and his best friend. Firestar is absolutely crushed when Graystripe leaves the Clan to raise his kits in his lost mate's Clan, and more so after Graystripe is captured by Twolegs (to the point that he doesn't appoint another deputy until months later).
159	** Ravenpaw and Barley, although every ''Warriors'' fan that doesn't hate slash (and some who do) believes that Ravenpaw and Barley are more than HeterosexualLifePartners. [[WordOfGod The author herself said]] that she envisions them [[HoYay "like a married couple,"]] and that they are ''perfectly happy with just each other'' and ''don't want any girls to boss them around''. This is made even more blatant in Ravenpaw's manga trilogy.
160	** Leafstar and Echosong, the leader of [=SkyClan=] and her best friend.
161	* Mole and Ratty in ''Literature/TheWindInTheWillows''. Awww.
162	* In ''Literature/WingsOfFire'', [[spoiler:Darkstalker]] and Fathom appear to have been this. When [[spoiler:Darkstalker]] made the three dreamvisitors [[note]]Artifacts that allow communication no matter the distance[[/note]] he gave one to his lover and another to Fathom, keeping the other for himself. Their friendship made history.
163	* Pooh and Piglet of ''Literature/WinnieThePooh'' (who eventually move in together). A memorable scene involved Pooh deliberating (in poetry) who to visit for the morning, the verses beginning with, "I could spend a happy morning seeing X"; he ends up heading to Piglet's, which is what he was secretly planning on doing anyway, admitting that "I could spend a happy morning seeing Piglet/And I couldn't spend a happy morning ''not'' seeing Piglet."
164	* In ''Literature/TheWitchlands'':
165	** Merik and Kullen. They've been best friends since childhood, always served on the same ship and care deeply for each other, even while one acquires BelligerentSexualTension with another character and the other has a lover.
166	** Safi and Iseult are practically inseparable, to the point where Iseult's only goal in the second book is to [[spoiler:return to Safi's side]].
167	* Played with in Creator/MichaelChabon's novel ''Literature/WonderBoys.'' Protaganist Grady admits that he hoped his best friend Crabtree would be his life partner, but this is complicated by the fact that Crabtree is gay. Ergo, the very straight Grady oftentimes finds himself jealous of Crabtree's boyfriends.

Context HeterosexualLifePartners / Literature