| 1 | [[quoteright:263:[[Webcomic/HarkAVagrant https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/harkavagrantnemesis_7158.jpg]]]] |
| 2 | [[caption-width-right:263:Lying awake at night, thinking about him.]] |
| 3 | |
| 4 | ->''"Venom... I've been all over this city looking for you! You never call, you never write... It's like I'm the only one interested in making this relationship work..."'' |
| 5 | -->-- ''VideoGame/SpiderManWebOfShadows'' |
| 6 | |
| 7 | %%Quote changed per [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1327331003042025100&page=324#comment-8090 this]] thread. If you want to change or add a quote, take it to the thread. |
| 8 | |
| 9 | The implications of sexual tension between [[ArchEnemy arch-enemies]]. Just as HomoeroticSubtext is about the situation of implying romance where even the characters' canonical characterizations or sexual orientations make it implausible, this trope intentionally creates an even deeper paradox by subtextually implying love in a relationship that is, textually, ''the opposite of love''. |
| 10 | |
| 11 | This trope is much more likely to come into play if one is TheRival and TheOnlyOneAllowedToDefeatYou, or a RivalTurnedEvil, and is especially likely if one is an EvilFormerFriend. If [[EnemyMine enemies have to work together]], it can give the impression that [[DoubleEntendre adversity makes strange bedfellows]]. Other times, this trope can be invoked by a villain who seems to be ''too'' eager and persistent about trying to convince or force the hero to [[WeCanRuleTogether rule the world together]], and eventually appear [[StalkerWithACrush as a one-sided]] VillainousCrush. TermsOfEndangerment often feature, and watch out for the TakeThatKiss. {{Dark Magical Girl}}s are often depicted as understanding their MagicalGirl counterpart far more than anyone else, and after inevitable [[HeelFaceTurn redemption]] at the very least become HeterosexualLifePartners, if not more. |
| 12 | |
| 13 | Since most heroes and their villains tend to be members of the same gender, this results in most examples of Foe Yay overlapping with HoYay, but different gender foes qualify too. When it ultimately goes from subtext to text, and the two admit that they love each other, it is called DatingCatwoman. Contrast with DefectingForLove. For the villain who really ''is'' sexually obsessed with TheHero, see StalkerWithACrush, MindGameShip, InLoveWithYourCarnage, and VillainousCrush. See also DestructoNookie, when they actually do go the whole nine yards. A {{Foil}} between a HammyVillainSeriousHero can result in this, especially from the villain's actions that may come off as flirtatious. |
| 14 | |
| 15 | '''See also FoeYayShipping, for the subjective audience reaction''' of insisting that after a certain number of such scenes, the two ''should'' become a couple (this appeal often lies in the forbidden nature of the relationship, a staple of the shipper diet). Please move non-objective examples to that page. Not to be confused with FauxYay. |
| 16 | |
| 17 | ---- |
| 18 | !!Examples: |
| 19 | |
| 20 | [[foldercontrol]] |
| 21 | |
| 22 | [[folder:Anime and Manga]] |
| 23 | * The attraction that Slan, the female member of the Godhand, has to Guts from ''Manga/{{Berserk}}''. Given that she's a sadistic demonic god, she basically derives a lot of pleasure from all the suffering she and the other God Hands can put him through. And it's not exactly helped by the fact that Slan is TooKinkyToTorture -- the only thing Guts succeeds in doing by impaling and blowing off half of Slan's torso with his ArmCannon during his battle with her in the Qliphoth is ''giving her an orgasm.'' |
| 24 | * In ''Manga/BoardingSchoolJuliet'', Char is envious that Romeo's feelings for their shared crush are requited, so she blackmails him into carrying her on all fours like a horse. (It doesn't make much more sense in context.) |
| 25 | ** The AlternateCharacterInterpretation that Juliet [[PuppyLove always]] had feelings for Romeo and just didn't realize them is popular, mostly because of the chapter title sketch which shows her gazing at him from afar while holding flowers. |
| 26 | * ''Manga/BusoRenkin'': Papillon's obsession with Kazuki [[DefeatMeansFriendship after his defeat]] involves a one-sided romantic subtext. This is magnified by how there's already a lot of subtext around Papillon with his distinctive and flamboyant outfits, mannerisms and butterfly mask. |
| 27 | * ''Manga/ChronoCrusade'' has Aion/Chrono. In the manga, Aion is really [[spoiler:Chrono's twin brother, unknown to him]], and actually cares quite a bit for Chrono. The anime adaptation included a scene where Aion holds Chrono's face in his hands and leans so close while speaking to him that their lips are almost touching. He also has a bit of InLoveWithYourCarnage for Chrono in both versions. |
| 28 | * ''Manga/{{Clover}}'' has Barus and Kazuhiko's innuendo-laden dialogue. Barus is especially fond of Kazuhiko, and likes to call him his "prince." And [[ALoveToDismember snuggle with his severed hand at night]]. |
| 29 | * In ''Anime/Danganronpa3TheEndOfHopesPeakHighSchool'', most of [[spoiler:Munakata]]'s [[CrisisOfFaith inner turmoil]] stems from the fact that his ImpliedLoveInterest was really, ''really'' evil, which he only learns after she's been brutally killed. [[KnightTemplar He]] can't reconcile his grief for her with his hatred for all things Despair, which is foreshadowed in a scene where he, um, stabs her corpse while sighing her name. The fanbase capitalized on this opportunity to make Freudian jokes, even more so after [[spoiler:Munakata admits that, in spite of everything she's done, part of him still wishes Yukizome were alive]]. |
| 30 | * ''Manga/DeathNote'' has SerialKiller [[VillainProtagonist Light]] and SympatheticInspectorAntagonist L, who (willingly, at least on one side) become [[ChainedHeat handcuffed together]] for an indeterminate amount of time. Light's girlfriend Misa immediately protests by saying "Light is mine and [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything I don't want to share him with you!]]" There was also that time when [[MakesJustAsMuchSenseInContext L gave Light a foot massage]]. |
| 31 | * ''Manga/DetatokoPrincess'' has Topaz collect girls from all over and plan to add Lapis to her collection, and she grows very concerned when one of her groupies comes close to actually killing her. Lapis, for her part, is completely oblivious. |
| 32 | * ''Manga/DGrayMan'': |
| 33 | ** Despite being Allen's enemies, it's mentioned in-universe that both Road and Tyki like him, although whether the true cause of that is this trope or them subconsciously detecting that Allen is also a Noah and [[IncestSubtext thus a family member of theirs is unclear]]. Even so, some of the lines between Tyki and Allen during their fight on the Ark have sexual undertones. |
| 34 | --->"This is giving me the thrills! I'll break you, one more time, with this hand...!"\ |
| 35 | "Don't be so cold, boy. An Exorcist made a Noah strip down to his underwear. Was that the first time you did it? Do you think it was [[RedStringOfFate destiny]] for it to be us?"\ |
| 36 | "It would have been good if we just played poker, and nobody died. If it could come true, this is all I'd want." |
| 37 | ** And in the most recent chapters, there are serious hints of this between the Millennium Earl and the 14th Noah. In chapter 196, when asked by Johnny why the Millennium Earl is so interested in taking Allen (or rather, the 14th) away with him, the Millennium Earl says: |
| 38 | --->'''Millennium Earl:''' "Why.... by his side. I want to be by the 14th's side." |
| 39 | *** And this is ''after'' the 14th [[spoiler:has publicly expressed his clear intention to kill and replace the Millennium Earl]]. |
| 40 | * ''Literature/TheFamiliarOfZero'': In the fourth season's OP, Louise gets [[LecherousLicking licked on her face]] by a new, evil purple-haired girl named Janette and the girl hugs Louise close to her with a blushing Louise struggling to get away. And in episode two Janette tricks Louise by pretending to be a plebeian, gets close to her face, and licks her again. She also touches her face and says that if things had worked out different they could have been friends. She also calls Louise "cute and innocent". |
| 41 | * ''Manga/FoodWars'': In a world where cooking is a [[SeriousBusiness highly personal art]], eating Soma's food brings Erina to orgasm. He singlehandedly shakes all her deeply-entrenched beliefs about culinary elitism so deeply that she spends several scenes alone, in her room, just pondering him. One of Soma's driving goals is to make a dish she'll admit to liking, and Erina goes to great lengths to get him out of their school because she's afraid that he might succeed. They soon become {{Worthy Opponent}}s, despite Soma being this nobody peasant first-year and Erina being a renowned SchoolIdol. |
| 42 | %%* ''Manga/GunsmithCats'': |
| 43 | %%** This defines the relationship between Rally Vincent and the BigBad Goldie Musou in the manga, even though it's decidedly one-sided, with Goldie's desire to possess Rally, body and soul is the main reason for their conflict. There's also some between Rally and the JerkWithAHeartOfGold rival/enemy/ally Bean Bandit. |
| 44 | %%** To a lesser degree, the relationship between Goldie and Rally's junior sidekick Misty Brown. In one scene Misty drugged senseless in her underwear, in the next Misty in leather bondage gear, crying. [[spoiler:And in the last book of the series the two end up in a consensual relationship!]] [[KarmaHoudini Seriously!]] |
| 45 | * ''Anime/HeavyMetalLGaim'': Lampshaded by TheHero Daba Myroad in chapter 15, as seen in the quote above. UnknownRival Gablet's became so driven and so obsessive with defeating Daba that sometimes it sounded like if he had a crush on him. |
| 46 | * ''Manga/HoshinEngi'': Dakki with Taikobo. She is shown to be frequently impressed with his intellect and adaptability and enjoys playing mind games with him. It is also heavily hinted that she is attracted to him despite their status as arch-enemies. |
| 47 | * ''Anime/{{K}}'' has ''three'' varieties of this, with the top 3 members of the Red Clan, HOMRA, and the Blue Clan, Scepter 4. |
| 48 | ** The Red King, Mikoto Suoh, and the Blue King, Reisi Munakata, are a more classic example. It helps that neither neither are "bad guys" just in an OrderVsChaos situation that escalates by the time of s1 when Mikoto's MoralityChain is killed. [[spoiler:Reisi even goes through a variation of AntagonistInMourning after s1, to the point ''he'' might die from a Democles Down.]] |
| 49 | ** Their seconds, Izumo Kusanagi and Seri Awashima, are friendly enemies, sharing information somewhat and having nice conversations, though they do go at each other in a fight. |
| 50 | ** Their thirds, Misaki Yata and Saruhiko Fushimi, are the former-friend variety (though neither side is evil). Saruhiko left HOMRA and joined Scepter 4, which Misaki took as a grave betrayal (though it doesn't help that Saruhiko invoked being seen as a traitor due to his issues). When they fight, it's clear there's more going on under that. It's even more obvious in side materials, which seems to suggest EveryoneCanSeeIt and Saruhiko being repeatedly reminded of Misaki while Misaki himself repeatedly shows that underneath the bluster he misses Saruhiko as well and tries to repair the relationship. |
| 51 | * ''Manga/KaitouSaintTail'' has an odd variant where Meimi is well aware that SympatheticInspectorAntagonist Asuka Jr. doesn't actually know enough about Saint Tail to be in love with her and that his goal is simply to arrest her as a thief, but she still feels romantic attraction to him based on the passion he chases her with and the fact his statements of intent often come off as ''really'' romantically-loaded. Part of it is more to do with the fact that she's charmed by him being able to have that sort of passion at all, but it's also because she actually has some [[DesperatelyLookingForAPurposeInLife rather terrible self-worth problems]] that cause her to become attached to the idea of being a desirable object for him. Halfway into the story, a MidSeasonTwist abruptly changes things so that the FoeRomanceSubtext stops being subtext when Asuka Jr. starts suspecting that Saint Tail might actually be Meimi, resulting in his growing feelings for Meimi bleeding into the way he approaches and talks to Saint Tail... all while, ironically, Meimi starts having less faith that Asuka Jr. can see Saint Tail as any more than an idealized symbol and believes he would have no interest in her as an ordinary girl. [[spoiler:Once the end of the story hits, the "foe" part has also dropped out of the equation too, and the word "catch" has been redefined into [[DeclarationOfProtection something completely different]] that only has a superficial resemblance to the original detective-and-thief dynamic.]] |
| 52 | * ''Anime/LittleWitchAcademia2017'': Chariot and Croix often get into violent confrontations due to their clashing ideologies. Croix has a tendency to attack Chariot with hordes of robots, knowing full well that Chariot can easily defeat them. But whenever Chariot gets hurt (such as while trying to protect Akko from Croix's robots), Croix ''freaks'' and throws her plans aside to save Chariot. |
| 53 | * ''Manga/{{Loveless}}'': |
| 54 | ** Soubi with two of the main villains, one being Ritsu-sensei in which they actually were sort of in a relationship (Ritsu took his ears) and Soubi was upset when Ritsu gave him to Semei. But they're both just sort of neutral to each other now. And, of course, Semei, with Soubi's obsession to obey the man's every word, despite how he purposefully abandoned him [[spoiler:and replaced him with his real Beloved fighter Nisei]]. However, Soubi's obsession could be because of the way he was trained and nothing more. |
| 55 | ** Ritsuka and Semei. Though Semei doesn't see Ritsuka as his enemy, Ritsuka is kind of torn on what Semei is, exactly, due to what people have told him about him and many unanswered questions. Such as why he faked his death. |
| 56 | * [[SympatheticInspectorAntagonist Inspector Zenigata]], who chases after GentlemanThief ''Franchise/LupinIII'', is rumoured to be married. [[HaveIMentionedIAmHeterosexualToday To a lady]]. Huh. [[EnemyMine Could've]] [[{{Tsundere}} fooled]] [[TheOnlyOneAllowedToDefeatYou everyone.]] (It's actually rather sweet how his life falls apart whenever he's taken off the Lupin case.) This is even {{Lampshaded}} in ''Anime/LupinIIIBlueJacket''. When Zenigata tries to crash Lupin's wedding, Rebecca assumes that he's Lupin's jealous ex-boyfriend. |
| 57 | * ''Anime/LupinIIIDeadOrAlive'': While Zenigata is leading a captured Lupin [[spoiler:(or rather, the local bartender Lupin disguised as himself)]] to their helicopter pickup, the good inspector is speaking boastfully of the peaceful life he will lead after turning Lupin's trial and finally going home. He discusses two names he discarded; ''War'' (because he didn't want to upset his female readers) and ''Love and and War'' (because he didn't want people to get the wrong idea about the two of them). |
| 58 | * Michiko Malandro and Atsuko Jackson in ''Anime/MichikoAndHatchin''. Michiko even flat out implies that Atsuko used to [[TooKinkyToTorture get aroused whenever Michiko would beat her up or overpower her when they were younger]]. |
| 59 | * Char and Amuro in ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam'' have been eyebrow-raising for a long time, due to their nature as [[PsychicPowers Newtypes]] making their relationship unusually close for two men who have tried to kill each other on countless occasions. In quite a few scenes in ''Zeta'', for instance, Char refers to Amuro in terms that seem more like a lost lover than a rival, and [[https://youtu.be/ReCqIymqV9A their reunion]] is shown with swelling music, heavenly lighting, and a long gaze as Char grips his suit's controls and smiles--something the CompilationMovie only made ''more'' romantic-looking. Creator/YoshiyukiTomino himself encouraged this reading in a few interviews, nothing that he played up the "sensuous elements" and saw the idea of wondering if they were in love as an entirely IntendedAudienceReaction. |
| 60 | * Where to start with ''Manga/MoriartyThePatriot''? William and Sherlock are on nominally opposite sides of the criminal/detective match up for much of the series. Despite this, Sherlock talks about a RedStringOfFate tying him to William repeatedly, is unabashedly excited every time he sees William, and is fixated on saving him from himself. William hopes to be reincarnated with Sherlock to be with him in another life, desires to throw his entire plan to spend more time with Sherlock, requests to die with Sherlock alone at his side, and thinks of Sherlock as a warm breeze in a cold and lonely room he's trapped in--he even compares meeting Sherlock to a [[FlamesOfLove fire being lit in his dark, cold, empty life]]. By ''The Final Problem'' arc, the "enemies" facade is almost entirely gone, with other characters acknowledging their bond. Even Louis, who has a well known dislike for Sherlock, admits that [[spoiler:only Sherlock can save William]]. [[spoiler:Then Sherlock catches William in his arms and cradles him protectively surrounded by [[CherryBlossoms cherry blossom]] imagery.]] After that, Sherlock agrees to work with Billy to provide William's medical care and stays vigilant at William's bedside, after which they move into together and [[CurtainFic discuss buying curtains together]]. When [[ShipperOnDeck Billy]] calls their promise [[spoiler: to live their lives together]] their wedding vows, neither seems put off in any way. With their constant devotion to each other, it gets harder and harder as the series goes on to see their professed "dear friendship" as JustFriends. |
| 61 | * In ''Manga/MotherKeeper'', Turkes has one on Ricalna; even Adam who didn't see what happened between them could tell. Turkes makes comments about wanting to make Ricalna his man at least twice, willingly gives him whatever information he has and has NoSenseOfPersonalSpace when it comes to Ricalna. |
| 62 | * ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'': It's been stated that the sharingan awakens with the loss of a loved one. [[spoiler:Madara Uchiha awoke his sharingan when he ended his friendship with Hashirama Senju, who would eventually become (though reluctantly) his ArchEnemy. Even into the modern day, after both men have long passed, when Madara is revived he starts bashing on the ''Five Kage'' for not being as good as Hashirama, and is obsessed with having a rematch when he senses his enemy's chakra. Hashirama, for his part, is perhaps the character most sympathetic to Madara, speculating that all of Madara's actions are ultimately him lashing out in grief after his brother Izuna's death]]. |
| 63 | * In ''Manga/NegimaMagisterNegiMagi'', Negi's ChickMagnet powers work even on his arch-nemesis Fate, their encounters becoming more and more romantically charged each time they meet. Eventually it reaches the point where Negi's other rivals for his affection worry about the extra competition. |
| 64 | * Tabool in ''Anime/NowAndThenHereAndThere'' is unhealthily obsessed with garnering any attention whatsoever from his best-friend-turned-rival, Nabuca, to the point that he gets jealous of a freaking ''six''-year-old. Long story short: Nabuca continues to reject Tabool and it [[RivalTurnedEvil does not end well]]. |
| 65 | * ''Manga/OnePiece'': The twisted relationship between [[ArchEnemy Arch-Enemies]] Trafalgar Law and Donquixote Doflamingo is chock full of this, though it's mainly on the latter's end. Doflamingo is AmbiguouslyBi, and has flirted with Law, offering to go out with him for drinks that he is all grown up. Then it's revealed that Law was intended to be his right-hand man, and even after Law left the crew, he was welcomed back at any time, with Doflamingo even keeping his specific position open for ''thirteen years''. When they have their FinalBattle alongside Luffy, that's when the subtext comes out full force -- Doflamingo continuously beats Law down, shooting him full of bullets and at one point ''cutting his arm off'', all while ranting about Law's numerous betrayals like a CrazyJealousGuy, clearly resenting the fact that Law continuously chose others over him, as Doflamingo views himself as Law's true benefactor. [[spoiler:After Law reveals he is a D, the mortal enemy of a (former) World Noble like Doflamingo]], that's the point where he just full on ''snaps'', goes into {{Yandere}} mode and tries to kill him ala IfICantHaveYou Doflamingo's obsession with Law surpasses the self-centered fondness he has for his loyal crew to such an extent that the romantic subtext becomes that much stronger and more obvious in comparison. |
| 66 | * ''Anime/PhiBrainPuzzleOfGod'' gives us [[BigBad Rook]] and [[TheHero Kaito.]] The two were childhood friends. Unfortunately, Rook was taken away as a child and eventually became a TykeBomb who determined that Kaito was the perfect candidate for [[TitleDrop Phi Brain]], a program filled with DeathTrap puzzles, the ultimate goal of which is to create the perfect puzzle solver. ItMakesSenseInContext. As Kaito solves puzzles, Rook gushes over how beautiful he is when doing so. He even concocts a plan to convince Kaito that the best thing to do is to leave his TrueCompanions behind and join him. [[spoiler:It doesn't work.]] He gets ''very'' angry when Kaito's LoveInterest, Nonoha, displays how close she and Kaito are. When Kaito finally makes it clear that he will '''never''' join POG, the conglomerate Rook works for, Rook goes into a mad rage, screaming that Kaito is ''his'' and that he has to join him. Rook's [[TheDragon personal Dragon]] needs to hold him back from making a grab at Kaito himself. |
| 67 | * The end of ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagicaTheMovieRebellion'' transforms what was regular HomoeroticSubtext into this, as [[spoiler:Homura becomes [[SatanicArchetype the devil]] of the new world]], imprisoning [[spoiler:Madoka]] against her will, [[IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy all to make her happy]]. |
| 68 | * ''Manga/SeraphOfTheEnd'': |
| 69 | ** Ferid has this occasionally with Krul. He flirts with her, calls her beautiful, and says he's in love with her after she cuts off his hand. When he attacks her from behind in another scene, tells her that her beautiful neck is wide open, and bites her. He also demands for her to submit to him. |
| 70 | ** Ferid once patted Mika on the butt and a dream of Yuu's shows Ferid revealing Mika's shoulder, holding him close, and biting him suggestively. |
| 71 | ** In chapter 46 Ferid drives up in his car and holds out his hand to Mika and Yuu, with a flirtatious look and teasingly saying "I heard you two were being attacked by a dangerous vampire so I came to your rescue. Come take a ride with me. I'll save you." He plays mind games with Yuu and Mika throughout the chapter, and when Yuu turns into a demon to attack Ferid for [[spoiler:showing them Akane's head]] Ferid tells Mika he's "worried for the poor guy (Yuu)" because he's says Yuu could turn into a full demon. He states he has an antidote to cure Yuu and tells Shinoa "Let us go rescue dear Yuu." Mika is adamant to keep Ferid from getting near Yuu and says "I won't let you have your way with him!" Ferid smiles and says he just wants to help Yuu. Mika says he's not going to let Ferid touch him. Crowley engages Mika in a fight while Ferid states cheerfully "Now precious Yuu is all mine." Ferid approaches Yuu and blushes saying "Wow! [[ShesAllGrownUp Haven't you grown]] into the [[{{Bishonen}} cute one!]]! Your demon is on the verge of rampage yet you still have [[WhatBeautifulEyes such clear and beautiful eyes.]] No wonder you are the extra special guinea pig." He then lifts Yuu's face by his chin and gets close saying "Perhaps before I heal you I'll take a little sip of your blood." Yuu asks if there's something in it for him if he allows Ferid to suck his blood. Ferid says he got the curse suppressant from Guren and it's the same one he takes. Yuu demands Ferid tells him everything he knows and Ferid smiles, covers Yuu's mouth with his hand, says "Oh, you ''are'' cute" and bites him while gripping his shoulder and hand. He then "cures" Yuu of his advancing demon curse while holding him close and leaning his head on Yuu's shoulder. |
| 72 | * Akagi and Uozumi have this in ''Manga/SlamDunk''. It's been mentioned that Uozumi talks about defeating Akagi ''everyday'' and from what we've seen, this is probably not an exaggeration. He almost instantly took an interest in Akagi when he first saw him, cheered him on during the Kainan game, and his rivalry with him is his main motivation for improving. Even after quitting basketball he still travels all the way to Hiroshima just to see Akagi play and even gives him advice in the middle of a game. On Akagi's side he considers Uozumi the better player (despite what everyone else says) and has a great deal of respect for him. This is even mocked at times, such as when they hug and cry on each other's shoulder. |
| 73 | * In one episode of ''Anime/SonicX'', during a fighting tournament, Rouge fights Tails and beats him... by ''kissing him''. A few episodes earlier, she essentially flirts with Knuckles. |
| 74 | * Ayeka and Ryoko from ''Anime/TenchiMuyo''. Depending on which AlternateContinuity you choose, they are old childhood acquaintances or mortal enemies, but they always fight -- and not just over Tenchi's affections. In at least one alternate world glimpsed during an AlternateUniverse episode of the television series, though, they are clearly in a relationship with each other, though [[LovePotion outside forces]] were involved. |
| 75 | * ''Manga/TokyoGhoul'': Eto varies in one chapter between getting close to Kaneki to lick his face, reveal her fondness for him and [[NotSoDifferentRemark how they're similar]], and declaring her love for him as he's tossing her off the building. Further subtext can be read into the fact that he eats her kakuja after defeating her. |
| 76 | ** Torso kidnaps Mutsuki, dresses him in a white gown, puts a wedding ring on his finger, and cuts off his arms and legs to prevent him from leaving. He tells him they are going to get married while showing him his cut off legs and arms. In another chapter following that he is depicted shirtless and breathing heavily while standing before Mutsuki and saying "My Tooru" which has [[AttemptedRape disturbing implications]]. In the fourth volume he details how he has a LackOfEmpathy and is aroused by dead bodies and Mutsuki especially to the point of masturbation. With his previous lovers whom he abducted he mentions in his diary how when they show their distaste for him and his actions he retaliates by destroying their faces. He believes he just has to get Mutsuki alone and have a long talk with him to get him to return his love and says that his feelings for Mutsuki might end up being his salvation. He also gets really excited when fighting Mutsuki and says they are connected by knives. He also informs Mutsuki that he's infatuated with him because of his eyes which are the same as his. In chapter 73 of re: Torso brings Mutsuki a flower crown, and waxes romantically about how beautiful Mutsuki is but gets angry when Mutsuki glares at him and won't accept his compliments. He beats Mutsuki violently while screaming insults. Later, the two are lying together on a makeshift futon. Torso says that he only "scolds" Mutsuki because of how deep his love is, and Mutsuki cries while agreeing. He promises to show Mutsuki a field of flowers. In chapter 78 [[spoiler:Torso watches Mutsuki as he's sleeping, wipes away his tears, feeds him, and they share their DarkAndTroubledPast. Mutsuki actually finds himself feeling sorry for Torso and Torso sees Mutsuki as a replacement for his only friend whom was abused, dismembered, and eaten by his father shortly afterward. At the end of the chapter Torso picks up Mutsuki presumably to take him to the beach which he had wanted to do with his friend and the text at the end reads "Because I love you, I'll take you." A couple entries in the 2016 calendar feature the following: Mutsuki dressed as a CatGirl being fawned over by Torso, Torso holding girly underwear he's showing Mutsuki, and writing a love letter to Mutsuki. In the letter he states he would love to drive Mutsuki places and says he would help him dress, bathe, and eat. He says of course he would need help doing all of that because he would have no arms and legs and that he loves him.]] |
| 77 | * In ''Manga/WolfGuyWolfenCrest'', there's the BigBad Haguro Dou, who is the young son of a powerful {{Yakuza}} boss, and who becomes completely obsessed with protagonist (and werewolf) Inugami. He initially doesn't care about or even think twice about Inugami... until he [[BullyingADragon pushes Inugami too far]], which results in Inugami showing him his true form and scaring the shit out of Haguro. Haguro goes insane from it, and [[StalkerWithACrush stalks Inugami]] after that, cutting himself all over his arm and carving the word "Inu" onto his hand. Haguro has been shown after that to, while having sex with his girlfriend Ryuuko (who also lusts after Inugami and thinks about him while having sex with Haguro), think ''only'' about Inugami, and screams his name while imagining him. Later, Haguro ends up [[spoiler:raping his male subordinate to death, while again thinking of Inugami]]. And after Inugami decides he's had enough of this shit and tries to move away, Haguro, being the stalker he is, tries desperately to do stuff to piss Inugami off so that he'll come back. |
| 78 | * ''Anime/YuGiOhArcV'': When any of Yuya's counterparts meet, they run the risk of absorbing the other or fusing back into their original form, [[BigBad Zarc.]] When he accidentally absorbs Yugo, the villainous Yuri makes it his mission to do the same with the others. He purposely plays up his attempts as a romantic pursuit, saying that Yuya is begging to be with him, and that they'll be together even if Yuya's father doesn't approve. However, this is likely Yuri being a {{troll}}, as per the norm. |
| 79 | [[/folder]] |
| 80 | |
| 81 | [[folder:Comic Books]] |
| 82 | * ComicBook/{{Artemis}} hates [[ComicBook/NewGods Kanto]] for playing with her and her emotions during their relationship, which she thinks was false on his end. While Kanto never quite corrects her to her face he ''does'' actually care about her as is on display in issue 126 of ''ComicBook/WonderWoman1987'' where he has her dead to rights but knocks her out instead and then sets her somewhere where his allies won't kill her and she won't be trampled during the battle. |
| 83 | * Killer Frost very often has this with her archenemy {{ComicBook/Firestorm|DCComics}}. In the {{ComicBook/Forever Evil|2013}} event, she reacted to his disappearance much the same way one would react to losing a lover, and their encounters often involve her [[KissOfDeath kissing him at some point]]. Many adaptations remove the subtext all together and either make them exes or have them be in a [[DatingCatwoman romantic relationship]]. The original incarnation, Crystal Frost, ''did'' have a crush on Martin Stein, but [[LegacyCharacter her successors]], Louise Lincoln and Caitlin Snow, do not have the same excuse. |
| 84 | * Made explicit in Mark Waid's ''ComicBook/{{Irredeemable}},'' in which the genius supervillain Modeus (a clear Lex Luthor {{expy}}) explicitly confesses a [[SingleTargetSexuality very disturbing obsession]] with the Plutonian (himself an expy of Franchise/{{Superman}}). |
| 85 | * ComicBook/TheJoker often makes comments toward Franchise/{{Batman}} of this nature, talking about their relationship as though it were romantic and making flirtatious advances. It's not clear if this is out of some actual attraction or simply to make Batman uncomfortable. To say nothing of how in ''ComicBook/ArkhamAsylumASeriousHouseOnSeriousEarth'' he ''slaps Batman's ass''. |
| 86 | ** This aspect of his criminal activity is expanded on in ''ComicBook/TheDarkKnightReturns'' from the very first scene, as he sees Batman's return to active crime-fighting reported on the news and segues from dis-interested catatonia to his old grin and the quiet declaration, '''"Darling."''' He goes on to mention how he never keeps count but loves Batman for doing it for him and outright flirts as they try to finish each other (each in his own way) in the Tunnel of Love, of all places. |
| 87 | ** In ''ComicBook/DeathOfTheFamily'', Batman has an internal monologue about how the Joker's eyes never change, never revealing anything about his thoughts or emotions. Except for love for Batman. |
| 88 | ** These lines from ''ComicBook/BatmanNoMansLand''. |
| 89 | --->''Joker is pointing a pair of scissors at a woman''\ |
| 90 | '''Woman:''' Please please don't...\ |
| 91 | '''Joker:''' Between us, this has nothing to do with you...but I've got to get his attention, and so far nothing has worked.\ |
| 92 | '''Woman:''' ...Oh God don't please don't please I'm begging you.\ |
| 93 | ''A shadow looms over Joker and the woman''\ |
| 94 | '''Joker:''' Finally! I was beginning to think you didn't love me...anymore?\ |
| 95 | ''Joker turns around, sees ComicBook/{{Bane}}''\ |
| 96 | '''Joker:''' Oh, ThisIsGonnaSuck... |
| 97 | * ''ComicBook/JudgeDredd'': Judge Anderson's enmity with Judge Death occasionally plays with this. He tends to indulge in TermsOfEndangerment and often reminds her of the psychic "bond" they share since he was [[SealedInsideAPersonShapedCan holed up in her mind for a year]]. It's even suggested that she and "Sidney" used to be friends in an alternate reality; she tries to stop him before he could truly become Judge Death but fails. He mockingly kisses her with his rotten lips. |
| 98 | * In a ''ComicBook/NewMutants'' special edition, [[Characters/MarvelComicsTheEnchantress the Enchantress]] kidnaps the team and binds ComicBook/{{Magik}} to a wall. She has several lines that come off as seductive, including "Before I am done, I shall know all thy secrets. Thou shalt serve me, Illyana. And eventually -- love me." (Of course, this was written by Chris Claremont, the king of lesbian subtext.) |
| 99 | * In ''ComicBook/NthManTheUltimateNinja'', a flirtatious relationship gradually develops between the American ninja John Doe and the Soviet KGB leader Colonel Novikova... to the consternation of their subordinates and comrades. |
| 100 | * Franchise/{{Superman}} and ComicBook/LexLuthor clearly have ''something'' going on, even if Lex is more recalcitrant about it than the Joker is with Batman. It is genuinely explicit that jealousy of Superman is a major motivating force for Lex; the exact nature of that jealousy, however, can vary quite a bit from the usual platonic state. |
| 101 | ** In UsefulNotes/{{the Silver Age|OfComicBooks}}, Superboy kept a trophy room of mementos of Luthor before he turned evil, including some of his lost hair. Note that before he turned evil, Lex likewise had a Superboy room. |
| 102 | ** When Superman died, Lex immediately arranged for him to be cloned - with the clone having genes added in from Lex himself, making the new Superboy for all intents and purposes [[SomeoneToRememberHimBy the biological son of Superman and Lex Luthor]]. |
| 103 | ** In the nineties, Lex had an ongoing affair with Supergirl, who, in that version, was a shape-shifter, and there was at least one scene where she used her [[PowerPerversionPotential shape-shifting to flirt with him]]. You have to wonder how often he asked her to wear her costume to bed. |
| 104 | * Parodied in "He Tied Me To A Buzzsaw (And It Felt Like A Kiss)", a Cobweb story from ''ComicBook/TomorrowStories'' in which Cobweb narrates the story of her rivalry with a supervillain called the Mongoose as if it was a love affair. It ends with her finding him tying another superheroine up, and killing both of them. |
| 105 | * It's usually one-sided, but ComicBook/{{X23}} is subject to this: |
| 106 | ** Her arch-nemesis, Kimura, is positively ''obsessed'' with her. She sees Laura's escape from the Facility as [[ItsPersonal a personal insult]], and whenever she catches up to her delights in punishing her for "being a bad girl." Much of her other behavior tends towards being stalkerish in nature, she calls her endearments such as "sweetie," enjoys physically and emotionally tormenting her, and threatens harm against Laura's ''actual'' love interest at the time, all the while giving her the vibe of a PsychoExGirlfriend. |
| 107 | ** She also gets it with Hellverine in her solo series. He stalks her because he desires her to lead his armies, but he also gives the impression he just plain ''desires'' her. He captures her ''other'' StalkerWithACrush[[note]]an omnipath named Gamesmaster, who hangs out in her mind because he can't shut off his powers and finds peace in how quiet hers is[[/note]] and presents him to her as a gift, approaches her in the form of a ''naked'' Cyclops while complimenting her beauty and skill as a killer, (while also belittling her and claiming she was made to obey a master) all the while approaching her with intimate gestures such as touching her cheek and stroking her hair. |
| 108 | ** When she meets ComicBook/{{Sabretooth}} while they're both imprisoned by Shogun during ''The Logan Legacy'', Creed wastes no time making suggestive comments and touching her hair. Even ''more'' subtext is provided by the fact that Creed has long had a similar obsession with ComicBook/{{Wolverine}}, and Laura is effectively Logan's daughter. |
| 109 | [[/folder]] |
| 110 | |
| 111 | [[folder:Fan Works]] |
| 112 | * ''Fanfic/FarceOfTheThreeKingdoms'': Jiang Wei and Deng Ai are archenemies who supposedly hate each other... but they're also quite obsessed with one another, get jealous, and have ''very'' suggestive fight scenes. |
| 113 | * ''WebAnimation/ReturnToKrocodileIsle'': K. Rool hates DK for always thwarting his plans, but seems to hate him even more after losing his spot as the DK series' Big Bad and being forgotten. His lines during the part of his song where he meets DK again almost coming off as a jilted lover. |
| 114 | -->'''K. Rool:''' I knew you'd be back, fate entangled, destined forever! Yin and Yang, I did this all for you. Wanna know the funny part? ''I don't even like bananas!'' (blows up the Banana Horde with TNT) Am I enough for you now? ''AM I!?!'' |
| 115 | [[/folder]] |
| 116 | |
| 117 | [[folder:Films -- Animation]] |
| 118 | * ''Anime/BatmanNinja'': The Joker makes various homoerotic comments about how exciting fighting Batman is, and Harley does some LecherousLicking to Catwoman, who lampshades their fight as [[GirlOnGirlIsHot "girl on girl" action]]. |
| 119 | * Like in the [[ComicBook/BatmanTheDarkKnightReturns comic it was based on]], the first half of ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheDarkKnightReturns'' ends with The Joker, who's been rendered catatonic for years due to Batman vanishing, hears mention of his old foe on the news and makes a full recovery. |
| 120 | -->'''Joker:''' B-Batman... '''''darling...''''' |
| 121 | * ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheKillingJoke'': Normal for Batman-Joker but in this case, Batman seems to have this for Joker. When he comes to Arkham Asylum, he tells commissioner that he's there "because he needs to be there" (a line not there in the original), furthermore the fact that Batman has to be cajoled into a sexual encounter with Batgirl and then barely sees her after that, and he admits to Joker he's been thinking about him, makes the finale where Batman tries to reach out to Joker and then laughs with him, even more weird and strange than the original did. |
| 122 | ** Pretty much Paris Franz's [[VillainousCrush obsession for Batgirl]] is almost a reflection of Joker's obsession for Batman. |
| 123 | * Even though [[spoiler:Prince Hans]] from ''WesternAnimation/{{Frozen|2013}}'' is a villain who intends to kill Elsa to usurp her throne, he is also the only person shown in the movie to be able to stop one of her rampages (which he did by intentionally guilt tripping her via her [[AfraidOfTheirOwnStrength fear of her own powers]], causing her to freeze in panic and not defend herself from his subsequent attack). |
| 124 | ** The tie-in novel ''Frozen Heart'' takes this even further. [[spoiler:Hans]] comes off as very conflicted about Elsa, as he insists that she's a "monster", but keeps thinking of her and her powers as "beautiful", and in general seems completely obsessed with her. He even briefly hesitates when he's about to kill her at the end. Then there's this line, which has StalkerWithACrush all over it: |
| 125 | -->"A wall of ice won't keep me away." |
| 126 | * ''WesternAnimation/TheGreatMouseDetective'': Given it's a movie based on Sherlock Holmes, it was inevitable, but the relationship between Basil and Ratigan, how the two are so obsessed with one another and how they drive each other crazy, is really something else. Particularly how their obsessions with each other are so closely intertwined with ''music''. In his first scene, after Basil learns his lead on Ratigan is a dead end, he plays a depressing tune on the violin like a guy who's just been dumped. Ratigan laments all the times Basil has ruined his {{Evil Plan}}s while playing the harp. And Ratigan's DeathTrap is triggered by a human-sized record player playing "a sprightly tune I recorded especially for you" that sounds almost mournful that their relationship/rivalry has come to an end: "You followed me, I followed you./ We were like each other's shadows for awhile./ But, as you see, this game is through./ So although it hurts..." Even without all the music, there's the fact that Ratigan ''does not stop touching him''. He cups Basil's face, strokes his fingers up his chest to lightly flick his chin... it's very blatant. Plus, Basil has a portrait of Ratigan above his fireplace, and Ratigan has a little Basil doll (just because it's voodoo doll doesn't mean the romantic subtext isn't there. He still took the time to make it in loving detail, at least.) |
| 127 | * ''Franchise/TheIncredibles'': |
| 128 | ** Mirage and Mr. Incredible. Of course, the fact that Mirage [[spoiler:ends up apparently turning good anyway and helping the protagonists]] makes it more questionable. They were never really in a relationship (Mr. Incredible already being married and Mirage respecting that), but their flirtatious banter, while standard for superheroes, ''did'' have strong subtext of being an emotional affair on his part, which is furthered by that Helen initially does think he's in an affair. |
| 129 | ** [[WesternAnimation/Incredibles2 The second film]] features a rare example of Foe Romance Subtext between two women. Rare because both female protagonists are rare, as are female antagonists. To have them both in the same animated movie offers a fairly unique dynamic that the movie most definitely takes advantage of. [[AmbiguouslyGay Evelyn Deavor]] and Elastigirl share a handful of atmospheric and chemistry-laden scenes earlier on in the movie. After Evelyn's [[TragicVillain backstory]] is revealed the two share several tension-filled exchanges, including one where [[spoiler:Evelyn is physically dominant over the super, having her tied to a chair in one scene, and another where she gloatingly lifts Elastigirl's face by the chin with her hand while she's incapacitated. The two physically duke it out on a plane in the climax.]] |
| 130 | * ''WesternAnimation/TheLegoBatmanMovie'' takes the subtext between Joker and Batman's rivalry and cranks it about as far as they can go in a PG family movie. Batman refuses to form connections with ''anyone'', even his enemies, so his refusal to call the Joker his greatest foe [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything is played like an unrequited love]], with the other villains reassuring Joker that he "doesn't need" Batman. |
| 131 | * Near the end of ''WesternAnimation/ThePrincessAndTheFrog'', Dr. Facilier offers to make Tiana's dreams come true in exchange for his talisman. He shows her illusions of her restaurant while circling her and making his offer in a VERY seductive tone. |
| 132 | ** Facilier practically ''seduced'' Naveen into making the deal. |
| 133 | [[/folder]] |
| 134 | |
| 135 | [[folder:Films -- Live-Action]] |
| 136 | * While Xerxes, as portrayed in ''Film/ThreeHundred'', appears to be into ''everything'', and his feelings were not reciprocated, his interest in Leonidas certainly appeared to be more than political. The director felt that the teenage boy demographic would find Xerxes scarier if he was presented as a DepravedHomosexual intent on molesting the protagonist. |
| 137 | * In ''Film/America3000'', the women of Frisco and Kansos in Colorado have an entire mythology built up around hating the men and wanting to exterminate them, and the free men Korvis leads in his compound at Camp Reagan have generally adopted a similarly hostile attitude toward the women. So why does the young Vena smirk and [[FemaleGaze take a good long look]] when her mother cuts off young Korvis' loincloth near the beginning? Why, when Korvis and his men later raid Frisco, does he get distracted and [[MaleGaze linger over]] the [[SleepCute sleeping form]] of the newly-crowned Tiara Vena in her shelter? Because of perfectly natural desires, and because [[DatingCatwoman they're going to get it together]] with each other later, that's why. |
| 138 | * ''Film/BlackWidow1987''. There's [[HomoeroticSubtext lesbian subtext]] between serial killer [[BlackWidow Catherine]] and the female Justice agent pursuing her, most notably in a scene where one is practising mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on the other: ''"You're not taking this personally, are you?"" |
| 139 | * ''Film/JamesBond'': |
| 140 | ** There was more than a bit of homoeroticism between Bond and [[spoiler:Alec]] in ''Film/GoldenEye''. |
| 141 | --->'''[[spoiler:Alec]]:''' James and I used to share everything... ''absolutely everything''. |
| 142 | ** Bond/Le Chiffre from ''Film/CasinoRoyale2006''. When your naked torture scene begins with the villain eyeing Bond up and saying "You've taken good care of your body"... This is more explicit in the novel where Le Chiffre addresses Bond as "dear boy" during the scene, and Fleming based him on the bisexual Creator/AleisterCrowley. |
| 143 | ** ''Film/{{Skyfall}}'' throws "implications" right out the window with Silva's opening scene, where Bond is tied to a chair and Silva unbuttons his shirt to touch a scar on Bond's shoulder, continues to caress his throat, and strokes Bond's thighs. Bond responds to Silva's quiet snark, "Well... first time for everything, yes?" with "What makes you think this is my first time?" |
| 144 | * ''Film/ABulletForTheGeneral''. A dark and violent example between Tate and Chuncho. Both of them favour guns and money over women; Chuncho completely ignores his human prize once he hears news of a machine gun, which is foreign, like Tate. Film scholar Alex Cox describes the film as being a love affair between Tate and Chuncho. |
| 145 | * ''Film/Carrie1976'': While Chris Hargensen hates Carrie, she seems to really enjoy tormenting her, is obsessed with her to the point that she's thinking about Carrie during sex with her boyfriend, and the lead-up to the blood dump shows numerous close-ups of her licking her lips and her sweaty hands shaking in excitement as she's about to pull the rope. Nancy Allen confirmed this was intentional and said she played it like Chris was having an orgasm. |
| 146 | * Roxy/Velma from ''Film/{{Chicago}}''. Even besides the whole Girls Behind Bars aspect of it, Roxy and Velma do spend a lot of time glaring at each other while wearing nothing but skimpy underwear. And during the last number they seem... a lot more friendly. |
| 147 | * Franchise/{{Batman}} and ComicBook/TheJoker in ''Film/TheDarkKnight'' ("You complete me!") [[http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/film/reviews/article_display.jsp?rid=11376 One reviewer]] described the delivery of that line as "like a bride to a groom". The Joker also pretty clearly [[CombatSadomasochist enjoys Batman beating him]]. This particular bit of subtext goes back a long way, and has become more or less canon in the comics. |
| 148 | * ''Film/DirtyHarry''. Scorpio's reaction to seeing Inspector Callahan's [[HandCannon .44 Magnum revolver]] for the first time. "My, that's a big one." Reportedly actor Andrew Robinson [[ThrowItIn ad-libbed that line]], which made the crew laugh. One of many allusions to Scorpio's stereotypical "gayness", along with the hair and [[SissyVillain the whiny, murderous hissy fits]]. |
| 149 | * ''Film/FightClub''. Aside from the fact that [[spoiler:they're basically [[ScrewYourself the same person]]]], there's a large amount of subtext between The Narrator and Tyler, as Tyler is the epitome of everything the Narrator wishes he were, compared to the Narrator's docile, repressed sexuality. The movie opens with Tyler [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything shoving the barrel of a gun down the Narrator's throat]], they live together, bathe together, spend their nights beating each other to a pulp while shirtless and covered in sweat, and let's not forget the chemical burn scene, in which Tyler kisses the Narrator's hand and holds him down while he burns him, and Marla's almost jealous reaction when she sees the scar ("Who did that to you? Guy or girl?"). There's also the Narrator's jealousy and subsequent ''brutal'' beat-down of the pretty blond guy who started to seem like Tyler's new favorite. |
| 150 | * ''Film/{{Hannibal}}''. Hannibal Lecter sees his obsession with FBI agent Clarice Starling as romantic, comparing it with Creator/DanteAlighieri's unrequited love for Beatrice (unlike the novel however, this is presented as being entirely one-sided). There's also some in the ActionPrologue when the female drug dealer goes to shoot Clarice. "Let's swap body fluids, bitch." |
| 151 | * Deliberately inferred in the original ''Film/TheHitcher'', to the point where it creeps out the cops to watch the lead characters interact in the interrogation room. |
| 152 | * ''Film/IShotJesseJames'': While they don't start out as foes, UsefulNotes/JesseJames and Robert Ford definitely have this going on. Even though Ford plans to [[ForegoneConclusion (and eventually does)]] kill Jesse, [[HoYay he helps Jesse take a bath]] and is tortured by his decision to murder Jesse years afterward. [[spoiler:Though Bob's DyingDeclarationOfLove towards Jesse sort of removes the ''subtext'' part.]] |
| 153 | * ''Film/LAConfidential'': Half the characters are convinced there's something more to detectives Bud White and Ed Exley's rivalry than just hatred. |
| 154 | -->'''Jack:''' ''[to Ed]'' Bud White's gonna fuck you for this if it takes him the rest of his life.\ |
| 155 | [later]\ |
| 156 | '''Lynn:''' ''[also to Ed]'' Fucking me and fucking Bud aren't the same thing. |
| 157 | * Seymour and [[AttackOfThe50FootWhatever Audrey II]] in ''Film/LittleShopOfHorrors.'' In his first VillainSong "Feed Me", Audrey II (whom Seymour named after the woman he loves, by the way) seduces more than convinces Seymour to aid him. Audrey II sings to him "feed me [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything all night long]]", puts one of his roots up Seymour's shirt, and forces Seymour into a chair before bringing him uncomfortably close to his face. Audrey later [[ComedicUnderwearExposure pulls Seymour's pants down]] (to [[GroinAttack punch him in the scrotum]], but still). |
| 158 | * ''Film/Passenger1963'': SS overseer Liza really sounds like she held some serious lustful feelings for the Polish prisoner Marta at times, even musing that she would have liked to take Marta with her if she ever got promoted out of Auschwitz. |
| 159 | -->"The fight for Marta, against Marta, began to excite me."\ |
| 160 | "I was close to mastering Marta."\ |
| 161 | "But for that dog, Marta would have been mine." |
| 162 | * There is a strong albeit disturbed vibe from Hannibal Lector towards Will Graham in ''Film/RedDragon''. |
| 163 | -->"Clever boy. I think I'll eat your heart." |
| 164 | * In ''Film/ScannersIITheNewOrder'', TheDragon Peter Drak makes a point of repeatedly referring to protagonist David Kellum as a "pretty boy", "Davie", and commenting on his "pretty eyes". |
| 165 | * Played for laughs in ''Film/{{Spaceballs}}''. Dark Helmet and Lone Starr are comparing the size of their... um... schwartzes during their parody lightsaber battle. |
| 166 | * ''Franchise/StarWars: Film/TheLastJedi'' turns up the subtext between Kylo Ren/Ben Solo and Rey from ''Film/TheForceAwakens''. Connected by a PsychicLink they initially treat with hostility, they slowly begin to warm up, bond and empathize with each other over their mutual loneliness and sense of loss in the galaxy. Rey is flustered when she accidentally sees him [[ShirtlessScene shirtless]] through their Force bond, the pair of them have several long [[HeldGaze held gazes]], they touch hands at one point despite not being physically nearby, and Ben holds out his hand when he asks her, in a pleading manner, to [[WeCanRuleTogether join him]] after he kills his master. Becomes text in ''Film/TheRiseOfSkywalker'', [[spoiler:wherein after spending much of the movie fighting each other, including Rey landing a fatal wound and then healing him, telling him she cares for ''Ben'', not Kylo, [[HeelFaceTurn he returns to the Light]] and [[HeroicSacrifice sacrifices his life for hers]], after which they share a kiss before he dies.]] |
| 167 | * ''Film/{{Wishmaster}}'': Although the interactions between the Djinn and Alex are not many, he often makes certain comments to her that are just full of foe yay. He calls her a delight and caresses her hand (disguised as Wendy), calls her 'sweet Alex' and after she has made two wishes, tells her they are 'so connected now'. |
| 168 | ** When he breaks the window of her car, for an instant, you can see him leaning towards her with a teasing expression and almost touching her with his claw. |
| 169 | * ''Film/XMenFilmSeries'': |
| 170 | ** ''Film/XMenFirstClass'': Erik with Charles, to the point where Website/TelevisionWithoutPity gave them the "Best Couple" award. Also present in the original ''[[Film/XMenFilmSeries X-Men]]'' trilogy. It's supported both by James [=McAvoy=] (who plays Xavier in ''First Class'') and Ian [=McKellen=] (who plays Magneto in the other films). A bit of a variation on this trope in that they're actually ''friends'' despite their opposing goals and the subtext comes from the friendship rather than hostility. |
| 171 | ** ''Film/XMenApocalypse'': While it's disturbing and completely one-sided, Apocalypse's desire to [[spoiler:''literally'' possess Xavier's mind, body and soul through MindRape]] comes off as an analogy for obsessive stalking and rape, and Charles is even a PrettyBoy to boot. Tumblr users often describe [[http://67.media.tumblr.com/8be783d97192fef4a467e70b65b018f5/tumblr_o70mplYEIh1tpeh5qo4_1280.gif this shot]] as looking like a very forceful marriage proposal or a ''Literature/BeautyAndTheBeast'' scenario, and Charles is indeed the prisoner of the grotesque Apocalypse, the former being trapped inside the latter's Egyptian "castle," so to speak. |
| 172 | ** It hasn't escaped the notice of Creator/OscarIsaac and Creator/JamesMcAvoy that there is slash-y vibe between their characters because on the Gag Reel, Isaac turns Apocalypse's scream of pain when Professor X bombards him with the "voices" of other minds into an orgasmic "IT FEELS GOOOOD!!" [=McAvoy=] then cheekily wags his eyebrows at the camera. |
| 173 | ** On the Blu-Ray's "Unlimited Powers: VFX, Stunts and Set Pieces" documentary, [=McAvoy=] jokes that Apocalypse lusts after Xavier. |
| 174 | --->'''[=McAvoy=]:''' [[spoiler:So he really desperately wants to get in my body.]] Also because, I mean... ''(gestures towards himself in a "Look how beautiful I am" manner)'' Do you know what I mean? ''(winks)'' |
| 175 | * In TheStinger of ''Film/ZackSnydersJusticeLeague'', the Joker just can't resist pushing Batman's buttons even when [[EnemyMine they're forced to work together]] in the middle of a nightmarish apocalyptic BadFuture brought on by Darkseid acquiring the Anti-Life Equation. Specifically, he calls out the fact that Batman still hasn't broken his [[ThouShaltNotKill One Rule]] even after everything he's done. |
| 176 | -->'''Bruce:''' I've been dead inside a long time, but even I have a limit. And if you cross that line, I swear to God, I will...\ |
| 177 | '''The Joker:''' Before what, Bruce? Kill me? You won't kill me. I'm your best friend. Besides, who's gonna give you a reach-around? |
| 178 | [[/folder]] |
| 179 | |
| 180 | [[folder:Literature]] |
| 181 | * The fight between Ladd Russo and Chane Laforet atop the Flying Pussyfoot in ''Literature/{{Baccano}}'' is punctuated with this, as Ladd repeatedly declares his love for Chane and monologues about how she loves him back, [[InterplayofSexAndViolence even while he's trying to blow her to bits with a shotgun]]. It's implied that Ladd's just trying to mess with her, but when he starts to caress her cheek and play with her hair, [[VillainousCrush one can't help but wonder]]. |
| 182 | -->'''Ladd:''' I'll take it. I accept this love from you, young lady! But you have to accept my love, too...\ |
| 183 | I LOVE YOU! NOW YOU DIE!! *BOOM* |
| 184 | * ''Literature/BerlinAlexanderplatz'': Seen in the interactions between Franz Biberkopf and Reinhold. The latter screws over the protagonist Biberkopf, time and time again, but Biberkopf keeps showing forgiveness for him. In the tv-adaptation by Creator/RainerWernerFassbinder, the queer subtext is made even more blatant: |
| 185 | -->'''Narrator:''' Reinhold and Biberkopf stare fixedly at each other. The one-armed man has no pity for the man in the prisoner's box between the two policemen...he has only a curious devotion for him. I once had a faithful comrade, never a better one could there be. I must look at him, keep on looking at him, nothing seems more important than to look at you. The world is made of sugar and dirt. I can look at you quietly, without batting an eye. I know who you are. I now find you here, m'boy, in the prisoner's box, outside I'll meet you a thousand times more, but my heart will not turn to stone on account of that. |
| 186 | * ''Manga/BungoStrayDogs'': The original Dark Era Light Novel had some {{Subtext}} between Oda and Gide. For example, [[https://nkhrchy.tumblr.com/post/147367058492/bsd-novel-dazai-osamu-and-the-dark-era-chapter when they first meet, Oda describes Gide as handsome]], [[https://nkhrchy.tumblr.com/post/147443082840/bsd-novel-dazai-osamu-and-the-dark-era-chapter Dazai proposes their wedding]], and the final duel is held at an old-fashioned ball room, and terminology like 'twirling half a turn' are used. On top of that, their Abilities work in such a way that they're completely synchronised. When the two [[MexicanStandoff come at a standstill]] (by ''holding hands'', if not in the conventional way), it's [[https://nkhrchy.tumblr.com/post/148247598657/bsd-novel-dazai-osamu-and-the-dark-era-chapter described]] as 'miraculous'. The anime [[AdaptedOut doesn't include most of it]], but interestingly leaves most of the subtext at the end in it. (as in that the fight is animated like a dance) [[spoiler:And since the duel ends with them both dying, it can be seen as TogetherInDeath]]. |
| 187 | * ''Literature/CaptivePrince'': Even when they still hate each other, Damen is put off by how attracted he is to Laurent. It goes the other way too, with Laurent being constantly distracted by Damen, even as he beats, bullies and harasses him. |
| 188 | * In ''Literature/CheatMagicianLifeThatStartedFromBeingJudgedUseless'', there's the complicated relationship between the protagonist Kobuku Kento and the EvilPrincess Camilla Rosenberg who summoned him and the entire third floor of his school to this new world, tricked all but Kento himself into wearing bracelets with slavery magic and sent Kento into a dangerous forest, at sword point, expecting him to die. On the one hand, he's murderously enraged at how cruelly and unfair she treated them all, and after learning of the aftermath the summon itself caused in Japan, is doubly outraged. On the other hand, he was fascinated by her beauty, elegance, and regal bearing when they met and remains infatuated with her in spite of what she's done. When the two are forced to work together to deal with an incoming monster stampede and her own evil siblings, who make her look like a saint by comparison, he repeatedly rewards her devotion with genuine affection and honest concern for her well-being, which she greatly appreciates. He tries various excuses to justify this dichotomy, but his closest allies don't buy it. |
| 189 | * ''Literature/ColdDays'': In between Mab's attempts to [[SinkOrSwimMentor kill]] Harry Dresden, she gets very touchy-feely with him. The subtext is heightened by their [[spoiler:plot-related sex]] in the previous book. [[spoiler:Also the fact that as Winter Knight, being the consort to the Winter Queens is one of Harry's official duties.]] |
| 190 | -->''Mab moved very slowly, very gracefully. There was something serpentine about the way she slithered up my body and lay with her chest against mine. (...) [She] made a low, hungry sound in her throat as she leaned down, until her lips were almost touching my ear.\ |
| 191 | "I have no use for weakness, wizard." She shivered in a kind of slow, alien ecstasy.'' |
| 192 | * ''Literature/ACourtOfThornsAndRoses:'' Feyre and Rhys, ''[[UnresolvedSexualTension so much]]''. The fact that they have to act as lovers multiple times, including a [[FakeOutMakeOut rather handsy kiss]], does not help. [[spoiler:By the end of the second book, it's no longer "foe" or "subtext".]] |
| 193 | * In the pornographic book ''Crystals of Mida'', Jalav and Ceralt both rape the other, depending on which side is currently winning the war between their races. |
| 194 | * In ''Literature/DateALive'', Kurumi at first sought out Shido to consume him and take the mana of the three Spirits he had sealed up to that point. Her behaviour towards him seems to oscillate between "I really want to eat you and take your power" and "I really want to pin you down to the bed and screw your brains out", making little flirting gestures like licking him and nibbling him, to make him squirm. After he nearly gave his life protecting her from [[spoiler:Kotori]], [[SingleWomanSeeksGoodMan she has seemingly garnered a genuine affection for him]]. |
| 195 | * ''Literature/{{Dracula}}'': Some interpret there to be romantic tensions between Dracula and Lucy, Dracula and Mina, and/or Dracula and Jonathan. Literary scholars regularly debate whether any of this was intentional or not. Not only was Stoker a rather old-fashioned type writing when the social and sexual liberation movements were just beginning to take off, but some historians have theorised that Stoker himself was a heavily closeted [[InternalizedCategorism self-hating gay man]], and further, commonly assumed by literary scholars that Stoker used the story of ''Dracula'' to work through some issues, so the sexualized nature of the vampires took on a whole new meaning as an unsubtle appeal for restraint. (Scholars also note that while Dracula is knifed, [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything female vampires are killed by having something long and hard stuck in them]].) |
| 196 | ** When the female vampires in the castle attempt to "kiss" (read: bite) Jonathan, Drac shows up and chases them off, saying, "He belongs to me!" [[HomoeroticSubtext There is little to no heterosexual explanation for the passage that follows]]: |
| 197 | --->"How dare you touch him, any of you? How dare you cast eyes on him when I had forbidden it? Back, I tell you all! This man belongs to me! Beware how you meddle with him, or you'll have to deal with me." The fair girl, with a laugh of ribald coquetry, turned to answer him. "You yourself never loved. You never love!" On this the other women joined, and such a mirthless, hard, soulless laughter rang through the room that it almost made me faint to hear. It seemed like the pleasure of fiends. Then the Count turned, after looking at my face attentively, and said in a soft whisper, "Yes, I too can love." - ''Dracula,'' chapter 3, Jonathan Harker's Journal, 16 May. |
| 198 | * ''Literature/{{Durarara}}'': Shizuo Heiwajima and Izaya Orihara. HateAtFirstSight meeting, obsessive loathing (to the point that Shizuo flies into a rage just by ''seeing'' Izaya), NoSenseOfPersonalSpace -- it's like a love story, except you replace every instance of "like" and "love" with "''despise''" and "''hate''". Considering how the subtext is so strong that other characters have seriously considered the possibility of at least a "hate sex" relationship, while an InUniverse FanGirl outright ''ships'' it, all signs point intentional subtext. |
| 199 | * [[spoiler:Hrathen]] towards [[spoiler:Sarene]], in ''Literature/{{Elantris}}''. Later turns from subtext to LoveEpiphany, although the latter character remains totally oblivious to any of this. |
| 200 | * In ''Literature/InConquestBorn'', the {{Deuteragonist}}s are wrapped up in an obsessive, InterplayOfSexAndViolence -driven, long-distance relationship in which the goal of each is killing the other. They are both utterly at home with the ruthless ambition and deep-seated rage they sense in each other, to the point that no one else can take the place they occupy in each other's lives. |
| 201 | * In ''[[Literature/KingdomsDisdain The Kingdom's Disdain]]'', Princess Sareash and the warlock/assassin Worm tread a fine line between pure disdain and sexual/romantic attraction. [[spoiler: To the point she can't bring herself to kill him because he's "too beautiful".]] |
| 202 | * In ''Literature/LoyalEnemies'', Shelena and Veres are nominally mortal enemies, what with her being a werewolf and him a monster hunter specialized in werewolves. But setting aside Shelena's questionable decision to drag him half-dead out of a ditch and take him home to heal, there's some increasing romance subtext between them as the book goes on. Forced to work together, they have to share her hut, ride on the same horse and spend nights talking at the campfire. Shelena just can't keep her paws off Veres, sticking feathers up his nose at night and getting almost stabbed for her trouble. Veres, on his part, is very interested when the talk comes to Shelena's preferences in men, and he's always just around the corner when Shelena has gotten herself into trouble again. When asked by Delirna how Veres is in bed, instead of denying anything, Shelena's answer is '[[DeadpanSnarker Like a corpse.]]' And when Shelena [[spoiler:almost dies from an arrow wound]], Veres uses his own life force to [[spoiler:drag her back from the brink of death]]. Enemies, mortal ones. Sure.\ |
| 203 | Eventually, Shelena has a LoveEpiphany, but that doesn't put the subtext to rest until the very end of the book, as Veres' point of view is never shown. |
| 204 | * ''Literature/ReignOfTheSevenSpellblades'': The Campus Watch's tournament match against the old council in volume 10 features enough homoeroticism to make ''Film/TopGun'' blush, between Leoncio Echevalria's previously known VillainousCrush on Alvin Godfrey, Khiirgi's {{Combat Sadomasochis|t}}m against Lesedi Ingwe who hates her for seducing her girlfriends and making them cry, and Gino Beltrami's duel with Tim Linton literally ending with Beltrami kissing Tim with DruggedLipstick to cause a DoubleKnockout. |
| 205 | * ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'': [[HeroicBastard Jon Snow]] and [[WellIntentionedExtremist Mellisandre]]--in a highly predatory, MrsRobinson sort of way. It doesn't help matters that Mel seems to have inherited Jon's dead girlfriend's catchphrase (and of course, the hair color). Well, Mel does need someone [[DeusSexMachina to make shadow babies with]]. |
| 206 | * ''Literature/TheUnexploredSummonBloodSign'' is about the conflict between Kyousuke and the White Queen, whom he used to date until she broke her promise to not kill anyone. Then she broke it again to protect him in the Secret War. Currently his goal is to kill her, and her goal is to make him love her again. |
| 207 | -->"We will never understand each other."\ |
| 208 | ''<And that is why I love you.>''\ |
| 209 | "I can't join you."\ |
| 210 | ''<Doesn't that just make it all the more exciting?>'' |
| 211 | * In ''Literature/TheWitchlands'', Safi is annoyed to find out that the "Chiseled Cheat" - the man who stole all her money, now revealed to be [[spoiler:a Hell-Bard, hunting Safi]] - is still very attractive despite being her enemy. |
| 212 | [[/folder]] |
| 213 | |
| 214 | [[folder:Live-Action TV]] |
| 215 | * ''Series/{{Angel}}'': Spike and Angel are half this, half regular HomoeroticSubtext, depending on how antagonistic Spike is in the specific episode. |
| 216 | * ''Series/{{Arrow}}'': In "[[Recap/ArrowS4E23Schism Schism]]", Darhk is touched that Oliver chose to [[spoiler:spend his last moments on Earth with him]]. |
| 217 | * ''Series/BabylonFive'': |
| 218 | ** Londo and G'Kar start off as fierce rivals, with Londo revealing in the first regular episode ("[[Recap/BabylonFiveS01E01MidnightOnTheFiringLine Midnight on the Firing Line]]") that he'd had a prophetic dream about his death, where the two of them would choke each other to death some twenty years in the future.[[note]]As later revealed, a ProphecyTwist was involved.[[/note]] As the series progressed, the rivalry waxed and waned (with others often commenting about the two ambassadors' unique relationship), with the two settling into a sort of bickering FriendlyRivalry[=/=]VitriolicBestBuds situation by the end of season four, with the two would often arguing LikeAnOldMarriedCouple. |
| 219 | --->'''Mack:''' [[LampshadeHanging So, how long have those two been married]]? |
| 220 | ** The subtext becomes text in a script that was never filmed [[note]]because it was a revenge prank by J. Michael Straczynski for the actors playing Londo and G'Kar, and it was never intended to be really filmed[[/note]]: [[spoiler:G'Kar changes sex due to stress and discovers that the hatred he felt as a man has transformed in love for Londo in her female form. Then they have sex.]] |
| 221 | * ''Series/BeingHumanUS'': The conversation between Aidan and Bishop seemed pretty intense...not to mention Bishop looking in on Aidan when the other vampire is feeding. |
| 222 | ** And in episode 12, we see Bishop with tears in his eyes when Celine says Aidan keeps running away, not coming back. This is right after he practically said that he turned Aidan because he loved him. |
| 223 | ** And in episode 13, at the end of the Boss Fight, Bishop reaches up towards Aidan's cheek, almost a caress, [[spoiler:as Bishop is being beheaded BY Aidan. Hard core.]] |
| 224 | *** At one point, Bishop says something to the effect of he wasn't going to allow Aidan to (live to) hate him anymore. |
| 225 | ** And now in season two [[spoiler:Aidan's seeing hallucinations of Bishop, and Bishop essentially tells him he never could've killed him anyway.]] |
| 226 | * In the later seasons of ''Series/BlakesSeven'', there is overt innuendo of sexual attraction between the Seven's new leader Avon and BigBad Servalan. In particular, at the end of the episode "[[Recap/BlakesSevenS3E12DeathWatch Death-Watch]]", Avon plants a partially sincere, partially TakeThatKiss on her, and she '''doesn't kill him'''. For Servalan, that's the equivalent of most women ripping their clothes off and leaping on him. |
| 227 | * ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'': |
| 228 | ** [[SuperpoweredEvilSide Angelus]] relentlessly flirts with Buffy and considers his murdering his way through her friends to be foreplay, while Buffy is continually reluctant to kill him because of her feelings towards Angel. That said, the series wavers back and forth on whether Angel and Angelus are separate people or two sides of the same person. |
| 229 | ** Buffy and Faith repeat the same dynamic she had with Angel/us, only with ''more'' emotional baggage, complete with TakeThatKiss from Faith and both of them acting like spurned girlfriends every time they cross paths. Fast forward to season 7, and the First says everything Faith did was so Buffy would love her. |
| 230 | ** Spike had a massive obsession with killing Slayers and flirting with death, and in Season 2 he had boatloads of subtext with Buffy. Eventally this developed into quite a different kind of... [[VillainousCrush flirtation]] in Seasons 3, 4 and 5 (most notably in the episode "[[Recap/BuffyTheVampireSlayerS5E7FoolForLove Fool for Love]]"), until the subtext became text in Season 6. Becomes a DeconstructedTrope thanks to the DestructiveRomance that followed. |
| 231 | ** Glory flirts with everyone as a RunningGag, regardless of gender or physical appearance. This includes Buffy and anyone else she fights, often ''[[CasualDangerDialogue while]]'' she fights. |
| 232 | * ''Series/BurnNotice'': A lot of people read into this with Tricia Helfer's flirty portrayal as Carla, and in an interview the question was even asked to the actress. But Detective Paxson is acknowledged in universe. |
| 233 | -->'''Fiona:''' "Was that flirting or does she hate you?"\ |
| 234 | '''Michael:''' "I am ''not'' her type." |
| 235 | ** Michael and Victor could veer into this too, especially with Victor's overly-chipper AxCrazy personality complementing Michael's dour practicality remarkably well. With lines like |
| 236 | --->'''Victor:''' What's going on in that pretty head of yours? |
| 237 | ** Also: |
| 238 | --->'''Michael:''' Victor, we have so much in common, so much to talk about. We should meet.\ |
| 239 | '''Victor:''' I ''love'' it! Let's ''do'' it!\ |
| 240 | '''Michael:''' Just name the time and place. |
| 241 | *** They end up meeting in a men's bathroom. Shades of [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gay_cruising cruising, perhaps?]] |
| 242 | ** Michael and Jason Bly sure liked to invade each other's personal space. |
| 243 | ** When Brennen was [[IHaveYourWife controlling]] Michael, he took away his CoolShades because "I want to see those pretty eyes." Probably ''actually'' done because it's easier to lie with your eyes hidden, with the accompanying dialogue being mere TermsOfEndangerment. |
| 244 | ** In "Signals and Codes" with the first appearance of Diego, a new agency contact for Michael. |
| 245 | --->'''Michael:''' I had to fight off some Russians who were buying up everything.\ |
| 246 | '''Diego:''' Yeah, the boys upstairs noticed your name handle.\ |
| 247 | '''Michael:''' "Michael Hearts Diego"... that is ''so'' embarrassing. |
| 248 | ** And now we have [[spoiler:Gilroy]], who gropes Mike's hand on their first meeting and is very happy that Michael doesn't "kiss and tell". |
| 249 | ** ''And'' giving him (and a one-shot accomplice) synchronized wristwatches. Apparently, your resting pulse tends to sync up with the ticking of your watch, "so by the end of the day, our hearts will beat as one." Extra points for gratuitous chest-touching for ''both'' recipients. |
| 250 | *** Michael remarks to the guy "Ya know, I like you as a friend and all..." Gilroy's reply? "You're cute, but don't interrupt." |
| 251 | *** In the opening of the same episode, Gilroy insists on meeting with Michael in a hot-tub to insure that he isn't bugged. As Michael gets into the tub, Gilroy gives him a lecherous once-over with his eyes. |
| 252 | ** So basically, Michael and any recurring (male or female) foe. As well as Lucy Lawless's character in "False Flag." Creator/JeffreyDonovan has serious chemistry with a ''lot'' of people. |
| 253 | ** Larry ([[RunningGag yes, dead Larry]]) gives a NotSoDifferentRemark to Fiona ''about how hard it is to be in a relationship with Mike'' and how he needs the things they both have to offer. |
| 254 | * ''Series/DoctorWho'': The Doctor and the Master had some of this in discreet 1970s style right from the start, and the twenty-first century show responded to social changes by dumping the "sub" from the subtext altogether. |
| 255 | ** The Doctor sobbing over the Master's body in [[Recap/DoctorWhoS29E13LastOfTheTimeLords "Last of the Time Lords"]] and pleadingly telling him "You could be beautiful" in [[Recap/DoctorWhoS30E17E18TheEndOfTime "The End of Time"]]. And don't even ''start'' on ''WebAnimation/ScreamOfTheShalka'' (although the Master isn't a foe any more)... There's also that phone call in [[Recap/DoctorWhoS29E12TheSoundOfDrums "The Sound of Drums"]] where the Doctor says all they have is each other. Then the Master asks if he's asking him on a date. The Doctor responds by offering to fight across the cosmos. |
| 256 | ** While observing from afar, Missy in the eighth season of the Revival Series refers to the Doctor as her "boyfriend". When they finally meet, she starts things off by snogging him in a near-tackle, [[CelibateHero much to his confusion and horror]]. Although later, he voluntarily kisses her. [[spoiler:Oh, and she's a [[GenderBender female incarnation]] of the Master.]] |
| 257 | * ''Series/{{Dollhouse}}'': Dr. Claire Saunders passionately hates her colleague Topher Grace for being an InsufferableGenius. As it turns out, [[spoiler:she's actually an Active, Whiskey, whose current personality imprint was designed by Topher to be his CommanderContrarian.]] After discovering this, she spitefully tries to seduce him by crawling into bed with him. |
| 258 | -->'''Topher:''' Hey, I could whip up a love slave anytime I wanted! \ |
| 259 | '''Saunders:''' But that wouldn't be a challenge, would it? Slaves are just slaves, but winning over your enemy -- the one person guaranteed to reject everything you are -- that's ''real'' love. More real than anything up there in the world. |
| 260 | * Spoofed in ''Series/DrTerriblesHouseOfHorrible'' where the YellowPeril DiabolicalMastermind and the GentlemanAdventurer GuileHero are noted in the commentary track to have played it "[[OldFlame like they used to be lovers]]", although it wasn't in the original script and mostly conveyed through the acting. Mark Gatiss explained in the commentary that the relationship between hero and villain is inherently a romantic one, as heroes need villains in order to express their glory and villains need heroes in order to have someone to defeat. |
| 261 | * ''Series/{{Gotham}}'' includes the relationship between Bruce Wayne and [[spoiler:Jeremiah Valeska, the show's version of the Joker]]. They spend a few episodes as friends with romantic undertones, and after [[spoiler:Jeremiah]]'s EvilAllAlong reveal, he seems to be completely obsessed with Bruce. [[spoiler:Completely obsessed, to the point of trying to recreate Bruce's parents' murder so as to become the most important person in his life.]] For what it's worth, although Bruce is obviously distressed by all the murder, the romantic tension is not one-sided. |
| 262 | * ''Series/{{Hannibal}}'' has the intense, antagonistic yet irresistible draw between the two protagonists, GoodIsNotNice [[TheProfiler FBI profiler]] with NoSocialSkills [[TheEmpath Will Graham]] and AffablyEvil [[IAmAHumanitarian Cannibal]] SerialKiller [[ManipulativeBastard Hannibal Lecter]] at the core of the entire show. [[spoiler:The series ends with the two admitting mutual romantic feelings before disappearing with plans to start new lives together.]] |
| 263 | * In ''Series/Intelligence2014'', Mei Chen, a rogue Chinese Intelligence operative into whom Dr. Cassidy implanted a chip under duress, gets very flirty when she encounters Gabriel, likewise a chipped operative. Among other things, she compares him to [[Literature/BookOfGenesis Adam (to her Eve)]]. He is ''not'' interested, though he does fake it at one point to lure her in so the team can remotely delete some classified data from her chip. |
| 264 | * ''Series/KillingEve'': Eve and Villanelle's mutual obsession with each other makes up half the plot. It's explicitly a VillainousCrush on Villanelle's end, but it's still up in the air if Eve returns the attraction. It is heavily, ''heavily'' implied that she does, though she perhaps doesn't realize it herself. (Or, more to the point, doesn't ''want'' to realize it. Given [[ProfessionalKiller who]] [[TheSociopath Villanelle]] [[StalkerWithACrush is]], it's hard to blame her.) |
| 265 | * ''Series/{{Killjoys}}'': Dutch, the protagonist, and Delle Seyah Kendry have what Dutch refers to as "Hate Flirting". [[spoiler:Later, Dutch's {{doppelganger}} Aneela ends up actively in a relationship with Delle Sayeh.]] |
| 266 | * ''Series/TheLordOfTheRingsTheRingsOfPower'': Given that Galadriel had no idea that the fella she met in the middle of sea is Sauron in disguise, all the ShipTease between her and Halbrand come as this. From the very moment they met, their quarrels reeked of BelligerentSexualTension. As they began to slowly warm up to each other, they started holding HoldingHands for whatever reason, HeldGaze after HeldGaze and bond over their mutual feeling of not belonging anywhere. After defeating Adar and his Orcs, they finally confess what they feel for each other, but is left very ambiguous in nature. It all culminates with Sauron caressing her face and outright asking Galadriel to be his Queen and rule Middle-earth, whatever he meant by that. Their interactions were positively compared by fans to Rey and Kylo Ren. |
| 267 | * ''Series/{{Luther}}'': Sociopath and parent-killer Alice Morgan develops a big old crush on the man who wants to prove her guilt, but it's understandable because Luther is played by Creator/IdrisElba. [[spoiler:Ceases to be subtext in Season 5, when it's confirmed that the two had a relationship.]] |
| 268 | * ''Series/MurdochMysteries'': |
| 269 | ** James Gillies, the criminal mastermind on the show, ''kisses'' Detective William Murdoch ''on the mouth'' for a full three seconds towards the end of "Midnight Train to Kingston." |
| 270 | -->'''Gillies:''' For the last time, this is it for us. Doesn't that make you just... a little bit sad?\ |
| 271 | '''Murdoch:''' No.\ |
| 272 | '''Gillies:''' Not even a teensy bit?\ |
| 273 | '''Murdoch:''' ''[shakes his head]''\ |
| 274 | '''Gillies:''' Come now, Detective. You and I share something, something... special. I'll miss you, you know that. ''[grabs Murdoch by the collar and kisses him]'' |
| 275 | ** There's a prop that [[{{Foreshadowing}} foreshadows]] this in "The Murdoch Trap": a film projector has a nearby placard that says, "Turn Me On". The film is of Gillies himself addressing Murdoch. |
| 276 | * ''Series/{{Sherlock}}'': [[FauxAffablyEvil Jim Moriarty]] (who Sherlock [[SherlockScan deduces]] to be gay at first sight) just loves flirting with Sherlock. It begins from the first message Moriarty sends to Sherlock; Moriarty's ''very opening words'' are [[spoiler:"Hello, Sexy"]]. They later meet in person when Jim [[spoiler:is masquerading as Molly Hooper's boyfriend]], and even [[spoiler:in disguise]] Jim overtly flirts with Sherlock, [[spoiler:giving him his phone number just like you would to a romantic prospect]]. Moriarty (as his true self) later talks about this like he's a jilted date: |
| 277 | -->'''Moriarty:''' I gave you my number. I thought you might call. |
| 278 | * ''Series/{{Smallville}}'': |
| 279 | ** Lex Luthor and Clark Kent go above and beyond the already high bar for homoerotic subtext set by their comic book source material. Just like in the comics via genetic engineering, they basically have a ''son'' together. Unlike the comics, there is a MaidenNameDebate of sorts for said son, Alexander Luthor/Conner Kent. |
| 280 | ** Clark has it with both incarnations of Zod. It didn't help that the first was [[spoiler:borrowing Lex's body for their final battle]]. |
| 281 | ** Lois Lane and Tess Mercer. Exhibit A: |
| 282 | --->'''Lois:''' What is it with you and physical violence?\ |
| 283 | '''Tess:''' The last time you and I saw each other, things did get a little... physical, didn't they? ''[wiggles her shoulders suggestively]''\ |
| 284 | '''Lois:''' And then what happened, Tess? Inquiring minds want to know.\ |
| 285 | '''Tess:''' You don't remember?\ |
| 286 | '''Lois:''' Well, a three-week concussion can do that to you. But I think that you bonked me on the head and then held me somewhere.\ |
| 287 | '''Tess:''' Held you? That's wishful thinking, Lane. When I came to, you were already gone. We never did get to finish what we started, though. Little rematch? |
| 288 | ** Chloe Sullivan and Lionel Luthor. This one is canonical (from Lionel's end, anyway; they actually had an AlmostKiss, but [[FreakyFridayFlip Lionel was in Clark's body]]), at least according to WordOfGod, since John Glover, the actor who played Lionel, actually said he was putting attraction to Chloe into his portrayal of the character. You can see for yourself [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47757vI_Pd4 here]]. |
| 289 | * ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'' has explicit DatingCatwoman scenarios with Sam/Ruby and (at least on a HeterosexualLifePartners level) Dean/Crowley. A more subtextual example is Bela's relationship with both Winchesters: They hate her for the many times she's put them into a frustrating situation, but she still talks to them in a flirty way, is very sexy, and her very first interaction with them involves [[ShowSomeLeg giving Sam a titillating moment]] while she steals something from him. Meg often flirts with Sam and Dean, and later shows a thing for Castiel. Far more creepily, Lucifer chooses to first appear to Sam in his bed at night in the form of [[DeadPersonImpersonation his dead girlfriend Jessica]], while also being implied to have raped Sam in Hell later. |
| 290 | [[/folder]] |
| 291 | |
| 292 | [[folder:Music]] |
| 293 | * Music/JonathanCoulton's ''Nemeses'' [[http://www.jonathancoulton.com/wiki/Nemeses/Lyrics is this trope,]] and unrequited obsession, and UnknownRival. An earlier version of the song made it more clear. |
| 294 | -->Could it be that you and me\ |
| 295 | Are always meant to be together\ |
| 296 | Promise me you'll let me be\ |
| 297 | The one, the best of your arch enemies |
| 298 | * Music/TheMegas, a ''VideoGame/MegaManClassic'' fan band, have the song "Blue Like You" about Flash Man feeling this for Mega Man. |
| 299 | * The music video for the K-Pop musical act Troublemaker (comprised of Music/Hyuna of ''4minute'' and Hyunseung of ''Music/B2ST'')'s debut song, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-zRAQmKUkI Troublemaker,]] is all about this trope. |
| 300 | * The music video for Music/MiikeSnow's UsefulNotes/GenghisKhan is about a PunchClockVillain with captured a Franchise/JamesBond expy trapped in his evil lair. He has him strapped to a table staring down a giant laser, but just as he is about to kill him, the clock strikes five and the villain reluctantly powers down the machine and goes home. As the villain spends time with his picturesque family, he can't get the hero off his mind. As soon as the next work day starts, he rushes back to execute the hero to banish the thought of him from his mind... only to realize that he can't bring himself to do it, and he instead releases the hero, and they each realize that they're in love with the other before retiring to a peaceful domestic life together. |
| 301 | -->I get a little bit Genghis Khan\ |
| 302 | Don't want you to get it on\ |
| 303 | With nobody else but me\ |
| 304 | With nobody else but me |
| 305 | * ''Only One Enemy'' (Единственный враг) by Canzler Gi starts as a story about a man seeking his WorthyOpponent, then slowly escalates and ends on "Dying into the void of unrequited love, I'm waiting for you, my only enemy". |
| 306 | * The Music/{{Vocaloid}} song "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBYPHKN-BDE Oni o Karu Mono (One Who Hunts Demons)]]" by Music/{{hinayukki}} tells the story of a demon hunter (Kaito) facing off against a demon (Meiko). Their battle is described as a "tryst" and a "dance", and both sings of their passion for the other as they try to murder each other. Here's the English translation of the chorus: |
| 307 | -->''With every meeting of the eyes, the heart\ |
| 308 | Quivers with passion, like a flame\ |
| 309 | I cut open these burning feelings\ |
| 310 | Come, for a brief moment, and be dyed in red.'' |
| 311 | * Music/{{Eminem}}: |
| 312 | ** Eminem's beef with Music/MachineGunKelly got unusually homoerotic for a rap beef, with both rappers accusing the other of being in love with them. In "Rap Devil", Kells teased Eminem about having released an album of diss tracks (in which he was dissed), claiming it was all because Eminem couldn't stop thinking about him -- "''Damn, you in love with me!''". "Rap Devil" was also riddled with sincere compliments over Eminem's skill, popularity and a willingness to talk it over as two single dads, which Eminem observed in "Killshot" -- "''that a death threat or a love letter?''". Eminem complimented MGK on his black leather outfits, compared him to his [[StalkerWithACrush Stan]] character (a LoonyFan in love with Slim), and used an extended image of MGK giving him oral sex -- "''You would suck a dick to fuckin' be me for a second, lick a ballsack to get on my channel[...] I'm sick of your mumble rap mouth, need to get the cock up out it before we can even talk about it[...] you're not about it, so just leave my dick in your mouth and keep my daughter out it, you fuckin'... [[SubvertedRhymeEveryOccasion oh]].''" |
| 313 | ** Music/{{The Game|Rapper}}'s diss track towards Eminem also incorporates a lot of purposeful romantic subtext as an apparent attempt to creep Eminem out. Rapping in character as an {{Expy}} of Eminem's infamous LoonyFan Stan, Game claims to have a photo he stitched together of him and Eminem together, then concludes "''God made you near perfect''". |
| 314 | [[/folder]] |
| 315 | |
| 316 | [[folder:Professional Wrestling]] |
| 317 | * Wrestling/ChrisJericho and Wrestling/StephanieMcMahon. Chris spent nearly all of the Wrestling/AttitudeEra insulting Stephanie as much as he could and alluding to her being ''extremely'' promiscuous. At one point, he even insinuated that she had slept with everyone on ''the planet''. Everyone, however, [[SleepsWithEveryoneButYou did not mean Jericho]], which led to a lot of BelligerentSexualTension that had numerous fans ''begging'' for them to have the planet-cracking hate sex already. At one point, they were even supposed to have an affair to spite Stephanie's then-husband Hunter (who would later on become her real life husband), but the idea was nixed. The tension was so thick that even today, after over a decade of minimal interaction, fans still strongly support the pairing. |
| 318 | * Wrestling/KevinSteen and Wrestling/ElGenerico. They were ''obsessed'' with each other. Steen's constant claims about how Generico is an "infection"/"disease" that he needed to get rid of and his fixation on Generico's mask and desire to remove it and show Generico's face to the world, the constant mind games -- it all reads as Steen being attracted and/or madly in love with Generico and just sublimating it through intense violence. It was eventually acknowledged onscreen when Steen ''kissed'' Generico on the lips during their grudge match at ''Final Battle 2010''. |
| 319 | * Wrestling/DeanAmbrose and Wrestling/SethRollins have a cross between this and HomoeroticSubtext -- ever since their first feud in 2011, in FCW, aka ''developmental''. Things got particularly heated during 2017 where the two kept on flip-flopping each other before finally reuniting as a team and winning the RAW Tag Titles together. Every segment they shared during that summer was chock full of BelligerentSexualTension, with two acting like a pair of ex-lovers who still love each other but also still hate each other. The WillTheyOrWontThey was so bad that even ''male'' fans were wondering when they were going to screw each other's brains out. |
| 320 | * Wrestling/{{WWENXT}} has the former tag team #DIY, between Wrestling/JohnnyGargano and Wrestling/TommasoCiampa. Ciampa, being a {{Yandere}}, betrayed Gargano at ''[=TakeOver=]: Chicago'' because he couldn't stand the idea of Gargano "replacing" him with another tag team partner[[note]]Ciampa was suffering a litany of injuries (including a torn ACL during the match at ''Chicago''), and would be out for the rest of 2017[[/note]]; and if ''he'' couldn't wrestle, neither could Gargano. Gargano was completely traumatized by the betrayal, and couldn't really find it in himself to return Ciampa's newfound hatred until Ciampa attacked him at the end of ''[=TakeOver=]: Philadelphia'' -- and even then, he couldn't ''completely'' return it until [[spoiler:Ciampa cost him his NXT career]]. After that, the subtext blew up full force; on top of Ciampa regarding Gargano as selfish for trying to move his career forward without him, Gargano started ''stalking'' Ciampa in hopes of forcing him to accept a grudge match against him (which eventually succeeded). The actual match itself was so raw with emotion that it was borderline ''intimate'', with many fans stating that they felt like they were voyeurs for watching something so personal. [[spoiler:Especially towards the end of the match, where it seemed like Gargano and Ciampa were about to reconcile; despite everything that happened between them, despite now hating him with everything he had, Gargano never quite gave up hope that Ciampa could be redeemed]]. |
| 321 | * Wrestling/CMPunk and Wrestling/{{MJF}} had a lot of subtext in their feud as well thanks to their general obsessive behavior towards each other, ''especially'' after MJF revealed his StartOfDarkness as a bullied Jewish kid who used to love and idolize Punk, only for that love to turn to hate and resentment after Punk left wrestling in 2014. A genuinely touched Punk then tried to apologize and reconcile with MJF the following week -- only for MJF to reveal that he was also a massive {{Yandere}} for Punk by promptly using this reconciliation as an opportunity to attack his former idol and bust him open, leaving him practically ''drenched'' in his own blood. For the icing on the cake, Punk decided that the second match of the feud had to be a dog collar match, which only reinforced the BDSM undertones of their developing dynamic[[note]]No joke; one sign during the match even said that Punk was going to make MJF his bitch[[/note]]. |
| 322 | [[/folder]] |
| 323 | |
| 324 | [[folder:Radio]] |
| 325 | * PlayedForLaughs in the fifth and final season of ''Radio/BleakExpectations'', where it becomes increasingly obvious to Ripely that her husband and the evil Mr Benevolent ''do'' have a romantic relationship. |
| 326 | -->'''Ripely:''' Oh, look. It's your boyfriend. |
| 327 | [[/folder]] |
| 328 | |
| 329 | [[folder:Theater]] |
| 330 | * ''Theatre/{{Coriolanus}}'' is a play by Creator/{{Shakespeare}} about a Roman soldier who has become unable to function without war. One of the ways this is highlighted is by the scenes where he faces his blood enemy Tullus Aufidius, where their dialogue is far more impassioned than those between Coriolanus and his own wife and family. Partway through the play, he turns his back on Rome and seeks out Aufidius, seeking for Aufidius to kill him. Instead, Aufidius embraces him, saying that he is gladder when he sees Coriolanus than his own wife. |
| 331 | -->"But that I see thee here,\ |
| 332 | Thou noble thing! more dances my rapt heart\ |
| 333 | Than when I first my wedded mistress saw\ |
| 334 | Bestride my threshold" |
| 335 | [[/folder]] |
| 336 | |
| 337 | [[folder:Video Games]] |
| 338 | * The subtext between ''VideoGame/AbigailFortune'' and Cynthia comes primarily from Abigail's statements. In ''The Scarlet Fairy'' Franz lampshades how disturbing some of Abigail's comments can get. |
| 339 | * ''VideoGame/AtDeadOfNight'': Maya and Jimmy, given that he's always searching for her. [[spoiler:It gets worse during the final act, where Jimmy explicitly says that Maya is different from the rest and he wants her to stay here forever.]] |
| 340 | * ''Franchise/BatmanArkhamSeries'': |
| 341 | ** All four games illustrate this in Joker and Batman's relationship. Starting early in ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamAsylum'' with Joker: "Tell me Bats, what are you really scared of? Failing to save this cesspool of a city? Not finding the Commissioner in time? Me, in a thong?!" and that the premise of the whole night was a party Joker threw for Batman. Then continuing in ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamCity'' with the increasing phone calls from Joker to Batman, the [[spoiler:final death scene with Batman carrying Joker out in his arms, and Joker's swan song to Batman.]] Given their beginnings in ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamOrigins'' when [[spoiler:Joker's obsession with Batman begins, including his Red Hood story and his mention of "meeting someone very special earlier tonight", and another song for Batman during the credits.]] And finally culminating in ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamKnight'' with [[spoiler:Hallucination!Joker mentioning over and over again being inside of Batman, the heavy indicators that Joker's death affected him so much that he could never return to normal (not even Talia's death is mentioned that much), and the serenade number Hallucination!Joker performed with a little help from Johnny Charisma]]. Catwoman even makes a dig at the relationship in ''Knight'', and how Batman should [[spoiler:stop mourning him and "find new maniacs"]]. The whole series can be read as an overall story of Batman and Joker's relationship. |
| 342 | ** During ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamCity'', the Joker gets Batman's phone number and leaves him messages that sound more and more like a jilted lover because Batman never returns the calls. In the finale, [[spoiler:Batman ignores Talia, the supposed love of his life, to tenderly carry the Joker out of Arkham City and leave him with Gordon. In fact he never returns for or mentions Talia ''at all'']]. And over the credits, you hear the Joker singing "Only You" to Batman in his last message. |
| 343 | ** In ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamOrigins'', [[spoiler:when The Joker's being psychoanalyzed by Harley while detained in Blackgate, he starts narrating his origin to her: being the Red Hood and the fateful bath in chemicals courtesy of Batman that transforms him into his present state. In his mind, he's imagining a horrifying ordeal; narrating it to her, [[CriticalPsychoanalysisFailure Harley interprets it as him confessing to being in love with a special someone]] on sight... i.e. her. And the dialogue even suggests that he's fully aware of such a thing, using his words to convey his true feelings about Batman while being vague enough to play on Harley's emotions.]] |
| 344 | ** In ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamKnight'': |
| 345 | *** [[spoiler:The Jokerised Johnny Charisma and Christina also seem to be a little... admiring of Batman. Then again, they ''have'' been Jokerised. Even the hallucinated Joker gets in the act when he compares himself and Batman to Tim and Barbara as StarCrossedLovers.]] And the serenade! Goodness gracious. [[spoiler:Joker says he's the only one who gets to serenade Batman and launches into a [[VillainSong disturbing song]]... The number reads like a private show.]] |
| 346 | *** Throughout the game, [[spoiler:the hallucinated Joker is positively ecstatic over being inside of Batman, considering them the new Dynamic Duo, ''helping'' Batman during the game at points, even outright stating after Tim's capture that [[MurderTheHypotenuse no one had better come in between them]]. Considering he's largely a hallucination of Batman's, what does this say about how Batman imagines the Joker?]] |
| 347 | *** Nearly the first thing [[spoiler:Hallucination Joker]] says when you see him counts (and Batman is lying on the floor with a worm's eye view at this point): |
| 348 | ---->[[spoiler:Joker: Oh, don't act all surprised, Bats. You knew this was going to happen sooner or later. Me, stuck deep inside you.]] |
| 349 | *** Some of [[spoiler:Joker's]] death taunts towards a fallen Batman reek of subtext as well: |
| 350 | ---->''"Downside: you're dead. But the upside? We've got each other, Bruce! Forever!"''\ |
| 351 | ''"Oh, [[spoiler:Bats]], you big kidder. You don't fool me.'' (worriedly) ''[[spoiler:Bats? Bats!?]]"''\ |
| 352 | ''"Come on, Bruce. You can't die! I didn't kill you!"''\ |
| 353 | ''"You should take better care of yourself, [[spoiler:Batsy]], there's'' ''[[spoiler:two of us in there!]]"'' |
| 354 | ** ''A Matter of Family'' involves Joker trying to get Batman a Valentine's Day gift. Granted, the "gift" consists of killing his sidekicks, but it's the thought that counts. |
| 355 | ** Batman and Poison Ivy have a lot of this throughout the first game. Although some of it is because Ivy is TheVamp, she comes off as very interested in the Dark Knight and even has OrgasmicCombat with him. |
| 356 | --->'''Poison Ivy:''' Are you ready for me? Do you think you can ''handle'' me? |
| 357 | ** In ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamKnight'', Batman and Poison Ivy once again have shades of this during their conversation. Batman even rescues her exactly like how he saved Catwoman in ''Arkham City''. He also personally escorts her to the GCPD safely and protects her from the Arkham Knight's thugs. [[spoiler:Thanks to his influence, she even pulls a HeelFaceTurn, teams up with the hero, and dies saving the city for him. She also [[DiedInYourArmsTonight passes away in his arms with him comforting her]]. The reaction from Batman implies that he might have started to see her in a positive light.]] |
| 358 | ** [[spoiler:There's also a very twisted instance of this between the Joker and Jason Todd in the flashbacks. It can come across almost as the Joker being abusive to a partner and teaching them to "respect" him - it even ends with Jason being ''branded' and calling Joker "sir."]] |
| 359 | ** There's also a one-sided version of this between Scarecrow and Batman given the former's obsession with making Batman suffer in every way possible. It doesn't help that in the Nightmare Missions, Scarecrow will occasionally refer to Batman as "My Dear Batman". |
| 360 | ** Harley in the Batgirl DLC gives Batgirl a few compliments and cheers her on when she's fighting her mooks. |
| 361 | ** Mad Hatter's goal in the Season of Infamy DLC is to turn Batman into his new "Alice". Some of his lines, especially after you lock him up, only add to this. |
| 362 | * ''VideoGame/CityOfHeroes'' has former HeterosexualLifePartners, Statesman and Lord Recluse as the main hero and villain of the game. When they got their powers they worked together for a time, until Statesman found his B.F.F. was set on using them for evil, and left to fight evil - Statesman feels Lord Recluse's power drove him to abandon morality, Lord Recluse feels Statesman's power drove him to become self-righteous. Statesman has an entirely unironic hope that they can be B.F.F.s again even while beating up Lord Recluse's mooks; As for Lord Recluse, the entire villain zone is a monument to getting even with the man who dumped him. This was played subtly at first but as Statesman has a chance to kill Lord Recluse and refuses on hopes he can be rehabilitated, and Lord Recluse refuses any plan for world domination that does not involve Statesman eating some humble pie by being given the chance and failing to stop him - both are demonstrated to be invested in each other above all else. This goes a step further in the ''Who Will Die'' arc where [[spoiler:Statesman is killed by a no name villain, looking to steal his powers - which kills Statesman as they are all that was keeping his 150+ year old butt alive. Lord Recluse flips the hell out, nukes the orbiting lair of the villain responsible then takes a rocket ship up and proceeds to deliver a NoHoldsBarredBeatdown for daring to kill '''''HIS''''' arch-enemy.]] |
| 363 | * ''VideoGame/Dota2'' between, of all people, Tidehunter and Kunkka. They are established in their backstories as hating each other - Tidehunter's hatred for Kunkka is never explained though, but out of that hatred he sunk his beloved ship. Those are some of the responses they have to each other: |
| 364 | -->'''Kunkka:''' I never tire of hearing my name on your lips.\ |
| 365 | '''Kunkka:''' Ah, nobody hated me like Tidehunter. He made me feel appreciated.\ |
| 366 | '''Kunkka:''' Ah, Tidehunter, you cared enough to hate me. You can't buy that sort of love. |
| 367 | * ''VideoGame/{{Darksiders}}'': A creepy one-sided version of the [[SmugSnake Watcher]] towards [[HorsemenOfTheApocalypse War]]. They're magically [[ChainedHeat chained together]], with the Watcher imbued with [[ScrewTheRulesIHaveConnections the Charred Council's favor]] to supervise War. The Watcher's every other line reminds War that he's his bitch, and some of his lines [[PrisonRape sound a bit less-than-chaste]]. |
| 368 | * ''VideoGame/FarCry5'': Discussed by Sharky and Adelaide. Either of them remark that they think John wants to have sex with the Deputy and, the next time the two meet, the Deputy should sleep with him and see if that helps matters. This is regardless of a male or female Deputy. While this is PlayedForLaughs, it is worth mentioning that John rips the Deputy's shirt open twice. |
| 369 | * ''VideoGame/{{Hades}}'': |
| 370 | ** Downplayed. Zagreus and WarmUpBoss Megaera are exes, and Megaera is tasked with stopping Zagreus from escaping. Needless to say, a ''lot'' of their former relationship, both romantic and familiar, leaks into their pre-fight banter and taunts as they're clearly not over each other. |
| 371 | ** A more comical version occurs between Zagreus and Theseus should the player buy the Exalted Hero portrait, which is a painting of a younger, long-haired Theseus wearing a cape and ''only'' a cape. |
| 372 | --->'''Zagreus:''' Am I becoming obsessed with Theseus? |
| 373 | * ''VideoGame/LeagueOfLegends'': Garen and Katarina, both paragons of diametrically opposed city states. They received [[FoeYayShipping high compatibility]] ratings under Blitzcrank's [[TheMatchmaker matchmaking service]] but aren't an official couple. During the game, Garen has unique jokes specifically toward Katarina, which are somewhat flirty. |
| 374 | * In ''VideoGame/LiveALive'''s Wild West chapter, Mad Dog remarks that battling the Sundown Kid is almost like saying goodbye to a lover. [[spoiler:If he is spared, the end shows the two of them traveling together.]] |
| 375 | * ''VideoGame/KidIcarusUprising'' has [[spoiler:[[TheDragon Phosphora]]]] and Pit, the former going on several times about how cute the latter is, much to his embarrassment. [[MissionControl Palutena]] has to remind Pit that [[spoiler:Phosphora]] is an enemy. |
| 376 | * ''VideoGame/{{Portal}}'': [[VideoGame/Portal1 The first game]] drops several hints that [=GLaDOS=]'s fixation on Chell goes beyond the usual KillAllHumans motivation, with lines such as "Despite your violent behavior, the only thing you've managed to break so far... is my heart." It could be unintentional... but then ''VideoGame/Portal2'' ramps it up further, giving [=GLaDOS=] every PsychoLesbian trope in the book, and she frequently tries to guilt trip Chell using language common to abusive partners. This culminates in "Want You Gone", a BreakupSong in everything but name. ''The Final Hours of Portal 2'' reveals that a cut plotline had [=GLaDOS=] growing increasingly jealous as the player collected personality cores, culminating in them entering a room to be greeted with the sight of a cold roast dinner, at which point [=GLaDOS=] would berate them for missing dinner because they were busy cheating on her with a personality core. In "You Wouldn't Know", the credits song of ''VideoGame/LegoDimensions'', [=GLaDOS=] tries to make Chell jealous, shows resentment over her keeping away, and reminisces over "how much we had". |
| 377 | * Juri Oba and Yuna Kureha from ''VideoGame/MagiaRecordPuellaMagiMadokaMagicaSideStory'' have quite a bit of this. In their debut event Crimson Resolve, it's made clear that Juri's motivation of declaring war on the Torayamachi faction is out of her personal obsession with its leader Yuna, Juri's arch-rival who once took her under the wing after [[DefeatMeansFriendship defeating Juri]]. Hours before the war starts, Juri meets Yuna to tell her to get her faction prepared for the attack, and even [[FriendlyEnemy gives Yuna a thankful hug]]; Juri has always been grateful to Yuna for taking in all of Juri's "flame" - [[ItMakesSenseInContext her ingrained urges]] which build up inside her to a point [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything where she must violently release. Overtime, fighting Yuna becomes the only way to satisfy her.]] There is also this conversation that takes place before their final duel: |
| 378 | -->'''Yuna:''' [chuckling] Juri... [[ItMakesSenseInContext I want you]] [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything to be mine...]]\ |
| 379 | '''Juri:''' [[MakesJustAsMuchSenseInContext [blushing] Ohh...]] Now THAT's exciting! |
| 380 | * ''VideoGame/MetalWolfChaos'': [[BigBad Richard]] makes some ''very'' charged comments towards [[TheHero Michael]] over the course of the game, especially in the final level: |
| 381 | -->'''Richard:''' Chasing 15 million feet after me. Now ''that's'' love! Well, I love you too, Michael! I love you so much... I can't stand it! So much... I WANT TO KILL YOU! ''**StuffBlowingUp**'' |
| 382 | * In the ''VideoGame/{{Shantae}}'' games, [[BigBad Risky Boots]]' attitude towards the eponymous heroine frequently oscillates between despising her and wanting to tumble in bed with her. In ''Pirate's Curse'', there's a scene where Risky traps Shantae in a trap disguised as a bathtub and seems very excited from her dialogue that the trap worked. In the ending of ''Risky's Revenge'', there's a very specifically placed line break so Risky's JustBetweenYouAndMe speech to Shantae comes across as wanting to [[BaitAndSwitch "strip you [...] of your powers".]] According to the developers [[InvokedTrope this was fully intended]]. |
| 383 | * ''Franchise/SilentHill'': |
| 384 | ** Pyramid Head spends most of ''VideoGame/SilentHill2'' stalking James across the town, repeatedly kills the only other person interested in him, and interrupts his rape of another monster twice to pursue James instead. Keep in mind that PH is combined [[YourMindMakesItReal manifestation]] of James' sexual frustration and desire to be punished for [[spoiler:{{Mercy Kill}}ing his wife]]. |
| 385 | ** Claudia's behaviour towards Heather in ''VideoGame/SilentHill3'' seems very much like a StalkerWithACrush on more than a few occasions. |
| 386 | * ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'': [[HotBlooded Knuckles]] and [[ClassyCatBurglar Rouge]], particularly in ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure2''. The two spend the better part of the game at each other's throats, mainly because they both want to restore the Master Emerald after it as broken earlier, albeit for different reasons, noble and selfish respectively. However, in their final confrontation when Rouge was in trouble, Knuckles saved her and the two [[HeldGaze gazed in each other's eyes while holding hands]] for a good few seconds before Rouge pulled away in disgust. Knuckles calls her out on her ungrateful attitude, but then Rouge teases that he just wanted to hold her hand. Rouge decides to just give up her pieces and leaves it at that, Knuckles apologizes if he hurt her in their previous fight and Rouge gives a small smile in his direction before departing. |
| 387 | * In ''Franchise/{{Tekken}}'', there's quite a bit of this between Emilie "Lili" de Rochefort and her rival Asuka Kazama. Mostly (if not entirely) on Lili's end, though. |
| 388 | * {{Subverted|Trope}} in ''VideoGame/WolfensteinIITheNewColossus''. Nazi EvilMatriarch Frau Engel has a lot of suggestive dialogue with the Polish/Jewish all-American ActionHero B.J Blazkowicz, but she is doing it purely to mess with him. [[spoiler:She doesn't even stop when she has him literally on a chopping block.]] |
| 389 | [[/folder]] |
| 390 | |
| 391 | [[folder:Web Animation]] |
| 392 | * ''WebAnimation/{{Mappy}}'': Goro tells his former/current enemy Mappy he thinks they belong together and has let it slip more than once that he's fond of him. |
| 393 | -->'''Goro:''' I've committed a crime, Mappy, and I'm hiring you to try and catch me.\ |
| 394 | '''Mappy:''' ...What crime?\ |
| 395 | '''Goro:''' Hahahahaha! [[BreathlessNonSequitur I'm not going to make it easy on you that's for you to discover if you can but I'm betting that you can't ahahahaha!]] ... ''[quietly]'' [[VictoryIsBoring I miss you.]] |
| 396 | * Tom and Tord from ''WebAnimation/EddsWorld'' are believed to have this by quite a few people. |
| 397 | [[/folder]] |
| 398 | |
| 399 | [[folder:Webcomics]] |
| 400 | * Blackbird and Veloce in ''Webcomic/{{Carciphona}}'' has Blackbird, nominally a murderous assassin out to kill the heroine, come off more often than not as somewhere between a StalkerWithACrush, a {{Yandere}}, and [[WomanScorned a jilted ex]], with a lot of her dialogue being blatantly flirtatious. Notably, when the author [[{{Mundanization}} wrote a spinoff featuring the characters in a realistic modern setting]], she promptly retooled Blackbird and Veloce into outright lovers. |
| 401 | * Kimi's taunting of Candi in chapter 15 of story 1 of the ''Webcomic/CiemWebcomicSeries'' may [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything seem a bit]] like [[Film/ThreeHundred Xerxes trying to demoralize Leonidas]]. |
| 402 | * ''Webcomic/{{Ennead}}'': This is one of the main premises of the manhwa; Seth is technically Horus' mortal enemy, having killed his father and hunted his mother for centuries, but Horus has one-sided feelings for him and would rather serve him instead. |
| 403 | * The page image is from ''Webcomic/HarkAVagrant'', from a [[http://www.harkavagrant.com/index.php?id=327 series of strips]] about a pirate and a British naval officer who get a little ''too'' obsessed with each other. |
| 404 | * The troll concept of "kismesissitude" in ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'' is rooted in this and is a vital part of their reproduction process, [[BizarreAlienReproduction as only couples with deep feelings of love or loathing can reproduce]] (although it's more than ''just'' mutual hate, as there's usually some admiration on some level). [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=6&p=004295 From the troll perspective,]] Jack Noir and the Black Queen have this attitude towards each other, whether they realize it or not. Their [[ItMakesSenseInContext alternate universe selves]] Snowman and Spades Slick also have this relationship, heavily implied throughout their appearances and interactions, which include both [[EyeScream violence]] and flirting. While in Doc Scratch's apartment, Snowman saves Slick's life, and they share an [[https://www.homestuck.com/story/3855 embrace]] and a [[https://www.homestuck.com/story/3857 "hate snog"]], emblazoned with a bloodstained spade (the symbol of kismesissitude.) |
| 405 | ** Karkat is pretty much "the village two wheel device" of kismesissitude, as at one point or another over the course of the comic he hates almost ''everybody'' (including his own past and future selves). However, he eventually canonically winds up with [[spoiler:Dave]] in a sort of "VitriolicBestBuds with benefits" relationship. |
| 406 | * ''Webcomic/LovelyLovecraft'': [[spoiler:Noyes]] claims that he and [[spoiler:Randolph Carter]] "had so much fun together" and describes [[spoiler:Carter]]'s "utterly excited screams". [[WordOfGod The author]] commented in her notes that the double entendre was "TOTALLY intended". |
| 407 | * ''Webcomic/MagickChicks'' has this up the wazoo between [[SmugSuper Faith]], who's Artemis Academy's [[GreyAndGrayMorality morally grey]] StudentCouncilPresident, and Tiffany, who is the school's self-appointed champion of justice. Faith is all for it and has repeatedly said as much, but Tiff still thinks of Faith [[https://pixietrixcomix.com/magick-chicks/clandestine-meeting as her enemy]]. Which is why she's still coming to terms with [[https://pixietrixcomix.com/magick-chicks/omigawd the realization]] that [[https://pixietrixcomix.com/magick-chicks/forces-of-darkness she's attracted to her.]] Unfortunately, the status of their relationship was [[LeftHanging left unresolved]] by the time the comic ended, though it's implied that Tiff is [[MaybeEverAfter open to the possibility]] of it happening. |
| 408 | * ''Webcomic/MenageA3'' has bisexuals Yuki and Sonya, who can't stand each other. Yuki can't deny finding Sonya attractive, though, and Sonya gets pointedly accused of wanting Yuki in one crucial scene. An eventual resolution ... [[SlapSlapKiss doesn't actually remove the enmity]]. By the end of the comic, they're happily in relationships with other characters. |
| 409 | * ''Webcomic/{{Oglaf}}'': Invoked and Deconstructed in ''Punching Above Your Weight''. To give a swordsman-in-training proper motivation, his master instructs him to develop an attraction to his [[HoYay male opponent]] and [[TeachHimAnger find strength]] in [[WomanScorned his rage]] at being a HopelessSuitor. (As per RuleOfFunny [[RuleOfSexy and Sexy]], [[SituationalSexuality he actually succeeds]].) This does backfire, however, when [[CuttingTheKnot the swordsmen just snog in the arena]], [[YouHaveFailedMe to the master's fury]]. |
| 410 | * One ''Webcomic/PrincessPi'' comic ends with Pi [[spoiler:impulsively [[SaveTheVillain saving her greatest enemy, Princess Ip]], from getting flattened by the MonsterOfTheWeek]]. Ip responds by kissing Pi while exclaiming "You do care!". As Pi stands startled and shocked, Ip leaves while exclaiming, "Well, that was embarrassing!" |
| 411 | * ''Webcomic/SluggyFreelance'': In the story "Girls' Night Out", a series of random events leads the main characters to get tangled with a minor, [[AnimalWrongsGroup animal-obsessed]] DiabolicalMastermind called Tadius Greasenherr, and Zoë having to bluff him that she's a fellow criminal boss called Cacamille to save the others. As soon as she's away from his sight, though, she's forced to admit out loud that she finds him ridiculously cute. They ultimately part on hostile terms, but events years later force Zoë to adopt the "Kaka"[[note]]English doesn't seem to be Greasenherr's first language, and he sees nothing funny in calling her that[[/note]] persona again to make a deal with Greasenherr; and even though they end up parting on hostile terms again, she's still affected by his cuteness again, and he's smitten by her coming across as TheChessmaster and MagnificentBastard (and as controlling [[KillerRabbit Bun-bun]]). |
| 412 | -->"My heart is filled with Kaka." |
| 413 | * [[http://xkcd.com/1041/ This strip]] from ''Webcomic/{{xkcd}}'', where a character takes the saying "Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes" a little too far. |
| 414 | * ''WebComic/TheNonAdventuresOfWonderella'': Wonderella and Hitlerella sometimes talk about their being each others' [[ArchEnemy arch-nemeses]] like they're in a relationship. |
| 415 | [[/folder]] |
| 416 | |
| 417 | |
| 418 | [[folder:Web Original]] |
| 419 | * ''WebOriginal/ArknLegacy'': Andras and Marchosias. IV Sparrow and Penthepoet confirms that this was the intention, and that Andras is one of three people that Marchosias cares about in a way that goes beyond "What can this person do for me?" |
| 420 | * ''Website/{{Springhole}}'': Discussed in an article about [[ArchEnemy arch-nemeses]]. It’s noted people tend to assume two enemies being obsessed with each other ''must'' be attracted to each other, and this can lead to romantic subtext being shoehorned into places it doesn’t belong. Syera then offers some suggestions for [[AvertedTrope avoiding this trope]]. Later in the same article, a villain swearing eternal vengeance after the hero messes up their plans once is compared to declaring eternal love for someone on the first date, i.e. not really believable. |
| 421 | [[/folder]] |
| 422 | |
| 423 | [[folder:Web Videos]] |
| 424 | * ''WebAnimation/CampCamp'': Snake's conversation with Neil about romance in "The Lake Lilac Summer Social" has a lot of subtext to it. Especially considering that he and Neil are slow-dancing at the time, at his instigation, without actually needing to. And that he instigated said dance by dragging Neil away by the hand yelling, "Neil, I need you!" |
| 425 | * ''[[WebVideo/ProZD The King Dragon Canon]]'': One of King Dragon's minions tries and fails to hide his crush on an unnamed hero. (Likely Dennis, the PlayerCharacter) |
| 426 | * ''WebVideo/HeroHouse'' implies this between Batman and Bane, if Red Hood is to be believed. |
| 427 | * ''WebVideo/TruthInJournalism'' hints a bit at the HomoeroticSubtext between [[spoiler:ComicBook/SpiderMan and ComicBook/{{Venom}}]]. Nothing explicit is said, but the StalkerShrine Eddie has in his room and the way he gets all flustered when his enemy is brought up couldn’t be more suggestive if they tried. |
| 428 | [[/folder]] |
| 429 | |
| 430 | [[folder:Western Animation]] |
| 431 | * ''WesternAnimation/AdventuresOfSonicTheHedgehog'': In "Best Hedgehog", Sonic marries Robotnik as part of a prank and they're never technically shown getting a divorce. Sonic seals the deal with a big, sloppy kiss. In a later episode, "Sonic's Running", Sonic disguises himself as an attractive blonde woman and briefly seduces Robotnik to give his robot wife the impression that he was seeing another woman. |
| 432 | * ''WesternAnimation/TheAmazingWorldOfGumball'': In "[[Recap/TheAmazingWorldOfGumballS5E25TheEx The Ex]]", Gumball's ArchEnemy Rob deciding instead to be Banana Joe's nemesis is treated like a breakup. Gumball takes it badly and tries to win back Rob's enmity. Gumball even tries ''dressing up like a banana'' and pleading that "[he] can change!" Gumball's girlfriend Penny finds the whole situation ridiculous. |
| 433 | * In the ''WesternAnimation/AtomicPuppet'' episode "Truce or Consequences", Commander Cavalier receives a bouquet of flowers from Professor Tite-Gripp as part of a magic trick Tite-Gripp was performing. Cavalier holds the flowers to his chest and nestles up on Tite-Gripp's arm in response to the gift. |
| 434 | * ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'': Batman and Poison Ivy's encounters are (almost) always sexually charged to some degree, given that she's a FemmeFatale who loves to [[TheTease playfully toy]] with her male victims. Her [[Recap/BatmanTheAnimatedSeriesE5PrettyPoison debut episode]] alone sees her treat a [[VineTentacles flytrap entangled]] Batman, who'd intruded into her greenhouse lair, like a gentleman caller she's all too happy to steal [[KissOfDeath a kiss]] from, even seductively labeling their time together as [[CaptiveDate "a late night rendezvous."]] Later on in the episode [[Recap/TheAdventuresOfBatmanAndRobinE5HouseAndGarden "House & Garden"]] Pamela mentioning that in the past they've had an "intense relationship" is hard not to see from a romantic angle. Truthfully though the flirtation is usually quite one sided, save for the (possibly canon) Sega CD game cutscenes where Batman, sporting an enthusiastic grin, refers to Ivy as Violet and Lilly's "pretty boss." |
| 435 | * ''WesternAnimation/Ben10Omniverse'': Much to Rook's horror, he finds himself attracted to Celes Vreedle. The Vreedle family are space redneck criminals, and Rook doesn't like them because Octagon and Rhomboid blew up the Plumber's Academy and delayed his final exam, which is why he questions how he could be attracted to his "sworn enemy". For her part, Celes enjoying how the straight-laced Rook ends up falling apart whenever she flirts with him. |
| 436 | * ''WesternAnimation/CodenameKidsNextDoor'': |
| 437 | ** Numbuh Five and her former candy hunting partner Heinrich Von Marzipan. Many of their interactions come off like ones between ex-romantic partners, not to mention their habit of calling one another by special nicknames (Liebchen and Heiny, respectively). [[spoiler:Not to mention their making up after Numbuh Five managed to free [[HoYay Henrietta]] from being cursed to be a boy.]] |
| 438 | --->'''Numbuh Five:''' Heinrich, what happened to you? [[OneWingedAngel You've become a monster!]]\ |
| 439 | '''Heinrich:''' Ooh, [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything you noticed.]] |
| 440 | ** Numbuh One and his ArchEnemy [[BrokenAce Chad Dickson]] (the former Number Two Seventy-Four). Notably, Chad is the only character to call Numbuh One "Nigey" besides Lizzie, ''Nigel's girlfriend'' (albeit, it's used mockingly). "Operation: T.R.E.A.T.Y." in particular really ratchets it up a notch, showing the beginning of Nigel and Chad's friendship ([[HoYay including Nigel's clear admiration for the dashing and heroic Numbuh Two Seventy-Four]]) and their turbulent relationship in the present, making them come off as a pair of bitter exes still smarting over a bad breakup. |
| 441 | * In ''WesternAnimation/{{Grossology}}'', we have Abby and Chester/Kid Rot. There are hints in the latter's debut episode that he and Abby have a thing for each other. It only becomes more obvious when Chester becomes Kid Rot permanently, which is when he starts obsessing over her. Abby, meanwhile, still likes Chester, but it's shown that she prefers him to Kid Rot, making the whole “foe yay” thing on her side a bit ambiguous. |
| 442 | * Milked for all it's worth in an episode of ''WesternAnimation/HarleyQuinn2019'', where ComicBook/{{Robin}} (Damian Wayne) wants Harley Quinn to be his nemesis. Harley, in the meantime, also wants a nemesis, but would rather have someone like ComicBook/{{Batman}} than a literal 12-year-old kid. At the end of the episode, Bruce tries to comfort his son by saying that [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything he too was a late bloomer who didn't get his nemesis until his late 20s, and that it's important not to rush into these things]]. [[LampshadeHanging Damian then asks when he can start having sex, at which point]] [[ScrewThisImOuttaHere Bruce grappling hooks away]]. |
| 443 | * ''WesternAnimation/InsideJob2021'': British spy Rafe Masters and his nemesis Dr. Skullfinger from the episode "[[Recap/InsideJobS1E7GhostProtocol Ghost Protocol]]" take this to the extreme (to the point that it might not count as subtext). If Rafe and Skullfinger's loaded, innuendo-filled dialogue when they fight wasn't enough, at the end of the episode when Rafe is strapped to a table and Skullfinger talks about lasering his balls off, Rafe's response is an enthusiastic "And then?" It is at that point the gang sans Andre leave out of fear for what Rafe and Skullfinger are about to start doing. |
| 444 | * Most of the male cast in ''WesternAnimation/LoonaticsUnleashed'' (and [[HomoeroticSubtext Zadavia]] of all people) agree that TheVamp Black Velvet is attractive. Later on in episode 3 when she kidnaps Tech they both exchange flirtatious insults, afterwards she brainwashes Tech she calls him various pet names. |
| 445 | * ''WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes'': Bugs shows some degree of this with most of his antagonists. |
| 446 | ** Elmer is ''always'' smitten by Bugs' cross-dressing antics. It says something when at least two cartoons end with Bugs ''marrying'' Elmer. The icing on the cake is that Bugs doesn't seem to mind at all to kiss him or be held by him, in fact, he seems to ''enjoy'' it. Then again, he is a savvy, [[KarmicTrickster iconic trickster]] to boot… |
| 447 | ** The usual RunningGag in shorts; Bugs DisguisedInDrag, and Elmer falling head over heels for him. What's a little different in ''WesternAnimation/WhatsOperaDoc'' is that the "Return My Love" segment is pretty sappy, cliche, and cute and emotional yet still funny, while all other times Bugs pulled out his drag act it was only PlayedForLaughs. |
| 448 | ** Bugs in "Rabbit's Feet" comes off as shamelessly flirting with Wile E. Coyote with all of the kissing, cuddling and idle chit-chatting he does. |
| 449 | ** There's also Bugs' friendship-slash-rivalry with Daffy. As much as Bugs revels in observing and/or causing Daffy's suffering, the two are frequently shown hanging out together, and in ''Film/LooneyTunesBackInAction'' he's willing to go to great lengths to get Daffy re-"hired" by Warner Brothers. After all, without Daffy, who is he going to play DuckSeasonRabbitSeason with? |
| 450 | ** The ending gag in WesternAnimation/BuckarooBugs has Bugs deliver [[TakeThatKiss a (mocking) kiss to Ryder]], says "Good night, sweet prince!" and blow out the candle. |
| 451 | * ''WesternAnimation/MarvelRisingInitiation'': Ghost Spider and Patriot's banter while he's trying to capture her. |
| 452 | -->'''Ghost Spider:''' Isn't there a Ms. Patriot or something that you'd rather be with? I'm sure there's like a... malt shop, somewhere in Williamsburg.\ |
| 453 | '''Patriot:''' Come on, Ghost Spider. You know you're the only girl for me. |
| 454 | * ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'': |
| 455 | ** "Magic Duel" has [[MilesGloriosus The Great And Powerful Trixie]] outright stating that defeating [[CuteWitch Twilight Sparkle]] became her highest priority after she (indirectly) humiliated her, and after her defeat Twilight focuses all of ''her'' attention into defeating Trixie in a re-match, complete with the gem "I can't stop thinking about Trixie!". |
| 456 | ** Discord has an occasional habit of getting into people's personal space to mess with them. |
| 457 | *** Discord spends "The Return of Harmony" creeping on ''all'' of the main cast, especially Twilight, what with frequently [[NoSenseOfPersonalSpace invading her personal space]], picking her up and hugging her, and at one point he ''strokes her face''. And while he exchanges maybe half a dozen lines with [[BigGood Celestia]] ''all'' of them are said in a playful, flirtatious manner, including "Did you miss me, Celestia? I missed you...". |
| 458 | *** "Keep Calm and Flutter On" has Discord up to his usual tricks, faking affection for Fluttershy so that [[ManipulativeBastard he can convince her to not use her Element against him]]. It's over by the end of the episode though, what with [[spoiler:his HeelFaceTurn.]] |
| 459 | *** [[spoiler:Even when he's reformed,]] Discord inflicts this on Twilight in the Season 4 episode "Three's A Crowd". If anything, it's even ''more'' pronounced than in his first appearance. Special mention goes to the part during Discord's song "Glass of Water" where the two ''dance together'', with Discord holding a rose at one point. |
| 460 | ** This is how the changelings operate, impersonating a loved one then draining the love they're provided by their unsuspecting enemy. Relatedly, much speculation arose around [[spoiler:Shining Armor and Chrysalis]], what with the latter impersonating [[spoiler:Shining Armor's fiancee Cadance]] for who knows how long. |
| 461 | ** Daring Do {{invoke|d}}s it in "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS4E4DaringDont Daring Don't]]". Bonus for [[FanGirl Rainbow Dash]]'s reaction to it. |
| 462 | --->'''Ahuizotl:''' The ring, Daring Do! Give it to me!\ |
| 463 | '''Daring Do:''' Now, Ahuizotl, you know I love you, but I can't give you the ring till I've properly proposed. |
| 464 | ** "Power Ponies" has this with the Mane-iac and the Power Ponies' sidekick Humdrum (played by Spike in the comic world). While she constantly mocks him for being powerless and "useless" to his team, some of her taunts come off as her ''flirting'' with him. When he accidentally helps her evil plans, such as failing to get the Electro-Orb he told her about away from her, she "thanks" him for his help. Later when she uses her Hairspray Ray of Doom to paralyze and capture the Power Ponies, he is the only hero she doesn't use it on, and after teasing him with it briefly and laughing at the idea of using it on him, she quickly [[NoSenseOfPersonalSpace tickles him under the chin with her mane]] while giving him a seductive half-lidded eye look. |
| 465 | * ''WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerb'': Perry the Platypus and Dr. Doofenshmirtz are at the very least the epitome of the FriendlyEnemy, treating their adversity as a job more than any actual effort to harm one another. Doofenshmirtz owns a pair of boxers with Agent P's face on them. In another episode Doofenshmirtz is shown ordering home nemesis dolls (resembling blow up dolls) and receiving "yet another platypus". Then there's the episode "It's About Time", where Doofenshmirtz acquires a new nemesis, which is [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything presented as]] him having an affair, culminating with them on a relationship talk show together. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOfM7WB1ya4 "Yeah, I've got a nemesis..."]]\ |
| 466 | It's also heavily implied that this is the standard relationship for ''all'' nemeses. The aforementioned agent that was thwarting Doofenshmirtz without Perry's knowledge was Peter the Panda, and lo and behold, he too has a nemesis, called Dr. Mystery, who becomes jealous of Doofenshmirtz and proceeds to kidnap and attempt to kill him. Doofenshmirtz learns more of their relationship while in captivity, and finds out, much to his horror, that Mystery doesn't tell Peter his plans or his back stories (a staple of all Perry/Doofenshmirtz confrontations). [[PoorCommunicationKills This is quickly presented as a communication problem]], and Doofenshmirtz finds himself giving Mystery ''relationship advice'', all culminating in Peter appearing to thwart Mystery and save Doofenshmirtz with Perry in tow, the former of whom reacts in ''delight'' and [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything begins asking what Doofenshmirtz gave Peter that he couldn't]] in between getting punched in the face. |
| 467 | * ''WesternAnimation/RickAndMorty'': |
| 468 | ** Rick's rivalry with the President of the United States has a lot of this. When the President officially declares war with Rick and Morty, he orders his cabinet out of the office and then plays sad breakup music. Later, throughout the Thanksgiving special -- as [[ItMakesSenseInContext Rick plots to turn into a turkey for a free presidential pardon and the President plots to stop him]] -- [[StrangeMindsThinkAlike multiple different characters]] recommend that Rick and the President "just fuck and get it over with". |
| 469 | ** The relationship between Rick and his "nemesis", Mr. Nimbus, has deliberate homoerotic undertones that make him comes across as more of a bitter ex-boyfriend than a foe on par with the Joker or Doctor Doom. Rick claims that the reason they haven't fought each other in years is because he's ashamed of Nimbus, but Nimbus counters the real reason is because Nimbus is the only one who really knows how much Rick has fallen as a person, and Rick's expression during Nimbus's speech implies it's the truth. |
| 470 | * ''WesternAnimation/SheRaAndThePrincessesOfPower'': WordOfGod states that Adora and Catra's relationship was deliberately written in this manner, with this trope actually being showrunner Creator/NDStevenson's favorite type of character relationship. Almost every other interaction they have once Adora defects to the Rebellion comes across as heavy flirting, even in the middle of a serious fight. [[spoiler:At the end of the series the two begin a relationship after Catra undergoes a HeelFaceTurn.]] |
| 471 | * ''WesternAnimation/TheSecretShow'': Professor Professor and Doctor Doctor occasionally have this. It doesn't help that they used to be lab partners and that they were in a relationship at one point. A quote from "Return of the Killer Toothbrush": |
| 472 | -->'''Professor Professor:''' I told you before, don't call me baby!\ |
| 473 | '''Doctor Doctor:''' Not ''you'', Professor Professor, my ''beautiful'' creation. |
| 474 | * ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'': Bart and Sideshow Bob to an extent. It gets to a point where Bob can't kill Bart in one episode because he's grown accustomed to his face, literally. |
| 475 | ** The "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS27E5TreehouseOfHorrorXXVI Treehouse of Horror XXVI]]" segment "Wanted: Dead, then Alive" has this in spades, where there is some (possibly romantic) subtext between Bob and Bart (Bob showing his "I ♥ Bart" tattoo on his back, taking Bart's body home after killing him and playing with him [[MummiesAtTheDinnerTable as if he were still alive]], realizing that VictoryIsBoring without Bart around and [[TalkingToTheDead talking to his corpse]]). Bob even decides to revive Bart because it brought him some excitement in his life. |
| 476 | --->'''Bob:''' And now, Bart, let's bring the old ''spark'' back to our special relationship. |
| 477 | ** The "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS18E8TheHawHawedCouple The Haw-Hawed Couple]]" episode from s18e8 is built entirely around this trope. |
| 478 | --->'''Nelson:''' Haw-haw, I touched your heart! |
| 479 | * ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsRebels'': The Seventh Sister likes to flirt with Ezra and Kanan. In the next breath, she will fantasize about cutting them to pieces. The fact that the Seventh Sister and Kanan's [[Creator/SarahMichelleGellar voice]] [[Creator/FreddiePrinzeJr actors]] are married in real life only amplifies it. |
| 480 | * ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'' sets up [[spoiler:Jasper and Lapis Lazuli]] as [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything a metaphor]] for an abusive relationship, with the former coercing the latter into {{fus|ionDance}}ing ("Come on. ''Just say yes.''"), then the latter trapping the both of them [[spoiler:at the bottom of the ocean]], literally holding each other down and both twisted into something much worse. |
| 481 | ** It gets even more blatant every time we see anything to do with [[spoiler:Malachite and what's going on in her "head".]] "Chille Tid" shows her mindscape and [[spoiler:in it Lapis has physically chained Jasper up, using herself as the anchor.]] "Super Watermelon Island" [[spoiler:shows Jasper expressing admiration for Lapis' endurance and Malachite later exulting about the power of fusion.]] By "Alone At Sea", it can barely even be called subtext: [[spoiler:Lapis admits to ''missing'' Jasper, and Jasper returns and forcibly manhandles Lapis, admits she's been stalking Lapis, accuses her of being a monster, and then gets down on her knees with her hand locked around Lapis' and ''begs'' her to become Malachite with her again, insisting that she's changed and she can take whatever Lapis cares to dish out to her in return for having their toxic dynamic back. InLoveWithYourCarnage indeed...]] |
| 482 | * ''WesternAnimation/StormHawks'' sets up a lot of StarCrossedLovers tropes with Piper and Master Cyclonis, especially in the episode "Best Friends", where they get very close very quickly before Cyclonis' sudden but inevitable betrayal. Then when Piper starts tapping into her DarkMagicalGirl side, Cyclonis starts showing up in her ''dreams''. |
| 483 | * ''Franchise/TomAndJerry'': |
| 484 | ** There's one episode in which Jerry actually kisses Tom. ''On the mouth.'' |
| 485 | ** In one of the earliest episodes of Tom And Jerry, which was a ChristmasEpisode, Jerry stops Tom from chasing him by holding up a mistletoe and making a cute smoochy face at him. Tom then blushes and turns away shyly, only to have Jerry kick him in the rear. |
| 486 | ** Not to mention that whenever one of them (usually Tom) finds a girl, the other seems to get really jealous that they stop paying attention to ''them'' (most blatant when Jerry sees Tom with a new girl after failing to get a reaction out of Tom, and his [[GoodAngelBadAngel evil angel]] appears saying "You and him got a sweet thing going on! You gonna let some dame get in the way of that?" before helping Jerry to break them up). |
| 487 | ** And then there's the end of ''WesternAnimation/HeavenlyPuss'', when Tom [[spoiler:(happy that he's still alive and he just had a bad dream)]] hugs and kisses a confused Jerry. |
| 488 | * ''WesternAnimation/TronUprising'': Beck/Paige. Paige is a Type IV AntiVillain (not evil, but fighting for the wrong side, [[spoiler:Tessler killed her friends, framed the Isos for it, and [[MagnificentBastard made it look like he saved her life]] so he could have her as a [[TheDragon dragon]]]]). Beck? Well, he's trying to start a revolt to overthrow her boss. |
| 489 | * ''WesternAnimation/TheVentureBros'': The Monarch seems to think he and Dr. Venture have a special relationship. Rusty Venture is the person he hates most, the only one he wants as an ArchEnemy. This is completely one-sided, as Rusty would prefer to be left alone. |
| 490 | ** This is demonstrated when The Monarch loses Arch-Enemy status with Venture and [[PunchClockVillain is assigned]] to "arch" Dr. Dugong instead. He has clearly StoppedCaring and cannot put any energy or passion into attacking Dugong. He complains that he would rather attack Dr. Venture, and exults in how his hatred for Venture feels so natural and authentic. |
| 491 | --->'''The Monarch:''' ''[sighs]'' I can't do this.\ |
| 492 | '''Dr. Mrs. The Monarch:''' Oh, you were so close, sweetie. Just pretend he's Dr. Venture.\ |
| 493 | '''The Monarch:''' ''[murderous glare]'' ...Give me that gun. ''[advances on Dugong]'' You abandoned me! YOU ABANDONED MY HATRED! |
| 494 | ** This is retroactively {{subverted|Trope}} by the revelations of Season 7. [[spoiler:The Monarch was right: they do have a special relationship. He and Rusty are half-brothers. In this light, their animosity seems like SiblingRivalry]]. |
| 495 | * PlayedForLaughs in the ''WesternAnimation/WanderOverYonder'' episode "The Big Day" with Wander convincing Hater, who's about to destroy him and his sidekick Sylvia on the spot, to [[ComplexityAddiction plan his execution so extensively]] that it [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything starts to blatantly resemble a wedding]], complete with Hater's second-in-command acting like a jealous "other woman". |
| 496 | [[/folder]] |
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