[[quoteright:263:[[HarkAVagrant http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/harkavagrantnemesis_7158.jpg]]]]

->''"Venom... I've been all over this city looking for you! You never call, you never write... [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything It's like I'm the only one interested in making this relationship work...]]"''
-->-- ''SpiderManWebOfShadows''

The implications of sexual tension between [[ArchEnemy arch-enemies]].

Just as HoYay is about the paradoxical situation of implying romance where even the characters' natural 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''.

This trope is much more likely to come into play if one is TheRival and TheOnlyOneAllowedToDefeatYou, or a RivalTurnedEvil. If [[EnemyMine enemies have to work together]], it can give the impression that [[DoubleEntendre adversity makes strange bedfellows]]. Since most heroes and their villains tend to be the same sex, this results in most examples of Foe Yay overlapping with HoYay, but opposite-sex foes qualify too. This trope is also very likely to occur if the in-series explanation for the two characters' obsession with each other is that they used to be close friends but had a major, evil-related falling out. See the ''FoeYay/DoctorWho'' page and the ''{{Smallville}}'' entries on the FoeYay/LiveActionTV page.

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 crush.]] TermsOfEndangerment often feature in many FoeRomanceSubtext exchanges.

{{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. Watch out for the TakeThatKiss, often a FoeRomanceSubtext marker.

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, and InLoveWithYourCarnage. A major conclusion to {{Subtext}}. See also DestructoNookie, when they actually do go the whole nine yards.

'''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 shippers diet). Please move non-objective examples to that page. Oh, and be careful: some of the "examples" on here may require BrainBleach.

Not to be confused with FauxYay.

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!!Examples:

[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder: Comic Books]]
* TheJoker often makes comments toward 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 ''ArkhamAsylumASeriousHouseOnSeriousEarth'' he actually ''slaps Batman's ass''.
* 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.
[[/folder]]

[[folder: Film]]
* Bond/Le Chiffre from ''Film/CasinoRoyale'' (2006). When your naked torture scene begins with the villain eyeing Bond up and saying "You've taken good care of your body"... This is actually more explicit in the novel where Le Chiffre addresses Bond as "dear boy" during the scene and of course, is the fact that Fleming based him on the bisexual Alastair Crowley. It's also worth noting that the idea of Le Chiffre [[TheBeard having a girlfriend]] is movie-only (the original liked to patronize the string of brothels that he owned).
** ''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?"
** Craig's Bond is not the first to have subtext with the villain -- there was an amount of homoeroticism between Bond and [[spoiler: Alec]] in ''Film/GoldenEye''.
--> '''[[spoiler:Alec]]:''' "James and I used to share everything...''absolutely everything''"
* {{Batman}} and 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 the hell out of him]]. Of course, this particular bit of subtext goes back a long way, and has become more or less canon in the comics.
* While Xerxes, as portrayed in ''[[ThreeHundred 300]]'', 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. UnfortunateImplications ahoy!
* Roxy/Velma from 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.
* ''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 AndrewRobinson [[ThrowItIn ad-libbed that line]], which made the crew laugh. One of many allusions to Scorpio's stereotypical "gayness". Look at the hair, [[SissyVillain the whiny, murderous hissy fits]], and, when Callahan stabs him in the leg, hear the strangled, limp "uuuuuuuugh" he emits, as opposed to a full-throated "AAAAAARGH!"
* There is a strong albeit disturbed vibe from Hannibal Lector towards Will Graham in ''Film/RedDragon''.
-->''Clever boy. I think I'll eat your heart.''
* In ''Film/{{Scanners}} 2'', TheDragon Peter Drak makes a point of repeatedly referring to protagonist David Kellum as a "pretty boy", "Davie", and commenting on his "pretty eyes".
* ''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.
* Seymour and [[AttackOfThe50FootWhatever Audrey II]] in ''Film/LittleShopOfHorrors.'' In its first VillainSong, 'Feed Me', Audrey II (who is named after the woman Seymour 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 its roots up Seymour's shirt, and forces Seymour into a chair before bringing him uncomfortably close to his face. Audrey later [[GettingCrapPastTheRadar pulls Seymour's pants down,]] and lastly, it [[GroinAttack punches him in the scrotum]]. And also in his song [[VillainSong Mean Green Mother From Outerspace]], in a brief part Audrey says: "I got garden style, major moves, [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything nasty thoughts, and I'm using them."]]. Though being a plant, well....[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLO7IxKwruc&feature=related]].
* ''Film/XMenFirstClass'': Erik with Shaw, and later with Charles.
** In the original ''[[Film/{{X-Men}} X-Men Trilogy]]'' IanMcKellen as Magneto invoked this trope.
* Deliberately inferred in the original ''TheHitcher'', to the point where it creeps out the cops to watch the lead characters interact in the interrogation room.
[[/folder]]

[[folder: Music]]
* 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 even more clear.
--> Could it be that you and me
--> Are always meant to be together
--> Promise me you'll let me be
--> The one, the best of your arch enemies
* Music/TheMegas, a ''VideoGame/MegaMan'' fan band, have the song "Blue Like You" about Flash Man feeling this for Mega Man.
[[/folder]]

[[folder: Live Action TV]]
* Spike to ''Series/{{Angel}}'', in the latter's titular show.
* ''{{Sherlock}}'': Primary antagonist [[CampStraight Jim Moriarty]] loves flirting with Sherlock, even pretending to be gay and giving him his number in one episode.
* ''DoctorWho'': The Doctor sobbing over the Master's body in "[[Recap/DoctorWhoNSS3E13LastOfTheTimeLords Last of the Time Lords]]" and pleadingly telling him "You could be beautiful" in "[[Recap/DoctorWhoNSS4E17E18TheEndOfTime The End of Time]]". And don't even ''start'' on "WebAnimation/ScreamOfTheShalka" (although the Master isn't a foe any more)...
[[/folder]]

[[folder: Radio]]
* 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.
--> '''Ripely:''' Oh, look. It's your boyfriend.
[[/folder]]

[[folder: Web Comics]]
* ''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"[[hottip:*:English doesn't seem to be Greasenherr's first language, and he sees nothing funny in calling her that]] 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 a {{Chessmaster}} and MagnificentBastard (and as controlling [[KillerRabbit Bun-bun]]).
--> "My heart is filled with Kaka."
* The page image is from ''Webcomic/HarkAVagrant'', in a strip about a pirate and a British naval officer who get a little ''too'' obsessed with each other.
* ''{{Oglaf}}'': Invoked and Deconstructed in ''Punching Above Your Weight''. To give a swordsman-in-training proper motivation, his master instructs his to [[ConverseError 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]].
* The troll concept of "kismesissitude" in ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'' is rooted in this, and is actually a vital part of their reproduction process.
* 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!"]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder: Video Games]]
* ''VideoGame/{{Dota 2}}'' exemplifies this on, 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:
-->'''Kunkka:''' I never tire of hearing my name on your lips.
-->'''Kunkka:''' Ah, nobody hated me like Tidehunter. He made me feel appreciated.
-->'''Kunkka:''' Ah, Tidehunter, you cared enough to hate me. You can't buy that sort of love.
* ''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]]. (The Watcher being voiced by Creator/MarkHamill doesn't help, [[TheJoker considering]]...)
[[/folder]]

[[folder: Western Animation]]
* ''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.
[[/folder]]

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