Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Added DiffLines:
Motives vary widely and may characterize in more detail than the heroism alone. Many of them are not mutually exclusive:
* He's [[HumbleHero genuinely modest]] (in which case blushing is likely). Likely for TheCape.
* It's AllAPartOfTheJob and the constant praise is very wearying. May be phrased as "ItsWhatIDo."
* He's embarrassed to receive all the credit when others contributed. He may try to share; success is unlikely, but it is often appreciated. Again likely for TheCape. Also for AFatherToHisMen.
* The person he rescued was a {{True Companion|s}} or another hero. The full phrase is likely to be "Think nothing of it. YouWouldDoTheSameForMe."
* The rescuer and the rescued are in the middle of doing something, which still needs to be done and must get on with it; there is no time for gratitude. "Thank me later" may be said. Especially if the rescue will be only temporary if they don't succeed.
* The rescued had, by previous actions, put the rescuer deeply in his debt. Gratitude for something which isn't even reciprocal return is embarrassing.
* He [[ItsAllMyFault blames himself]] (correctly or otherwise) for the original problem and felt that he MustMakeAmends; he feels that [[BeAllMySinsRemembered he doesn't deserve their praise because of his past actions]] and gratitude only reminds him of his original guilt.
* His motives were more self-interested than the rescued person seems to think. Will often state such motives. TheCape will often be honest about this, or GoodIsNotNice.
* He felt more fear than anyone realized, and is embarrassed to be hailed for what he thinks is a mere facade of heroism. Likely for the CowardlyLion.
* He did it for a lark, because he lives InHarmsWay, or whatever else he had to do, even if others regard it as dirty, servile, or difficult.
* He's [[IWorkAlone a loner by nature]] or simply [[SociallyAwkwardHero dislikes being the center of attention]]. Likely for the AntiHero or GoodIsNotNice. Prone to be brusque.
** Some characters can manifest this only at times -- such at the end of a problem -- when they are exhausted or stressed out or otherwise completely incapable of social interaction.
* The expressions of gratitude are getting out of hand, with grateful crowds and public celebrations chipping away at the hero's [[TripleShifter limited free time]], and he just wants or needs to do something else.
* His reputation for misanthropy is valuable to him. He is prone to ask that no one spread the news. Likely for HiddenHeartOfGold.
* His heroic action violated some ObstructiveCodeOfConduct, and gratitude will only get him in trouble.
* If he becomes FamedInStory, people will keep trying to drag him away from HomeSweetHome.
* It looked harder than it was, or the gratitude is disproportionate, and he's embarrassed. Perhaps he genuinely doesn't understand why heroic acts that come so easily to him [[IThoughtEveryoneCouldDoThat seem so impressive to others]]. An honest FakeUltimateHero or AccidentalHero is likely here, as is TheCape.
* He wanted to save the person, but won't admit it; this is the subtrope IWasJustPassingThrough. Most likely for a {{Tsundere}}.
* He ''didn't'' want to save the person, but knew he should, or that he needed the other one. May explicitly say that he did for the mission, or his duty, not for the other character personally. This character might be a KnightInSourArmor and is prone to GrudgingThankYou when he's the one saved.
* He's trying to seem modest. Likely a less honest FakeUltimateHero. Also likely to backfire and look like a [[BlaseBoast covert brag]] if the hero's actions were manifestly less than great. Particularly if he tried to disclaim his feat before anyone showed any gratitude for it.
* After an EmbarrassingRescue or the like, he is bitterly rejecting the patently insincere thanks (possibly along with [[ComplainingAboutRescuesTheyDontLike complaints]], knowing that the rescued person will, at best, think nothing of it and more typically will [[UngratefulBastard revenge himself for the embarrassment]]. Which can be any character at all. (Well, except a LoveFreak.)
* Ironically, he can express this in some form or another after it is clear that no one is going to recognize what he did. The purer his heroism, the less bitterly he will do so.
** Comically, he may do so in front of the beneficiaries, which often jolts them into expressing their gratitude.
* The feat was, or involved actions which were, extremely embarrassing or [[DirtyBusiness disreputable]] to the point where the hero [[YourApprovalFillsMeWithShame doesn't want to be associated with it]]. See also MedalOfDishonor.
* He's ComplimentFishing and trying to set up other people to insist that his actions really were great.
* He achieved his heroic feat [[AccidentalHero completely by accident]], or with a darker intention in mind. He is not really the hero everyone thinks he is.
* He knows, or at least believes, that someone else did most of the work and/or had a harder task than him. He feels guilty accepting thanks because he honestly believes that the other party is more worthy of gratitude than he is.
* He simply dislikes the idea of being the subject of hero worship, finding it to be demeaning to the saved party or encouraging [[HoldingOutForAHero dependency]].
* The hero is trying to be stealthy or is in disguise and wants to avoid [[CoverBlowingSuperPower having their cover blown]] by a public display of gratitude.
* Pragmatically speaking, bragging would only make him unlikeable to the public eye.
* The character doesn't want to be held to the high expectations of being labeled a hero, so they try to avoid public acknowledgment.
* There was enough collateral damage, personal failure, or other negative consequences caused in the process that they consider the situation to be an [[PyrrhicVictory overall loss]]. Being praised for their "heroics" after such an event only make the guilt and shame they feel sting more.
* The rescuer is deliberately downplaying their actions because don't want the person they saved to feel guilty or traumatized by any costs or injuries they endured in the process of the rescue.
----
* He's [[HumbleHero genuinely modest]] (in which case blushing is likely). Likely for TheCape.
* It's AllAPartOfTheJob and the constant praise is very wearying. May be phrased as "ItsWhatIDo."
* He's embarrassed to receive all the credit when others contributed. He may try to share; success is unlikely, but it is often appreciated. Again likely for TheCape. Also for AFatherToHisMen.
* The person he rescued was a {{True Companion|s}} or another hero. The full phrase is likely to be "Think nothing of it. YouWouldDoTheSameForMe."
* The rescuer and the rescued are in the middle of doing something, which still needs to be done and must get on with it; there is no time for gratitude. "Thank me later" may be said. Especially if the rescue will be only temporary if they don't succeed.
* The rescued had, by previous actions, put the rescuer deeply in his debt. Gratitude for something which isn't even reciprocal return is embarrassing.
* He [[ItsAllMyFault blames himself]] (correctly or otherwise) for the original problem and felt that he MustMakeAmends; he feels that [[BeAllMySinsRemembered he doesn't deserve their praise because of his past actions]] and gratitude only reminds him of his original guilt.
* His motives were more self-interested than the rescued person seems to think. Will often state such motives. TheCape will often be honest about this, or GoodIsNotNice.
* He felt more fear than anyone realized, and is embarrassed to be hailed for what he thinks is a mere facade of heroism. Likely for the CowardlyLion.
* He did it for a lark, because he lives InHarmsWay, or whatever else he had to do, even if others regard it as dirty, servile, or difficult.
* He's [[IWorkAlone a loner by nature]] or simply [[SociallyAwkwardHero dislikes being the center of attention]]. Likely for the AntiHero or GoodIsNotNice. Prone to be brusque.
** Some characters can manifest this only at times -- such at the end of a problem -- when they are exhausted or stressed out or otherwise completely incapable of social interaction.
* The expressions of gratitude are getting out of hand, with grateful crowds and public celebrations chipping away at the hero's [[TripleShifter limited free time]], and he just wants or needs to do something else.
* His reputation for misanthropy is valuable to him. He is prone to ask that no one spread the news. Likely for HiddenHeartOfGold.
* His heroic action violated some ObstructiveCodeOfConduct, and gratitude will only get him in trouble.
* If he becomes FamedInStory, people will keep trying to drag him away from HomeSweetHome.
* It looked harder than it was, or the gratitude is disproportionate, and he's embarrassed. Perhaps he genuinely doesn't understand why heroic acts that come so easily to him [[IThoughtEveryoneCouldDoThat seem so impressive to others]]. An honest FakeUltimateHero or AccidentalHero is likely here, as is TheCape.
* He wanted to save the person, but won't admit it; this is the subtrope IWasJustPassingThrough. Most likely for a {{Tsundere}}.
* He ''didn't'' want to save the person, but knew he should, or that he needed the other one. May explicitly say that he did for the mission, or his duty, not for the other character personally. This character might be a KnightInSourArmor and is prone to GrudgingThankYou when he's the one saved.
* He's trying to seem modest. Likely a less honest FakeUltimateHero. Also likely to backfire and look like a [[BlaseBoast covert brag]] if the hero's actions were manifestly less than great. Particularly if he tried to disclaim his feat before anyone showed any gratitude for it.
* After an EmbarrassingRescue or the like, he is bitterly rejecting the patently insincere thanks (possibly along with [[ComplainingAboutRescuesTheyDontLike complaints]], knowing that the rescued person will, at best, think nothing of it and more typically will [[UngratefulBastard revenge himself for the embarrassment]]. Which can be any character at all. (Well, except a LoveFreak.)
* Ironically, he can express this in some form or another after it is clear that no one is going to recognize what he did. The purer his heroism, the less bitterly he will do so.
** Comically, he may do so in front of the beneficiaries, which often jolts them into expressing their gratitude.
* The feat was, or involved actions which were, extremely embarrassing or [[DirtyBusiness disreputable]] to the point where the hero [[YourApprovalFillsMeWithShame doesn't want to be associated with it]]. See also MedalOfDishonor.
* He's ComplimentFishing and trying to set up other people to insist that his actions really were great.
* He achieved his heroic feat [[AccidentalHero completely by accident]], or with a darker intention in mind. He is not really the hero everyone thinks he is.
* He knows, or at least believes, that someone else did most of the work and/or had a harder task than him. He feels guilty accepting thanks because he honestly believes that the other party is more worthy of gratitude than he is.
* He simply dislikes the idea of being the subject of hero worship, finding it to be demeaning to the saved party or encouraging [[HoldingOutForAHero dependency]].
* The hero is trying to be stealthy or is in disguise and wants to avoid [[CoverBlowingSuperPower having their cover blown]] by a public display of gratitude.
* Pragmatically speaking, bragging would only make him unlikeable to the public eye.
* The character doesn't want to be held to the high expectations of being labeled a hero, so they try to avoid public acknowledgment.
* There was enough collateral damage, personal failure, or other negative consequences caused in the process that they consider the situation to be an [[PyrrhicVictory overall loss]]. Being praised for their "heroics" after such an event only make the guilt and shame they feel sting more.
* The rescuer is deliberately downplaying their actions because don't want the person they saved to feel guilty or traumatized by any costs or injuries they endured in the process of the rescue.
----
