History Main / LivingEmotionalCrutch

* ''WebVideo/LifeSMP'': When everyone leaves Pearl in ''Double Life'', including her soulmate who chose to defy the RedStringOfFate gimmick of the season, Tilly, her CanineCompanion, is the only one who is there for her. [[spoiler:When Impulse burns Tilly in lava in the final battle, Pearl [[RoaringRampageOfRevenge goes berserk]] and almost effortlessly kills Impulse, Bdubs, Cleo, and Martyn with an axe and her army of dogs.]]

* ''WebVideo/DreamSMP'': During the Exile arc, [[NiceGuy Ranboo]] was one of the few people to have consistently sought out [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold Tommy's]] company regardless of distance or circumstance, even interacting with him through letters when he wasn't online. Ranboo also tried to combat [[BigBad Dream's]] narrative of manipulation over Tommy, insisting that [[HeterosexualLifePartners Tubbo]] still cared about him[[note]]including emphasizing that Tubbo didn't burn his "Your Tommy" compass like Dream implied -- in actuality, he always kept it in his off-hand and lost it to a poorly-timed charged creeper because of that[[/note]] and telling Tommy that he never received an invite to the beach party. This parallels Wilbur and Tommy's dynamic during their time in Pogtopia, with Ranboo acting as the voice of reason trying to stop Tommy from harming himself or others.
** The two grew apart after the Doomsday War, but after [[spoiler:Tommy's resurrection]], they are very slowly mending their friendship. Ranboo is very willing to offer Tommy support and is very patient with the other teen -- understanding Tommy's lashing out is coming from [[TraumaCongaLine all the terrible experiences he's recently undergone]]. Tommy seems appreciative of this, and despite his [[IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy initial]] [[CrazyJealousGuy hostility]] towards Ranboo for marrying Tubbo, he's said that he trusts Ranboo a lot, and considers him one of his best friends.

---> '''Guy:''' Come on, babe. Give me a shot. I need this— out there...It's no easy. I need a reason to keep it together.\\

* ''WebVideo/LifeSMP'': When everyone leaves Pearl in ''Double Life'', including her soulmate who chose to ScrewDestiny, Tilly, her CanineCompanion, is the only one who is there for her. [[spoiler:When Impulse burns Tilly in lava in the final battle, Pearl [[RoaringRampageOfRevenge goes berserk]] and almost effortlessly kills Impulse, Bdubs, Cleo, and Martyn with an axe and her army of dogs.]]

* ''LetsPlay/LifeSMP'': When everyone leaves Pearl in ''Double Life'', including her soulmate who chose to ScrewDestiny, Tilly, her CanineCompanion, is the only one who is there for her. [[spoiler:When Impulse burns Tilly in lava in the final battle, Pearl [[RoaringRampageOfRevenge goes berserk]] and almost effortlessly kills Impulse, Bdubs, Cleo, and Martyn with an axe and her army of dogs.]]

** Neo had a very isolated upbringing due to being mute. She's introduced in Volume 2 as Roman's partner-in-crime, but it's later revealed that he was also her OnlyFriend; she's had an isolated existence because of her muteness, and Roman was the first person who really understood her and allowed her to express herself in her own way. [[spoiler:After Roman's death in Volume 3, Neo disappears to train, returning in Volume 6 hell-bent on revenge. Although she initially goes after Cinder, Cinder convinces her to blame Ruby, who was fighting Roman at the time he died.]]

* ''ComicBook/{{The Internship}}'': [[spoiler:At the conclusion of Volume 3, Cooper admits to River that Andy became this for him, saying that he’s the only reason why Coop hasn’t just put a gun to his head to escape his misery. However, it’s {{Deconstructed}} in Cooper acknowledges that this ''isn’t'' healthy, neither for him nor for Andy. Coop wants a place of his own partially because he feels he owes Andy for supporting him for so long despite his BS, but also because he wants to outgrow his dependence on him.]]

* ''ComicBook/{{The Internship}}'':[[spoiler:At the conclusion of Volume 3, Cooper admits to River that Andy became this for him, saying that he’s the only reason why Coop hasn’t just put a gun to his head to escape his misery. However, it’s {{Deconstructed}} in Cooper acknowledges that this ''isn’t'' healthy, neither for him nor for Andy. Coop wants a place of his own partially because he feels he owes Andy for supporting him for so long despite his BS, but also because he wants to outgrow his dependence on him.]]

* ''ComicBooks/{{The Internship}}'':[[spoiler:At the conclusion of Volume 3, Cooper admits to River that Andy became this for him, saying that he’s the only reason why Coop hasn’t just put a gun to his head to escape his misery. However, it’s {{Deconstructed}} in Cooper acknowledges that this ''isn’t'' healthy, neither for him nor for Andy. Coop wants a place of his own partially because he feels he owes Andy for supporting him for so long despite his BS, but also because he wants to outgrow his dependence on him.]]

* ''ComicBooks/{{TheInternship}}'':
[[spoiler: At the conclusion of Volume 3, Cooper admits to River that Andy became this for him, saying that he’s the only reason why Coop hasn’t just put a gun to his head to escape his misery. However, it’s {{Deconstructed}} in Cooper acknowledges that this ''isn’t'' healthy, neither for him nor for Andy. Coop wants a place of his own partially because he feels he owes Andy for supporting him for so long despite his BS, but also because he wants to outgrow his dependence on him.]]

* ''Webcomic/{{Hooky}}'': Although Dani and Dorian develop strong friendships and crushes on other characters, they are still the closest to each other, first and foremost. Dani [[spoiler:even undergoes SanitySlippage and ends up as {{TheOphelia an Ophelia}} after she thinks she sees Dorian die.]]

* In ''Film/{{Adam}}'', [[{{Tsundere}} Beth Buchwald]] tries to become one of these and use ThePowerOfLove to help poor Adam be just like AllOfTheOtherReindeer. [[spoiler:[[UsefulNotes/AspergerSyndrome It doesn't work]].]]

This person, let's call her Alice,[[note]]though gender is irrelevant to this trope[[/note]] provides a troubled character, let's call him Bob, with the [[ThePowerOfLove emotional]], [[ThePowerOfTrust psychological]], and/or [[ThePowerOfFriendship moral support]] to function. Sometimes to function ''[[CloudcuckoolandersMinder at all]]''. She might be [[FriendlessBackground his first]] [[TrueCompanions good friend]], a LoveInterest, a psychiatrist/priest [[TheConfidant Confidant]], or a full-blown [[TheCaretaker Caretaker]] to Bob, serving as a MoralityChain or KidWithTheLeash to rein in Bob's darker tendencies, deliver pep talks and administer a CooldownHug.

This person, let's call her Alice[[note]]though gender is irrelevant to this trope[[/note]], provides a troubled character, let's call him Bob, with the [[ThePowerOfLove emotional]], [[ThePowerOfTrust psychological]], and/or [[ThePowerOfFriendship moral support]] to function. Sometimes to function ''[[CloudcuckoolandersMinder at all]]''. She might be [[FriendlessBackground his first]] [[TrueCompanions good friend]], a LoveInterest, a psychiatrist/priest [[TheConfidant Confidant]], or a full-blown [[TheCaretaker Caretaker]] to Bob, serving as a MoralityChain or KidWithTheLeash to rein in Bob's darker tendencies, deliver pep talks and administer a CooldownHug.

This trope has some basis in RealLife. People like Bob might be diagnosed with [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dependent_personality_disorder dependent personality disorder]] or, if they're [[ShrinkingViolet cripplingly shy around most others]], [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avoidant_personality_disorder avoidant personality disorder]].

* ''Webcomic/{{Hooky}}'': Although Dani and Dorian develop strong friendships and crushes on other characters, they are still the closest to each other, first and foremost. Dani [[spoiler: even undergoes SanitySlippage and ends up as {{TheOphelia an Ophelia}} after she thinks she sees Dorian die.]]

* ''LetsPlay/DreamSMP'': During the Exile arc, [[NiceGuy Ranboo]] was one of the few people to have consistently sought out [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold Tommy's]] company regardless of distance or circumstance, even interacting with him through letters when he wasn't online. Ranboo also tried to combat [[BigBad Dream's]] narrative of manipulation over Tommy, insisting that [[HeterosexualLifePartners Tubbo]] still cared about him[[note]]including emphasizing that Tubbo didn't burn his "Your Tommy" compass like Dream implied -- in actuality, he always kept it in his off-hand and lost it to a poorly-timed charged creeper because of that[[/note]] and telling Tommy that he never received an invite to the beach party. This parallels Wilbur and Tommy's dynamic during their time in Pogtopia, with Ranboo acting as the voice of reason trying to stop Tommy from harming himself or others.

* ''LetsPlay/LifeSMP'': When everyone leaves Pearl in Double Life, including her soulmate who chose to ScrewDestiny, Tilly, her CanineCompanion, is the only one who is there for her. [[spoiler:When Impulse burns Tilly in lava in the final battle, Pearl [[RoaringRampageOfRevenge goes berserk]] and almost effortlessly kills Impulse, Bdubs, Cleo, and Martyn with an axe and her army of dogs.]]

* In ''Anime/{{Tekkonkinkreet}}'', White and Black have been living together for years. When they are forcibly separated, White starts filling out his NightmareFuelColoringBook ([[RoomFullOfCrazy and the walls]]) and Black makes a White puppet and talks to it like it was White. Then [[spoiler:the mooks shoot the puppet, which triggers Black's DespairEventHorizon and releases the SuperpoweredEvilSide]].

* Music/TaylorSwift's "Forever Winter", off the rerecorded version of ''Music/Red2012'', is about the narrator's close friend, who reveals he's suffering from suicidal depression. The narrator, distraught at how much pain her friend is in, [[PleaseDontLeaveMe begs him to hang on]], and essentially offers to be this for him, telling him she'll always love him and promising to "be summer sun for [him] forever." She also implies he might be this to her, to a less dire extent, as she says without him, she'd be "[[TitleDrop forever winter]]."

%%Administrivia/ZeroContextExample* Rick Jones to the ComicBook/IncredibleHulk. Also Betty Banner and (on a good day) Doc Samson.

[[FriendlyTarget This is why]] [[RuleOfDrama she will usually get]] [[DamselInDistress kidnapped]] [[SacrificialLion or killed]]. Bob's reaction will be one of two extremes: a psychotic UnstoppableRage on par with [[ComicBook/IncredibleHulk The Hulk]] in the throes of [[GoingColdTurkey withdrawal from Gamma-Cocaine]], or [[EmptyShell comatose gibbering]]; see also WentCrazyWhenTheyLeft. The middle road is a TranquilFury of deadly determination.

This person, let's call her Alice,[[note]]though gender is irrelevant to this trope[[/note]] provides a troubled character, let's call him Bob, with the [[ThePowerOfLove emotional]], [[ThePowerOfTrust psychological]], and/or [[ThePowerOfFriendship moral support]] to function. Sometimes to function ''[[CloudcuckoolandersMinder at all]]''. She might be [[FriendlessBackground his first]] [[TrueCompanions good friend]], a LoveInterest, a psychiatrist/priest [[TheConfidant Confidant]], or a full-blown [[TheCaretaker Caretaker]] to Bob, serving as a MoralityChain or KidWithTheLeash to rein in Bob's darker tendencies, deliver pep talks and administer a CooldownHug.

* Dan becomes this to Michael in ''WebVideo/AgentsOfCracked.'' According to Michael, if Dan left, "I'd get really sad, and then ''I'd die.'' Is that what you want?!"

-->'''Guy:''' Come on, babe. Give me a shot. I need this— out there...It's no easy. I need a reason to keep it together.\\

* In ''Film/TheMagnificentSeven2016'', the OddFriendship between ex-Confederate sharpshooter Goodnight Robicheaux and Asian KnifeNut Billy Rocks turns out to be based on this, with Goodnight (who suffers from severe PTSD) flat out stating that Billy "keeps me on the level." Later in the movie, it turns out that it goes both ways, as Billy is driven to drink when [[spoiler:Goodnight abandons town.]]

* The narrator of Music/{{Red}}'s "Pieces.". As it is a GodIsLoveSong, God is his crutch.

** Salem was imprisoned in a tower from birth by a cruel father, only to be rescued by the WorldsBestWarrior, who was the first person to ever truly care about her as an individual. His death sends her into a [[LoveMakesYouEvil downward spiral]] that leads to her becoming the BigBad. [[spoiler:Abandoned and [[BarredFromTheAfterlife cursed]] with CompleteImmortality by the gods for trying to resurrect [[BigGood Oz]] and then turning humanity against them when they refuse, she reunites with Oz after the God of Light [[ResurrectiveImmortality resurrects him]] to [[TheChosenOne guide humanity towards redemption]]. Upon realising how evil she's become, Oz turns against her; their mortal children [[OffingTheOffspring do not survive]] the ensuing battle. Now they're [[WhoWantsToLiveForever trapped]] in an [[ForeverWar endless cycle of pain]], as she fights to [[SuicidalCosmicTemperTantrum end the world and her immortality]], and he fights to save the world and life itself.]]

** After Taiyang's SecondLove Summer died on a mission, he shut down for a while. Even after he recovered somewhat, he still refuses to go back into the field.
** Neo is introduced as Roman's partner-in-crime but it's later revealed that their relationship is not just on a professional level. Roman is Neo's OnlyFriend and [[EvenEvilHasLovedOnes her emotional crutch]]. After [[spoiler:Roman's death in volume 3]], Neo becomes dead-set on [[spoiler:AvengingTheVillain]]. Her ImageSong is even called "One Thing", claiming that Roman was the only good thing in her life.
** As revealed in "The Lost Fable", [[spoiler:Ozpin in his original incarnation]] was this to [[spoiler:Salem]]. He was the first person to truly care for her and saved her from a lifetime of isolation, and his death drove her to increasingly extreme measures to try and get him back, [[spoiler:resulting in the gods cursing her with immortality, wiping out the first iteration of humanity, and abandoning Remnant]]. When he did come back, however, the ordeals she'd been through had corrupted her too heavily, and when he tried to leave her [[{{Yandere}} she killed him and their children]]. [[spoiler:And thus began the SecretWar that has lasted for millennia, with Salem trying to destroy Remnant to free herself from her curse and Ozpin trying to stop her, locked in eternal stalemate with any love they once had transformed into bitterness and hate]].