Line #119 BattleCouple/Literature


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5	%% Zero Context Examples are not allowed and were commented out. Please help to comment them out or provide context. Do not uncomment them until they have sufficient explanation of how the characters fit the trope.
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8	->''It did not seem strange to the cataphracts, to see two generals kissing each other fiercely in the middle of a battle. Not at the time. Later, of course, the episode would be the subject of many ribald jokes and rhymes.''
9	-->-- ''[[Literature/BelisariusSeries In the Heart of Darkness]]''
10	----
11	%%* The trope itself is OlderThanFeudalism:
12	%%** From Creator/{{Homer}}, we have Achilles and Patroclus
13	%%** Creator/{{Virgil}}'s ''Literature/TheAeneid'' later gives us
14	%%*** Nisus/Euryalus
15	%%*** Clytius/Cydon.
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17	* In the ''Literature/AhrimanTrilogy'', this is part of the purpose of the mage/warden relationship. While they aren't explicitly intended to be romantic arrangements, it's universally acknowledged that they often end that way. Simon Bell's parents were mage/warden before they married and had kids.
18	* As shown on the covers of ''Literature/TheAlienSeries'', Kitty and Martini believe that the couple who kicks ass together stay together.
19	* ''Literature/AmeliaPeabody'':
20	** Amelia and her husband Radcliffe Emerson: Egyptologists and incidental detectives. Despite the amount of time they waste going behind each other's backs in misguided attempts to protect each other, the climax of many of the stories has them side by side or back to back. Him with his [[GeniusBruiser 'Herculean Physique']] (Amelia's phrase) and her with... well...
21	--->'''Emerson (after witnessing her first [[UnstoppableRage Rage Blackout]]):''' There is blood on your parasol, Peabody.
22	** Their son Walter "Ramses" Emerson and his wife Nefret are a somewhat milder example, as they prefer sneakier indirect methods. If they do need to resort to direct force, however: watch out. They coordinate well, and the pretty little surgeon has ''no'' compunction about cutting you. Her husband, on the other hand, would prefer to take you alive.
23	* Ellie and Will from Courtney Allison Moulton's ''Angelfire'' series take on demonic armies together.
24	* ''Literature/{{Animorphs}}'' are LaResistance against an alien invasion.
25	** Rachel is a BloodKnight and Tobias is a bird of prey; they become a couple.
26	** Jake is TheLeader and Cassie is [[BewareTheNiceOnes more dangerous than she appears]]; they are frequently teased ''before'' becoming a couple.
27	** Aldrea the Andalite meets Dak Hamee, the Hork Bajir seer during the battle to keep the Hork Bajir homeworld free from the Yeerks. Almost a whole book and several lifestyle-related struggles later, they become a mated pair, give birth to a son, and decades later their descendants form the first members of the free Hork Bajir on Earth.
28	%%* In the third book of ''Literature/TheBartimaeusTrilogy'', Nathaniel and Kitty become this, [[spoiler:almost kissing just before his heroic sacrifice]].
29	* ''Literature/BelisariusSeries''
30	** Bellisarius and Antoninia. ([[HistoricalDomainCharacter They]] did this in [[RealLife]], too) although they are usually in different theaters.
31	** [[spoiler:Rao and Shakuntala.]] India's greatest warrior and the [[WaifFu assassin that he trained]] They get married and [[spoiler:Re-conquer their respective homelands]]
32	** The Theodoran Cohort is made up entirely of Battle Couples - Married pairs are deliberately recruited because none of the women will trust anyone else to get the fuse length right on the very touchy black-powder grenades that their husbands are [[SufferTheSlings sending downrange.]]
33	* In ''Literature/BlackDaggerBrotherhood'' novels, this trope is inverted with Xhex and John, as fighting together causes major problems in their relationship. Though he knows that she's a capable warrior, bonded males are genetically hardwired to protect their mates at any cost, so his instincts keep firing up on the battlefield and putting them both in danger. This pisses her off as she thinks he doesn't respect her skills; they separate for a good long while because of it.
34	* ''Literature/BookOfTheAncestor'': Sisters Kettle and Apple from the convent of Sweet Mercy. Both of them are convent-trained sneaks, fighters and poisoners. While Sister Apple prefers teaching the novices of the covent, she can still kill and disable five pirates in a rush to get to an injured Kettle, and Kettle herself once infiltrates an entire pagode of trained assassines, dispatching dozens among the way, to free an imprisoned novice.
35	* ''Literature/BookOfTheDead2021'': "Century Slayer" Magnin and "Battle Witch" Beory Steelarm are famous throughout the land, possibly the two strongest people in the kingdom, certainly the two who have done the most to keep everyone safe from rift-kin. Everyone is shocked to discover that their son Tyron has acquired the forbidden Necromancer class, and doubly shocked when the magistrates demand that Magnin and Beory ''personally'' hunt him down. The Steelarms don't take kindly to the directive, either; they first completely destroy and level the home, farm, and family tomb of the mayor who delivered the orders, and then go on a destructive rampage that makes their feelings clear to everyone.
36	-->Nobody had ever crossed Tyron before. Maybe now I know why.
37	* ''Literature/TheBrightestShadow'': Logically a common feature in the world of Myros. In the first book, particularly [[spoiler:Veron and Graenin]]: their coordination in battle improves after they become a couple.
38	* ''[[Literature/CarrerasLegions The Amazon Legion]]'' invokes this intentionally with the ''Tercio Gorgidas'', a tercio (roughly equivalent of a regiment) comprised of homosexual male pairs who are married in a special ceremony, with an explicit nod given to the Sacred Band of Thebes (see the [[BattleCouple Real Life section]]).
39	* Literature/TheCampHalfBloodSeries:
40	** ''Literature/PercyJacksonAndTheOlympians'' has [[TheHero Percy]] and [[BadassBookworm Annabeth]]. Percy described them fighting together coming more naturally than talking to or romantic interactions with Annabeth. They continue being this in the sequel series discussed below.
41	** Six of the seven [[DivineParentage demigods]] in ''Literature/TheHeroesOfOlympus'' qualify for this -- Percy and Annabeth (as already mentioned), Frank and Hazel, and Jason and Piper[[note]]although it doesn't last between Jason and Piper[[/note]] are the couples. One exception is Leo, who later meets Calypso (not part of the Seven).
42	* ''Literature/CaptivePrince'': Damen is a WarriorPrince; Laurent is a BadassBookworm. Not only are they a formidable couple on the field in person, but they're also excellent tacticians when commanding armies.
43	* In Creator/SandyMitchell's ''Literature/CiaphasCain'', HERO OF THE IMPERIUM, novels, the mixed-gender Valhallan 597th features several couples. Cain deliberately invokes this trope; relationships in the guard normally aren't allowed but Cain allows it because it improves morale and makes them fight harder. Couples include:
44	** Cain's own liaison with Lady Inquisitor Amberley Vail
45	** A male trooper named Vorhees and a female trooper named Drere in ''Caves of Ice''
46	** A strongly implied lesbian relationship between Sergeant Grifen and trooper Mari Magot, also in ''Caves of Ice''.
47	** [[ColonelBadass Colonel Kasteen]] and [[MajorlyAwesome Major Broklaw]], the commander and NumberTwo of the 597th respectively are also implied. Nothing romantic is ever confirmed in-story, but Broklaw refers to Kasteen by her given name, implying they're on FirstNameBasis -- which is highly unusual for a relationship that's merely commander-subordinate.
48	* ''Literature/TheChroniclesOfDorsa'': Tasia and Joslyn (who were already lovers) become this after they reunite, fighting alongside each other against their enemies. Joslyn trained Tasia as well.
49	%%* ''Literature/CodexAlera'' by Creator/JimButcher gives us several. Most prominent throughout the series are Bernard and Amara, and later Tavi and Kitai. There's also are Lord and Lady Placida in ''First Lord's Fury'', who are [[CaptainErsatz homages]] to the already-mentioned Aral and Cordelia Vorkosigan.
50	* ''Literature/DeltoraQuest'':
51	** Lief and Jasmine, especially in the third series where they genuinely couple [[spoiler: before becoming King and Queen]].
52	** Orwen and Joanna in the TournamentArc during the ''Shifting Sands''.
53	* ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' Two examples in the City Watch:
54	** Carrot and Angua, both police officers. ''Literature/TheFifthElephant'' is the biggest example for these two.
55	** Sybil and Vimes; TheCaptain of the City Watch and his LadyOfWar wife.
56	%%** Lofty and Tonker in ''Literature/MonstrousRegiment''.
57	* In ''Literature/{{Dracula}}'' Mina Harker joins her husband Jonathan in the battle against the titular count in the climax of the novel. Jonathan even gives Mina a revolver to defend herself.
58	* Will and Georgia from ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'' are a married couple of werewolves who fight as a well-oiled tag team machine.
59	%%** Harry and Susan fit this trope, [[spoiler: if only briefly]].
60	%%* Quite a few of them in the ''Literature/{{Emberverse}}'', mainly among the good guys.
61	%%* Drizzt and Catti-brie were this in addition to an AdventureDuo in R.A. Salvatore's ''Literature/ForgottenRealms'' [[Literature/TheLegendOfDrizzt novels]], at least before her {{Chickification}} [[spoiler:(and also even before they 'officially' became a couple.)]]
62	* ''Literature/EndoAndKobayashiLive'':
63	** In the novel's timeline, Siegwald/Lieselotte and Baldur/Fiene are both adventurers with similar combat profiles[[note]]Siegwald and Lieselotte are JackOfAllStats, while Baldur and Fiene tend to be more physical in combat, albeit Fiene is more precisely a CombatMedic[[/note]] and are strongly in love with each other.
64	** In some of the Baldur-route endings in ''[[FictionalVideoGame Magikoi]]'', this is played straight as well, as Baldur will elope and marry Fiene as commoner adventurers.
65	* From ''Literature/TheFallenMoon'', there is Arenadd and Skade. [[spoiler:Neither lives to the end of the trilogy; however, Arenadd is unlucky enough to be TheUndead and have a God who isn't finished with him yet.]]
66	* ''Literature/GauntsGhosts'':
67	** Tona Criid and Caffran, who met during the battle for Vervunhive in ''Necropolis''.
68	** Jessi Banda and Major Elim Rawne got wounded in ''Straight Silver'', though they are less tight.
69	** It is implied that Brin Milo and the esholi priestess Sanian developed a connection in ''Honour Guard'', which carries on to ''Sabbat Martyr'' when [[spoiler: Sanian becomes the reincarnated Saint Sabbat]].
70	%%** ''Literature/{{Deathstalker}}''
71	%%*** Futuristic SuperSoldier Owen Deathstalker & Hazel d'Ark
72	%%*** Jack Random and Ruby Journey
73	%%* In Creator/AaronAllston's ''Literature/GalateaIn2D'', Red and Penny
74	%%* ''Literature/GracelingRealm'': Katsa and Po.
75	* ''Literature/HarryPotter'' is full of these:
76	** Ron and Hermione fight alongside each other when they aren't [[BelligerentSexualTension fighting WITH each other]].
77	** Harry and Ginny fit on the occasions they fight together against their enemies. At the end of book six, Harry tried to defy this trope by saying ItsNotYouItsMyEnemies, but Ginny wasn't having any of that.
78	** Since ''everyone'' joins in on the last battle in ''Deathly Hallows'', Lupin and Tonks, Mrs. Weasley and Mr. Weasley, and Fleur and Bill also count.
79	** Bellatrix and Rodolphus Lestrange are a villainous version, as they fight side-by-side in books 5 and 7.
80	%% Is this speculative?** Likely the Potters and the Longbottoms were Battle Couples during the first incarnation of the Order Of The Phoenix.
81	%%* During the second ''[[Literature/TheHeirChronicles Heir Trilogy]]'' novel by Cinda Chima, it's evident that Ellen and Jack have become one.
82	* Sybella and Beast in the ''His Fair Assassin'' books. They meet when she breaks him out of the cell where he's a prisoner, and on the way to safety they engage in several skirmishes and make friends that prove helpful later, first when they re-take a sea town the enemy had captured, and again when they stage a rescue. Sybella ends up in trouble after sending Beast off to guard the people they were rescuing. Beast comes after her, and they fight free together.
83	* The ''Literature/HonorHarrington'' series naturally has a few:
84	** Victor Cachat and Thandi Palane. He's a superspy, master of the IndyPloy and ice-cold killer, she's a SuperSoldier SpaceMarine who is more lethal bare-handed than most people would be with machineguns. It was more or less love at first sight.
85	** On the Havenite side, Admiral Javier Giscard and his PoliticalOfficer-slash-lover, Eloise Pritchart -- though they [[SecretRelationship keep that relationship]] ''very'' [[DatingCatwoman hidden]] until the last possible moment. Per Admiral Lester Tourville:
86	--->"Live, or die, [Eloise] and Giscard would fight to the last ditch together."
87	* ''Literature/TheHungerGames'':
88	** In the first book, Katniss and [[spoiler:Peeta]]. PlayedWith: Their 'tragic lovers fighting for their lives' story was a big hit among sponsors and attracted vital support during the games. [[spoiler:For her, it's invoked: a cynical manipulation ploy -- at first. For him, the "Couple" part is very much what he wants.]]
89	** Subverted in ''Literature/{{Mockingjay}}'': [[spoiler:Katniss and Gale act like this for most of the book, but never manage the RelationshipUpgrade]].
90	* Nearly every protagonist couple in ''Literature/InCryptid'', since they're all cryptozoologists trained in combat, stealth, and survival. The only aversion is Artie and Sarah, since they're a [[NonActionGuy non-action guy and girl]]. And even those two know how to handle a gun.
91	%%* ''Literature/InDeath'': Eve and Roarke.
92	* ''Literature/IslandInTheSeaOfTime'' has Marian Alston and Swindapa, a kick-ass, katana-wielding lesbian battle couple.
93	* ''Literature/JourneyToChaos'':
94	** Sathel and Retina are a married couple and mercenary partners.
95	** A newspaper writer inquired into the "working relationship" of mercenaries Tiza and Nolien but Tiza [[HeIsNotMyBoyfriend insisted that this wasn't the case]]. It's a hard line to swallow considering how closely they work together and how protective they are.
96	* Kate Daniels and Curran from the ''Literature/KateDaniels'' series, often fight together and never lose.
97	%%* ''Literature/TheLastApprentice'' has Tom and Alice, who are gradually becoming one. They aren't officially a couple yet, but they have kissed a few times and it is obvious to everyone who knows them that they are sweet on each other.
98	%%* Bob and Mo in ''Literature/TheLaundryFiles''.
99	* Captain [[spoiler:andlater Admiral]] John "Black Jack" Geary and [[spoiler:his flag captain, Captain Tanya Desjani]] in ''Literature/TheLostFleet''. Subverted in that, while they are conducting actual military operations, rules about fraternization and their own personal senses of honor prevent them from acting like a typical couple. They only really get to experience marital bliss when on leave.
100	* ''Literature/MalazanBookOfTheFallen'':
101	** Invoked with Koryk and Smiles. Smiles is [[InLoveWithYourCarnage in love with Koryk's way of fighting]] and likes to pretend they're a battle couple during combat situations by guarding his flank and [[PsychoKnifeNut knifing anyone who comes close]]. Koryk, for his part, thinks Smiles is AxCrazy and needs to curb her ambitions, though he doesn't mind the help.
102	** Picker and Blend are a lesbian battle couple. They've been going steady ever since joining the Malazan army. Picker is proficient with the sword and crossbow, while Blend prefers long-knives and stealth, and Blend acts like something of an aide for (first Corporal then Lieutenant) Picker as they need few words to communicate.
103	* ''Literature/AMasterOfDjinn'': Fatma and Siti, her lover, both know how to fight skillfully, doing so as a team at times.
104	%%* In the fifth ''Literature/MaximumRide'' book, [[spoiler:Max and Fang]] become this.
105	* Nathan and Elena, in ''Literature/TheMemoryWars'', have been lovers through most of their past lives, and can draw on centuries of shared combat experience to fight together with perfect precision.
106	* In the third book of the ''Literature/{{Mistborn}}'' series, Elend and Vin go beyond the BodyguardCrush relationship of the second book and straight into this following [[spoiler: Elend turning into a full-on Mistborn]].
107	* ''Literature/TheMortalInstruments''
108	** [[spoiler:Alec]] and [[spoiler:Magnus]] are respectively a Shadowhunter (i.e., demon hunter) and a warlock who become a couple over the course of the trilogy while fighting evil. They fight together as partners in the final battle of ''City of Glass,'' when [[spoiler:a new rune allows pairs Shadowhunters and Downworlders (such as warlocks) to share their powers with one another]].
109	** Maryse and Robert Lightwood are a married couple of active Shadowhunters, although their partnership receives little "screen time," since they are not main characters.
110	%%** Other battle couples are Jace and Clary, Simon and Isabelle, and at times Maia and Jordan. Luke and Jocelyn join later.
111	%%** The sequel ''Literature/TheDarkArtifices'' also shows Julian and Emma.
112	%%* In the MrAndMrsDarcyMysteries, Elizabeth and Darcy sometimes are this.
113	* ''Literature/NightHuntress'': Cat and Bones, a badass married couple.
114	%%** as well as Leila and Vlad. Mencheres and Kira also qualify to some extent.
115	* ''Literature/{{Nightside}}'': Suzie Shooter and John Taylor have been known to kick some serious ass, although their couple status is still a work in progress.
116	%%* Alec and Seregil from Lynn Flewelling's ''Literature/{{Nightrunner}}'' series are a gay example.
117	* The central triad of ''Literature/NoNeedForACore'' is this, though one of them doesn't start there. This also applies to other characters in the series, including some parents and a lot of the royalty of the nearby kingdom.
118	* ''Literature/OldKingdom'': Sabriel and Touchstone are a Necromancer and a member of the Royal Guard [[spoiler:later revealed to be a bastard Prince who subsequently becomes King]] and fit this trope to a T, fighting as BackToBackBadasses from the jump, though it takes some time for Touchstone to view himself as a true partner to Sabriel, and for Sabriel to accept her own role as the kingdom's necromantic defender. After the events in "Sabriel", [[spoiler:they also become a RulingCouple, fulfilling different but equal roles in partnership to rebuild and rule the Old Kingdom. They also build their own BadassFamily, which Lirael later joins]]. They partially fulfill the SwordAndSorcerer trope; however, their roles are not truly dichotomous as Sabriel is also a warrior and both are Charter Mages.
119	* Ruggiero and Bradamante from ''Literature/OrlandoFurioso''. When they're reunited halfway through the work, the first thing Bradamante does is go off to save a dude, and Ruggiero is thrilled to have a woman understand what he does.
120	* Kelley Armstrong's ''[[Literature/TheOtherworld Women of the Otherworld]]'' series: Clay and Elena He's the Pack's Enforcer, she learned to fight through necessity and long years of hardship, and together, they royally kick ass.
121	%%**All of the canon couples can be defined with this trope, with the possible exception of Lucas and Paige.
122	%%* Shoka and Taizu in Creator/CJCherryh's ''Literature/ThePaladin''.
123	* In ''Literature/TheParasolProtectorate'':
124	** Lord and Lady Maccon are formidable when separate (one being a burly [[OurWerewolvesAreDifferent Alpha werewolf]] [[spoiler: and the other a [[TheSoulless Preternatural]] with a [[ParasolOfPain tricked-out parasol]].]]) Even more so when together.
125	** [[spoiler: Lyall and Biffy]] also make a good enough team to keep [[spoiler:Sidhaeg]] busy until sunrise, though the couple part doesn't become official until later.
126	%%* Azur and Milliam in ''Literature/{{Phenomena}}''
127	* Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy in ''Literature/PrideAndPrejudiceAndZombies''. They're the OfficialCouple and they fight zombies.
128	* ''Literature/QuantumGravity'': Lila is a cyborg who was specifically made to be able to kill things. Zal does well in anything vaguely resembling a fair fight and is good with a bow. They get together; some wild magic sees to that. She also hits it off with [[spoiler:Teazle]], who lives among people who will have every fighting form ever and ''still'' can't find an even match.
129	* ''Literature/TheQuestOfTheUnaligned'': Crown Prince Alaric of Caederan and his {{Love Interest\|s}} (and future bride) Laeshana have a wonderful teamwork moment while fighting through roughly 500 fire-spiders.
130	* Dawn and Julius in ''Literature/TheRadiantDawn''. Played oddly because Julius is fully willing to not contest Dawn charging into battle against clearly defined enemies and assumes she can handle herself, but worries greatly about her being stabbed in the back by someone she doesn't think is an enemy.
131	* ''Literature/RangersApprentice'':
132	** MasterSwordsman Horace and RebelliousPrincess Cassandra prove to be one in Book 7
133	** ChefOfIron Jenny and TheAce Gilan in Book 11.
134	* ''Literature/TheRailwaySeries'' Jarl Sigrid and her husband Orm in ''The Island of Sodor'' source book. Since this is still a series about, ahem talking trains... the only real plot point that affects the story at all is that one of the locomotives (who is actually unseen in the series) in the present day bears her name ''Sigrid of Arlesdale'', and Jarl Sigrid's history is part of the local tourist appeal along a couple railway stations. Just goes to show the insane amount of AllThereInTheManual lore that exists for the series.
135	* ''Literature/RazorlandTrilogy'': Deuce and Fade start out as reluctant partners in the first book (''Enclave''), but by the third (''Horde'') they are battling Freaks side-by-side.
136	%%*Leisl and Sasha were well on their way to becoming this by the end of the {{Ravenloft}} novel ''Vampire of the Mists.''
137	* Darrow and [[spoiler: Mustang]] from the ''Literature/RedRising'' trilogy. While most of the combat in the series involves large-scale military campaigns and space combat, whenever they're not carrying out their own parts of a multi-pronged gambit they're right there in the thick of things with each other, combat ''or'' politics.
138	* ''Literature/ReignOfTheSevenSpellblades'':
139	** Oliver and Nanao are basically attached at the hip by the end of the first volume and admit that they're attracted to one another in volume 4, [[spoiler:and finally have a RelationshipUpgrade to OfficialCouple in volume 10]]. Between her brawn and his brains, they make a terrifyingly effective combo.
140	** Stacy Cornwallis and Fay Willock are introduced as "master and knight" (which lends its name to episode 10 of the anime), but by volume 9 they've made a mutual LoveConfession and are presently in a sort of CourtlyLove limbo.[[note]]She's a BlueBlood, he's an orphan and only half-human, so they won't be allowed to be together long-term by her family unless their magical research together bears fruit--which by the combat league semifinals, it does.[[/note]] She has a habit of riding on his shoulders when he's in werewolf form and firing spells at their opponents while he attacks with his sword and claws.
141	** In the {{backstory}}, Chloe Halford and Edgar Groves met while attending Kimberly and served together on a Gnostic Hunter squad battling {{Alien Invasion}}s [[spoiler:before she became pregnant with Oliver]].
142	%%* In ''SevenMenOfGascony'' Nicholette marries several successive men, all of which die except Gabriel who is the last of TheSquad.
143	* Creator/SimonRGreen loves this trope:
144	** ''Literature/ForestKingdom'': In the spinoff series ''Hawk & Fisher'', Captain Hawk and his wife, Captain Isobel Fisher, work in the City Guard of Haven and fight side by side on a regular basis.
145	** The ''Literature/{{Nightside}}'' is home to GuileHero John Taylor and his MoreDakka-addicted ally Shotgun Suzie. Where her overwhelming firepower doesn't suffice, his dirty tricks and unique Gift can tip the odds.
146	** ''Literature/SecretHistories'' features Eddie Drood and Molly Metcalf, a {{Magitek}} PoweredArmor secret agent and the Witch of the Wild Woods.
147	* In ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'', we have a mild example in Aegon "the Conqueror" Targaryen and Visenya Targaryen. Aegon, being a typical Targaryen, married his two sisters and declared conquest on the continent of Westeros. They say that Aegon married Visenya out of duty (she was the eldest of the sisters) and Rhaenys out of love. Visenya was known as a great warrior and dragon rider, wielding a Valyrian steel sword named Dark Sister. While Aegon may not have had any strong feelings for Visenya, she was still his wife and they conquered a continent together. Rhaenys was also a dragon rider but had no martial prowess beyond that.
148	* ''Literature/{{Spellster}}'': Tracker, being a skiller fighter and hunter, along with the mage Dylan, become one over time while fighting against enemies together. Authril and Dylan could also count before Tracker appears, as she's a soldier as well, and they had been sleeping together (but are more FriendsWithBenefits).
149	%%* Nico and Josef are a platonic example in ''Literature/TheSpiritThief'' (Legend of Eli Monpress series).
150	* Slippery Jim [=diGriz=] (''Literature/TheStainlessSteelRat'') and Angelina, his wife and fellow criminal genius. He's a criminal mastermind who dislikes killing. She's a formerly-psychotic criminal mastermind who bemoans the fact that she can't casually kill people now she's had a conscience implanted. They fight crime ''with'' crime.
151	%%* Margaret Weis's ''Literature/TheStarOfTheGuardians'':
152	%%** Maigrey and Sagan
153	%%** Tusk and Nola
154	* In general, the ''Franchise/StarWarsExpandedUniverse'' is full of these with the majority of the main couples being battle couples.
155	** Wedge and Iella, Corran and Mirax, Kell and Tyria, Face and Dia, Gavin and Asyr, Myn and [[BecomingTheMask Lara]]... it should go without saying that the [[Literature/XWingSeries X-Wing series]] of the ''Franchise/StarWars'' [[Franchise/StarWarsExpandedUniverse EU]], being about fighter pilots, has a ''lot'' of these.
156	** Luke and Mara transitioned into this from FireForgedFriends. They fight side by side quite a few times through the books. ''Survivor's Quest'' is one example and then during the war with the Yuzhaan Vong.
157	** Han and Leia are mentioned under film already, but their battle couple status continues in the expanded universe.
158	** ''Literature/FateOfTheJedi'': Ben and Vestara; he's a Jedi and [[DatingCatwoman she's a Sith apprentice]]. [[spoiler:It doesn't work out.]]
159	** {{Invoked\|Trope}} Trope with the [[ProudWarriorRace Mandalorians]]. Being a culture that takes marriage and family as seriously as combat, part of their warrior code is to find a spouse that is every bit your equal to fight alongside and to raise children with. If they are of the same sex, a different species, or infertile, there's plenty of kids out there to adopt.
160	** One interesting example due to their main allegiance being to the Jedi Order is Obi-Wan and Siri in that they both realize that they would rather be Jedi than in love, making them a Battle Not-Exactly-Couple.
161	* ''Literature/TheStormlightArchive'': The Parshendi fight in war pairs, which the Alethi initially assumed was some sort of master/apprentice situation. The truth is that the pairings are male/female; Parshendi will typically take a partner with whom they [[VoluntaryShapeshifting transform]]. In war form, they fight together; in mate form, they produce children together.
162	%%* Tiger and Del in the ''Sword Dancer'' series.
163	%%* ''Literature/TheSwordOfTruth''
164	%%** Richard and Kahlan are this and become more so after Richard taught her his methods of fighting. Zedd, Cara, and Nicci all take turns being the third wheel.
165	%%** Confessors and their Wizards are in some senses this.
166	%%** The Mord-Sith are this with Lord Rahl. All of them. It's like a harem of all xdominatrix, AntiMagic, BreakTheCutie, magical-taser wielding Aryan bodyguards in various colors of leather!
167	* ''Literature/TalesOfKolmar'' has a bunch:
168	** Jamie was Maran's bodyguard, though she became a good fighter herself.
169	** Jamie and Maran's friend Rella become this while trying to protect Lanen and Varien. Lanen lacks the necessary speed and will to be a career fighter but has to try her best anyway; Varien is new to being human and doesn't know what he's doing with a sword, but he's unnaturally strong and very protective.
170	* Averted and played straight in the ''Literature/TairenSoul'' series. The magically enhanced empathy of Fey women means that they can't fight in close combat, as they feel the pain of everyone they kill. However, Ellysetta is immune to this effect [[spoiler:because of the predatory tairen soul bonded to hers]] and fights alongside [[BenevolentMageRuler Rain]] in later books.
171	%%* Otori Takeo and Shirakawa Kaede (as well as Takeo and Muto Yuki) in ''Literature/TalesOfTheOtori''.
172	* Auria and David from ''Those Who Cry Green Tears'' become this after Auria saves David from the Ombras (human-eating monsters).
173	%%* Literature/TimeScout: Malcolm Moore. Margo Smith. Time Scouts.
174	* ''Franchise/TolkiensLegendarium'':
175	** ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'':
176	*** Faramir and Éowyn are a downplayed example. They officially become a couple after the battle.
177	*** Creator/JRRTolkien also wrote that Rohirrim women often took up weapons to defend their homes when their lands were invaded.
178	*** Celeborn and Galadriel fight together.
179	** ''Literature/TheSilmarillion'': Lúthien Tinúviel and Beren. He was a mighty physical warrior. She was an elf sorcerer capable of bringing down a fortress and putting the GodOfEvil of her world to sleep. Together, they amplified each other's skills, humiliated Dark Lords, and their deeds were themes of songs seventy centuries after their deaths.
180	%%* Literature/TommyAndTuppence by Creator/AgathaChristie Titular couple Thomas and Tuppence Beresford.
181	* ''Literature/TwelveHouses'' has Senneth and Tayse, who are so badass they take down an entire rebellion all by themselves. Senneth is a fire-throwing DeadpanSnarker; Tayse is a sword-wielding DeadpanSnarker -- together, they fight crime and snark at things!
182	* Addie and Rhys are this at the end of ''Literature/TheTwoPrincessesOfBamarre''. They declare their love for one another just before the final battle takes place.
183	%%* ''Literature/UkiahOregon'': Ukiah and Indigo, Max and Sam, Atticus and Ru, Rennie and Helena. Ukiah's moms are the only couple in the series who aren't.
184	* ''Literature/TheUnwomanlyFaceOfWar'': [[https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aleksandra_Boiko Aleksandra Boiko]] appears as one of the narrators. She and her husband Ivan asked and obtained from Stalin to employ their savings into the construction of a tank. Then they went to the frontline, Aleksandra as the tank commander and Ivan as the engineer. They survived until the fall of Berlin and were both awarded.
185	* Rose and Dimitri in ''Literature/VampireAcademy'' often fight alongside each other, facing the enemy jointly.
186	* ''Literature/VorkosiganSaga'':
187	** Aral Vorkosigan and Cordelia Naismith meet in this fashion. They take out the mutineers on Vorkosigan's crew (twice).
188	** Admiral Naismith/Miles Vorkosigan and Elli Quinn are a straighter example. She dual hats as his intelligence chief and the executive officer when he leads the Dendarii Free Mercenary Fleet. [[spoiler:The relationship ends when Miles is forced to retire to civilian life.]]
189	* Romeo and Dagger in ''Literature/{{Wander}}'' are a somewhat downplayed example. They're both more than competent fighters and by the end of the novel [[spoiler:are the only adult survivors of Camp Greenbow]]. But they only actually fight when they have no other choice, and their most badass moment together ([[spoiler:fighting off a group of smilers while holed up in an abandoned farmhouse]]) occurs off-screen.
190	* In ''Literature/WarriorCats'' most couples tend to be this since most characters are active fighters. Firestar and Sandstorm are one particularly notable example since an entire book is devoted to them journeying together outside Clan territory.
191	* ''Literature/TheWheelOfTime'': The main plot of the series involves everyone preparing for [[TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt The Last Battle]], so every named couple falling in this trope. A few examples are Rand and Min/Aviendha/Elayne, Lan and Nynaeve, Egwene and Gawyn, Perrin and Faile, Siuan and Gareth, a few Aes Sedai and their Warders, a few Asha'man and their Warder-like Aes Sedai, and countless Aiel couples.

Context BattleCouple / Literature