Enemies to “ugh I can’t believe I’m saving your life” to “ugh we have to work together or the world ends but it’s not like I like you or anything” to “oh we actually connect pretty well but that doesn’t mean anything” to “I would die for you but don’t read too much into it” to “I’ll kill anyone who lays a finger on you” to Lovers.
defending each other to scathing tertiary or otherwise minor characters but ONLY WHEN THE OTHER ISN’T AROUND
reincarnation or time loop or OOOOH TIME TRAVEL SCENARIOS
dramatically saving each other from certain death or barely surviving something that almost makes the other break down and just smirking wearily and mumbling flippant smartass remarks to HIDE THE DEPTH OF THEIR FEELINGS
undercover as lovers, the classic
ALMOST KISSING. like getting so close that they start to close their eyes and hold their breath and then SOMETHING HAPPENS and they jump apart, that is MORE VALUABLE THAN ANY ACTUAL KISSING
casually sitting on each other’s laps during ensemble cast conversations or scenes
imagine having an OTP who openly admit their feelings for each other & go on frequent dates & know how to flirt rather than suppress their feelings like wow imagine how nice & painless that would be
full offense but that moment when a character is absolutely steeled for anger from their partner and gets tenderness and compassion instead and they just completely lose it because they don’t feel like they deserve it after how they’ve behaved and have no idea how to handle it is so, so, so good and if i ever stop loving it just assume i’ve died and been replaced with a really bad forgery.
‘I don’t want a bodyguard/this is humiliating and I’m going to pretend it’s not happening’ vs ‘just another bratty kid who won’t listen that I’ll have to drag out of trouble’
awkward thank-yous
MORE awkward thank-you gestures: protectee buying gifts, trying to give bodyguard a day off – impractical but well-meaning is good; so is surprisingly thoughtful
MOMENTS OF TENSION WHEREIN THEIR LIVES DEPEND ON EACH OTHER
realizing Feelings but assuming that they could never be returned
I don’t care what direction this goes bc it is Good either way
Trying To Create Distance by returning to pure professionalism OR struggling to maintain a friendlier relationship but doing it so well the other person assumes there’s no chance of Feelings
this is one of the few contexts in which I will accept a variant of Gayngst as in: but I guard them and they’re always flirting/sleeping w/ people of the opposite sex; they are clearly So Straight and I have No Hope (but surprise! bisexuality!)
DRAMATIC ACTION SCENES WITH FROZEN MOMENTS OF EYE CONTACT
yes I’m weak for this cheap cinematic trope shHHHH don’t you judge me
protectee caring for the bodyguard’s woundssssss
bodyguard tending the protectee’s woundssss
contrasting two injuries: one in which the bodyguard is brusque and efficient and one in which they’re gentle and caring/protectee is panicking and insisting they can’t do it vs trying to calm their bodyguard and holding their own panic in
BODYGUARD QUITS JOB. PROTECTEE IS HEARTBROKEN UNTIL BODYGUARD COMES BACK AND ASKS THEM OUT + EXPLAINS IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A BREACH OF CONTRACT
can your otp be a bodyguard crush? are you sure? CONSIDER THIS CAREFULLY AS MANY WONDERS AWAIT YOU