Characters who collapse beside a wounded character, cradling them to their chest, holding tight
Characters who just freaking lose it when someone is found captured, dead, dying, or gone, and the black rage that comes over them when they find out who’s responsible
A character gently pushing or nudging another character behind them for protection
Characters who threaten in a whisper (PLEASE)
A character going deathly still when they ask, “Who hurt you?” or “Who did this?”
A character angling themselves in front of another character when things get tense or uncomfortable, stepping between them and harms way
Characters who shelter another character with their body, pressing them down, asking if they’re okay while they’re the one bleeding, taking shots
Characters who catch the arm or waist of another character who starts to stumble, unwilling to let go (maybe urging them to rest, sleep, lean on them, or lay down)
Characters who knock someone out of the way just before a fatal blow hits (maybe taking the blow or dying instead)
A character who keeps an eye on another character’s whereabouts when entering dangerous territory, purposely staying near them “just in case”
Characters who notice another character’s absence and are knocked sideways by a stab of fear, panic, suspicion, or foreboding, and the worried/uneasy facial expressions they’re unable or unwilling to hide (bonus if they go after them and find them hurt/unconscious/drugged/ill/running away/bewitched).
Characters overcome with fear, dismay, and affection when they see another character asleep beside them— shockingly vulnerable and oh so completely defenseless— and how because of that, they become all the more protective, determined to keep them safe (as if moved emotionally by the other character’s trust in them)
When a character wakes and feels their teammate pressed against them- that sudden urge to nestle deeper into the safety and shelter of their hold, to erase the gap between them, to soak in their warmth- and the subtle shift in feelings from friendly affection to something far more passionate.
When a character checks in on another character sleeping to make sure they’re okay, struck dumb by how innocent they look (bonus if they reach out to brush the hairs on their head out of the way, or stay up watching over them, or decide to lay down beside them, resisting the urge to touch or pull them close)
Characters who try to act normal, fighting to hide the agony of their injuries or the lightheadedness resulting from blood loss or a fever, only being found out when their lips let loose a low moan or cry (maybe a facial grimace or groan)— the urgency, rage, and fear that overcomes the character who hears (maybe forcing them to lay down while gently trying to examine them/ pressing down here and there/ going back and forth between cursing at them and trying to shush them)
A character who stops at nothing to rescue another, even if it means teaming up with the enemy, or even becoming one
Sick and feverish characters feeling a touch on their brow, seeing another character’s deepened frown, the crease of worry between their eyebrows (how they gently urge them to sleep and rest— telling them not to worry because they were here)
Caregivers becoming attentive to every drop and swallow the sick character takes, encouraging them gently, never letting on how worried they are
Sick characters who stir when they feel a small pressure against their wrist, then a voice saying, “Shhh, go back to sleep,” while laying a cool hand on their brow. They lean into the touch. They might have heard a laugh. A sigh- a breath.
Characters who clutch at their stomach, overcome with nausea- heaving- then vomiting- feeling careful hands hold back their hair, rub slow, soothing motions down their back, making small hushing sounds (bonus if the sick character collapses against the other one suddenly, feeling arms wrap around them, then the brush of fingers against the forehead, feeling)
Half conscious characters dimly aware of someone calling their name. The sensation of rising and then the tug of someone guiding limp arms around that someone’s neck
Just, being carried, being held (legs give out, weak, illness, injury, fatigue, fear), or being able to carry someone, to hold someone safe in your arms, to cradle them close
Characters forced to hold down another character during a painful medical or first aid treatment while enduring the screams and cries of their teammate, knowing that if they don’t force them through it, they’ll die— knowing they’ll be hated
Likewise, characters required to be held down while desperately trying to get away, thrashing, hating the other character, not understanding, heart begging them to stop, “Please, no more, no more!” And the other character is just like, “Soon, I promise; It’ll be over soon,” or “Shhh, hold on; we’re almost done,” or “Take my hand- look at me. I’ve got you.”
A character insisting they stay near another character when they bathe, fearing that they’ll fall unconscious/asleep and drown (bonus if they actually do fall unconscious, and the other character — too upset to blush— rushes in (maybe to scoop them out, wrap a towel around them, carry them to bed, or to shake them awake, holding their face)
When a character sees cuts and bruises on another character (possible abuse or self harm) and go still, maybe asking, “How long?” “How can I help?” or saying, “Please, no more,” or “Talk to me,” or even, “I’m not leaving you until I know you’re safe” or “Whatever you’re hiding, please tell me.” For abuse: “Who did this to you?” “How did I not know?” “This ends now,” “You’re staying with me,” “I’m not leaving your side,” “Please, don’t face them alone” “Its not safe-”
Characters who silence another character’s screams, cries, or moans of pain with a kiss (maybe unexpected, or because that other character couldn’t stand to listen anymore, or because they want to distract them from the pain by giving them pleasure).
Characters waking up in someone else’s bed, either dressed in someone elses’s clothes or completely without them, bandaged and sore
A character who can’t stop blushing after walking in on someone changing or bathing
Characters who bite their lips and blush when they catch another character glancing at their lips (and the ache of want that throbs in that other character on seeing them blush)
Characters wrists held above the head while someone straddles them, fingers roaming, eyes waiting, lips devouring— savoring their moans, watching their gasps
Characters pushed up against the wall with a knee between their legs
The first brush of lips, either tender, teasing, gentle, or painful, passionate, and full of uncontrolled desire
Tongues that brush another’s lips, either requesting entry or demanding it
The gentle nip of teeth on a character’s skin and the resulting shiver of bumps along a character’s exposed flesh, the rush of white hot bliss tingling up and down their whole being, fingers digging into flesh
The first touch- the gasp that escapes, the unintelligible sounds, the hiss of delight, the plea for more, the sharp inhale (sometimes the vain struggle to hide while the other character, delighted, takes control)
That moment when a character, in ecstasy, moans or screams, and the other character places their mouth over theirs to quiet them, devouring every vibration of noise as if it were the most delectable fruit on earth; as if it were the first drops of rain in a century of drought
Characters who stay up all night after a heated argument with another character, only to grab and catch them before they stumble over and hit the ground in the morning
Characters who forgo sleep due to worry and fear for another’s safety, taking a break only when absolutely necessary
A character’s screams being hushed or soothed away by a heartless, cruel character (maybe because they have a soft spot for that one character or feel guilty for causing their screams in the first place)
When a character subconsciously pulls themself closer to another character seen shivering or shuddering, taking off their own jacket and putting it on the character despite their protest, grabs a blanket for them without being asked, pays closer attention
Characters just being noticed by another character— the subtle changes, like: when their voice sounds tight trying to conceal pain, or how their hand suddenly shakes, or how little they’ve eaten/rested, or how angry they suddenly get/how argumentative they’ve become
Characters who toss and turn in sleep, unable to wake up until another character grabs them, calling their name, pulling them close, rubbing their back, their arms, their hair- reassuring them over and over that they’re safe/home/free
Wrist grabs. PERIOD. Maybe to stop a character from walking away, to yank them out of harms way, to pull them behind them, or to convey the type emotions only touch can translate, or even as a warning to stay close
Enemies who rescue each other all the time, saying how annoying they are when really they’re just annoyed with themselves for how fearful/emotional they became (or how that other character makes them)
Characters who couldn’t care less until someone important to them is threatened- then all bets are off, hell is breaking lose, forgiveness will have no say, and may god have mercy on that poor character’s soul
When a female character starts their period and are crippled with the pain of a tearing/ripping uterus (because honestly, some have it worse than others) and another character tries to make the pain lessen by rubbing their back, lulling them to sleep, using powers to take pain away
Characters rolling sleeves up to their forearms (maybe when things get serious/sticky/desperate). Also characters with long hair who only tie it back when things get rough, tricky, or bleak. I can see a character’s mouth drop open when they catch sight of another character- maybe the most unexpected one- pull back their hair before taking a stance to fight or defend (bonus if that character before was considered nonessential)
Funny characters who become dead serious when necessary (like when someone threatens them or someone they care for)- and oh, if they aren’t the most badass character after all, like holy crap
Characters who feel like a nobody finding out they’re a somebody
The most insignificant character turning out to be the most significant
The weakest character turning out to be the strongest
The evilest character turning out to be the most heroic
Villainous characters coming to the hero’s defense (and vice versa)
I especially love it when the enemy is the one who heals a hurt character, maybe performing an emergency procedure like inflating a collapsed lung, holding pressure on a bleeding wound, cutting open someone for an emergent operation, bracing another character’s neck, injecting someone with a drug to knock them out or ease their pain (maybe even saying something like, “Tell anyone about this, and I’ll undo all the work I’ve done.”
Brave characters acknowledging their fears
Hard characters becoming soft
Soft characters becoming hard, especially to fight and defend, rising to the occasion
Side characters who turn out to be main characters
Nonessential characters turning out to be the most essential
Pompous, prideful characters humbled by circumstance, forced to acknowledge their limitations
Worthless characters discovering their worth
Also, words like “Trust me,” “Stay close,” “Dont go far,” “Squeeze/Take/Hold my hand,” “Stay behind me,” “Get down!” “Sleep now,” “Just rest,” “Stop fighting me,” “It’s for your own good,” “Dont make me do this,” “Try. See what happens,” “Are you alright?” “Shh, I’m here,” “Close your eyes,” “you’re going to be okay,” “I’m here,” “I won’t let go,” “Look at me,” “Back off,” “take one more step-” “You wouldn’t dare,” “I’ll never forgive you,” “please, don’t look,” “Let me take a look,” “Deep breath- good,” “Hold still,” “Don’t move,” “I’ve got you,” “You’re safe,” “Lean on me,” “Rest on my shoulder,” “Lay down,”
