Does anyone know a piece of fiction where the main ship are enemies AND lovers at the same time? Especially if it's two men

JoshRaed 2023-09-21 19:56:33 UTC #1

I've always been interested in the concept.

NickRowler 2023-09-21 20:39:14 UTC #2

While not really enemies... Red, White and Royal Blue does start out with the two not liking each other.

hakei 2023-09-21 20:50:23 UTC #3

I hear Good Omens has something like enemies to lovers? in season 2.

Personally though, shounen manga.

Some creators get so focused on the relationship between a main character and his rival that the hetero romance gets put on the back burner ("He's a guy and she's a girl so you know.. they're in love or whatever.").

Instead, the MC and his rival get the tropes often found in romance -- opposites of the same coin, inverse color schemes, the moon and the sun, the golden retriever and the black cat, etc.

They fight together, they grow together. They complement each other's strengths and weaknesses. They're always on each other's minds.

Famously: Naruto and Sasuke.

CarltonIsaac 2023-09-22 06:55:41 UTC #4

Two princes of warring nations.

moontokkym 2023-09-22 07:04:15 UTC #5

Good Omens is more friends to lovers, they're at most vaguely antagonistic to eachother for a bit. Very much not ennemies.

lizardlullabye 2023-09-22 16:00:46 UTC #6

Try google for "Dating Catwoman" on TV tropes. There should a few examples of enemies who are romantic too.

GodbreakerComic 2023-09-22 22:24:59 UTC #7

Some shameless self promotion but...my comic is that concept except two young women. With the added spice of one of them kinda-sorta killed the other one when they first met, and how that dark cloud hangs over any attempt at being together.

Spoilers I guess but I think its obvious at this point.

zoleri 2023-09-30 03:15:48 UTC #8

C.S. Pacat's Captive Prince Trilogy is what immediately comes to mind. I have some issues with the first book (consent issues, not exactly between the main characters but close enough) but Damianos and Laurent are definitely interesting characters with the dynamic you're looking for, in a lot of ways.

Alternately (or additionally), check out my novel, Blue Eagle, Cricket Prince. Wouldn't say that the main characters are lovers and enemies simultaneously, but neither is the story quite enemies to lovers. The two of them are barely anything except political opponents to each other at the start, but progressively they come to mean more things to each other as the story goes on. Ally, brother, friend, soulmate, the one person I both couldn't live without and wish I'd never met... etcetera. Give it a chance, I'd really appreciate the support!