History Main / EmbarrassingRescue

* A variant occurs early in ''[[Literature/HeraldsOFValdemar By the Sword]]'' when teenaged Kerowyn sets out to rescue her brother's kidnapped fiancée because her brother is near death and there's not a single able-bodied man available for the job. Dierna, the DistressedDamsel in question, is grateful enough to be rescued but very uncomfortable around Kerowyn afterward, and it's a source of acute embarrassment for Kero's brother that his sister had to rescue his fiancée for him.

* [[InvertedTrope Inverted]] in [[Anime/FullmetalAlchemist the 2003 anime version]] of ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist''. At the end of the Lab 5 mini-arc, when Ed is forced to make a SadisticChoice between [[SetRightWhatOnceWentWrong getting his brother back to the way he was]] before their human transmutation attempt which would require killing several convicts (who happened to be watching) to do it, and allowing the homunculus Lust to kill his little brother by destroying his blood seal, Scar shows up in a BigDamnHeroes moment and blows up the cylinders of red water needed to perform the transmutation. Ed's reaction? "Shut up! I don't need your help!"

* Zigzagged in ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles''; Harry's perennial foes [[TheDon Johnny]] [[BadassNormal Marcone]] and [[HornyDevils Lara]] [[TheVamp Raith]] have helped him on several occasions. Harry isn't thrilled at having to accept their help, but his ego is soothed by the fact that they are both self-serving manipulators who always get some benefit from the situation themselves. Whenever they do something that is genuinely charitable, brave, or a PetTheDog moment, Harry wastes no time reminding them that while they might be the lesser of two ([[GambitPileup or more]]) evils at the moment, that won't be the case forever. The situation is helped by the fact that all three of them have a WorthyOpponent status with each other, and they all take IGaveMyWord very seriously, so sometimes Harry has even ''asked'' for their assistance in exchange for some benefit he can give them because he knows that if they agree to a temporary alliance, they will keep to it.

* In ''Webcomic/TheClassMenagerie'', young Biff asked not to be rescued from a fire by a {{Nerd}}, because he'd [[OnceDoneNeverForgotten never hear the end of it]].

'''Kylie Strutemyer:''' (''unconvincinvly'') Oh yeah. Bill saved me from a deer.

* A variant occurs early in ''[[Literature/HeraldsOFValdemar By the Sword]]'' when teenaged Kerowyn sets out to rescue her brother's kidnapped fiancee because her brother is near death and there's not a single able-bodied man available for the job. Dierna, the DistressedDamsel in question, is grateful enough to be rescued but very uncomfortable around Kerowyn afterward, and it's a source of acute embarrassment for Kero's brother that his sister had to rescue his fiancee for him.

* In ''Webcomic/ImpureBlood'', after their attackers have mostly been fought off by Roan, a HalfHumanHybrid, the Watchers, sworn against the Ancient, [[http://impurebloodwebcomic.com/comic/chapter-4/page-083/ claim they would have managed]] without him. [[http://impurebloodwebcomic.com/comic/chapter-4/page-084/ Persistantly.]]

* In ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'', Nnoitra has a flashback for one time when [[spoiler:Neliel]] saved his life to prevent the Espada from losing a member, partly because he was weaker than she was. Nnoitra, who hates being pitied more than anything, finds this extremely humiliating. It also didn't help matters that he not only hates being seen as weak, but he especially hates being weaker than a ''woman''.
* Kasuga from ''VideoGame/SengokuBasara'' (picture above) becomes so flustered when rival {{Ninja}} Sasuke comes to her rescue that she ''falls out of a tree'' trying to get away from him!
* ''Manga/OnePiece'' has Zoro helping, amusingly, [[spoiler: Tashigi]]. [[spoiler: She and Sanji]] were not amused. The fans were though.
* In ''Anime/TigerAndBunny'', part of the reason Kotetsu is so antagonistic towards Barnaby at the start of their partnership is because of the [[BridalCarry humiliating rescue]] he had to endure upon their first meeting (though episode 22 shows that he's much less disapproving of it in hindsight). The second time it happens he's noticeably less embarrassed...until Barnaby decides to comment on the situation.
-->'''Barnaby:''' It's been a while since I carried you like this. Have you gained weight?\\
'''Kotetsu:''' Shut up. Put me down.
* ''Manga/RanmaOneHalf'': Ranma has been rescued by Akane a few times in the manga. He's never been too happy about it, either.
--> '''Ranma:''' So, why'd you come, anyway? I could've gotten out by myself.\\
'''Akane:''' What?! You ungrateful, little...
* In ''Manga/RisingXRydeen'' Takara's team are rescued by his rival since childhood, Mikan, who easily defeats two enemies the team was supposed to capture but instead almost got killed by. They don't even thank her, instead Takara ask why she was in the area to begin with. She tells him it's because their boss told her to assist with their mission when necessary which causes Takara get annoyed and state that they could have handled it on their own. The way the mission was going this couldn't be further from the truth.
* ''Anime/FullMetalPanicFumoffu'' has an episode where Kaname and her classmate Ren (who turns out to be a YakuzaPrincess) get kidnapped by a group who opposes her father's zaibatsu. Their rescue comes in the form of Sosuke leading the Mikihara Zaibatsu into battle wearing Bonta-kun suits; for the uninitiated, these are [[GoofySuit theme park mascot costumes]] that Sosuke converted into PoweredArmor (looks like WesternAnimation/MickeyMouse, fights like Film/{{Robocop}}). Kaname is grateful for the rescue but still finds it embarrassing, while Ren says that she thinks they're adorable.
* ''Manga/AyakashiTriangle'': Matsuri is almost obsessed with the idea of being Suzu's protector, and even once she joins him in battle he has to fight his instincts to treat her as an equal. When he ends up BroughtDownToNormal and rescued by Suzu, Matsuri's silently ashamed of himself. It isn't helped by their opponent saying Suzu "is like a hero rescuing the heroine".

* How many times has Franchise/SpiderMan had to rescue J. Jonah Jameson? Don't ask. This Trope applied ''every'' time it happened, and even Spidey got rather sick of it after a while.
* Mary Jane is more than a little disgusted when ComicBook/{{Venom}} has to rescue her from Carnage in a nightclub during the ''ComicBook/MaximumCarnage'' storyline. Venom tells her to tell Peter they are "even" and then licks her with the costume's tongue before going back to resume the battle.

* ''Film/PulpFiction'': Creator/BruceWillis' character saves his adversary from unmentionable gimp rape. The adversary does thank him, but demands the event be kept an absolute secret.
* The titular character in ''Film/ForrestGump'' saves an injured Lieutenant Dan during a battle in Vietnam and carries him back to friendly lines. Dan, who was hoping to die in combat (something of a running family tradition), was thoroughly upset at being rescued.

* In ''Literature/HarryPotter'', when Snape was a student, he was on the receiving end of one by James Potter. [[spoiler: He had been trying to find out what James and his friends did every month at the full moon, and had nearly come face-to-face with Remus Lupin in his werewolf state. James dragged him out of there.]]
* A variant occurs early in ''[[Literature/HeraldsOFValdemar By the Sword]]'' when teenaged Kerowyn sets out to rescue her brother's kidnapped fiancee because her brother is near death and there's not a single able-bodied man available for the job. Dierna, the DistressedDamsel in question, is grateful enough to be rescued but very uncomfortable around Kerowyn afterward, and it's a source of acute embarrassment for Kero's brother that his sister had to rescue his fiancee for him.
* Zigzagged in ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles''; Harry's perennial foes [[TheDon Johnny]] [[BadassNormal Marcone]] and [[HornyDevils Lara]] [[TheVamp Raith]] have helped him on several occasions. Harry isn't thrilled at having to accept their help, but his ego is soothed by the fact that they are both self-serving manipulators who always get some benefit from the situation themselves. Whenever they do something that is genuinely charitable, brave, or a PetTheDog moment, Harry wastes no time reminding them that while they might be the lesser of two ([[GambitPileup or more]]) evils at the moment, that won't be the case forever. The situation is helped by the fact that all three of them have a WorthyOpponent status with each other, and they all take IGaveMyWord very seriously, so sometimes Harry has even ''asked'' for their assistance in exchange for some benefit he can give them because he knows that if they agree to a temporary alliance, they will keep to it.
* Fireheart in ''Literature/WarriorCats'' saves Sandpaw from falling into the gorge. Considering that up until this point Sandpaw has done nothing but insult Fireheart and call him useless, it's not surprising that she's angry at him for saving her - and pretends that she didn't need the help.
* Brother Thomas in ''Literature/PrioressEleanor'' saves Hugh from [[spoiler: drowning after Hugh had been captured by the villain. This is especially embarrassing for Hugh because earlier he punched Brother Thomas as he believes Brother Thomas raped the son of one of Hugh's friends. In reality, this is a FalseRapeAccusation.]]

* Falco of ''VideoGame/StarFox'' fame basically treats ''any'' rescue as one of these. His responses will range from ashamed ("I'm not too proud of what you just witnessed") to full-on Snark ("[[SarcasmMode Gee, I've been saved by Fox, how swell.]]"), depending on the game.

* In ''Webcomic/TheClassMenagerie'', young Biff asked not to be rescued from a fire by a {{Nerd}}, because he'd [[OnceDoneNeverForgotten never hear the end of it]].

* ''WesternAnimation/SpiderManTheAnimatedSeries'': In "Shriek of the Vulture", the Vulture placed a device on Spider-Man's forefront that rendered Spidey immobile until the device was removed by [[JerkJock Flash Thompson]]. Spidey didn't like being rescued by someone who [[TheBully bullies his alter ego]].

* Used as a joke in ''WesternAnimation/DannyPhantom'' when the titular hero rescues Skulker from a bunch of pink, man-eating unicorns that the Box Ghost released on him.
--> '''Skulker:''' [[LetUsNeverSpeakOfThisAgain I won't tell anyone about this if you won't.]]\\
'''Danny''': Deal.

->''"If anyone asks, I rescued you."''

* ''Manga/AyakashiTriangle'': Matsuri is almost obsessed with the idea of being Suzu's protector, and even once she joins him in battle he has to fight his instincts to treat her as an equal. When he ends up BroughtDownToNormal and rescued by Suzu, Matsuri's silently ashamed of himself. It isn't helped by their opponent saying Suzu "is like a hero rescuing [[GenderBender the heroine]]".

--->'''Tea:''' Yugi took over when you and Mokuba were turned to stone. Then he combined your deck with his deck, and he beat Noah!\\

[[caption-width-right:260:[-[[FoeRomanceSubtext "Dammit, Sasuke!]] [[ShipTease Now they'll ]]''[[ShipTease never ]]''[[FanFiction stop writing porn about us!]]"-] ]]

* In the horror parody ''Film/{{Slither}}'', Nathan Fillion's character is saved from a parasite deer by the whiny teen he's been carrying around, and tells her that if anyone asks, he saved her.

* ''Film/PulpFiction'': Bruce Willis' character saves his adversary from unmentionable gimp rape. The adversary does thank him, but demands the event be kept an absolute secret.

-->-- '''Seto Kaiba''', ''WebVideo/YuGiOhTheAbridgedSeries''

* In the second week of ''VideoGame/TheWorldEndsWithYou'', you (as Neku) have the choice to [[spoiler: save Uzuki and Kariya from a Taboo Noise. Uzuki plays this trope straight, but Kariya actually does try to thank you for the rescue and says he wasn't sure the pair of them could erase it alone.]] The best part is that Neku [[spoiler:[[InvokedTrope does this entirely on purpose.]] "Let's do it. They'll hate it."]]

* Falco of ''VideoGame/StarFox'' fame basically treats ''any'' rescue as one of these. His responses will range from ashamed ("I'm not too proud of what you just witnessed") to full-on {{Snark}} ("[[SarcasmMode Gee, I've been saved by Fox, how swell.]]"), depending on the game.

* Brother Thomas in ''Literature/PrioressEleanor'' saves Hugh from [[spoiler: drowning after Hugh had been captured by the villain. This is especially embarrassing for Hugh because earlier he punched Brother Thomas as he believes Brother Thomas raped the son of one of Hugh's friends. In reality, this is a [[FalseRapeAccusation]].]]

* A variant occurs early in ''[[Literature/HeraldsOFValdemar By the Sword]]'' when teenaged Kerowyn sets out to rescue her brother's kidnapped fiancee because her brother is near death and there's not a single able-bodied man available for the job. Dierna, the DistressedDamsel in question, is grateful enough to be rescued but very uncomfortable around Kerowyn afterwards, and it's a source of acute embarassment for Kero's brother that his sister had to rescue his fiancee for him.
* Zigzagged in ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles''; Harry's perennial foes [[TheDon Johnny]] [[BadassNormal Marcone]] and [[HornyDevils Lara]] [[TheVamp Raith]] have helped him on several occasions. Harry isn't thrilled at having to accept their help, but his ego is soothed by the fact that they are both self-serving manipulators who always get some benefit from the situation themselves. Whenever they do something that is genuinely charitable, brave or a PetTheDog moment, Harry wastes no time reminding them that while they might be the lesser of two ([[GambitPileup or more]]) evils at the moment, that won't be the case forever. The situation is helped by the fact that all three of them have a WorthyOpponent status with each other, and they all take IGaveMyWord very seriously, so sometimes Harry has even ''asked'' for their assistance in exchange for some benefit he can give them, because he knows that if they agree to a temporary alliance, they will keep to it.

* ''Series/DoctorWho'': Early in [[Recap/DoctorWhoS27E5WorldWarThree "World War Three"]], Mickey rescues Jackie from one of the Slitheen. Jackie has spent the past year demonizing Mickey because she thought, on no evidence, that he'd murdered her daughter Rose (who had been travelling with the Doctor and subject to a YearOutsideHourInside situation). Resulting in the following exchange:

* ''Series/ThePartridgeFamily'': In "I Left My Heart in Cincinnati," Keith tries doing a one-and-a-half gainer with a twist off a diving board to impress a girl, but ends up bellyflopping and needing to be pulled out of the water by [[AnnoyingYoungerSibling Danny]].

* Used as a joke in ''WesternAnimation/DannyPhantom'' when the titular hero rescues Skulker from a bunch of pink, man-eating unicorns. that the Box Ghost released on him.

* A variation happens in one episode of ''Anime/FullMetalPanicFumoffu'', where the rescuee isn't ungrateful or angry, but still finds the rescue embarassing: after Kaname and Ren are kidnapped, Sosuke and a group of yakuza barge into the enemy's stronghold to save them... in amusement park costumes. These are enhanced for (and efficient in) combat purposes, sure, but they are still cute mascot costumes repeatedly saying "Fumoffu", which makes for an awesome (and funny) scene, but a pretty embarassing way to be rescued.

* In ''Webcomic/TheClassMenagerie'', young Biff asked not to be rescued from a fire by a {{Nerd}}, because he'd NeverLiveItDown.

* ''Disney/TheLionKingIISimbasPride'': Kiara, who was thrilled about finally being able to prove herself on her first hunt, is none too happy that Kovu had to save her from a fire.

* In ''Webcomic/ImpureBlood'', after their attackers have mostly been fought off by Roan, a HalfHumanHybrid, the Watchers, sworn against the Ancient, [[http://www.impurebloodwebcomic.com/Pages/Issue4PAGES/ib083.html claim they would have managed]] without him. [[http://www.impurebloodwebcomic.com/Pages/Issue4PAGES/ib084.html Persistantly.]]

[[folder:Comicbooks]]

[[folder:Videogames]]

* ''Literature/LesMiserables'': Jean Valjean allows InspectorJavert to escape from the revolutionaries. Javert responds: "You annoy me. Kill me rather." The unexpected act of mercy so damages Javert's philosophy that he later [[spoiler:commits suicide]]