hurt/comfort (fandom slang) A genre of fan fiction in which a character receives comfort from another after or while suffering injury, illness, or a traumatic experience. H/C stories appeal to readers in different ways. While genres for these stories range from drama to mystery, many stories are classified by their authors as romances or as “hurt/comfort” stories. Hurt/comfort is a fanwork genre that involves the physical pain or emotional distress of one character, who is cared for by another character. A great trope if you want to bring two characters closer together, or if you want to show how deep their relationship goes.

@BrennanSpeaks • 3y ago h/c lets me push characters to extremes. Someone who's normally very competent might end up facing challenges they can't overcome on their own. Someone who's usually very reserved and stoic might express more emotion, and said emotion becomes that much more meaningful. Characters figure out what's important to them in moments of suffering or life-threatening peril. And the comfort afterwards allows for the forging or renewing of relationships.

Nov 20, 2014 — One character is either physically or emotionally wounded in some way. Another character supplies nurturing and draws out the other’s pain. How many times have we all read this trope in one form or another, usually with a brooding hero who hides sorrow under a stoic mask? Only a special someone can reach through the layers to the vulnerable underneath. What draws romance readers to such scenarios over and over? It’s a great coping mechanism. To see them get back up. It gives our characters a chance to shine. Because it's character building. The comfort is the main fanservice being provided; the hurt is usually an excuse. Of course, the crux of hurt/comfort is that it’s never really one-sided. Whatever is lacking or damaged in the nurturer is also fixed by the nurturee. “You complete me” becomes “we complete each other” Posted on November 20, 2014