Because the Link already exists (they are partners in a heist, crewmates on a starship, or rivals in a magic academy), the writer can bypass the tedious "getting to know you" phase. The audience understands that these two have seen each other’s scars. The romantic storyline then becomes about reinterpreting that history. "We’ve fought side-by-side for ten years," the character realizes. "Why did I never notice the way the firelight catches your jaw?"
Why these two people? A strong romantic storyline ensures the protagonists are not interchangeable. Perhaps they are the only ones who understand each other’s trauma (e.g., Buffy and Spike ), or their goals are mutually exclusive yet intertwined (e.g., Elizabeth and Darcy —he holds her family’s fate; she holds his self-respect). The link creates . Remove one, and the other’s character arc collapses. sexmex200612claudiavalenzuelamypregnant link
Post-1945 narratives shifted toward realistic settings and contemporary issues like career-driven heroines (1960s) and sexual liberation. Because the Link already exists (they are partners