Frenemies — Tag Meaning
Tags the relationship that refuses to pick a lane: rivals who'd take a bullet for each other, friends who'd also happily push each other off a (low) cliff. The frenemy dynamic runs on contradiction — genuine loyalty expressed exclusively through hostility neither party means.
What to Expect From "Frenemies" Fics
Antagonism and allegiance in constant rotation, with the affection visible precisely in how much energy the hostility requires.
How to find Frenemies fics on AO3
On AO3, click any tag to see every work that uses it, then refine with the "Filters" sidebar — combine it with your fandom or ship, set a rating, or exclude tags you don't want. See our AO3 filtering guide for the full walkthrough.
Browse "Frenemies" works on AO3Popular Fics Tagged "Frenemies"
Real examples from AO3's most-kudosed works:
Related Tags
Rivalry
Covers competition as relationship: characters defined against each other in sport, work, magic, or war, each the other's chosen measuring stick. Fanfic treats rivalry as the most honest form of attention — nobody studies you like a rival does — which is why so many of these fics drift shipward.
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Enemies to Friends
The redemption arc of relationships, stopped deliberately at friendship: former adversaries building trust without the romance the lovers-variant promises. It suits gen writers and dynamics where the satisfying destination is respect and camaraderie — the handshake, not the kiss.
Tag guide →
Banter
Celebrates rapid-fire, affectionate verbal sparring as a feature worth tagging. Fics under this tag lead with dialogue — teasing, wit, comebacks — and it is a signature tag for ships whose canon chemistry runs on quips. For many readers, good banter is the entire reason to open a fic.
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Teasing
Affection expressed through provocation: needling, mock insults, and relentless gentle mockery between characters who adore each other. The tag covers both playful couple dynamics and the longer arc where teasing is how two emotionally guarded people admit they're paying attention.
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