Over the past decade, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has built a world where legendary comic-book heroes engage in exciting fights with villains who often threaten the fabric of reality itself. But no story is complete without emotion, and not everything is about battle.

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The MCU may not focus strictly on romance, but the franchise has its fair share of love stories. Though some don’t end in happily-ever-afters, they are still memorable for the depth they add to each individual character.

10 Thor And Jane Are A Little Too Different To Make Things Work

Thor holds Jane's hand

In his origin story, the God of Thunder Thor is banished to Earth as a result of his arrogant and bloodthirsty behavior. His growth as a character may be based on him being humbled, left without his powers, and eventually losing his brother. But the human Jane Foster also plays an important role. When Thor lands on Earth, Jane literally runs him over—twice. She provides him with shelter and feelings begin to form between them.

Thor promises to return for her when he goes back to Asgard, but in the wake of the Bifrost’s destruction, he is unable to come back. They are reunited in Thor: The Dark World and the bond between them is still there. But in the end, they are a little too different to make things work, and they have parted ways by Ragnarok.

9 Dr. Strange’s Love For Christine Palmer Might Be The World's Undoing

Doctor Strange tries to save his universe and Christine with his magic

Stephen Strange’s relationship with Dr. Christine Palmer doesn’t receive a lot of attention in his origin story. The Disney+ series What If…? changes that, creating a reality where Christine dies, and Stephen dedicates himself to bringing her back. His obsession leads to the emergence of a dark version of Stephen, one who absorbs more and more power in the hope of saving his lover.

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His quest fails, as her resurrection collapses his universe, and she ends up dissolving in his arms again. But Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness promises the return of this version of the character. He may very well be attempting to find another version of Christine, and this obsessive love might prove to be the undoing of the whole world.

8 Bruce And Betty’s Relationship Is Memorable, If Brief

Betty and Bruce meet in the rain

One of the less popular MCU entries, The Incredible Hulk is nonetheless memorable for introducing the relationship between Bruce Banner and Betty Ross. Betty ignores the opinions of her father Thaddeus Ross and is never fearful of Bruce, even when he is in his Hulked-out state. Similarly, Bruce wishes to protect Betty even as the Hulk.

Unfortunately, the two appear to part ways and Betty is never mentioned again after her brief appearance. She makes her return in What If…?, reminding fans of her original connection with Bruce. However, Bruce starts a somewhat surprising relationship with Natasha Romanov in the main storyline — one that doesn’t go anywhere either.

7 Peggy Carter Is Steve Rogers’ True Love

steve and peggy

One of the most iconic romances of the MCU is doubtlessly the relationship between Peggy Carter and Steve Rogers. The two have chemistry before Steve even becomes Captain America, but are separated when Steve is forced to crash his plane into the ice. Peggy goes on to marry someone else, and in present-day, Steve has a somewhat strange relationship with Peggy’s great-niece Sharon.

In Avengers: Endgame, Steve returns to the past and starts a new life there with Peggy. His decision creates an alternate reality which he later leaves after Peggy’s death. The concept has made some fans unhappy, as they feel Steve deprived Peggy of the natural course of her life. Others still consider the relationship between Steve and Peggy underdeveloped. Despite all the issues involved, it can’t be denied that Peggy is Steve’s true love.

6 Peter Quill And Gamora Have An Unlikely And Tragic Romance

Peter and Gamora about to kiss

The romance between Star-Lord and Gamora that echoes the saying ‘opposites attract.’ Peter Quill’s irreverent and sarcastic personality originally seems a poor match for Gamora’s stoic and distant nature. After the two become part of the Guardians of the Galaxy together, Peter’s affectionate heart wins Gamora over and they start a relationship.

Her death in Avengers: Infinity War enrages him so much that he attacks Thanos while he is incapacitated. Peter's reckless behavior sabotages the plan of his team, freeing the Mad Titan and sealing the fate of the universe.

5 Loki And Sylvie Create A Nexus Event With Their Unlikely Bond

Loki and Sylvie stand together during the apocalypse

When it comes to unusual romances, there’s nothing that beats the romance between Loki and Sylvie. In the Disney+ series, Loki, the 2012 version of the God of Mischief is captured by the TVA after escaping New York with the Tesseract. In exchange for his life, he is tasked with finding a highly dangerous variant of himself who has been attacking TVA agents.

The culprit turns out to be Sylvie, his female version. Loki ends up joining forces with Sylvie, and as the two untangle the mystery behind the existence of the TVA, they fall in love. The relationship doesn’t end well, as Sylvie chooses vengeance over romance. Fans of the show can only hope the two will be reunited in season 2.

4 Wanda And Vision Have A Complex Relationship That Ends In Death

Wanda Maximoff And Vision smile at each other before a kiss in WandaVision

An android created out of vibranium through JARVIS’s code, the Mind Stone, and Thor’s thunder, Vision is an entity brought to life to defeat Ultron. His kind and almost naive outlook on life reassures the then grief-stricken Wanda. It’s all the more staggering that she chooses to attack him during Civil War, propelling him through several floors of concrete while making her way out of her perceived captivity.

The two make amends later and start a secret relationship, only to be separated when Thanos kills Vision. The loss affects Wanda so deeply she recreates a version of her lover, trapping the town of Westview in a bubble of chaos magic in the process. In the end, Wanda is forced to sacrifice Hex Vision and their children as well, as she acknowledges she cannot keep the citizens of Westview trapped there for the sake of her own happiness.

3 Phastos Finds Refuge In His Relationship With His Human Husband

Image from Eternals shows Phastos and his family talking to Sersi and Ikaris.

Eternals is by far one of the least popular MCU releases ever, but some of its characters stand out thanks to their depth and relationships. After the Hiroshima bombing, the inventor Phastos is grief-stricken by the effect his inventions have on the course of human history. He finds refuge in his relationship with his human husband Ben Stoss.

The two have a son, and they’re obviously very happy together. Ben supports Phastos when his fellow Eternals come to ask him to join them in their quest, and after the Emergence, the family is reunited. Unfortunately, Arishem the Judge arrives on Earth shortly after that, kidnapping Phastos to punish him for his disobedience.

2 Tony And Pepper’s Relationship Has Ups And Downs But They're Meant To Be

tony and pepper

Steve and Peggy’s relationship may be the oldest romance in terms of years, but the very first MCU relationship to grace the screen is Tony Stark and Pepper Potts'. Their bond is clear from the very first movie in the Iron Man trilogy, but their romantic relationship comes with a lot of ups and downs.

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Pepper can’t quite bring herself to accept the Iron Man armor, and there are moments when she and Tony seem to permanently break up. But in the end, they are meant to be. Tony finally asks Pepper to marry him and, they even have a daughter in the wake of Infinity War. It’s a shame that their happiness only lasts for a few years before Tony sacrifices himself to defeat Thanos.

1 Clint And Laura Barton Share A Marriage Built On Trust And Understanding

Clint is reunited with his wife

Hawkeye isn't exactly the best character in the MCU, and his wife Laura Barton only has brief appearances in Age of Ultron and Endgame. Their relationship receives far more development in the Disney+ series Hawkeye. Originally a SHIELD agent, Laura falls in love with Clint and the two are later married.

Laura eventually retires but remains supportive of her husband’s career. Even knowing the truth about Clint’s stint as Ronin, Laura never judges him. The two are a perfect match, and their relationship is based on trust and understanding.

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