Security Cling

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Something is scary. Something is terrifying. Something makes one character desperately afraid.

What better response than to grab a hold of someone bigger and stronger than you to protect you?

The original version has a woman glomping a man in fright, and it's Truth in Television; why do you think guys want to take their girlfriends into Haunted Houses? Heck, why do girls want to go through haunted houses with their boyfriends? They want to invoke this trope. Might be accompanied by the phrase "Hold Me". Also a way to Ship Tease and play up Will They or Won't They? (or at least can seem that way to fans with Shipping Goggles). Occasionally both characters are scared and cling to each other.

A common subversion is to have a larger, stronger character hold on to a weaker, smaller character (the man is scared and wants the girl to protect him). Or maybe it was the braggart who claimed to be brave who is actually the most terrified. May be a good way to get some Ho Yay in for characters of the same sex.

Another variant is a child hiding behind a teenager or adult and peeking around their leg fearfully/suspiciously. This is played more for Moe than Fan Service, however.

When turned Up to Eleven this might even have the scared person leap into the other person's arms (usually catching them by surprise). Going in the other direction, a more restrained form of this might have the fearful person reach out and hold tightly onto the sleeve of their companion.

Cry Into Chest is a sister trope. Depending on the situation, can result in Instant Seiza.

See also: Cat Scare, Eek! A Mouse!. Compare Cower Power.

Examples of Security Cling include:

Examples of clinging to another person's sleeve/arm

Anime and Manga

• Haruhi Suzumiya does this to Kyon when trapped in the sealed reality. Kyon lampshades it by suggesting that if she's really that scared she should just hold onto his arm. Haruhi's response? "Baka"
• Nagi does this several times in Hayate the Combat Butler, mostly to Hayate. Hinagiku is another favorite target for this, sometimes even when Hayate is also present. Most often it's someone hiding behind one of them for protection but the clingy-ness is definitely there.
  • Hinagiku even once did it to Hayate but she was just kidding and was messing with him due to her intense dislike of losing (triggered by getting scared earlier and getting saved by Hayate). Hayate even makes a Call Back to this around 200 chapters later, though he claimed he was also kidding, it's a cover for it actually being a Security Cling but instead because he was scared and wanted to protect her from Tama.
• In the Blood+ manga, Haji notes that it's something Saya has a habit of doing whenever she's nervous.
• Mega Man NT Warrior: Yai and Chaud ride an elevator, and when the lights go out and the elevator stops, she grabs his arm. His comment? "You're cutting off the circulation to my hand."
• Gau from Nabari no Ou has a rather cute tendency to cling onto Raikou's arms when he's nervous.

Live Action TV

• During the final moments of Supernatural Season Four, Sam and Dean react to Lucifer's imminent appearance this way ^{[dead link]}. Especially a Crowning Moment of Heartwarming considering all of the crap their relationship has been going through; Sam is actually directly responsible for freeing Lucifer, and betrayed and abandoned Dean to do it. However, their first instinct when they're desperate and terrified is still to cling to one another.

Western Animation

• In Total Drama Action a reluctant Courtney is forced to cling onto Duncan while they're balancing on a very narrow column during one challenge.
• Double Subversion in The Simpsons Season 14 finale "Moe Baby Blues". In one scene after baby Maggie takes a liking to Moe, he feels his sleeve being tugged upon, thinking it's her, but it turns out to be a branch from a bare bush. Later it happens again, in reverse: he thinks his sleeve caught on the branch again, but it turns out to be Maggie.

Real Life

• Humor writer Dave Barry describes watching a horror movie that made him whimper and cling to the person next to him: horror writer Stephen King, who in turn was whimpering and clinging to his wife.

Examples of a simple glomp (they grab onto the person)

Anime and Manga

• Kirie from Girls Bravo often does this to Yukinari whenever she's afraid.
• One episode in Sailor Moon has Usagi going to an arcade with Mamoru, Ali, and Ann. (Ali and Ann are actually aliens, Ali has a crush on Usagi and Ann has a crush on Mamoru). Both Usagi and Ann cling to Mamoru, and when things get a little scary inside, Usagi freaks and is thrown out of the ride and into the arms of Ali, who was thankfully nearby.
• Jessie and James from Pokémon. Fandom calls it the "Fear Hug". Misty also does this with Ash and Tracey a few times.
• Also from Haruhi Suzumiya, Mikuru did this to Kyon during the Mysterique Sign episode in response to seeing the giant cricket that was about to attack them.
  • There's also a moment in Remote Island Syndrome where Mikuru clings to Yuki after hearing Haruhi speculate that the former will be a murder victim. This was censored in the anime though.
• The Siesta Sisters from Umineko no Naku Koro ni do this when they realize that Battler's AntiMagic is Over Nine Thousand!.
• In Ouran High School Host Club while the club is at Kyouya's (or Nekozawa's in the manga) private beach Tamaki and Haruhi had an argument. Things are quickly patched up after Haruhi first grabs the bottom of Tamaki's shirt when he turns to leave the room after she hears a clap of thunder. She then climbs into a nearby armoire, and Tamaki opens the doors trying to coax her out. Cue another loud crash of thunder to send Haruhi right into Tamaki's arms.
• To up the Ho Yay factor, America does this to Japan in episode 51 of Axis Powers Hetalia while watching a scary movie.
• During the exploration (and escape from) the ruins of the Sanzenin Mansion in the Golden Week arc, Hayate holds onto Nagi and Ayumu's hands, claiming they're 'frail girls', leading Hinagiku to thinking that Hayate likes frail girls. But Fridge Logic dictates that this is actually the opposite, Hayate himself is clinging to the girls because they're frail and important that he know that they're alright, and Hinagiku, who he knows is strong enough to take care of herself, doesn't need to be protected for him to know she's safe. Much Ship Tease leads and follows in the arc.
• Hanaukyo Maid Tai La Verite episode 7. After Konoe regains consciousness in an underground room, her terrified assistant Yashima Sanae runs into the room and performs a full body (arms and legs) frontal Glomp on her.
• In Sonic the Hedgehog The Movie, Tails does a full-body glomp onto Sonic every time lightning strikes.
• Ranma ½: Akane glomps onto Ranma when she becomes scared by ghosts in The Cursed Tunnel of Lost Love. This trope was also discussed earlier in the arc.

Man: It's really scary in there, you know. Your girlfriend will squeeze you for dear life! Ranma: Well, I don't want to be hugged by Akane. That's for sure! Akane: Who would want to hug you, anyways?!

• • In the manga, when Ranma and Akane are cornered into a wall by a tiger, she grabs onto him. He has a major fear of cats, so he isn't doing too hot either.
  • Played for laughs shortly after. The tiger Gosunkugi used to scare Ranma is in return scared of Ranma's Cat-Fu. The tiger's so terrified that it jumps into Kuno's arms, which makes Kuno think it's attracted to him, then clings to and hides behind him.

Kuno: I'm sorry, but my heart belongs to another. Random guy: I don't think it's asking you for a date!

• • Invoked in the battle dogi arc. While Ranma tries to seduce Akane in a closet to prevent her from wearing a powerful suit, Genma and Soun attempt to help things along by throwing some snakes and frogs at Akane. It works, until the suit itself interrupts.
• In episode 15 of D.N.Angel Risa does the Security Cling to Riku. And in episode 18 Riku does it to Daisuke.

Fan Works

• ToyHammer has Sanctioned Psyker Ishabeth hug and cling to Commissar Tomas after he performs a fatal Click. "Hello." to her evil counterpart.
• Happens to Kyon three times at once in Kyon: Big Damn Hero, with Haruhi taking Mikuru to see Saw specifically to invoke this trope. Mikuru ended up in Kyon's lap, with Haruhi and Miyoko clinging to either arm.
• In the very beginning of With Strings Attached, when John and Paul see the second moon and realize they're not just kidnapped but kidnapped onto another planet, they grab onto each other, “the only familiar things left in the universe,” and start to scream. After they calm down, John detaches from Paul because he's clawing the crap out of Paul's arm.

Film

• Blazing Saddles. Taggart does a "single glomp" version on Hedley Lamaar when he's frightened by a scaffold trap door releasing outside.

Live Action TV

• Sam fright glomps Carly during the Halloween Episode. Leads to Getting Some Les Yay Under The Radar.
  • In "iMove Out", Carly grabs onto the back of Freddie and pulls him toward her when a loud noise is heard in Freddie's apartment. And again in iBelieve in Bigfoot, Carly backs off and holds close onto Freddie's arm when the gang encounters the alleged "Big Foot".
• In Happy Days, Richie, Ralph and Potsie are talking to a scientist who tells them a tornado is about to hit the lab they are in. Ralph goes into full panic and screams, "Everyone, grab something heavy!" and instantly glomps on to the heavyset scientist who notes that the boy has one really strong grip.
• In Doctor Who, Jamie Mc Crimmon and the Second Doctor do this a lot. Occasionally Victoria or Zoe will get in on the act, too.
  • The Eleventh Doctor and Amy have a variation. Because Amy's story is one traumatic Break the Cutie moment after another, the Doctor develops a habit of clinging tightly to her and rubbing her back while delivering each new piece of bad news. Asking permission from her husband Rory every time, of course.
• Mert and Tommy on Big Wolf on Campus. So very much.
• Dick and Dom are always prone to this (Played for Laughs) when threatened by mild peril, or gunge. And it is adorable.

Video Games

• Phoenix Wright and Miles Edgeworth do a double security cling during She-Hulk's ending in Marvel vs. Capcom 3, when Jen whacks her gavel on the judge's bench a little too hard.
• In Final Fantasy VIII Rinoa does this three times to Squall. First, after being rescued from the Iguions, she grabs onto him and doesn't want to let go. Later, while on the Ragnarok, after the intense sequence of events that's just occurred, she takes advantage of the gravity being turned off to float down into Squall's lap and puts her arms around him, telling him that it makes her feel safe. The third time is when she hugs him after he rescues her from the sorceress memorial.

Web Comics

• In Dangerously Chloe Naomi did cling to Teddy... when she expected Alien Abduction... by Teddy. She was a little confused about this all, obviously.

Western Animation

• Fairly Oddparents - Crocker spazglomped Norm the Genie. Norm did not like it at all.
• A Teen Titans episode has this with Raven and Starfire, complete with freakout-screams. Given how powerful they both are, it's hilarious.
• Just before boarding the Lowardian ship in the Kim Possible Grand Finale, Shego warns Ron to "Hold on!". He latches onto her, and she snaps "Not to me!"
• Mrs. Bighead does this to Rocko in the Rocko's Modern Life episode "Cabin Fever" when Heffer tells them a scary story.
• In the movie Nine, 5 and 9 cling to each other while hiding from the Fabrication Machine.
• Total Drama has a few moments like this:
  • When their bus falls off a cliff in the TDA special Justin can be seen hugging Noah. Same goes for Tyler and Lindsay and Geoff and Bridgette.
  • While the cast fall from the plane in the Japan episode Harold and Tyler can be seen semi-hugging during the song.
  • In "I See London...", Sierra grabs onto Cody when the Ripper attacks them, funnily, he appears more horrified about Sierra than the actual Ripper.
• Nancy and Mimi are quite prone to this on The Amazing Chan and The Chan Clan. Stanley also does this a few times to Henry (who, strangely enough, doesn't seem to take issue with it despite having limited patience with his brother).
• Probably the most memorable scene of TMNT that Mikey and Don were a part of - which isn't saying much, since it was part of a trailer. If memory serves, each grabbed onto the other.
• In the ending of one of the many chases that Pepe Le Pew conducts on Penelope they both fall off of a cliff and in response Pepe draws a parachute that saves both of them. On their way down Penelope is holding onto Pepe for dear life, while Pepe is viewing this as a matter of affection rather than necessity. Still a cute exchange regardless.
• In one episode of Monster Buster Club, Danny and Cathy hold onto each other when they think they are about to be turned into statues.
• SpongeBob SquarePants: From "Graveyard Shift" Squidward and SpongeBob hug each other because they're terrified of the Hash Slinging Slasher.
• My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic does this a few times, especially in "Look Before You Sleep". In this case, it's Rarity and Applejack, who have been on each others' nerves through the whole episode, clinging to each other in moments of weakness.

Examples of leaping into another person's arms

Anime and Manga

• Hanaukyo Maid Tai La Verite. Yashima Sanae jumps into Konoe Tsurugi's arms in the opening titles.

Film

• Pretty much played straight in Raiders of the Lost Ark with Marion jumping into Indy's arms (and then climbing onto his shoulders) when they realize they are standing in a snake pit.
• Is a Running Gag at the beginning of The Gods Must Be Crazy 2 as beautiful hotshot lawyer is spooked by savannah critters while in the company of a strong researcher. Also, she's wearing a long skirt, which makes it even funnier in practice.
• An extreme version in Toy Story. When Woody and Buzz are facing the mutilated toys in Sid's room, Woody climbs on top of Buzz's head.
• The Man Called Flintstone. When Barney confronts the Green Goose, the villain's Right-Hand Attack Dog Ferocious snarls at him, causing him to jump into Fred's arms.

Live Action TV

• In an episode of Boy Meets World, the one with the serial killer that turns out to be All Just a Dream, Eric jumps into Jack's arms like this.
• Happens on a regular basis on Gilligan's Island, with Gilligan jumping into the Skipper's arms.
• In The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, Cody gets frightened in a supposedly haunted room and leaps into Maddie's arms. Maddie promptly drops him. When he tries it again with London later, she doesn't even try to catch him.
• In one of the Jack Hanna interviews on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, a particularly vicious animal scared Johnny so bad he leapt into Ed's arms...
• Chandler jumps into Joey's arms in the Friends episode The One After The Superbowl.
• In the British version of Splatalot, Dick and Dom purport to be frightened of two of the Attackers in one episode; Dom leaps into Dick's arms. Dick leaps into Dom's a few minutes later. Then they both try to leap into each other's arms at the same time.

Tabletop Games

• The 1st Edition Dungeons & Dragons Dungeon Master's Guide has a picture of a fighter jumping into a wizard's arms after encountering a rust monster. Here's the pic.

Web Comics

• Happens in Wildy's fic in DMFA.
• Happens when the red spy sneaks up on spy and scout in Cuanta Vida.
• Sequential Art has "Badoom 3. Supposedly the most frightening game ever made".
• In Eerie Cuties, when Melissa and her little coven "got volunteered" with Evil Laugh for transfer to another school, Jacqui jumps on the Melissa's hands, hugs her and closes eyes.
• In Freefall, a crocodile.

Western Animation

• Scooby Doo leaping into Shaggy's arms is probably the Trope Codifier.
  • One episode features a double-decker version. Expanding on the classic version whereby Scooby jumps into Shaggy's arms, Shaggy was in turn so terrified that he (along with his cargo) jumped into Fred 's arms.
    • There's a similar gag in another episode, but with Shaggy leaping into Velma's arms. That she can run from the monster of the week with both of them in her arms is certainly impressive.
  • During a Johnny Bravo episode where he meets the Scooby Doo gang, Daphne jumps into Fred's arms, he then winks in approval to the screen. Then Velma and Shaggy end up in his arms too and they crash.
  • In the "Where Are You" episode "Spooky Space Kook", Scooby jumps into Shaggy's arms after a chicken mistakes his tail for a worm and bites it.
• Cartoons - elephants leaping into the arms of either another animal or a human at the sight of a mouse was a standby.
  • Have them there for a bit, then realize the laws of physics still apply, and then splat.
• Twice in the episode linked from the Kidd Video page quote.
• Helga did this to Arnold in Hey Arnold! in the episode "Wheezin Ed". Sid did it to Rhonda as well for a bit of temporary Ship Tease.
• Jonny Quest episode "Terror Island". After being frightened by an exploding firecracker, Bandit jumps into Jonny's arms.
• Total Drama World Tour has Cody clinging desperately onto Owen's shoulders as an angry polar bear comes towards them.
  • Geoff also leaps into Bridgette's arms in one of the Aftermaths after an anvil nearly hits him.
  • Justin leaps into Courtney's arms after an alarm goes off in "Dial M for Merger".
• Happens more than once in Yellow Submarine during Blue Meanie attacks.
• Happens often between Jimmy and Beezy on Jimmy Two-Shoes.
• Superfriends (1973–74) episodes.
  • "The Planet Splitter". When Wendy, Marvin and Wonder Dog are surprised by Doctor LeBon's assistant aboard the space ship, Wonder Dog jumps into Marvin's arms.
  • "The Baffles Puzzle". When one of the bad guys slams a door and traps Wendy, Marvin and Wonder Dog in a room, Wonder Dog jumps into Marvin's arms again.
  • "The Power Pirate". When Wendy, Marvin and Wonder Dog are trapped in a dark room and a door suddenly opens, Wonder Dog jumps into Marvin's arms yet again.
• The Cartoon Network Groovies episode "Jabberjaw". When Jabberjaw is frightened by a giant robot he jumps into Clamhead's arms.
• Bobcat Socrates does this to Zach in Adventures from the Book of Virtues in the episode "Perseverance".
• A startled Booster leaps onto Buzz's shoulders in one episode of Buzz Lightyear of Star Command. Buzz's completely deadpan "Can I help you" makes it a Crowning Moment of Funny.
• Starfire jumped into Robin's arms when frightened by Beast Boy's enthusiasm in Teen Titans.
• Happens twice during a play of how equestria was created in My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic. Rainbow Dash even comments on this.