I've always really liked Bean X Bark, but my mind never registered how rare it actually is. Genuinely I just see every canon-interaction/fanart/fanfic as being within the ship unless otherwise stated. It's an insane case of rose tinted glasses for them specifically. Their dynamic is just so queer by default, I can't view them as anything else.
During Archie-era they were ALWAYS together, with this near-unprecedented level of casual physical contact (and on Bark's end it is seemingly reserved ONLY for Bean. Favoritism).
In those comics, Bean is characterized as this unhinged guy who isn't attached to anyone or anything, and yet when he's paired up with Bark there's this sense of 'oh, Bean enjoys Bark's company'. It's not as plain text as it is in the IDW take, so this is actually best seen when compared to how Bean interacts with Nack. Bean will find a way to fuck with Nack every minute of every day, but you don't see him actively trying to annoy Bark. They just hang out normally (as normal as Bean can manage). Surely this must mean something.
Bark is characterized to have a smidgen of a conscience in him, but he doesn't treat Bean as just a responsibility. Yes, Bean gets himself into trouble often, and Bark does have to hold him back a lot, but I firmly believe there's more to it than just obligation. Bark actually likes the guy. He will put in effort to humor Bean sometimes. One specific example of that is in the Sonic Universe Pirate Plunder Panic arc. Bean is doing a little comedy bit, asking Bark to make one of those smoothies he's good at making, and listing random specifications for it. Bark not only makes the smoothie, but he also adds every single one of those specifications. He didn't have to do that, but he did!! Because he listens and he cares!!! I am not looking too much into it I swear I'm not.
There's the general thing where Bark is perfectly comfortable with letting Bean speak for him in most situations. The IDW comics actually doubled down on that, and they made it even more clear that Bean has this uncanny ability to understand Bark. That whole concept is so so special to me.
It's also such good sociopath rep on Bean's part, if you categorize him as that, which I do (though it more so applies to the Archie version). The idea that Bean can be valued and he can value that same person in turn despite his condition is important to me. You don't see that idea very often.
There's something so inherently special about Bark and Bean's dynamic, but it's easy to miss out on because they aren't front and center. Bark and Bean are meant to be entertaining side characters. They weren't made to be overly elaborated on, they just exist the way they are. And what they are is queer. Thank you for reading my essay.
