Shipper Manifesto: Nate Ford/Sophie Devereaux

[lovesrogue36.livejournal.com]

Fandom: Leverage

Pairing: Nate Ford/Sophie Devereaux

 

 

Blurb: Nate and Sophie are an oft-underappreciated ship which is a shame because they are both such intensely interesting characters. They both have pasts that show up to haunt them and they have a decade-long history that has never been fully explained. There are literally years worth of missing scenes, not to mention an utter lack of smut (yet), so there is a lot of room for fan fiction exploration. Thankfully there are several wonderful writers I get to share with you!

 

Fic Rec #1: Play the Game

Author: Belladonna Novacaine

Link: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6017100/1/Play_the_Game

Rating/Warning(s): PG-13/T

 

Why This Must Be Read: This fic is wonderful because it blends a Sophie character study and a Nate/Sophie fic into one. It is from a third-person version of her point of view and it really gets inside her head – which can be difficult to do! The Nate/Sophie borders on erotic but with that twinge of tension that keeps it perfectly in line with the show.

 

 

Fic Rec #2: Feels Like Letting Go

Author: Fleur27

Link: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5894252/1/Feels_Like_Letting_Go

Rating/Warning(s): R/M, mild smut

 

Why This Must Be Read: This is one of very few smutty fics Fleur has written and we all ought to band together to convince her to write more! It is subtle and emotional, showing how these two might have wound up together had it happened back in (the less than sober days of) season 1.

 

 

Fic Rec #3: Fine Art (Parts 1-4)

Author: Fleur27

Link:

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5829367/1/Fine_Art_Volume_1_Untitled_by_Franz_Kline
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5852162/1/Fine_Art_Vol_2_Office_at_Night_by_Edward_Hopper
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5852167/1/Fine_Art_Vol_3_Cityscape_1_Landscape_No_1
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5885912/1/Fine_Art_Vol_4_Wheatfield_with_Crows_by_Van_Gogh

Rating/Warning(s): PG – PG-13/K+ - T

 

Why This Must Be Read: A lot of Nate and Sophie’s relationship is based on art so it is infinitely appropriate how each of these fics takes a specific work and relates it to a period in their personal history. I especially love the second piece (Office at Night) because it has the edge of sex to it that their past is so infused with, without ever stepping over that line.

 

 

Fic Rec #4: Wanting

Author: v-volatile

Link: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5434163/1/Wanting

Rating/Warning(s): PG-13/T

 

Why This Must Be Read: This is another splendid presentation of “in Sophie’s head”. It shows her with a little more desire and a little less patience than we might be used to but is still very much in character. I love how frustrated she is with his reluctance to change their status quo.

 

 

Fic Rec #5: Menerbes

Author: TrivialQueen

Link: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/4991529/1/Menerbes

Rating/Warning(s): PG/K+

 

Why This Must Be Read: This is an AU from the end of season 1, showing how the two of them might have found their way back to each other again, despite Sophie’s misgivings.

 

 

Fic Rec #6: Two’s Company

Author: lillypilly11

Link: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/4937660/1/Twos_Company

Rating/Warning(s): PG-13/T

 

Why This Must Be Read: This is a really fun, sexy fic that I always come back to! It has a teasing Nate just as much as a teasing Sophie, which is rare and rather delightful. Besides, what fandom doesn’t need a closet trope?

 

 

Fic Rec #7: Somewhere Between Dinner and an Early Lunch

Author: lillypilly11

Link: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/4881232/1/Somewhere_Between_Dinner_and_an_Early_Lunch

Rating/Warning(s): PG-13/T

 

Why This Must Be Read: This is one of the original Nate/Sophie fics and still remains one of the best. It addresses the possible awkwardness between them, considering how long they’ve waited to be together, and manages to do it humorously and warmly.

 

 

Fic Rec #8: Expectations

Author: lillypilly11

Link: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/4859468/1/Expectations

Rating/Warning(s): PG-13/T

 

Why This Must Be Read: This fic is simply lovely. It draws me in every time, describing a very sexy moment in such romantic terms, you can’t help picturing them like this.

 

 

Fic Rec #9: Fifteen

Author: Morralls

Link: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/4893963/1/Fifteen

Rating/Warning(s): PG-13/T

 

Why This Must Be Read: This one is wonderful and must be read because she’s my best friend. ;D In all seriousness though, it is one of the best Nate/Sophie fics out there. It is not finished (please, get on her in reviews) but each chapter provides a wonderful new little insight into the possibilities of their past.

 

 

Fic Rec #10: Out in the Open

Author: ijemanja

Link: http://ijemanja.livejournal.com/99070.html?thread=797182

Rating/Warning(s): PG-13/T

 

Why This Must Be Read: I adore this fic to pieces. It’s funny, completely in character and so easy to visualize!!

 

 

Fic Rec #11: Sun and Moon

Author: Morralls

Link: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/4842919/1/Sun_and_Moon

Rating/Warning(s): PG-13/T

 

Why This Must Be Read: This fic reads almost more like poetry than prose. It describes Nate’s temptations and how easy it is to fall under her spell (and to get your passport stolen.)

 

 

Fic Rec #12: Ill-Gotten Gains

Author: ijemanja

Link: http://ijemanja.livejournal.com/116087.html#cutid1

Rating/Warning(s): R/M, smut

 

Why This Must Be Read: Smut interspersed with Nate analyzing everything – what could be more perfect? I think every shipper remembers the scene in the season 1 finale when Sophie slaps him silly in her storage unit. Well, that storage unit plays a rather delicious role in this fic.

 

 

Fic Rec #13: Renew

Author: ijemanja

Link: http://ijemanja.livejournal.com/121444.html#cutid1

Rating/Warning(s): R/M, smut

 

Why This Must Be Read: I actually only found this fic very recently and it is already one of my very favorites. It is one of only a handful set after Nate returns from prison at the beginning of season 3 and features them trying to work it out, presented by way of… yummy smut.

 

 

Fic Rec #14: Undone

Author: scarletts-awry

Link: http://scarletts-awry.livejournal.com/354755.html#cutid1

Rating/Warning(s): R/M, smut

 

Why This Must Be Read: Another season 1 setting, this fic addresses some of the season 1 issues, specifically Nate’s drinking, but, again, in the form of smut (is there any better way to address problems?). Sophie is mostly just sick of waiting and the inner dialogue in this fic is spot on.

 

 

Fic Rec #15: Like the Gun

Author: whimoffate

Link: http://community.livejournal.com/nathan_sophie/58264.html#cutid1

Rating/Warning(s): PG/K+

 

Why This Must Be Read: This is a WIP but it just keeps getting better and better. It is a little bit AU, focused on the strange interplay between Nate, Sophie, Maggie and Sterling, seeing as they all have interconnected histories going back a decade or so. It veers off sometime after the Two Horse Job but always stays perfectly in character.