Best Eliot/Hardison Slow Burn Fanfics
The best slow burn Eliot/Hardison (Eliot Spencer/Alec Hardison) fanfiction on AO3, curated by popularity. Readers love the anticipation, the meaningful character development, and the eventual payoff of a well-earned romance.
Top Eliot/Hardison Slow Burn Fic Recs
2 slow burn Eliot/Hardison fics matched, followed by other top-rated Eliot/Hardison stories.
Ordinary
Slow Burnby McStories (Lucy)
Eliot is their Hitter: he deals out the violence, and, when someone has to, he takes the blows aimed their way.Except when things don't work out that way at all. Then nothing makes sense anymore.
Coded Affection
Slow Burnby Buddie_lover_224
Eliot Spencer and Alec Hardison are a perfect team—on the job. Off it? They’re hiding a secret: they’re dating. Between dangerous cons, high-stakes marks, and a team that notices everything, keeping their relationship under wraps is harder than any job they’ve pulled.Stolen moments, late-night confe
One kiss for luck, two for confusion
by tenshavingatime
It’s a normal day to start. Like any other since Nate and Sophie left. Eliot wakes up in the morning, makes breakfast for himself, Hardison and Parker, and then they find a client for the week. But before they find a client, Parker bounces into the kitchen and compliments Eliot’s cooking before she’
Give and Take
by Atlas_124
People don’t tend to look at Eliot Spencer and think ‘that there is a man who likes to get pushed around in bed’.To be fair, he likes it that way. While he got over his own masculinity crisis years ago, there’s still plenty of people in the world who'd lose respect for a submissive guy. Especially i
proxy
by idkimoutofideas
Eliot stayed still as Parker paced around him. She got like this sometimes—insistent, bossy, like she was masterminding sex. Eliot didn’t mind it.No, that was a lie. Eliot loved it.Kinktober day 3: threesome
Death Truly Never Holds
by AlekiaAngel02
"He's a Winchester. They know everybody."
all's well that ends... not as bad as it could have
by freshmangoes
According to the clock on the nightstand, Eliot has been trying to fall back asleep for the past twenty-seven minutes. — Eliot wakes up from a nightmare and needs a little support. Luckily, he's got the sweetest boyfriend in the whole world to take very good care of him. Contains: Eliot Spencer: Tou
The Sidewalk Chalk Job
by VirginiasWolf
While fighting the mark's muscle Eliot accidentally inhales an unknown substance and it becomes Hardison's job to care for him when he begins to act strange.
the moon and back (and past that too)
by freshmangoes
“Hey,” Eliot says. “What’s goin’ on, sweetheart? What’s got you up?” Silence at first. Hardison closes his eyes. Then he sighs. “I think it was the hotel at first,” he starts. “But then I started thinking about the job, and I just… I couldn’t get back to sleep. I had to work on something.” Hardison
perfect, in other words
by freshmangoes
The texts come in rapid-fire. Alec ❤️: Eliot Alec ❤️: Eliot get in here right now Alec ❤️: The bedroom that is Alec ❤️: Eliot get in the bedroom Alec ❤️: The bedroom Eliot Alec ❤️: Why aren’t you in here yet Alec ❤️: If you don’t get your cute little butt in here I’m gonna start screaming Alec ❤️: a
"Is that a gun or are you [...] happy?"
by Lines (Nemalined)
Hardison asks Eliot a question that he knows the answer to, because he knows that that thing poking him ain't a gun.
2016
by Anonymous
(A coda to the Gone Fishin’ Job, written as if it had taken place in the 2020s.) The team learns a dark secret about Eliot’s past, darker than they could have ever imagined, and their hitter is no longer welcome on their team. When they next see Eliot, it’s from the opposite side of the biggest job
just like this
by freshmangoes
“Need somewhere to put that thing?” he teases. Hardison snorts. “Depends. You want a little somethin’?” At that, Eliot actually considers. He really isn’t riled up—it’s still pleasant, relaxing. An early-morning fool-around has always been a favorite of his but today he finds he’s alright without. S
Through Your Eyes
by glitter_and_crimson
Parker gets a film camera and makes it everyone (Eliot's) problem. Eliot has long since given up seeing something worthwhile in the mirror but maybe a camera lens can offer a different perspective.
love, love, love, turtles all the way down
by benwvatt
“Fine.” It leaves Eliot’s mouth like a father. “Fine what?” Strict, but fair. “I’ll put it on again! Hasn’t even been two-” “An hour an’ forty-five. Sunscreen only lasts two hours,” he steps forward, hair bobbing ‘neath the sweatband. It makes Parker laugh. “Two, you hear me?”Or: The OT3 has to prac
[Podfic] Cold read of "untitled goose leverage" series by mitzvahmelting
by AppleSapling
He never thought he'd be satisfied sharing his life with people who didn't get games.Podfic of untitled goose leverage series by mitzvahmelting.
Desperate Times
by lover_of_blue_roses
Hardison and Spencer end up trapped in a closet together, only Hardison has to piss so fucking bad. And when Hardison pisses himself, Spencer discovers a new thing about himself. Something they have to explore together.
[Art] Soft Eliot
by MimiHylea
Teenage Eliot borrowing Hardison's clothes.
changed for the better
by TFALokiwriter
Being awakened very early in the morning wasn't how Hardison imagined his perfect morning to start, well, technically, he always imagined it to start softly and with grace taking his time before good news were shared. Unfortunately he lives with the one and only Elliot Spencer who would stoop low in
035. Precise [Podfic]
by farkenshnoffingottom
Precise. It's a hobby that makes sense for a genius hacker, once Eliot thinks about it. It's very detail-oriented.A podfic of aimmyarrowshigh's fic "Precise"
Find More Eliot/Hardison Slow Burn Stories on AO3
Browse the full AO3 archive for slow burn Eliot/Hardison fanfiction, sorted by kudos. Then read offline with Fanfict Reader.
Why Slow Burn Eliot/Hardison Fanfiction Works So Well
Eliot Spencer/Alec Hardison — The team's hitter Eliot Spencer and hacker Alec Hardison, whose opposites-attract dynamic creates compelling romantic tension.
Slow Burn — A romance that develops gradually over time, with tension building across chapters or the entire story.
The contrast between Eliot's physical prowess and Hardison's tech genius, plus their protective instincts for each other, makes for engaging stories. Readers love the anticipation, the meaningful character development, and the eventual payoff of a well-earned romance. That's why slow burn Eliot/Hardison fanfiction is one of the most consistently popular combinations on AO3.
More Eliot/Hardison Tropes
Eliot/Hardison · Hurt/Comfort
One character is hurt (physically or emotionally) and another provides comfort and care.
Read hurt-comfort →
Eliot/Hardison · Fluff
Light, happy, feel-good stories focused on sweet moments and happiness.
Read fluff →
Eliot/Hardison · Protective
One character goes to great lengths to protect another from physical, emotional, or other harm. Protection can be obvious or secretive.
Read protective →
Eliot/Hardison · Established Relationship
Characters are already in a romantic relationship at the story's start. Focus is on maintaining, deepening, or navigating challenges within existing love.
Read established-relationship →
Eliot/Hardison · Humor
Fic written to make you laugh: crack premises played straight, group-chat chaos, banter-driven romcoms, and comedies of errors starring characters canon treats with deadly seriousness. One of AO3's biggest tags for good reason.
Read humor →
Slow Burn in Other Ships
Love slow burn? Explore the same trope in other popular pairings:
Read Leverage on the go
Fanfict Reader is the best way to browse, search, and read AO3 fanfiction on your iPhone. Download for free and start reading your favorite Leverage fics today.