Summary:
Han and Gisele as a couple, and the moments from the previous year that led them to each other.
A sequel to Chapter 6, I Hope You're Holding Hands by New Year's Eve. Starts off a few days after they reunite in Zurich.
...
Chapter 13: Please Walk Beside Me in All I Do (Part 1)
SPRING - Darling, I've been waiting for you, all my life
1. Zurich, April 2010: The Early Bird and the Night Owl
"You can sleep through anything, huh?"
"When the nights are good." He sighs admiringly at her.
"I'm packed. We can go when you're ready." She tells him with a small smile, returning to finish rearranging the things in her closet.
"Can't remember the last time I was up this early. I hope you know this doesn't set a precedent." He says sitting up and stretching his arms.
"I'll get you on my side soon enough." She says as she sits down next to him.
"Too cocky," he tuts at her.
"I was very good at my job." She whispers in his ear, rubbing along his neck.
"What was that?" He asks, running his hand up and down her side.
"Persuasion."
"Is that what they call it? I can be very convincing, too." He offers, moving her onto her back as his hand sneaks under her tank.
"I'm surprised you lift a finger with all the people you have doing things for you. Vault guy?"
"I delegate. It's more practical. Efficient."
"That's not going to work on me."
"Are you sure? I recall a certain someone acquiring a handprint for me about a year ago. That wasn't you?"
"That had nothing to do with you." She scoffs, shaking her head.
"I'll have to try harder, then. I know a few third party delegates that could help with that? I'd have to supervise, and help out. I lift my finger for the fun stuff," he winks.
"Not even three days together and you're already at it."
"That's not a 'no,'" he smirks, capturing her lips in a searing kiss.
"No three-ways in my kitchen."
"Okay, darling."
"No three-ways, anywhere." She admonishes.
"Just you and me, then," he says, rolling onto his back as he brings her in closer for another kiss.
...
2. Germany, April to May 2010: Gisele (from Rio!) and Han (also from Rio)
"No chips?" She asks from the passenger seat, opening the package of cookies.
"Found my sweet tooth in Britain. The cookies, biscuits. Not achingly sweet like in America."
"You didn't go to Berlin the last time you were in Germany?"
"Wasn't feeling it." he answers nonchalantly, eyes on the road.
He doesn't tell her it wasn't far enough away from her at the time. Macau with Rome and Tej seemed like the smarter option.
He didn't want to push his luck. He's grateful that she's in the car with him today instead of preparing to marry another man.
He texted her a few times after Munich, once to give her his new cell phone number, and another time to ask if there was anything he shouldn't miss out on when he was in Portugal in late October (she doesn't know, she's never been). That was their friendship.
She didn't make it to Thanksgiving. He didn't expect her to so soon after her breakup. He didn't know what to say or do. He ending up texting her a picture of a car that he and Dom were fixing up, to let her know that he was still in the Canary Islands.
'Boys.' She replied.
They were family.
..
In Berlin, they do tourist things. Take in the beer, architecture; visit the remnants of the Berlin Wall. One museum had the largest dinosaur mounted skeleton structure in the world, he was particularly pleased.
Soon they decide to take advantage of the bike paths. It's a chance for fresh air, they'll be driving all the time, she tells him. And they do when they explore the cities around Berlin.
..
She takes stock of their travels in a small leather-bound notebook that he sent her last summer, postmarked from Copenhagen.
The inscription had said:
To Gisele (from Rio!),
For your next adventures, I noticed you were running low on pages when I was looking at your travel notes. I added my notes on Belgium, the Netherlands, and Denmark. I hope things don't change too much, whenever the winds lead you there, but if they do, so what? Change is good, right?
Hope to see you out there.
Take care.
-Han (also from Rio)
P.S. Who skis in the summer? But I'll try if you lead the way. See you soon.
...
LAST SPRING - Crossed towns and hills and rivers for you, all my life
3. Formality/Undeniable Chemistry in France (May 2009)
She likes Han, but the flirting doesn't lead to anything. She's willing to let it play out after what happened with Braga. Maybe it will lead to something in the future. Maybe it's just a crush and they'll just be friends, and that doesn't seem too bad. She's back in Zurich after Rio, as she was thinking about finding a place there before Dom called.
..
His last sort-of relationship didn't end well, and he really likes Gisele. He doesn't want to ruin it or rush it, and something feels off, so he offers her a noncommittal invite to meet up. Just a friendship doesn't seem too bad right now. He'll feel it through like he always does.
..
He spends his time alone in Paris seeing the sights. When she arrives, they pick up where they left off in Rio, gentle flirting. But that doesn't last long, they watch street performers close the night out, and then they're kissing.
When they enter her room, he murmurs something about formality, and undeniable chemistry. A rare talker, she loves the sound of his voice, but all she wants right now is for him to shut up and run his hands and mouth all over her.
..
Near the first week's end, they're spontaneously in Rouen when she mentions Joan of Arc and Monet.
"Why didn't you kiss me in Rio?" she asks the next morning.
"I was on the job. Professionalism. Why didn't you?" he asks, putting on his wristwatch.
"Same reason," she says, pulling him in for a teasing kiss. "You should have waited for me to shower."
"See, how was I supposed to do my job with you in my face all day?"
"You've got two hands. But you should watch your back. I might be a con artist, and you're a prime target.
"I'm the one who's dressed and ready to leave. Who's conning who?" he counters.
"I'm a trained professional. I'd track you down in no time. Do you always carry a spare change of clothes?"
"I've been known to be practical."
"Aren't you a smart boy." She replies, smoothing out the wrinkle on his shirt.
"That's what you like about me."
"No. It's just chemistry." She tells him, running her hands along his backside.
"I think I need another shower. You're very, very dirty. Germs all over me now." He whispers in her ear.
"Too smart-mouthed for your own good," she says, removing his shirt on the way to the shower.
"You still want me."
"Always want you."
..
They spend their first few nights at whoever's hotel room was nearest by the night's end, but the last week, they gravitate to her place. They wander around in between, spare clothes in tow.
They don't make it to Southern France. He's not in a hurry like most tourists. He's embracing the luxury of having time and money on his side.
..
"One last time," she says, crawling into his lap on the sofa and covering his neck with kisses.
"You said that the last time," he chuckles, "I'm never going to make it out of here if I don't leave now."
"Then don't leave," she whispers, eyes shimmering between playful and pleading.
"I'm all yours, tonight." He tells her dreamily, kissing her luscious lips, and carrying her to the bed. He doesn't want to think of Brussels or Prague right now.
A/N:
Chapter title and 'seasons' subtitles are lines from the song "All My Life" by Nizlopi.
I get a lot of Han characteristic from Better Luck Tomorrow. It might seem out-of-character from FF, but I feel like he's not a main character so we only see certain sides to him that suit the storyline. In BLT he's as cool as he is angry –so when I have him get ticked at Gisele, I feel like it's just another side to him and shows growth that he's willing to show more than just the side that wants to please her all the time. And this is where the super-angry and punchy Han comes from after Gisele dies and he's just punching the dude like nobody's business and throws him into the turbine THAT TOOK DOWN THE PLANE.
In the F5 commentary, Justin Lin speaks of talking to the actors about their characters; how Elsa Pataky's Elena's stuff was 99% offscreen or how he chatted with Matt Schulze (Vince) the most about character motivation and such. He fought for character moments when the producer was hesitant that it wouldn't fit a FF film; how it was important to the evolution of the films.
I do think my drabbles are more character moments. The closest I have to a plot is this AU (chapters 6, 10-12, 13-16). I had a note about requests, but I took it down, because I'm rubbish with plot (my "undercover" AU's been stalling since May) and I want to have a plot-resolution all planned out in case I lose interest writing.