Perspective
Chapter 10: First Valentine's
Author's notes:
Published on February 13, 2024 PST
This is a NOT the same timeline/version/variation as Chapters 1-9
Summary:
Han wasn't one for Valentine's Day really.
Other than middle school and very early on in high school he's only had one serious enough girlfriend long ago but they only made it to one Valentine's and he made sure to avoid the date or near it or be very clear when all he wanted was to hook up, not that it would go as planned either with those terms on occasion.
But this one was different.
He's been with Gisele since summer and he wants to celebrate with her, even if it's just a simple dinner with chocolates and flowers.
….
Chapter 10: First Valentine's
….
Han wasn't one for Valentine's Day really.
Other than middle school and very early on in high school he's only had one serious enough girlfriend long ago but they only made it to one Valentine's and he made sure to avoid the date or near it or be very clear when all he wanted was to hook up, not that it would go as planned either with those terms on occasion.
But this one was different.
He's been with Gisele since summer and he wants to celebrate with her, even if it's just a simple dinner with chocolates and flowers.
And a small gift.
And that's what they do.
And at the end of the night they stood on bridge with a view overlooking the city talking into the morning.
"I didn't know how you'd take this if I'm honest," Han confesses, "Flowers and candy and all."
"What this corporate day they pass off as something else?" Gisele says sarcastically but beaming otherwise.
"I suppose if the circumstances were different."
Gisele turns further and into Han's embrace.
"Not circumstances," Gisele nods, "You're the one I want to spend this day with."
Han blushes and beams himself as they share a kiss.
…
YEARS LATER
Candles were lit and flowers were on the table as Han prepared for Valentine's dinner.
Maybe he and his Valentine, if you could call it that as they weren't big on the holiday but he figures after everything some semblance of "normalcy" is warranted.
There was a knock on the door so Han checks his suit one more time and takes the champagne off the ice cold bucket as his dinner companion preferred it that way.
And there Gisele stood with hair up, sunglasses, a long coat, and dessert box in hand.
Yes, Gisele.
Who he mourned, was back from the dead.
He couldn't believe it at first even after Letty and himself coming back from presumed death.
She took off her coat and sunglasses.
"You look as beautiful as ever," Han says with a kiss.
"You don't look bad yourself," Gisele teases lightly.
They share a deep and thorough kiss and Han thinks they might just skip dinner altogether when his stomach grumbles.
"I'm starving, too," Gisele clears her throat as she smoothes the collar of Han's shirt.
"Perfect timing," Han chuckles after timer goes off just then.
They have dinner.
"So when can we do this again?" Han asks after Gisele places her dishes in the sink and sneaking another chocolate covered piece of fruit.
Gisele finally cracks then seeing the love and adoration in his eyes, the way he briefly fidgets with the bracelet he gave her years ago.
And then feeling his touch surround her as he starts holding her.
"I…I don't know."
Gisele wills herself to go on.
"I should have never come back in your life if I couldn't make promises."
"Gisele…"
Gisele was alive but only to a handful of people.
"When you came out of hiding…I just couldn't help myself. I did everything I shouldn't have."
Gisele was a 'Ghost' and she thinks maybe that's her life and her fate and Han was just a stopover.
Familiar with a double life and alias as an agent she considered posing as Gisele's twin or even pretending she was always undercover since Rio and act like she was stringing Han along but she couldn't do that to him, even if it was for the short term.
"I was hopeful, but I was foolish…I just needed to see you…" Gisele tears up, "I should have known when I couldn't tell Dom and the others yet. Everything you've experienced with Mr. Nobody and those around him is just a fraction of it. There's a reason why we don't know where he is."
"These are my choices, Gisele," Han tries to reason, "Let me help you if I can."
"You have," Gisele holds back tears, trying to steady herself, "and I can't hurt you anymore."
"Please," is all Han can answer, holding on tighter to Gisele.
"I saw the pain when I took off my coat, when you saw my bruises and scars."
Han immediately rubs that spot, kissing it, "Please Gisele."
"I can't promise you…" Gisele palms his face, "You have a life…I can't."
"I'll make room, Elle will too," Han says softly, "What point is there without you? I can face anything but the only thing I fear is losing you again."
"You make it so hard Han…"
"I'll wait," Han keeps repeating as they hold on to each other.
….
Author's end notes for Perspective, Chapter 10: First Valentine's
I could only include so much in the intro notes or summary without spoiling but in this AU/timeline/version variation Han knows Gisele is alive post-F9 and pre-FX
I left it open-ended on purpose
-Fast X is either months away or more than a year away as I think most FF films are summer set (if not spring)
-And we don't know if Gisele manages to break up with Han by the end
-I also wanted this to be about them/almost timeless so I left out the specific city locations
Since it is Valentine's I was going to do a cute Valentine's because sometimes it's just easier to write when I have prompts but then I thought this twist was interesting so I included it here, and because I couldn't get much beyond what I had for their first Valentine's
I don't know if I'll revisit this timeline/version/variation anytime soon but if I do I think I will have the details of Gisele's whereabouts then
And I said on my other fic that whatever I write comes as it is so if one person gets more focus then the other then it's just the way if it is, and to prevent me from shoehorning or overthinking and delaying chapters, and hopefully it evens out with the other chapters