Perspective
Chapter 15: Car Chat
Summary:
"And I thought you were in love with the Lexus LFA," Gisele jokes as she checks up on Han.
They were in a garage they were renting out after Han got hold of a rare car along their travels, staying at the apartment attached above for the time being.
He has been obsessive about it since, fixing it up.
Author's Notes:
Published on April 17, 2024
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Chapter 15: Car Chat
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"And I thought you were in love with the Lexus LFA," Gisele jokes as she checks up on Han.
They were in a garage they were renting out after Han got hold of a rare car along their travels, staying at the apartment attached above for the time being.
He has been obsessive about it since, fixing it up.
"That was more of a dream car in that I'd never thought I'd be able to buy outright, or at least as a new release. Or short of winning it off some asshole," Han replies, taking a drink of water, "This one's something you work hard for. Searching. Timing."
Gisele grins at Han's excitement.
"I haven't had a decent car for awhile," Han explains almost shyly, "I was on the go for awhile there, and always ready to leave when Dom or another friend calls for a job. Or it was just another Honda Civic I was fixing up for myself or others so maybe I was just in a rut."
"Did you give it a name yet?"
"Nothing's calling to me yet."
"If you need help, don't hesitate to ask," Gisele offers, "I'm sure there's something I could do that won't compromise it if I make a mistake. Hold something down if you need extra hands."
"I trust you," Han replies.
"I think I drive well," Gisele says, "But I can't just know instinctively like all you guys about the car stuff."
"You drive more than well," Han beams saying it like a true fact, "Besides you have your area of expertise, and with something like in Rio I think we all needed to have our specialties to avoid clashes."
"Or further delays if we did clash," Gisele says getting flashbacks, "I've been in too many of those rooms in the past."
Han nods in agreement, starting to clean up, "I'll be ready for dinner. We can stay in or dress up real nice for a night out, or maybe a casual night out."
"It's so unfair," Gisele nods her head, "Men shower for ten minutes and you're done. Sometimes shower and dressed in that time too."
"I don't know how to respond to that," Han chuckles, looking over at Gisele, "without sounding like I'm just agreeing but based on my experience that has been more true than not."
"What do you feel like? Noodles or pasta? Something bread-y like pizza or burgers? Or meat and veggies."
"I used to get in a cereal and milk or packaged ramen routine when I was deep in a car fix in the past."
"Is that what you're craving?"
"Maybe later, we can raid the grocery store if we can't make up our minds."
"Stock up on my late night cravings, too," Gisele confirms as they head back up the stairs.
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Author's notes for Perspective, Chapter 15: Car Chat
Some car stuff because I realize I haven't had much or at all car content so before I forget I am publishing this as "early" as I can
I haven't had a chance to reread my first fic Let's Go, I'll Drive, which covered a lot so I think that's why I've been trying to tie things to the F9 and Fast X retcon/reveals so if I mistakenly "steal" my own scenes then at least there is something new hopefully by adding in the F9 or X stuff.
Or I may mention in narration of something happening but not have a scene with dialogue so that also adds to whether I already covered the topic already or hopefully after all these years I've subconsciously updated my view or had a variation on certain topics that I never got around to publishing so hopefully this fic/chapter covers it just differently enough if I have similar scenes to before.
So for Chapter 15 I incorporated the headcanon I had where I don't think Gisele needs to be a car person to be able to be an excellent driver or part of the crew, which I mention in my other fic Unfiltered notes. And partially so I can have a variety of characters as the rest of the Fast crew are car enthusiasts, and the way I feel after F9 that I think they are leaning into Gisele and her secret/special agent aspect of her character with the Mr. Nobody's co-worker retcon/reveal.
This is some time after they buy the Lexus LFA at the end of Fast Five and I kept it as lighthearted as I could because so far the other chapters have been somewhat heavy, even the ones that are part of the "Delirious" chapters (1-9) timeline because they were purposefully written so by the time the last part of that timeline comes all the small moments are to add up for the emotional payoff.
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