A/N: Please read! This started as a one-shot prompt fill, but has taken on a mind of its own and turned into a multi-chapter story. I already have a multi planned for February as a sequel to 'A Handful of Words' so please be patient as I will be updating that one faster than this one.
Disclaimer: I do not own Castle or the characters used in this story.
An AU Caskett meeting that takes place right after Castle kills off Derrick Storm. The original prompt that started it all will follow at the end of this chapter. I deviated just a bit from the prompt in order to turn it into this.
Melodies, Murders, and Mysteries
Any normal, grown man would most likely be embarrassed that the majority of the songs on his iPod consist of teenage boy bands and Britney Spears, but Richard Castle isn't normal. He could argue that his daughter uses it most of the time, claim that the music reflects her personality more than his, but some of the songs are actually quite catchy and he finds himself singing the lyrics that are stuck in his head quite often.
His daughter has been teasing him about how out of shape he is, claiming that he'll never beat her at laser tag or fencing if he doesn't step up his game. It's her way of pushing him out of the slump he's currently in, small hints and teasing that do little to mask the worry behind the young girl's eyes.
It's not that he's stopped living his life, but ever since he killed off Derrick Storm, his main character in his latest book series, he's been in a lingering slump. He just has no inspiration to start anything new.
His decision to walk through the city today was sporadic, a last ditch effort to salvage the good mood that he surprisingly woke up in. Headphones in place, he bounces down the streets of New York, belting out an occasional line of music every time one of those catchy songs plays.
Yeah, there are all kinds of people around and many of them turn and stare at him, but he ignores them all, could care less what they are thinking.
He loses himself in the music, forgetting the world around him, that is until he wanders passed Kate Beckett's crime scene and his loud belting of "Hit me Baby, one more time" catches the attention of more than one of the detectives crowded around the murder victim.
He's oblivious to the whirlwind of red and leather boots that's striding towards him, sucking in a breath in preparation of belting out the second verse of the song when he feels a tap on his shoulder and startled, he turns to find a stern looking, stunning woman with her arms crossed and eyebrow raised.
He has to do a double take.
Short, choppy, red hair falls messily around the hard lines of her beautiful face. She's dressed in a long, fitted, red coat and tall leather black boots that scream 'badass'.
He's still gawking when he notices her lips moving.
"Excuse me," she calls again, a little more loudly this time so that he can hear her over the blast of music in his ear.
She nods towards the headphones and he quickly silences Britney's voice, pulling them free from his ear before stuffing them into his pocket.
"I'm sorry?" he says and it's half an apology, half a question as to why she stopped him.
But another look at her has him far from complaining.
"This," she gestures towards the group of detectives and professional looking people, "it's a crime scene, and while your rendition of 'Hit me Baby, One More Time' is better than some I've heard, it's extremely loud and distracting to those of us who have a job to do."
He leans his head to the side so that he can get a better view of the crime scene.
"Hey," she snaps, drawing his attention back to her. "Have a little respect."
She's all business, arms folded over her chest and a look that demands authority. But he's still caught on the almost compliment she gave him in the midst of her reprimand.
"I uh—I didn't realize, I'm sorry." He extends his hand towards her, offering a truce.
"I'm Richard –"
She doesn't take his offered hand, but instead holds her own hand up to cut him off.
"I know who you are."
He considers her for a moment, before clearing his throat and trying again.
"Well, since you know my name, could I at least have the pleasure of knowing yours?" he asks with a smirk and a wiggle of his still extended hand.
The Detective studies him; glancing from his face to his hand and biting her lip in what he thinks must be an adorable habit.
He won't push his luck, but she screams mystery to him and he's suddenly feeling that spark of inspiration that he hasn't for a while.
Finally, after a long period of silence, she holds out a gloved hand, allowing him to shake it. "Beckett. Kate Beckett, Homicide Detective."
She pulls her hand back quickly, and although there was no skin to skin contact, he feels the spark between them.
"It's nice to meet you, Kate—er uh, Beckett," he corrects when she shoots him a glare at the use of her first name.
She nods in response and then glances back towards the crime scene.
"I need to get back, just try to keep it down until you're out of hearing range for us, okay?"
He tries to think of something to say that will keep her there a bit longer. She's intriguing and he feels like the challenge of her would be a good way to bring him out of his slump.
"Do you, um—do you ever go out for drinks?" he asks, suddenly feeling like an awkward teenage boy trying to ask a girl out for the first time.
She frowns but shakes her head. "Is that your way of asking me out, because I expected better from the infamous playboy you're portrayed to be."
He shrugs his shoulders, feeling a wave of nervousness that he hasn't felt for a while.
Yeah, he dates—has dated, a lot, but this somehow feels different to him.
"I mean, if you don't—you probably have…" Wow, he never stutters this much.
"Look," she says, lowering her voice and stepping closer to him. "I don't usually do this, but my job can be pretty heavy and having a drink with someone who seems like they could be good company sounds like something I shouldn't turn down."
He believes her when she says this is something she doesn't usually do. He has no doubt that getting to know her isn't going to be easy, but if she's willing to give him a chance…
She seems to need some fun in her life, and he can be fun.
To his surprise, she pulls out a slip of paper and a pen and jots down her number before slipping it into the pocket on the front of his coat.
"There's a place around the corner that has karaoke competitions all the time, I'm sure you'd win," she adds with a smirk that has him choking on a laugh.
"I really need to get back…" she says again as she starts to turn back towards the crime scene.
"You'll be hearing from me, Detective."
The only response he gets from her is a hum as she strides away.
She considered telling him that they had met before, briefly, considered going against her norm of shutting people out. He probably wouldn't remember anyway, as she was part of the sea of faces he sees at every book signing. She won't dwell on the feeling that there was something different about him. She doesn't believe in fate or the idea that life sends you the people that you need. But she won't talk herself out of going out with him when he calls. She won't.
The skip in his step on the way home is entirely different. He doesn't sing this time, instead contemplating the curve ball that fate just threw his way. He's inspired, and he has no idea what he's about to dive in to.
TBC, Soon!
Prompt: Casket has never met and one of them is singing out loud but they have headphones in and the other just kinda stares till they ask what they're staring for and they're like you know your singing out loud with your headphones in? And then whichever one is like oh and the other tells them they have a beautiful voice.
As always, I would love to hear your thoughts. xo