TALES FROM THE CITADEL
HEAVY METAL THUNDER
DISCLAIMER. Castle and the characters therein are the intellectual property of Andrew Marlowe and ABC. Just borrowing them for a while.
Another one of my AU's set in season three. Another VERY different Castle from canon. Only superficially the same. Another one of my favorite themes. You'll have to read it to find out what. One Shot.
Swordwriter.
It was a beautiful day for a ride, especially one like this. A charity ride to raise money for the children's hospital. The ride would culminate in a party and charity auction, with live entertainment featuring motorcycle themes in music, art and poetry. Contrary to the movies and television shows most motorcyclists were ordinary citizens not outlaw bikers.
Kate Beckett was enjoying the ride itself, not so much the man she was with. She had been with Josh Davidson for almost eight months now and finally realized that it wasn't really going anywhere. His job and his ego always came first. He was away from her more often than he was with her. He would never make her his first priority. She loved him but she wasn't in love with him. He wasn't her one and done and never would be. She thought that this one foot out the door relationship was enough and she would be happy. It wasn't and she wasn't but she just hadn't figured out how to break up with him without trouble. He might not put her first but he was very possessive. That was really annoying her. She wasn't anybody's property. She looked over and smirked. It amused her that her 94 soft tail Harley, at 1200 cc's was a bigger bike than Josh's 883 roadster. It gave her an insight. Outside of his profession he wanted to play with the big boys and didn't quite make it.
After about an hour's ride from the city, they arrived at the park that was the venue for the event. She got off the bike, took off her helmet and shook her chestnut curls free. Kate wore tight fitting riding leathers, the pants tucked into the top of her boots. She unzipped the jacket, revealing a purple silk shirt.
Josh didn't quite make it in the apparel department either. Doc Martins, new blue jeans, requisite black leather jacket and a blue polo. As they approached one of the concession stands Steppenwolf's "Born to be wild was blasting from the speakers. The band on stage, while not Steppenwolf was rendering a pretty good version of the song.
Get your motor runnin Head out on the highway looking for adventure
in whatever comes our way. Yeah, darlin' gonna make it happen
Take the world in a love embrace Fire all of your guns at once
And explode into space. I like smoke and lighting, heavy metal thunder racing in the wind
and the feeling that I'm under. Yeah, darlin' gonna make it happen. Take the world in a love embrace, fire all of your guns at once and explode into space. Like a true nature's child we were born, born to be wild, we can climb so high I never wanna die. Born to be wild. Born to be wild.
Get your motor runnin' head out on the highway looking for adventure
in whatever comes our way. Yeah, darlin' gonna make it happen, take the world in a love embrace fire all of your guns at once and explode into space.
Like a true nature's child we were born, born to be wild. We can climb so high
I never wanna die.
Born to be wild
Born to be wild
The wild music appealed to Kate and she started moving in tune with it. Josh glared at her.
"Stop being silly Kate, what do you want to drink? I'm going to have a beer."
Kate shook her head. I'll have an iced mocha latte."
"Coffee Kate? Come on, we're here to have fun. Just get a beer."
"My idea of fun doesn't include being wrapped around a tree Josh. Get your damn beer. I'll get my own coffee." Kate was sure that was going to set the whole tone for the day with Josh. Well, to hell with him. I'm here to enjoy the day and that's what I'm going to do, with or without him.
Josh grumbled but joined Kate as she looked over the items available for the charity auction. Everything was motorcycle themed, from music CD's, to videos, to custom exhaust pipes to custom wheels and riding gear. Kate nearly drooled over the custom pipes that would look fantastic on her Harley. Josh ordered another beer and glared at Kate again when she wouldn't join him.
Josh got his third beer about 20 minutes later about the same time the band took a break. Kate was standing at a vendor's booth looking at some Harley jewelry when she heard the throaty rumble of a big Harley. By the sound it had to be larger than a standard 74. (1200 ccs)
She walked over to the edge of the parking lot and caught her breath. The bike pulling in to a parking space was obviously a custom bike. A rigid frame bike with a sprung rear wheel. Bored and stroked to 1500 ccs. The frame was black and the tank painted midnight blue with silver ghost flames. Every accessory that could be chromed was. The rider was tall and broad shouldered, dressed entirely in black. Black jeans tucked into heavy riding boots and a black leather jacket. His helmet too was black with a mirrored visor so she couldn't see his face but there was something familiar about him but she just couldn't place it.
For some reason he kept his helmet on and glanced at her as he passed but kept on walking, headed for the stage. It stung a little bit. She was beautiful and she knew it. She wasn't used to men not at least stopping and giving her a smile. She saw him stop, and with his back to her, remove his helmet and put on a baseball cap and oversized aviator sunglasses. She noticed him stop and buy, like she had an iced coffee. The band started playing again and seemed to be on a late 560's to early 70's theme. They played Bad to the Bone, Eye of the Tiger, Danger Zone, and The Rocky theme. And other heavy metal or hard rock songs. The band took a break again and the MC took the mike. "Now ladies and gentlemen and those of you who aren't either one, we'll have a little poetry jam. Our poets have all requested a little anonymity so no last names will be used. Our first poet is Ricky R. The Tall rider came up to the mike.
"Thank you Joe. Ladies and gentlemen I hope you'll like my submission. I wrote it after a rather wild ride. The title is Dark Rider. Kate gasped. She couldn't see his face clearly but the voice was unmistakable. Rick Castle. Rick Castle?
"I will relate a tale to you. Is it fact or fiction? Reality or illusion? Fantasy or insanity? I will relate the tale. The decision is yours. It occurred on a dark night, amid the coastal mountains, where swirling fog often obscured the road and wind driven clouds hid the moon. I started the engine and rode out on the highway. Seeking in the rushing wind an answer to questions that seethed within my soul.
Riding free, I cared not what lay around the next curve, casting my fate to the wind.
The wind whipped through my hair, for no helmet blocked it. Safety held no sway.
My hand was locked on the throttle, as the needle sought, then passed the century mark!
The tires screamed out their torture, against the macadam. The foot pegs threw sparks and the pipes thundered a crescendo in the night! I had rounded one curve, my thoughts deep and somber, when I beheld in my mirror, a dark rider. His machine gleamed black in the moonlight. His clothes were of ebon hue. His helmet as coal. As I glanced back, a chillness swept over my mind. For beneath his visor, no face I saw. But two burning orbs returned my stare. As he passed, his laughter boomed free and his words seared my soul.
"Ride on, for we are not met tonight. But forget me not. We shall meet again!"
A chill went through Kate at the imagery. There was heavy applause, cheers and whistles. Rick thanked the crowd and sat down. After four more poems the band started up again and Rick left the stage. Yes, he'd seen Kate but he knew that she was here with Dr. Motorcycle boy and he wanted her to be happy. He didn't think that she'd be interested in any poetry that wasn't Russian so he didn't think she'd be listening.
He knew she'd seen him as he passed her but was certain that she couldn't have recognized him through the mirrored visor. He was alert so he was certain that he could avoid her and her current love interest. It was getting warmer. Shucking the jacket, Rick walked back to his bike. He'd had a steel cable with a loop sewn into the jacket. He locked it and his helmet to his bike.
Underneath the jacket he wore a fitted black t-shirt that bore the words born To Be Wild on it in gold. He planned to be here for several hours and he figured that one beer wouldn't hurt, especially as he intended to eat a barbecue beef sandwich with baked beans. He looked around, carefully as he approached the barbecue stand. No sign of Kate. He bought the plate of barbecue and a Tuborg beer, found a seat and sat back to enjoy his meal, while listening to the music.
Finishing his meal he wandered around the park, indulging in one of his pastimes, making up stories in his head about the people he saw. He went back to the auction area to look things over and congratulating himself on avoiding Kate. His self- congratulations didn't last long. He was admiring the same set of pipes that Kate had when he heard a very strident, annoyed CASTLE!
Castle jumped and turned around. Kate Beckett was striding toward him and she didn't look happy.
"Oh, hi Beckett."
"Don't you oh hi me, Richard Castle. I know damn well you saw me and walked right past me without a word! Since when do you ignore your friends?" Rick stammered.
"Uh, I was in a hurry to get on stage and didn't notice you."
"Like hell you didn't, you looked right at me."
"It might not have been me you saw."
"Knock it off, Castle before you piss me off more than I already am."
Castle bristled. "What right do you have to be pissed off at me, How many time have you been with Dr. Motorcycle boy and ignored me? Aren't you with Dr. Motorcycle boy today, where is he anyway?"
Kate slumped. "You're right Castle, I have done that and I'm sorry that I did. But it still hurts when you ignore me. Josh is off getting another damn beer." Kate said, bitterly. There were tears in her eyes as she looked up at Castle. "We were both wrong Castle, can't we let it go?"
Castle smiled. "I guess so Kate. I just want you to be happy. If josh does it for you, that's okay."
Impulsively, Kate hugged Castle and kissed his cheek. As Kate hugged Castle she could feel the chiseled pectorals and washboard abs, realizing just what castle had been hiding all these years.
For the first time she noted the massive biceps and muscular forearms. A semi-drunken and belligerent Josh chose that moment to show up and make the worst mistake of his life. He grabbed Kate roughly by the arm and threw her aside. Caught by surprise and off balance she fell hard. "What the hell are you doing you cheating bitch? Get the hell away from my girlfriend you M*********** and threw a punch at Castle. It never connected. In spite of his size, the doctor was no fighter. He was pretty good at pushing around women but he was a surgeon and wouldn't risk his hands.
Castle had no such compunction. Yes, he was a writer and his hands were important but he was a trained fighter as well. Castle grabbed Josh's arm and pulled him forward, ramming a hard knee into Josh's gut, pivoting away as josh spewed up the beer he'd drunk. He swung hard as he pivoted, slamming the heel of his hand into Josh's nose, breaking it. Blood spurted and Castle knew that it would be a while before Josh got his pretty boy profile back. Finally he grabbed josh's right hand, squeezing and twisting at the same time breaking three bones in the hand and spraining the wrist. Josh fell to his knees in the pool of vomit, crying like a baby.
"While that hand is healing maybe you'll think what a mistake hurting Kate was." Castle growled. He lifted Kate to her feet. "Are you all right Kate?"
"I'm okay Castle, I was more surprised than hurt, although my hip's a little sore. She looked down at Josh. "Josh, you stupid bastard we are through. If I ever come around me again, I'll hurt you worse than Castle did. You'll find your stuff in the dumpster behind my apartment house."
Kate was about to ask castle where he learned to fight like that when she saw a tattoo on his left arm. A winged sword with the legend Sky Soldiers.
"Can you get home okay Kate?"
"Yeah Castle I can."
"Good, next time you pick a boyfriend you should be more careful. I'll see you on Monday Kate."
He walked to his bike, put on his jacket and helmet and rode off.
"I've already picked him Rick but you're not going to be my boyfriend you're going to be my husband and I won't see you on Monday, I'll see you tonight."
Kate ran to her bike. Castle had been chasing her for three years, it was her turn to chase him. She was a trained huntress. He wouldn't get away.