AN: We need more Season 4 John Woo date fics, and I was inspired to write one. I got an idea for a scene, and a one-shot was born. Enjoy.
She stands outside his door, taking a few breaths to calm her nerves. She hasn't knocked yet, and she feels stupid for feeling so nervous. It's just Castle and her hanging out – two buddies watching a couple of movies together. They've watched movies together before. She shakes her head, reminding herself that this time is different. They are different. She told him recently that her walls are coming down and that she'd like him by her side once they're gone. She surprised him by saying "yes" to this movie night, knowing they would have the loft to themselves. She struggled deciding what to wear and what to bring. She chose casual attire, forgoing jeans in favor of comfy black leggings and a flowy; light blue; V-neck t-shirt under her black leather jacket. She knows he likes her in leather and snug clothing. She figured it would be a late night. Was it wrong to toss some spare clothes into her large bag in case she felt too tired to go home? And are buttered popcorn jellybeans and a few beers good enough? He had texted that he would supply the popcorn. She's overthinking everything again, and she shakes her head to snap out of it.
She takes another breath, allowing the excitement in. She has been looking forward to this night with him ever since he invited her a few days ago. Fortunately, their murder case wrapped in time so as nothing can distract them. They can focus on each other. She isn't sure what will happen between them tonight, but she hopes they move forward. She knows how strongly they feel for each other. Their relationship has been anything but ordinary – trusting one another with their lives and falling in love before even embarking on a romance. She wants to try and do things normal. Starting with tonight. She finally knocks 3 times on his door and fights back the huge smile that wants to spread over her face.
He's been trying not to pace while waiting for her arrival. He has the first movie ready to play and the popcorn made. He has a bottle of red wine ready for pouring, and he struggled choosing it. He could've made a mess because his hands wouldn't stop shaking as he pulled out two glasses. He's been waiting for this night all week, still surprised that she accepted his casual offer to join him. He feels like they can finally take a step or two forward in their romantic relationship, and he doesn't want to screw up their chances. He doesn't want to push her into anything, doesn't want to move too fast. He wants to be a gentleman for her. She deserves that. She deserves to have a fun night and unwind, though it feels different from other times they've hung out. He knows tonight is full of possibilities. She said her wall was coming down, and he hopes tonight he can make it collapse some more.
He's looking over what he's prepared, wondering if anything's missing when he hears her knock. He quickly glances at his attire, hoping he made the right choice in dressing casually. A snug Iron Man t-shirt that shows off his biceps and blue denim pants are not impressive, but he doesn't need to impress her. He knows she likes simple things, plus he's hoping he looks cute to her. He takes a couple deep breaths before striding to answer the door.
They're both taming their smiles as their eyes lock. Their height difference is immediately obvious. She's wearing a simple pair of black flats. "Hi," she says shyly.
"Hey," he replies, losing himself in her gorgeous eyes as he leans against the doorframe.
Her eyes flick to his lips and back to his eyes. She's a goner already.
He regains function and moves aside to let her enter. "Please…come in." As she walks inside and he shuts the door, he's informing her, "I made popcorn and set out a bottle of wine."
She turns to him, holding up her goodies. "I brought beer and popcorn candy." She heads to the kitchen to set them down.
"Beer it is then. We can save the wine for another time," he says, going with her flow and putting away the wine and glasses. "Make yourself at home," he says right as she toes off her shoes by the stairs and hangs her jacket up with her bag. Her leather jacket did not go unnoticed by him; she always looks sexy in leather. And those leggings hugging her curves – wow! He has to fight to control his gaze.
Her eyes do some traveling of their own, appreciating his muscular biceps and his firm rear. She does think the superhero shirt is a cute touch. He makes nerdy so sexy.
He dumps some of the jellybeans into a small bowl and sets out two of the beer bottles before placing the rest in the fridge. She returns to the kitchen island and steals a couple jellybeans as he opens a beer and hands it to her. "Thanks," she says, taking a sip.
"Thank you for coming over," he responds sincerely.
"So…Castle…how is the graduate doing? How did the ceremony go?"
"I assume she is having the time of her life celebrating her greatest accomplishment before adulthood takes over. I won't try to hide the fact that I did get teary-eyed during the ceremony. Her speech was inspiring. Remind me to share it with you sometime." She loves how he's beaming with pride for his daughter.
"I bet she did a perfect job delivering it. She's a remarkable young woman. How you raised her to be so elegant and mature, I have no idea."
"You wound me, Beckett," he fakes feeling insulted, "How dare you doubt my parenting abilities."
"Just sayin'. She's not like you." She guzzles down more of her beer as he has the first taste of his.
"That's probably a good thing. But I hope she's doing at least one crazy thing tonight. She needs one story to tell her future children. And me…when I'm ready to hear it." This makes her laugh. "And Mother is having her fun in the Hamptons that I do not want to hear about later."
"We're alone. Like you said," she states. "And also…for the record, you can call me Kate tonight."
"That goes both ways. Tonight we're not homicide partners. We're just Rick and Kate."
"Hmm…we are. But calling you Castle is kind of affectionate to me." Her eyes dart away from him. She fails in hiding her grin. His smile is warm, and he loves how free she seems. Free but at the same time shy. She turns her gaze back at him, and their eyes lock again. The tension between them runs fierce.
Not wanting to rush into anything, he asks, "Ready for our double-feature? I have The Killer ready to play in my office."
"Oh, your office, huh?" She follows him, clutching her beer and the jellybean dish. She sees the screen positioned to face the couch and a warm-looking teal blanket on an arm of the couch. She lets him find his seat first and smiles before sitting a fair distance from him with room for their large popcorn bowl to sit between them. "Are you cold? There's blanket just in case you get cold." She smiles, watching him grab the remote and fidget a little. She can tell he's nervous, and she finds it adorable. "I'm perfectly content. Let's start the movie," she answers, reaching for some popcorn.
They stay focused on the first movie and react appropriately at certain moments while munching on popcorn delights. They sneak glances to catch how the other is enjoying the film. To Rick, Kate looks radiant no matter how she reacts. Seeing her enthralled in the action mesmerizes him, and she catches him staring. But instead of scolding or teasing him, she smiles and returns her attention to the film.
They nurse their beers through The Killer. It doesn't matter that they've seen it before; they're thoroughly entertained. Near the climax, Kate finishes her beer and sees the opportunity to get closer to him. She moves the popcorn bowl to the other side of her and scoots closer to Rick. She gently lays her head on his shoulder. Nothing more than that. It stuns him. She feels him tense up, and she knows he's looking at her. "Relax. Watch the movie," she says gently, "This is the best part." She keeps her head on him through the movie's end, feeling even more content.
As the credits roll, he doesn't want to move. He doesn't know what to say, as he cannot determine what she is thinking. He isn't sure what she wants to happen next, besides putting on the next movie.
"I hadn't seen that one in a while," she says, lifting her head off of him.
"And how was it this time," he asks, eyes sparkling at her.
"Better than ever. Having you as my movie date might have something to do with that," she flirts. He watches her stand and stretch. "Want another beer," she inquires. He's speechless from hearing her use the word 'date' to describe him, but he manages to answer with a soft "yeah". He watches her strut out of the room to the kitchen, thinking of how natural it seems to have her around in his home. It feels homier with her here, and he hopes that this night is the start of frequent movie nights. He doesn't hide the fact that he's been watching her, feeling bold and keeping his eyes on her even as she walks back to him, setting their new beers on the small table in front of the couch. She eyes the screen and comments, "You didn't put in the next movie."
"Was too busy watching you," he admits.
"Ohh." She decides to taunt him. "I'm sorry for being such a distraction. I don't know how you could get anything accomplished with me around." They share a laugh, and she sits back down with some distance between them. She grabs the popcorn bowl and throws a piece at him. "Get moving. Next movie." She laughs at his surprised face. She throws another one his way, and he tries to catch it. His attempt makes her laugh even more, and there is pure joy written on his face from her beautiful laughter.
"You're wasting popcorn," he comments.
Now she grabs a whole handful and throws them directly at his face, laughing freely. He picks up the pieces on him and from the couch to eat before getting up to change DVDs. Her eyes never stray from him as she sips her fresh beer.
As he sits back down, he snatches the popcorn bowl from her. "Don't you dare," she warns him.
"Close your eyes and open your mouth," he commands." She gives him a look. "Trust me," he assures her.
Facing him, she shuts her eyes and opens her mouth. He tries to toss a popcorn piece into her mouth. She winces when she feels it hit her face. Understanding what he was attempting, she laughs, "You missed. Try again." He tosses another one, and she tries to catch it, but it bounces to the floor.
"Again," he pleads. "I'll make it this time." She's a little reluctant, but goes along with it. Instead of throwing, he leans in and pops the popcorn into her mouth, swiping her lips briefly with his thumb. "Made it," he murmurs, and she shivers from the feel of his thumb and his voice being closer. He's moving away as she opens her eyes, finding his own.
"Nice trick," she states.
"Mmhm. Ready for Hard Boiled?" He moves the popcorn bowl aside and grabs the candy dish, eating a couple jellybeans.
"You bet," she replies, drinking some more of her beer.
They settle into their second movie, sipping from their beers every now and then. Partway through, she decides to make herself more comfortable again and lies on her side with her head resting on Rick's lap. She keeps her hands to herself. "Is this okay," she asks. "More than okay," he answers with a huge grin that she can't see.
He isn't sure how he's breathing with her lying like this on him. He doesn't know what to do with his hands. One holds the jellybean bowl at his side while he debates touching her with the other. She's being touchier than he is tonight. He needs to match her actions with his own, he determines. He gently brushes her hair off her ear and runs his fingers through it. She lets out a very soft moan. He pets her long hair a little while longer, fighting to focus on the movie. Eventually, his fingers glide to her shoulder and upper arm, tenderly making circles with his thumb.
They watch the movie like that for a while before he asks, "Want some more popcorn or jellybeans?"
She turns to look up at him. "A couple jellybeans would be great." He snatches one and holds it above her mouth. She smirks before opening and taking it between her lips from his fingers. He feels electric tingles from her moist lips caressing him. As she devours that jellybean, he takes a couple breaths to recover. This is the most intimate contact they've ever shared, which is really saying something because they have kissed before. And he's never forgotten it. Neither has she.
He grabs the second jellybean, and the same thing happens. He wonders what else her luscious lips can do, imagines how they feel on other parts of his body. He longs to feel them pressed against his again.
As she takes the second jellybean into her mouth, a part of her can't believe she's letting him feed her. It's such an erotic act, even while clothed and watching a movie. But tonight she is feeling bolder. Maybe it's the beer, her nerves, her walls coming down, or a huge combination of all three. She gazes at him and says in a low voice, "Thanks." She resumes her position and re-focuses on the movie. Her hand absentmindedly skims his knee and leg, stroking up and down with her fingertips. He has to take a deep breath to calm himself. He sets the dish aside, stretching his arm across the back of the couch while his other hand resumes his loving caresses. He hears her sigh with content and feels confident in his actions. Despite the hardcore scenes in the movie, she nearly falls asleep.
As the credits roll, she sighs quietly, not wanting to move or leave. They didn't talk much, but what could she expect with an action double feature? He still has a hand on her but isn't sure if she's awake or asleep. He checks his watch and sees it's after midnight. He hopes he can convince her to sleep over. Without any funny business, of course.
She stirs, rises off of him, and stretches her arms and legs. Why is this so sexy to him? Hell, every move she makes is sexy to him. She catches him watching her again and smiles. "Thanks for letting me use you as a pillow. I nearly fell asleep."
"Anytime. And yes…it is late. I'm surprised I didn't doze off myself."
"What time is it," she wonders.
"Nearly 12:30." He shuts everything off.
She reaches for her beer to finish it, despite it being warmer.
"Are you okay getting yourself home?"
She teases, "Kicking me out already?"
His eyes widen. "No! No no…absolutely not. You can stay as long as you want. You can sleep over even. You know I have a guest room."
"Believe it or not, I did consider that. I knew it would be a late night," she confesses.
"Soooo does that mean you'll stay the night," he asks.
"I shouldn't." She isn't surprised by the offer, but she worries about what could happen during the night or in the morning if she stays. She doesn't trust herself.
"You've had two beers. There's a comfy bed upstairs. I will be down here. Remember I am a gentleman."
"Castle, I know how to hold my liquor. Two beers doesn't mean I'm incapable of getting myself home safely." She gives him the look.
He puts up his hands in defeat. "Alright, alright. Don't shoot me for looking out for you and wanting to see you in the morning."
She smiles. "I don't have my gun on me."
"You sure?" He lowers his hands.
She stands for him and gestures to her body. "Look at me. Leggings, loose t-shirt, no socks. Where would it be?"
Now he has permission to trail her body with his eyes, and he takes his time. He stammers a reply: "Uhh…uhm…"
"Exactly." She grabs the beer bottles and saunters out to the kitchen, leaving them on the island. He follows with the snack bowls. "So," she says.
"So." He can't help but glance down her shirt briefly, the V providing a nice view of her cleavage. He silently wonders if she was aware of that when choosing the shirt.
She stifles a yawn, which makes him claim, "Hmm you're tired. I think that means you should stay."
She laughs lightly and whispers, "Yeah, probably."
"You know where everything is," he comments, feeling awkward, "You can find anything you need. But if you need to, don't hesitate to wake me."
"Care to escort me to my room? Since you're a gentleman." They share a smile. "I'd be happy to," he responds, gesturing for her to take the lead. Along the way, she grabs her bag, and she treks up the stairs with him close behind. He tries not to lose control from the sway of her hips.
He opens the guest room door for her, and she enters, placing her bag on the bed. He stays in the doorway and asks, "Anything you need? Clothes to sleep in?"
She turns to face him. "No. I think I'll sleep in what I have on. They're comfy enough." She moves close to him and captures his eyes with hers intensely. "Thank you for tonight. I had a wonderful time," she says.
"I did too. I'm so glad you joined me," he replies, losing himself in her stare. The magical brown flecks in her green eyes have always amazed him.
"I'm glad I get to see you in the morning." She's drowning in his eyes, thinking they're the most gorgeous pair of blues she's ever seen.
She suddenly takes his hand and toes herself up to kiss him. Her lips feel soft and warm on his, and his lips feel smooth gliding over hers. She keeps the kiss tame, not wanting to lose herself in her passion for him and then not be able to stop from going farther. He almost doesn't respond, out of shock that he's finally kissing the woman he loves in a real setting and not as an undercover distraction. He's gentle with her, not wanting to rush, savoring the taste and feel of her. Just as soon as she kissed him, she's pulling away, taking silent pleasure in the stunned expression on his face. She steps back and says, "I thought most first dates end with a goodnight kiss."
He's speechless, and she grins. "Goodnight, Castle," she says, closing the door on him.
He stutters, "Ahh, uhhh…yeah. Goodnight, Kate."
This night was definitely a step in the right direction for them, and they've never felt happier.