Reborn in Castle (TV show)

[Sunday morning] [Park]

The air was still cool. Damp from the rain the night before. The path in the park was wet. It was catching the soft sunlight. There were people jogging and dogs were running around with a lot of energy. Some older couples were walking together. They looked really happy.

Kate slowed down as they got to the end of their run. She was breathing harder. Her legs felt heavy. When they got to the bench near the trees, she sat down and tried to catch her breath. Her black running clothes were sticking to her because of the sweat. She leaned forward and put her elbows on her knees. She shook her head like she was a little frustrated.

Travis kept going for a few steps before he turned around. He stretched his arms up in the air. Then bent down to touch his toes. Then he stood up again. "Phew!" He took a sip of water from his bottle. Then sat down next to Kate.

He looked at her with a smile on his face. "You do know, it was just a regular jog, not some marathon?"

Kate let out a breath that almost turned into a laugh, though she tried to hide it behind a glare. "Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't realize we were pacing this based on super-soldier standards."

Travis just shrugged as he leaned back on the bench. "It's not my problem that you tried to keep up with me like we were racing."

She turned her head toward him, eyes narrowing just slightly. "Tried? I did keep up. You just decided to turn the last five minutes into some kind of fitness test."

He tilted his head, considering that with a mock-serious expression. "I thought you liked challenges. You didn't look like someone who was struggling."

Kate scoffed quietly, wiping sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand. "That's because I don't show it. There is a difference between trying hard and looking like I am trying hard."

Travis started to laugh. He tapped his water bottle against his knee. "You were breathing hard at the end. It looked like you were trying to make a deal with your lungs."

She shot him a look, but there was a hint of a smile tugging at the corner of her mouth now. "And you were watching me that closely because…?"

He took another sip of water, completely unfazed. "It's just professional curiosity. I like to observe patterns."

Kate leaned back against the bench. She was still trying to catch her breath but was feeling a little better now. "Right. You were just watching me. Not judging me at all."

Travis replied, "I didn't say I was not judging you. I just said I was being professional about it."

She let out a short laugh this time, shaking her head as she looked out at the path ahead. A couple jogged past them, their dog dragging them slightly off course, and Kate watched the scene for a second before she spoke again.

"You know," she said, her tone lighter now, "as exhausting as it may be, it was fun."

...[10 minutes later]...

Neither of them said anything for a bit. It was one of those pauses that didn't feel weird. They were two people catching their breath.

After ten minutes, Travis stood up from the bench. He rolled his shoulders once. Then he looked down at Kate.

"So," he said as he brushed his hands lightly. "Are you ready for our sparring session?"

Kate looked up at him. Then she stood up and stretched her arms above her head, fingers interlocked. Then she dropped them and stepped closer to Travis.

"Oh yeah," she said. Her tone changed a bit. Her competitive spirit was activated again as she remembered their last sparring session. "Today's gonna be different." Her eyes locked onto Travis'. They were sharp and focused. "I'm not holding back like time." A small smile was on her lips. "Hope you're ready to hit the ground."

Travis laughed a bit too loudly as he took a step toward Kate. He looked really excited.

"Well," he said, lifting a hand like he was accepting a challenge, "if you can put me down today, I'll do anything you say."

Kate's brows lifted slightly at that, interest flashing across her face as she crossed her arms loosely. "Anything?"

He didn't answer right away. Instead, he closed the distance between them by a step, then another, until there wasn't much space left. His gaze held Kate's.

"Anything," he repeated with a serious expression.

For a second, the world around them faded into background noise. The joggers, the chatter, the rustle of leaves. None of it mattered.

Kate studied him, measuring something in that look, then let out a quiet breath. The corner of her mouth curved again, not teasing this time, but something sharper.

"Careful, Detective," she said, turning slightly as she stepped back onto the open patch of grass near the trees. "You might regret saying that."

Travis followed her as he rolled his neck once. "I usually regret the boring days," he replied. "This doesn't feel like one of them."

...

[Gym]

The gym smelled a bit like rubber mats and disinfectant. Sunlight came in through the windows and made soft lines on the floor. A couple of police officers who were not working were lifting weights in the corner.

Travis stepped onto the mat first. He rolled his shoulders to loosen them up, then bounced on his feet. Kate followed him a second later. She was already focusing on what she was going to do.

They stood across from each other.

Travis lifted his hands. He was relaxed but ready. "I am ready when you are," he said.

Kate did not waste any time. She moved first. She stepped in quickly and threw a sharp jab at his shoulder. It was like a test to see how far apart they were than a real hit. Travis moved a bit, so it missed. His body moved like it already knew where the hit was going to go.

She followed with a sweep towards his leg. He hopped back lightly. It looked almost casual.

"Too direct," he said as he walked around her. "Your eyes are telling me where you are going to hit me before you do it," he added.

Kate did not say anything. She adjusted her stance and rushed in again. This time, she was faster. She pretended to hit high, then hit towards his middle. Travis caught her wrist mid-motion, redirected it, and stepped to the side in one smooth motion.

"Better," he said as he let go of her hand. "But you are still thinking like a cop who is chasing street thugs," he added.

She breathed out sharply. Her eyes were locked on him. Then she came in again, this time mixing speed and angles, forcing him to move. A quick combination, left then right, followed by a knee aimed toward his side.

Travis blocked and then slipped past her next punch.

He tapped her lightly on the shoulder as he moved behind her.

"If this were real," he said. He was calm. "You would be down already... or dead," he added.

Kate turned fast. She looked really frustrated. She pushed harder, trying to overwhelm him with pressure.

Travis did not meet force with force. He kept dodging and countering her. He redirected her momentum away from him every time.

"How the hell are you doing this?" Kate couldn't help but ask.

"Who knows? Lots of kung-fu movies...? Anyway, you've got skill," he said. "Enough to handle street-level threats. But what happens when the guy in front of you has military training or years of killing experience?"

Kate drove forward again. "Then I adapt," she said.

"They will not give you time to adapt," Travis replied. He slipped another strike. He lightly tapped her ribs. "They will end it before you figure them out," he added.

She narrowed her eyes, circling him again, refusing to slow down. Then she saw it.

A slight shift. A tiny slip in his footing on the mat.

It lasted less than a second.

But it was there.

Kate did not wait. She rushed in, fast and aggressive, aiming to capitalize on that opening before it disappeared.

Travis saw it coming.

"Against someone better," he said calmly as she closed the gap, "you don't rush a single opening."

He pivoted at the last second, caught her momentum, and used it against her. His hand guided her arm while his foot hooked behind hers, and with a clean, controlled motion, he flipped her onto the mat.

Kate hit the ground but reacted instantly. Before he could fully step back, she latched onto his left arm, gripping tight and pulling with everything she had.

"What if I do this?" she shot back. She was trying to drag him off balance.

For a brief second, there was tension between them. Strength against control.

Travis adjusted how he was standing.

"Not good enough," Travis said with a cold expression that made Kate flinch a bit. He put his right hand on his waist, pretended to pull out a knife, and slammed it on her face. Though he stopped at the last moment. "And now you're dead."

Kate sighed as she let his arm go.

"Phew!" She was breathing hard. "Okay. I'm done for the day."

Travis smiled, looking at her. He extended his hand to her. Kate took his hand as he pulled her up.

"By the way, that feint was great, we gotta work on the timing. And you should've gone for my legs, not arms, but the only problem is that if your strength is lower than your opponent's, you won't even be able to make him or her budge," He explained.

"I'll keep that in mind. Still, you aren't going to tell me where you learned to fight like that, are you?" Kate asked as she rolled her left arm.

Both of them began to walk toward the bench.

Travis sat down and Kate sat beside him. He looked at her and said, "I'm a war veteran from another world. I died while killing those who came to kill me and then woke up at that warehouse where you found me. So, technically, I'm a reincarnated man from another world."

Kate simply looked at him for a moment. Then she turned to her side and took her bag. "I'm hitting the shower." She stood up. "And you should really stay away from Castle."

Travis chuckled. "Hey, I'm serious."

"Yeah, and I'm a Jedi from another world, reborn without Force," Kate said as she turned back and began to walk toward the shower area. She was smiling a bit.

"Wait! Seriously?" Travis called out as he stood up and walked behind her. "What color lightsaber did you have?"

"Purple."

"Mastery over light and darkness... Humm... I wonder what your dark side looks like?"

Both of them stopped in front of the doors of the male and female showers.

"Aren't you curious?" Kate replied with a smile before she walked over, opened the door, and went in.

Just then, Travis' phone rang. He took it out of his bag and checked the notification. It was a message from Lanie. As soon as he opened the message, the first thing that appeared on the screen was Lanie, naked with her nipples covered in whipped cream.

<I'm feeling adventurous today... Vanilla top...

Below was another photo, but it was up to her pubic area.

...Strawberry bottom.>

Travis closed the app and locked his phone. 'Fuck! She knows my weakness now.' He turned around and quickly walked toward the exit door. 'She says she doesn't want to fall in love... Well, we'll just see about that.'

--

Find me in the link below for advance chapters: https://unknownmaster.carrd.co/

[20 advance chs] + [Modern Family: 14 chs Early access]