Reflecting on the past two years, Castle couldn't help but feel exasperated. Time and again, he had created something new and groundbreaking, only to attract greedy individuals or groups seeking to steal his work. Each time, he was forced to retaliate, leaving chaos and destruction in his wake.
Has this become my new normal?
Am I the proverbial target in some cosmic game of "whack-a-mole"? Is everyone out there just itching to take a swing at me? Why do these opportunists always think they can succeed where others have failed?
Castle considered the possibility that his outward demeanor was giving others the wrong impression. Do I seem too soft or easy to push around?
But no, that couldn't be it. Every time someone challenged him—whether it was the defunct Rockset organization or Japan's elite Cabinet Intelligence and Research Office—Castle had hit back hard, without compromising. He had never shown weakness.
Then why do these morons keep trying? What am I doing wrong?
Lost in thought, Castle left the underground lab, ignoring Chubby and Ramsey as he wrestled with this newfound awareness of his predicament. For the first time, he began to consider the bigger picture of his actions over the years. While his easygoing, reactive approach had worked so far, Le Chiffre's relentless efforts had triggered something in Castle's mind.
Settling into his study, Castle pulled up a detailed timeline of his recent exploits, compiled by J.A.R.V.I.S. The neatly organized table highlighted every time he had taken a defensive stance, retaliating only after being provoked. As he reviewed it, he began to realize the limitations of his strategy.
This introspective mood lasted until Beckett came home from work.
Finding her usually upbeat boyfriend unusually subdued, she curiously asked what was bothering him. When Castle explained his sudden desire to change his ways, Beckett—who knew him inside out—was unimpressed.
"Let's see how long your 'mature' phase lasts this time," she said with a smirk before heading off to change clothes.
Beckett had every reason to be skeptical. Castle's track record was, to put it mildly, inconsistent. From the day they met, he had behaved like a "12-year-old boy," a fact Beckett had come to accept as a defining trait.
The phrase "Men never really grow up; they just get taller" could have been coined with Castle in mind. Over the years, he had proven this over and over again, constantly shifting from one fleeting obsession to the next.
Take his enthusiasm for aircraft, for example. When Beckett was first promoted to precinct chief, Castle had thrown himself into modifying B-2 stealth bombers, dragging Chubby along for the ride. He had even spent time at Missouri's Whiteman Air Force Base, gleefully tinkering with the bombers. But once the novelty wore off, he quickly abandoned the project, leaving others to finish it.
Another example was his bizarre obsession with watching the White House fall under siege. Despite having detailed intelligence about the attack, Castle had done the bare minimum to help President Benjamin. Instead, he had used the opportunity as an excuse to visit Andrews Air Force Base, ostensibly for "research." In reality, he was just positioning himself to watch the chaos unfold from a safe distance.
Beckett had seen all of this firsthand. To her, Castle's newfound determination to "grow up" seemed like yet another passing whim. She doubted he would stick to it for more than a few days.
This time, however, Beckett's dismissal wasn't entirely fair. Castle genuinely wanted to break free from the cycle of reacting to every provocation. The constant need to defend himself and his loved ones was draining, and the idea of being proactive for once was beginning to appeal to him.
But no sooner had he resolved to change than Beckett's casual dismissal threw a bucket of cold water on his resolve. For anyone else, this might have been the push needed to commit to self-improvement.
But Castle was not "anyone else."
Instead of doubling down on his newfound determination, Castle shrugged it off, grinning as he followed Beckett into the bedroom to "help" her change clothes.
Self-reflection? What's that? Can you eat it?
The "growth" plan died right then and there.
It was a testament to the old adage: "No one knows you better than the person who sleeps next to you every night." Beckett knew Castle all too well. Watching him abandon his lofty plans in favor of ogling her as she changed, she could only shake her head in exasperation.
Does this guy have no shame? she thought. And did he really give up on his plan that quickly? That's so… Castle.
To Beckett, Castle wasn't the only "child" in the house. Alexis, though young, was mature beyond her years. By contrast, Castle and Chubby were like two oversized boys, full of mischief and impulse.
Sigh. What was I thinking when I fell for this idiot?
The next day, after Beckett left for work, Castle returned to his study. Despite his previous distraction, the topic of personal change still nagged at him.
There was another reason he needed to think carefully about his future: Beckett's recent shift in attitude. After spending time with John and Gianna's daughter, Onona, Beckett had softened her stance on having children. For the first time, she had agreed to Castle's long-standing desire for a second child.
The night before, they had celebrated her decision enthusiastically. But the prospect of a new baby also brought new concerns. Castle didn't want his future child to face the same dangers Alexis had, such as the time she was kidnapped by Japanese operatives.
As he pondered these issues, Castle suddenly remembered the recent threat posed by India.
"Didn't those idiots say something about sending mercenaries to New York?" he muttered.
Calling on J.A.R.V.I.S. to investigate, Castle's mood soured as the AI confirmed his fears: Indian operatives had indeed dispatched mercenaries to the city.
"Are they kidding me?" Castle growled. "Did they not learn from what happened to the Japanese agents who tried this?"
Castle couldn't fathom why some organizations repeatedly used the same foolish tactics.
Do they think I'm an easy target or something?
Frustrated but determined, Castle decided to set aside his musings for now. He ordered J.A.R.V.I.S. to gather every scrap of intelligence on the mercenaries and their plans. He had no intention of letting another attack catch him off guard.
This time, he would be ready.
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