She was so fucking tired.
Her skin was damp and her shirt stuck to her uncomfortably. Sweat rolled down her temple, sliding down her neck, pooling between her breasts. Jack sighed heavily, ungluing a lock of hair from her cheek.
"Tired yet?"
Eyes narrowed, she rotated her shoulders and shook her head, trying to get back into focus. Clenching her hands into twin fists, she answered, "Not even close."
She braced herself for the onslaught of punches. Dodging most of the blows, she gave him a roundhouse kick to the jaw, sending him reeling backwards.
Riddick laughed a rough, deep noise that resembled a growl. "Better."
She snorted, bouncing on the balls of her feet. "Better? That was damn near perfect. Check out the bruise."
He touched his jaw where it was red and tender, a sure sign of a forming contusion, and shrugged. "Ya got lucky."
"Fuck that," Jack hissed back through clenched teeth. This time she flung herself towards him, a tornado of fists and kicks.
Without breaking out in sweat, Riddick shoved most attempts aside, only taking a couple of hits to the shoulder. He shoved her away, watching her stumble to maintain balance.
"That," he all but snarled, "was sloppy."
"I hit you didn't I?" She responded with a tired smirk, acting like the teenager she was.
Riddick shook his head, stepping forward to stare down at her big green eyes. "I let you," he corrected and then straightened. "Come at me again, and this time don't play fucking roulette."
Jack inhaled, focusing on the muscles in her body, tense and ready. Her arm flung out at its target, while her leg swept downward, aiming for the back of his knees. The combination temporarily disoriented him, and she took the opportunity to leap and deliver a kick to his solar plexus.
Riddick grunted, his hand covering the spot she had just hit. A grimace of pain flitted over his features and disappeared quickly, leaving an aloof expression behind. "See the difference?"
She eyed him warily, tugging the wrap around her knuckles tighter. "Maybe," she acknowledged.
For a moment he stared at her, his shined eyes revealing nothing. He rolled his neck, cracking it with satisfaction before addressing her. "You ready for another round?"
Jack paused, just for a second. She was tired, sweaty, and thirsty, and she was pretty sure her ankle was sprained, but a grin curled across her face. She adjusted the second wrap, straightened her spine and positioned her feet.
"Always."
(A/N: Reviews are great! Let me know what you think.)