One Smart Zombie

"Jacqueline, is that the best you can do?" He sent a sent a smashing blow towards her nose.
She only just dodged the black, fisted boxing glove by retreating backwards, lightly on her feet as the rush of air from the power of it shot over her nose. Refocusing, she aimed an uppercut at his stomach. "Don’t call me Jacqueline."
He bowed his body backwards, deflecting the punch. "Jackie, then."
Jack Katz smiled. She knew this man of old. The games he played she enjoyed. "Do you want me to beat the shit out of you?"
Magnus Wellsby snorted at that. "Like you could. You’re just a girl, Jaq-ue-line."
Whack. Her fist connected with his jaw. Jack had the satisfaction of seeing his eyes momentarily blink in pain. She followed up with a hook to his stomach. The involuntary sound of oomph from him made her smile. He never gave away any feelings or emotions unless caught off guard. Like now. "You’re getting old, Squiggly." She danced around him punching the air waiting for him to re-group. "How old are you anyway?" He was her colleague, boss and mentor. He annoyed the hell out of her with his attitude and fascinated her with the mystery that surrounded him. One minute he was obvious, the next obtuse and confusing. Jack called him 'Squiggly' due to his dark, bushy eyebrows that looked like they had been haphazardly drawn on. Those, and his curly hair, made her think of squiggles. Of course he was the least ‘Squiggly’ man she had ever met. There was a deep, magnetic intensity about him that was both powerful and frightening. Calling him Squiggly, in her mind, slightly leveled the playing field they were on.
"Why? You interested in me?"
She bounced back and forward in front of him. Could he knock her on her ass? Absolutely. Would he? Absolutely. That was their relationship. Equal, yet not so. Jack wasn’t silly enough to think she knew everything about the dark haired man. In some ways it was probably best not to. There was a scary, intense edge to him hidden behind a charming smile. "Well, when the paramedics come it would be helpful to be able to give them your approximate age." It was then she caught her sneakered toe on the edge of a rubber exercise mat and hit the floor, landing hard on her side. The fall jarred her. She rolled over and looked up at her opponent. Jack knew being vulnerable at any stage with him was dangerous.
He laughed. "On your back, where you should be, Katz." Magnus charged her, giving no quarter.
Jack scrambled onto her knees and crawled fast along the ground. It wasn't dignified but it wasn't meant to be. She was only looking to get enough distance between them in order to get to her feet. Once up, Jack repositioned her stance. Left foot forward while her right was behind giving her strength. Her red gloved fists guarded her face. She liked boxing. It was good cardio that kept her reflexes strong and Squiggly was a good opponent. Unlike other men she boxed with, he treated her like an equal and pulled no punches. Neither did Jack. "Bring it on, Squiggly-man." Magnus charged her, fists flying, making her continuously back away. She knew she needed to get in a position where she could force him back but it was hard. He just kept coming.
"This enough for you, Katz? Do you need more? Something harder or deeper? More out of control? I know you like it like that."
She did. But not boxing. They both knew that. "I’d wear you out of we had sex." Jack was starting to sweat, trying to avoid contact with him.
He laughed at that. "I may not want to have sex with you." Magnus threw a long armed punch.
Jack managed to avoid it. Just. "That’s true. I’ve often wondered whether you like men better."