Maria
The time was a crisp 9:25pm. Ares was currently stretching out his arms and legs, taking the time to thoroughly give himself a break. The boy had spent more than an hour in the training room, relentlessly beating the shit out of the school provided punching bag— but there was something unfulfilling about it. 

Ares had been suffering from an *Itch* Over the past couple months; an itch to punch something that could punch back. A proper fight. With the fact Ares was basically a superhero, powers and all, it was greatly unfortunate that he hadn't squashed any *Bad guys* Aside from that angel that one time. 

Now, Owen wasn't any type of genuine opponent, but he could be a *Friendly opponent.* Which is exactly what Ares thought when he texted the ginger, and offered a lovely way to spend an evening. 

A *Brotherly brawl.* Ares promised to go easy, even though he wouldn't.
Lori
Owen had... Some idea what had gotten into Ares when he got the invitation to come down to the training area to, in no uncertain terms, whale on each other for fun. He was more excited than he thought he'd be—perhaps just the happy flutters from being recognized as a worthy opponent—but Owen was certain that when his friend said he was going easy on him, he was in *Fact* Full of shit. 

So, better make sure his hair stayed tied. Probably also best to put a shirt on. *What does one even* Wear *When the walking personification of Halloween night wants to fight you??* He experimentally spread his shield over his shoulders as he fiddled with everything that probably didn't matter, satisfied at last when his long, flowing, vibrant red liability passed the shake test.

He wasn't *Against* A friendly brawl. Every rock that had ever felt his footsteps knew he had something to prove, and all the trees around the Cradle knew he might certainly be capable...

Somehow, Owen managed to make it down the stairs before the anxiety meds wore off, with a reassuring enough burn in his muscles. 

"***OI!!!***"

A new challenger approaches. He desperately looks like he needs something to do with his hands.
Maria
As Owen walked into the room Ares gave a loud drawn out 'AAAYYYYEEE' sound. He extended his hand out for Owen to grab, so he could pull him into one of those half hugs that Ares did all the time. 

"Congratulations for making it here alive." He teased. 

"Are you prepared or do wanna stretch a little first, grandpa?" 
With a snicker, the taller boy cracked each of his knuckles. A satisfying pop ringing out for each finger.
Lori
Hitting Ares' chest with an *"Oof"*, Owen squeezed his hand with a threatening (he hoped) flare of heat rushing from his palm. 

"Looking to fix that, butt?" His nervous grin made him look far too excited. 

"Who are you calling grandpa? You just can't *Wait* To tear into me," He teased, waggling his eyebrows while giving his back a good stretch. Under the layer of padding that kept him warm all winter coiled some impressive muscle that he used to race himself up trees. Not as practiced as Ares', but worthy. He hoped. "I'm blushing, really. Is this the least convoluted excuse you had to dramatically blast my shirt off?"

Okay, he had to stop there. He didn't want to deserve a firework to the face *Too* Much. *Should he have worn earplugs?*
Maria
Ares barked his usual hyena-like cackle at Owen's attempted flirting. This was going to be *Fun*

The idea of Ares dramatically burning off his friend's shirt made him snicker. 
"Oh, you say that like I know you haven't been dreaming of it." 
The boy teased with an eye roll. What a lovely way to start a fight. 

"Cmon then," Ares cocked his head towards the wide open area in the training room. The basement gave them plently of space. 

He positioned himself a decent distance away from Owen, and stared at the one across from him. A wild energy was burning behind his eyes, and a looseness to his limbs. 

They waited to see who had the guts to strike first.
Lori
A moment of focus brought that familiar singing to the underside of his flesh; it rooted in his guts, his ballad of unbreakability. He felt it in every step he took after Ares. 

Owen took much the same approach to a fighting stance as he did one for singing; low, powerful, drawn around his hands. He was smaller, but flexible, and could guard places he couldn't see. The redhead's pulse rushed in his ears, his irises flashing a low but fiercely burning red. Ought he brace for impact, or be crazy enough to rush into this madman's comfort zone of doom?
Maria
B2 Finesse for Initiative
Lori
Ares was loading his opening blow just a moment too long for Owen. First order of business: knock some of the wind out of him? He might have an upper hand there, if he could hit him in the stomach like a bag of rocks, lay into him with something that would linger. That, and it was a shorter trip to his stomach than his face. 

The next best thing to a bag of rocks that Owen had at his disposal was a fist encased in crystallized fury. With a spark of lunacy in his wide eyes, he aimed it swiftly at Ares' guts.
Maria
*-3 Damage to Ares.*

Ares felt the blow clean in his stomach, it made him scoff with a forced exhale. The hardness of the others shield making it hurt all the more. 

"Going," Breath, "Right for it then," The taller boy spoke through gritted teeth. 

In seconds, Ares punched back, aiming vaguely around Owen's chest and attempting to avoid his face. Something to knock him a few steps back.

*-3 damage to Owen.*

Ares' right hook punch landed against Owen's shoulder, knocking him a few paces back. 

"You got a kick in you." Ares said, still reeling from the pain in his gut, proud of his friend for making the first blow.
Lori
Owen had barely a split-second to register the grunt denoting his success before taking a rocket to the shoulder, disturbingly close to the old break in his collarbone. *A weakness he should have taken better care to guard...* He loosed an undignified grunt. The raggedness added to his voice was clearly no indication of a lack of power. He had been dealt many a nasty blow by good old gravity, but this was something else—the last time someone had swung at him proper, neither party had much power to speak of.

"Wouldya like one of those next?" He wheezed, circling his bad shoulder. No sickening crunching. 

He aimed another strike, launched at the cluster of nerves around Ares' right shoulder, partly in retribution for the hit he had just taken. The heat around his fists was getting higher, but Owen was yet unaware—he only increased the size of the force field a little, which would at the very least leave a nastier bruise.
Maria
B2 oh noe don't hurt me
Lori
Owen strikes mostly true, launching his left hand upward and making contact with unprotected bone—he slipped a bit off target, but that still hurt Ares much more than it did Owen's knuckles, blunted but harsh without the give of skin.
Maria
Ares felt Owen strike back, which made Ares grunt suddenly. *Ouch!! Damn!!*

After a quick stumble, he regained his balance. Quickly moving about five quick steps back, creating distance, the taller boy smirked. 

"You've definitely gotten better at this, but isn't it unfair you've basically got brass knuckles on?" Ares snickered, despite the lingering pain in his shoulder and stomach.
"I'm punching you with my bare hands, like a man."

Despite his taunting, Ares could respect how much that fucking *Hurt.* 

As he stood, he felt a heat pool in his palms, but this time it was a different kind of heat.

G1 oooohhh hotbox this mf

Nothing came out of Ares' hands, despite the fact he really wanted to create some kind of distraction. Perhaps it was due to the fact he had not detonated any explosion prior to his attempt to summon smoke, he wasn't sure. 

Ares stretched out his neck, and readied to take another attack.
Lori
"*You* Said you wanted to train your powers today too," Owen retorted, face burning. Ares sure hit like he was made of rocks, but their footing was clearly uneven. This was a superhero battle, wasn't it?

Owen willed the crystalline red over his arm to bloom, with a visceral crackling sound, into a more sizeable shield, moving to rush it at Ares' chest; more of a taunt than a proper attack.

"Have at thee!"

G2 pretty please work

*Thump*. Ares is hit by a decent wall of force, but nothing intended to injure. Owen is less built for offence, and it shows against the hits Ares is typically bracing to take.
Maria
Ares once again took a hit dead in the centre of his chest. *Alright, now that one hurt more than the last two.*

Clearly, whatever aversion Ares had to using his powers, was going to have to be overcome. Owen had the upper hand, and Ares was losing. 

Once again, moving back from the attack, Ares created a solid distance between the two. He then, felt proper heat pool into his palms. Staring at a spot on the floor, right in front of Owen, Ares steadied his breath. He wouldn't hit him, or at least, he would try.

G4 Inferno, Trained + 2 Owen bond points because pretty pls i dont wanna hit him ^^

Ares pulled his arm back, and sparks began to pool in his hand. They swirled together, and without hesitation, he threw the white hot ball forward with an unmatched force. Ares prayed that baseball gave him an upperhand in proper aim. 

It landed directly in front of Owen, maybe closer to his feet than Ares initially wanted, and exploded on impact. It created a loud cracking sound, and would definitely knock Owen off balance. As well as, maybe, singe the toes of his shoes.
Lori
B1 Finesse SKEDADDLE