Both

"Next is Physical." Raven said, walking around the boxer as she took a better look at his muscles. Cole's body was extremely toned, his muscles honed down to just what was needed for his boxing style. A little bigger than Nightwing though but only slightly. Part of that was due to his own training and then all the Cupid effects on top of it. He looked like he could go several rounds in the ring but boxing was one thing, heroing was another. Would he have the stamina to help with breaking the contract or any other dangers they'd have to face?

"First, I'd like to actually see you in action, against someone rather than a dummy. So with that in mind...," Raven walked over to where the training mats were before turning to him and motioning him to follow, "Attempt to hit me."

"Umm....."

"Cole. Don't tell me you're one of those guys that swore to never hit a woman." Raven said, her tone hardening. It was both an adorable and annoying line of thinking.

"Yes... no..., maybe? I will it just feels awkward every time I go to do so." Cole said, looking away from Raven to hide his flushed face, "Most my training partners have been guys. Even Penny just worked out with me rather than anything in the ring." He thought for a moment before turing to face his 'wife' again. "Hey could you give me a second? I have an idea."

Raven waved him off with a gesture. Cole nodded and took a few hurried steps over to the Closet nearby. If the house was magic and responded to thoughts like he thought, then what he was looking for should be here. Sure enough and in new packaging too. Cole brought out a box and ripped it open, showing off the gloves to Raven. But they weren't boxing gloves like she expected. They were more concave and curved, lacking the heavy padding on the knuckles and back of the hand. Instead it was all placed into the palm and the sides. Almost like a catcher's mitt.

"I'm not aware of this. What is it?" Raven said as she caught the mitts when Cole underhand tossed them to her. She tried one on and found it it fit her pretty well. Given everything else about her new life, that didn't surprise her.

"They're Punch Mitts or Focus mitts but that's kinda splitting hairs. Use 'em for training. See the trainer holds them up and has the boxer try to hit them with different punches. Going from high to low, left to right, etc etc. Helps with practice and memorizing where your strikes should go and how your movements should be." Cole explained, his voice raised up a few levels. He had a rather large grin on his face.

"He must like talking about it, even if he's worried about losing himself again." Raven mused as she put the other glove on. Even with their bulky nature, the mitts shouldn't cause an issue with her own movements. "SO with these on you think you can lower your mental block on trying to hit women?"

"Probably. Uncle taught me how to go after mitts so much it's kinda second nature to me now. I should be able to show off what I can do but mind you, this is just boxing. You could probably wipe the floor with me using kicks alone." Cole replied, looking somehow confident and downcast.

"Hmmm. To be fair I've had a far higher bar to deal with than you have. Vastly different weight classes." Raven offered in a way that didn't hurt the man's pride that much. She took up stance, one hand high while the other one low. "I admit, I will not be the most skilled at doing this but if you think this is a good way to show your stuff, then come at me."

Cole waved his arms a bit, shaking out his muscles before bringing them up to be level with his chin. For a man that was worried about getting back in the ring, Raven had to admit the fire in his eyes seemed to conflict with that idea. The pair settled into a slow and deep breathing pattern, Cole's eyes locked to the mitts. Long breath, clinch the fingers, long breath, shift the weight, long breath...

"WHAP!!!"

Raven caught the blow from Cole without a problem. "Hmm, not bad." She thought as she processed the hit. Of course, Cole should be able to do far more than 'not bad' and Raven readied herself. Another blow came and another; his blows starting to speed up and the **** behind them increasing. It was still nothing the hero hadn't seen or couldn't handle just yet. If this was his strength though she was starting to see why he was undefeated. More than just the power behind it, there seemed to be a heavy 'weight' behind it.

"He knows just how to punch for effect." She thought. Over her years as a hero, Raven had found the difference between a blow and a punch. Too many hot heads and street thugs thought they could just over power someone with their enhanced strength or large muscles. But random blow would hurt, even damage someone. A punch though, that could knock you down leave you winded, simply end a fight if placed right.

"He has some promise then." Raven thought as she took a few more punches, moving the mitts into harder to reach spots and increasing her tempo.

The boxer was able to keep up with her as he slowly started moving side to side. Not in a swaying manner, his feet took small steps that let him change his angle easily to reach the targets. "Hmm idea." Raven summoned her magic and created small little mitts that floated around her. Honestly the objects were simply in the curved shape like the mitts she wore but that was it, they looked more like caved in blocks. Cole however round them soft enough to hit without hurting his hands.

Working in tandem, the two got into a steadily increasing rhythm. To signal which one to hit, Raven would have her magic flare up more over the target. Cole kept at it, showing off his skill with his punches. It was rather impressive but at the same time, she could tell he was holding back. That fear still ate at him, and while his punches were skillfully placed with power, it was still just boxing punches. In the world of combat sports, he'd be great but against those with no such rules holding them back...

Raven was lost in her thoughts when a particularly hard blow sent one of the floating 'mitts' spinning, causing it to bounce others around. Including the one she has just singled to hit..., right beside her face. Cole brought his arm back and launched it forward. Far to close to her face for her liking and her own reflexes kicked in.

Cole found himself in a weird position. An embarrassing one but guys would again kill to be where he was. He moved on instinct and the rhythm of hours of practice. And it seemed Raven's own body had a similar response time. Unsurprising but still it was something to see. Cole fought to play back the motion in his mind.

His arm rocketed forward, only for Raven to duck to the side and jump, making sure to keep her legs close to her as she started to turn mid air. When her legs were on the same level as his arms, those thick legs shot out and wrapped around his arm and shoulder. With the arm trapped, Raven used the leverage to spin harder, pulling his arm away from his body and then the rest of him downward. This caused him to slam face down on the mat with enough **** to almost bounce off it. Confused he tried to get up, only for something heavy to slam onto his back while something bound his arms.

Raven's magic had his hands tied up, chained together and then linked to his arms. The heavy thing sitting in the middle of his back was Raven. She'd just slammed down with her butt to keep him down on the ground.

"Sorry. Reflex. Though I have to ask," Rave started not bothering to get up, "Are you in control of yourself?"

"Yeah... think so. Aware of everything." Cole muttered as he turned his head just a bit to talk easier.

He was treated to a good look at his 'wife' from a very good position. Her legs were spread out with a knee on each side of his torso. The work-pants tight against her skin and gleams of sweat going down her toned stomach. He had to quickly look away when his vision got to her sports bra.

"Cole. Drooling." Raven muttered as her eyes narrowed.

"I know I KNOW!" Cole responded with a flush on his face, "And I'm NOT Drooling. Could you... just get off me?"

Raven gave a noise that sounded like a dismissive snort crossed with a chuckle as she got up. Cole grumbled as he took her offered hand and got to his feet with her help. He brushed himself down and steadied legs, making sure he wasn't going to fall over again.

"You seem to be able to get up fine." Raven noted as she took a step back, her eyes tracing over his body.

"Look I might be an out-fighter but there's no boxer worth his salt that can't take at least one down." Cole muttered as he rotated his arm. "I don't have a glass jaw, I just can't repeated hits."

"Hmm." Rave muttered as she pulled a water bottle over to her. Her magic floated another one over to him, which he took. "Well I saw what I wanted. You're decently strong but extremely skilled in your hits. I can see your boxing history in your punches and blows."

"Thanks..., I guess getting complimented by a hero is a good sign." Cole said as he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand after he was done with the bottle. "Heh, maybe I can show off to Robin or Batman...."

"10 seconds. Maybe 15."

"Yeah. Yeah...," Cole said, that grin dying on his face as his shoulders slumped.

"Better than most thugs and goons." Raven said as she walked over and tapped his forehead with the top of her water bottle, "Again, Vastly different weight classes. Now...," her eyes focused and her energy formed around her hands, "Magic Time."

"....sheeeeeeeeeeeeit." Cole thought as he started to summon his shadow.

Raven stood at the door way, leaning against it in a mix of tired and taunting as she looked over her shoulder. "Good showing. I'll take the shower first if you don't mind. Not that you seem able to get up. I'll see you in the kitchen." She gave a wave and walked through the hidden hallway.

Cole couldn't really respond. He was lying out on the mat, trying to catch his breath. For the last... what three hours? He lost track of time as Raven had pushed him hard. On his punches and dodges, on his shadow control and manipulation, of mixing both of them together. Using his magic to dodge, to attack and defend, mixing them into heavy shadow gauntlets.

Raven hadn't gone easy on him either, with kicks and light 'punches' with her magic. She made small 'bullets' of her dark magic and used them to punch at Cole while he dodged or blocked. He kept gasping for air as he tried to get air into his lungs. His muscles burned from exhaustion.

"Gah, she could have... at least... huff..., waited a few days...," Cole thought as he pushed himself up. He wasn't sure how long he'd stayed down on the floor. The combo of physical and magical exertion made him feel like someone beat him with a heavy mallet wrapped in a wet blanket.

He needed food and a shower...,