Intense Consequence

Chapter Four

The foursome walked for a few more minutes until the path led them to a good sized open space. Tall trees lined the outside except for the two spots where the path entered and exited. In the middle of the space sat a huge hollow tree, a small cave carved into a rock wall at one side of the space, and a little hut-like building.
"How'd they get all this inside a maze?" Braden asked.
"It's probably a giant set," Doc answered. "They built it in when they put the maze up."
"So who gets where?" Caz asked. "I doubt all of us could fit in one of those."
"I think we give the two love birds the little cabin," Molly offered. "I'll be fine under the tree as long as I'm out of the wind."
"That leaves me the cave," Doc said. "I can handle that. We might have to wait a while before the wind goes away, I'll check every so often and come get everybody when we can move out again." Caz carried Braden into the little cottage.  There wasn't that much room, a double bed sat along one wall with a couch at the back wall and a rug with a little space in the middle.  Small lamps sat on tables beside the bed and sofa, and a few small windows were set into the walls, but that was it. 
     Caz set Braden on the bed gently and sat at the foot of the bed to lean against the wall after making sure the other teen was comfortable against a pillow. 
     "It'd be nice if there were a few puzzles or board games in here," he said.  "We could be here a while."
     "It's not a vacation cabin," Braden reminded him as he set Georgie and the little stone soul on the floor to sniff around.  "We'll have to figure out our own entertainment." 
     "Like what?" Caz challenged.  "Shadow puppets with the lamps?"  Braden let out a small laugh. 
    "We could do that," he said.  "Or we could talk."  He pushed himself to his hands and knees to reach for the blanket at the end of the bed.  Caz handed it to him.  He stretched one arm out to encourage Braden to cuddle. 
     "Come here," he said gently as the other teen crawled over and threw the blanket over both of them.  "What do you want to talk about?"
     "Know any good stories?"  Braden leaned against him as Caz rubbed up and down his arm. 
     "I only know a few I remember reading a bunch," Caz answered.  He began telling a scary story about a scarecrow that came to life after a pair of farmers mistreated it. 
     "I remember that one," Braden said when he finished.  He then told a story about a girl who went into a cemetery at night and ended up being scared to death.  The two exchanged stories back and forth for about an hour, both becoming more comfortable as the time passed. 
     "I think I've run out of material," Caz said after Braden finished his latest.  "I can't think of any more." 
     "I'm out too," Braden said.  "Do you want to talk about video games or something?"
     "I never got the chance to play many," Caz admitted.  "Most of my foster families didn't let me." 
     "If we get out of here," Braden promised.  "I'll show you some I like if I can get hold of a good computer of console."  The two chatted about other things they'd do and show each other once they were free for another hour until they ran out of planning. 
     "I don't really want to talk about childhood trauma," Caz told Braden.  "So unless you have another subject, I don't have anything else." 
     "I don't think the wind and cold is going to stop any time soon," Braden admitted.  "We could nap, maybe?  Doc said he'd get everyone once the weather calmed down." 
     "I don't know how well I'd sleep if I'm not tired," Caz said.  "I'd probably just lay there bored until he came to get us."  Braden thought for a moment, then he let out a big sigh. 
     "There's one other thing I can think of to do," he said carefully.  "But I don't want to push you too far too fast."  Caz looked at him with an unreadable expression. 
     "Please don't get me wrong," Braden continued quickly.  "I'm not normally the type of guy to ask for sex this early in a relationship, but if you're really that bored, we can have it as an option."  Caz looked at him for another few seconds. 
     "Kiss me first," he said.  "And we'll see where it goes."  He pressed his lips to Braden's, and Braden kissed back passionately. His lips moved with Caz's, and their bodies pressed closer as well. Braden ended up on Caz's lap, and Caz's hands went to his waist.  His hands went to Caz's chest and they stayed kissing like that for ten minutes until Caz's tongue went down Braden's throat. Braden's tongue ventured down Caz's, and he pressed closer. Caz's hands began to rub up and down his sides.
Braden's hands began to rub along Caz's chest and shoulders. He heard Caz make a noise, and for a moment he wasn't sure if he'd done something wrong. Then he felt Caz's hands at the waistband of his pants and they slowly began to move down. He began to pull Caz's pants down as well, and he felt Caz touch his now-bare thighs. It was Braden's turn to make a noise as he felt himself start to get hard. Caz spoke for the first time in almost twenty minutes.
"Do you want to be on top?" He asked. "Or do you want me to?"
"Your choice," Braden answered. "I'm fine with either." He felt Caz's thumbs rub his thighs as he took a second to decide.
"Let me lie down," he said, shifting under Braden. Braden moved back and Caz moved to lay on his belly. Braden crawled over and found his way in. His breathing began to quicken and he heard Caz's speed up as well.
"How's it feel?" Braden asked after a few seconds.
"A little faster, maybe," Caz answered. Braden sped up slightly and Caz's breathing quickened even more.
"That's it," Caz breathed. "That's perfect." Braden leaned forward and kissed his cheek.
"I'll remember for next time," he said softly.
"We get out of here, and we can have all the next times you want," Caz smiled. "But I want the top for half of them."
"Of course, baby," Braden kissed him again. Caz raised his head a bit and Braden kissed a third time.
"You're sweet," Caz told him. "My last kept trying to bite, and I didn't like that."
"I'll kiss as much as you want," Braden told him as he kissed again. "But I'll have you know, I do like biting."
"I'll keep that information for next time," Caz grinned mischievously. "Do you like the sex itself rough?"
"Fast, yes," Braden kissed again as he answered. "But I don't want to bleed or be bruised."
"Noted," Caz leaned his head closer to Braden's for more kisses, and the two stayed like that until half an hour later both came, and Braden slowly pulled out. He pulled his pants back up and lay beside Caz. Caz pulled his own pants back up and pulled the blanket over both of them. He rolled on his side and Braden came to snuggle against him.
"That wind is still going," Caz observed. "We're probably going to be here a while longer."
"Then we just cuddle till it's over," Braden said. Caz rolled on his back and Braden moved even closer. Caz put his hand on Braden's back and rubbed gently. Braden's eyes closed and Caz let his eyes shut as well, listening to the howl of the wind until he fell asleep.

Akira wondered how long the Director planned on keeping the wind machines and cold air conditioning going. His innocents had been smart to hold up in the clearing, but Ki was starting to feel bored out of his mind not having much to watch. He was glad he'd decided to bring his phone with him in anticipation of the exit coordinates being sent. Akira played a few games for a while until he decided to check his monitors again.
The group was still holed up, but now there was a big dog sniffing around the clearing. It stuck its head in the doorway of the little wooden shack, and Ki switched one camera to the one inside the building. He spotted the two older teenagers curled together in the bed and was relieved he hadn't switched sooner. He'd probably just missed something awkward.
The big pooch looked around the inside before walking straight to the bed and putting its front paws up to lick the bigger boy's face. It began making funny little noises when he didn't wake right away, and eventually the boy rubbed his eyes, seeming a little confused. Braden woke up from Caz's movements, and both took a second to register the dog before Caz began freaking out excitedly. He began rubbing the chocolate colored fur on the sides of the dog's neck and telling her she was a smart girl. 
     The dog's blue-black tongue lulled out one side of her mouth as Braden cautiously patted the fur on top of her head.  The dog licked at his hand and her tail wagged happily as she accepted the second two-legged.  Caz told her she was a good girl, and Akira found the corners of his mouth pulling up.  That was enough for him.  He knew it was a risk, but he sent through a task completion confirmation. 
     He waited until it projected on Braden's bracelet before gingerly standing up and moving to the little room off to one side.  The supply shelves were stocked with tons of items, but Ki went straight to the back where he'd separated out the ones for Braden's task.  He tried hard not to use his bad shoulder as he placed a package of jerky, a bag of dried fruit, some trail mix, a full water bottle with a filter, a small flashlight, and a multitool into a small drawstring bag, placing that into a large backpack with a large bottle of healing serum, complete with syringes.  On top he put another drawstring with a couple packs of pet treats, a squeak toy, rubber ball, tug toy, and a small lure toy.  He managed to stuff an extra med kit in and crossed his fingers he wouldn't get in more trouble for it. 
     Ki zipped up the bag and put it on the conveyor belt for the drone to take it to Braden.  He typed in the coordinates and the team for the drone and sent it off.  He shuffled back to his chair and settled to watch the boy's reaction. 

     "Our Overseer must be a generous person, whoever they are," Caz said, patting Candy's back affectionately.  "They gave you poochy here as your third animal, even though she's technically more mine." 
     "I hope they don't get in trouble for it," Braden said as he watched the reward claim screen pop up.  He pressed the 'Claim' button and a message scrolled across the projection telling him his reward would be there in a few moments.  An optional extension of the task to five animals popped up next.
"I'd take it," Caz said. "More supplies is always good."
"I just hope I can house all these critters if we get out," Braden pressed the 'Accept' button.
"We'll get a place together somewhere," Caz kissed the top of his head. "Just don't tame any animals bigger than Candy, I don't know if we'd find a spot with room for a horse." That made Braden give a short laugh.
"Do they even put horses in here?" He asked.
"You never know," Caz rubbed his back a few times. The dog had noticed the other two animals, and was sniffing at the little stone soul while Georgie began grooming her side with his hand-like front paws. Candy looked at him for a second, then lay down on her other side to enjoy the attention.
"Good girl, Candy," Caz told her. The dog wagged her tail and her almond shaped orange eyes blinked.
"That's a sweet boy, Georgie," Braden praised the shug monkey, who simply squeaked in response. A loud honking noise came from somewhere outside, then what sounded like a techno remix of the ice cream truck song.
"They think they're real funny using that tune, don't they?" Caz grumbled. "That must be your reward." He shifted under the blanket.
"I'll go get it," he told Braden. "You shouldn't walk yet." Braden leaned over to try to watch as Caz walked out. The wind had gone down a fair amount, probably to allow for the reward delivery. Braden heard Doc and Molly speaking, and figured they must've heard the delivery as well. All three walked in a few seconds later, stepping over or around the dog.
"Thanks, Cazzie," Braden said as the big blue backpack was handed to him.
"We should be able to get you walking again if you can dig out that healing serum you were promised," Doc said as Braden began to empty his backpack. He found the bottle and handed it to Doc. He handed a box of syringes over right after.
"I'm not good with needles," Braden looked nervously at the bottle as Doc took one of the syringes out of the box.
"Unfortunately the serum can't be given any other way," Doc told him. "Just have Caz hold your hand and I'll get it over with as quickly as possible for you." Braden cuddled all the way against Caz and buried his face in Caz's shoulder. He took deep breaths as Caz's arms closed around him.
"You're okay," Caz told him, gently rubbing his back.
"Just a little stick, buddy," Doc stuck his arm and the serum went in easily.
"All done, bud," he said after a second or two. Braden stayed cuddled against Caz, but he turned his head back to the rest of the room.
"That should start to take effect in a few hours," Doc told him. "I'd sleep and test it when you wake up to be safe."
"I think there's other stuff in the bag," Braden dug through the bag more. He pulled out a full animal med kit, a drawstring bag with pet supplies, and a second drawstring filled with more supplies.
"That's a lot of stuff," Molly said. "As much as I don't like anyone involved with this show, I hope our Overseer doesn't get in trouble giving that much for a first task."
"That's what I said when they accepted Cazzie's dog as my third animal," Braden said.
"I couldn't say," Doc said. "But what I can say is that wind has picked up again, and I don't think it will stop until we sleep." 
     "Then let's sleep," Caz said.  He crawled back under the blanket with Braden.  "There's actually space for all of us if someone takes the couch and the other takes the floor." 
    "I'll take the floor," Doc said.  "Don't you two get frisky while the rest of us try to sleep."  Braden grinned as he cuddled against Caz. 
     "We already did," Caz said as he closed his eyes.  "So you two don't have to worry."