“Okay,” Matt squeaked, his voice barely audible. “The cleat. Let’s do the cleat. It’s… roomier, right? I’ll be fine.”
Daniel’s eyebrows shot up, a mix of relief and unease crossing his face. “The cleat? Alright, man, if you’re sure.” He scratched the back of his neck, his cheeks still faintly pink. “It’s gonna be rough—kinda sweaty and, uh, stinky from practice. But I’ll be careful. Promise.” He leaned down, his huge fingers hovering over Matt’s tiny form. “Ready?”
Matt nodded, heart hammering. “Just… don’t squish me, okay?”
Daniel chuckled nervously. “No squishing. Got it.” His fingers, warm and calloused, gently scooped Matt up, the sensation like being lifted by a crane. Matt’s stomach lurched as he was carried toward the open mouth of Daniel’s cleat, the dark interior looming like a cave. The faint scent of sweat and worn leather hit him, not overpowering but definitely noticeable. Daniel tilted the cleat, sliding Matt inside with surprising care. Matt tumbled onto the cushioned insole, the surface slightly damp and warm beneath his bare skin.
“Hold tight, dude,” Daniel said, his voice muffled from above. “Here comes my foot.”
Matt braced himself, gripping the insole’s fabric as Daniel’s socked foot entered the cleat. The massive, white athletic sock blotted out the light, descending like a cloud. It pressed down, pinning Matt gently but firmly against the insole. The weight wasn’t crushing—Daniel was clearly trying to be careful—but it was heavy, like being trapped under a warm, living mattress. The sock’s cotton fibers brushed against Matt’s skin, and the faint musk of Daniel’s post-practice sweat filled his senses. It wasn’t unbearable, but it was… intense.
“Still alive down there?” Daniel’s voice rumbled, laced with concern.
“Y-yeah,” Matt called back, his voice muffled against the sock. “It’s… cozy. Let’s just get outta here.”
Daniel snorted. “Cozy, huh? Hang on, man.” The cleat shifted as Daniel laced it up, each movement jostling Matt slightly. Then the walking began. Each step was a rhythmic press of Daniel’s foot, the weight shifting from heel to toe, pressing Matt into the insole before easing up. It wasn’t painful, but the constant pressure and motion made it hard to relax. The heat built, Daniel’s foot radiating warmth, and the air grew thick with the scent of sweat and leather. Matt clung to the insole, trying to focus on the fact that he was safe—at least for now.
The walk to Daniel’s dorm felt endless. Matt lost track of time, each step blending into the next, the muffled sounds of campus life filtering through the cleat. Voices, footsteps, the occasional honk of a car—all distant, like a world Matt was no longer part of. His tiny body ached from the pressure, but he trusted Daniel to get him somewhere safe.
Finally, the motion stopped. A faint creak of a door opening, then silence. Matt felt the cleat tilt as Daniel sat down, and light flooded in as the massive foot withdrew. Cool air rushed over Matt, a relief after the stifling heat. Daniel’s fingers reached in, gently lifting Matt out and setting him on a desk cluttered with textbooks and protein bar wrappers. Matt blinked, disoriented, taking in Daniel’s dorm room: a small, messy space with a bunk bed, a mini fridge, and posters of football players plastered on the walls.
Daniel leaned back in his chair, his face a mix of worry and disbelief. “Holy shit, man, you okay? That was… intense. Sorry about the stink. I haven’t washed those cleats in a while.” He ran a hand through his curly hair, his blue eyes searching Matt’s tiny form. “So… what now? You’re still, like, two inches tall. We gotta figure out how to fix this. Or at least keep you safe until we do.”
Matt sat on the edge of a notebook, his body still tingling from the cleat ordeal. He felt exposed, vulnerable, but Daniel’s steady presence grounded him. “I… I don’t know,” he admitted, his voice small. “The chem lab accident—it’s not like there’s a manual for this. I just need to stay hidden and… figure out what’s next.”
Daniel nodded, leaning forward, his elbows on his knees. “Alright, we’ll figure it out together. But we gotta be smart. And you’re safe here for now. Let’s think this through.” He paused, his expression softening. “You’re my best friend, Matt. I’m not letting anything happen to you.”
Matt’s chest warmed at the words, a flicker of hope cutting through his fear.
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