The darkness of the pocket swayed with each of Jack’s steps, the muffled sounds of the locker room fading as Matt’s tiny body pressed against the warm fabric. His heart pounded, fear mingling with the desperate hope that whoever had him wasn’t Jacob or some stranger. Suddenly, a massive hand slipped into the pocket, fingers brushing against Matt’s tiny form. He froze, then relaxed slightly as the familiar scent of Jack’s cologne hit him. The fingers curled gently around him, lifting him out into the dim light of the now-quiet locker room.
Matt blinked up at Jack’s chiseled face, the quarterback’s hazel eyes wide with shock and a flicker of something else—intrigue, maybe. “Matt? Holy shit, is that *you*?” Jack’s voice was a low rumble, warm but laced with disbelief. He held Matt carefully in his palm, his thumb brushing lightly against Matt’s tiny back.
“Y-yeah, it’s me,” Matt stammered, his voice barely audible. “Jack, thank God it’s you. I… I don’t know how this happened. I just woke up like this!”
Jack’s brow furrowed, his gaze darting around to ensure they were alone. “This is insane, man. You’re, like, the size of a mouse. How the hell…?” He trailed off, shaking his head. “You okay? Nobody else saw you, right?”
Matt shook his head, his tiny body trembling. “No, I was hiding in… uh, some jockstraps. What do we do, Jack? I can’t stay like this!”
Jack’s lips twitched into a half-smile, his eyes glinting with a mix of concern and something warmer, more curious. “Yeah, no kidding. Look, you’re safe with me, alright? I’m not gonna let anything happen to you.” He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a husky whisper. “Gotta admit, though… you being this tiny? It’s kinda wild. Kinda… hot.”
Matt’s cheeks flushed, the heat of Jack’s palm making his pulse race. “H-hot? Jack, I’m freaking out here, and you’re… what, into this?”
Jack chuckled, the sound vibrating through Matt. “Hey, I’m just saying. You’re cute all small like this. But don’t worry, I’m not a creep. We gotta figure this out, and we can’t do it here.” He glanced toward the locker room door, his expression turning serious. “I’m taking you back to my dorm. It’s safer there, and we can think straight. Cool with that?”
Matt nodded, still processing Jack’s words. “Yeah, okay. Just… don’t drop me or anything.”
“Never,” Jack said with a grin, his tone reassuring but with that teasing edge. He gently slipped Matt back into his pocket, the fabric closing around him like a warm cocoon. “Hang tight, little guy. It’s a quick walk.”
As the pocket swayed with Jack’s strides, Matt’s mind spun. The relief of being with Jack, not Jacob or some stranger, was tempered by Jack’s reaction. *Hot?* The word echoed in Matt’s head, stirring a mix of embarrassment and curiosity. Jack wanted to keep him safe, that much was clear, but the way his eyes had lingered, the playful warmth in his voice… what did he mean by it? Was Jack just joking, or was there something more? The thought of being so small, so dependent on Jack’s massive presence, sent a strange thrill through Matt, even as fear gnawed at him. What would happen at the dorm? Would Jack try to help him figure out this shrinking mystery, or was he planning something else entirely?
Trapped in the swaying darkness, Matt could only wait, his tiny body buzzing with anticipation and uncertainty as Jack carried him toward the unknown.