Matt’s tiny heart thundered as he perched on Coach Stevens’ desk, the giant’s words echoing in his mind: *Me or the team.* The office felt suffocating, the weight of the decision crushing him. Before he could respond, a sharp knock rattled the door, making Matt flinch.
Coach’s bushy eyebrows shot up. “Who’s that now?” he muttered, rising from his creaky chair. He cracked the door open, revealing a lanky figure leaning casually against the frame.
“Yo, Coach, you seen my water bottle? Left it in the locker room, I think,” came a laid-back drawl. The guy was maybe 5’10”, with tousled blonde hair and bright blue eyes that sparkled with easygoing charm. His average build was clad in a loose tank top and gym shorts, his skin lightly tanned. He looked like he’d just rolled out of bed but somehow made it work.
Coach sighed. “Luke, you leave more stuff behind than the rest of the team combined.” He stepped aside, letting Luke saunter in. Luke’s eyes flicked to the desk, landing on Matt. His jaw dropped, but a grin spread across his face almost instantly.
“Whoa, what’s *this*? You got a tiny action figure, Coach?” Luke leaned down, his blue eyes wide with curiosity. “Dude, you’re *alive*?”
Matt scrambled back, his voice cracking. “I-I’m not a toy! I’m a person, okay? Just… small!”
Luke chuckled, raising his hands. “Chill, little man, I’m not gonna poke you. Name’s Luke. You got a name, or do I call you Mini-Me?”
“Matt,” he squeaked, still wary but oddly comforted by Luke’s relaxed vibe. “And, uh, I’m not supposed to be like this.”
Coach cleared his throat, his chubby cheeks puffing out. “Luke, this ain’t your business. Matt’s… a situation. I’m handling it.”
Luke smirked, folding his arms. “Handling it? Coach, you look like you just found a leprechaun and don’t know what to do with it. You keeping him as a pet or what?”
Coach’s face reddened. “He’s not a pet! I’m giving him options. He stays with me, I keep him safe. Or…” He hesitated, glancing at Matt. “He goes with the team.”
Luke’s grin faded, his eyes narrowing. “The team? Coach, you know Jacob would turn him into a hacky sack. Let me take him. I’m not gonna, like, lose him in my gym bag or anything.”
Matt’s stomach flipped. Luke seemed chill, but could he trust him? Before he could speak, another knock boomed, heavier this time. Coach groaned, yanking the door open.
In strode a mountain of a guy, his brown hair buzzed short, blue eyes sharp and intense. His muscles bulged under a tight compression shirt—massive thighs, tree-trunk arms, and a chiseled torso with abs and pecs that looked carved from stone. At 6’2”, he filled the room with raw power.
“Coach, I need to talk about the lineup,” he said, his voice low and commanding. His eyes landed on Matt, and he froze. “What the *hell* is that?”
“Ryan, meet Matt,” Coach said, rubbing his temples. “Matt, Ryan. Don’t freak out, he’s not gonna eat you.”
Ryan crouched, his massive frame casting a shadow over the desk. His blue eyes studied Matt like a specimen. “You’re human? How?” His tone was clinical, not cruel, but it made Matt shiver.
“I, uh, shrank. Lab accident,” Matt stammered. “I’m trying to fix it.”
Ryan straightened, his pecs flexing as he crossed his arms. “This is insane. Coach, you can’t let the team see him. They’ll lose their minds. Jacob especially—he’d probably try to bench press him.”
Matt’s voice piped up, trembling. “I don’t want to be bench pressed!”
Ryan’s lips twitched, almost a smile. “Smart kid. Look, Coach, give him to me. I’ll keep him out of trouble. No one messes with my stuff.”
Luke snorted. “Your stuff? Ryan, you’d probably put him in a protein shaker and forget he’s there. I’m the better bet, Matt. I’m, like, *fun*.”
Coach raised a hand, silencing them. “Enough. Matt’s not a prize to fight over. He’s deciding.” His brown eyes flicked to Matt. “You hearin’ this, kid? Luke or Ryan’s an option now, too.”
Before Matt could process, the door creaked open without a knock. A tall figure ducked inside—6’4”, with shaggy black hair and warm brown eyes. His average build was solid but not jacked, his broad shoulders filling out a loose hoodie. He moved with a gentle, unhurried grace, like a bear who knew his strength but didn’t flaunt it.
“Sorry, Coach, didn’t mean to barge in,” he said, his voice soft but deep. “Just grabbing my playbook.” His eyes caught Matt, and he blinked, tilting his head. “Uh… is that a tiny person?”
Coach sighed, clearly done. “Ethan, Matt. Matt, Ethan. Yes, he’s tiny. Don’t ask.”
Ethan knelt, his brown eyes kind and curious. “Hey, Matt. You okay? You look kinda freaked.” His tone was so gentle it almost calmed Matt’s racing heart.
“I’m… yeah, freaked,” Matt admitted. “I didn’t sign up for this.”
Ethan smiled faintly. “Bet not. Look, I don’t know what’s going on, but if you need a safe spot, I got you. No one’s gonna mess with you on my watch.” He glanced at Luke and Ryan. “No offense, guys, but you’re kinda loud about this.”
Luke grinned. “Loud? I’m *vibes*, Ethan.”
Ryan rolled his eyes. “Vibes won’t keep him alive, Luke. Strength will.”
Coach clapped his hands, the sound like a thunderclap to Matt. “Alright, enough! Matt, you got three options now. , Luke, Ryan, or Ethan. I ain’t got all day, and neither do you. Pick someone to stick with, or I’m deciding for you.”
Matt’s tiny body trembled as he looked between the giants. Luke’s easygoing charm, Ryan’s raw power, Ethan’s quiet kindness, or Coach’s protective but unsettling offer. Each felt like a gamble, and the wrong choice could mean disaster. He opened his mouth, still unsure, his mind a whirlwind of fear and hope.
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