Marvelous Smalls

Socks and Gloves

“Where are my gloves?” Steve mumbled to himself, looking underneath his bed.

It was mid January and freezing outside. He really did need them if he wanted to go on a walk. He stood to his feet, and shuffled through the papers on the side table. Not there either.

He scratched his head. “Maybe I left them in my coat pocket?” He said to himself walking to the closet.

(Y/N) watched from underneath the dresser, crouched on their stomach.

You didn’t think he would want those gloves. They were so old, and raggy. And he had just gotten some new ones! It wasn’t fair that he was hung up on this particular pair when he had others.

Eventually he sighed and took one of the newer pairs. After another minute, he headed out the door.

You sighed. “Thank goodness, I thought he’d never leave.” You threw your hook up to the dresser and climbed. You had been here only a few weeks, and though perhaps inexperienced, you loved your new found freedom.

The reason you clambered up his dresser was because of the growing cold. Your home was freezing, and as the days grew colder, your desperation drove you to take some socks. The gloves had helped, but not enough.

You got to the top, and wedged a nail file in the groove of the drawer. Pulling back carefully with your rope you cracked it open enough to get inside.

You knew it was risky to take socks from the dresser, but you had seen him throw some looses socks in here earlier, and humans lost socks all the time!  Besides— you really didn’t want a dirty sock…

You wrapped your hook up, and attached it to your side. Wading through the clothes you searched till you found one of the un-matched socks.

“Perfect!” You say to yourself, tugging it upwards. About to leave, you turn for the open slit, but suddenly it slid shut.

Your first instinct was to dive deeper, in case he was there and going to open it again, but as time passed the slow realization that you were trapped, seeped into your mind. You were stuck, and you were either gonna die of starvation in here, or get caught.  Whichever came first!

You wrapped yourself up in the sock and tried to calm your shaky breathing as you awaited your fate.

***

Steve had walked down the sidewalk, no destination really in mind, he just wanted to get out. He ended up running into a familer face from starks tower. A young college graduate who was recently hired by stark. After some talking, and a cup of coffee, he offered to walk her home, as it was getting late and starting to hail.

He noticed she kept rubbing her hamds together.

“Here,” he took his gloves off and offered them to her. Her face flushed, or it could have been the cold.

“Oh no I couldn’t!” She replied. In the end she accepted them, and when they reached her apartment he insisted she kept them. Eventually he succeeded “No keep them I have another pair!”, He left and headed home.

It was really coming down now. The hail had turned to cold icy sheets of rain. Steve dug his hands into his pockets and hurried.

It was a relief when he at last unlocked the door, and hung his soaked coat up. He was drenched, he headed for his bedroom throwing his clothes off. Once Steve was in a dry clothing again he grabbed a blanket and opened his sock drawer.

“What in the world!” He gasped. In his drawer, sleeping on top of all his socks— was a tiny person.

And they were tiny! Snuggled up with a loose sock, and snoozing softly they were just so cute…there was no denying it. Steve smiled and grabbed a pair of socks they were not on so as to not wake them up.

“Aw,” he chuckled. “I’ll leave you be short stack.” He slid the drawer back, leaving it open enough for them to get out of.

***
As you waited, you became bored after an hour or so, and fell asleep.

You were sleeping peacefully, until ice cold fingers wrapped around you, jerking you from your sleep.

You jerked up, smacking your head against his finger, and tried to cling to the ground. But you were no match for human streangth. You could hear the deep rumbling of his laugh as he brought you out.

“Hello there. You've been asleep for a awhile, i was getting worried. What’s your name short stack?”

You shivered. “I, I….” Your eyes widened in fear as you met Steve’s eyes. How long had he been watching you?

“L-let me go!” You tried to demand, beginning to fight and kick his hand.

“Hey, hey, don’t be scared little buddy.” He lowered you down, and set you on the dresser. “My name’s Steve. What’s your name?”

Your shivering stops mostly, you wrap your arms around yourself wishing you had your sock. “I…. I’m not supposed….” There was a stretch of quiet.

“Are you cold? Do you want the sock back?” There’s a smile in his question, like your his friend or something. “Here. You can keep it, you seem to need it more than I do.” Steve chuckled, handing you the sock.

Your face turned pink. “Um…thank you.”

“Your welcome.” A look of realization crossed his face. “Do you happen to know where my gloves went?”

Your mouth went dry. “Um….” You bite your lip and look anxiously at him. Steve sighed, and moved his hand, causing you to flinch.

“It’s alright.” He huffed. “I thought I was going crazy, can I trade you another pair of socks for my gloves?”

You nod hesitently, unsure if a confession to the crime will make him upset.

“Thank you. A good friend of mine gave me those. I thought I had lost them.”

‘Welp that makes me a jerk.’ You think. “I’m sorry!”

You flinch as Steves hand came over you. “It’s ok, you don’t need to be sorry.” He rubbed the top of your head lightly, and pulled away. “Do you want something to eat?”

You bit your lip, then nod. You couldn’t resist the offer of food. Especially these days.

“Then hop on, I make a pretty mean potatoe soup.” Steve placed his hand at the end of the dresser, and waited for you to step on.

You look from him to the hand. Gripping his sock around you, you step on.