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Orange-red flames bloomed from the campfire, the edges of the wood glowing as it was slowly consumed by the fire, emitting precious heat that kept you warm on these cold desert nights. You sat next to the fire, Diego not far, scrounging around in a bag for blankets. The night sky was overcast, a gap in the clouds appearing every now and then to let the moon’s pale light bathe the scenery for a moment, the stars peeking through the gray haze.
Diego walked past you, draping a blanket over your shoulders before sitting before the campfire; a small gesture of companionship. You pulled the fabric around your shoulders. Diego was, on the surface, an arrogant and cocky prick of a guy - and it was true. However, you were able to brush it off; once he found he couldn’t taunt you any more than you could return it, you reached a form of understanding. You became traveling companions, on the account that you were the only one that could stand him for any extended amount of time. Personally, you thought he was funny; his arrogance and odd sense of humor were entertaining, and you gladly played along with his comments, making excellent banter. The friendship you’d developed made the long journeys in the race much more enjoyable.
He prodded at the fire with a long branch, the embers crackling at their disturbance.
“How much farther until the next checkpoint?” you asked, Diego’s sharp gaze flicking to you.
“A few hundred miles,” he estimated, “we’re smart to take it easy for this portion.”
You hummed in agreement, bringing your knees to your chest. “It’s gonna be cold tonight,” you noted, the temperature already dropping rapidly. It was astounding how the seemingly inescapable heat of the day was washed away in an instant by the night.
You noticed a twinge of concern etched in Diego’s features, but didn’t dwell on it; he didn’t like nosy questions, and his mind was most likely occupied with the race. It wasn’t that you didn’t want to source out the reason for his worry. In fact, the more time you spent with the Brit, the more you seemed to care for him. You refused to believe you were developing feelings for Diego - but at the same time, you were beginning to think there might not be somebody else more suited to you.
You yawned, the day’s journey finally taking its toll on your body. You settled down into your blankets, tucking your arm under your head. “Goodnight, Diego. Make sure you get some rest.”
He muttered a reply, letting you drift off. “Goodnight, Y/n.”
***
You blinked, shuffling to sit yourself up. A sound had woken you up - you’d learned to be a light sleeper in this race, threats of sabotage and attack imminent around every corner. You looked around your campsite, the darkness proving it difficult to see. The embers of the fire had dulled down, only flecks of red glow emitting heat. You felt around for the box of matches you had nearby, lighting a lamp and holding it up to survey your surroundings.
The sound that had woken you came again; you paused, searching for its source, silently wishing you had Diego’s heightened senses. With mild surprise, your hearing directed you to Diego himself; his features looking restless despite his sleep, tangled in his blankets and curled dangerously close to the fire pit. The sound, you found as you crawled closer, was in fact coming from him; a series of small somewhat inhuman noises, along with the occasional chatter. You tentatively set a hand on his shoulder, confirming your growing suspicion; he was shivering. You could feel the cold through his jumper.
“Diego,” you whispered, shaking him awake. “Diego, wake up.”
He startled to alertness, lashing out to grab your wrist, before relaxing as he realised it was only you.
“Y/n, why are you awake,” he asked, eyes scanning your hand on his shoulder.
“Are you cold?”
He seemed taken back by your question, but with a small huff, answered. “It’s my ability. Reptiles are cold-blooded.”
You sighed, your mind already made up. You reached over to where you had been sleeping, grabbing the blanket and pulling it over you both as you resettled next to him. “I’ll share with you. Only because it’s cold,” you said pointedly.
Using your bag as a pillow, you reclined back and tried to relax; until a cold body pressed into your side.
“Diego-”
“You said you’d share. You’re sharing your heat.”
“The blanket,” you corrected, but feeling his shaking cease as he absorbed your body heat, you couldn’t deny him. “Oh, alright,” you muttered, seeing a flash of a smug grin as he rested his head on you, nuzzling into the crook of your neck. You could feel your cheeks flaring with heat - at least it would be warmer. Up until now, nothing had really happened between the two of you, other than friendly touches and the occasional affectionate (or not) whack on the arm. Being close like this felt oddly comfortable; the familiarity of him made it seem as though it were the most normal thing in the world to have him nestled against your collar, falling asleep together as though in your own world.
***
After that, it became a habit; when the sun went down, and the bitter cold air washed over the landscape, you would find Diego curled up against you as he slept, seeking out your warmth.
One night you had been separated, and you’d found it difficult to sleep for the time you were apart, laying awake and wondering if he was restless as well. When you were reunited a few days later, it hit you that you had missed him.
For Diego, your presence had become a necessity; his heightened senses were excellent for the day, but resting was difficult. He could hear every sound, every creature of the night scuttling and scratching about; he could smell every scent carried on the night breeze. If he dared to open his eyes, they could see every movement, catching his attention and readying him for a threat. It wasn’t like that with you: when he had you close, all of the noise of the world stopped; he could only hear your heart beating in your chest, only feel the rise and fall of your breathing, only your scent filling his lungs; his senses entirely engulfed with you. It gave him security, knowing that you were beside him - nothing could take you away from him. In a sense, he thought of you as his - his to protect, his to search for, his to hold close on those cold desert nights.
He told you all of this as you lay together, grateful for each other’s presence after being separated. When he brought his lips to yours, you pulled him closer, running your fingers through his golden blonde hair, the chill of that night abolished by the heat of your bodies.