Chapter Text
Show covered the surrounding greenery making the whole mountain look like a slice of wonderland. The team landed yesterday night to barely a centimeter and woke up to a view no one expected, and more than 1.5 meter tall cover. Over night their whole plan was shifted to only indoor activities, which made things more complicated when they were suppose to drive around the small vacation spot.
The 3 day work holiday now was prolonged to 5 in case the weather got better. It didn’t. The whole time they were inside the snow didn’t stop, pulling on from the morning, covering any progress the team had made. In the end after the two days of working things out, they gave up and focused on the training of the drivers.
The small hotel had everything they needed for the coming start of the season. The team had set up a gym, sauna and massage room to get them back in shape. That combined with a personal chef, a pool and only employees of the team in the building made it a perfect rest before the storm.
However, due to a small number of rooms, they all had to share, including the drivers. Both drivers didn’t mind as they had frequently had roommates in the earlier series. Daniel laughed at the mention of the situation, saying it will force them to get to know each other while Esteban just nodded along, agreeing that it wasn’t big deal.
That changed on the day of the arrival when the hotel informed them the room they will be sharing is the Weeding Suite. With only one Queen sized bed. The staff had tried to shift the number of people in various situation, but due to the presence of female staff as well as the renovation of some of the old rooms, this was agreed upon. Their manager sat Daniel and Esteban in the lobby as the other members were checking in and explained the situation. The two looked at each other with a little hesitant looks not sure if the other is comfortable with this but didn’t say anything.
Being the older of the two Daniel felt it was his duty to make sure the other wasn’t uncomfortable with this. Esteban was not the one to bother the team with things like this, but he didn’t want to step of any boundaries, so he turned to the Frenchman to asked what he thought.
“I’m fine with sharing as long as you are,” he send him a smile, “but if you snore I’m kicking you.”
Esteban let out a chuckle at the comment, “I’m OK with it, I’ve shared a bed with a guy before.”
The matter was sorted and the two were lead to their room in the highest floor. It was specious enough to fit all of their things and not have to crowd each other. Fortunately they didn’t have to fight over which side to take as Daniel preferred the right and Esteban the left. Although a little uncomfortable at first, they managed to form a routine over time. Esteban went to bed early which gave Daniel a little privacy in the evenings, which made it easier for the two to get along.
A day before they were suppose to leave the weather went from bad to worse. The neighboring roads all closed for the night leaving the team to wait till the morning to see if they are able to go back home. Over the afternoon however, the whole neighborhood lost power including the hotel trapping them in their rooms to pass the time. The heating was changed to a manual radiators on wood which meant the staff would have to regulate it over night and the temperature of the rooms was lower than before.
The two drivers spend most of the evening in the main hall with their team chatting away after dinner. No one was too bothered with the situation, besides the manager, and saw it as an extra time of holiday. However, everyone could feel the change in temperature, putting on extra layers of clothes.
“I’m not made for this people.” Daniel was the one with lower threshold for cold and he was the first one to pull out a jumper.
The beige top swallowed him down to his thighs which made for a sweet but funny picture with his mess of a curly hair. Seeing as there was no point of sitting around if it was too cold to talk, one by one the team went to their room to slip under heavy blankets to get warm. Esteban was always happy to get into his bed earlier, so when the Aussie said he was pulling back to their room he got up as well.
The clock hit 11pm when they entered their room, Esteban closing and locking the door for the night. They had changed into their sleep wear and slipped in. This was the first time they had gone to sleep together and it had felt a little weird. Usually Esteban was deep in sleep by the time Daniel laid down. Now the Frenchman was on his phone watching a video and laughing slightly.
For some reason Daniel’s eyes feel on him, studying his face. The Frenchman had a nice defined jawline supporting his face and reddish cheekbones. His stubble gave him a more mature look but his eyes still held a sparkle. He looked so comfortable to be next in a black shirt and hoodie which he wore to bed.
“Are you still cold?”
The question took Daniel out of his daydream, blinking rapidly he saw that Esteban had paused the video and was now looking at him with worry. He noticed that his body was trembling a little despite the cover being up to his neck.
“Yeah, the sheets aren’t warmed up yet.” he sent the other a smile to get rid of the worry and to hide the shame on his face from being caught staring.
“I can ask for another blanket...” Esteban moved to get up but Daniel put his hand on his shoulder to stop him.
“Don’t bother, it’s fine. The others need it too.” this seemed to ease Esteban who was still looking at him. “We’ll fall asleep in a minute, so stay.”
“If you say so, just tell if you’re too cold, OK?” Esteban moved closer pushing his pillow closer to the middle which caused Daniel’s heart to skip a beat.
Daniel could now feel his every move under the covers, “Wow you’re a real gentleman huh!” which didn’t help his shaking this time out of nervousness.
Esteban laughed at the comment “Only to the people I like.”
“So you like me?” his voice went up a note as he teased the other.
“Of course you’re my teammate,” Esteban placed his phone down to look at Daniel, “or should I let you freeze to help me in the Championship.”
“Ouuu, you little shit.” Daniel raise an eyebrow at the dig. They were finally comfortable to joke around like this.
Esteban still had a small smile on his lips, but his eyes washed over Daniel’s body.
Pushing himself up higher on the pillows, Esteban said, “Come here,” after which he opened the covers.
For a second Daniel thought if this was a good idea. They were still far from being close and this was intimate thing. His whole face heat up at the thought and knowing how much he moved while sleeping he didn’t think he could do this. He was planning to joke about it but he was cut off before he could say anything.
“I know you’re still cold don’t lie.” Esteban pushed away the blanket from between them causing the Aussie’s body to send a shiver down his chest, the shaking being felt by both of them.
“Yeah, no mate it’s fine….” he was pulled by the shoulder and found himself pressed close to Esteban, his head on his pillow. For a moment he was scared he’s been too bothersome for the other to have to do this, but then he knew that Esteban was no someone who could be pushed around.
The Frenchman pulled the covers over both of them and settled down, their arms intertwined as their sides touched creating warmth “Better this than not being able to sleep all night, no?”
Daniel needed to say something. Looking to the left he saw a smirk on the other’s lips. “Thanks.”
“No problem,” They kept smiling at each other. “it’s easier to sleep when you have someone next to you. But I’ve never cuddled a guy, so this is a first.”
“Really?” Daniel couldn’t hide the shock on his face, “but you said you’ve shared a bed with a guy before?” He was just curious that was it.
Esteban laughed at the look on his face, which made him feel embarrassed especially cause they were so close now. He felt the laugh as Esteban’s body vibrate them both.
“Yeah on a summer holiday, it was so hot we had the AC on the whole night.” He shook his head at the Aussie.
“Ahh.” Daniel felt both relief and embarrassment for forcing the other to do this, smiling he send a wink, “I’m honored to be your first.”
“Shut up.” Esteban pinched his side which made him jump a little.
“Heyy!”
They continued chatting for a while, Esteban showing him a few videos. His body relaxed under the warmth of the covers and the soothing of the voice of his teammate. The oddness he felt before, being wrapped in your teammate's arms was gone now. Before he knew it the darkness took over them and he feel asleep, but not before one of his hands found the waist of the man next to him.
Esteban hummed as the older man drifted off, happy he could help him out, but also a for the bonding experience they shared. He was back on the grid this year and although Daniel was a pleasure to have around most of the time, he was also his direct rival. He needed this to be his year if he was to really stay here, no amount of goofiness of the cuddly Aussie would stop that. Looking down he smiled at the curly haired man in his arms. If only things were different.