Rating:

General Audiences

Archive Warning:

No Archive Warnings Apply

Category:

M/M

Fandoms:

Heated Rivalry (TV), Game Changers Series - Rachel Reid

Relationships:

Scott Hunter & Ilya Rozanov, Shane Hollander/Ilya Rozanov

Characters:

Ilya Rozanov, Scott Hunter (Game Changers)

Additional Tags:

Miscommunication, Humor, Minor Kip Grady/Scott Hunter, Mentioned Shane Hollander, Established Relationship, Scott Hunter Knows About Shane Hollander/Ilya Rozanov, Ilya Rozanov Loves Shane Hollander, Minor Violence, Protective Scott Hunter (Game Changers)

Language:

English

Stats:

Published: 2026-01-06 Words: 1,201 Chapters: 1/1

The sun’s golden edge

Summary

Realization dawns over Ilya. He stares back whilst everything clicks in his head, connecting the dots. Then he starts laughing. “You are wrong,” he grins, shaking his head. It gets answered by a solid punch to his jaw.

or: the talk between Ilya and Scott during the MLH awards.

Scott Hunter’s speech ends and Ilya claps along with most of the audience. He leans against a pillar with a glass of vodka in his hand. His eyes drift between the figures that are either too busy whispering to join in on the applause, or have no shame in being a painful outlier. Ilya doesn’t mind it. Hockey players are notorious for not being too bright, desperately holding onto a herd mentality even off the ice and for just being straight up homophobic. Their higher-ups are often a lot worse. So he can’t seem to care all that much about them.

His reasoning for attending the gala is solemnly a chance to talk to Scott Hunter. Nothing more, he isn’t even nominated for anything. Officially he is here as a team captain - although that has never stopped him from skipping the event. Nobody expects him to be here, least of all Shane, which is why Ilya hasn’t said anything to anyone. And in all earnestness, he doesn’t even want to be here. This is his only chance since Scott refuses to give out his phone number. Asking Shane for it would mean confessing his plan. Which would also mean a very real possibility of Shane freaking out and still not giving it.

Ilya spots Scott a few minutes after the speech, shaking hands with a slightly trembling smile. The sweat on his forehead catches the lights and emphasizes the tension in his shoulders. It’s clear Scott is still on the verge of passing out because of all the nerves. Which is more than fair, Ilya thinks, because that speech was even more intimate than the kiss had been. Way longer as well. He had to try and focus on the words being said so he wouldn’t yawn, repeating in his head that he was here for a reason. Which is exactly why he downs the rest of his vodka, slides the glass towards the bartender and makes his way over to the group of people right in front of him.

“Hi, hello, so nice to see you,” Ilya’s voice beams over the laughter. He winks before he cuts in line and grabs Scott’s wrist. “Soooo sorry, everyone. Is my grandpa’s bedtime. You can wish him goodnight after, yes? Okay, bye bye.” With that, he drags him away from the crowd and doesn’t stop until his grip is broken. Before Scott can say anything, Ilya rolls his eyes and gestures to the open door leading to the courtyard. The cold air outside welcomes them both with a small breeze.

“The fuck is your problem, Rozanov?” Scott frowns. His eyes are wide and weary. The expression on his face has slight cracks, revealing some fear and anticipation. As if he expects something to happen, someone to crash out right in front of his eyes. “Are you too scared to bitch inside? Because that’s real fucking low, even for you.”

Realization dawns over Ilya. He stares back whilst everything clicks in his head, connecting the dots. Then he starts laughing. “You are wrong,” he grins, shaking his head. It gets answered by a solid punch to his jaw. Immediately his laughter dies off and he throws his hands up, dodging the second fist being thrown. Scott’s knuckles meet the wall instead, making him cry out in pain as well. Ilya pushes him back and tries out every gesture he can come up with to indicate a truce. “Holy shit, not like that! Calm the fuck down, Hunter,” he voices whilst rubbing over his jaw. Two eyes stare back at him in pure anger.

“Not like that?! You literally-“

“Ohmygod, shut up. I meant what you are thinking. You look at me like I beat you up and steal your lunch money, no? Because I am Russian I must be homophobic. That is not very nice, you know.”

Scott narrows his eyes. He tries stretching his fingers, breathing out in relief when nothing seems broken. Still, there is tension in the air and no sign of trust at all. “You’re always shit talking, Rozanov. Is it really that unrealistic?”

“Wow, oldest hockey player finally learns about chirping. Good job.” Ilya mumbles sarcastically. Watching Scott’s expression change again, he quickly points at him. “No, I saw you almost throw up. Had to save poor people from old man breathing his last breath because nerves gave him heart attack.”

A silence falls over them after that. Both of them let their shoulders hang low, now sensing the lack of hostility. Ilya waits a few beats and then starts over. “What I wanted to say, before you were all dramatic, is thank you. You are very brave. Even now, you stand ground for yourself and your boyfriend. Is very admirable.” He has to search his thoughts for the right words in English so he holds up his hand again. The throbbing pain in his jaw almost offends him enough to cut it short, but he continues nonetheless. “That kiss helped a lot of people. It changed everything for them and for me as well.”

Finally Scott’s eyes widen in a way of understanding. He lets out a soft ‘oh’ and slowly nods. The silence gets cut short by him this time. “Uh, sorry. For assuming,” he awkwardly gestures, which Ilya waves away, and clears his throat. “That is- wow, shit. I did not expect that from you of all people. But that is good to know, man.”

Ilya snorts at that and ignores the eyeroll. “Of course you did not expect, I am stealthiest player in the league. Is why I am best as well.” It takes a lot of him to soften his tone and show vulnerability instead of a sarcastic mask. But he is here for a reason, and unfortunately Scott Hunter throws a hard punch, so Ilya opens up. “My boyfriend and I cannot come out. He is well-known too, it would not be good for us now. But is not unrealistic anymore.”

“Yeah no, I get you. It fucking sucks. But I’m really glad that you guys at least see a possible future now. You’re always welcome at Kingfisher as well, if you’d like to stop hiding for a bit.” The words carry the same sincerity that Scott’s eyes do. They’re just as open and vulnerable as the confession. “Sounds like he’s an athlete, then? Must be the best in his sport to be good enough for Ilya Rozanov to settle down.”

A genuine chuckle leaves Ilya’s mouth. “I will tell him about Kingfisher. He is too nervous, but it will be appreciated I think. If anyone gives you or your boy problems then you call me, yes? Vaughan has my number, tell him to text you it. Was good to talk to you. Thank you again.” He narrows his eyes a bit, deciding how mad Shane would be and then just goes for it. “And my boyfriend is very good athlete, yes. Second best in his sport. I, of course, always beat him.”

Right as he walks away he hears Scott sigh ‘you have got to be fucking kidding me’. Ilya heads straight for the exit with a small smile on his face.