Rating:

General Audiences

Archive Warning:

No Archive Warnings Apply

Category:

M/M

Fandoms:

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

Relationships:

Shane Hollander/Ilya Rozanov, Jean-Jacques Boiziau | J. J. Dagenais & Shane Hollander

Characters:

Jean-Jacques Boiziau | J. J. Dagenais, Ilya Rozanov, Shane Hollander

Additional Tags:

J.J. Finds Out, J.J. is a good friend

Language:

English

Stats:

Published: 2026-02-27 Words: 1,289 Chapters: 1/1

Defending the Captain

Summary

Sick of watching Shane pine for Ilya Rozanov, J.J. takes matters into his own hands. Little does he know he's years too late already.

Notes

There's so many 'Hayden finds out' fics out there, I thought I'd write one for J.J. Also, Shane deserves to have more supportive friends.

J.J. still isn't sure about this plan, but by now it's far too late to back out. He reminds himself what he's doing this for; Shane's happiness. He cares about the man beyond being his teammate. The team hasn't been the best about Shane's sexuality and while J.J. can't fix that, he can try to do something about his captains obvious crush. Obvious to him, anyway. Setting Shane up with random men hasn’t been successful at all. J.J. can only think of one other thing he can try.

Which brings him to a small cafe in Ottawa the morning of a game against the Centaurs, waiting for Ilya Rozanov to join him. He's gotten to see a different side of the man during the hockey camps and while they'll never be best friends, J.J. can admit that the guy isn't as much of an asshole as he presents himself as. He's also one of the few people who can get Shane to let his guard down, so J.J. has some respect for him.

Ilya walks into the cafe wearing sunglasses and an attitude. "Why did you want to meet?" Ilya asks.

J.J. regrets his decision to reach out instantly. "Is it possible for you to not be an ass for five minutes?"

Ilya shrugs. "I was busy. Will this take long?"

"I don't know." J.J. wasn't planning on taking long to talk to Ilya, but he can't ask what he's about to ask through this layer of hostility. "Can I get you a coffee?"

"The caramel one, and a slice of chocolate cake," Ilya answers as he takes a seat.

"Coming right up."

God, this man cannot be more of Shane's opposite. Maybe going on one date will be enough for Shane to get over him, once he sees Ilya's eating habits. Then J.J. can set him up with a nice guy. Though, they do say opposites attract…

"How are you liking Ottawa?" J.J. asks, hoping it'll break the ice.

"It's a boring city, but the people are nice," Ilya answers.

"Better than Boston?"

Ilya thinks for a while. "Different. It's better for me. The team is better."

J.J. can't stop himself from pulling a face. The Centaurs are no doubt the worst team in the league.

"They play worse, but they're better for me," Ilya corrects himself. "And we will get better."

"You better, Shane's mood always improved when we played Boston. He likes the challenge." J.J. carefully watches Ilya's face when he brings up Shane. Something in him softens.

"When we get the team in shape we'll beat your ass again, don't worry and just enjoy taking it easy for now," Ilya promises. "Is that why you asked me to meet you?"

This is probably the best opening he's going to get. "I wanted to talk about Shane."

Ilya shifts in his chair, he looks unsure. "Is he okay?"

"Oh, yeah! He's great. Um… Are you aware that he's…" Suddenly J.J. realizes he didn't think this through. He doesn't know if Ilya knows that Shane's gay and he doesn't want to out his best friend.

"He's… what?" Ilya asks.

"Are you into guys?" he ends up blurting out.

Ilya looks taken aback, but he doesn't immediately deny it like most of the guys J.J. knows would. Perhaps there's hope.

"Look, man, I'm not trying to out you or anything. I won't tell anyone. I just know a guy who has a thing for you and I was wondering if it's even an option. He's not the type to make the first move and he deserves the best."

Ilya grins. "And you think I'm the best."

"Fuck you, Rozanov. I don't know what he sees in you, but he won't accept any other date. Maybe one date with you would cure him. If you are into guys, that is."

Ilya leans back and doesn't say anything, he just stares at him. J.J. shifts uncomfortably in his seat. "If you're going to be an ass about it, just tell me and I'll leave."

"Is it Shane?" Ilya asks finally.

"Yes," he says. Fuck, he hopes Shane isn't going to hate him for this.

Ilya relaxes and smiles. "I am into guys. And girls. I am bisexual," he says. "You would approve of me dating your best friend?"

Surprisingly, he would. "There are worse guys for him to date. He'd hate you eating that cake, though. He's very into his diet."

"I know. We're friends now, remember?" Ilya says.

"I don't know how that happened, but it did. If you're not interested in him, don't do anything. Just forget I said anything. But, if you are interested…"

"I'll consider it. You're a good friend, better than Hayden. He would not approve of me."

"Maybe he's just more stubborn about finding Shane someone else to date."

Ilya waves him off. "Nah, you're better than him." Ilya checks his watch and quickly finishes his coffee. "Now, I have to go. I will see you on the ice."

"What are you going to do about Shane?" J.J. asks.

"I will think about it. He is boring, you know?" Ilya flashes him one more grin before he leaves.

Fuck, J.J. is going to regret this.

The regret only grows the following two days. He doesn't hear from Shane, which either means that Ilya hasn't made a move and kept silent, or that Shane hates him now. He really hopes it isn't the latter because he does not want to lose this friendship.

Shane shows up on his doorstep two days after his talk with Ilya.

"Capitaine," J.J. says, dread filling him.

"Can I come in?" Shane asks. He doesn't look angry, but after all these years J.J. still can't fully read Shane.

J.J. steps aside to let Shane in. "I'd offer you a beer, but you don't drink on game days."

"I'm fine," Shane says. "I wanted to talk to you. Ilya told me you spoke to him."

And there it is. Ilya told Shane and now this friendship is over. "Man, I'm so sorry. I wanted to help."

"You don't have to apologise," Shane says, switching to French.

"I don't?"

Shane shakes his head. "You really would be okay with me dating Ilya?"

"I'd get used to it." It's strange to hear Shane use Ilya's first name so casually, even knowing that they're friends now. "He would still be Rozanov to me, though, capitaine. Did he ask you out?"

Shane laughs and it's one of those rare moments where he looks genuinely happy. "Years ago, yes."

Years ago… "Oh."

"I've been trying to figure out how to tell you, I'm sorry I didn't say anything before. I was worried you wouldn't approve. I don't want to lose…"

Shane doesn't have to finish that sentence for J.J. to understand him; he's had the same fear. "He makes you happy, right?"

Shane nods. "He's an infuriating asshole and yet I cannot imagine loving anyone else."

"Shit, you have it bad. Wait… Did Rozanov move to Ottawa for you?"

"Yeah."

"You tamed playboy Ilya Rozanov into settling down in Ottawa of all places? That's my capitaine, best player in the league!" J.J. may not understand being able to love Ilya, but he understand being proud of his captain.

Sincere compliments never fail to make Sane blush. J.J. may not be attracted to men, but even he can see that Shane is beautiful. "I can give you a ride to the rink," Shane offers, switching back to English.

"Let me get my bag, capitaine, and then you tell me how you managed to pull Rozanov."