Rating:

General Audiences

Archive Warning:

No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories:

F/F, M/M

Fandoms:

Heated Rivalry (TV), Game Changers | Heated Rivalry - All Media Types, Game Changers Series - Rachel Reid

Relationship:

Shane Hollander/Ilya Rozanov

Characters:

Cliff Marlow | Cliff Marleau, Connors (Heated Rivalry), Victor St. Simon, Brad Hammersmith, Boston Bears | Boston Raiders Team Ensemble (Game Changers), Ilya Rozanov, Original Female Character(s), Ryan Carmichael

Additional Tags:

Humor, Queer Themes, Supportive Boston Bears | Boston Raiders (Game Changers), They are trying, Himbo Cliff Marlow | Cliff Marleau, Good Friend Cliff Marlow | Cliff Marleau, Fluff and Humor, Fluff, Implied/Referenced Homophobia, Russia, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Light Angst, Mentioned Shane Hollander, Mentioned Dallas Kent, Bisexual Ilya Rozanov, Out of the Closet Ilya Rozanov, Post-Book 6: The Long Game (Game Changers), Married Shane Hollander/Ilya Rozanov, POV Outsider, Bisexual Cliff Marlow | Cliff Marleau, Ilya Rozanov Loves Shane Hollander, Shane Hollander Loves Ilya Rozanov, chosen family, Ilya Rozanov is a Menace, Ilya Rozanov is Loved, Queer Culture, Ilya Rozanov Has Good Gaydar, Mentioned Scott Hunter (Game Changers)

Language:

English

Series:

Part 3 of Queer Studies 101

Stats:

Published: 2026-10-15 Words: 1,048 Chapters: 1/1

Credit Where It's Due

Summary

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After Ilya and Shane are outed, Marleau books himself on to the same queer studies course that the Raiders management forced Ilya to attend when he was cancelled for being a homophobe.

It turns out several other Raiders players thought Marleau had the right idea about that. Now around half of the Raiders roster are all sat together in the little classroom. It’s about as chaotic as you would expect. The professor Sandra is forced to add an increasing number of amendments to the ‘Course Rules and Guidelines’ that she never expected to be putting into writing.

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Amendment No. 5. - No, there are no additional course credits for “proving you’re an ally by complimenting your bros in the locker room showers."

Amendment No. 6. - Downloading Grindr will also not get you any extra credits. [ Although if you wish to download Grindr for its intended purposes, I would obviously not want to discourage you in this. ]

Amendment No. 7. - Taking time during games to tell Admirals player Scott Hunter that you think his boyfriend is extremely hot is NOT actually effective allyship within the league. Yes, EVEN if Ilya Rozanov told you it would be.

Notes

This is Part 3 of the 'Queer Studies 101' series. I think it will more or less work as a standalone fic but you will definitely get a lot more out of it if you've read Parts 1 and 2 first.

At the front of the little classroom in Boston College where Sandra teaches Queer Studies 101, a large printed sheet of paper is pinned to the wall. The sheet of paper bears a list of additional notes and amendments made to the Course Rules and Guidelines for Queer Studies 101. Many additional slips of printed paper have been added below the first, some in very large font.

The papers affixed to the wall read as follows:

Please see below all new additional notes and amendments that have been made to the Course Rules and Guidelines for Queer Studies 101, Boston College –

1. I am very happy you have started to police any use of slurs or homophobic language within the Raiders locker room. That really is honestly great to hear. You DO however still have to complete your assigned essays.

1. Stating you have "had enough threesomes as a straight man to relate to the bisexual experience" is HIGHLY offensive. Of course Ilya Rozanov can make threesome jokes that you should not because, and I can’t stress this enough, he is actually bisexual.

1. Changing the name of your team group chat to ‘Chosen Family’ is a very nice thought. You don’t all need to keep asking me about this. You are welcome to go ahead with it. BUT I do have to stress once again, it will NOT get you any extra credits. Remember to focus on your assignments please, not just your extracurriculars.

1. Yes, using your post-game interviews to tell the media how you think your previous Captain Ilya Rozanov is ‘extremely handsome’ and ‘very attractive’ is definitely an extracurricular activity and not a substitute for covering your course assigned reading materials. Additional Note - Any activities that cause Ilya’s husband to call me for an overly polite attempt to ask you all to cut it out are obviously not ideal activities to be undertaking.

1. There are no additional course credits for “proving you’re an ally by complimenting your bros in the locker room showers."

1. Downloading Grindr will not get you any additional marks. [ Yes, even if being on this course has caused any personal realisations. If you wish to download Grindr for its intended purpose, that’s great and I’d encourage you not to limit yourself. Still no extra credit though. This is a theory based course. Therefore, sadly, I cannot give out additional marks for self-exploration or acquisition of new practical skills.]

1. Taking time during games to tell the New York Admirals hockey player Scott Hunter that you think his boyfriend is extremely hot is NOT actually effective allyship within the league. Yes, EVEN if Ilya Rozanov told you it would be.

1. As straight men, the acceptability of responding to homophobic language during a professional sports game by being flirtatious in return is very much a grey area. However, in these circumstances, I do not wish to discourage any activities of this sort. [ But before you ask, NO, there are no extra credits for this and, YES, you still have to write your next essays by the due date ]

1. Ilya Rozanov does not have the authority to hand out additional credits on this course.

1. There is no scientific basis for the question ‘gay or European?’ If you wish me to provide you with reading material on the differences in expressions of masculinity between different cultures, I am very happy to do so. Please just see me after class and I can give you a reading list.

1. If you are serious in your desire to plan a fundraising drive to help queer Russian citizens find sanctuary overseas then I would be very happy to hold a meeting about this after class next week. Again, this is an extracurricular activity but it is one I would be very proud to help you achieve.

1. There is a difference between an academic essay and an apology letter to a close friend. You are welcome to write both, of course, but only one can be submitted to the course. I have Ilya’s email as well as postal address if any of you need it.

1. Telling me my girlfriend is ‘so fucking hot’ and ‘real smart’ and ‘a proper catch, yeah?’ does not constitute allyship, per say. They’re just nice compliments. She is, of course, all of these things. Please continue to be mindful about avoiding objectification when complimenting women. In this case, I think you just about skirted the line but do remember to always consider this carefully.

1. Yes, wearing flamboyant shirts on nights out could be considered an appropriate action to promote positive masculinity. Telling media you have been inspired to do so by the shirt choices of your previous Captain is also fine. Ilya has called me about this four times already. I suggest you all carry on as you have been. Good work. [ Still no extra credit. ]

1. There are pros and cons to taking the whole of the Raiders team out to a gay bar. Please feel free to stay behind to discuss these with me after class. Alternatively, a straight forward solution would be to plan this as a joint team night with the Ottawa Centaurs after your next game against them.

1. ‘All of the signs we have noticed in hindsight that Jane was actually Shane Hollander all along’ is not an appropriate topic for your final self-directed course essay assignment.

1. Yes, if you insist, we can all have a joint meal after our final class together in a fortnights time. I would be more than happy to celebrate all of you and your efforts during your time on this course.

1. Zeynab has confirmed she can also attend the celebration meal. She says to tell you thank you for the invite and that she will host a ‘best anti-homophobic chirp’ contest for all of you. Ilya has [of course] agreed to judge this via video call. There is still, and I cannot stress this enough, no extra credit available for any of this. Even if you win best chirp. No matter what Ilya says. No extra credit. Your final self-directed essays are still due in two weeks time.

1. IMPORTANT: Since you asked, yes, I will be awarding EXTRA CREDIT to anyone who hits Dallas Kent during your next game. I do not think this rule amendment requires any additional explanation.