Chapter 1: Hayden Finds Out

Hayden loves Shane. They had gotten each other through their rookie years. He is his best friend, truly. Hayden had been worried, at first, that he was annoying Shane by trying to be his friend. Hayden had always been the one to initiate their conversations, to invite Shane out — usually with limited success, but still. Shane participated, but Hayden worried it was just out of politeness. A few months into playing together, Hayden decided that he was going to lay all his cards on the table. He knew that Shane wasn’t the most sociable person in the world, but Hayden did enjoy talking with him. Shane could be funny in a way Hayden never expected. And yes, like everyone else who gave a fuck about hockey, Hayden had been so fascinated by Shane well before they even met. Shane played for Canada’s youth team twice and Hayden remembered being so amazed that someone his age was already so talented. Getting drafted by the same team as Shane Hollander had almost been more exciting than being drafted at all. Not that Hayden would ever admit that to anyone. It was embarrassing to practically idolize someone your own age, especially when they become your teammate. Still, he couldn’t help himself. Hayden had felt giddy at the idea that they could be friends. So he tried. He tried everything he knew to become friends with someone. It took some time to learn what worked best with Shane; he was more likely to agree to hanging out if it was at one of their houses and not a busy public place, he was more likely to agree to dinner or lunch than going for drinks or dancing. Hayden also learned that the easiest way to communicate with Shane was through texts after he nearly gave Shane a panic attack by calling randomly to invite him to hang out. Shane had sounded embarrassed when he told Hayden that he hated unexpected phone calls because he expected them to be bad news or that he would ‘mess it up’ by not being prepared for the call. Hayden didn’t think he needed to be embarrassed about it all, told Shane as much while he stored away the information. So when Hayden decided he wanted to make sure his friendship, or attempt at building one, wasn’t actually just stressing Shane out, he had asked over text. He figured it would be easiest for Shane, since it would allow him more time to think and formulate his response compared to an in person conversation. He also knew at times Shane struggled with being hyper-focused on how he expressed himself physically during conversations and talking through messages took that factor away. Hayden had cringed the entire time he typed his messages, rambling to Shane that he was really excited they were on the same team, that he enjoyed talking with him and wanted to be his friend, but that he didn’t want Shane to feel forced or uncomfortable and Hayden would totally be okay with them just being teammates and giving Shane more space if it was what he wanted. If Shane thought Hayden was embarrassing at this moment, he never expressed it. Instead, Shane had earnestly replied that he appreciated Hayden’s efforts and that he did consider them friends. The two had only gotten closer after that. Hayden felt honored when he learned that he was the only one from the team Shane had ever invited to his apartment. That he was the only one on the team that Shane felt comfortable having in his private space. When Hayden and Jackie started to get serious, it had been important to him that Shane liked and felt comfortable around her, too. Hayden had worked so hard to build and valued their friendship too much to lose it. Jackie and Shane had warmed up to each other quickly. Quicker than Hayden had seen Shane warm up to anyone before. And when Hayden realized that Jackie was it for him, Shane had been the one he’d taken with him to pick out the ring. They have been through a lot together, over the years. Hayden loves him, he is his best friend, his favorite teammate. Hayden had thought aside from Shane’s parents, he was the person that knew Shane the best. But now Hayden is wondering if he knows Shane at all. Because the last thing Hayden had ever expected when he knocked on Shane Hollanders apartment door was to see Ilya fucking Rozanov open it. Not just Ilya Rozanov, but a grinning Ilya Rozanov wearing Shane’s t-shirt. Hayden knows it’s Shane’s shirt because he had been with him when he bought it, and he’d been with him a few months later when Shane realized there was a hole in the shoulder and he mourned all afternoon over not being able to wear it out anymore. Hayden remembered being unable to help smiling when Shane sighed to himself that he could at least still wear it at home. Rozanov looks surprised to see him, as if it's weird for Hayden to be there but not him. “You are not food delivery person,” Rozanov says somewhat dismissively to him before turning back further into the apartment to call out in Russian. What the fuck, Hayden thinks. Why the fuck is Rozanov in Shane’s apartment and who the fuck is he speaking to in Russian in there? “What the fuck are you doing here?” Hayden spits out at the same time as someone else from further inside the apartment responds in what Hayden assumed was also Russian. Rozanov doesn’t bother to look at Hayden again or answer him, instead tutting and nodding his head towards Hayden, gesturing for him to enter. Hayden was mid preparing to yell at Rozanov to fucking answer him when Shane finally appeared. Rozanov has his back turned to Hayden so he can’t see what face he is making as he spoke to Shane again in Russian. And Shane’s eyes flick to Hayden for just a moment before landing back on Rozanov and responding to him in Russian. “What the fuck!” Hayden exclaims, unable to stop himself. “What the fuck is happening here?!” And because he’s frazzled, he points an accusing finger at Shane and adds, “Since fucking when do you speak Russian?” Shane’s full attention is finally on Hayden then. He looks nervous and, Hayden notices, a little scared. It unnerves Hayden. He hates when Shane feels uncomfortable. “Come in,” Shane says as Rozanov disappears towards the living room. “I will, uh, explain.” Hayden takes his time kicking off his shoes and trying to collect his thoughts before following Shane into the kitchen. He wonders if he’s dreaming. It wouldn’t be the weirdest dream he’s ever had, or even the weirdest dream involving Shane he’s had. “First, um, why are you here?” Shane asks. Hayden debates demanding Shane answer his questions first, but knows that would not lead to a productive conversation. Even if he felt like he was in shock, he knows he needs to keep his cool to keep Shane from shutting down. If he shut down, Hayden definitely won’t get his answers. “Jackie told me you were expecting me, she wants me to pick up that bracelet she accidentally forgot last week when we cooked dinner together so she can lend it to her sister tonight.” It had been a fun, but long, night of hand rolling meatballs and Jackie had taken her bracelet off to keep it out of the way and forgotten to put it back on before they left. “Oh!” Shane says. “I can’t believe I forgot. She reminded me this afternoon you were gonna drop by later. Fuck, sorry.” Hayden is surprised. Shane forgot a lot of things, but he was usually good at remembering plans. “I, uh, got distracted,” Shane continues, eyes flickering towards the living room where Hayden knows Rozanov is. Hayden can’t help but wrinkle his nose. “Yeah, are you going to explain why the fuck Rozanov is in your house?” Hayden doesn’t add, ‘And wearing your clothes‘ but he was still hung up on that fact. “What’s going on, dude? I thought you fucking hate that guy.” Shane avoids having to look at Hayden by crossing the kitchen and grabbing Jackie’s bracelet. He’s slow as he makes his way back over, holding the bracelet out for Hayden to grab. “We play Boston in three days,” Shane says, as if that explains anything. “Right,” Hayden agrees, pocketing the bracelet. “And how does that explain what the fuck their captain is doing here, now?” Hayden knows Shane well enough to know that he is also currently freaking out. If Hayden wasn’t losing it as well he would normally try and help Shane feel at ease. “He came early, uh, obviously,” Shane finally says. Yes, Hayden thinks, obviously. “To see me,” Shane adds quickly, which Hayden would’ve thought was less obvious if he hadn’t already seen how comfortable Rozanov was in Shane’s space. “He came early to see me.” Hayden imagines he looks as confused as he feels. “Why the fuck would he do that?” There’s a loud sigh from the direction of the living room. “Because we are lovers,” Ilya fucking Rozanov offers, as if it’s obvious. Hayden doesn’t see Shane’s grimace because he whips his head around to face the obnoxious Russian. “Excuse me?!” Hayden exclaims at the same time as Shane sighs an exasperated, “Ilya!” Ilya? Lovers? What the fuck. Rozanov shrugs, walking past them and towards the front door again. “What did I say about the word ‘lovers’?” Shane calls after him, though Hayden can tell there’s no real bite behind it. Rozanov laughs as he opens the door, pulling in the take out before shutting it again. Hayden keeps his eyes on him as Rozanov enters the kitchen, placing the bags on the counter as the other turns to Shane. “Your mother used the term lovers for us, too,” Rozanov says, smug. Shane’s cheeks flush even darker. “He met your mom?” Hayden asks, dumbly. Rozanov laughs, again, like the asshole he is. “Of course, met his father too.” He looks smug, too, as if Hayden hadn’t also met Shane’s parents. Definitely before him, too. “What the fuck,” Hayden whispers for probably the hundredth time. “I know it’s a lot,” Shane says, turning his attention to Hayden again. “And I’m really sorry you’re finding out like this.” And then, almost sheepishly, he adds, “I had a plan, for telling you, so it wouldn’t be so…much.” Which is a very Shane thing to do, Hayden knows. Shane had thoroughly planned coming out to the team, of course he would also have a plan for telling Hayden the even bigger news of who he was seeing. Hayden still can’t believe it’s apparently Rozanov. “Rozanov? Really?” Hayden asks Shane, looking over at Rozanov who is still happily preoccupied with the take out bags and containers. “Ilya,” Shane corrects, his gaze also moving to the Russian but he softens once landing on him. “Yes, I’m dating Ilya.” The last time Hayden felt this confused about Shane was when Shane had told him he was gay and Hayden tried to figure out how he’d kept up a relationship with that Lily girl for years. Oh. “Oh my god!” Hayden exclaims, turning and pointing at stupid, smug Rozanov. “Boston Lily! He’s Boston Lily?!” Rozanov cackles. “Maybe you are not completely stupid.” Shane shoots Rozanov a warning look. Hayden might’ve argued back if he wasn’t still in shock. Shane has been obsessed with Ilya Rozanov for years. Infatuated, in love, who knows, for years. Hayden barely knew anything about Shane’s relationship with ‘Lily’ except that it was Shane’s longest causal hook up and that he’d caught them texting even when they weren’t in or heading to Boston. It puts everything in a new perspective, knowing it was fucking Rozanov the whole time. “This is fucking crazy,” Hayden mutters, mostly to himself, looking back and forth between Shane and Rozanov. Shane nods. “I know, I know,” he says. “It’s a lot. And I’m sorry for keeping it from you, but you understand why we can’t tell everyone, right? The whole rival thing.” And oh, Hayden’s heart hurts for Shane all over again. It’s bad enough that he has to hide his sexuality, but not even being able to tell people he’s in love? Shane deserves better. “I know,” Hayden says quickly. “I won’t tell anyone. But uh, I have some questions.” Shane nods again. “Thank you, and I can imagine you do.” Shane rubs the back of his neck awkwardly, looking at Rozanov who is watching the two of them with mock boredom. “We can talk more next weekend, when I have dinner with you and Jackie again. So I can tell her, too.,” Shane continues, and Hayden watches how Shane looks at Rozanov at the end, and how Rozanov offers a small nod. Hayden assumes it’s silent permission for Shane to tell Jackie about their shared secret. Hayden realizes that he unfortunately has to speak to Rozanov directly again. “I won’t tell anyone,” Hayden repeats, making eye contact with Rozanov this time. He hates the guy but he’d never out him, even if there wasn’t the possibility of blowback on Shane. Hayden isn’t that kind of asshole. Rozanov nods back at him but doesn’t say anything more. Shane awkwardly clears his throat. “Okay. So. I will see you at practice, Hayd. We’re gonna, uh, eat dinner.” He nods awkwardly towards Rozanov and the food on the counter. “And Jackie is waiting for you.” “Right,” Hayden says, also awkward. His gaze floats to Rozanov one last time before landing back on Shane. “I’ll see you at practice.” Rozanov stays in the kitchen as Shane shows Hayden to the door, with Shane offering another apology and thanking Hayden for being cool about things. Hayden makes it down to his car, still dazed and replaying years worth of memories in his head, before he remembers he never got an answer for when the fuck Shane started speaking Russian.

Chapter 2: Jackie Finds Out

Chapter Summary Shane takes a sip of his ginger ale and then turns to face Jackie. “What do you know?” Jackie smiles, far too amused for Hayden’s liking. “When Hayden got back from your place he told me he found out you have a boyfriend and that he hates him.” If he’s being entirely honest, Hayden knows he overreacted. It felt proportional in the moment. He’d driven home in silence, rethinking every interaction between Shane and Rozanov he’d ever witnessed.

Chapter Notes

this got away from me lol. I love this trio <3 in my head they are literally that meme of april from parks and rec where she goes "this is my boyfriend and this is my boyfriends boyfriend" lmao. See the end of the chapter for more notes Usually when they have Shane over for dinner the kids are home, too. It’s always something casual and fun, just spending time together for the sake of it. When they have dinner at Shane’s apartment they always get a babysitter, since Shane’s apartment is not childproof. Even then, though, it’s just a casual experience. Tonight isn’t really that different. Except that they have to have a serious conversation at some point, and it’ll be better to not have to keep pausing to take care of the kids. So they’re with the date-night babysitter instead. They’ve already eaten dinner and cleared the table, back in their seats to finish their drinks. The conversation throughout the night had been light, tip-toeing around the tension. Finally, during a lull in conversation after they’d talked about what the kids had been up to all week, Shane starts it. Shane takes a sip of his ginger ale and then turns to face Jackie. “What do you know?” Jackie smiles, far too amused for Hayden’s liking. “When Hayden got back from your place he told me he found out you have a boyfriend and that he hates him.” If he’s being entirely honest, Hayden knows he overreacted. It felt proportional in the moment. He’d driven home in silence, rethinking every interaction between Shane and Rozanov he’d ever witnessed. When he’d walked in Jackie had taken one look at him before immediately integrating him, asking why he looked so ‘miserable’. Hayden tried to sum it up with, ‘Shane has the worst fucking taste in men,’ but that just became his starting off point for his rant about not even being able to be excited for his best friend finally finding love because he’s so bad at it. “Nice, Hayden,” Shane rolls his eyes at him. Hayden shrugs. Shane turns his attention back to Jackie, who still looks amused. “I do have a boyfriend,” he confirms. “And Hayden does hate him.” Jackie’s eyes are practically sparkling. “Can I just say, first of all, I love this for you, Shane. I’m very happy that you’re happy.” Hayden feels betrayed all over again. “But! Don’t leave me hanging, who is it?” Hayden prepares himself to hear what he already knows. Shane takes a deep breath to steady himself before speaking. “Ilya Rozanov. I’ve been dating Ilya Rozanov for a while.” Jackie’s eyes widen and she leans forward in her seat. “Oh my god,” she says. “Oh my god! Shane!” Hayden knows her well enough to know she’s holding herself back. If Shane was someone who was more open to physical touch, she’d be at his side leaning into his space in an instant. She’s positively fucking giddy. “No wonder Hayden’s been moping all week! He hates Rozanov!” Hayden scoffs, “I would like to point out he hated me first! Of course I hate him! He’s an asshole!” If he had less willpower, he’d be pouting right now. “I thought we were all in agreement about that.” Jackie elbows Hayden’s side and he lets out a small ‘oof’. Shane clears his throat a little awkwardly. “Yeah, I know it’s a lot.” An understatement if Hayden’s ever heard one. Jackie hums in agreement, taking a small sip of her wine. “I can’t say I’m not surprised. Tell me, how did this even happen?” Hayden hasn’t asked this question yet himself, but he has been wondering. It doesn’t make sense. Shane sighs before speaking, “So like, you know the whole being recognized for hockey thing started young for me. Being a good player on a big team brings a lot of attention.” Hayden wants to break some of the tension by making a joke about Shane bragging but he’s mature enough not to. “And because of that it was hard for me to find a guy to experiment with when I was younger. Rozanov, funnily enough, was my safest option. He couldn’t out me without outing himself, you know?” It’s hard to argue with that logic. Shane takes another deep breath before continuing and Jackie gives him an encouraging smile. “So we kinda just … hooked up sometimes, starting rookie season-“ Shane definitely intends to keep going but he’s cut off by a gasp from Jackie. “You managed to keep that a secret since rookie season?” Hayden has the same question, and is probably making the same facial expression too. Rookie season. Jesus. That gets Shane to crack a small smile. “It was easier to keep when it was just hooking up. And it was just when we were in the same city — it was convenient.” “Wait,” Hayden interjects this time. “You guys texted like, all the time though. Even when you weren’t in the same city.” Hayden could barely get Shane to text him back as often as he’d caught him texting ‘Lily’. Jackie tilts her head, looking to Shane for his response to the new information. “I mean the texting at first was mainly just for plans and whatnot,” Shane defends himself. “You texted him all fucking summer for multiple years in a row when you were definitely not going to be in the same place,” Hayden points out. Hayden can’t believe how amused he used to be to constantly see ‘Lily’ popping up on Shane’s screen. He has to give it to them, using the fake names was smart. Hayden never would’ve guessed ‘Lily’ was actually Ilya. “I said at first,” Shane argues back. “Obviously things changed.” “Obviously,” Hayden parrots, sarcastically. Jackie elbows him again, harder this time. “Anyways,” Jackie continues as Hayden rubs his side. “When did things change? How long have you guys actually been together?” Hayden has been curious about this, too. He has a few ideas. Definitely after Shane’s breakup with Rose, he thinks. Instead of ending that relationship sad and depressed, Shane had ended up so much more self assured. “Well we started officially dating last summer, when he was at the cottage,” Shane tells them. Hayden thinks of last summer, that weird phone call they’d had when Hayden called to check in …. Nope. Not thinking about that. Hayden focuses again on Shane speaking now, shoving the past memory as far out of his mind as possible. “But I knew for sure I had feelings for him when I saw him again in Florida for All-Stars. And I, uh, told him that. So I guess that’s when things really started to change.” Jackie hums, “That makes sense. I should’ve known from the way you reacted to him kissing your cheek on the ice, honestly.” Hayden nods and grumbles, “You guys did play really well together.” “Exactly,” Jackie agrees, nodding as she looks at Hayden. “Great chemistry on the ice.” Shane is once again blushing adorably. “So,” Jackie turns back to Shane. “Aside from us now, only your parents know?” Shane nods. “Yeah. There’s not really anyone else I can tell.” He knows it’s not the point, but Hayden still finds himself hurt Shane didn’t tell him for so long. “You could have told earlier, you know,” Hayden grumbles. They’re best friends, after all. He told Shane when he realized he was in love with Jackie. Jackie places a hand on his arm, looking at him pointedly. “Hayd, baby, I love you. But, in all fairness to Shane, you have spent the entire week telling me you wish he was with literally anyone else.” Hayden stares at Jackie with wide eyes. “That was said to you in confidence! Didn’t we say in our vows to support and defend each other?” Hayden knows he probably looks like one of the twins throwing a fit right now. “Since when is Shane a part of our marriage vows?!” Jackie stares Hayden down again for a moment before turning to look at Shane, who is trying to hide his faint smile. “I’m just saying, I can understand why Shane wouldn’t want to deal with that.” Okay, okay, Hayden accepts he’s been a bit of a bad friend this week. “What do your parents think?” Jackie asks next. Hayden remembers Rozanov’s stupid smug face when he said that he’d met Shane’s parents. “It was a lot for them to take in at first, since I also hadn’t told them I was gay yet. They found out about him in a pretty similar way to Hayden, actually.” Whatever Shane is remembering now has him looking a little pale again. Shane then elaborates with, “Which is to say my dad unintentionally saw him at my cottage and preceded to freak the fuck out for a bit.” Hayden can emphasize with David Hollander. “But they love him now.” Hayden can no longer empathize with David Hollander. Jackie sighs again, leaning back in her seat. “That’s good. I’m glad they’re supportive.” Hayden finds himself a little jealous of how easily she’s able to accept this all. “I am too. I’m really glad they get along so well, even if they gang up on me now,” as he speaks, Shane has that soft, fond smile stretched across his lips again. “Ilya deserves the love and care.” Hayden thinks he can put up with Ilya Rozanov more if it means Shane keeps being this soft, practically glowing, happy version of himself. “They have a group chat, actually,” Shane continues after taking another sip of his ginger ale. “The three of them, without me. We have one of all four of us, too. But they have one without me and they use it pretty regularly.” Hayden can’t imagine what the Hollanders and Ilya Rozanov can possibly have to talk about besides maybe their shared love of Shane. He actually kind of wants to read it, morbid curiosity and all. “That’s really sweet,” Jackie sighs. It settles something in Hayden to know that Shane’s parents really do approve of Rozanov and of their relationship. Hayden knows how much they love their son, how they’d move heaven and hell for him. If Rozanov meets their standards, Hayden probably won’t be able to find actual issues with him either. Aside from Hayden’s already established deep, deep-seated personal feelings of hatred towards him. Hayden is pulled out of his thoughts and back to the present by Shane’s soft chuckle. “My mom has started calling him her favorite son.” Favorite son is quite the tag for a boyfriend, Hayden notes. “Oh? They already consider him family, huh?” Jackie teases, having picked up on the same aspect Hayden did. They both watch as Shane gives a small, shy nod of his head. “If I’m entirely honest, which I want to be because you guys are my best friends, I want to marry him eventually. I plan on it, actually.” It’s the most sure Hayden has ever heard him sound about something that wasn’t hockey related. Jackie giggles and claps her hands. “Very romantic declaration, Shane. I look forward to the wedding.” She punctuates the last part with a wink, which earns her another laugh from Shane. She then gives Hayden another very, very pointed look before speaking again, “And I look forward to getting to know Ilya as our best friend’s future husband and not just a polarizing hockey player.” Hayden tenses slightly, but nods in agreement. “Right. Me too, I guess.” It already feels like torture, knowing he’s going to have to spend time with Rozanov off the ice now too. And try to be nice to him. Find a way to get along with him. The things he does for Shane. “You’ll like him when you get to know him,” Shane says. “He’s actually a really good guy.” Hayden rolls his eyes but manages not to gag. “And he’s really good to me.” Hayden still can’t imagine Rozanov being a good guy, let alone a good boyfriend. The man has been known for his one night stands and blurry pictures of him with girls in clubs. “I mean it,” Shane continues, making direct eye contact with Hayden as if to further compound his point. “He takes really good care of me. Not that it’s one-sided, but I know that’s the part you care about.” He’s right, of course. Hayden doesn’t give a shit about Rozanov — which apparently will have to change. “Good to you how?” Jackie asks. Shane flushes dark red and Jackie coo’s. “He just knows me, I guess,” Shane starts up again, almost dreamily, Hayden notes. “He knows how to settle my anxieties and shutdowns. He follows my ‘weird’ rules and rituals even if he doesn’t get them because he knows it’s what makes me feel comfortable and safe.” Hayden feels deeply conflicted. Part of him wants to gag still, and the other wants to coo with Jackie. Shane deserves someone who will take care of him, someone who loves and respects him and is someone he can be himself around. He just still can’t believe that person happens to be a cocky Russian asshole on their rival team. “Hey,” Hayden cuts in before he forgets to ask about it again. “What the fuck is up with the Russian thing? When did you even find the time to learn?” Jackie makes a soft noise of surprise, looking between the two men again. “You speak Russian, Shane?” She asks, sounding impressed. “I’m learning,” Shane explains, shyly. “Nowhere near close to fluent yet. I started learning when Ilya and I became official, but I wanted to for a while before that.” Leave it to Shane to end up speaking three languages. Show off. “That’s so cool!” Jackie says. “I bet it’s hard to learn.” And then she leans slightly forward again, the look on her face conspiratorial. “But you’re learning it for him, right? So it’s worth the hard work?” Hayden has to admit, it’s very sweet of Shane to learn an entire language for Rozanov. “Yeah,” Shane agrees, blushing sweetly again. “It’s worth it. When his dad died, I felt bad that he had a hard time expressing himself in English. He vented to me in Russian but I didn’t understand any of it so I couldn’t really help,” he explains. “I can only imagine how hard it is to have to translate everything you want to say before you say it,” Jackie acknowledges, and Hayden nods in agreement. “Right? So I figured it’d be nice for him to be able to communicate in his native language and decided to start learning.” “That’s very considerate of you, Shane,” Jackie comments. “What were you guys saying when I was there?” Hayden asks, letting his curiosity get the better of him. Shane tilts his head as he thinks. “Oh, Ilya basically just told me he supported whatever I wanted to do, if I wanted to tell you the truth or the lie we’re gonna tell the public.” Jackie sets her glass down with another gasp, “You guys are planning on going public?! When?” Shane shakes his head quickly. “No, not like that! Not about our romantic relationship, at least not for a while,” he explains. Then Shane rubs the back of his neck a little awkwardly. “Well, I guess I can throw another secret onto you guys, sorry. We have a plan, somewhat. At least to be closer together. Ilya is going to transfer to Ottawa when his contract is up.” And that gets a gasp from Hayden. “He’s gonna play for fucking Ottawa?” Hayden knows Shane loves his hometown, but even he knows it’s not a good team. “He’d do that for you?” Jackie asks, once again speaking Hayden’s mind for him. Shane nods again. “Yes. It’ll be nice to only be two hours away. And we have a plan, like I said, to at least warm people up for us being friends so we don’t have to completely hide.” Shane is absolutely his mother’s son, Hayden finds himself thinking. “We’re going to start a charity together, a summer hockey camp. We’re gonna tell everyone we became friends and had this shared passion,” Shane continues. Hayden nods slowly as Jackie hums again. “And that’s what you were going to tell me?” Hayden asks. Shane shakes his head. “No, I wanted to tell you the truth. But Ilya gave me the option, an out to put it off a while longer.” Ugh, Hayden thinks, Rozanov really is a good guy. “That’s a good plan,” Jackie comments. “Very well thought out, though I shouldn’t be surprised. What kind of charity are you guys thinking about?” “Mental health, specifically depression and suicide prevention,” Shane answers quickly. “We’re going to name it after Ilya’s mom. And my mom is going to help with a lot of the behind the scenes stuff, too.” Hayden clears his throat, “If it’s not being presumptuous, I would love to help coach with the camps or something.” Knowing Shane and Yuna Hollander, this will absolutely be a success. And it’s for a good cause. “I would love that, I planned on asking you and J.J., probably.” Hayden preens, happy to know he’s already been thought of. “We have a few other guys in the league we’re thinking of approaching, too. We’re gonna announce it all at the end of the season, when it comes out that Ilya isn’t resigning with Boston.” Hayden still can’t believe Rozanov is choosing to trade to Ottawa. Jesus. Fuck, they’re serious about each other. He’s going to have to get used to seeing the motherfucker. “What an exciting year for you, Shane,” Jackie says, giving him another wide smile. “I really am so happy for you.” Hayden is happy for him, too. He wants to see Shane happy like he deserves. It’s just going to take some time for him to fully come to terms with the fact that it’s Rozanov. “I want to meet him, though!” Jackie adds. “And maybe eventually once he moves and things settle and whatnot we can plan to do more couple things together!” Truly, Hayden can’t imagine how long it’s going to take him to stop wanting to cringe at that idea. “I will see what I can work out,” Shane agrees, smiling softly to himself again. “I hope you guys get along. And thank you, for being understanding and supportive. It means a lot to me, you guys.” Yes, Hayden is unfortunately going to have to learn to like Ilya Rozanov. For Shane.

Chapter End Notes

hope u enjoyed tysm for reading !!! I am already in the middle of like two fics rn and I still ended this one by outlining another fic idea revolving around Hayden and Ilya and their bickering, budding friendship lol.

End Notes

when ilya first opens the door and calls into the house in russian he says something along the lines of "your stupid friend is here and he's definitely seen me" and shane's response is basically "wtf are u talking abt?" when shane does show up and ilya is ignoring hayden what he says to shane in russian is basically "do u want to talk to him abt it alone/you can tell him the charity lie" and shane looks at hayden before telling ilya "i'll tell him the truth" so thats the vibes, hayden def thinks they were shit talking him tho lol

i am also obsessed w the idea of once shane knows russian ilya using it to privately check in on him in public or in this instance, where since hayden doesn't know russian at all he won't know that ilya is telling shane he can be honest abt their relationship or tell their public lie which gives shane at least some control in this situation he wasn't expecting that they wouldn't get if they had the convo in english in front of hayden ANYWAYS this was just a lil fun thing for me to write and take a break from the next emotionally heavy addition to my "why do I have to bear it?" ilya trauma series hope u guys enjoyed thank u sm for reading and thank u all sm for the love on my previous hr fics it means sm to me <3 I love that we're all in this obsession together Please drop by the Archive and comment to let the creator know if you enjoyed their work!