Rating:

General Audiences

Archive Warning:

No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories:

F/M, M/M

Fandoms:

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

Relationships:

David Hollander & Yuna Hollander, Shane Hollander/Ilya Rozanov

Characters:

Yuna Hollander, David Hollander, Shane Hollander, Ilya Rozanov

Additional Tags:

POV Outsider, Kind Of, 2017 MLH All-Star Weekend in Tampa Bay (Game Changers), POV Yuna Hollander, POV David Hollander, Watching the MLH All-Star Weekend in Tampa Bay, Interviews, Press and Tabloids, playful banter, friendly rivals, Speculation, Yuna isn't falling for any of Ilya's tricks, David Hollander is perceptive as hell

Language:

English

Stats:

Published: 2026-03-05 Words: 2,060 Chapters: 1/1

Well that was Certainly Interesting

Summary

Yuna and David watch the 2017 MLH All-Star Weekend on television and speculate as to what the heck is going on with their son and Ilya.

Notes

This is based on this tumblr post: https://www.tumblr.com/internerdionality/810088197597151232/how-much-you-wanna-bet-that-when-they-watched-it?source=share

I just had to write the fic!

“I talked to Shane this morning right before he boarded the plane for Tampa,” Yuna said.

“How’s he doing?” David asked.

“He sounded good. I can tell he’s nervous about playing with Rozanov, though.”

David nodded, “It will be interesting seeing how they play together. Shane’s used to being thrown at him by the league. He can handle it.” 

Yuna shook her head, “I know he can handle it. He’s going to be the diplomatic, team player he always is. I just hope Rozanov doesn’t take advantage of that kindness.” 

“It’s All-Stars, not the Olympics. I doubt Rozanov is going to take it that seriously.” 

“But Shane always takes it seriously, that’s just it. If Rozanov makes him look like a fool because he’s not willing to play nice, I’m going to go down there–”

“Yuna,” David says with exasperation.

“What?” 

“Shane can take care of himself. It’s going to be fine.” 

All-Stars Red Carpet

“I’m just glad Shane is the Captain. At least he doesn’t have to pretend to do whatever Rosanov would tell him to do.” Yuna said.

“Oh, wow. They’re walking the carpet so close. They’ll be interviewed back-to-back.” David observed.

“Of course, the league would make them walk the carpet together. It’s an absolute circus.” 

“Listen, listen.” David turned up the volume on the television. 

The interviewer flagged Shane down, and he stopped in front of her microphone. “Shane Hollander, you’re coming off two back-to-back Stanley Cup wins.”

“Damn straight,” Yuna mutters to the television.

Shane nodded.

“How does that feel, and what do you think is the likelihood of a third in a row?”

Shane smiled, “Oh, it feels great! It’s an honor to captain…arguably the best team in the MLH–”

“Hard to argue when you win the championship twice in a row.” The interviewer chuckled.

Shane nodded and chuckled a little, too. “Sure. But the next one is never a sure thing. We don’t take anything for granted, and winning twice in a row was a dream come true. Can we do it again? Who’s to say?”

Rozanov poked his head into the camera frame and shook his head, gesturing his hand across his neck. The interviewer laughed a little. “What do you think of that, Ilya Rozanov? Do you think Hollander can take the Metros all the way again?” 

Rozanov stepped fully into frame. “Can he? Sure, he’s capable. But will he? No. It’s my time. It’s Boston’s year. We will be in the cup finals this year.”

“Nobody asked you!” Yuna yelled.

“Honey, the interviewer literally just asked him.” David chuckled.

Shane didn’t even look annoyed that Rozanov had taken over his interview. He just chuckled and shook his head, rolling his eyes. 

“What do you have to say to that?”

Shane laughed. “I’m honestly a little taken aback. Did you hear what he just said? He said I’m capable.” 

Rozanov chuckled.

“Everyone, take note, write it down, Ilya Rozanov just acknowledged I’m a capable player. That’s growth. That's honestly touching. I’m touched.” Shane grinned and looked at his Rival. 

Rozanov shoved his shoulder a little. 

“Hey! Interference! Shoving!” Shane laughed again. 

Rozanov grinned. 

“Good job turning that around, Shane.” David smiled at the TV. 

Yuna crossed her arms. “He’s too nice to him.” 

“What do you two think about finally playing on the same team together? Will you be able to put the rivalry aside?” 

Shane and Ilya looked at each other with tentative smiles. 

“Doesn’t matter who I play with, I bring my best.” Rozanov finally said.

Shane nodded. “We’re rivals for a reason. We were the best of our rookie year. We each have continued to push boundaries and win championships. He obviously thinks I’m very capable–”

Rozanov shook his head and rolled his eyes.

Shane laughed again, “–And I think he’s…got some skill.” 

Rozanov scoffed, “Okay.” He muttered under his breath.

Shane turned back to the interviewer and pulled his features back under control. “What I’m saying is, at the end of the day, we’re here to play hockey. And I think both of us want to bring our all to everything we do.”

Rozanov nodded, “Right, I won’t be caught being second best on the team tonight.” 

Shane laughed. “We might have to settle who was best after the game.” 

Rozanov laughed.

Shane continued, “But during the game, we will be teammates, and that’s all that matters.”

Rozanov nodded, “For one game, we will be teammates. Then it’s back to business. I’ll see you in Boston in two weeks.” 

The interviewer thanked them as they continued down the red carpet. “Well, if that’s any indication, this game is going to be one to remember, that’s for sure.”

“What a cocky piece of work.” Yuna rolled her eyes.

“It was banter, they were bantering.” David looked a little surprised.

All-Star Game

“Here we go, they’re about to drop the puck, David!” Yuna called from the couch.

“I’m here, I’m here.” David came around the corner from the kitchen with a bowl of popcorn and a ginger ale he handed to Yuna.

“And of course, we have the two rivals on the same lineup, Shane Hollander, Captain of their All-Star team, taking center ice, and Ilya Rozanov playing right wing, which is very unusual for him. I talked to him before the game and asked how he felt about Shane centering for him, and he said he doesn’t like giving up the center position, but he likes losing less. He said he would be a better wing than Hollander, so he would play that position to ensure the best play.”

Yuna scoffed, “Cocky bastard.” 

“Yuna!” 

"What? He’s playing right wing because that was what the league told him he would be playing. They chose to put Shane as the Captain, as the Center, and he would have to play right wing. He’s lying to make Shane look bad.”

David sighed, "It's just talk, that’s what they do, they shit-talk each other. Nobody takes it seriously!” 

“Well, Shane would never have said that.” 

“Shane has a thick skin when it comes to Rozanov. He’s not gonna let it bother him.” 

The puck dropped and Hollander took possession, passing the puck to Rozanov and rushing toward the net with Rozanov syncing up on his right. Rozanov maneuvered a sly drop pass, which Hollander picked up and shot it toward the goal, making the first score of the night. 

David whistled. 

Rozanov rushed over to Hollander, joining in the celebration for the goal. He even kissed Hollander’s helmet. 

“Woah.” Yuna stared with her mouth agape. 

“That was instant.”

“Where did that come from?” 

“Well, they’ve been watching tape of each other for eight years, I guess you pick up on a few cues.” David hypothesized. 

The game continued, with the rivals working together on an unstoppable line. The other team didn’t stand a chance. Off of the next faceoff, Rozanov scored this time. Hollander was right by his side, celebrating the win, both players sharing a grin and a head butt.

“What is Rozanov up to?” Yuna muttered.

“Up to?” 

“This isn’t like him, he’s gonna use this somehow to get under Shane’s skin with his defenses down.” 

David shook his head and scoffed, “Yuna.” 

“What? You heard him before the game! They play each other again in two weeks. If Shane is convinced they are friends now, maybe he will get thrown off his game!”

David gave Yuna a doubtful look. “Shane isn’t going to be thrown off just because Rozanov was buddy-buddy with him. He’s a smart kid.”

“Of course, he’s smart, but he’s never been great at picking up social cues. If Rozanov is just playing this up for the camera and then goes back to hating him tomorrow, I worry about how Shane will take that.”

“One friendly night isn’t going to break down years of history. I’m sure he’ll be fine.” 

Rozanov, with possession, passing to Hollander, swinging around the crease, looking to retrieve that puck, has it–Michagin! 

“Holy shit! Nice move, Shane!” David clapped his hands with a chuckle.

“Remember when he practiced that move for an entire summer?” 

David nodded, “Yeah, we had to bribe him to come home for dinner.” 

Rozanov tapped helmets with Hollander in celebration. Their faces were bright with excitement, saying something indecipherable to each other.

David shook his head in awe. “Can you just imagine them playing together on a real team?”

Yuna shook her head, “Even if that were to happen, which it never would because no one can afford both of them.” 

David tipped his head in agreement.

“But even if they did, Rozanov would never move permanently to right wing, so they wouldn’t be on the same line.” 

David nodded, “Yeah, but can you just imagine it for a second? Look at the chemistry between these two, and they didn’t even get a full practice together before this. Can you imagine if they had time to build cohesion? They’d be unstoppable.”

“Yeah, well the league likes the rivalry too much, there’s no way that’s going to happen. I would bet money on it.”

David raised his eyebrows. “I’d take that bet.”  

Yuna looked at him incredulously. “You wanna bet money that they will end up on the same team eventually?” 

David laughed. “The future is never a sure thing! They’ve both still got a lot of career left, anything could happen.” 

Yuna smiled, “I will gladly collect on that bet when Shane retires. Our usual wager?” 

David nodded, “Yeah, wanna go double or nothing that they will play on the same line?” 

Yuna shook her head, “You just like losing don’t you? I’ll take that bet.” 

David just smiled. 

Post Game Press Room

The game ended with Shane and Ilya’s team winning 3-0. They had celebrated on the ice on their way to the locker rooms. Now, they were just entering the press room in their suits after cooling down. Rozanov and Hollander took seats next to each other at the table with their other teammates.

“After spending years on opposite teams, what was it like to finally play alongside each other?”

Shane smiled, “It was great.” He said casually, “I’ve said it before, but Ilya and I are so competitive because we’re so equally matched. When we’re able to bring that skill together on one line, there’s nothing like it. It was a lot of fun.”

“Rozanov, you seemed to lock in quickly with Hollander right off the first face-off. Why do you think it was so easy to sync up your playing styles?”

Rosanzov nodded stoically, “Yes, Hollander is good player. We play each other a lot. We know how the other plays. Instead of using his tells against him, I was able to use them to our advantage.” 

Yuna scoffed. “What an asshole.”

 Shane laughed and shook his head. “That’s another way of saying he couldn’t keep his eyes off me all night.” 

Rozanov’s face broke into a grin. “Hard to ignore a show-off like you.” 

Shane scoffed, “I’m the show-off?” 

“Da” 

“I do like to show you how it’s done, that’s true. You have a good view of my back as I skate toward the net.” 

Rosanov looked like he wanted to say something, but thought better of it. 

Another reporter took advantage of the silent moment to ask another question. “Do you think that playing on the same team did anything to soften the rivalry between the two of you?”

Rozanov and Hollander looked at each other, expressions going back to neutral. 

Shane answered, “The All-Star game is a good break. It was nice to connect with Rozanov beyond the rivalry, but after this weekend, I go back to Montreal, and Rozanov goes back to Boston. We will go back to real life, and we'll face each other on the ice in two weeks. I have a lot of respect for Rozanov, I always have, but I’m not gonna let that diminish our gameplay on the ice.”

“Rozanov?” 

“What he said,” Rozanov said succinctly.  

“Well, that was certainly something I’ve never seen before. I hope it’s not the last time they play together. They were so good together.”

Yuna just rolled her eyes, “You just want to win the bet.”

“There are multiple contributing factors.” David smiled. 

Yuna turned the television off, “Come on, let's get ready for bed.”