Rating:

Teen And Up Audiences

Archive Warning:

No Archive Warnings Apply

Fandoms:

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

Relationship:

Shane Hollander/Ilya Rozanov

Characters:

Ilya Rozanov, Shane Hollander, Zane Boodram, Wyatt Hayes, Evan Dykstra

Additional Tags:

Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Ottawa Centaurs (Game Changers), Supportive Ottawa Centaurs (Game Changers), Ilya Rozanov Needs A Hug, Depressed Ilya Rozanov, Autistic Shane Hollander, Misunderstandings, POV Alternating

Language:

English

Series:

Part 6 of Heated Rivalry Oneshots

Collections:

Relationship Reveal HR, Best of Hollanov, Centaurs love Hollanov

Stats:

Published: 2026-01-25 Words: 8,015 Chapters: 1/1

Something is Up with Cap Roz

Summary

Zane Boodham, Evan Dykstra, and Wyatt Hayes tries to bring Roz into the team. The man never goes out with the team, so they try to make him feel welcome in Ottawa.

Notes

This was originally going to be in my other Heated Rivalry series, but I decided it didn't fit there.

Hope everyone enjoys :) I wrote this with a migraine so politely ignore grammar issues

BTW: this is set in Roz's second year in Ottawa, Shane is still with Metros. I know Evan Dykstra is married in canon, but he's not here.

"Okay, where does Roz go?"

Most of the team is at the bar and halfway to drunk. They meet every week here, Crazy Horse is just down the road from the rink, but Rozanov never shows up. He never gives a reason either beyond "maybe next time."

The theories and speculation has grown as the season's gone on.

"What do you mean?" Nick Chouinard asks over his pint.

"I mean," Zane Boodham, assistant captain of the Ottawa Centaurs says, "I organized a team barbecue, which is a captain's job. I get everyone to go celebrate our victories, which is a captain's job. I've met all your wives and children, but Roz hasn't. He's never around unless we're in the arena."

"You have a point."

"I know I do! Where does he go?"

"Maybe he's lonely?" Wyatt Hayes, their goalie, offers.

"Lonely? We're right here!"

Evan Dykstra holds a finger up. "Socially awkward?"

"Mr. Ladies Man? Have you met Roz?"

"Maybe that's it!" Evan claps his hands. "He's just getting laid."

There's a pause and Boodham breaks it. "Every day? After exhausting games?"

"Look, maybe we're overthinking this," Luca Haas says diplomatically. "I remember my first year here; if you guys didn't force me out of my shell, I would have probably sat at home alone all day."

"Yeah, but you were a 19 year old kid rookie. This is Rozanov, playboy extraordinaire!"

"Shut the fuck up." Luca throws a wadded up napkin at Evan. "I'm saying maybe we need to help him feel a little more, I don’t know, part of the group? Has anyone gone to his house? Or offered a one-on-one thing with him?"

Everyone looks around a little sheepishly.

"I invite him to everything we do," Zane breaks the silence defensively. "He's on the group chat."

"Yeah, well, maybe he needs a little more push."

"Maybe its a Russian thing?" Wyatt asks. "Maybe culturally, he needs a formal invitation?"

"You think in Russia they always decline the first invite, like to be polite?"

"Man, I don't know!"

Zane rubs the back of his neck anxiously. "Oh shit, have we been insensitive this whole time?"

No one has answers because honestly, no one really knows much about Russia or their culture. But they know Rozanov currently stands outside their team, for one reason or another.

No one is okay to keep letting that happen.

Zane Boodham knows where Roz lives. He's even been here before when their bags got switched and he drove over to exchange them. It's a nice place, very big with lots of trees. The lot is pushed back away from the road. Very private.

Maybe that's his whole thing. Maybe Russians are very private people?

That doesn't explain why Roz has a very extensive history of sleeping through cities and not being shy about it.

Maybe he needs to feel welcome in order to express that stuff and the Centaurs haven't done a good job of that?

Well, that changes now. Zane will make sure the Russian feels welcomed.

Zane rings the doorbell, his arms full with takeout food and the newest NHL game. Zane's idea of a good one-on-one bro night: greasy food and video games.

Zane bounces from foot to foot, the day already cooling off enough that he wished he was in more than basketball shorts. He's never been inside Roz's house before, only swapping the bags through the doorway on his previous visit.

Some of the guys houses were nice, some of them bare. You can tell who's married based on if there's pictures hanging on the walls. You can tell who has a girlfriend that comes over based on how many socks litter the floor. The ones with hardly anything in their fridge are the ones who party the most, while the ones with only healthy things in their fridges spend most of their time exercising.

You can tell a lot about a person based on how they keep their house and how they decorate. Zane is interested to see how Roz's house is.

Zane checks his phone and rings the doorbell again.

There's not a car in the driveway, but there's a whole garage his car could be in. It's 2pm on their off day. Maybe Roz could be in town?

After a total of eight minutes, Zane walks back to his car and puts the food and game in his passenger seat.

Zane: Hey Roz! Came by your house but I guess I missed ya. I got the new NHL game if you ever wanna play

He shoots the text off before putting his car in drive and heading towards his own home, disappointed but determined to try again.

Zane tries again the next week, this time with a case of beer and a new action movie on Blu-ray.

He hopes Roz has Blu-ray player, but if not he knows its on HBO Max and he knows his password. People still have Blu-ray players, right?

At least this time, Ilya's car is in the driveway, so he knows he's home.

He's about to ring the doorbell a second time when Roz partially opens the door and looks through. "Bood? Is okay?"

Zane holds up the beer in his hands. "Hey man! Didn't know if you wanted to do a bro night. I have beer and a movie for us."

Roz blinks a couple times. "I, uh-" Roz turns around to look at something inside. He shuts the door a little more when he turns back to Evan. "I am busy, Bood. Company."

Zane gives his captain a smirk. "Ooh, you can just tell me you have a girl, Roz. Good man! Well, don't let me kill your mood. Maybe tomorrow after practice."

It's not until Zane passes the car in the driveway that he realizes he doesn't actually recognize the Jeep. Roz drives mostly sports car and sometimes a more sensible car when the weather turns sour but it's not a Jeep.

This car is not one of Roz's, but it is nice, high-end with the most expensive trim available.

Roz's girl must have some good money in her bank.

Evan is the next to try bringing Roz into the fold.

He hears about Boodham's failed attempts, first with Roz not being home and the second with Roz having a girl over, so he plans.

He asks questions.

During a post-game shower, he asks, "Hey, Roz, bad weather this weekend. You're not going out on those roads, right?"

"No, I stay home," Roz says with a wave of his hand. He doesn't sound happy about it. "Road too icy. Not safe," he adds under his breath as if the words personally offended him.

It's a couple days later when he asks his next one.

It's practice and coach just called a water break when Evan maneuvers his way beside his captain.

"Hey, do you want to double date with me this weekend?"

Roz looks up sharply. "What?"

Evan knows Roz won't agree to it. Roz never brings his girl around — a girl that no one knew about until Bood found out about her when he visited last week.

"I met this new girl and I thought doubling would take some of the awkwardness out of it," he lies smoothly. He's met a new girl, but he's never needed help to break the ice. "I know you have someone on the DL, thought we can make it super casual."

Roz frowns and sprays water into his mouth through his helmet. "What is this 'DL'?"

"Down low," Evan explains. How much English does Roz not understand when they talk around him? "It means you don't share much about your relationship; you keep it secretive."

Roz looks a bit troubled as he puts his water down on the bench. "Yes, DL."

"What about it? Double date or do you have plans?"

"No. She, uh, travels for work. Bad roads, will not come."

"Ah, that sucks man." Evan bumps his fist against Roz's shoulder as coach calls for everyone back on the ice. "Maybe when the weather clears up we can do something."

Roz doesn't respond and Evan can't help but notice that his face looks… wishful.

That's why, when Evan walks up to Roz's front door in his heavy parka, he knows he'll be inside and alone. He put the effort in, and now he'll help his captain feel a little more included.

His first ring goes unanswered, but he won't give up. He knocks on the door with a closed fist.

"Rozanov! I know you're here! Open up man, I have beer!"

No response.

In his pocket, Evan's phone rings with the contact name "Cap Roz".

When he slides to answer, Roz's deep accent rumbles through the speaker. "Dykstra, what is this?"

"Rozzy, open up. I think the beer I brought is freezing in the box."

Roz curses in Russian before he hangs up the phone. A few seconds later Evan hears footsteps and the front door swings open.

Roz looks, Evan hates to think, a little like shit. He's wrapped in a blanket with dark bags under his eyes. From behind him, Evan sees that all the window curtains are pull closed and its dark inside.

"Are you just sitting in darkness, Roz? You sick?"

"No. Go home, nosy Canadian." Roz gestures towards Evan's car on the street.

"Rozzy, I can see into your house." Evan pushes Roz aside and takes his first step inside — the first step from anyone on the team.

It's freezing inside. Like Rozanov didn't bother turning on the heat.

"Dykstra," Roz grabs his arm, "leave."

Evan frowns at Rozanov confused. Then he looks, really looks.

His under eyes are not just dark, they're almost purple and his eyes are bloodshot. The rims of his eyes are red too. His hair is a mess in a way that speaks to not brushing it for several days. His face stubble is longer than he's ever seen it.

Evan surveys the house, or as much of it as he can see from here: random socks on the floor, empty cans and a bottle of vodka on the living room table, several days of take-out containers on the side tables, and Evan can just barely see the pile of dirty dishes beside the sink in the kitchen.

Evan has never been depressed before, but he watched his sister go through her own struggles. He remembers holding her as she cried, sitting with her as she couldn't make herself eat, the scary days when she wasn't sure she wanted to wake up the next day.

He knows what that weight can do to you. It can eat you up. It can consume you.

Rozanov looks consumed.

"Roz-"

"Just leave, Dykstra," Rozanov says again but it's decidedly weaker.

"No." He means it. He's not leaving Roz like this. "We're teammates, Roz. We're friends. You can lean on me."

An odd flash of confusion flashes on Roz's face. "Is fine, Dykstra. Tired, is all."

"Roz, listen to me. I might be off base, but I have a sister who struggles. I know what it looks like when she has bad days, when she shouldn't be alone. I'm not going to leave you alone right now, man."

Rozanov straightens his shoulders. A fire flickers in his eyes "I am not weak, Dykstra."

"No, you're not." He says it honestly. He doesn't think his little sister is weak either. "You're not weak, but maybe you need a pal to stay around. I sometimes need a friend to be around, too."

That fire that had flared in Roz's eyes dimmed and he slumped against the wall beside the door. "Fine. Is fine. I just… messed up."

"What do you mean 'messed up?'"

Roz waves a hand towards the living room. "I drink vodka other night. Did not know alcohol and pills do not work. Made head weird."

"Pills?" Evan frowns and grabs Roz's arm. How bad is this? "Roz, what drugs are you doing?"

"No, no, not drug drugs. The pills Terry gives me for…" Roz wiggles his fingers at his temple. "What you call them? Anti-depressed."

"Antidepressants?" Roz is on antidepressants? Well, that explains why he's been standoffish all season. "Didn't Terry tell you to not mix alcohol and antidepressants?"

"I don't know." Roz walks to the living room, Evan following behind, and slumps onto the couch.

The place is a wreck, not that Evan is judging. He knows its hard for some people to do tasks that is simple for others.

There's more clothes scattered around the room. There's still unpacked boxes against the wall. Roz hasn't even gotten out of moving boxes yet. It can't be helpful to live your life out of boxes.

"What do you mean you don't know? Terry should have told you this."

"Maybe he did. Terry speaks too much English too fast. Is hard to follow."

That reminds Evan about the DL term earlier this week. He sits next to Roz on the couch, moving a sweatshirt out of the way. "Do you find English- Sorry, I've just noticed that maybe sometimes you don't understand what we're saying in the locker room."

Roz is quiet for a second, long enough for Evan to start regretting bringing the topic up. "Is not English that is hard. The sayings and idioms are stupid. And things mean things in context. Is stupid."

"So, like 'down low' the other day…"

"I know 'down' and I know 'low.' Why is 'down low' a different thing? Is fucking stupid."

Evan laughs softly at that. Yeah, it is kind of stupid now that he thinks about it. "Okay, well next time tell me and I can let you in on the stupid English stuff. And you really shouldn't mix alcohol and antidepressants."

"I know that now," Roz groans and throws his head back.

By doing that, Roz's blanket slips off his shoulder a little, revealing a blue and red shirt sleeve. Instantly, Evan thought of the Montreal Metros shirts he's seen fans wear, but that's ridiculous. Roz with a Metros shirt?

Before Evan can get a better look at the shirt, Roz pulls the blanket tighter around himself.

"I started meds. New thing, getting used to it," Roz adds. "Is fine though. You do not have to stay, Dy."

"How about," Evan starts and picks up the remote from the coffee table, "I put on a hockey game, yeah? Puck drop for someone should be soon. Watch that and I will clean around your place."

"No, no, you do not clean."

"Shut up," Evan says and selects the correct channel. Montreal vs Toronto, puck drop two minutes. Perfect. "Let me get some energy out since we didn't have skate today."

Evan leaves Roz on the couch and starts with the trash in the living room, moving everything into the kitchen. Dishwasher is clean, so he puts that away as best as he can before loading the dishwasher again. He fills a full bag of trash up and checks the fridge for expired food only to find-

Ginger ale, spinach, zucchini, and Gatorade. That's it.

Has he ever seen captain willingly put a vegetable in his mouth? On road trips, Rozanov always has the greasiest food he can find. All the take-out containers is for fast food and Chinese, not organic shit like this.

That's weird.

He grabs a Gatorade and walks back to the living room to give it to Roz. Evan finds him staring at the screen where Hollander is celebrating a goal scored against Toronto.

Staring staring.

Guess the rivalry isn't as dead everyone things, even if they are friends who run a charity together.

He sets the drink in front of Roz and sits down. "So, is your girl going to visit soon? I'd like to meet her, if I can."

"No." Roz seems hesitant to tear his eyes away from the TV. "She is not my girl."

"Oh," Evan says stupidly and turns back to the television.

Shit, Roz is fucking with his antidepressants and going through a break-up?

That's fucking brutal.

Roz is late to practice the next day, which gives Evan the perfect opportunity to bring up his next attempt at including Roz in the team.

"Hey, guys!" Evan calls out and everyone else in the locker room quiets down with their eyes on him. "So, Roz and his girl broke up."

There's muttering and shakes of head around the room.

"Fucking shit."

"Sucks, man."

Evan clears his throat. "I was thinking that we all go out to the bar after practice, make Roz come along, cheer him up a bit." He's obviously not going to mention the depression, but being around friends can help him see that he's not alone. Not totally.

Nick Chouinard raises his hand and says, "I have a friend who's looking for a date or something casual. Maybe I could ask her to join us?"

Evan hesitates, but Tanner Dillon claps his hands. "Fantastic! Blind date Rozzy! He'll feel better after a rebound."

"Not how that works, Dil," Wyatt argues with an eye roll.

"How would you know, Mr. Married Man?"

The two start roughhousing in the middle of the room to the hoots and hollers from most of the team. Then, Roz comes in and gets everyone in line for practice.

A few hours later, after everyone has showered and WAGs are talked to, most of the team crowds their regular bar, Crazy Horse. It's loud, the drinks are flowing, and Roz is walking through the door.

Several people cheer, "Rozzy!"

Bood and Wyatt punch his shoulders and steer him towards their high top where a couple other players are.

"First round on me! Captain showed up today!" Bood shouts out to everyone and gets a cheer in return.

"Yes, yes, I am great," Roz smirks and nods to the waitress who just walked up. "I will have virgin mojito, please." He pronounces the word 'mojito' carefully, like he's just learned how to pronounce it.

Evan raises an eyebrow over the rim of his beer. "Virgin? Come on, Roz, I didn't know you knew that word!"

"No, special diet. I do not drink now," Roz says with a shrug. Only Evan knows that that is a very recent change. "Is okay. Fun to be out."

"Hell yeah, Roz!" Bood slings his arm over Rozanov's shoulders. "You need to come out with us more often. Alcohol or not, we need you man!"

"Okay, okay!" Nick says as he squeezes beside Rozanov. "Stop hogging the captain."

"Fuck you, Nick."

"Fuck you, Wyatt. Rozzy," Nick tips his beer towards Roz's chest, "see that girl over there in the blue?" He points across the bar to a blonde woman in a blue mini dress. "That is Claire, she's fucking hot, and she's single."

"Good woman for you," Roz says dryly and takes his mocktail from the waitress.

"Fuck off Roz, you know I'm married."

Roz raises an eyebrow at him. "So you call random woman hot? You want divorce?"

"Shut the fuck up Roz. She's not for me. Hey, Claire!" Nick calls and gestures for the woman to come over. She comes up with a smile only for Roz. "This is Ilya Rozanov."

"I've heard," she says with a coy smile. "Nice to meet you, Ilya."

Rozanov give a barely-there nod of the head. "Yes."

"Jesus Christ, Roz," Bood mutters and finishes off his own beer.

"So, what is that you're drinking?" Claire asks and leans against the table beside Rozanov.

"Mojito. Is good," he adds stiffly.

Christ, is he trying to be nice?

How did Roz ever get a girl to begin with?!

"God, those are so good. Didn't know guys ordered them, much less a big hockey guy like you." She touches her finger to Roz's forearm and smiles at him from beneath her lashes.

"Guy like me can order whatever. Just liquid."

Clair laughs in that way that girls do when they don't know what to say and Wyatt shakes his head. Seriously, is this guy not picking up that she's flirting with him?

Wyatt knew this was a bad idea from the start. He should have stopped this in the locker room.

Who wants a random rebound after breaking up with someone? He's married now, but he knows it only made him feel like shit when he was younger.

"You're right. You know, it's refreshing to see such security in a man's masculinity. It's hot," she admits with a blush and puts her hand on Roz's chest. "Why don't we-"

Roz stumbles back as if she burned him, for Christ's sake. Wyatt catches a glance at his face and he looks… uncomfortable and panicked. Fuck.

What's going on?

"I am sorry, Claire. I can not." He sets his half full glass on the table and nods at Bood. "Thank you for drink."

Then Ilya Rozanov bolts from the bar.

Wyatt, Bood, and Nick stare after him, their mouths practically open in shock.

Claire frowns slightly. "He didn't think I called him gay, did he?" She shrugs and turns away to try and find someone else to go home with.

The guys stand there frozen for a minute before breaking off to join the rest of the team again with a little less excitement.

The same thought runs through all their heads.

What's going on with Roz?

The next afternoon, Wyatt gets out of his car at Rozanov's place and looks around. The house is nice, private and a little secluded with all the trees. There's a Jeep in the driveway, so Wyatt knows Roz is home.

He felt bad all night and morning. The look on Roz's face before leaving lingers in Wyatt's head. Lisa dealt with two hours of his pacing before kicking him out of the house with instructions to "talk to Roz and calm the hell down" as she gracefully put it.

God, he loves her.

He should probably grab her flowers on the way home.

Wyatt rings the doorbell, but there's no answer. He looks through the window and doesn't see anyone inside, but he can barely see a figure on the opposite side of the house, through the back door.

If Roz is in the backyard, there's no way he could hear the front door.

Wyatt starts walking around the perimeter. There's a fence, but maybe he could-

Yes! A gate!

He opens the gate with the intent to announce himself when he hears the voices.

"-think they are helping." That's Roz's Russian accent.

"Well, they aren't." This guy's voice is familiar, but he has his back to Wyatt and he can't tell who he is. Definitely big. Like, hockey player big, so it could be anyone he interacts with daily.

"What do you want me to do about it? Tell truth?"

"No, Ilya-"

"Oh, so I lie more so you feel safe?"

All thoughts of guilt leave Wyatt's head. Lying? What is Rozanov lying about?

"No! Fuck you, this isn't about me!"

"Yes. Yes it is. Is always about you, Shane!"

Hollander. That is Shane Hollander's voice. Holy shit, what is Hollander doing in Ottawa? What is Hollander doing in Rozanov's backyard?

Wyatt shouldn't be here, he knows that. This is a private argument. He tries to turn away, but Rozanov sees him before he manages to actually get back through the gate.

"Hayes? What-"

Hollander spins around to look at Wyatt, his face drained of color and his arms folding protectively in front of him.

Wyatt raises his hands apologetically. "Sorry! Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt. I knew you were home and I heard your voice and I just wanted to apologize for yesterday, but I'll just leave-"

"Don't," Hollander says and starts walking to the house. "I'm leaving."

"Hollander," Roz says quickly and grabs his arm. They look into each other's faces angrily and Wyatt awkwardly looks down at his hands. "Stay. We fight more."

"I don't want to fucking fight, Rozanov."

"I do. We fight all night, I do not care. Stay."

There's a few seconds of silence before Roz appears in front of Wyatt. He lifts his head up and gives a shy smile.

"Sorry, Rozzy. I didn't know Hollander was here."

Roz waves his hand towards the house where Hollander went inside. "Charity thing. Why you here?"

Wyatt clears his throat. Mind your business, he thinks to himself. But that obviously wasn't a charity issue. "I just wanted to say sorry for last night. You were obviously uncomfortable and I should have stepped in."

"Yes." Roz stares at him for a beat and raises an eyebrow. "Is all? You could have texted."

Fuck it. "What are you lying to the team about?" Wyatt watches Roz's face shutter into a blank calm, the same face he has when he's injured during games but doesn't want coach to bench him. "You told Hollander you're lying to the team for him. What are you lying about?"

Roz crosses his arms and doesn't change his expression. "Not your business Hayes."

"It's my business if-"

"No," Roz interrupts. "You come to my house and, what is English word, eavesdrop. I do not tell you anything. Leave."

"Roz-"

"Leave." That's all he says before turning on his heel and stalking towards his house.

In five seconds, before Wyatt can even think of how to argue, Rozanov is closing the backdoor with himself in the house. Wyatt stands there staring for a full minute.

Is that the same Roz that pets puppies like it's his life mission? The same one that encourages the team and spends extra time on the ice with the rookies? The one who stays behind at the children's hospital so he can see every child? He's never heard Rozanov's voice so cold, not directed at someone on the team at least.

What the hell is going on?

Wyatt makes it to his car and turns the engine before he pulls out his phone. He brings up the assistant captain's number and presses call.

"Boodham? Hey, I think we have a Rozanov problem."

They made a plan: Evan, Zane, and Wyatt would confront Rozanov the next morning. All three of them already know where he lives and all three of them have tried the hardest to bring Roz into the team dynamic.

Zane doesn't know what to think except Rozanov is anti-social. He thinks all the media from when Roz lived in Boston was a really good PR team's doing.

Evan tries to tell them that maybe it's something more personal. Maybe Rozanov just needs to know he has friends that will support him that he can open up to.

Wyatt believes something nefarious is happening. Maybe Hollander is blackmailing their captain. Or illegal insider trading. Or match-fixing.

All three men drive together and park on the street. They look at each other before stepping out of the car

"Woah, did Roz get a new Jeep? It's fucking nice," Evan checks the car out. "How much do you think that was? I've been thinking about a new car."

Zane looks at the Jeep parked in the driveway and hesitates. "That's Roz's girl's car I think."

"No, it has to be his," Wyatt disagrees. "It was here yesterday when I walked in on him and Hollander fighting."

"Well, it was here when Roz had his girl over the other week."

"So it's Roz's."

Evan frowns. "So Roz has a new car, but he doesn't drive it to the rink?"

Wyatt rolls his eyes. This is just further proof of corruption for him. "Rozanov probably has a dozen cars, Dyk. He usually drives his fancy sports cars to the rink."

They continue to the front door and ring the doorbell. It's an awkward minute before Rozanov opens the door, shirtless and in sweatpants.

"Yes?" Rozanov looks between all their faces. "Did I miss meeting? Why long faces?"

Zane, being assistant, speaks up, "Roz, can we come in to talk?"

Silently, he opens the door for them to enter and closes the door behind them with a final click. Roz leads them into the living room, yanking on a sweatshirt that was discarded on the couch.

Zane doesn't miss the way he sends a quick text to someone before stuffing his phone into his pocket. Evan notices that the house is cleaner, a few less boxes cluttered around with a few more decorations set up. It's starting to look more t

Barely a second has passed before Roz turns to them with his arms folded.

"Yes?" he asks gruffly. "You come to my house? Why?"

"Jeez, Roz. We're worried about you," Zane carefully says. "You're closed off, isolating yourself."

"You ran out of the bar pretty fast last night and you looked freaked out," Evan adds in.

"Plus the Shane Hollander thing yesterday." Wyatt matches Roz's posture and sets his jaw.

"You told them Hollander was here yesterday?"

"Wyatt was worried," Zane explains. "We didn't tell anyone else. We wanted to talk to you directly."

"What does he have on you?" Wyatt gestures around. "Is it insider trading? Are you match-fixing against Montreal?"

Roz looks honestly shocked at the accusation. "You think I would do this? All you?"

"I don't," Evan tells him with a raised hand. "I tried to tell them it was ridiculous, so I'm mostly here as support and a voice of reason."

"Look, Roz, we can help you." Zane puts a firm hand on Roz's arm. "If it's drugs, we can work it out."

"Drugs?!" Roz exclaims at the same time that Evan rolls his eyes and says, "For the last time, it's not drugs."

"If it's blackmail of some kind," Zane continues, "we can help you out of it. You just have to tell us what this is about so we can help."

"So you hear I have secret with Hollander, and you think illegal shit?"

"No, you said you were lying to the team for Hollander," Wyatt says impatiently. "What else could it be? What does Hollander have to do with Ottawa at all?"

"We're not judging you," Evan pipes in. "We just want to help you."

Roz curses under his breath and walks away, pacing a couple times across the living room. "Listen, is not what you think-"

"It isn't?" Wyatt interrupts.

"No, is not," Roz shoots back. "Is personal secret. Not illegal. Well," he amends, "not illegal in Canada. Russia is different matter."

"What could be illegal in Russia but not here?" Zane asks, honestly curious. He meant to read about Russia's culture to help him connect with Rozzy, but it was one of those things that kept slipping his mind.

"I am bisexual," Rozanov says tensely. He rakes his hands through his hair. "Is what I am lying about."

"But…" Zane looks between his other two teammates before splaying out his hands to Rozanov. "Why would you lie about that? It's nothing to lie about, to us at least. So, you're bi. We have other queer people on the team. And why would Hollander be involved?"

Roz opens his mouth, probably to reiterate that it's illegal in Russia, to explain what would happen if he came out while on Russian passport, but he's interrupted before he gets the chance.

"Because I'm gay," a voice says behind them.

Everyone turns to see Shane Hollander, in black sweatpants and a light blue workout shirt, stepping off the last step of the stairs, his thumbs in his pant pockets.

Hollander looks at Roz with a hesitant smile. "And we're, uh, together."

Roz shakes his head and walks to Hollander's side. "Shane, you do not have to-"

"Yes, Ilya," he says. He takes his hands out of his pocket, seems to not know what to do with them, and puts them back into his pockets. "It wasn't fair to you to lie to your teammates like this, especially since they think you're doing illegal shit because you're lying to cover me."

"Holy…" Evan whispers.

"Shit," Wyatt finishes.

Zane shakes his head and points his finger back-and-force between the front door and to Hollander. "But wait, the Jeep outside is Roz's girl's car?"

"Christ, Bood, there is no fucking girl," Roz snips.

Hollander smacks Roz's arm. "Успокойся, Ilyusha. Don't be a fucking asshole."

Roz grumbles, but the other Ottawa Centaurs eyes get wider.

"Guys, Hollander knows Russian."

"Yeah, I fucking heard Wyatt," Evan says.

Zane purses his lip, his cheeks going red. "So, when I was here and you said you had company…"

"I had a naked Shane on my couch, yes."

"Why the fuck do I put up with you?" Shane snaps and walks to the kitchen.

"Ah, come on, you just call me Ilyusha! Shanyusha!"

"Fuck off and talk to your team, Captain. I'm making lunch."

"No rabbit food!" Roz shouts after him and turns to his teammates. "Shane always on diet. I think we should order McDonald's, yes?"

Wyatt stares blankly at him. "Rozanov, you're in a fucking relationship with Shane Hollander and you just want to Doordash McDonald's?"

"I thought you got dumped, man," Evan says in disbelief. "When you said 'she's not my girl' the other day."

"No, no dump. Just…" Roz seems to consider his words. "Just complicated. Shane is on road so often, and everyone assumes I have girls. Why does everyone assume girl when it's been, what, three years since last girl?"

"Three fucking years?!"

"Wait, wait, you and Hollander? For three years?"

Roz pulls his phone out, probably to order greasy fast food, and gives a shrug. "Three years in… Fuck, Shane?" Roz raises his voice. "What is эксклюзивный in stupid English?"

Hollander appears in the entry way with a knife and bell pepper in his hands. "Exclusive, Ilya. You better not be ordering McDonald's again."

"Would not dare, Shanyusha. I love being rabbit." Roz winks at Hollander, who rolls his eyes and goes back into the kitchen. Roz sits on the couch and scrolls through his phone. "Three years in exclusive relationship. Otherwise, is complicated. You all want McDoubles, yes? I order you McDoubles."

Wyatt tilts his head to the side and looks sideways at the other guys. "How long was it 'complicated' for?"

"Hmm, eight years?"

"Eight?!" Evan and Wyatt shout together.

Zane gapes at his captain. It's not often he's struck speechless, but holy fucking shit.

"Give or take. Very complicated. Are you all going to stand or sit?"

Wyatt and Evan sit, but Zane stares at the couch hesitantly. "Was Hollander really…"

Roz looks at him over the top of his phone and smirks. "If you are worried about my hot sex life, maybe we should have chat in your unsexed car, yes?"

"Fucking Christ," Zane grumbles, but he takes a seat on one of the armchairs.

Wyatt leans forward with his elbows on his knees and head in his hands. "I have so many questions."

"Same," Evan agrees. "Should we wait for Hollander? I feel bad asking you questions with him in the other room."

Roz shakes his head. "Shane is… He is not out to many people. Him going to kitchen is his way of breathing. You know, not freaking out."

Shane looks calm to the guys, but they obviously don't know him or his mannerisms as well as their captain does.

Three years with eight years of complicated. Eleven years.

"How many people know about you guys?" Evan asks.

"Seven." Roz holds up his hand and pops a finger for each name: "Shane's mom and dad, Hayden Pike and his wife, J.J. Boiziau on the Metros, my friend Svetlana, and Rose Landry. Four more if you count Pike's kids."

"Woah, Rose Landry knows about you two?" Zane half yells.

"Rose is the first person I came out to," Hollander says. No one realized he had walked into the living room. He quietly hands Roz something small into his palm and a glass of water. "She was an, uh, experiment of sorts."

"Ты недостаточно гей, чтобы отказаться от секса с Роуз Лэндри," Roz mutters under his breath and Shane smacks his arm again.

"Fuck off, I chose you, didn't I? Be nice."

Wyatt looks between the two bickering guys. "What did he say?"

Hollander's cheeks go a bit pink. "He said I'm not gay enough to not fuck Rose, so he's being an asshole like normal."

"I am never asshole. Perfect Russian angel."

"Yeah, keep that up and I'll give Rose your jersey to wear at your next game. See what the media thinks of a famous actress wearing your number."

Roz stares at his boyfriend — boyfriend? — with his mouth comically open. "You would not dare."

Hollander shrugs and turns to the other guys. "I'm making rice and vegetable stir fry. Anyone… and Ilya ordered McDonald's, didn't he?"

Everyone nods and Hollander shoots a glare at Roz, but it's too soft to be anything other than affectionate.

Actually, that 's the same look they give each other on the ice during games, during face-offs.

Fuck, this has been going on for years. How did no one notice with glances like that?

When the Doordasher arrives, the Centaurs set up in the living room to eat and Hollander joins with his own plate of healthy diet food.

"Hollander, what is that?" Evan asks with a nose wrinkle.

"Macrobiotic diet for performance," Hollander says with a sigh. "Whole grains and vegetables only. I add in salmon and chicken when I need the protein, like on game days."

"Unseasoned salmon and chicken," Roz adds and shakes his head. "Hollz, I have extra burger for you in bag if you want."

"Fuck off and don't call me Hollz," Shane says with a frown.

Wyatt clears his throat. "Do you not like Hollz? Hollzy?"

"No, both are fine." He pushes his food around on his plate and tries not to blush. "Ilya just never calls me it. We use our last names when we hide our relationship-"

"-and we are not hiding right now," Roz finishes. He gestures to everyone in the room. "We are all friends and you know now, so we do not hide."

Zane, Wyatt, and Evan share a glance between each other.

"Sorry for cock blocking you that one night," Bood says.

"Sorry for interrupting you in the backyard."

"Sorry for helping Nick try to set you up with Claire."

Hollander glares — a real one this time — at Evan and, yikes, okay, that's a little scary. "Yes, I heard about Claire."

"Shanyusha, we talked about this," Roz says calmly.

Hollander scoffs quietly and stabs a piece of vegetable.

"Shane."

He exhales loudly through his nose. "I know, I know. I just don't like that… I can't do that. I can't flirt with you at a bar without causing a PR disaster and getting benched in Montreal."

"Would they do that?" Evan asks shocked. Hollander is easily Montreal's best player and their captain. To bench him is to forfeit games.

"Yes." His voice is sure, firm. "Almost everyone there is homophobic in some way. Coach is the worst of it and others feed off of it. There's a reason only J.J. and Hayden know that I'm gay."

Wyatt knows what that's like, to a small extent. He played on Toronto's homophobic and racist ass team. Even as a straight man, he felt like he was constantly walking on eggshells to not be perceived as even a little "fruity."

On the other hand, Evan and Zane have spent their entire NHL careers in Ottawa, which is possibly the most accepting team in the league. They can't imagine not accepting a teammate just because of something as small as were you put your dick off the ice.

"That fucking sucks, Hollzy," Zane says seriously.

"Thanks, Bood. Maybe one day, things will get better, but until then?" He gives a sad shrug, looking a little tense. "I can't be public about who I am."

"Which means I cannot either," Roz adds.

Wyatt frowns at his captain. "You could, Rozzy. You can tell people you're bi at least."

"Yes, I tell media I am bi and then they see my — Shane what does Pike call them? — my "heart eyes" when I look at Shane on ice. Then everyone find out."

"He's not subtle," Shane tacks on dryly. "Besides, two guys hang out when one is a bisexual known for sleeping around and one is notorious for not publicly dating woman? I can already hear the media speculating."

They all know how the media is. Even if it's a shitty tabloid, if it gains traction on social media, it'll be hard to deny without looking defensive. Players have gotten benched for 'drama' before when the media storms have gotten too big. The NHL doesn't like distractions from their games.

Everyone is quiet for a few minutes while all the food gets finished. It's not until Evan goes to the restroom that the silence is broken.

"Holy shit! Is this why you didn't want me in your house the other day?"

Zane and Wyatt scramble off their seats to join Evan in the hallway. Hollander and Roz don't have to follow; they already know what's hanging on the walls.

Pictures. About a dozen.

Their first CCM shoot.

Their draft.

Their first award ceremony selfie.

Hollander and Roz with Yuna and David.

Them both with the whole Pike family.

Their first Christmas as a real couple.

Hollander moving boxes into this house.

Roz helping David with a puzzle.

Hollander and Roz cooking together.

Hollander lounging on a deck out on a lake.

A selfie of Roz with Hollander working out in the background.

"Holy shit, it really has been eleven years," Wyatt whispers in awe.

Evan and Zane just nod speechless.

2 months later

Tonight was the last game of the regular season and it was a huge fucking event.

Montreal Metros verses Ottawa Centaurs, both fighting for a spot in the playoffs, both fighting to the nail for the opportunity.

Metros have Shane Hollander, but Centaurs have Ilya Rozanov and he has something to fucking prove tonight.

4-3, overtime win for the Centaurs.

The locker room after the game is loud. Louder than loud. Champagne gets passed around and no one notices when Rozanov passes it without taking some for himself.

Everyone's too busy celebrating that no one has gotten into the showers yet, which means it's easier to round everyone up.

"Okay, everyone sit, please," Rozanov calls in the locker room. Everyone quiets down and sits on the benches in front of their cubbies. "I have things to say to everyone."

Roz meets the eyes of every hockey player before starting. "I know I have been not present captain. I stay at home and keep to myself. That stops now. I want to be better captain, I want to be part of this team. This is great fucking team! Look at us, we're going to the fucking playoffs! That was you, and you and you and you. Every fucking one of you!

"But in order to be better captain, I need to be honest and I have not been. I am sorry and I hope you forgive me for my lies."

Rozanov takes a deep breath. "I am bisexual and I have been in a committed relationship with a man for three years." The room starts whispering, but Roz silences them with a simple look. "Instead of going to bar after home games, I go home to see him. Or I drive two hours to visit his house in secret. For holidays, I go to his parents house instead of team party. This all ends now. I want to be in this team, not just on the ice, but off of it too."

One of the rookies speaks up, "Wait, he doesn't live in town?"

Roz shakes his head. "No, is in Montreal. I drive to see him once or twice a week? Schedules are hard and I want to see him, but this team needs me too. You need a captain that is here."

"Roz," Troy says from his bench, "we don't want you to give up your boyfriend for us."

"No need. Boyfriend is moving here soon, but I will not hide any longer. I am tired of hiding. I want everyone to know and I want to go out to bars with you assholes."

Zane perks his head up, the A on his chest prominent on his jersey. "Wait H- he's moving here?"

Nick almost broke his neck as he turned to his right. "Wait, Bood, do you know who he is?"

Thankfully, Roz steps in to answer, "You all will know very soon. He's about to come inside locker room, but I warn you, he's very hot. Do not swoon."

"Boo," Wyatt jeers and laughs.

"Fuck off Wyatt, he's too sexy for you and you know it."

"Wyatt! You too?"

Rozanov laughs and raises his voice. "Okay, любимый, come in."

Shane Hollander, freshly showered and in his game-day suit that makes his ass look fantastic, walks into the changing room and everyone goes silent in shock.

Hollander raises a hand and smiles sheepishly. "Hey guys, nice to meet you all off ice." He looks around at their shocked faces and swallows hard. "So, the trade will be official next month now that Montreal is out of the playoffs and I won't be starting until next season, so try not to talk to media about it quite yet-"

"Trade?" Troy asks confused.

Evan's eyes flicker between Roz and Hollander. "Wait, you're getting traded to Ottawa?"

Hollander looks over at Roz confused. "What the hell did you tell them before I got in here?"

"Oh, you know," Rozanov has that obnoxious smirk he reserves for Hollander on the ice, "I have sexy hot boyfriend who is moving here so I can see his d-"

"Fucking Christ, Ilya, can you not be horny for five fucking seconds? We're literally at work. You were supposed to discuss the trade and just mention that we're dating."

The room is quiet for two seconds before everyone starts talking all at once.

"He called Shane Hollander hot and sexy in the locker room," Nick cries.

Evan and Wyatt are chanting, "We have Hollander, we have Hollander!"

Luca Haas and Troy are in existential crisis over the relationship news. "Three fucking years," Troy mutters.

"We're going to be stuck in hotel rooms with them."

"Holy fuck, I need better headphones."

Hollander's cheeks are red and Rozanov is smirking very proudly as he leans against the cubbies.

"Okay, okay, quiet everyone," Roz calls out after a minute and the room slowly shuts up. "Is big change, next season we will have second best hockey player in league."

"Fuck you," Hollander argues.

"Shush, captain is talking. Next season is next season. Do not think of that. We still have playoffs this season. We're getting that cup this season, not next season. We do not need Hollander to get cup. We are fucking good, yes? We will get cup this season, then do it again next with Hollander, yes? We leave it all fucking out there and we will succeed. Fucking love each of you. Thank you for being fucking awesome team."

Evan starts the clapping, followed by Wyatt then Troy, then everyone is cheering. People stand and congratulate Roz and Hollander, backs are clapped, Hollander shakes hands with almost everyone in the room.

"Roz, Hollz, Crazy Horse bar tonight! Let's go!"

Hollander shares a measured look with Roz.

The news hasn't broken about the trade yet, and someone is bound to notice when a single Metros player parties with the whole team of the Centaurs. It's a bad idea PR wise.

But Ilya is done hiding, and Shane is done being the reason his boyfriend hides himself away.

"I'll invite J.J. and Hayden, that way it doesn't seem too obvious," Hollander says to Roz with a nod.

Roz's eyes brighten and he smiles widely. "Crazy Horse in thirty minutes, motherfuckers! Everyone better fucking be there!"

Written by a human in Ellipsus.