Rating:

General Audiences

Archive Warning:

No Archive Warnings Apply

Category:

M/M

Fandom:

Heated Rivalry (TV)

Relationship:

Shane Hollander/Ilya Rozanov

Characters:

Shane Hollander, Ilya Rozanov, David Hollander, Yuna Hollander, Hayden Pike

Additional Tags:

Secret Relationship, Relationship Soft Launch, Silly Hockey Goals, Relationship Reveal, Kinda, only a few people figure it out, Soft Shane Hollander, Happy Shane Hollander, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, author has not read the books, Ambiguous/Open Ending

Language:

English

Stats:

Published: 2026-01-21 Words: 1,076 Chapters: 1/1

What Goes Up (Must Come Down)

Summary

After a very silly goal, Shane laughing in Ilya's arms makes his all-star teammates realize they are friends.

An accidental soft launch of their relationship during the 2017 All Stars. It's just very soft and lovely. No drama here.

Based on a real goal that has happened. Hockey is sometimes a very silly sport.

…

 

The event that set it off happened at the 2017 All Stars game. Probably a good thing, because if that goal had been part of the regular season his team would have been made fun of forever. Maybe a bad thing because that meant the second it happened he turned to his wing and it was Ilya because they were playing on the same team and he saw that same look of boyish wonder that had bloomed on his face when Shane had told him he had hired a personal stylist. Already riding the high from the kiss on the cheek Ilya had given him earlier, the absurdity of the moment hit him, Shane’s control snapped, and he absolutely fucking lost it.

What happened was when the opposing team had tried to score on their goal, the puck had flown up into the air, dropped down… and disappeared. As their goalie Smith slid into place to defend the net, everyone tried to find the puck and failed… and then a goal was called. Because the puck had landed in the back of Smith’s pants, and he was over the line.

Shane was laughing so hard he was crying. Normally he kept himself so tightly controlled, but- well. He and Ilya were together again, even if they hadn't put a label on it. He had finally admitted out loud to someone that he was gay, that he was gay for Ilya and only wanted him… and Ilya wanted him back. They had fucked so well last night he was all loose and relaxed today, he was at the All Stars with Ilya and playing an amazing game and things were good, okay? And then their own goalie scored on them with his pants. So he gave in and laughed, because that had to be the most ridiculous goal he had ever seen. Definitely one for the replay compilations. 

He felt a light impact at his side as Ilya joined him, hugging him and laughing too, though not as heavily as Shane. Somewhere near him he heard the refs blowing whistles, and Ilya started dragging him over to the bench, which was fair. He was no use on the ice like this, and it sounded like play would be resuming soon.

“Come on Shane, that's it,” Ilya muttered as they moved in sync, Shane hyperaware of every inch of Ilya pressed against him even with multiple layers of padding between them. He worked to pull himself together as they went, and by the time they reached the bench he was just down to chuckles like Ilya.

The rest of their team grinned at the two of them as Shane stumbled into his seat, pulling Ilya down with him.

“What a goal, huh boys?” One guy called out.

“Hollander, I don't think I've ever seen you lose it like that!”

Shane ducked his head down in embarrassment, but Ilya knocked against his shoulder and shared a wry smile with him, so Shane sighed and looked back at his team.

“I don't know man, I watched the whole thing, and then the goal was called and Ilya's face was just- the biggest smile I've ever seen from the guy. It set me off, I guess.”

“Ilya, huh? Wait, are you guys actually friends?”

Shane froze.

“Uh-”

Shit. This? Was this going to be what outed them? He had been so relaxed earlier, but he felt the tension forcing his shoulders up towards his ears-

“Friends? Of course we are friends! You play hockey like me- when you are best at hockey, only good person to talk hockey with is second best player of hockey!” Ilya butted in, saving Shane and giving him a moment to formulate an actual answer. As he forced himself to relax, he sent Ilya a grateful nudge with his knee, which Ilya returned.

“You saying the rivalry is bullshit?” one of the guys asked.

And that Shane couldn't leave alone.

“No, no, of course not! I like a challenge, and playing Ilya is always one of those. Hockey wouldn't be fun if it was easy.”

“Oh Shane, you are too kind! I will remember you saying this next time when I beat you.”

“Fuck off, Rozanov,” he quipped, but they were both still smiling.

“He still called you second best, dude!” another guy butted in, and Shane sighed.

“Trust me, I have tried to tell him otherwise enough times that I know it's a lost cause. I'll just prove I'm better when I beat him next game we've got against the Raiders.”

His teammates all laughed.

“Okay, I can see why people think you hate each other. Rivalry alive and well, got it.”

Shane grinned.

“Damn right! But that's all on the ice. Off the ice… it's always nice to have more friends.”

Obviously not a normal Shane sentiment to be expressing, and anyone who knew him well would call him on it- except Ilya, who knew just how important hiding behind that lie was in this moment.

“To good friends!” Ilya toasted with his water bottle. “Even if they have weak backhands!”

“Oh, fuck you Rozanov!”

 

…

 

The Sportsnet announcers, having a good chuckle over the goal themselves, praised Hollander and Rozanov’s sportsmanship in their broadcast, remarking that everyone was pretty lucky that a team with both star players on it had only happened the once, because clearly they could get along when they needed to- unlike how everyone had predicted their rivalry would affect the game.

 

…

 

Yuna and David Hollander watched the broadcast and saw Shane laugh like he hadn't since he was a teenager. That he was happy, relaxed with Ilya Rozanov in a way he wasn't even around his own team. That they hadn't realized that he wasn't happy until he so obviously was. That they might have to reevaluate their views on who Rozanov was- especially to their son.

 

…

 

Hayden Pike watched the All Stars broadcast from his couch with a baby in his lap and Jackie on one side, and saw Shane bright and happy and smiling while laughing and holding onto Ilya fucking Rozanov, and he recognized that smile. That was the Lily smile. Boston Lily. From Boston. Lily. Ilya. From the Boston Raiders.

Fuck.

Jackie looked at him curiously, and he buried his head in her shoulder. He wouldn't explain anything until he had talked to Shane, his friend deserved to choose who got to know.

Rozanov, though? Really?

 

…