Rating:

Teen And Up Audiences

Archive Warning:

No Archive Warnings Apply

Category:

M/M

Fandoms:

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

Relationships:

Shane Hollander/Ilya Rozanov, Shane Hollander & Ilya Rozanov

Characters:

Shane Hollander, Ilya Rozanov

Additional Tags:

Texting Fic, Hookup Era, Funny, Silly, Attempt at Humor, Autistic Shane Hollander, Shane Hollander Needs a Hug, Oblivious Shane Hollander, One Minute of Panic, Canon Compliant, until the end

Language:

English

Stats:

Published: 2026-08-16 Words: 2,186 Chapters: 1/1

Lily Has Questions, Jane Does Not Have Answers

Summary

Most days, Shane loved the unhinged text messages he would get from Ilya Rozanov. Random streams of consciousness, hilarious insults about other hockey players, critiques of games, excitement over the dogs he would meet on his daily runs.

But some days, the messages were so completely off the rails that Shane wanted to strangle him.

Today was one of those days.

February 18

Lily
Are you gay?

Notes

There is little explanation for this other than I wanted to write a funny texting fic, and that Ilya has no filter and would absolutely send unhinged texts to Shane without a second thought.

And this was born.

Mostly canon compliant until the end. Takes place during the hookup era.

Most days, Shane loved the unhinged text messages he would get from Ilya Rozanov. Random streams of consciousness, hilarious insults about other hockey players, critiques of games, excitement over the dogs he would meet on his daily runs.

But some days, the messages were so completely off the rails that Shane wanted to strangle him.

Today was one of those days.

February 18

Lily

Are you gay?

Rozanov had been on a road trip and hadn’t texted him in a few days, so Shane knew he was due. But he had not been expecting this to be his opening line.

Jane

WTF dude

NO!

Then what?

Huh?

What are you?

What do you mean?

I am bisexual. I like both.

I know what bisexual means

Ok

Then what are you?

I don’t know. 

I’m straight?

Are you sure?

Yes

But you have been with men

That is not straight

Shame doesn’t respond. He doesn’t know what to say. He just stares at the screen in disbelief for a moment before locking his phone and slamming it down on the bed next to him. 

He tries not to think about it after that.

February 21

Lily

Ever had a girlfriend?

Jane

Yes, of course. WTF

I have not

There’s no way that’s possible.

Is true. 

How? You are constantly in the news, pictures of you with women

You stalking me?

NO! The fucking pictures show up on my feed every time I open instagram

And you look

Of course not, asshole. 

I wish I could block the people who post them, but it would look really bad if I blocked ESPN and hockey news sites

Sure

But how have you never had a girlfriend?

That still doesn’t make sense

Just never did

No relationship

Just sex

eww, didn’t need to know that

You embarrassed about sex?

Did not seem to have an issue a few weeks ago

Shane spends the rest of the night trying to process. Rozanov had to be messing with him. It didn’t make any sense otherwise. 

But on the other hand, why the fuck is he telling him this and how did it even come up? Shane does not want nor need to know that about him.

February 23

Lily

Ever been on a date?

Jane

What is it with you lately? 

Yes, of course I’ve been on a date.

What the fuck kind of question is that?

Just making conversation

Is good, no?

No, it’s not good. 

So when was last date?

None of your business

I never see pictures of you with girls

Because it’s private. I’m not like you, 

I don’t parade around in public with the flavor of the week

What is flavor of the week?

Never mind

Shane knows it’s not a competition, but the text messages lately seem to be getting more and more strange, and personal, and the last few have set him on edge. 

But even so, it still felt like he won this round, and he’ll take it.

February 26

Lily

When was last girlfriend?

Jane

Maybe it’s time for you to start answering these questions

I did. Told you no girlfriend.

Yeah still find that hard to believe.

Is true

So when?

Why does it matter?

Just want to know you better

And how does that help get to know me?

You will not tell me?

No.

Why not?

Because it’s none of your damn business 

Has been that long? Embarrassed to tell me. 

Do you need help fining dates?

I hear there are many good dating apps now 

Can ask team for recommendations 

I do not need a dating app 

Jeez

Are you worried about me?

What to make sure you are happy

🙄 

Why do you care?

You play better when you are 

What the actual fuck?!?

And you think that a date will make me happy?

Not everyone’s happiness is tied to their dicks 

Oh no?

No

February 28

Lily

How many men have you been with?

Jane

Ugh

WTF. Really?

This again. 

Why?

Just curious

Does it matter?

Maybe

This random crap is starting to get under Shane’s skin. It’s incredibly irritating at times, but there is something about it that is making Shane wonder. Yes, Rozanov’s been asking incredibly personal questions, and part of Shane is suspicious as to his motives, but he’s also been sharing private details about himself at the same time. Details that Shane didn’t have before.

While part of him questions whether he was being honest, the other part realizes that there is no logical reason for him to lie about it. Rozanov may be a lot of things, asshole probably being at the top of the list, but he isn’t a liar.

Shane initially feared that he would try to use this information against him somehow, chirping him on the ice or something, but thinking back to everything he’s ever chirped about, none of it had been anything even remotely personal toward Shane. And he did know too many of Shane’s most closely held secrets.

It took Shane a few minutes to work up the courage to respond, but in the end, he decided to just be honest.

Just you. Happy now?

Yes

How many have you been with??

The first time they hooked up, Rozanov had admitted that he had fooled around with his coach’s son back in Russia, so Shane knew that there was at least one other besides him. But he had no idea the true number. Considering the reputation he had with women, Shane could not even start to guess.

A few

Vague

But it’s better than asking how many women you’ve been with

I’m sure you lost count long ago

Ok, so that was harsh. Shane new it. But for some reason, he couldn’t help himself.

Or maybe you just don’t want to know?

Again, does it even matter?

Yes

That was definitely not the answer he was expecting. But Shane couldn’t think of any more snarky comebacks, and it didn’t seem like Rozanov had anything else to add either, and the conversation seemed to end there for the night.

March 1

Lily

Favorite food?

Jane

Well, this is a nice change of pace

I don’t really have one

I keep to a pretty strict diet, lots of protein, chicken and fish. Rice and vegetables

Yes, bird food. I know

If not on diet, then what?

I always eat like that. Even in the off season I’m still in training

Boring

If did have diet, what is splurge food?

Oh. Hmm.

My dad’s chicken parmesan probably

See? Was that so hard?

Yes

What’s yours?

Russian sweets my mom would make when I was young

Or your dad’s chicken Parmesan 

Shane couldn’t help but laugh at that. He was trying to be funny when he typed out the next line, but as soon as he hit send, he started to regret it.

Maybe if you are good, he will make it for you sometime.

Yes

I would like that

Shane had absolutely no idea what to do with that response.

March 3

Lily 

Favorite position?

Jane

Um, center. The one I play. 

Obviously

No. Not that.

Sex position

What the fuck?

No

Come on

Tell me

No

Jane

Lily

Why not?

Why do you want to know?

Looking for ideas?

Yes.

Is not like we haven’t already tried many

Want to know what is best for you

Once again, Rozanov managed to leave Shane speechless.

March 6

Rozanov had gotten into his head, and now Shane couldn’t get him out. Before, he was able to forget more easily, compartmentalize, put it out of his mind unless they were going to see each other.

But with all the messages the past few weeks, something changed. A switch had flipped, and now Shane kept thinking about all the stupid text messages, all the questions, all the personal things he kept asking.

Shane told himself it wasn’t a problem. It was fine. He could handle it.

And he could. Until he couldn’t. And sadly, that day came sooner than he expected.

The Metros were playing in LA, and LA was amazing this year. They were first in their conference and had been dominating every team they played lately. He knew it would be a tough game going in, but also that there would be a lot of fanfare around them if they won.

As usual, the Metros played their hearts out, and managed to squeak by with a 2-1 win. The locker room was insane, the fans were screaming, even the press seemed excited.

By the time Shane got out of the shower, the team was out of control. Yelling and cheering, planning a wild celebration. “Come on Cap, you have to join us!” one of them yells.

“Yeah, no lame excuses this time!” another adds.

“Fine” Shane grumbles as the rest of the group cheers.

He told himself he would have one beer, that would be it, and he would go back to his room and go to sleep. It was enough to fulfill his obligation to the team so they wouldn’t pick on him too much. And they did not have an early morning, so he could sleep in a little and relax and easily get back to his routine.

But halfway through his beer, everything changed.

“The Raiders beat the Admirals” one of the rookies announces, turning his phone screen around to show everyone the headline. 

Both teams had been doing well this season, and this was a big game for both of them.

A few of the guys took out their phones and started searching the news, J.J. sidling up next to Shane to show him pictures. “And the assholes are already getting into trouble” he announces, showing pictures of a rowdy party at a club in New York.

As J.J. scrolls through the pictures, he sees one of Rozanov, with his arms around a woman and his tongue down her throat. 

“Who wants shots!” Drapeau yells as he puts a tray of shots down on the table in front of him.

Shane grabs one without thinking, swallowing it down in time with the rest of the guys. When a second round appears a few minutes later, Shane grabs another one and does the same. A third may also have been thrown in there, but Shane isn’t exactly sure anymore.

Not long after that, most of the team finds their way to the dance floor, and Shane is left alone at the table.

He takes out his phone and starts doomscrolling on instagram, in search of pictures of the Raiders afterparty.

Why does he even care? It’s none of his business. Rozanov isn’t his. He has no claim over him. But he still can’t manage to stop himself from looking either.

He doesn’t find much. The picture that J.J. showed him is the only significant one. Rozanov is visible in the background of a few other pictures, but in those, he is just talking to his teammates.

The shots are starting to hit him now, he can feel the fogginess in his head. He’s sure he will use that as an excuse later to justify what he does next.

He opens the text thread with Lily.

Lily

Good game tonight

You were amazing

He must have missed that message earlier. 

He stares at the screen for awhile, trying to decide what to say. His sober brain would tell him to say thank you and reciprocate. But he is not sober. He has had a few shots, and while he should be happy from their win tonight, he’s not any longer.

Jane

whyy

What do you mean why?

You played very well

That is why

not tht

I do not understand

I thoght it mattred

Are you drunk?

Noo

You thought what mattered?

Nothng

What mattered?

Whhy arnt u wth her

With who?

I do not understand

In teh pictur

Where are you?

When Shane doesn’t respond, the phone rings. 

[Incoming call from Lily]

He just lets it ring though, staring at the screen in disbelief. Lily has never called him. They have never spoken on the phone before.

Please answer the phone

I am worried 

Whyy

I want to make sure you are okay

Am fine

You do not seem fine.

Whyy do u care

[Incoming call from Lily]

Shane immediately sends the call to voicemail, but he can feel the tears welling up in his eyes as he does. His chest feels tight and he doesn’t know what is happening.

I know you are out with team

I see pictures on Drapeau insta

But I am still worried

not ur prob

What if I want you to be?

Neither say anything for a few minutes. It almost feels like a standoff, who is going to cave first. Drunk or not, it is not going to be Shane.

Shane, I did not go home with her

Or with anyone

Am alone in hotel right now

Thinking about this slow fucking hockey player

With beautiful freckles

Who has ruined me for anyone else

[Incoming call from Jane]