Rating:

General Audiences

Archive Warning:

No Archive Warnings Apply

Category:

M/M

Fandoms:

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

Relationships:

Shane Hollander/Ilya Rozanov, Shane Hollander & Ottawa Centaurs Team Ensemble

Characters:

Shane Hollander, Ilya Rozanov, Ottawa Centaurs Team Ensemble (Game Changers), Wyatt Hayes, Troy Barrett, Harris Drover, Yuna Hollander, David Hollander, Hayden Pike, Luca Haas, Scott Hunter (Game Changers)

Additional Tags:

Press and Tabloids, Interviews, Shane is so fucking done, Married Shane Hollander/Ilya Rozanov, Protective Ilya Rozanov, Ilya Rozanov is Obsessed With Shane Hollander, Ilya Rozanov is a Menace, Shane Hollander Deserves Better, Shane Hollander Needs a Hug, Please for the love of GOD let Shane go off on them, Ottawa Centaurs (Game Changers), Supportive Ottawa Centaurs (Game Changers), Ottawa Centaurs Player Shane Hollander, Ottawa Centaurs Player Ilya Rozanov, Ottawa Centaurs Group Chat (Game Changers), Protective Ottawa Centaurs (Game Changers), Social Media, Twitter, Angry Shane Hollander, Shane Hollander/Ilya Rozanov Relationship Timeline Reveal, No beta we die like trent higgins at the end, BAMF Shane Hollander

Language:

English

Series:

Part 2 of Social media

Stats:

Published: 2026-05-26 Completed: 2026-06-01 Words: 5,384 Chapters: 2/2

In which the press should think before they talk

Summary

"Mr. Hollander, with all due respect, there is a very clear difference here. No one is stopping you and Mr. Rozanov from doing whatever you want in your free time, but this is a workplace. Many players and fans feel uncomfortable watching that kind of behaviour-"

"Then they can close their eyes," Shane interrupted in a very uncharacteristic manner.

 

OR: Shane has been the NHL golden boy for 11 seasons, but some people are simply begging for a verbal slapdown. The internet reacts.

Chapter 1: A fraction of what we went through

Chapter Notes

Part 2 is the social media part :)

But I think this is pretty cool too so...

"Shane, can you do press in ten?"

Shane did not want to do press in ten.

"Sure thing," Shane replied.

One of the many, many, many benefits of trading to Ottawa was the fact that he no longer had to do 90% of the pre- and post-game interviews. Here, division of that responsibility was more balanced, and while the captain did do a bit more interviews, Shane was no longer the captain.

He wasn't exactly happy about it, but he also didn't spend time wailing about it in bed. Ilya was a good fucking Captain, and while Shane missed the C, he had to admit that his husband was doing his job well.

His husband.

Shane still felt giddy thinking about it.

They've been married for more than half a year now, and still, whenever he thought about the fact that Ilya was his husband, he couldn't stop a smile from spreading on his face.

"You don't have to if you don't want to do press," Ilya said, quiet enough for only Shane to hear. "I can go out there, or we can send-"

"Ilya," Shane put a hand on his shoulder in a rare display of affection in the locker room. "It's fine. It was a good game. I'll entertain them for five minutes, then we can go pick up Anya."

"Who are you and what have you done with my Shane?" Ilya smirked, tilting his head so his cheek would touch the back of Shane's hand. 

"Oh my god-" Shane pulled his hand back and began pulling on a clean shirt.

"First you kiss me after my goal, now this-"

"-It was a good goal."

"What about being professional? Have you no dignity, Shane Hollander?"

"I hate you."

"No you don't."

"No, I don't," Shane admitted. "But that was certainly the last kiss you'll get from me."

"Noooooo," Ilya whined. "No, you misunderstand me, I said you are so very professional, everybody in the league thinks so. They look at you and say, 'Oh yes, that's Shane the professional.'"

"Shut up," Shane laced his shoes. 

"Hr is calling, asking for tips on how you manage to stay so professional-"

"Hr is too busy dealing with you to call me," Shane rolled his eyes as he rose to his feet. "Ok, let's get this over with. You'll go take a shower so we can get out of here as soon as I'm done?"

Ilya sighed heavily. "Anything for you, мой дорогой муж."

"Oh, so you are doing that?"

"Doing what?"

"Pretending like you aren't the one who wants to go home and watch the new episode-"

"I have no idea what you are talking about."

"Ok," Shane said before turning to Wyatt. "Hey, Wyatt? looks like we can make it to movie night after all-"

He was then grabbed from behind and lifted off the floor.

"Sorry, sorry, my husband has too many concussions to the head. Doesn't think normally-"

"We could even watch lord of the Rings-" Was all Shane managed to get out before Ilya shut his mouth with his hand.

"Fucking lonatics," Wyatt rolled his eyes and smiled.

"So..."

"Ok, ok, you won. I want to go home and watch the new episode."

Shane raised an unimpressed eyebrow. 

"But it's just because I feel like today will be the day those idiots will get together-"

"You've been saying that for five seasons, and so far, those firefighters are barely-"

"They have a child!" Ilya was scandalized. "It takes a lot of time to get together when there is a baby involved. Don't be rude."

"It took us seven years," Shane pointed out.

"We also have a baby"

"Anya is a d-"

"Don't you have press to talk to?"

"I'm just saying, don't get your hopes up-"

"They are in love!"

"You do that every episode and then every time you cry when they don't kiss."

"It's sad!" Ilya protested.

Shane was more than happy to continue that ridiculous argument, but Harris had just entered the room, and Shane had a feeling his husband was pissing that man off enough for both of them.

"Whatever you say," Shane smirked as he walked to the door. "As long as you are not crying about the 'cruelty of queerbaiting' again."

Shane didn't love doing press, but tonight he was in a good mood. The game was great, His husband was happy, and most importantly, Shane scored a hat trick.

So he was in a good mood. Sue him.

He answered questions about the game with practised ease, wondering, not for the first time, why they even bother to do this if the press keeps asking the same question and he keeps giving them the same answers.

His good mood vanished when he heard the question the short reporter from MSN, Trent Higgins, asked.

"Excuse me?"

The reporter, either incredibly dumb or incredibly brave, repeated his question. 

"Do you think you and your husband's public displays of affection distract the team, and what are you planning to do in order to maintain a safe working environment for everyone around you?"

It was one kiss.

One small fucking kiss. Their lips barely fucking touched. 

J.J once almost French-kissed Olsson on the Ice after he scored the winning goal in a game against Boston, and no one batted an eye because that was just two straight dudes celebrating.

But he gives his husband one tiny little kiss-

"Showing affection while celebrating is pretty common in hockey," Shane kept his voice steady. "I see no reason why this case should be any different. As for the safety of the workplace, I think in a sport where we crush into each other with knives on our shoes, we have bigger safety concerns than me kissing my husband."

"Mr. Hollander, with all due respect, there is a very clear difference here. No one is stopping you and Mr. Rozanov from doing whatever you want in your free time, but this is a workplace. Many players and fans feel uncomfortable watching that kind of behaviour-"

"Then they can close their eyes," Shane interrupted in a very uncharacteristic manner.

"-And I think it is only fair to ask you about the influence the lifestyle you chose has on this game."

"I didn't 'choose' a lifestyle, I simply lived my life. As for the players and fans, nobody is forced to like me or watch my games. If it bothers them, they can sell their tickets or turn off their TV's."

Shane got up to leave when the reporter said something that froze him in his spot.

"Mr. Hollander, like it or not, there are consequences to making a choice like that. If you marry a fellow player, this is one of the things you need to think about beforehand. Your lack of preparation and caution is not the responsibility of the fans and league."

Lack of preparation and caution.

After 13 years of nothing but preparation and caution.

Something in Shane broke, and he sat back down.

“Do you have a wife, Mr. Higgins?” He asked after a moment of silence.

“Yes, I do,” the reporter hesitantly replied.

“Wonderful. How long have you been married?”

“Five years. I’m sorry, what does this have to do-”

“Five years,” Shane mused. “That’s a long time, Mr. Higgins. How long have you dated before getting married? A year, maybe two?”

“I don’t see-”

“You probably moved in together after dating for a year, didn’t you? That must have been nice, living with the person you love most in the world.”

"This is highly-"

“You two probably go on dates, right? A nice restaurant, a stroll in the park, a movie. You got to meet her friends... three months into dating her? And she got to charm her way into your parents’ hearts. Her coworkers teased her about you, about the way she’d blush when you text. You had a drawer in her place, since you spent so long there. You loved spending time there, waking up with her in your arms,"

Shane paused. Higgins did not interrupt him again.

"She met your friends, those who heard you complain about the way she leaves the laundry scattered around the apartment, and they all loved her immediately. When you moved in together, you probably threw a party for your friends and family. Got a few housewarming gifts, a plant, maybe a set of nice kitchen knives?”

Shane's voice was steady, almost thoughtful.

“When you fought, she could talk to one of her friends, have them calm her down, help her, didn’t she? And oh, when you told your friends that you were looking at rings, they all cheered, didn’t they? She was probably so thrilled the day you got engaged, took a picture with the ring and posted it. Probably got a thousand different comments congratulating you two. And when you got married, the venue was probably full of all the people who love you. Such a perfect relationship, don’t you think?”

The room, full of reporters who usually never shut up, was silent.

“But imagine for a moment that you couldn’t have that beautiful relationship. That the first seven years of knowing her, you never even got to wake up next to her. You couldn’t take her to a restaurant, that was too risky. You did manage to go on walks together, if that’s what you call it when you are thousands of miles apart and can’t even talk on the phone. Her friends have no idea you exist, of course, and your parents don’t know about her either. It’s safer that way, and so you go on for years, only having stolen moments with her, and it’s not enough. It’ll never be enough.”

Shane leaned forward.

“And you are so tired of this, of having your heart belong to the ‘wrong person’. So you do what you can, you convince yourself you can be something you are not, and for a moment, you think it worked, that you can be normal. But it hurts, Mr. Higgins. It hurts so much, and you can’t keep pretending you don’t love her, because it’s killing something in you. So you two are back to stolen glances and kisses behind closed doors, secret phone calls on the staircase. When her father dies, you want nothing more than to be with her, but the only thing you can do is call her from a different continent. And you tell yourself it’s fine, that you can do it, but you ache for more.”

He leaned back, reaching to fill his cup with water from the pitcher on the table.

“You get hurt, and she has to sneak into the hospital after a night of being terrified out of her mind because no one knows to call her, no one can know to call her. And the distance is killing you both, so she gives up her excellent job, the place where she spent her entire adult life, to move closer to you. And it’s better. Now that she’s close, you feel like you can breathe again. But it’s still not enough. It’s still weeks sometimes before you get to see her again, and even though you want nothing more than to fall asleep next to her, every morning you wake up to an empty bed and an aching heart."

For the first time that evening, Shane's voice wavered slightly. But he was determined to end this, to make them understand a fraction of what Shane and Ilya had to go through.

"And she’s brave, she’s so damm brave. She’s braver and stronger than you’ll ever be, and she’s ready to tell the world how much she loves you. But you are too afraid. You know if the world knows how much you mean to each other, she’ll never be able to go home again. Her country is a fucking dictatorship; there is no telling if they’d decide to ignore it or make an example out of her. She won’t be safe, she’ll never be safe. And you are not brave enough to be the reason she’ll never see her mother again, so you stay silent, you make her stay silent even tho you know it’s killing her, all because you are a fucking coward.”

Shane forced his voice to stay clear.

“When she almost dies, and you want nothing more than to hold her and feel her heartbeat against you, you have to make do with a short phone call. When you get engaged, there are no photos, no Instagram posts, you two get to tell five people. But you are happy, because this is more than you two ever thought you’d get, and so you keep going, missing and craving.”

He took a deep breath, continuing to look straight at the petrified face of Trent Higgins.

“Then everything changes. Everybody knows you love her, and she isn’t safe; she’ll never be truly safe ever again. Her friends are happy for her tho, so you take small comfort in that. Meanwhile, you are losing people you have considered family. Your wedding, the happiest day of your life, doesn’t have chairs because she doesn’t want to see your heartbroken expression when you see how many of them would stay empty. You lose the team, the people you have dedicated the past 10 years to. People who had called you when their kids were born suddenly have you blocked, your friends start questioning your integrity, people who used to cheer your name seek you out in order to tell you how you disgust them, how they hope you’ll die for being in love.”

And then, Shane smiled.

“But it’s still the best time of your life, because for the first time, you get to wake up in her arms every day. You get to open your eyes and see your entire universe looking back at you. And it suddenly doesn’t matter that you lost everything you worked so hard to build, because it is worth it to see the smile on her face when you go to work together and when she holds your hand in public.”

Higgins's face was turning a very nice shade of purple.

“So, after years of having to hold yourself back from loving her, you don’t. And when you go out with your friends, you let her hug you - no, not let her; you want that, you want her proximity more than anything because now you can, you get to have that. And you kiss her, because you want to, because she is your wife and you love her, and you are happy.”

Shane leaned forward in his chair, lips almost touching the microphone. 

“And, after all of that, imagine a reporter who never had to hide, who always got to live freely, asking you if you think you two kissing makes people uncomfortable.”

The room was still noiseless.

"That's what I have to say regarding our 'preparation and caution'. As for distractions to the team, I will let the scoreboard speak for itself."

Shane finally tore his eyes from the reporter's ugly face. "Now, if anyone has any hockey-related questions-"

Five different arms shot up.

Chapter End Notes

мой дорогой муж- My dear husband

Next season I'm gonna be defending Shane with a gun, aren't I? Please, dear god, allow people to have some media literacy before season 2 comes out, I am begging you.

Chapter 2: A fraction of what they went through

Chapter Summary

The internet (and Ilya) react

Chapter Notes

Yes 90% of the usernames are the same as in my last fic, I fucking hate coming up with them.

I am also continuing my tradition of incorporating comments on my fics as comments. Also the wagner sibilings and Roby are back. Makes me think I'm a fucking comedian sorry.

Dave @Ottawawawawa
Honestly, I'm not surprised, Hollander was way past due for a public meltdown.

↳ Eren @Denver85304
What happened?

↳ ↳ Dave @Ottawawawawa
Dragged an MSN reporter and absolutely fried him. Fire department was called but there was no body left to save.

SNC @SportNewsCanda ✅
Shane Hollander telling off a 'Montreal Sports News' reporter in a press conference after win against California!

Read more here...

↳ Eren @Denver85304
Shane Hollander catching a fucking break; Level impossible:

Tom @Tomaseddison
Watching Shane Hollander destroying a reporter without raising his voice once might actually turn me gay

↳ Ellie @Elinor2973
Maybe then you'd be good at hockey

↳↳Tom @Tomaseddison
I hate you so much.

Vi @vitzoki
I think this was the most respectful way I have ever seen somebody absolutely obliterating another person.

↳ Tom @Tomaseddison
Mama Yuna would be proud

Shiri @ShirLiShir
Shots fired in Ottawa during a routine press interview. The victim is a bald, ugly, stupid ass reporter nobody will miss.

Shane come back @Metro4life4ever
Ok I watched the video of Shane doing press today, and I have tears on my face. Fuck. Am I a bad fan for being glad that he gets to be free and play with his husband?

↳ Hayden Pike fan club @PikeHaydenn35
No I'm honestly glad he gets to have that too. Like idc I think he deserves to be happy after all this time in the shadows.

Osher @OsherDavida77
Every time Trent Higgins opens his mouth, an angel dies somewhere.

↳ Eyal @Ilovemypizza
Oh it's Trent Higgins! Shane could have just looked at him and raised an eyebrow; he'd still cry about freedom of speech, but it would have been funny.

↳↳ Ellie @MaccabiMaccabi1312
I'm not a huge hockey fan; what's wrong with Higgins? (Excluding the Fact that he is a homophobic, dense prick, of course!)

↳↳↳ Eyal @Ilovemypizza 
He is famous for being the most unreliable source of information. It's a running joke at this point; he is so keen on being the first to publish everything that he just publishes utter bullshit.

↳↳↳↳ Brian @YGKhs72Hv
It's true. I remember the trading scare we had about Wagner. Couldn't sleep for like a week until this idiot published that he was being traded to Chicago. That night was the best sleep I ever got.

↳↳↳↳↳ Ellie @MaccabiMaccabi1312
Did Wagner end up trading to Chicago?

↳↳↳↳↳↳ Cale Wagner @CaleWagner ✅
Admiral through and through!

Honestly, if Higgins published an article saying the sky is blue, there is a very real chance I'd go out just to check they aren't red

Jack Kelly @JackTheCowboy
I somehow never thought about the fact that they were together during Shane's collarbone fracture in 2017. Now I can't think about anything besides Ilya Rozanov having to sneak into his boyfriend's hospital room. That night must have been awful.

↳ Cliff Marlow @CliffHockeyMarlow ✅
I heard him crying in his room that night. This is so fucked. Ilya is one of the best people I know, and he deserves better than to be left in the dark about his boyfriend's condition.

↳↳ Jack Kelly @JackTheCowboy
Weren't you the one who hit Hollander?

↳↳ ↳ Cliff Marlow @CliffHockeyMarlow ✅
Let's focus on the big picture here, Jack.

Itay @ItayBenHemo41
The pure audacity to accuse Shane and Ilya of a lack of preparation and caution is absolutely wild. Like, girl who the fuck do you think you are???

Ghost @TheGhostlyMaroon
“And you are so tired of this, of having your heart belong to the ‘wrong person’. So you do what you can, you convince yourself you can be something you are not, and for a moment, you think it worked, that you can be normal." Excuse me I'm going to kill myself.

↳ Ghost @TheGhostlyMaroon
Like, I knew on a subconscious level that he was gay and that his relationship with Rose Landry was a pr stunt, but knowing Shane Hollander actively tried to make himself straight and simply couldn't? My heart is breaking for that man.

↳ Amy @A_M_Y24
We sometimes forget that famous queer people are, at the end of the day, queer people just like us. They went through the same sexuality crises we did, and it fucking sucks that no one in this world is immune from the hetronormative system that tries to force you to be 'normal.'

Roby Mecklin @RobyMeckline ✅
As someone who had the honour to see how in love Shane and Ilya are, thinking about the fact that they spent so much of their time in the shadows is absolutely heartbreaking. They deserve sunlight. Everyone does.

para igudu @para34965
"Your wedding, the happiest day of your life, doesn’t have chairs because she doesn’t want to see your heartbroken expression when you see how many of them would stay empty." @MontrealMetros, did you know you have thirty minutes???

Tony @An_Tony81
When my dad died, my wife flew back home to Lebanon with me. Kept me sane the whole time. I have no idea what I would have done without her.

I'm thinking about how Rozanov had to face his father's death alone. I can't imagine not being able to take Clare with me simply because of who she is. It's a fucking disgrace.

Emma black @TheBlackSisters
Trent Higgins: I’m 36 and AFRAID of Shane Hollander

↳ Katie @KatieWagner
He is only *36*?!?!?!??! Hand over my heart I thought he was 60. 😳 @TrentHigginsReport, what's your skincare routine so I'll know to avoid it?

Scott Hunter @ScottHunterHockey ✅
Accusing two people who were outed of 'lack of preparation and caution' is absolutely ridiculous.

As a very smart lady I know once said, everyone deserves to be loved in the open. Everyone deserves sunshine.

↳ Scott Hunter @ScottHunterHockey ✅
And on a personal note, I would like every single person who ever judged me, Hollander, Rozanov, or any other queer person, to watch Hollander's wonderful answer and then think about whether that life is something they would like to go through.

Dor @DorPeretz10
"You lose the team, the people you have dedicated the past 10 years to. People who had called you when their kids were born suddenly have you blocked, your friends start questioning your integrity, people who used to cheer your name seek you out in order to tell you how you disgust them, how they hope you’ll die for being in love.” Metros fucking run 🏃‍♂️ 

↳ Shane come back @Metro4life4ever
It absolutely broke me to read this. I knew Shane wasn't treated well after the leak, but this is heartbreaking. How fucking stupid do you have to be to push SHANE HOLLANDER out?

↳↳ Shane come back @Metro4life4ever
Never in my life have I been more ashamed to be a metros fan. We need to do better, as an organization and as a fan club.

Shane Hollander’s wife @Hollander242424
"And you are not brave enough to be the reason she’ll never see her mother again." Ok so what if I killed myself?????

↳ Katie @KatieWagner
He is one of the bravest and kindest men I know; hearing him call himself a coward makes me want to burn this whole system down.

Shiri @ShirLiShir
"Then they can close their eyes" Shane Hollander, you are the funniest person on this planet

Emir @EmirShaiti70
Bet you guys 50 bucks that the reporter's nightmares from now on will start with “Do you have a wife, Mr. Higgins?” in the most media-trained voice to ever grace this earth.

It's Hype @WorthTheHype1221
I can't believe Shane opened his mouth like an anaconda and ate that guy alive. RIP Higgins

↳ Ellie @Elinor2973
Fuck RIP, I hope he's tormented by visions of Ilya Rozanov and Shane Hollander sucking face every moment of his pathetic life & death.

Chicago for life @GoChicago4545
When photos from their wedding came out, I had the time of my fucking life making fun of them for having no chairs. Now I feel like a piece of hit & want to hug Shane Hollander. What has become of me?

↳ Chicago for life @GoChicago4545
Fuck you @TrentHigginsReport for forcing me to feel bad for fucking Shane Hollander.

Cliff Marlow @CliffHockeyMarlow ✅
Ilya Rozanov and Shane Hollander are the best couples I know, and it fucking sucks that they had to go through all of this just to have a relationship like the one we all take for granted. As for preparation, for 10 years I believed Roz was texting some girl named Jane, so I think they managed to be cautious, fuck you.

↳ Jack Kelly @JackTheCowboy 
Still broke Shane Hollander's collarbone

↳ ↳ Cliff Marlow @CliffHockeyMarlow ✅
Jack, I have no idea who you are but I am so fucking done with you.

Rena @ReReNaNa
Ending the answer to this fucking disgrace of a question with "As for distractions to the team, I will let the scoreboard speak for itself." Ok, Shane Hollander, I see you diva!

Shayden truther @ShaydenRealTrust
I am choosing to believe all of those things he said were about Hayden and not that Russian asshole 🤷‍♀️

↳ Jackie @JackiePike35
God just be making people

↳ Kai @IronMeen0909
There's no way you were the fastest sperm you stupid imbecile

↳ Ofek Melika @OfekMelik22
What ethnicity are you, I'd like to say something derogatory towards you

↳ Dave @Ottawawawawa
is your brain located in your fucking ass you waste of nut 

Yivgi @YivgiRoshan
Hearing Shane Hollander address Russia's anti gay laws is a breath of fresh air. In a world where 99% of celebrities turn a blind eye to the horrors happening under dictatorship because it's not 'trendy' enough to talk about, having Hollander talk about the very real danger we face in Russia is everything.

Emily @Emem9083
I don't watch hockey, but have any of you seen the interview that one gay hockey player did? Never in my life have I felt more seen.

↳ Amy @A_M_Y24
Babe you know I love you, but for the love of God, it's Shane fucking Hollander you cannot possibly address him as 'that one gay hockey player'. 

Hollanov forever @ShaneIlya2481
Every time I tell myself those gay hockey players can't break my heart any more than they already did, they go around and do it. 

Daniel @DanielPeretz1
I knew dating while in the closet must have been difficult, but I never truly thought about the pain it must have caused them. Christ, 7 years of hiding, this sounds like a nightmare.

↳ Vi @vitzoki
Honestly, the fact that they managed to stay together and love each other through all this crap... I am not one to believe in soulmates, but if they exist, those two are definitely that.

Kai @IronMeen0909
Five people?!?!?!? They could only tell five fucking people when they got engaged?!?!?! I am not into this whole gay shit but even I want to fucking cry; no one deserves to live like this.

↳ Ghost @TheGhostlyMaroon
I'm breaking my head trying to understand who the fifth person is. Pike, Pike's wife, Hollander's parents, who else?

↳↳ Ilya Rozanov Hollander @IlyaRozanov81 ✅
Svetlana.

↳↳↳ Ghost @TheGhostlyMaroon
Ilya Rozanov?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

Ilya was having a very difficult time deciding whether he was more heartbroken, angry or turned on.

By the time he saw his husband's pissed-off face, he settled on heartbroken.

They talked a lot about the consequences of being outed and closeted. They talked a lot about how hard hiding was on Ilya, and how much happier they were now that they could love each other out in the open.

But until Ilya saw his husband compare their relationship to that of a straight couple, he hadn't realized how much of a toll all those years had taken from Shane as well.

How could he just brush it off? Focus on his own despair and misery, and ignore the pain Shane was going through, the heartbreak he must have felt as he forced himself to deny them the chance to come out, out of fear for Ilya.

Knowing his husband felt like he was the reason Ilya would never see his mama again was like getting slapped in the face. Realizing that during all of their arguments about coming out, Shane was fearing for Ilya's safety, it was like someone sat on Ilya's core on fire. And hearing his smart, kind, beautiful and loving husband call himself a coward... Ilya wanted to reach into his chest and crush his heart, certain it would hurt less.

Said husband was standing at the locker room entrance, not looking anybody in the eye. Ilya was already showered and ready to go, and the rest of the team were smart enough to give them some space.

While Ilya tried to decide between saying "you fucking showed him" and "That was so fucking hot", Shane lifted his gaze to look at Ilya, who was horrified to see tears shining in his eyes.

At the end of the day, the only thing he managed to say as his arms wrapped around the light of his life was "You are not a coward."

"I was," Shane buried his face further into Ilya's neck. "I know I was. I'm so-"

"No," Ilya tightened his hold, his left hand rising to cradle the back of Shane's head. "You are brave. And strong. And you are, without a single doubt, the best thing that ever happened to me. I know the road here was not easy, I know it hurt, but I wouldn't change a fucking thing about it."

"No?" Shane whispered as his hand rose to wipe a tear that managed to break free.

"No. Because it led me to you, to this, to heaven on earth. I-" Ilya took a breath to calm himself. "I'm sorry I didn't make it more clear."

"Ilyus-"

"No, моя жизнь, I need to say this. I'm sorry I acted like I was the only one hurt by this. I'm sorry I made you feel like you were somehow at fault for the shitty situation we were in, I'm sorry people think they have a right to ask you things like that and most of all, I'm sorry I didn't make it clear that it was all worth it a thousand times over for one moment with you."

"Simp," Shane sniffed as he carefully removed himself from Ilya and went to grab his bag.

"Who the fuck taught you this?" Ilya frowned.

"Haas, he said that you are a simp for me."

"Slander," He mumbled and threw his arm around his lovely husband. "Ready to go?"

"We got a show to watch."

"I really think today is the day, Shantchok."

"You say that every fucking time-"

"I mean it now! I can feel it in the air."

"You two talking about 911 again?" Troy rolled his eyes as he passed them to make his way outside. "Does this mean we have to listen to Cap talk about the cruelty of queerbaiting again?"

"Probably," Shane grinned.

"Fuck my life," Bood groaned, making his way out as well. "Great press answer today Holly, almost made Haasy fucking cry."

"Did not!" Luca protested while tying his shoe.

"It's ok, Haas will cry plenty tomorrow during training," Ilya smirked, grabbing his gym bag.

"What? Why?" The not-rookie seemed offended.

"You tell my husband I am a simp, Luca? Is this how you treat your captain?"

"Oh my god," Luca acclimated to the colour of a tomato and buried his head in his arms.

"You totally are, tho," Evan shouted over his shoulder.

"Yeah, yeah," Ilya grumbled as he dragged Shane out with him. "You'd all be simps for an ass like that."

Ottawa Centaurs @OttawaCentaursOfficial ✅
Ottawa Centaurs believe in respectful debate and honest answers.

Today, however, one of our players was asked a completely inappropriate question, and answered it to the best of his abilities after being pressured. We stand beside him and remind everyone that just because they are famous does not mean hockey players don't have a right to privacy.

Ilya Rozanov Hollander @IlyaRozanov81 ✅
Thank you, everyone. The road here was not easy, as my husband explained today, but it was the only way we thought we'd ever be together.

We were wrong, and despite some assholes who will not be named here, the response was overwhelmingly good. After all of these years of hiding, I will kiss my husband where and when I fucking want, and if you have a problem with it, you can always move to the KHL.

↳ Ilya Rozanov Hollander @IlyaRozanov81 ✅
Shane also asked me to say thank you for everyone. He will be offline for the next few days (not that he ever uses Twitter for anything interesting anyway), but I told him about the kind words you guys are saying, and it made him happy.

Shayden truther @BellaShayden4ever
Ok I'll say what you are all too afraid to say: A lot of those things could be relevant to Shayden too!

↳ Tom @Tomaseddison
For the love of god Bella, it's been a long fucking day

↳ Ilya Rozanov Hollander @IlyaRozanov81 ✅
I did not learn English for this.

Oliver Stark @OliverStark ✅
Like many of you, I watched the interview NHL player Shane Hollander gave last night. I wanted to say to all our queer fans, you are seen, you are loved, and you deserve to live in the sunlight. 

↳ Ilya Rozanov Hollander @IlyaRozanov81 ✅
Please answer my DM I have important question to ask you.

Chapter End Notes

моя жизнь- my life

Ilya's reaction will probably be edited soon because I felt like it was too short, but also I felt like if I didn't post this soon I might explode.

Thank you for all your lovely comments, I fucking love you all you beautiful human beings.

Happy Pride Month motherfuckers!

psa. I completley agree that one of Shane's main struggles around coming out is the fact that he feels like he has to represent his race & has been pressured to be a role model all his life. I didn't add it because it felt out of charcter to me to have Shane say that to the press, I didn't forget about it!