Rating:

Teen And Up Audiences

Archive Warning:

Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings

Categories:

Gen, M/M

Fandoms:

Heated Rivalry (TV), Game Changers Series - Rachel Reid, Game Changers | Heated Rivalry - All Media Types, Yuri!!! on Ice (Anime)

Relationships:

Shane Hollander/Ilya Rozanov, Shane Hollander & Montreal Voyageurs | Montreal Metros Team Ensemble, Katsuki Yuuri/Victor Nikiforov, Otabek Altin/Yuri Plisetsky, Shane Hollander & Rose Landry, Jean-Jacques Boiziau | J. J. Dagenais & Shane Hollander & Hayden Pike, Shane Hollander & Ottawa Centaurs Team Ensemble & Ilya Rozanov

Characters:

Shane Hollander, Ilya Rozanov, Yuri Plisetsky, Katsuki Yuuri, Victor Nikiforov, Rose Landry, Hayden Pike, Jean-Jacques Boiziau | J. J. Dagenais, Montreal Voyageurs | Montreal Metros Team Ensemble (Game Changers), Yuna Hollander, David Hollander, Svetlana Vetrova, Theriault (Game Changers), Jackie Pike, Ottawa Centaurs Team Ensemble (Game Changers), Wyatt Hayes, Ryan Price, Zane Boodram, Evan Dykstra, Nick Chouinard, Lundin (Game Changers), Baldwin (Game Changers), Duncan Harvey, Gillis (Game Changers), Harris Drover, Brandon Wiebe, Roger Crowell, Alexei Rozanov's Daughter, Luca Haas, Holmberg (Game Changers), LaPointe (Game Changers), Young (Game Changers), Troy Barrett, Gritty | Philadelphia Flyers Mascot

Additional Tags:

Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Crack Treated Seriously, Texting, Fluff, Crack, Angst, Shane Hollander Loves Ilya Rozanov, Ilya Rozanov Loves Shane Hollander, Team Bonding, Epistolary, Emails, Time Skips, Social Media, Twitter, Implied Sexual Content, Implied/Referenced Homophobia, Weddings, Married Shane Hollander/Ilya Rozanov, Homophobia, Racism, Mixed Media, Quebec Nordiques NHL Team, Shane Hollander Leaves the Montreal Voyageurs | Montreal Metros, Suicide Attempt, Implied/Referenced Drug Addiction, Stanley Cup Playoffs, Stanley Cup, Expansion Draft, Fuck AI, no AI was used in the creation of this fic

Language:

English

Series:

Part 4 of crackin' open a cold one, Part 2 of in all but name

Collections:

Subscriptions:Tracking, Read & Loved Heated Rivalry Fics, Read & Loved Media Fics, depressed rat’s finished works

Stats:

Published: 2026-04-12 Completed: 2026-04-25 Words: 60,000 Chapters: 14/14

domoy

Summary

June 2016

Shane hefts the Stanley Cup over his head for a second time, a numb joy settling over him.

The partners and families of the Voyageurs flood down to the ice in a rush. His parents have come down, visibly proud.

And yet this year, it somehow feels a little worse, because Ilya wasn't next to them, cheering in a HOLLANDER jersey.

After coming out as friends and revealing the figure skating rivalry in their families, Shane and Ilya must face the challenges of the coming years, while Yuuri and Yuri face dilemmas of their own...

In which I ask the question: What if Shane and Ilya went to the Quebec Nordiques?

A direct sequel to brátishka, featuring social media, texting, emails, and a whole lot of canon divergence.

Extras start in Chapter 14!

Notes

Much like brátishka means little brother, domoy means home in an adverbial sense, as in going homeward, or homeward bound.

Chapter 1: 2015-2016

Chapter Summary

Big changes are on the horizon for the 2015-2016 season...

Chapter Notes

August 2015

Shane walks towards Coach Theriault’s office for a meeting just before the start of training camp. It should be a routine meeting; the captain and coach setting targets and identifying goals for the coming year. Shane already has a list based on roster changes and management decisions from over the summer.

He wants another Cup.

More than that, he’s feeling actually relaxed coming into it. Relative to how he normally is, at least. The team has been super happy since the Cup win.

Hayden and Jackie just had their third kid. Gil got married to his fianceé Val. Andy moved into a new house. Mitty got a new girlfriend. J.J. has been partying it up. Lots of happy milestones.

And of course, Shane proposed to Ilya. Not that he’s telling anyone about it just yet, but still.

It’s been a good summer. Everyone is excited. The team group chat has never been this lively.

He wasn’t sure it was going to be okay, back at the start of the playoffs in March when they looked at him like his head was on backwards for being friends with Ilya.

Rozanov.

Captain of the Boston Bears.

The Russian Menace.

Russia’s Greatest Rage Machine. Alternatively, Russia’s Greatest Fuck Machine.

It didn’t get better until they played Boston in the Conference Finals and all of them watched his every movement, trying to see if he would trip up.

He didn’t. Better yet, he swapped jerseys with Ilya on the ice, and then let them see Ilya in the crowd, cheering for him as they won the Stanley Cup.

God, he can still barely believe it.

But as soon as the bet was made clear, that Shane being friends with Ilya meant that they would occasionally see the menace made into a man, they relented. For the most part. Hayden is still mad about the mouse thing.

Shane hopes he can convince them it hasn’t changed him. He’s trying to do better. Trying to be more engaged with them. Make sure that they can’t accuse him of preferring to spend time with Ilya, even if he does prefer it.

He wants his team to trust him.

So Shane walks into the meeting with a list of notes and goals in mind. He has his phone in the pocket of his jacket, recording the meeting so he can listen back and take notes on anything he might have missed later.

“Hollander,” Coach Theriault says as he walks into the office. “Take a seat.”

“Coach Theriault,” he returns, sitting straight and looking at the spot right between his eyebrows.

“Thank you for coming in. Glad to see that you’re committed.”

“I’m glad to be here, Coach.” Shane opens his notebook to one of the earlier pages from his summer tape reviews. “I had some thoughts–”

“This meeting isn’t about that, Hollander,” Theriault interrupts, his voice having a harsher edge, the one it takes on during hard practices and after lost games.

“Oh,” Shane says softly, closing his notebook.

Theriault closes his eyes and takes a deep inhale through his nose. “I appreciate the work you’ve put in,” he grits out. “Don’t get me wrong. I know you are the high caliber player that helped lead this team to a Cup. But I need to know that you can be professional.”

That’s a surprise, given that Shane is generally nothing but professional in front of Theriault.

“I’m not sure I’m understanding your point here, Coach,” Shane says slowly.

Theriault waves his hand impatiently. “This whole thing with Rozanov.”

Logically, Shane knows this has to be about him and Ilya being friends. It has to be that. They’ve been so careful about everything else.

It has to be that.

Theriault continues, “The owners and league higher-ups are getting concerned about what it means for the brand if you continue to associate with him. You’re the face of the Voyageurs, Hollander, like it or not.” From the way he says not, Shane is starting to feel like Theriault doesn’t like that fact. 

“Oh.” Shane tries not to fidget. “I discussed the details with the media team last season—”

“Damn it, don’t you think I know that, Hollander? This is about the integrity of the game. We need to know that you aren’t sharing confidential team information or risking our chances in any way. They're in talks about expansion as we speak. You handing over strategy to Boston would blow that out of the water.”

Shane's first thought is, Expansion?

His second thought is, Risking our chances?

“I would never,” Shane says adamantly. 

“We’ll need to evaluate that,” Theriault says with a sneer. “Any email correspondence with Rozanov needs to be shared with the media team, immediately. We’ve already done a tape review of games you’ve played in against Boston. It doesn’t look like there was any tampering, but we need to be sure.”

They think Shane is cheating.

They think Shane is cheating. 

“Coach, I can assure you that I have never shared information about the team with Rozanov. Frankly, I don’t think he could recognize the names of half the roster. I can show you proof.”

“Good. Have it sent in by the end of the week.” Theriault sits back in his chair, looking a little less tense, since Shane is going with what he’s saying and not talking back. “The other thing, Hollander, is that the team has gotten rowdy, and I need you to get a handle on it.”

Rowdy?

The season hasn’t even started. When would they have gotten rowdy? The Cup parade was months ago. No one's had any scandals over the summer, surprisingly. It’s been an ongoing celebration, but nothing out of the blue.

“I haven’t noted any changes, coach,” Shane says, trying to keep his voice level.

Theriault snorts. “Of course, you wouldn’t notice any changes. You’re half the reason for it, Hollander.”

Shane controls his breathing. “I have been playing and training as I always have, Coach.”

He waves his hand again, dismissively. “I’m not concerned about that. I know you’re competent enough, Hollander. This is about being professional. The little rituals, Hollander. The high fives. The jersey swapping. Dancing around each other on the ice during fights. The social media. It makes us look unprofessional.”

As far as Shane knows, these are all things that literally every other team does regularly and gets no flack for. So either there’s something Shane’s missed, or Theriault has a different reason for trying to get Shane to stop the Voyageurs from doing them.

“We discussed a need for team synergy leading into the playoffs,” Shane says carefully. “Increases in camaraderie correlate to better performance.” He’s not lying. He could pull up the statistics if he has a minute.

“Team synergy on the ice, Hollander, not this fiddle faddle about making nice, especially with other teams. It makes us look soft and weak. You’re the captain, Hollander. You need to lock it down. Keep it off the ice. You should know better.”

So it is about Shane. 

It’s about Shane doing it. It's about Shane having friends.

It's about Shane being anything more than the hockey he plays.

It’s about punishing Shane by punishing the team, because nothing he’s done is illegal, nor out of the ordinary. 

It's just not shutting up and playing.

Making Shane tell them makes Shane the bad guy. The no-nonsense, boring captain who takes all the fun off the ice. Cutting him back down to size when he was just bridging the gap.

“I will discuss it with the team,” Shane says woodenly, “and tell them to cut down on it.” Not that he thinks they'll listen.

Frankly, Shane barely understands where Theriault is coming from right now. They can play a fast and aggressive game without actively hating the other players. It's transparently clear that this isn't about how they're playing.

“Good.” Theriault says. “I don’t want any of that faggotry in my locker room. I need a team that is a well-oiled machine. Am I clear?”

I don’t want any of that faggotry in my locker room.

That faggotry in my locker room.

Faggotry.

Fuck.

It's fine. It's fine. It has to be fine.

Because if it's not, then this really isn't about having friends on other teams.

“Yes, we’re clear,” Shane says, his heart pounding heavily in his chest. He keeps his hands as still as he can as he reopens his notebook. “Would you still like for me to review what I put together for today.”

Theriault gestures lazily, as if to say go ahead. 

Shane takes a deep breath and starts to speak.

He doesn't turn the recording off until he steps out of the office.

September 2015

The Voyageurs are acting weird.

Ilya skates up to the red line, scanning for Shane. All of the Voyageurs are clustered as they do their warm up stretches. Very quietly, too.

“Hollander!” He shouts, and the volume of the crowd in TD Garden gets louder.

Shane looks up quickly, before turning his head back down like he just got caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

These English idioms are so silly. Ilya loves whenever Shane has a new one for him.

He watches as Pike slaps Shane on the back and says something in a low voice. Shane gets up from his knees slowly and skates over to meet Ilya, but it seems a little reluctant.

What happened? Ilya wants to ask. I thought we were friends in public now. That is why we did it.

Are you regretting it?

But he doesn’t ask that. Instead, he cocks a finger gun at Shane and says, “I have a surprise for you, Hollander.”

“What surprise, Rozanov?”

Ilya just grins, running his tongue over his teeth and wiggling his eyebrows.

“What surprise, Rozanov.”

“It would not be surprise If I tell you now,” Ilya explains, very reasonably.

Shane gives him a look, the one that always means we’ll talk about this later.

God, Ilya loves him. He feels the weight of the ring strung on his chain, next to his mama’s cross.

“Well, if that’s all you have to tell me, I’m going back to warm ups.”

“Have fun losing, Hollander!” Ilya calls out as Shane turns his back and starts to skate away.

“No way,” he gets in return.

Midway through the first period, Ilya scores off of a breakaway.

Surprise time.

Ilya motions for the Bears to give him space as Rasputin starts playing over the speakers.

He only has time for a few seconds of it, but nonetheless, he launches into his figure skating routine on his way to the bench.

He makes eye contact with Shane as he claps his hands and revels in the suppressed rage. But unfortunately, Shane just stays where he is, contained and controlled.

Shame.

Ilya can’t wait for when Shane gets back to his house tonight.

“Did you like your surprise?” Ilya asks as he opens the door to let Shane in.

He doesn’t get an answer to his question for a little bit because they both get distracted by kissing.

When Shane finally pulls away from him, his face scrunches up into adorable outrage. “You violated our bet! Yuuri won at Worlds!”

“But солнышко,” [Sunshine] Ilya wheedles, dragging the pet name out, “it was so funny! And I know you like it when I dance for you. Like one of those tropical birds.”

“A bird-of-paradise?” Shane says as Ilya pulls him back in to start kissing his neck. “Fine. I guess I can forgive it.”

“More importantly, why was your team acting so dull tonight? Not boring like usual, but dull,” Ilya asks, a little bit curious but more trying to poke at Shane’s buttons a little bit.

Shane makes a face. “Probably shouldn’t be telling you this,” he mutters before steadying himself. “Coach doesn’t want us getting too excited. No cellys, no dancing.” He looks a little downtrodden. “Met with me before training camp to tell me to get the guys to cut it out.”

“That is ridiculous,” Ilya says, mouth wrapping around the words. “Is completely normal. Your team does not do much anyway.”

Why didn't you tell me sooner?

Shane scoffs. “Apparently, me swapping jerseys with you got on the owner’s nerves. So the new rule is that we’re cutting all of that out.”

Ilya feels his hackles rise. “Are they blaming you?”

“No,” Shane says, his gaze dropping to the floor. “Hayden and JJ found out first and helped me with a game plan. The guys are annoyed, but not at me.”

“That is good at least,” Ilya says. Then he thinks for a moment. “Will they punish you for something I did around you?”

“Not right now,” Shane hedges. “As long as I don’t react or engage with it.” Ilya files that thought away for later as he continues, “Come on. I don’t want to think about it anymore.” His hand starts sliding up Ilya’s back.

That Ilya can do.

Boston Bears @bostonbears

Ro-Ro-Rozanov! Dancing our way to a home win in the preseason against Montreal!

[Image: Graphic reading Final Score: BOS 3 MTL 2]

[Video: Ilya Rozanov performing his Rasputin goal celebration.]

Jake @bearsftw

brooo when they cycled the camera over to hollander after roz’s celly i was ctfu

boo habs @habsux

legit like

Roz:🕺

Hollander:🧍‍♂️

 

boo habs @habsux

hollander is boring as fuck. rozanov is the best player and an entertainer while he's at it.

 

ellie @hollfander

he is not! my boy is locked in on the game

 

ellie @hollfander

ngl the voyageurs have been more subdued lately. 

 

ellie @hollfander

not what i was expecting after a Cup win but here we are

 

ellie @hollfander

at least he's still leading us to wins though!

Hockey Analyst @hockeyanalyst

The Centre Vidéotron is officially open! Quebec City has their new arena, built with hockey in mind as a Canadian pastime.

Hockey Analyst @hockeyanalyst

CEO Pierre Karl Péladeau, after losing out on his bid on the Montreal Voyageurs, has mentioned renewed interest in a Quebecois franchise.

 

Hockey Analyst @hockeyanalyst

MLH leadership will be meeting soon to discuss the approval of potential expansions and conference reorganization.

October 2015

Having Yuna Hollander as a manager can be terrifying once you think about it a little bit.

Ilya’s old manager, Artyom, was always very dedicated to the idea that Ilya would be going back to Russia to play in the KHL. That his time in Boston was a blip. An artifact of being selected by Grigori Rozanov, but Ilya didn’t really have many other options.

So his endorsement options were limited. Nothing that could offend, back in Russia. Artyom taking a hefty chunk of a percentage out of the payment. 

Ilya has gotten used to it, is the thing. His money, parceled out as carefully as he could before Grigori and Alexei got their hands on it. Some squirreled away for Dedushka and Yuri, some kept for cars and parties and drinking and whatever Ilya could blow it on to keep money near him, and the rest going to Moscow.

So when he looks at the renegotiated contract for his Adidas sponsorship that Yuna lays out for him, he boggles a little bit. First at the total amount. Then at the tiny fraction she gets for negotiating the deal.

“Yuna,” he says, “Why is your percentage so low?”

She looks at him with a furrowed brow. “That’s standard, Ilya. I get paid according to our contract already. I don’t need to be taking out of all of your deals. It’s the same deal I have with Shane.”

“Oh,” he says, a little shocked. 

“Was your last manager doing that?” she asks. “If you give me his name, I can see what we can do about the rest of your existing deals to fix that.”

“No, no,” he rushes to stop her as she pulls her phone out. “Is fine. I was just surprised. Is more than I used to get.”

“Well, I wasn’t going to let them take advantage of you,” she says firmly. “I have most of your shoots scheduled for the summer, but they want at least one for promos in Boston within the next few months. I’ll be here to coordinate once we set a date that won’t conflict with your schedule.”

“Stay with me,” Ilya says immediately. “Don’t get a hotel. I have room.”

She softens a little bit. “You sure, sweetie? I just don’t want to get in your way.”

“You will not. My house is plenty big.”

“Alright.”

True to her word, they shoot towards the end of the month. Lots of shots of him running through Boston in Adidas gear, alternating with a few clips of him playing. Very simple.

He wears the shoes and the shirts and the sweatpants like he’s contractually obligated to do. 

It’s all fine and dandy.

You can tell he’s getting his idioms from Shane.

It gets a little more chaotic when Svetlana gets involved.

Svetlana Vetrova @svetrovas 

#tbt Ilya @rozanov81 has always had brand loyalty @adidas ))))

[A grainy picture of a younger Ilya Rozanov wearing a black Adidas tracksuit and slides, the jacket unzipped to reveal he has no shirt on underneath, his necklace dangling forward off of his chest. He is Slav squatting, while holding a handle of Beluga in one hand and a cigarette in the other. He is glaring down the camera in a way that makes his eyes catch the light.]

Yuri Plisetsky @y-plisetsky ☑️

🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮 sveta what the hell is this. why are you doing this to me. he looks like a thug.

 

Svetlana Vetrova @svetrovas 

don't get cocky little tiger

[Image: Yuri Plisetsky tucked under Ilya Rozanov's arm like a football, legs blurred in the image as he tries to kick himself free. Both are dressed in Adidas tracksuits. Yuri's teeth are bared as though he is attempting to bite. Ilya has a long-suffering expression on his face.]

 

Yuri Plisetsky @y-plisetsky ☑️

WHERE DID YOU GET THAT

 

Mila Babicheva @babamila

)))))

 

Ilya Rozanov @rozanov81 ☑️

Are you embarrassed of me тигрёнок [tiger cub] (((((

 

Yuri Plisetsky @y-plisetsky ☑️

YES

 

Ilya Rozanov @rozanov81 ☑️

🥺

 

Yuri Plisetsky @y-plisetsky ☑️

YOU ARE A GROWN MAN. ACT LIKE IT.

 

Ilya Rozanov @rozanov81 ☑️

🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺

 

Milly <3 @ilyaaaaas

somehow the most and the least russian i've ever seen this man act

 

Violet @sk4tingf4n

you can tell that they're brothers oh my god. he looks JUST like Yuri does now

 

selena @rozanovae

i don't think yuri will ever have that kind of mass though

 

selena @rozanovae

like this is them

 

Milly <3 @ilyaaaaas

SELENA I'M DYING LMFAO

March 2016

Viktor Nikiforov @v-nikiforov ☑️

After this final season, I am happy to announce my full transition into coaching for the wonderful @y-katsuki in his hometown of Hasetsu. 

[Image: Viktor Nikiforov on the podium at the 2016 World Figure Skating Championships, next to Yuri Plisetsky and Katsuki Yuuri. Plisetsky is on the right, wearing bronze, while Katsuki is in the center, wearing gold. Nikiforov's silver medal shines the same color as his hair. Plisetsky looks like he sucked on a lemon as he looks at Nikiforov kissing Katsuki's gold medal.]

Katsuki Yuuri @y-katsuki ☑️

You will never cease to surprise me, @v-nikiforov.

 

Viktor Nikiforov @v-nikiforov ☑️

❤️⛸️❤️

 

Yuri Plisetsky @y-plisetsky ☑️

Have a good retirement, old man. 

 

Viktor Nikiforov @v-nikiforov ☑️

You are so sweet, Yurio.

June 2016

Shane hefts the Stanley Cup over his head for a second time, a numb joy settling over him.

The partners and families of the Voyageurs flood down to the ice in a rush. His parents have come down, visibly proud.

And yet this year, it somehow feels a little worse, because Ilya wasn't next to them, cheering in a HOLLANDER jersey.

Instead, Shane's fiancé sits far up the bowl, anonymous in black.

Shane scans and finds him on his feet and cheering, but so, so far away.

If there's anything this year has illustrated, they can't come out. Not when Shane has spent an entire year shepherding a team that is quiet inside the rink and loud outside because he dared to buck the prescribed narrative the tiniest bit. 

It's more effort than it's worth, honestly. Shane hopes Theriault will get his head out of his ass, but it's looking less and less likely by the day.

Hockey Analyst @hockeyanalyst

An incredibly eventful year for the MLH as the Montreal Voyageurs take the Stanley Cup once more. The start of a dynasty.

Hockey Analyst @hockeyanalyst

With new controversies surrounding the creation of a team in Las Vegas, MLH leadership has opted to name the newest expansion elsewhere.

 

Hockey Analyst @hockeyanalyst

Namely, to Quebec, with Pierre Karl Péladeau leading the new ownership of the reinstated Quebec Nordiques.

 

Hockey Analyst @hockeyanalyst

Word on the street is that the expansion draft will open at the end of the 2016-2017; as their closest neighbor, Montreal has a lot to prove.

 

Hockey Analyst @hockeyanalyst

This decision has also led to a partial conference reorganization starting in the 2017-2018 season, with the Utah Sabertooths moving to the Pacific Division,

 

Hockey Analyst @hockeyanalyst

And the Columbus Soldiers moving from the East to the West, joining the Central Division.

 

Hockey Analyst @hockeyanalyst

This leaves the reinstated Nordiques to join the Metropolitan Division.

 

Hockey Analyst @hockeyanalyst

This brings the total number of teams in the MLH up to 31, with one remaining slot in the Pacific Division.

 

Hockey Analyst @hockeyanalyst

Time will tell if Vegas will have another chance at raising an MLH team, or if another West Coast city will beat them to it.

Chapter End Notes

It's the start of the sequel! I hope you liked it! Feel free to tell me what you think.

Quick Notes:

- Shoutout to @lateghost for the post that inspired the way this sequel developed and for so graciously chatting with me about this fic! You can read their fics on ao3 here: newghost
- What Theriault is doing is an extreme escalation on something Michel Therrien (the inspo for Theriault) actually did.
- Is this technically Voyageurs redemption? Yes, but also no. They still don't know Shane is gay. But they've accepted Ilya as his friend. And they've closed ranks with Shane as their captain, especially as he tries harder to connect with them.
- The opening of the Centre Vidéotron is time accurate, as is the CEO. Yes this is the same guy who ran the Parti Quebecois. Yes he wants Quebec to be its own sovereign state. He is going to be a functional OC because I will not be dealing with all of that.
- What's the controversy around Vegas? I don't know.
- After speedrunning Hollanov's relationship timeline, I decided to give them more hockey problems )))))

Chapter 2: Summer 2016 - Fall 2016

Chapter Summary

Deuxmoi @deuxmoi

Deep dive into the Hollander-Rozanov friendship? Emails from top MLH players LEAKED:

[Link: Deuxmoi - Hollander-Rozanov email leak]

Chapter Notes

July 2016

Hasetsu in July is just about the muggiest place on Earth. Shane squints at the sky and the slow encroachment of clouds as the sun continues to sink towards the horizon.

Don’t get him wrong. The beach town is a beautiful place for a wedding. So is Yu-Topia Katsuki.

But doing it outside on the beach? Shane really hopes the imminent rain won’t interrupt.

Technically it’s an commitment ceremony, because Viktor and Yuuri can’t legally get married in Japan or Russia. Not that that’s stopped them from wearing their rings openly.

Shane shifts in his seat as sweat drops down his back, the legs of the chair sliding on the slick sand. Ilya catches the back of his chair with a hand, steadying it.

Yuuri sits next to his parents and sister in his kuro montsuki, the Katsuki family’s crests lovingly sewn in. He has eyes for no one but Viktor, sitting across the table from him.

Viktor sits next to Yakov and Lilia. Viktor looks radiant, wearing a white Shiromuku with the longest sleeves Shane has ever seen. Yakov alternates between tearing up and looking like he’s trying to go bald faster. Lilia looks impeccable and composed on Viktor’s other side.

They trade gifts and sip sake and hold hands while they read letters and trade vows.

“Viktor. I have adored you since the first time I saw you,” Yuuri says, almost preternaturally calm. “You have always inspired me, and made me want to be a better man. I promised you gold once in the hopes that you would kiss it.” He lifts up Viktor’s hand and places a kiss on his ring.

Shane grasps Ilya’s hand, fingers tracing over the ring on his right ring finger. 

This is the first time he’s wearing his own ring in public, on his left, so that when he and Ilya hold hands he can feel them clicking together.

“You are the first thing I think of in the morning, and the last when I go to sleep. I never want to stop finding ways to surprise you, my love.”

“How is he this calm?” Ilya whispers into Shane’s ear.

“We pre-gamed with sake,” Shane whispers back. He taps Ilya’s foot with his under the table and squeezes his hand. “And a little bit of champagne.” He can feel Ilya stifling his laughter.

Yuri looks over from Ilya’s other side and glares. Both Shane and Ilya still, but keep holding hands.

“Yuuri. You are the one who brought color back into my life. You inspire me beyond measure. It is the gift of my lifetime to skate with you, to live with you, to share my love with you.” Viktor has tears in his eyes, trembling gently at his waterline. “There is nothing I want more than to be yours. I never want to stop finding ways to surprise you, my love.”

Everyone cheers as they lean over the table and kiss.

The main course is katsudon, to no one’s surprise. Shane steals a little bit of rice out of Ilya’s bowl just for the fun of it. His own food is good, of course. There’s a reason he eats a lot of traditional Japanese food at home.

Viktor and Yuuri didn’t invite many people to their Yui-Nou. Just family and their closest friends. So Shane and his parents came. Phichit is here, taking an insane number of photos on a brand new camera. Yuri, Georgi, and Mila are all here. Chris Giacometti and Otabek Altin are here. The Nishigoris and Minako-san are here. Svetlana is here.

Shane still isn’t quite sure if Ilya was invited as his plus one or Yuri’s, or if he was invited independently.

When they actually get married, Shane just knows it’s going to be insanity. Hundreds of people. Every decoration imaginable. Maybe they’ll get married on the ice and bring back their pairs routine. Multiple days worth of celebrations.

Something in Shane almost recoils at the thought of getting married like that, with the world watching.

It’s been harder to stop hiding, lately. Especially when their friendship has had such a mixed reception.

Shane tries to put the thought from his mind. This is not the time for it.

When he looks up from where he’s been absently staring into the wood grain of the floor, Ilya has disappeared over to the dance floor, which is just another banquet room that they cleared out. But instead of watching the dance competition that has rapidly started taking over the room, he’s standing by the DJ.

Otabek.

To his credit, Otabek is remarkably composed. He keeps his transitions clean even while Ilya has started leaning over and speaking in a low tone of voice.

Shane stands up and starts making his way across the dance floor. Right now, Svetlana is showing a delighted Mila how to throw it back, while Yuuri and Viktor sway in tandem, and Christophe is about two seconds away from licking the floor. Toshiya-oji and Hiroko-oba are getting a little too into it with Minako-san.

Yuri has just taken a devastating turn against Georgi, who looks like he might start crying.

Bingo.

Shane walks over and starts pulling Yuri by the arm.

“UNHAND ME—Oh, Shane. Where are you taking me?”

“Ilya is interrogating Otabek. I thought you might like to be present.”

“WHAT?” Yuri yells. “Why is he—oh god—what the fuck is he doing?!”

“I don’t know, Yuri. Is there any reason he might want to interrogate Otabek?”

“I told him—”

“Yuri.” Shane’s deadpan tone makes Yuri go relatively still, even as they’re making their way around the crowd. “Is there a reason.”

Yuri is quiet under the thumping bass. “We might have…kissed a little bit.”

Shane takes a second to process that. “Did you tell Ilya that?”

“No, I didn’t tell him, are you crazy?” Yuri says emphatically. “He’s too perceptive. I said Otabek helped me in Barcelona and that his motorcycle is cool and he got that look in his eye.” Yuri drags a hand down his face. “Ugh, I told him not to embarrass me.”

“That’s what brothers do, I think,” Shane, an only child, says. “More importantly, are you safe? Are you being careful?”

“I am,” Yuri says. “We are. We’ve been friends since before I was in Seniors. Everyone thinks we’re just friends.”

“Does your Dedushka know?” 

“I told him when I went to Rostelecom,” Yuri says in a low voice, a sharp contrast to his usual aggressive tone.

If Nikolai is aware, that can only mean one thing.

Yuri is actually getting serious about Otabek.

“Well, he seems like a good guy,” Shane says. “As long as you’re being careful, I’m sure Ilya will be fine.”

“Ilya will be fine? Ilya can invent arguments out of thin air.”

“You’re not the one getting married to him,” Shane jokes. This is perhaps the only place in the world and moment in time where it is safe to say this, where everyone knows of their closeness.

“MARRIED!” Yuri yells, finally loud enough to catch everyone’s attention. “GETTING MARRIED?!?!? YOU ARE ENGAGED?! WHEN WERE YOU GOING TO TELL ME?!?”

“Well we were planning on telling you while we are here.” Shane walks over to Ilya, who’s finally stopped leaning over Otabek, and pulls him into a quick kiss, intertwining their hands to show their matching rings.

The room collectively turns from Yuri to watch Shane and Ilya.

Viktor lets out a high-pitched noise, his hands clapped over his mouth.

Yuuri says, “Congratulations!” with a slight drunken slur, while he shoves a hand over Phichit’s camera.

Shane detaches from Ilya, letting their hands drop to the side. “Sorry, we were planning on telling you all after the party.”

Svetlana practically dives forward out of the crowd as the music starts up again, snatching their hands and inspecting their rings. “Hm. Reasonable. You could have gone for bigger diamonds, Hollander.”

“I didn’t want them to scratch his cross when he wears it on his chain,” Shane says truthfully. 

She makes a considering noise as she pulls Ilya’s hand closer to her face in order to inspect it. “This ring is not new. You did not just propose.”

“It’s been a little while,” Shane says.

“How long?”

“Since last summer technically, but we discussed it the year before,” Ilya says. “We were waiting on telling people until we could guarantee no leaks.” He glares out at the crowd.

“Don’t worry!” Phichit says, holding up his camera. “No one’s posting from this one. I’m waiting until they get married. I can delete the ones with you if you need to.”

“Keep them,” Shane blurts out impulsively. “ Just don’t post them.”

He’s tired of hiding this around the people who love them.

“Last summer?” Yuuri asks as he approaches, Viktor by his side.

“Cup day,” Shane says. “I couldn’t wait. And I didn't want to tell you over the phone.”

Yuuri laughs a little bit. “I can’t say I was better in Barcelona.”

“I’m sure it was very romantic,” Viktor says.

“It was,” Ilya says with a slight leer. “We spent the day enjoying each other before he got down on one knee. And then two knees.”

“ILYA!” Shane whacks him a little bit, and Ilya just laughs.

"It's legal in Canada," Yuuri says. "Are you planning on getting married soon? You've already been engaged for a year."

Now, Shane hesitates. "We're waiting on his PR card, at least."

"Oh." The unspoken threat of Russia hangs in the air.

"We knew it would be a long engagement. But it's better to be fiancés for all that time than just boyfriends."

Yuuri nods sagely. "You had to lock him down."

"Yeah," Shane says, as Ilya starts to protest.

"No, there was no locking down. Only us committing. I will not lock Shane in a cage." He sounds alarmingly sincere.

"Of course, baby," Shane says, leaning into Ilya's side. "ты мой, я твой." [You're mine, I'm yours.]

Ilya smiles against his lips as they kiss. A whoop goes up from the crowd as Yuuri kisses Viktor and shouts, "We're husbands now!"

"You had better not be planning on eloping," Yuna says as she sidles up next to them. 

"We're enjoying being engaged, Mom. I promise I'll tell you when we plan on getting married." Shane is lying, just a little bit. He probably will tell her when they plan on getting married. 

He just doesn't know how long it will be until that day comes.

"You will not be getting married without me there," Yuri snarls at Ilya. "Or Dedushka."

"Of course, brátishka. I wouldn't dream of it." Ilya holds up his hands in mock surrender, taking Shane's hand into the air with his.

"Good," Lilia says. 

"Madam Baranovskaya."

She looks at Ilya for about two seconds before breaking into a slight smile. "You are dancing again, Ilya."

"Yes, he is," Shane interjects before Ilya can get embarrassed. "Cross-training for now, but he goes to the studio every so often."

She sighs a little bit. "Once a danseur, always a danseur. You should talk to Katsuki."

As she makes to walk away, Yuna holds out a hand and says, "Madam Baranovskaya? I'm Yuna Hollander. It's an honor to meet you."

Lilia shakes her hand with an evaluating gaze. "I see where your son gets his tenacity. Come. We will talk."

Shane and Ilya stare as Yuna walks off with Lilia. They're rapidly joined by Svetlana as Lilia calls her over from the crowd.

"The world will not know peace again," Ilya mutters.

Shane just pulls him into another kiss before they walk back out onto the dance floor.

September 2016

Deuxmoi @deuxmoi

Deep dive into the Hollander-Rozanov friendship? Emails from top MLH players LEAKED:

[Link: Deuxmoi - Hollander-Rozanov email leak]

Joey @Puckwizard456

holy shit

 

vicky @voyswin

is this real???!???!?!?

 

Dave @davenpuck

bro that’s literally thousands of emails. who has time to go through that. how long have they been doing this for

 

pierre @bonvoyageurs

the first email is from 2009 and it’s rozanov apologizing for them not meeting after a competition? 

 

vicky @voyswin

yeah they said they exchanged emails at world figure skating juniors in that interview

 

~ alice ~ @shanehollanderstick

it’s literally all them saying “i’m gonna win” “no i’m gonna win”. or congratulating each other. n making little bets.

 

mark @hockeyboi

honestly not what i expected from rozanov. hollander maybe.

 

selena @rozanovae

the emoticons argument gets me. like what do u mean ilya rozanov loves the cutesy emoticons

 

Milly <3

omg there’s one from 2010 where roz is trying to get hollander to hang out with him before a BOS-MTL game

 

Milly <3

and he spends half the email ragging on Marleau’s pre-game routine

 

Jake @bostonftw

what’s with the fucking animal game. i literally can’t tell how that started

 

vicky @voyswin

yeah there’s no origin point it just starts happening around 2011ish. must have been an in person conversation.

elisa @elisachirps

do they not talk about anything other than hockey????? it’s in literally every email

steve @habityourway

dude they’re hockey players of course that’s all they talk about

 

luca! @ilyuca81

wait. WAIT.

 

luca! @ilyuca81

their emails are blacked out so they can’t be accessed which is good info sec on their part

 

luca! @ilyuca81

but. BUT. all of these are forwarded from voyageurs email domains. this is an organizational leak. not a personal one.

 

2 CUPS!!!! @billingout

some1 probably thought to investigate if they were cheating lmfao look at these. no info about their teams. just constant chirping

 

elisa @elisachirps

bro that’s lowk kind of sad

 

luca! @ilyuca81

that explains why it’s all hockey related. they prob had to share anything that could be considered relevant for review

 

steve @habityourway

nah i think this is all of it. they’re hockey players. they talk about hockey

Captain Canada 🍁🫡@captcan

God. them talking about the 2011 Cup after Boston got knocked out.

Captain Canada 🍁🫡@captcan

Hollander: Matheson’s cheating to the right because of his knee

 

Captain Canada 🍁🫡@captcan

Rozanov: not the ribs? Gunderson hit him hard.

 

Captain Canada 🍁🫡@captcan

Hollander: it’s the knee. look at his turns. the speed reduction kills him. he's over committing because he knows he can't make it.

 

Captain Canada 🍁🫡@captcan

and like he’s not wrong when you look back but like dude. that’s microseconds of a difference. HOW did he clock it.

 

Captain Canada 🍁🫡@captcan

Shane “Laser Eyes” Hollander out here. that shits crazy. highest hockey iq fr.

Emma @shaydentruther

i can’t get over the mouse thing

Emma @shaydentruther

like at first shane is defending his man

 

Emma @shaydentruther

and THEN? sudden betrayal. shane sends the mouse. 

 

Emma @shaydentruther

i feel bad for hayden

 

Liz @hollanovtruther

girl the stretch here is astronomical

 

Liz @hollanovtruther

simply calm down

 

Liz @hollanovtruther

you: iT’s A bETrAyaL

 

Liz @hollanovtruther

It Is Not A Betrayal To Call Hayden Pike A Mouse Because He Is In Fact A Mouse

 

Liz @hollanovtruther

Even Shane Acknowledges It (Mouse Hayden Pike)

There are times that Shane is deeply grateful for J.J. Boiziau. 

Like when they are allies in the locker room, the lone spots of color in a sea of whiteness.

On the ice, when J.J. uses all six feet and six inches of himself to shove defenders away from Shane and gleefully wades into fights when Shane cannot.

When he took Theriault’s nonsense edict from last year to the Player’s Association in order to get him to lighten up on Shane.

However, tonight is not necessarily one of those times.

All Shane wants to do is call his fiancé and go to sleep.

The problem is that J.J., and indeed the rest of the Voyageurs, do not know he has a fiancé. They don’t think he’s in a relationship at all.

His ring stays on a gold chain, tucked under his shirt.

“Hollander, what the fuck are you doing right now?” JJ crows over the phone as soon as Shane picks up.

“I was about to—”

“Bullshit! Get your ass to the Mile End, baby! My buddy François, the chef, you remember him?”

“Oh, yeah?”

“He's having an after hours thing at his restaurant. And get this—”

“JJ–” Shane tries to interrupt.

“The cast of the X Squad movie they're filming in town is here.” 

“All of them?”

“I don't fucking know. Get down here! It’s been so long since you came out with us, Capitaine.”

That can’t be true. It can’t have been that long, right? 

Except Shane has been going home to call Ilya after their home games for the last little while, since their last Boston game was in early October. If it weren't for international borders, Shane would be driving to an AirBnB in Vermont post-haste.

It means that he's only gone out once in the past four weeks. They don't have a game tomorrow, so he can't use that excuse. Optional practice that he was going to anyway, and a couple of meeting scheduled for the afternoon.

He's used his personal training as an excuse four times, and being tired thrice. His parents came last week to help deal with one of his sponsorship obligations, so no luck there either.

When he tabulates all of this information up, he comes to the conclusion that going out tonight will mean that he can point to this specifically as an instance that he went out for the next three months. Not a post-game celebration.

“You remember the restaurant, right? Le Tambour?” J.J. continues. “I want to see you there, Capitaine.”

“I don’t know—” Shane says, only for J.J. to summarily hang up.

Well.

He’s trying to be a better friend. A better Captain. After last year’s fiasco, he owes it to his team to be present.

They did promise to tighten up on the ice and stick together off of it.

The social calculus speaks for itself.

Plus, Ilya has been bugging him about going out more.

He puts on the jeans that he got tailored at Ilya's insistence, the ones that cling to his thighs but actually fit at the waist. Throws on a black jacket and his contractual obligation Reeboks, not the ones he wears to run.

Impulsively, he takes the engagement band off the gold chain around his neck and puts it on his right ring finger. It fits a little tight on the right, the shape of his callouses slightly different than they are on the left, but it feels right to have it on his hand for once. It feels like Ilya's holding his hand, just a little bit. If he thinks about it like that.

"Capitaine!" J.J. crows as soon as Shane comes through the door. "It's a miracle! This guy never leaves his fucking house!"

"Not a miracle, J.J.," Shane retorts as he makes his way over. "And I leave the house. How else would I get to practice?"

J.J. groans. "That does not count, Hollander." He shakes his head. "You clean up nice, though! Looking to impress anyone?"

"No, J.J.," Shane says. "It's a nice restaurant. I'm appropriately dressed."

"Ugh, you need to have some fun, Capitaine. You look hot. Go get a drink at the bar and embrace it." With that, he ushers Shane to the bar and drops him off.

Shane feels oddly like he's on a playdate, being scheduled to socialize like his mom did for him as a kid.

"Do you have ginger ale?" He asks once he gets to the bar.

The bartender gives him a strained smile. "I do, but I'll have to run back--" Shane can't tell if he's lying or just judging his choice of beverage.

Fuck. "Just a beer then, please. Whatever you have on tap." That's sufficiently polite.

The bartender gives him another smile, flashing more teeth this time. "Shane Hollander can have whatever he wants."

I can't, Shane thinks. If I could I would be home right now, reading to Ilya as he falls asleep.

If I could have whatever I wanted, I'd have a fucking ginger ale right now, not this IPA that's too hoppy for anyone to enjoy.

He still leaves a tip, even when the bartender tries to push it back at him.

He trails back out through the restaurant, looking for J.J. to anchor him. He finds him at a back table, chatting to his friends.

Shane hovers for a bit, answering when they ask him things and letting J.J. embellish stories. He grips the handle of his beer stein, feeling the smooth texture of the glass under his fingertips, the clink of his ring only slightly audible.

It should be fine. The lights are dim. It's not loud like a club. No tags on his clothes to irritate. He has a friend who knows him and isn't going to push beyond what he will tolerate. Too far, at least. J.J. picked a good place for him to actually come out.

But it still feels wrong. Everything is a little fuzzy around the edges.

"Think I'm going to go get another one of these," he says to the air, scooting away while J.J. is distracted.

He walks a loop around the restaurant until he sees a booth that looks empty. 

He slumps down into the seat and lets out a deep sigh, staring at the surface of the table like it'll have answers.

"Are you here to help me finish these fries?" A voice cuts through the fuzziness around Shane. He looks up and sees, of all people, Rose Landry.

Rose fucking Landry. The movie star.

She continues, "The chef gave them to me, and they are really good. I'm not gonna fit in my costume if I eat them all." She still leans forward to pick one up and shove it in her mouth. "Oh, Jesus Christ, these are so good!"

Wow. Rose Landry is a real person.

She holds out her hand, breaking through his thought spiral. "I'm Rose, by the way."

"I'm Shane," he says, hoping he sounds normal. "I'm--wow. I'm a big fan of yours."

She cocks her head a little bit, looking amused. "Would you be surprised to know that I'm a fan of yours?"

Part of him wants to be surprised that a big movie star is a fan of him. The other part doesn't want to be perceived.

"Really?"

"Mmhmm," she says. "I'm a Michigan girl, born and raised with three brothers who all played hockey."

"Wow."

She pushes the plate towards him. "Have a fry, Shane Hollander."

Sometimes, when people say his full name like that, there's a weight on it that he feels in his body. This doesn't feel like that.

It feels like Rose, not Rose Landry, is looking at Shane, not Shane Hollander.

He takes a fry.

Deuxmoi @deuxmoi

From the Ice to the Screen: Rose Landry spotted out on the town with Montreal Voyageurs Captain Shane Hollander!

[Image: Rose Landry shielding her eyes from paparazzi cameras as Shane Hollander leads her to cross the street, a hand out to prevent unnecessary contact from the paparazzi.]

[Image: Rose Landry laughing next to Shane Hollander at a bar, the image clearly taken by a long-range camera lens.]

Deuxmoi @deuxmoi

Sources close to Landry say they’ve never seen her so happy.

 

my queen rose landry @byanyothername

oh my GOD they look so good together

 

shane hollander’s bicep @lexisbexis

jesus christ he looks so protective

 

shane hollander’s bicep @lexisbexis

y’all call him small for a hockey player but that is one big man

 

shane hollander’s bicep @lexisbexis

daddy? sorry. daddy? sorry.

 

lily @lilybestbackhand

what the fuck is this.

Chapter End Notes

I hope you liked it! Feel free to tell me what you think.

Quick Notes:

- What Yuuri and Viktor are doing is called a Yuinou; it's an older aspect of Japanese weddings that centers around bringing the families together and exchanging gifts, carried over from weddings between nobility. It's not as common these days, but I thought it would be something of a commitment ceremony for Viktuuri, since they couldn't technically get married in Japan at this point in time, though they could be a couple openly.
- Viktor is intentionally wearing women's bridal attire because he likes it. It's also symbolic of him joining the Katsuki family, since he is estranged from his parents, hence Yakov and Lilia being present.
- Yes, Shane and Ilya are the assholes who announce their engagement at someone else's wedding. Is it really intentional? No. Are they going with it anyway? Yes.
- Mouse Hayden is never going away.
- Rose is here! I couldn't omit her, even if Shane and Ilya are engaged by this point.
- Much of the dialogue is borrowed from the show for that scene.

Chapter 3: Fall 2016 - Winter 2017

Chapter Summary

Shane wakes up to about 300 missed calls the night after he goes out to dinner with Rose Landry.

A good 150 of them are from Ilya.

Chapter Notes

Shane wakes up to about 300 missed calls the night after he goes out to dinner with Rose Landry.

A good 150 of them are from Ilya.

He taps on the most recent one.

The phone rings.

And rings.

And rings.

It’s abruptly picked up. 

“SHANE!”

“Ilya?” Shane asks, holding the phone slightly away from his ear. “Are you okay? Did something happen? Do I need to come to Boston?”

“любимый, [beloved] please tell me you are not leaving me.” The words come through rapidly, almost faster than Shane can process.

“What? Ilya, why would I be leaving you? I love you. We’re getting married.” Eventually.

God, he wishes the day could come sooner.

“Then why am I finding out about your affair from Twitter? You could have told me, at least. Then I would not have to find out like this.” Ilya’s voice is loud and dramatic, which usually means he's joking at least a little bit. 

Usually.

“Twitter? What the fuck did you see?” Shane opens his phone finally to a barrage of texts and news alerts.

A headline catches his eye.

From the Ice to the Screen: Rose Landry spotted out on the town with Montreal Voyageurs Captain Shane Hollander!

Oh.

“Baby, Rose and I are just friends. We met this past week when I went out with J.J.. I swear nothing happened.”

“You did not tell me this,” Ilya says with a little bit of acid in his tone. “Boiziau is on thin ice, taking you out to meet actresses.”

“Ilya,” Shane says firmly. “Nothing happened. I went out on Monday. Met up with J.J. at the restaurant. Stepped away for a second because I was feeling weird. Ran into Rose. We talked about hockey and her movies. We traded numbers. She asked me on a date—”

“SHE ASKED YOU OUT ON A DATE?!?!”

“—and I said no, I’m engaged.”

“Oh,” Ilya deflates a little bit on the other side of the line. “Oh. Did you tell her about me?”

“I said we were private and that I couldn’t tell her, but I’m in a committed relationship.”

“Then why were you out with her last night?”

“Just as friends, Ilya. We talked about hockey, because her brothers played. As soon as I said something she didn’t pursue. She’s honestly really sweet. Reminds me of you.” She really does, if Ilya was a woman and using Midwest nice as a facade instead of Russian aggression. Deep down, they're both catty and kind and witty and so so funny. And beautiful.

Ilya makes a disbelieving noise.

“Baby, I promise you, nothing happened. I can show you our texts if you want.” Shane swipes over to his conversation with Rose and starts taking screenshots.

He hears the notification ping on Ilya’s side. A few moments of silence as Ilya goes to look at them.

“Ok,” Ilya says begrudgingly.

“I don’t say anything when you get papped with Svetlana at the club,” Shane says, a little petulant. Okay, maybe a lot petulant.

“That is because you know Svetlana. I did not know this Rose.” He pauses for a few seconds. “Will she keep it secret that we are engaged?”

“She will,” Shane says steadily. “She knows how it feels to have every aspect of her life scrutinized. The paparazzi really suck. I was literally shoving them away from her when they took that photo.”

“Yes, they do suck,” Ilya says, sounding a little distracted. “She told you about the ads being hot?”

“You knew about that? Ilya, every time I do one of them, you call it boring.”

“Is because I love boring, Shane,” Ilya says earnestly. “Every time I see one, I miss you. I think about the cottage, and sitting on the couch with you while you read, and wrapping my arms around you when you make dinner, and fucking until we collapse. I do not like other people thinking of this.”

The heat that rolls through Shane with Ilya’s words is palpable. “If it makes you miss me like that, maybe text me whenever you see one and…”

“And…” Ilya says teasingly.

“I don’t know, I hadn’t gotten that far,” Shane says, a little breathless.

Ilya laughs a little bit. ”дорогой, [dear/darling/treasure] you can think about that later. I have a better idea for now.”

“Yeah?”

“Go get the tripod. And lube.”

Shane feels the heat burning in his stomach and obliges.

It means he doesn’t notice some of the other notifications that have scrolling by on his phone screen.

Deuxmoi @deuxmoi

From the Ice to the Screen: Rose Landry spotted out on the town with Montreal Voyageurs Captain Shane Hollander!

[Image: Rose Landry shielding her eyes from paparazzi cameras as Shane Hollander leads her to cross the street, a hand out to prevent unnecessary contact from the paparazzi.]

[Image: Rose Landry laughing next to Shane Hollander at a bar, the image clearly taken by a long-range camera lens.]

lily @lilybestbackhand

what the fuck is this.

 

lily @lilybestbackhand

this is fake news

 

lily @lilybestbackhand

shane would not do this

 

lily @lilybestbackhand

Stop Looking At Him. Now.

 

lily @lilybestbackhand

yes he is beautiful big strong hockey player. stop looking.

 

lily @lilybestbackhand

yes the jeans make his ass look fat. i love this about him. stop looking. his cake is not for you miss landry.

 

lily @lilybestbackhand

stop trying to find dick print. it is bigger than you think it is.

 

lily @lilybestbackhand

he does not want to touch her

 

lily @lilybestbackhand

their holes are pointed in different directions. they have no chemistry. look at the proof.

[Image: Rose Landry shielding her eyes from paparazzi cameras as Shane Hollander leads her to cross the street, a hand out to prevent unnecessary contact from the paparazzi. There are arrows drawn on the image analyzing the angles of their bodies.]

 

lily @lilybestbackhand

stop acting so surprised that he is funny. he is boring maybe but not cardboard boy like he pretends to be.

 

lily @lilybestbackhand

STOP SENDING THE CALVIN KLEIN PHOTOS. YES HE IS UNDERWEAR MODEL. BUT HE IS HOCKEY PLAYER FIRST.

 

lily @lilybestbackhand

miss laundry i will run u on heavy duty with no detergent. shane will not fold u so nicely.

Shane Hollander @shanehollanderhockeyplayer ☑️

My statement on recent events:

[Image: Screenshot of a typed statement which reads:

Hello all.

I would like to take this moment to address the current rumors and state for the record that Rose Landry and I are friends and just that. We were photographed without our consent after spending a night out, as friends often do. Rose is a lovely and kind person who does not deserve to have her privacy violated. I would like to ask for an end to the speculation and undue harassment.

~ Shane Hollander

]

Rose Landry @roselandry

My new best friend! He's the sweetest guy!

[Image: Rose Landry and Shane Hollander sitting together in a restaurant booth with smiles on their faces. Shane has an arm over Rose's shoulder, and a gold engagement ring is clearly visible on his right ring finger. Rose has her hands under her chin, where no rings are visible.]

 

~ alice ~ @shanehollanderstick

i just know that shane is going to punch a paparazzo one day and i will be there cheering him on

 

~ alice ~ @shanehollanderstick

leave this poor man alone!!!!

 

rina @hollzypuck

ok but the RING?! he might be just friends with Rose, but has Shane Hollander been locked down?

 

lily @lilybestbackhand

You Do Not Get To Know.

 

Hollyyyyyy @shaneonyou

it's on the wrong hand anyway babes. probably just a fashion statement.

January 2017

PHONE CALL TRANSCRIPT: I. Rozanov -> N. Plisetsky
Date: 14 January 2017
Duration: 03:12

CALL INITIATED

N. Plisetsky: Allo?

I. Rozanov: Hi Dedushka.

N. Plisetsky: It is good to hear from you, Ilyusha. How is Boston?

I. Rozanov: Doing well. How is everything in St. Petersburg?

N. Plisetsky: Good. Yuri is happy to have us close, and Katya has settled into school well. Still working on the English tutoring, but she is happy.

I. Rozanov: Good. (quieter) Good.

N. Plisetsky: You did not tell me how you are, Ilyusha.

I. Rozanov: I am—I am good, Dedushka. I called to tell you something.

N. Plisetsky: What is it?

I. Rozanov: I got my PR Card for Canada.

N. Plisetsky: Congratulations, Ilyusha. Your Shane must be very happy.

I. Rozanov: Shane—Shane is happy. But—

N. Plisetsky: But what?

I. Rozanov: (abrupt) I changed my name.

N. Plisetsky: (alarmed) You changed your name? Ilyusha, if I have been calling you by the wrong name—

I. Rozanov: No, no, I am still Ilya. Ilya Irinevich Plisetsky-Rozanov.

N. Plisetsky: …

I. Rozanov: I’m sorry I did not ask first.

N. Plisetsky: (rough) No Ilyusha. Do not apologize. I was just surprised.

I. Rozanov: (sniffle)

N. Plisetsky: How long have you been planning this?

I. Rozanov: I did my driver’s license and birth certificate at the embassy in 2014 so I could get it on my Canadian paperwork.

N. Plisetsky: Ilya. 2014?

I. Rozanov: I did not know if they would approve it! I needed time in case there were any issues.

N. Plisetsky: …Alright. But Ilya?

I. Rozanov: Yes, Dedushka?

N. Plisetsky: I am happy to call you my grandson, in name or not.

I. Rozanov: I know, but I wanted the name anyway.

N. Plisetsky: …I would be happy to come there, Ilya.

I. Rozanov: But Yuri and Katya need you there.

N. Plisetsky: It does not negate you needing me. Yuri will be an adult in two months. He will have to decide how independent he wants to be.

I. Rozanov: …That makes me feel so old, Dedushka, why would you say it like that?

N. Plisetsky: You are not old, Ilyusha. 

I. Rozanov: Feels like it some days. Like I’m old and tired.

N. Plisetsky: Trust me, you are not. (background) Dedushka! 

I. Rozanov: Katya needs you. I will let you go. Love you, Dedushka.

N. Plisetsky: I love you, Ilya Irinevich Plisetsky-Rozanov.

CALL TERMINATED

February 2017

Ilya sits next to Shane at the All-Stars Press Conference, the other team captains lined up on either side of them. Well, captains and alternates. 

The fact that they’ve put him and Shane on the same team is the top headline, so they take most of the questions, despite there being six other players to ask.

Whatever. It’s fine.

“Question for the Atlantic Division: just this past year, the public has seen a lot of evidence of your ongoing friendship despite the longstanding rivalry between you two. How does it feel to be playing on the same team and not against each other?”

Shane, ever the dutiful captain, answers first, leaning into the mic. “As you said, we’ve been friends for a long time, and I’m looking forward to playing with Rozanov.”

“It will be strange to not be facing off,” Ilya jokes, and he gets a little laugh for it.

“You are both star centers for your respective teams, but the All-Star games play a little differently. Any chance you could tell us about how your first line is going to be arranged, and who’s taking a step to the side?”

They’re so clearly fishing that it’s almost pathetic.

The truth is that Shane is the quintessential center, and always will be. He plays like he’s five moves ahead, all the time. 

Ilya is only too happy to be on his wing.

But still, they’re not going to say that to the reporters. Especially not with the other team captains around.

“We will see in practice who is more versatile,” Ilya says, letting his tongue skim over his teeth. And wiggling his eyebrows. Just to be fun.

Shane has that little bit of tension in his face that he gets whenever Ilya starts making innuendo that he can’t respond to.

The reporters move on to ask Scott Hunter a question, giving Ilya and Shane a reprieve.

All-Stars Weekend is pure fun in a lot of ways. Trying to beat Shane in the skills competitions is one of them. Of course, they only really compete for Fastest Skater, because they’re trying to have the Atlantic sweep the other categories so they can pick their opponent for the semifinal round.

Swimming in the pool with the other players’ kids and watching as Shane lounges by the poolside is another. He looks so serene, freckling and glowing golden in the sun. Ilya tries to break his serenity by splashing water over him, and gets a nice round of elevator eyes for his troubles. Behind sunglasses, of course.

Disappearing to their hotel rooms at the end of the night to fuck for hours is close to the top of the list. It would be easier if they could simply go together, but for safety’s sake they stagger their exits, Shane usually leaving before Ilya. Pity. It means he can't smack Shane's perfect ass going up the stairs, or kiss him in the hallway as they fumble for the room key, or feel the line of Shane's arm wrapped around his waist, bracing him in his tipsiness.

Right at the top of the list is playing on Shane’s line.

It’s All-Stars, so it’s not a real game, but it truly feels like magic.

Maybe better than an orgasm. Better than some he's had, for sure.

They crush the Pacific Division in the semis 9-3, and take the Metropolitan for the finals.

They fly down the ice in tandem, the puck bouncing between their sticks, always aimed to where they’re heading next, flitting around the other team like there is no one there.

When they’re on together, their third linemate almost disappears as Shane and Ilya become ShaneandIlya for every second of their shift. The arena roars for them, the buzz of it fading into the background, the click of stick on puck and the goal horns becoming the only real sound.

Ilya passes the puck behind his own legs and watches as Shane backhands it into the goal, sharper than any blade. He can't possibly contain himself, smacking a kiss on Shane's helmet with a loud "muah".

"Great pass," Shane says, the joy in his eyes utterly tangible.

"Great goal," Ilya returns. 

If only they could have this all the time.

Ilya lands on the bench as the second line goes out, squirting water into his mouth.

“Jesus fucking Christ,” Scott Hunter says from the other bench, shouting over at Ilya. “Can you two read minds now? Is that what this is? Unbelievable.” 

Ilya shrugs. “We are just that good, Hunter.”

How can he explain knowing every twitch of Shane’s body, every way that he will turn, the shape of his hands on his stick and his skates on the ice? How he knows exactly how much Shane’s muscles coil and release to send him off with his characteristic speed and power? 

He knows Shane's body like they share breath, because they have.

“We’ve known each other a long time,” Shane says to Hunter, mercifully cutting off the thought spiral and putting Hunter out of his misery. “We know each other’s habits pretty well from playing so often intradivisionally.”

“I’ve been playing with Huff and Vaughny for a long time and I’ve never seen or done anything like that.”

“Sucks to suck, old man.” Ilya blows a raspberry and watches Scott Hunter have to visibly calm himself down. These are the moments when it pays to be a shit stirrer, because Ilya can laugh and chirp all he wants. Shane has to stifle his laughter into a raised hand.

That night, Ilya lays beside Shane on rumpled sheets and says, “I wish we could play on the same team.”

“There’s no way the league would allow it,” Shane says immediately. He starts counting reasons on his fingers. “No one would have the cap space to pay us both, and have enough left to build a team around us. We’d have to find lineys who could keep up. You slow your pace all the time. I know you see me do it. Plus, you’d be wasted as only a left wing. You’re too good of a center not to be anchoring a line, Ilya. It would relegate one of us to the second line, which isn’t fair.”

“Mm, but imagine the power play, моя любовь.” [my love] Ilya plants a kiss on Shane’s exposed shoulder. “We would be unstoppable.”

Shane sighs and squirms a little bit. “Yeah, we would be.” 

"Montreal or Boston?"

"Hm?"

"If both teams had the money, would you come to Boston, or would I go to Montreal?"

"If we're talking purely practical reasons, you come to Montreal. It would be way easier for you to get citizenship than how we're doing it now. Plus, we need depth at center. But," Shane bites his lip, "It would probably be better for both of us in Boston. I don't know how you feel about LeClaire, but Theriault is only tightening the fist. We all want a third Cup, but it's been tense. You wouldn't like it."

The truth is that Ilya doesn't really have issues with LeClaire. He's fine. The team is fine as a whole. He loves playing with them. If Shane were there, he would love it even more.

But he can't say that when Shane has so obviously been dealing with Montreal rather than working alongside them. The coaching staff and management at least. They sound like the coaches he had in Russia, always pushing, pushing, pushing, traditional to their bones.

The players are a different story.

Hayden Pike most certainly wants to fuck Shane, and probably would have figured it out except for the fact of his wife and the children he keeps popping out with her. J.J. Boiziau is another hard maybe. There are quite a few of them who would go "gay for Shane", though they would probably have to be tortured to admit it. In all cases, the Voyageurs venerate him. He is their Messiah of hockey. He blessed them with Cups and a new era for an old team.

Saying this to Shane's face would probably result in Shane overthinking in the locker room for the rest of his life, so he doesn't.

Ilya just trails more kisses up his neck, and they stop talking for a good while.

Hockey Analyst @hockeyanalyst

The Hollander-Rozanov line at this year's MLH All-Star Tournament was truly a sight to behold.

Hockey Analyst @hockeyanalyst

Their chemistry on the ice was palpable, comparable to relationships they have spent years building on their respective teams.

 

Hockey Analyst @hockeyanalyst

Analysts point to Hollander's performance with Pike on his left and Andropov on his right as textbook; precision in all the right places.

 

Hockey Analyst @hockeyanalyst

By contrast, Rozanov with St. Simon on his left and Marleau on his right is a firecracker, tearing through defense like a rocket.

 

Hockey Analyst @hockeyanalyst

Most would have expected Rozanov to play center for the All-Star matches, despite Hollander taking the captaincy.

 

Hockey Analyst @hockeyanalyst

Whether due to expectations of ego issues or a lack of versatility, most analysts projected a Rozanov-centered first line.

 

Hockey Analyst @hockeyanalyst

Yet, on the day of the tournament, Hollander took his spot at center, with Rozanov on his left and Aucoin on his right.

 

Hockey Analyst @hockeyanalyst

What took place on the ice was a miracle of pure chemistry; the game ended 10-4, with hat tricks for Hollander and Rozanov.

 

Hockey Analyst @hockeyanalyst

On Hollander's line, Rozanov's explosiveness and unpredictability becomes a fundamental piece of the machinery.

 

Hockey Analyst @hockeyanalyst

You know where Hollander will be. He is simply too fast and too inevitable to catch, a bane to defensemen the league over.

 

Hockey Analyst @hockeyanalyst

It's rare that someone can predict Rozanov without training with him for years. Players on the Bears note how his style has pushed them.

 

Hockey Analyst @hockeyanalyst

But Hollander reads him like a book, sending passes to where Rozanov will be, not where he is.

 

Hockey Analyst @hockeyanalyst

In turn, Rozanov matches Hollander's speed, granting him a power in assists that he does not often see from the Montreal Voyageurs.

 

Hockey Analyst @hockeyanalyst

As captains and star centers, Hollander and Rozanov consistently lead the league. A team with both players would change hockey as we know it.

Chapter End Notes

I hope you liked it! Feel free to tell me what you think.

Quick Notes:

- We've encountered the first jump in the chapter count for this fic. I thought I could finish brátishka in 5 chapters and 20k words. Pray for me.
- Ilya is fighting for his life on Twitter.
- In the brightest of universes, Rose and Ilya are friends. I have decided to make it so.
- Ilya's name changed from Ilya Grigoryevich Rozanov to Ilya Irinevich Plisetsky-Rozanov. Changing his patronymic to a matronymic isn't technically a done thing afaik, but I think he would want to honor his mom above all. Adding Plisetsky to his name isn't actually as big of a deal--he could work the reasoning that he's trying to bring Yuri into the family by sharing his surname.
- Ilya has his Permanent Residency Card because he has spent every spare possible second in Canada since 2014. Every break he has he's driving to Montreal. He got his visa from Russia changed so that the time requirements are smaller.
- It's time for All-Stars in Tampa! This time, it's practically vacation for Hollanov.

Chapter 4: Spring 2017

Chapter Summary

“That’s a goal for Montreal in the first twenty seconds of the game from #24, Captain Shane Hollander—”

“Ooh, hard check from Boston’s #7, Cliff Marleau. Hollander hits the ice hard, but still manages to get the puck in the net. That’s the tenacity and skill you expect to see from Montreal’s captain.”

“Oh. It looks like Hollander isn’t getting up from the impact there. And there’s Montreal’s #35, Hayden Pike, squaring off with Marleau to defend his captain.”

Chapter Notes

March 2017

The last Boston-Montreal game of the regular season happens in early March, well before the crush of the playoffs begins. Both teams are sitting solidly at the top of the division, with their playoff spots clinched.

Shane is just excited to go home and fall asleep next to his fiancé in their apartment for the first time in a few weeks.

And other things. Obviously.

He’s practically bouncing off the walls in the locker room. Hayden keeps giving him weird looks.

“You good, Shane?” Hayden asks finally, as Shane has sat down long enough to tape his stick.

“I’m good,” Shane says, focused on meticulously covering the blade.

“You seeing Lily soon or something?”

Now here’s the question. Hayden knows he has something going on with someone named Lily. Hayden also knows that Shane has been wearing a ring on a chain around his neck for a year and a half.

Shane could say no, and get ribbed about what he’s so excited for forever.

Or Shane could say yes and not elaborate.

“Yep.” A cheer goes up from his teammates who were listening in on the conversation.

“Cap’s getting laid!” J.J. hollers. The whole room yells and pounds their sticks on the ground. “Putting up points on and off the ice!”

“Save your energy for the game, guys,” Shane says. 

“Oh, but you’re saving it for after, man.” Hayden leers a little bit before settling back as Shane gives him a quick glare. “You know, Jackie would love to have you and Lily over…”

“No, Hayd,” Shane says as he finishes his tape job. “We’re both busy as it is. I would rather spend my limited time with Lily doing what we want to do.”

“Fucking until the sun comes out, yeah we get it. Come on, man. Just one time.”

Shane sighs. “No.”

Hayden holds his hands up. “Fine, dude. But just know the offer is open.”

Yeah, but is the offer open to an amorphous woman named Lily, or the very real Ilya Rozanov who we are about to play tonight?

Shane just nods and keeps getting ready for the game.

The game starts off fine. Well, it starts almost euphoric, the way it always is when Shane faces off against Ilya.

“Hello, Hollander,” Ilya says with a shit-eating grin on his face. “Funny seeing you here.” 

“Rozanov.” Shane’s heart pounds in his chest.

Their sticks clash on the ice, waiting for the puck to drop.

“Should we go to a bar after the game? Loser buys for the winner?”

“You’re cheaping out, Rozanov. You know I don’t drink.” In season, at least.

Ilya opens his mouth to retort, but the puck drops and Shane sends it off to Hayden to start taking it up the ice, breaking from the face-off dot as fast as he can.

He gets the puck back with Ilya on his heels, racing up towards the offensive zone with an eye on where his linemates are. 

Ilya checks him against the boards, and for a moment it feels like every time he’s been slammed down by those hands before he comes back to his body and sends the puck to Andy, getting them out of the neutral zone.

He tears off from the boards as Andy passes to Hayden and cycles the puck, weaving around the Boston defensemen to get to an optimal position.

This is where it goes wrong.

He gets the puck back, carrying it up to fire when he feels the check against his right shoulder from Marleau.

The puck flies over the Boston goalie’s left shoulder, and Shane leaves the ground for a second, the force of the blow knocking him off his skates. 

He lands with a ringing snap, helmet bouncing against the hard ice.

The world goes black.

Ilya’s heart stops when Shane goes down and doesn’t get up.

In an instant he’s skated over and on his knees saying, “Shane.”

Shane landed on his side, legs akimbo.

He can’t shake him. It could hurt him. “Shane. Are you okay?”

Shane is terrifyingly silent and still.

(Mama, wake up. Please. I’m here. Please wake up.)

“Rozanov. You need to step away so he can be examined.” One of the refs has skated closer, and Ilya can see the medical team coming out.

“He’s not responding,” Ilya says numbly as they try to pull him upright and away. “He’s not responding.”

“Rozanov, I will have to penalize you if you don’t step away from Hollander right now. He needs to be assessed.”

Shane still isn’t moving.

And then.

“Ilya,” groaned in pain, so faint beneath the chaos.

He’s alive. 

He’s awake.

“Shane,” he gasps as he lets himself be pulled away. They start to load Shane onto a stretcher.

“Tell him I’m okay,” Shane warbles, “Tell him I’m okay.”

“That’s a goal for Montreal in the first twenty seconds of the game from #24, Captain Shane Hollander—”

 

“Ooh, hard check from Boston’s #7, Cliff Marleau. Hollander hits the ice hard, but still manages to get the puck in the net. That’s the tenacity and skill you expect to see from Montreal’s captain.”

 

“Oh dear. It looks like Hollander isn’t getting up from the impact there. And there’s Montreal’s #35, Hayden Pike, squaring off with Marleau to defend his captain.”

 

“Meanwhile, Marleau’s own captain has skated over to Hollander and seems to be checking on him.”

 

“It’s hard to watch anyone go down like that, let alone Hollander, who is one of Rozanov’s closest friends. Just a few moments ago on the broadcast, we heard them discuss post-game plans.”

 

“It looked like a clean hit; Hollander had the puck, clean sightlines, impact to the shoulder. Just a bad angle. Unlucky that.”

 

“Marleau, at 6’4” and 230 pounds, hits like a truck. Usually Hollander dodges impacts like these, but the timing was just off enough that it caught him off guard.”

 

“The medical team is out on the ice and heading towards Hollander. Rozanov is still hovering, even while both teams have broken out into fights all over the ice.”

 

“The refs are trying to break up the fights, and it looks like they have most of them, except for Pike and Marleau. Wow. Pike is really going for it. Talk about swinging above your weight class.”

 

“That’s a winger who would do anything for his captain.”

 

“They’ve got Hollander on the stretcher and heading off the ice, and Rozanov back to the bench, looking pretty pale there.”

 

“A rough start to this late season game for sure. We’ll have to see if Montreal can hold on to the early goal their captain gave them before he was injured, or if Boston will press the advantage.” 

 

“Hollander’s the beating heart in that locker room. He’s never had an injury take him out on the ice like this. Their top lines are going to have to hold it together without him.”

 

"Well, Montreal has their playoff spot locked down, even if they lose every game from now until April. Time will tell if the credit for that goes to Hollander or the Voyageurs as a whole."

 

“Coach Henri Theriault looking angry on the sidelines as the refs start doling out penalties.”

 

“Didn’t quite clear the benches, but the top lines for Montreal and Boston are all heading to the penalty box, except for the injured Hollander, and Rozanov, who stayed out of it to check on him.” 

 

“We’re heading into a commercial break now as these penalties are sorted out.”

 

“Not what you typically expect from the Russian Menace, but it’s clear these two guys respect each other a lot.”

 

“I mean, if you think of how they played at All-Stars this year, you can see why. I’ve never seen chemistry like that, and 99% of the time, they’re facing off against one another.”

 

“Can you imagine?”

Ilya can’t make eye contact with Marly after the game. He barely remembers playing through the rest of it.

I have his ring on a chain around my neck, he thinks to himself. 

I want to spend the rest of my life with him and now I don’t even know how much of that is left.

I couldn’t go with him.

I couldn’t hold his hand when he was in pain.

I stayed here and kept playing this stupid fucking game.

“Are you…going to visit him?” Marly says quietly, apologetic and reticent.

“Yes,” Ilya bites out. The venom in his voice is palpable.

Marly takes it without comment. “I might go with you—”

“No.” The word falls like an axe blade from the hand of an executioner. “I will offer your apologies.”

As much of a peace offering as he can make right now.

Marly nods like he expected this. “Tell him I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for him to get hurt.”

Ilya just nods, jaw tight. He can’t muster up anything to say.

Ilya walks up to the reception desk in the hospital waiting room.

“I am here to see Shane Hollander,” he says.

The receptionist looks up. “Regular visiting hours have concluded for the day, sir. You can return in the morning, starting at 7:00 AM.”

“I need to see him,” Ilya says, mouth forming the words without really hearing them.

She looks him up and down. “Sir, Mr. Hollander is quite the high-profile patient. I don’t know how you are aware that he is here, but if you are trying to gain unauthorized access, I am going to have to ask you to vacate the premises.”

It's good that she's protecting Shane's privacy, but God, not in this moment.

“I am one of his emergency contacts,” Ilya says desperately. “Ilya Plisetsky. It should be written there.”

She takes a look down at her monitor for a moment and her eyes widen. “May I see your ID?”

He hands it to her.

She looks between his driver’s license, the screen, and his face multiple times. 

“I just need to see how he is,” Ilya begs.

She sighs, handing his ID back before turning to the little printer to start making his visitor’s badge. He tucks it into his wallet and waits.

This time, when she talks, her voice is quieter and a little softer. “Mr. Plisetsky, I will ask one of the nurses to accompany you up to see him. He may not be awake at this time. Please do your best to remain quiet so as to not disturb the other patients.”

“I will,” he says, as a nurse comes around the corner to guide him up to where Shane’s hospital room is.

Shane looks small in the hospital bed, pale and wan. His right arm is in a sling and his head is tilted to one side with a small grimace.

Ilya just stops and looks at him. Bruising splashes across his freckles and down his neck before it’s covered by the hospital gown.

“His collarbone was fractured, and he has a grade 3 concussion. I’ll be in to check on him every so often,” the nurse says, picking up the chart at the end of the bed and perusing it for a moment. “The call button is here; if he starts convulsing, call me immediately.” 

“Thank you,” Ilya says as she walks out, dimming the lights and closing the door behind her.

Ilya walks over, grabs one of the uncomfortable-looking chairs from the corner and places it next to Shane’s bed. He sits down and just watches Shane’s chest rise and fall.

He could have died.

He could have died and left Ilya alone.

He could wake up with no memory at all.

“Ты меня напугал, Шейн,” [You scared me, Shane.] he says, hand reaching up to grasp and intertwine with Shane’s fingers, limp on the bedspread. “Я не знал, будет ли с тобой всё в порядке.” [I didn’t know if you would be alright.]

There is pressure behind his eyes and tightness in his jaw. “Я доиграл остальную часть игры.” [I played the rest of the game.] There is wetness on his cheeks. “Мне стоило пойти с тобой.” [I should have gone with you.]

“я люблю тебя, Шейн.” [I love you, Shane.] He wipes away the tears quickly and keeps talking, hoping Shane will hear it.

“Как бы я хотел быть рядом с тобой всегда. Жить с тобой. Поиграем с тобой в хоккей.” [I wish I could be by your side all the time. Live with you. Play hockey with you.]

He takes a deep breath. “Я не знаю, смогу ли я дальше притворяться. Я слишком сильно тебя люблю.” [I don’t know if I can pretend anymore. I love you too much.]

“Не знаю, что бы я делал, если бы тебя не стало. Я не смог...Я не знаю.” [I don’t know what I would do if you were gone. I couldn't--I don't know.]

He rubs a thumb over the back of Shane’s hand and rests his head over the covers on Shane’s thigh.

He falls asleep like that, back hunched, still in his game day suit, engagement ring on his right ring finger.

Ilya wakes up to fingers gently petting his hair, twining through the frizzy strands. The weak early morning sunlight comes through the blinds.

He groans, feeling the night of poor sleep in his back and neck.

“любимый?” [beloved]  Ilya says, voice scratchy and sleep-rough.

“Ilyaaaa,” Shane says dreamily. “You’re here!”

The relief that Shane still recognizes him hits like a sledgehammer. “I am here, Shane.”

“When did you get here?” 

“Last night, моя любовь.” [my love]  Ilya starts to sit up, jostling Shane’s free hand off of his head.

“Noooo, stay down there. You’re soft,” Shane whines.

“I am not going anywhere, дорогой. [dear/darling/treasure] Just sitting up.” With that, Shane lets him up but grabs his hand to start tugging Ilya closer.

“Kiss, please.” Shane puckers his lips at Ilya. Ilya darts a quick look to see if there is anyone coming before he obliges. The smile that Shane gives him once he pulls back is so cute, before it screws up into a face of displeasure. “I’m mad.”

“Mad at me?” Ilya feels his stomach drop.

“Noooo, baby,” Shane giggles a little bit. “I’m not mad at you. You were coming home last night! But instead you were here in the hospital.”

“Because you are in the hospital, дорогой,” [dear/darling/treasure] Ilya reminds him. “You were injured.”

“Ugh, I know.” Shane turns his head and winces. “It’s too bright in here. Can you turn the lights off?”

As far as Ilya can tell, the only light in the room is coming from the blinds, so he goes to close them, but Shane whines as he stands. “любимый, [beloved] I have to move to turn the lights off.”

“Stay here,” Shane says stubbornly. “I’ll just close my eyes.” And close his eyes he does, squeezing them until he grimaces. “That didn’t help.”

God, Ilya wants to laugh so badly. And cry a little bit, maybe.

Instead he says, “How are you feeling, котенок?” [kitten]

“Everything is spinny,” Shane says earnestly. “My shoulder hurts. Ugh. Marleau ruined all my plans.”

“What plans?” Ilya’s attention sharpens.

“I was–” Shane yawns. “I was going to ask you to marry me.”

Oh. Now Ilya really wants to laugh, but Shane has started pouting.

“You have already done this, sweetheart. The summer before last, remember?”

“Made you my fee-ahn-say.” Shane drags the word fiancé out like he’s trying to remember how to say it. “No I know. I wanna marry you now. Wanna be your husband.”

There are some times when Shane manages to bowl him over just by saying what’s on his mind. This is one of those times.

“любимый,” [beloved] Ilya says helplessly. “Are you sure?”

Shane frowns. “Why wouldn’t I be sure? I love you.” He looks up at Ilya, squinting, and starts smiling again after a second. “Wow. You’re very pretty. Like an angel.”

“You are the pretty one.” He is. He really is the pretty one, even slumped in a hospital bed.

“No, you’re the pretty one. Your eyes are sooooo pretty Ilya. I can’t look at ‘em all the time but they’re so pretty. And I like it when you smile real big cuz it’s usually only with me, and I know you’re happy. But,” he lowers his voice into a bad stage whisper. “When you stare I like it too. It’s very—very…” he trails off. “I don’t like words right now."

Ilya, who has been smiling helplessly all this time, says, “Intense?”

“Yes!” Shane exclaims. “It scares people, but not me. I like it.” He wriggles a little bit in the hospital bed. “Lay with me, please.”

“I will not fit, котенок.” [kitten] Seriously. He’s too cute like this. A danger to society.

“Hold my hand, then,” Shane says petulantly. Ilya just grabs his hand, bringing it up to his lips and kissing it. “Bet-ter.”

They sit in a comfortable silence for a moment before Shane says, “We should get married.”

“We will, sweetheart. I promised you.”

Shane makes a face like he wants to stomp his foot on the floor, except he’s laying in a bed. “Right now. We should get married right now, Ilya. You have your…whatever it is. PR Card.” His face changes, getting sad very quickly. “I want to so badly but then you can’t go back to Russia and I can’t do that to you. I can’t make you do that. And my team would hate me.” There are tears building at Shane’s waterline.

Ilya feels his heart crack open a little bit.

Because it’s true. They can’t get married while Dedushka and Yuri and Katya are still living in Russia, because then Ilya might never see them again. He could never go back. He cares less about Russia as his home and more as theirs.

They can be fiancés, because a ring can be hidden. Marriage means binding their lives together. Permanently. In a way that the public can track. In a way that can be leveraged against them.

“I’m sorry, любимый,” [beloved] is all Ilya can say.

“S’okay,” Shane sniffles. “I’m just happy you’re here. With me.” He brings Ilya’s hand closer to his face and lets his cheek be cradled. Ilya strokes his thumb over the bruising and his freckles, and though Shane has to be in pain, he still smiles at the feeling.

His phone buzzes in his pocket.

“Yuna is coming to take you home, I think,” Ilya says, after he takes a moment to check it. “I have to leave for Detroit in a few hours.”

“Okay,” Shane says, but he says it like Ilya does and then giggles. “You gotta win, ‘kay?”

“I will,” Ilya vows. He comes closer to Shane, wrapping an arm over his shoulder and angling his phone for a selfie. “Here. We take a picture for everyone to know you are okay, and then you rest, дорогой.” [dear/darling/treasure]

Shane holds a loose thumbs up with his free hand, and Ilya snaps the picture, hoping he doesn’t look too much like he slept at the hospital overnight.

“я люблю тебя, Шейн.” [I love you, Shane.]  Ilya kisses his forehead and stands.

“Я тоже тебя люблю, Илья,” [I love you too, Ilya]  Shane says slowly, focused on forming the syllables correctly. “Bye-bye!” He says as Ilya walks out the door, as reluctant as he can possibly be.

ESPN @espn ☑️

#24 Captain Shane Hollander taken out of tonight’s BOS-MTL match-up on a stretcher 25 seconds into the first period.

[Image: Medical team carrying Shane Hollander off the ice on a stretcher. Ilya Rozanov looks on worriedly in the background.]

Major League Hockey @MLH ☑️

Montreal’s #24 Shane Hollander reportedly out on LTIR for the remainder of the 2016-2017 season with an undisclosed upper body injury.

Ilya Rozanov @rozanov81 ☑️

Visited a friend today and he wanted me to tell you all: “I lived, bitch.”

[Image: Ilya Rozanov perched on the side of a hospital bed, with an arm delicately placed over Shane Hollander’s shoulder. Ilya is smiling, though his hair looks mussed and his suit slightly wrinkled. Shane has a sling on his right arm and bruising on his face. He has a dreamy smile on his face, along with very dilated eyes, and holds up a thumbs up, reminiscent of the meme made of him at the 2015 Stanley Cup Finals in response to seeing Ilya Rozanov in his jersey.]

Shane Hollander @shanehollanderhockeyplayer ☑️

Thank you to @MontrealGeneral for the care I've received for my injuries. At this time, I’m focusing on getting better for next year. 

[Image: Shane Hollander in his hospital bed, surrounded by his parents, Hayden Pike and J.J. Boiziau. Shane looks a little bit neater and more alert in this image.]

Shane is bored out of his goddamn mind. 

Resting for days on end is fine and dandy when you’re in the hospital hopped up on pain medication; at his parents’ house, it’s an exercise in boredom.

He reads hockey books. Keeps his arm still. Does his concussion checks. Only calls instead of texting. Does low-impact yoga to stay active, at least a little bit. He can barely do half the poses.

By the end of March, he knows he’s driving his parents insane too. His mom, at least.

He’s finally allowed back on his phone, at least. He doesn’t scroll for too long before he sees something interesting.

ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Helsinki, Finland

Men’s Singles Competitors:

Chan, Patrick (CAN)
Leroy, Jean-Jacques (CAN)
Ji, Guang Hong (CHN)
Nekola, Emil (CZE)
Crispino, Michele (ITA)
Katsuki, Yuuri (JPN)
Minami, Kenjirou (JPN)
Altin, Otabek (KAZ)
Lee, Seung-gil (KOR)
Plisetsky, Yuri (RUS)
Popovich, Georgi (RUS)
Chulanont, Phichit (THA)
Giacometti, Christophe (SUI)
Chen, Nathan (USA)
De la Iglesia, Leo (USA)

“I’m going to Helsinki,” he says at dinner that night. 

His dad starts choking. Yuna Hollander, ever the pragmatist, gives him a slap on the back.

“You’re still recovering, Shane. Why are you thinking about international travel?” She asks once David has stopped coughing.

“Yuuri has Worlds next week,” Shane says. “Besides, I take the sling off in two days and the headaches have gone down a lot.”

“The flight would be a lot for you alone.” The implication there being that she and David can’t just up and leave.

“I could ask a friend,” Shane says, already starting to text as he stands up from the table.

“Who, Shane?”

The question goes unanswered.

PHONE CALL TRANSCRIPT: S. Hollander -> R. Landry
Date: 23 March 2017
Duration: 03:12

CALL INITIATED

R. Landry: Hello?

S. Hollander: Hey, Rose.

R. Landry: Shane! Oh my god how are you feeling? How’s the arm.

S. Hollander: Feeling okay. I'm taking the sling off in two days.

R. Landry: That must feel good. How’s jerking off been?

S. Hollander: Rose!

R. Landry: What?

S. Hollander: Ma’am, I am at my parents house–

R. Landry: You’ve been calling Lily constantly, huh.

S. Hollander: …As much as I can, yeah.

R. Landry: Knew it.

S. Hollander: How are the reshoots going?

R. Landry: Ugh. We finally wrapped yesterday. I’m hoping it doesn’t take more so I can have a couple of days of peace. Seriously, Adrian de la Cruz is such a diva. And I’m saying that as a certified diva.

S. Hollander: (laughs) Wow, okay. So you don’t have anything going on next week?

R. Landry: I mean, you know me. Always busy. I was planning on doing some prep for my next round of auditions, but it’s mostly a rest week. Why?

S. Hollander: Would you be open to going to Helsinki with me?

R. Landry: (stuttered laugh) Shane Hollander. What the fuck.

S. Hollander: It’s a genuine question!

R. Landry: What the hell are you going to Helsinki for in March? Going to the Liiga?

S. Hollander: No way! My cousin’s competing in the World Figure Skating Championships. I haven’t been to a competition of his in a while, and I’m losing my mind here.

R. Landry: Damn. I almost forgot about that. That’s pretty cool actually.

S. Hollander: So? Would you be willing to go with me?

R. Landry: I think I could spare a little time for my best friend, yeah. Have you booked tickets?

S. Hollander: I mean, I’m leaving out of Ottawa right now. I could drive to Montreal and meet you and then we’d fly together if you’re good with that.

R. Landry: I’m good with that. What about a hotel?

S. Hollander: Already booked.

R. Landry: Even when you’re being spontaneous, it’s still plans all the way down.

S. Hollander: That’s me. Plans all the way down.

R. Landry: Damn. I have to pack now.

S. Hollander: I’m sure whatever you wear will be fine. 

R. Landry: Says you, the guy who wears athleisure and suits and nothing in between.

S. Hollander: Hey!

R. Landry: What, are you going to tell me you also wear your jersey? That doesn’t count.

S. Hollander: I was going to say I wear jeans.

R. Landry: Ooh, you should bring the ones that Lily made you get tailored.

S. Hollander: …Lily made me get all of them tailored. Which ones.

R. Landry: Damn. Your fiancé does good work. Bring the dark ones and the acid-washed ones so you have some contrast.

S. Hollander: Got it.

R. Landry: By the way, does she know I’m coming?

S. Hollander: ...I texted Lily about it and she’s busy with work. She said not to have too much fun.

R. Landry: Shit. I was hoping I could meet her.

S. Hollander: I’m not folding that easily.

R. Landry: Says the guy who folds his clothes before sex.

S. Hollander: LILY TOLD YOU?!?

R. Landry: I wanted context for one of her tweets!

S. Hollander: Jesus fucking Christ. You two will be the death of me.

R. Landry: Yeah, well, you introduced us.

S. Hollander: …I did do that.

R. Landry: Okay. I’ll leave you to ponder your life decisions while I pack for Helsinki. Bye, Shane!

S. Hollander: Bye, Rose.

CALL TERMINATED

It’s fun to just get to enjoy spectating for once. Shane rarely gets these kinds of opportunities.

“So how do they actually score these? I feel like I would get so distracted by how pretty it looks,” Rose says, eyes fixed on the skater who’s currently on. Evgenia Medvedeva.

“It’s pretty regimented,” Shane says. “Scoring is split between technical elements and program components. Technical elements are each of the moves that the skater does and each of them has a different base value. The harder the move, the higher the value. When they perform it, the technical judges review it and assign it a grade of execution based on how well the move was performed.”

“So if you have a lot of harder moves, you can get away with a lower grade of execution.”

“It depends—it’s usually the case that the skaters with harder programs have a little more leeway in that regard, but you want to perform your moves well because the judges can subtract from your score if you do it badly enough. It can be hard to split the difference; a skater with an easier routine who performs perfectly is still at risk of being outscored by a skater with a higher base value who messes up. You want to have a program that you can do well, but with the quad revolution a lot of people have been pushing to include more.”

“And what was the other thing you said? Program components?”

“Oh yeah. That’s the more fluid side. Program components are things like composition and choreography, performance, and skating skills. Basically determining how well the program was put together, how well the skater understands and performs it, and if they’re showing off a variety of skills, not just their best skills. Yuuri is really good with PCS—he’s an incredible performer when his anxiety doesn’t get the better of him. It’s the dance training. And he works really hard on the technical skills to make up for any deficiencies. Once he had Viktor to start helping him really push on quads? His base values went way up.”

“You really know a lot about it,” Rose says thoughtfully.

“It’s more interesting when you know what you’re looking at,” Shane says honestly. “It’s an artform, really. I didn’t get it when I was younger, but I took the time to learn and now I enjoy watching it. Plus, it’s always funny to think about hockey players trying to do any of this.”

Rose is quiet for a second. “Shane.”

“Yeah.”

“Can you figure skate?”

“Technically? I do cross training.”

Rose gets a gleam in her eye. “You mean to tell me there was a world in which you were Shane Hollander, Canadian figure skater?”

“I was never that good at it. Plus hockey is…hockey,” he finishes lamely.

“You are probably understating that. I’m going to have to take you out skating one of these days.”

“He never believes me when I tell him he does well.” A soft voice comes from in front of them. Yuuri has walked up to where they’re sitting, dressed in his classic Mizuno jacket and glasses.

“Yuuri–”

“Shh, Shun-kun.” He puts a hand over Shane’s mouth. “I have no doubt you’d be better than me if you really dedicated your time to it.”

“No way,” Shane says, muffled behind Yuuri’s hand. “There’s no way. I’m not graceful enough. And I don’t do well with the performance aspects. I’m perfectly happy playing hockey, thank you very much.”

Yuuri gets a determined look in his eye. “It’s still open practice time. I could probably sneak you in.”

“Yuuri-nii, no. I’m still recovering—”

“And yet you flew all the way out here.”

“Just to watch!”

“You broke your collarbone, right? We’ll just skate figures. Please?”

Shane looks over at Rose for an out. She holds her hands up. “I’m fully in favor of whatever I’m about to see.” 

Shane looks up the sky for patience and follows Yuuri out of the stands with Rose behind him.

Katsuki Yuuri @y-katsuki ☑️

I skated a little demo with my cousin @shanehollanderhockeyplayer! It’s always fun to compare how we skate.

[Video: Skating Skills with the Katsukis!]

[Image: Shane Hollander, in the center of a photo with Katsuki Yuuri, Viktor Nikiforov, and Yuri Plisetsky. Plisetsky has a seal-point cat stuffed toy tucked under his arm.]

Viktor Nikiforov @v-nikiforov ☑️

It’s always good to practice your fundamentals! Teaching can be the best way of learning! ))))

 

Phichit Chulanont @phichitchulanont ☑️

Yuu~ri! You didn’t tell me your hot cousin was coming!

 

Phichit Chulanont @phichitchulanont ☑️

LBR though they’re both the hot cousin 🥵😈

 

~ alice ~ @shanehollanderstick

it’s so good to see Shane back on the ice even if he’s in a sling! Still going smooth though!

 

Violet @sk4tingf4n

god really spent all the skating talent in the world on them

 

rina @hollzypuck

honestly shane is kind of an icon 💅

 

Archangel Ilya! @nastycanastya

now I want to see Ilya and Yura do it!!!!

 

lily @lilybestbackhand

My Shane looks so pretty 🥹

Chapter End Notes

I hope you liked it! Feel free to tell me what you think.

Quick Notes

- Once again, the chapter count goes up. This time, it's because I couldn't stop writing High Shane Hollander in the hospital.
- For the hospital: Shane is in a private room. He also has a standard NDA for whenever he's in a public hospital, set up by Yuna, which prevents people from talking about where he is, the nature of his illness/injury, and anyone who comes to visit him. At the level of celebrity Reid presents him to be in-universe, it's completely necessary, even without Ilya in the picture. Anyone who's coming into contact with Shane, his parents, or Ilya has to sign one--the receptionist, the nurses, any attending doctors, etc. Shane will not be seen by medical students/residents in order to minimize the number of people he is in contact with at the hospital. The paranoia is baked into this one.
- Ilya is speaking a lot of Russian in this chapter even though he's generally pretty well-practiced in English by now because he's so shaken. Make sure you check the tooltips. :)
- I initially included Rose in chapter 2 because I love her. Now she has taken over this fic.
- Shane is 100% autistically info-dumping about figure skating to Rose.
- Is this a Figure Skating for Hockey Players callback? A little bit, yes. I wasn't about to rewrite the whole thing, but I thought it would be funny if it happened at Yuuri's competition this time.

Chapter 5: Summer 2017 I

Chapter Summary

“We should get married,” Ilya says.

Shane looks at the ring on Ilya’s finger. “We are.”

“This summer.”

“But baby–” 

“If old man Hunter can kiss his boyfriend in front of Stanley Cup, I think we can get married.”

Chapter Notes

June 2017

“And in less than one minute, ladies and gentlemen, the New York Admirals will have done what they set out to do, the closest they’ve come since 2007 to bringing the Stanley Cup back to New York.”

 

“After over a decade in the wilderness, Scott Hunter and his teammates are about to make history tonight.”

“I told you,” Yuna says, smug as all get out.

“So did I,” Svetlana elbows Ilya with a smirk.

He throws his head back. “Yes, you are hockey witches, we know this.” He runs his hand through Shane’s hair where he’s resting on Ilya’s lap.

“Fifteen seconds remaining. Vaughn holds it behind the net.”

“I’m happy for them,” Shane says.

“Are you really or are you just saying that,” Ilya says fondly. “I am mad they knocked us out of the playoffs.”

From the way that Shane stays silent, Ilya knows he’s pretending not to care that the Voyageurs went out in the first round to Detroit. Beating himself up over the fact that he couldn't recover any sooner. If they had made it further without him, he'd have been back on the ice in May.

“Ten seconds remaining as Vaughn passes it.”

 

“They're running out the clock. The New York crowd is on its feet. They can't believe it!”

“Hell of a run for it,” David says, coming in from the kitchen to sit down on the couch.

“And there you have it! 82 regular season games, 23 playoff performances, and the New York Admirals have won the Cup for the first time in 28 years! Your 2017 champions! They've done it!”

 

“I cannot believe it. I cannot believe what I am witnessing right now! Your champions are the New York Admirals! The 2017 Champions!”

 

“Let’s hear it out on the ice for a moment:”

 

“Yeah!” (cheering)

 

“Yes! Let's fucking go, bro!”

 

“We fucking did it, baby!”

 

“Yeah!”

 

“There’s Hunter, hefting the Cup as the Captain.”

“You can’t say he didn’t work for it,” Yuna says.

“If Ilya and I weren’t injured, there’s no way he’d be up there,” Shane says petulantly.

“But you were,” Svetlana points out. “And getting rid of Zullo to get Jalo was not insignificant.”

“Vaughn takes it from Hunter. Vaughn was drafted sixth overall in 2007 and got close enough to taste it in his rookie year. He’s been working at Hunter’s side as the A to his C since 2010. What a victory.”

“Vaughny’s nice at least,” Shane says.

“He’s the one who started the players of color group chat, right?” Yuna asks.

“Yeah.”

“Incredible scene down here as the Cup is passed around. Hunter seems to be looking out to the fans. No doubt a recognition of their sticking with him for all these years.”

“What is he doing?” Ilya stares, as onscreen, Hunter starts pointing to a man in the crowd. The camera flips back and forth as one of the stadium cameras follows the man, who stands up in his seat and starts coming down the aisle.

“Looks like Hunter’s now trying to get someone's attention, apparently inviting someone from the crowd down to the rink. He just hopped the boards.”

“Do you think—” Shane says, turning his face up to look at Ilya.

"Maybe," Ilya says, robotic.

“Let’s tune into his mic, see if we can figure out what’s going on—”

 

“You don't have to do this.”

 

“Yes. Yes, I do.”

 

“Is he—”

 

“I love you so fucking much.”

 

“I love you too.”

 

The family room in the Hollander residence is utterly silent for a moment as Scott Hunter kisses a man after winning the Stanley Cup.

“Oh, wow!”

 

“You don't see that every day. Pretty big night for the hockey history books.”

 

“And listen to that crowd! They're loving this!”

 

“Good for him! Good for Scott Hunter!”

Ilya pulls Shane up and kisses him.

When he pulls back, he sees Svetlana smiling. David has an arm around Yuna.

“We should get married,” Ilya says.

Shane looks at the ring on Ilya’s finger. “We are.”

“This summer.”

“But baby–” 

“If old man Hunter can kiss his boyfriend in front of Stanley Cup, I think we can get married.”

“What about Russia?”

Ilya only hesitates for a quick second before saying, “My family will come for the wedding. Dedushka—,” he pulls Shane upright so they’re both sitting and he can look him in the eyes. “Dedushka has been thinking about moving.”

“What about Katya? And Yuri?”

“Katya has been learning English for the last two years. Yuri is eighteen now, and he travels all the time.” He looks at Shane. “They can come to us, солнышко.” [Sunshine]

“If you’re getting married, you’ll need a marriage license,” Yuna interjects. “They’re available to the public. Are you going to come out?”

And therein lies the problem. If anyone happens to search for their marriage records, they will find it. It will be immediately apparent to their teams.

“We already filed for a civil union,” Shane says halfheartedly, a little deflated at the thought that they cannot go further.

“If the issue is people searching for your names, you could get married as Katsuki Shun and Ilya Plisetsky,” David proposes.

“Canada does not do confidential licenses, but using your personal names could work. They legally exist,” Svetlana says, rapidly typing on her phone.

“We’re getting married,” Ilya says, and Shane kisses him, and kisses him, and kisses him.

PHONE CALL TRANSCRIPT: S. Hollander -> H. Pike, J. Boiziau
Date: 21 June 2017
Duration: 05:25

CALL INITIATED

H. Pike: Hello?

S. Hollander: Hi guys.

J. Boiziau: Hey Capitaine! How are you doing?

S. Hollander: I’m…okay. I need to tell you guys something.

H. Pike: What’s going on?

J. Boiziau: Did something happen?

H. Pike: You never call out of the blue like this. Do I need to come to Ottawa?

J. Boiziau: If there is anything you need—

S. Hollander: Jesus Christ, guys. Everything’s fine. I’m not dying.

H. Pike: Don’t scare me like that.

S. Hollander: I was calling to say…(deep inhale and exhale) I’m getting married.

J. Boiziau: WHAT?!?!

H. Pike: Congrats, man! You’re finally joining the club!

J. Boiziau: Tabarnak. When is the wedding?

S. Hollander: July 8th.

H. Pike: Sheesh. Moving fast. Okay. Who’s invited? Are we invited?

S. Hollander: No, Hayden. I called you specifically to tell you that I’m getting married, and to tell you that you’re not invited.

H. Pike: See, if I didn’t know you that would hurt my feelings.

J. Boiziau: Where is it?

S. Hollander: We’re doing a backyard wedding. Keeping it small. So if you guys can make it up here—

J. Boiziau: Absolutely I will be there. I would not miss this for the world.

H. Pike: You just telling us first before the rest of the team? Cap Squad?

S. Hollander:...uh, no. Just you guys. And Jackie and the kids.

J. Boiziau: Why? Don’t want them to meet your darling Lily?

H. Pike: Holy shit we’re meeting Lily.

S. Hollander: That’s…um. We’re keeping it small for a few reasons. I don’t want any press or anything. No social media either.

H. Pike: Of course. It’s your wedding, dude. You get to decide.

S. Hollander: And…Lily…

J. Boiziau: Yes? What about her?

S. Hollander: Lily is not a her.

H. Pike: ...

J. Boiziau: …

S. Hollander: …I’m gay. Lily will be my husband.

H. Pike: Wow. Okay.

J. Boiziau: …

S. Hollander: If you don’t want to come anymore that’s okay. Just please don’t go around telling anyone—

J. Boiziau: What the fuck? No, Capitaine! I want to be there when you get married. Please don’t uninvite us. Hayden!

H. Pike: …Sorry. I needed a minute. So—wait. Is Lily her—his real name?

S. Hollander: No.

H. Pike: Are you going to tell us his real name?

S. Hollander: Not over the phone. You’ll meet him at the wedding.

J. Boiziau: Okay. Um. Congratulations? On being gay?

S. Hollander: J.J.. Are you seriously congratulating me for being gay.

J. Boiziau: It’s pride month! I don’t know. You could have told me you liked men before. I’d have found you so many hot dudes—

S. Hollander: Yeah, and have the guys start thinking I’m staring at them in the showers? No way. 

H. Pike: So you don’t want to find us hot? That’s a little rude.

S. Hollander: No I’m not trying to find you hot. You’re not my type anyway, dude.

J. Boiziau: Am I your type, Capitaine?

H. Pike: Shane, I’m about to be extremely mad if you say yes.

S. Hollander: Neither of you are my type, alright! My type is my fiancé, who I’m getting married to next month. End of story.

J. Boiziau: Okay, that hurt my feelings a little bit. I tell you that you are hot all the time!

S. Hollander: Yeah, ‘cause you were trying to hype me up to talk to girls. Not because it was about me.

J. Boiziau: You think I don’t genuinely find you attractive? Hollander, are you blind?

H. Pike: Yeah, dude. Hottest NHL Player as voted by Cosmo. I've seen the Calvin Klein campaign. Trust me, I’d hit if I wasn’t happily married and if you were a girl.

S. Hollander: ...Fuck. He was right about hard maybe.

H. Pike: What was that?

S. Hollander: Nothing! Anyway, I’ll text you the dress code. We’re really trying to keep it small, okay? Like, only family and close friends. Please don’t tell anyone. I don't--I don't want to lose the room over this.

J. Boiziau: Of course, Capitaine. We will keep it quiet.

H. Pike: Can I tell Jackie?

S. Hollander: Didn’t I say Jackie and the kids were invited? Jesus Christ. I should’ve just called her.

H. Pike: I promise I won’t tell anyone!

S. Hollander: If you want to come up a day early to meet Lily—

J. Boiziau: I will be there. 100%.

H. Pike: I’ll wrangle the kids, I promise. Jackie will be so excited. Are we throwing you a bachelor party?

J. Boiziau: We have to. Come on.

S. Hollander: No. God no. Just come, okay? I don’t want to be fucked up when I get married.

H. Pike: Okay.

J. Boiziau: Fine. But we will be celebrating in style, okay? We bring the party, even if it is small.

S. Hollander: Okay. I have to call some of the other guests. Thank you guys.

J. Boiziau: You don’t need to thank us. 

H. Pike: Yeah dude. We’re with you, all the way.

J. Boiziau: Wait. Is Rose Landry coming?

S. Hollander: Yes.

CALL TERMINATED

July 2017

Hayden doesn’t mean to be late. It’s just that wrangling three kids and his very pregnant wife into the minivan to drive to the Middle of Nowhere, Ontario, takes a little time. And effort.

“You feeling alright, Jackie?” He says to his wife in the passenger seat. “Do you need to stop at all? I can pull off here if you need it.”

“Nah,” she says over the shouts of their children in the backseat. “I’m okay for now. Let’s just get there. It’s only 20 more minutes.”

So he keeps driving. 

At least it’s pretty out.

They get to Shane’s cottage in the evening, and the instant the sliding doors open, the girls have unbuckled themselves from their booster seats and are sprinting down the driveway.

Hayden goes to unbuckle Arthur from his car seat and gets a very stern shake of the head when he tries to move Chompy out of the way.

“Come on, buddy, this is so you can see Uncle Shane, remember?” And Uncle Shane’s Lily, who Hayden is desperately curious about.

With that Arthur reluctantly relents, letting Chompy go long enough for Hayden to lift him out of the carseat and settle him on an arm.

Jackie has already started to amble down, one hand on her lower back.

“You sure you’re okay?” he asks, drawing close to her. “I know it’s a lot.”

“I wasn’t about to miss this,” she says. “Besides, this girl is sitting pretty. She’s not going anywhere for a little bit.”

“Don’t jinx it,” he hisses. “The closest hospital’s like an hour away.”

She taps a hand against his chest. “It’s not my first rodeo, babe. I’ll be fine. I just want to enjoy this weekend and watch Shane get married before we have a newborn in the house again.”

“Okay,” He says dubiously. “I’m going to drop Arthur off with Shane and then go get the stuff from the car.” He lays a quick kiss on her cheek before going to do exactly that.

“Hayd!” he hears from the doorway of Shane’s ‘cottage’. Talk about an understatement. 

When Arthur hears Shane’s voice, he uncurls a little bit from Hayden’s side and starts making grabby hands.

Shane just holds his hands out and takes Arthur, folding him in naturally as he holds the door open for Jackie. “I’m glad you could make it.”

“Thanks for having us,” she says, crossing the threshold and giving Shane a quick side hug. “Fair warning: the girls are just a little bit excited.”

Jade and Ruby come careening in through the door to crash into Shane’s legs about two seconds later. “Unca Shane! Unca Shane!”

“Hi, Ruby. Hi Jade,” He says, not moving an inch even as they slam into him, effortlessly steady. 

“Who’s that?” Jade says, giggling as Shane walks backwards into the room, all three of Hayden’s kids stuck to him like limpets. She’s pointing out into the room at one very recognizable figure.

Look. Hayden has gotten used to Rozanov and Shane being friends. He’s gone out with them a couple of times after games. He’s seen Shane laugh at some stupid shit that Roz emails him.

It’s still an adjustment to see him look mostly like a normal person. Well, whatever normal counts for when it’s Rozanov. He’s not snarling and baring sharp, bloody teeth, at least. 

Is Hayden still mad about being called the 15th best Voyageur? Not really. He knows he’s better than that. It’s like him making fun of Shane’s backhand. 

The mouse thing still bothers Hayden, though. It’s stuck in a way that is deeply annoying. 

The Russian Menace himself uncoils from his languid stance and crouches down on the floor near where the twins have glued themselves to Shane’s legs.

“Hello, little Pikelings,” he says. “I am Ilya.” He says it in a way that sounds different from what they say on the broadcast, softer and shorter.

Ruby detaches first, coming up to Rozanov and staring into his face. “Are you here for Unca Shane’s wedding?”

“I am,” he says, with a little bit of a laugh in his voice. “Are you excited to be flower girls?”

“Yes!” Jade shouts as she detaches from Shane’s other leg. “I like flowers.”

“So do I,” Rozanov says with an ease Hayden wouldn’t have expected. “We have lots of flowers here, but you will need to have just the petals for tomorrow. Do you want to help me get the flowers ready?”

“Yeah!” Both girls cheer. Rozanov holds his arms out to them and they come crashing into his torso. He lifts them up together with an ease that feels unfair, sweeping into the living room, where true to his word, there are lots of flowers. Sitting by the table, J.J. waves at Jackie as she follows Rozanov and sits down right next to Rose Landry, who’s across from Cliff Marleau. Weird that he’s here.

“Wow,” Hayden says to Shane. “I did not see that coming.”

Shane looks like he’s stifling a laugh. “He’s good with kids.”

“I can see that.” Hayden starts looking around at the house now that he’s not as preoccupied with his horde of children. “The place looks great, dude. Perfect for a wedding.”

“Thanks,” Shane says dryly. “We’ve been setting up for the last week.”

“So, uh,” Hayden hedges. “Where’s Lily at?” 

It’s hard to disguise the excitement he’s feeling at finally meeting the guy who Shane has been texting for all these years. Who leaves Shane in a state of post-orgasmic glow so potent that it’s singlehandedly increased his point averages for games against Boston. He needs to know, okay. Shane is his best friend. Hayden deserves to know who’s blowing Shane’s back out. Or getting his back blown out by Shane.

God, that sounds so weird.

Shane looks Hayden straight in the eye and says, “He’s right there.” And points into the living room.

Right at Rozanov, who’s showing his daughters how to gently remove the petals from a set of red roses.

Ilya Rozanov.

Ilya.

Lily.

“What the fuck,” comes out of Hayden’s mouth, unbidden. “What the fuck. The whole time?”

“That is what I said,” J.J. calls from the living room.

“Yeah,” Shane says, a little quieter and more withdrawn.

“Hey, hey, you’re good, man. I’m just a little surprised,” Hayden says quickly, trying to stifle his instinctive reaction. “I thought you were going to tell me Rozanov introduced you to Lily, ‘cause y’know Boston, but turns out he is Lily.”

“You didn’t know sooner?” Jackie says, laughing slightly. “His name is Ilya, Hayd.”

I’ve been conceptualizing the friend version of him as Roz since Shane first made me go to the bar with him, Hayden thinks mulishly. Ilya is someone I don’t know. I don't know the man who is marrying my best friend, really.

Crucially, he doesn’t admit this.

“I guess so,” he says lamely. “Wait, so this whole time you’ve been playing against each other. Like full on. He’s slammed you into the boards more times than I can count.”

“It’s part of the game,” Shane says at the same time as Rose Landry (Rose Landry!) says, “Shane likes it.”

Shane starts blushing hard, and Rozanov smirks, running his tongue between his teeth.

He’s seen that smirk before. Every time Shane faces off against him, Rozanov has that fucking smirk on his face, the one he saves exclusively for Shane Hollander. 

Everything is starting to make an alarming amount of sense.

Shane Hollander, the golden boy of Canadian hockey, who everyone thought was staying unattached because of his love of the game. Who plays against his rival with a fervor that has literally driven ticket sales up.

Turns out, this whole time, it’s been a weird little mating ritual. Ugh, that makes it sound gross.

“It makes sense,” Hayden says finally, after thinking it over for a few more seconds. “Marrying Rozanov is about as close as you could get to straight up marrying hockey.”

That gets a laugh from everyone.

“Is this why you are marrying me, любимый?” [beloved] Rozanov teases.

Shane gives him a look as he walks over with Arthur on his hip. He stops in front of Rozanov and plants a kiss right on his mouth. It looks like he intended for it to be quick, but Rozanov lengthens it just to the edge of being inappropriate before he pulls back. “I’m marrying you because I love you, Ilya.”

He says it so frankly, so straightforwardly honest that Hayden can’t help but feel the truth of it.

Shane is getting married to Ilya Rozanov because he loves him.

Rozanov keeps looking at Shane with a smile on his face, like there’s nowhere in the world he’d rather be.

Hayden can see it. When they hung out as friends, there was always a little bit of tension, a little bit of something that Hayden couldn’t quite place. A little bit of deliberate separation between them.

Now he knows what it was. Seeing them without it is so different. It's like his chakras have realigned, or whatever Jackie's mommy yoga instructor says, but for seeing Shane be in love. With Rozanov.

With Ilya.

It’s a little silly to insist that everyone attending your wedding be in the bridal party, in Yuri’s opinion.

Well, there’s no brides to make it a bridal party, exactly. Groomsmen, maybe, but there are women on both sides, so that doesn’t work.

Anyway, they’re all taking turns walking down the aisle (the stone path in the backyard) and then going to stand by the little arch that’s been set up. Everything is done up in fairy lights as far as the eye can see.

The only spectator at this point is Jackie Pike, who is heavily pregnant and not inclined to go walking anywhere, especially in the summer heat. She has a pretty dress on and a tiny fan blowing cool mist in her face.

Yuri respects her. Technically, she’s part of it too, since she’s running the playlist. And she’s taking pictures on her camera, as far as Yuri can tell. Her chair is positioned for a perfect view of the arch. 

The kids go first—Katya leading the way with the rings carried solemnly in a little box in her hands. The twin Pikelings, as Ilya calls them, run after her, strewing flowers in their wake. The smallest Pikeling toddles down the aisle, tripping a little bit on the stones before he just goes running to his mother.

Then the groomsmen begin to come down—a mess of hockey players and Viktor. Yuri wants to laugh at the combination, because Viktor is standing up so straight next to these enormous men. He’s taller than Pike, at least. The others, Boiziau and Marleau, tower over both of them.

Then it’s his turn. He walks down the aisle with Svetlana on his arm, finally tall enough to stand eye to eye with her in her reasonable heels. He still can’t manage it when she’s in stilettos. Katsudon follows with Rose on his arm. Yuri doesn’t understand the big deal everyone makes about her, because she just seems like a normal woman.

Shane comes out next, walked down by both of his parents to where the officiant stands under the arch.

Yuri has really come to like him over these last few years. He’s genuinely kind in a way that is baffling, and competent to a point. Yuri appreciates how direct he is. Ilya needs that. He needs people who tell him like it is, and don’t let him slip into trying to please everyone.

His mom is scary the way Madam Lilia is scary, and his dad is the most Canadian person on Earth. Of course they would produce Shane.

And then Ilya walks out with Madam Lilia and Dedushka. He looks handsome, and happy in that way where Yuri knows he’s a little sad underneath it, because there is a little pocket in his heart that remains empty of the people who used to fill it.

Everyone stand on their respective side while the kids congregate around Jackie, who’s snapping photos intermittently.

The officiant is wearing just about the loudest shirt-poncho thing that Yuri has ever seen, and she still fades behind the grooms. She clears her throat and begins speaking.

“Dearly beloved and honored guests, we are gathered here today to witness the joining of Shun Katsuki and Ilya Plisetsky in the union of marriage.”

“Marriage is not a simple thing—it is a deep and profound contract that must be entered with a deep understanding of its obligations and responsibilities. Both of these men are here to pledge the joining of their lives, a commitment that will last through life’s ups and downs.”

“Do you have vows that you would like to share?” She asks Shane and Ilya.

Without hesitating, Shane yanks a piece of paper out of his pocket and says, “Yes.”

He unfolds the paper, but isn’t really looking at as he starts to speak. “Ilya. When we first met, I had no idea of how profound an impact you would have on my life. I just knew I wanted to introduce myself to the Russian phenom whose tape I had been watching for the last year. I don’t often walk up and introduce myself, as many of you may know.” He gets a light laugh with that. “But I knew I would regret it if I didn’t approach you outside of that rink in Saskatchewan.”

He takes a deep breath. “But we didn’t start becoming friends until your brother ran into me at World Juniors. You insisted that I give you your email. What I didn’t know was that I was signing myself up to be woken up by chirps in my inbox for the rest of my life.”

“I’ve had a lot of time to stare you down across face-off circles over the years. There’s no greater joy I get than being on the ice with you, except maybe being off the ice with you. The common factor is always you.”

He grows somber for a moment. “There was a time when we chose to stay apart out of a sense of danger, one that was incredibly real, that has haunted both of our lives from the moment we first fell together. Through it, I couldn’t let go of you. I couldn’t let go of the person who makes me laugh, who challenges me every day, who I couldn’t help but want to learn new things about. At the end of it, I realized I was hurting you by holding myself apart, and hurting myself just the same.”

“I’ve proposed marriage to you three times since the moment that we committed to each other.” A little ripple of shock goes through their crowd of family and friends. “I wanted this so much that I couldn’t stop asking for it, even when we knew it was practically impossible. But last month, the captain of an MLH team kissed his boyfriend on the ice after winning a Stanley Cup. And you said to me, ‘we should get married’. So of course I said yes.” He clears his throat a little bit.

“Ilyusha. I promise to never let you win. I promise to hold you in every moment that I can. I promise to remember what makes you happiest and give it to you as much as I can. I promise that I will be on our team, first and foremost. Я всегда буду любить тебя, Илья. [I will always love you, Ilya.] ”

Shane folds the paper away, looking utterly pleased with himself. He picks up Ilya’s hand in his again and squeezes it.

“My turn,” Ilya says. He doesn’t take anything out to read from. “The moment I met you, the first thing I noticed was your freckles. I thought to myself, wow. This freckled boy is very pretty and lecturing me about smoking. I have to beat him at hockey.” He gets a laugh. “I did beat you that time. But then we met again, and I asked for your email because I wanted to keep talking to you. Also because my brother wanted photos with your cousin. He was very big fan.”

Goddamnit. Ilya just had to include that.

“We could not meet again that day, so I sent you a message. We worked out together, the night of the draft, and even though I have beaten you for first, you still took the time to tell me about the place I was going and let me not be afraid for that moment. I made my agent call CCM to let us shoot together because I wanted to see you again so much.”

“From there it has always been back and forth between us. You do not make things easy, моя любовь, [my love] unless you choose to. You will always argue, and I love this about us.”

“I have called you boring before, and I will again. But the truth is that boring is safe. Boring is coming home to you, and knowing you will still love me at the end of the day. Boring is doing laundry and dishes and fixing the lightbulbs and doing taxes and reading and everything I could not have imagined for myself when I was younger. Boring is everything that means you love me, not in the ways that would break my heart, but the ways that build it back up into something that holds us both.”

“Shanya. любимый. [beloved] I promise never to let you win. I promise to take care of you when the world becomes too much to bear, because you have always been willing to take on the hardest work. I promise that our team will always come first, because it is what will take us through the rest of our lives. Я люблю тебя, мой Шейн.” [I love you, my Shane] He steps forward reflexively, before the officiant quickly holds up a hand.

“Just a minute,” she says. “Those were some beautiful vows. I have just a few more for you to share.” She turns to Shane first. “Shun, do you take Ilya to be your husband? Do you promise to love, honor, cherish, and protect him, forsaking all others, and holding only unto him forevermore?”

“I do,” Shane says, his voice ringing clear and strong.

“And Ilya,” she turns to Ilya. “Do you take Shun to be your husband? Do you promise to love, honor, cherish, and protect him, forsaking all others, and holding only unto him forevermore?”

“I do,” Ilya says, having recovered his composure.

“If we could have the rings?” she asks, and Katya steps forward to hand it to Ilya, having been holding the box very carefully since the start of the ceremony, keeping it out of the Pikelings’ grasp admirably.

“Ilya and Shun will now exchange rings as a symbol of their love and commitment to each other. Rings are a precious metal; they are also made precious by you wearing them. Your wedding rings are special. They mark the beginning of your journey through the rest of your life together. Your wedding ring is a circle — a symbol of neverending love. It is the seal of the vows you have just taken to love each other unconditionally.” She hands the first ring to Shane.

“Shun, please place this ring, in accordance with Russian Orthodox tradition, on Ilya’s right hand, and repeat after me.”

Shane takes the ring, shining gold in the late afternoon light and places it on Ilya’s finger as he repeats the officiant’s words. 

“As a sign of my love, that I have chosen you above all else, with this ring, I thee wed.”

She hands the other ring to Ilya, tucking the box away into one of her enormous sleeves. “Ilya, please place this ring on Shun’s right hand, and repeat after me.”

“As a sign of my love, that I have chosen you above all else, with this ring, I thee wed.” Ilya slides the ring onto Shane’s finger, but keeps his hand in his grasp.

“Now, by the power vested in me by the Government of Ontario, it is my honor to pronounce you married. May God bless you and your union, that you might go forward hand in hand, living each day to the fullest in one another’s company. You may now kiss.”

Both Shane and Ilya practically lunge forward, gripping each other’s faces as they kiss and everyone cheers. And then they keep kissing.

And kissing.

Yuri kind of wants to close his eyes once he spots a little bit of tongue. But he’s a good brother, and he will not yell at them to get on with it.

Gospodi, it takes so long. Both of them are severely disheveled by the time they come apart.

The officiant says, “I am pleased to present the newlyweds, Shun Katsuki and Ilya Plisetsky.”

Chapter End Notes

I hope you liked it! Feel free to tell me what you think.

Quick Notes:

- It's Hollanov wedding time! I did not reference the Long Game wedding at all except for what I've osmosed through reading fic.
- Dear god. I can't stop. There was a whole 1500 words of this that had to be moved to the next chapter because the wedding joy took over.
- Most of what the announcers are saying about the Admirals' Cup Win is verbatim, with just a few tweaks.
- There is some shenaniganery going on with the name thing for the wedding. I'm sort of handwaving the technicalities of this because I didn't want to have to figure out how to make confidential marriage licenses a thing in Canada. It is part of their legal names; they can technically argue for it on the basis of being public figures. Could someone figure it out? Probably. But it's a lot more protection than getting married as Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov. Plus NDAs for everyone involved, as per Yuna's protocol.
- Are Hayden and J.J.'s reactions a little bit of self-indulgence? Yes. But given that they know Ilya better as a person instead of an enemy in this AU, and Shane is taking the time to tell them instead of being outed, it comes across differently. The repressed bisexuality helps on both sides, because they're rationalizing Shane being gay as "oh everyone's a little gay. His hubby must be really hot for him to just be friends with rose landry." Which he is, but there are other reasons too, obviously.
- I want Outsider POV for Viktuuri's wedding, so I had to go Outsider POV for Hollanov's wedding too.
- The arrangement of the wedding party is as follows;

Ilya's Side:
Best Man: Yuri Plisetsky
Best Woman: Svetlana Vetrova
Groomsmen: Viktor Nikiforov & Cliff Marleau
Parents of the Groom: Lilia Baranovskaya & Nikolai Plisetsky

Shane's Side:
Best Man: Yuuri Katsuki
Best Woman: Rose Landry
Groomsmen: Hayden Pike & J.J. Boiziau
Parents of the Groom: Yuna & David Hollander

Independents:
Ring bearer: Katya Rozanova
Flower girls: Jade & Ruby Pike
Assistant: Arthur Pike
Photographer & Unofficial DJ: Jackie Pike

- The party is arranged that way for maximum symmetry. Yuri and Yuuri are the best men not for planning reasons, but because of the fraternal relationships. Rose and Svetlana did the planning parts of that job. Viktor gets to join the hockey players because it's very funny to imagine him doing that. The kids are running wild. Jackie gets the only separate chair because she is super pregnant with Amber; everyone else crowds onto the patio furniture.
- I was initially going to have them elope, and then realized the combination of Yuna, Lilia, and Svetlana (and Rose!) would never let that happen.
- They are using wedding rings that are separate from their engagement rings; the plan is for them to wear one on their hands and one on each of their necklaces. Both on the necklaces when they're playing.
- They didn't change their names for a couple of reasons; both of them have two surnames that they use and picking the ones they would theoretically use would be a nightmare. Additionally, Yuri started throwing up at the thought of their married name being Katsuki-Plisetsky.

Chapter 6: Summer 2017 II

Chapter Summary

Shane. I don’t know if you’re going to read this. I hope you do. This is a loose timeline of some things I have noted in my time here as a communications and media administrator for the Voyageurs.

Chapter Notes

The day after he gets married, Shane almost completely ignores his email. Too busy enjoying newly wedded bliss with his husband (his husband!).

But he checks in the evening. He's too routine not to. It's come from a habit of checking for one from Ilya, more than anything else.

Usually, anything from the comms team is sent to his team email, so this might have just been mistakenly sent.

But Marina is the person he reached out to when he sat down for his infamous interview with Ilya. She's usually on top of things like this. If she's blind copying his personal email on something, it's probably important.

He reads the subject line.

And opens the first file.

PR meeting notes.docx

Shane. I don’t know if you’re going to read this. I hope you do. This is a loose timeline of some things I have noted in my time here as a communications and media administrator for the Voyageurs.

I don’t know if you’re aware, but there have been ongoing discussions about your role on this team. I’ve tried my best to detail the changes here. Some of these notes may be relevant to your decision. You will probably get a better idea if you listen to the audio file.

Media Strategy Timeline Rough Summary - #24 Shane Hollander

June 2009:

• Best Canadian prospect
• Highest Asian draft pick—cross reference with Anaheim w.r.t. Kariya?
• emphasis on breaking barriers
• Revitalizing rivalry with Rozanov;
• Hollander as Canadian exemplar
• Win at 2009 IPC and back-to-back Centennial Cups

2010-2011:

• Rapid advancement to first line; address in post-game media
• All-Stars in Rookie year!
  • Hollander v. Rozanov conceit
• Rookie of the Year campaign
  • Scoring race + assists.
• Highest Jersey sales to date

2011-2012:

• Selected as Alternate Captain
• Pike-Hollander pair working well in-game and for media purposes
• Note fan demographic shift; sexuality speculation
• Lady Byng nomination

2012-2013:

• Strong consistency in numbers; track rise in ticket sales
• Focus on candid moments; more engagement than interviews
• Fight with Scott Hunter - Apology
  • Reason unknown
  • No penalties incurred
• Playoff performance; send off for Davey, Hollander taking up the mantle

2013-2014:

• First year as captain
  • Sell rookie year jerseys as vintage with markup
• Olympics
  • Canada wins gold under Hollander’s captaincy! Cup speculation?
  • Juxtapose with Rozanov
• Loss in Conference Finals to Boston
• Rozanov Rabies rumors? Reach out to Bears media team
  • No weight to rumors. Limit spread.
• Reconciliation at MLH Awards
  • discuss whether pivot stands or business as usual
  • Sexuality rumors? Online activity spike.

2014-2015:

• Second year as captain
• Definitive Cup trajectory. Emphasis on the push/grind.
• March 2015: ISU Worlds
  
  • Related to Katsuki Yuuri?
  • Independent Interview. End of Hollander-Rozanov Rivalry?
  • International collaboration
  • Collaborations with other Winter athletes—reach out to Leroy family?
  • Let the buzz die down—intra-family rivalry is a spike, but will die down before playoffs.
• STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS!
• Viral media—Rozanov in Hollander Jersey at Cup Finals. Suppress?
  • Streisand effect. Suppression made viral moment worse.
• Review of personal communications—rise in speculation regarding insider trading/cheating allegations. 2014 Conference Finals Loss in question.
• Reputation mostly consistent; most do not believe rumors but coaching staff has significant doubts.

2015-2016:

• Focus on team as whole rather than Hollander
  • Media becoming the Hollander Show -> Oversaturation.
  • Limit connections with other teams. Emphasis on professionalism. Return to traditional appeal.
  • Sexuality rumors--suppress.
• Email leak
• Coordinate with Yuna Hollander regarding social media strategy; attempts at interaction from Rozanov.
• Seen being friendly with Rozanov around games
• Push friendly rivalry?
• Maintain status quo—minimal comment. Focus on the team. Align with Hollander on strategy.
• Back to back Stanley Cup Champions!
• Drive up buzz regarding dynasty

2016-2017:

• Retain team focus. Follow MLHPA guidelines.
  • Scrap previous year's extreme professionalism policy—caused decreases in fan engagement. Split the difference between player and personality.
• Rose Landry:
  • Addressed by Hollander’s team. Spike in engagement; reach out to Landry’s team to encourage attendance despite negation of rumors? 
  • Put sexuality rumors to rest.
• All-Stars: Hollander and Rozanov on the same team; friendly rivalry pivot.
  • EMPHASIZE PIVOT. Do not encourage speculation. We are not looking for Rozanov in free agency.
• Injury: Hollander out of regular season and playoffs
  • Implications for captaincy post-playoffs
    • Pike and Boiziau unviable. Look to Roy, Comeau, etc. as new options.
  • Recovery timeline from LTIR
  • Rozanov visited Hollander?? 
    • No comment / Captain to Captain Acknowledgement
    • Review of footage to see if injury was intentional on Hollander's part
    • Viral moment
• Hollander at ISU Worlds once again
  • Media with Figure Skaters. Skating fine. Still Injured. Implications for LTIR?
    • Endorsing family connections? Uptick in sexuality rumors due to association.
  • Questions regarding support for the team during playoffs, given consistent losses after Hollander's injury.
    • Deflect to strength on other rosters.
• Loss in first round of playoffs. Press focused on absence of Hollander.
  • Deliberate sabotage on behalf of Rozanov? Questionable.
• Expansion Draft in July. Consider options. 
  • Exposure as means of lowering value; less useful post-injury.

I want to personally apologize for the leaked emails. I did my best to maintain your privacy.

I just saw no other way to prevent them from tampering with the contents and using them as leverage to discredit you later down the line. Nothing you talked about was out of line with your image, except for some profanity, which could be smoothed over.

The expansion draft is happening on July 21st. The GM and coaching staff will be discussing who will be protected soon. Check the wording on your NTC.

Please be careful. I probably won't be with the team much longer. But I couldn't leave without saying something.

~ Marina

It reads like a jumble of phrases at first. Nonsense splattered on the page.

And then it is confirmation of everything he has feared for years.

Sexuality rumors echoes in his mind like a gunshot. Right alongside I don’t want any of that faggotry in my locker room. And deliberate sabotage.

Less useful post-injury.

He clicks on the audio file numbly.

New Recording 23.mp3

(rustling noises, as though the microphone is being held in a pocket and someone is moving.)

 

MARCEL BOUCHARD: Alright, Ms. DuBois. It’s been two weeks since the identified materials were provided. Could you share the results of your review with us?

 

MARINA DUBOIS: I reviewed every email in thorough detail and found no evidence of tampering with game results. No monetary bets either, or discussion of involvement with sports betting.

 

HENRI THERIAULT: They might have just not emailed about it. Who knows what they talked about. McCann. You were doing tape reviews.

 

PETER MCCANN: LIke Ms. DuBois said, there isn’t any evidence of games being thrown. The statistical review found an upward trend to their performances against each other, actually. More shots on goal, more goals and assists, better offensive zone performance, it’s really somewhat fascinating. We had identified it before as being related to the rivalry—

 

HENRI THERIAULT: I don’t care about all of that. Is there any way they could have been cheating?

 

PETER MCCANN: Not that we wouldn’t know about or have identified by this point. 

 

MARINA DUBOIS: The closest they came to sharing information about their teams was Rozanov complaining about a teammate’s pregame food routine, which did not end up affecting the subsequent game. There’s no discussion of injuries, lines, training, any of it. They discuss the other teams in the league quite regularly, but nothing that could be construed as cheating.

 

HENRI THERIAULT: Rozanov could have been stealing plays off of Hollander.

 

MARINA DUBOIS: …It doesn't seem like it. Most of the time, they were making personal challenges. Like the jersey thing. Or matching other players with animals.

 

HENRI THERIAULT: What?

 

MARCEL BOUCHARD: What?

 

ANDREW MOLSON: What?

 

MARINA DUBOIS: It’s exactly what it sounds like. They name a player, pick an animal that they think fits that player, and then debate over it.

 

ANDREW MOLSON: And it’s not code for anything.

 

MARINA DUBOIS: Not as far as I can tell. I had the rest of the media team look over it to see if I was missing anything. They couldn’t find anything either. 

 

ANDREW MOLSON: Okay. It still seems a little suspicious.

 

MARINA DUBOIS: The only thing that we could identify as being related to this in regards to gameplay was Rozanov calling Ryan Price a Flemish rabbit.

 

PETER MCCANN: …That just sounds like a weird chirp.

 

MARINA DUBOIS: It was.

 

HENRI THERIAULT: So all this investigation was for nothing, then.

 

PETER MCCANN: Well, not nothing. We have demonstrable evidence that our captain and star center was not cheating for the entirety of his career.

 

HENRI THERIAULT: Hm.

 

ANDREW MOLSON: I’m glad to hear it. If that’s the case, I think we can call this meeting adjourned. Take care.

 

(rustling noises, as people stand up from the table.)

 

(silence for over 1 minute)

 

HENRI THERIAULT: …I was sure they would find something.

 

MARCEL BOUCHARD: We knew it would be a possibility.

 

HENRI THERIAULT: I’ll have to go with something else. The focus on professionalism will be sustained. Keep those emails; we could still get some use out of them. Send them to a freelancer, let them create a narrative and run with it.

 

MARCEL BOUCHARD: It's an option.

 

HENRI THERIAULT: We are a long-standing, traditional hockey team. We do not need things like this gumming up the works.

 

MARCEL BOUCHARD: We can adjust the focus to center the game above all else.

 

HENRI THERIAULT: It's just too much. Sure, he's good for an Asian, but to be a fag and strange like he is? If he were any worse I'd say drop him. Put him on waivers, for all I care. 

 

MARCEL BOUCHARD: We have put far too much time and effort into Shane Hollander to be discussing dropping him. His contracts are ironclad.

 

HENRI THERIAULT: Yeah. Now. When he's the face of the Stanley Cup winning team. If he lets us down? He's gone. The team is good enough without him. 

 

MARCEL BOUCHARD: Henri--

 

HENRI THERIAULT: All the uppity talk--I don't need anymore of that. We're doing what works. 

 

MARCEL BOUCHARD: You couldn't have predicted the level of success he would reach.

 

HENRI THERIAULT: I wasn't asking for him to bomb out! I wanted him to buckle down and do his job without fuss, and apparently he is not capable of that. Too busy listening to his Chink mother and doing ad shoots.

 

MARCEL BOUCHARD: It brings attention to the team.

 

HENRI THERIAULT: It brings attention to him. Hollander is the name with first billing, not the Voyageurs.

 

MARCEL BOUCHARD: Well, we'll work on that. He takes the fall if anything goes downhill.

 

END OF RECORDING

“любимый.” [beloved] Shane hears faintly. “Shanya. Are you alright?”

Everything is numb.

This can’t be happening.

“Shane.”

One thing.

He had one thing. Kept it secret. Out of the room. Neat and sterile, always moving slow. Deflecting until he couldn't anymore.

Is this his fault for getting tired of hiding? For feeling the exhaustion of it weigh on him day by day, snatching moments with Ilya from nothingness?

“Shane.”

7 years, and 6 in leadership, and they still think he’s the diversity hire. Good for an Asian. Strange. Fag.

Everything he’s given to his team for the last 7 years, and they think he sabotaged their chances. That he would give up everything he worked so hard for.

That Ilya poisoned his mind.

Just as a friend. Not even as his husband.

“Shane.”

Every instance of sexuality rumors is damning. For how long they go back—it’s a wonder that they’re not calling him slurs to his face.

I don’t want any of that faggotry in my locker room.

Years of being told to be professional. To rein in any sign of being close with another man, including his teammates.

“Hollander.” Ilya’s hands are on his body, arms coming around him and squeezing tight. “Breathe. Please.”

He takes gasping, hiccupping breaths as Ilya holds him, vision blurring. 

“You are okay here, любимый. [beloved] I am not going anywhere. Breathe. In for 4, out for 4.”

He follows the rise and fall of Ilya’s chest, tracking the rush of his heartbeat.

It takes long, painstaking minutes of counting in cycles, eyes closed tight, before he can breathe normally again, if a little quick.

“What happened?” Ilya asks gently.

God, his husband. Only a day after they get married, and Shane is looking down the barrel of their careers.

He just points at the laptop screen. Ilya scrolls back up to the top and begins to read.

The rage pouring through Ilya’s body radiates off of him the second he finishes reading.

“It’s going to be an ultimatum,” Shane says softly when Ilya looks up. “I fucked up our playoff chances this year.”

“You did not fuck up the playoffs, Shane. You were hurt. They could not keep up without you,” Ilya seethes. “They are fucking stupid if they think you are not the thing carrying the team.”

“Clearly Theriault and the front office want nothing to do with me,” Shane points out. “Did you hear how much they think I was cheating?”

“You would never do that,” Ilya says firmly.

“I could have unconsciously done something. Prioritized you instead of the best play.”

“You know that is not true, любимый. [beloved] Do not let these idiots try and convince you of that.”

“He wants me out of the way,” Shane says, voice going a little wobbly.

“They would be fucking stupid to try and get rid of you. Coaches can be replaced. Shane Hollander cannot.”

Shane shakes his head quickly. “Theriault has an in with the Commissioner. He’s not going anywhere.”

“Then we take this to Yuna,” Ilya says, thinking rapidly. “We take this to Yuna and let her do her work with it. She will oust him.”

“And how long will that take? The timeline isn’t technically evidence of anything concrete. The tape just proves that I wasn’t cheating and they want me out. In the meantime, he’ll crack down again, and I’ll be right back where I was in 2015, except this time they have something to point at. I can’t imagine—we’re married now. They’ll go looking. I trust Hayden and J.J., but they’ll be on the chopping block too if they find anything.”

In the meantime, Shane will be mercilessly used in the locker room, constantly fighting for his place even though he earned it a thousand times over before he even stepped into the Voyageurs’ locker room. Losing ice time and leadership and the good name that has propped up the Voyageurs since Shane was drafted.

“Any team would be lucky to have you, моя любовь. [my love] They are ungrateful shits.” Ilya wraps his arms around his husband, speaking into the crook of his neck. “You are second best hockey player in the league. They know nothing.”

The fact that Shane just scrunches his nose a little bit and doesn’t refute his statement tells Ilya how deep this wound goes. “Where else could I possibly go, Ilya? No one near the top will have cap space. I can’t go to the Western Conference. And we can’t guarantee that this wouldn’t happen again the second I go to a new team.”

Go to a new team.

A new team.

“Marina wrote about the expansion draft, yes?” Ilya says slowly. “The Quebec Nordiques.”

Shane pauses to think about it for a second. “Ilya. That’s—”

“Building a team from scratch, yes,” Ilya forges ahead. “Taking an old team legacy and a mediocre start and making something of it. Shaping the culture from the beginning.”

“Oh,” Shane says faintly.

“Is not going to the bottom of the league. Is close to home, still in Canada. Takes you out of the division so you do not have to see Voyageurs so often.”

Shane gapes a little bit. “You’ve been thinking about this.”

Ilya bites his lip. “Yes.”

“How long?”

“A while,” Ilya says, tipping around the truth of it, which is that he has been watching since the new team was announced. “It was an option. For me to be closer to you.”

“You would leave Boston?! Ilya!”

“I do not want to be six hours away from you for the rest of our careers!” Ilya snaps, drawing away. “It was hard enough before we got married, моя любовь. [my love] I am dreading going back to Boston, because you will not be there and playing there will not make it worth missing you.” He can feel his face getting hot, the pressure building behind his eyes.

“What were you going to tell your team? There’s no way management would let you go like this.” Shane is right. He doesn’t know what he’s going to tell his team. But he knows what management would say.

“I told them my family was moving to Canada,” Ilya admits. “That I had been applying for Canadian citizenship because there were always delays for me getting it in America and I needed to be safe out of Russia. That I was willing to be traded, so they would get something out of it instead of walking in free agency. They told me that they would be willing to work with me to figure it out.”

“Oh, Ilya.” There are tears building at Shane’s waterline. “You didn’t tell me.” The tears don’t fall, but Ilya runs his thumb across Shane’s freckles anyway.

“I did not want to burden you, sweetheart. I wanted to wait until I had more of a plan. Getting married only made me want to be closer to you.”

“They’re working with a full cap right now,” Shane realizes. “Everyone will be protecting their highest earners. If we both went—”

“We could play on the same team,” Ilya breathes into Shane’s mouth.

Shane grabs his face and kisses him forcefully, like he’s trying to crawl into Ilya’s chest via his mouth. “The same team. Our team, Ilya.”

“Our team,” Ilya agrees as Shane presses him down to the floor.

PHONE CALL TRANSCRIPT: S. Hollander -> Y. Hollander 
Date: 9 July 2017
Duration: 4:58

CALL INITIATED

Y. Hollander: Hello?

S. Hollander: Hi, mom.

Y. Hollander: Hey, sweetie! I thought you and Ilya were going on a blackout. Are you okay?

S. Hollander: Um. 

Y. Hollander: Shane. Is there an emergency? I can be over there in ten minutes.

S. Hollander: It’s not exactly an emergency, Mom. I, uh, sent something to your email that I need you to read as soon as possible.

Y. Hollander: Hold on, I’ll look now.

S. Hollander: Use your computer.

Y. Hollander: (movement) … Something you need to know from Marina?

S. Hollander: The files are the important thing.

Y. Hollander: Okay, I’m reading now. Are you going to stay on the line while I review these?

S. Hollander: Yes. It’s important.

Y. Hollander: Alright. I’m putting you on speaker…discussions about your role on the team?

S. Hollander: It’s not just that. Keep reading.

Y. Hollander: (silence)...you didn’t tell me they asked to review your emails with Ilya.

S. Hollander: It’s fine. I knew we didn’t cheat or incriminate ourselves. They weren’t going to find anything.

Y. Hollander: That’s still your personal correspondence, Shane. It’s not like being subpoena’d.

S. Hollander: I was made aware that my captaincy would be in question if I did not make it evident that I did not give Ilya information.

Y. Hollander: Oh, baby.

S. Hollander: There’s more.

Y. Hollander: I don’t like the constant references to sexuality rumors. That should have no bearing on what you do in the room

S. Hollander: I don’t like it either.

Y. Hollander: DELIBERATE SABOTAGE?!? They think you got injured on purpose?

S. Hollander: Yeah. I didn’t, but the team started losing pretty consistently the moment I went on injury reserve.

Y. Hollander: That’s not your fault.

S. Hollander: They’re trying to make it my fault.

Y. Hollander: They have no evidence. It’s a baseless accusation.

S. Hollander: But if the media gets a hold of it, they’ll turn to me before asking the team. It’s only a matter of time.

Y. Hollander: Marina leaked the emails?

S. Hollander: Yeah. I’m not mad at her. It leaves them without a way to fabricate anything.

Y. Hollander: Okay. I’m going to listen to the audio now.

S. Hollander: Don’t! Please. Not–not while I’m on the phone. I think there’s a transcript.

Y. Hollander: Okay. (silence)

S. Hollander: I can’t listen to it again.

Y. Hollander: (silence) ...I can see why. This is open and shut for a discrimination lawsuit. Let me call Catherine. We’ll get you set. Theriault will be out quick.

S. Hollander: He has the Commissioner at his back, Mom. It won’t be quick. It’ll be drawn out and ugly, and I have to be in the room in the meantime, actively in conflict with my own coach. I would have to come out for us to have a distinct foothold, and I know the room wouldn’t take it well. Theriault fosters a very cold environment.

Y. Hollander: That is…very true. But he can’t continue to be your coach. He has to go.

S. Hollander: Or maybe I go.

Y. Hollander: You would abandon your team? Shane, you’ve won two Cups with them.

S. Hollander: Yeah well, I’ve won two Cups, and the entire time I’ve been walking on thin ice for existing. I only invited Hayden and J.J. to the wedding for a reason, Mom. I love Montreal, and they're trying to drive me out. They've been. 

Y. Hollander: Well, where would you go? Any team would take Shane Hollander, but going somewhere where you won’t take a pay cut would be sending you to the bottom of the league.

S. Hollander: We were thinking the expansion draft. Quebec.

Y. Hollander: We were thinking? ...Is Ilya with you?

S. Hollander: (Ilya Rozanov) Yes, Yuna.

Y. Hollander: Okay. Just a second. (long deep breath) Quebec? The Nordiques?

S. Hollander: They need strong leadership. They could take us first and then select after. We take what we're at right now to leave cap space, and negotiate for more later when the contracts fully transfer.

Y. Hollander: And it keeps you close.

S. Hollander: It keeps me close and brings Ilya to Canada. You can build a narrative out of us, I don't know, joining forces. Officially putting the rivalry to rest.

Y. Hollander: How do you know they would take you?

S. Hollander: (Ilya Rozanov) I have already talked to Boston’s management. They are willing. (Shane Hollander) Montreal will call it locker room issues. If we get ahead of it—

Y. Hollander: Then you come into next year hot. The only problem—you two on the ice are a revelation, but you’re not a whole team.

S. Hollander: They’re pulling from every team. I’m sure there are guys who have been underused. Any young guys can be trained.

Y. Hollander: ...You realize you’re going to break the hockey world.

S. Hollander: Better than it breaking us.

Y. Hollander: Better than it breaking you. Okay. We’re waiving your NTC.

S. Hollander: Yes.

Y. Hollander: And you’re already off the protected list, Ilya? I don’t even know how you managed that.

S. Hollander: (Ilya Rozanov) I told them my family is moving to Canada. I am getting citizenship because I am concerned about the political situation in America and Russia. I made it clear, they did not argue.

Y. Hollander: Okay. I’m still going to call Catherine.

S. Hollander: Tell her not to start until after the draft.

Y. Hollander: I don’t know that she’ll want to wait, but we’ll see. Alright. I’m going to take care of this. You two…enjoy being newlyweds, okay? Don’t let this ruin it.

S. Hollander: We won’t.

Y. Hollander: Love you.

S. Hollander: Love you. Bye, Mom.

Y. Hollander: Bye, boys.

CALL TERMINATED

Expansion Draft Roster - Quebec Nordiques

July 21, 2017

Eastern Conference

Atlantic Division:

From the Boston Bears, the Quebec Nordiques select #81 Ilya Rozanov (C) (A).

From the Buffalo Swords, the Quebec Nordiques select #36 Ryan Price (D).

From the Detroit Wreckers, the Quebec Nordiques select #20 Drew Miller (L).

From the Florida Cougars, the Quebec Nordiques select #62 Michael Haley (C)

From the Montreal Voyageurs, the Quebec Nordiques select #24 Shane Hollander (C) (C).

From the Ottawa Centaurs, the Quebec Nordiques select #16 Zane Boodram (L).

From the Tampa Bay Thunder, the Quebec Nordiques select #89 Cory Conacher (L).

From the Toronto Guardians, the Quebec Nordiques select #31 Wyatt Hayes (G).

Metropolitan Division:

From the Brooklyn Scouts, the Quebec Nordiques select #52 Ross Johnston (L).

From the Carolina Wrens, the Quebec Nordiques select #33 Scott Darling (G).

From the New Jersey Demons, the Quebec Nordiques select #90 Marcus Johansson (C).

From the New York Admirals, the Quebec Nordiques select #42 Luke Gillis (R).

From the Philadelphia Ringers, the Quebec Nordiques select #21 Taylor Leier (L).

From the Pittsburgh Puffins, the Quebec Nordiques select #75 Ryan Reaves (R).

From the Washington Revolutionaries, the Quebec Nordiques select Zach Sanford (C).

Western Conference

Central Division:

From the Chicago Corvids, the Quebec Nordiques select #28 Duncan Harvey (D).

From the Colorado Mudslides, the Quebec Nordiques select #35 Andrew Hammond (G).

From the Columbus Soldiers, the Quebec Nordiques select #7 Jack Johnson (D).

From the Houston Drillers, the Quebec Nordiques select #17 Jason Dickinson (C).

From the Minnesota Nomads, the Quebec Nordiques select #10 Jordan Schroeder (C).

From the Nashville Tigers, the Quebec Nordiques select #27 Evan Dykstra (D).

From the St. Louis Swing, the Quebec Nordiques select #22 Chris Thorburn (R).

From the Winnipeg Thrashers, the Quebec Nordiques select #15 Nick Chouinard (D).

Western Division:

From the Anaheim Hammerheads, the Quebec Nordiques select #70 Dennis Rasmussen (C).

From the Calgary Blaze, the Quebec Nordiques select #3 Jyrki Jokipakka (D).

From the Edmonton Oilers, the Quebec Nordiques select #15 Tyler Pitlick (R).

From the Los Angeles Queens, the Quebec Nordiques select #23 Frank Lundin (L).

From the San Francisco Mission, the Quebec Nordiques select #57 Tommy Wingels (C).

From the Utah Sabertooths, the Quebec Nordiques select #77 Tony DeAngelo (D).

From the Vancouver Canucks, the Quebec Nordiques select #13 Matthew Baldwin (G).

Quebec Nordiques @quebecnordiques ☑️

A warm welcome from Quebec to our new roster!

Nous souhaitons la bienvenue à nos nouvelles recrues au Québec!

[Link: Expansion Draft Roster - Quebec Nordiques]

Jake @bearsftw

wat the actual fukc is happoimng

 

Gracie @hollanova

ROZ AND HOLLZY ON ONE TEAM!!!!!

 

Gracie @hollanova

HOLY SHIT!!!!! I’M DREAMING!!!!!!

 

mark @hockeyboooi

what the fuck happened for the two best centers in the league to go to the QUEBEC NORDIQUES

 

taylor! @taygagnon

we are so fucking back. we’re winning the cup in one year

 

taylor! @taygagnon

quebec moment of all time i fear

 

boo habs @habsux

istg i’m literally shitting my pants rn

 

boo habs @habsux

this is the best day of my fuckin life. montreal just lost shane hollander.

 

vicky @voyswin

who made the LEGENDARILY bad decision to let SHANE HOLLANDER go to an EXPANSION DRAFT

 

rina @hollzypuck

omg it’s literally canada’s prince bringing the nordiques back from the war

 

ellie @hollfander

ok so it’s roz and hollzy, a goon squad of enforcers and then some bozos. we’re cooked.

 

luca! @ilyuca81

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Ilya Rozanov @rozanov81☑️

[Image: A typed statement reading as follows:

Many of you may be wondering why I will be joining the Quebec Nordiques this upcoming season. You are questioning why I am so abruptly leaving my team.

The truth is that this is something that has been in the works for a while. I am moving to prioritize my family, as they have recently come to Canada. 

Boston was my home for many years, and I will always appreciate the support and love of her fans. To the Bears, thank you for giving me some of the strongest bonds and happiest moments of my life. TD Garden will always be home to part of my heart. I leave behind a culture of trust and support that I hope to emulate with my new team.

I look forward to building a new future for the Nordiques alongside one of my best friends in the world, Shane Hollander. I cannot wait to be on the ice.

~ Ilya Rozanov]

[Image: Ilya Rozanov in his home jersey for the Boston Bears, standing alone on the ice at TD Garden, looking up at his Stanley Cup banner from 2014.]

[Image: Ilya Rozanov being mobbed by his teammates.]

Boston Bears @bostonbears ☑️

We’re going to miss you, Cap!

[Image: Ilya Rozanov holding the Stanley Cup above his head with his teammates around him..]

[Image: Ilya Rozanov on the bench with the Boston Bears.]

[Image: Ilya Rozanov taking a face-off against Shane Hollander.]

 

Cliff Marleau @marcliff

Wishing you the best, man.

[Image: Cliff Marleau next to Ilya Rozanov on the bench, whispering conspiratorially.]

 

Liz @hollanovtruther

...i'm starting a rumor

Hockey Analyst @hockeyanalyst

Some truly shocking acquisitions by the Quebec Nordiques in today’s expansion draft selection. Namely, Ilya Rozanov and Shane Hollander.

Hockey Analyst @hockeyanalyst

No one could have predicted the top two centers in the league not being protected by their teams.

 

Hockey Analyst @hockeyanalyst

Almost as soon as the draft was released to the public, Rozanov made a statement explaining the move and thanking his former team.

 

Hockey Analyst @hockeyanalyst

Rozanov has already been designated as one of the alternate captains for the Quebec Nordiques.

 

Hockey Analyst @hockeyanalyst

As of now, two hours after the drafted roster was opened to the public, we have yet to hear from the Montreal Voyageurs or Shane Hollander.

 

Hockey Analyst @hockeyanalyst

All eyes are on Hollander as Quebec City takes the province’s darling Prince of Hockey as their captain.

Chapter End Notes

I hope you liked it! Feel free to tell me what you think.

Quick Notes:

- There's a little bit of mood whiplash from the last chapter to this one. 😈
- Everything Ilya mentions is theoretically possible. If Shane and Ilya both go in the expansion draft, they would probably be paid similarly to what they were getting paid in Boston and Montreal, but not taking a pay spike that they would typically be seeing at this point in their careers. The pay cap is intended to prevent things like this, but expansion drafts tend to be a little weird.
- You probably recognize some of the names on the draft list :) I went through the Centaurs' team histories to see if I could find who had been traded from elsewhere before Ilya came on in 2018. The rest are actual NHL players. I will most likely be focusing on the GCU players just for the sake of simplicity and also not being completely familiar with all of the NHL players' idiosyncrasies. Some of them might get punched during training camp. )))
- The salary cap for the 2017-2018 season was $75 million. Shane and Ilya take up a good chunk of that. Many of the contracts that are being traded over to the Nordiques are ELCs that are being traded over, or the contracts of older guys why are dependable but not stars, so they're getting away with a lot.
- Not everyone who was selected in the expansion draft will make the final roster--they'll go through training camp and a number of them will be cut to whittle down the number to 23.

Chapter 7: Summer 2017 - Fall 2017

Chapter Summary

Shane Hollander @shanehollanderhockeyplayer ☑️

I am honored to announce that I will be joining the Quebec Nordiques for the upcoming season. While I did not anticipate leaving so soon, I am elated to be able to bring the Nordiques back to Quebec after so long.

To my team: You are my brothers, and I will always treasure my time as your teammate and captain. I wish you all the best.

To Montreal: This city has given me more than I could ever imagine. I will never forget who drafted me and offered me their love, enthusiasm, and dedication.

Looking forward to playing some good hockey with my good friend, Ilya Rozanov.

~ Shane Hollander

Chapter Notes

Shane Hollander @shanehollanderhockeyplayer ☑️

[Image: A typed statement reading as follows:

I am honored to announce that I will be joining the Quebec Nordiques for the upcoming season. While I did not anticipate leaving so soon, I am elated to be able to bring the Nordiques back to Quebec after so long.

To my teammates: You are my brothers, and I will always treasure my time as your teammate and captain. I wish you all the best.

To Montreal: This city has given me more than I could ever imagine. I will never forget who drafted me and offered me their love, enthusiasm, and dedication. 

Looking forward to playing some good hockey with my good friend, Ilya Rozanov.

~ Shane Hollander]

[Image: The Montreal Voyageurs standing around the Stanley Cup with Shane Hollander in the center of the photo.]

[Image: Toddler Shane Hollander dressed in a vintage Quebec Nordiques jersey, his father David smiling behind him.]

Hayden Pike @haydenpike35

We’re going to miss you, bud.

 

J.J. Boiziau @jjboiziau

All the love in the world, Capitaine!

 

Gilbert Comeau @gilcomeau

Going to miss getting Cups with you, Hollander

 

Liz @hollanovtruther

I’M STARTING A RUMOR

PRESS CONFERENCE: SHANE HOLLANDER & ILYA ROZANOV

HOLLANDER: Hello everyone. Before we get started, I just want to make a few things clear. Roz and I will not be discussing details about the Quebec Nordiques today. Questions about the team, training camp, and preparation for the season can be directed our Senior Director of Communications, Marina DuBois.

(general noise, snapping of cameras, yelled questions)

HOLLANDER: Salut à tous. Avant de commencer, je tiens à préciser quelques points. Ilya et moi n'aborderons pas les détails concernant les Nordiques de Québec aujourd'hui. Pour toute question relative à l'équipe, au camp d'entraînement et à la préparation de la saison, veuillez vous adresser à notre directrice principale des communications, Marina DuBois.

(pause)

HOLLANDER: Ilya and I first met nine years ago, and we’ve been friends for eight of those years. We’ve faced off on the ice more than I can count. But over the years, we’ve come to know that we have a lot of shared values. Ilya et moi nous sommes rencontrés il y a neuf ans, et nous sommes amis depuis huit ans. On s'est affrontés sur la glace un nombre incalculable de fois. Mais au fil des ans, on s'est rendu compte qu'on partageait plusieurs valeurs. 

HOLLANDER: We discussed starting a charity together back when Ilya was in Boston and I was in Montreal. Today, now that we are playing side by side, that dream is becoming a reality. Nous avions parlé de la création d'un organisme de bienfaisance ensemble à l'époque où Ilya était à Boston et moi à Montréal. Aujourd'hui, alors qu'on joue côte à côte, ce rêve devient réalité. 

ROZANOV: Sorry to you all; I can only say my part in English. I am learning French from Hollander still.

(laughter)

ROZANOV: The Irina Foundation will raise money and awareness for organizations that provide support, counseling, and assistance for people who are suffering from depression and other mental illnesses that can lead to suicide. It’s a cause that is deeply important to both of us.

HOLLANDER: La Fondation Irina amassera des fonds et sensibilisera le public aux organisations qui offrent soutien, accompagnement et assistance aux personnes souffrant de dépression et d'autres troubles mentaux pouvant mener au suicide. C'est une cause qui nous tient particulièrement à cœur.

ROZANOV: (light cough) This is not in the notes. Sorry Hollander. 

HOLLANDER: (no reaction)

ROZANOV: (pause)...The Irina Foundation is named for my mother. She battled depression without help for many years. She had no support, no medical treatment. When she...”

HOLLANDER: (places a hand on Rozanov’s arm)

ROZANOV: My mother died when I was twelve years old. She lost her battle. This foundation is for her. It is to help people like her, so they do not have to fight alone. (slight sniff)

HOLLANDER: (pause) Thank you, Ilya.

ROZANOV: (hummed acknowledgement)

HOLLANDER: We will be hosting our first hockey camp in Quebec City, with all proceeds going directly to the foundation. Our coaches are dedicated MLH and WHL players, including Ilya and myself, who want to contribute to the future of hockey and make a difference. Nous organisons notre premier camp de hockey à Québec, et tous les profits iront directement à la fondation. Nos entraîneurs sont des joueurs dévoués de la MLH et de la WHL, dont Ilya et moi-même, qui veulent contribuer à l'avenir du hockey et faire une différence. 

HOLLANDER: My mother, Yuna Hollander, will be serving as the chair of the Board of Directors and Treasurer of the Foundation. We are endlessly grateful to her for her support in creating the Foundation and making it a reality. Ma mère, Yuna Hollander, occupera les fonctions de présidente du conseil d'administration et de trésorière de la Fondation. Nous lui sommes infiniment reconnaissants de son soutien indéfectible dans la création et la concrétisation de la Fondation. 

HOLLANDER: We would also like to thank our team, the Quebec Nordiques, for choosing the Irina Foundation as one of their primary charitable endeavors. Nous tenons également à remercier notre équipe, les Nordiques de Québec, d’avoir choisi la Fondation Irina comme l’une de leurs principales œuvres caritatives. 

HOLLANDER: To make a donation today, you can visit www.irinafoundation.com. Pour faire un don aujourd'hui, vous pouvez visiter www.irinafoundation.com. 

ROZANOV: We will now open the floor to questions.

Hockey Tea @hockeytea

Montreal Voyageurs players caught talking about the loss of their former captain!

[Video: Voyageurs Get HEATED Over HOLLANDER!]

[Transcript: Voyageurs Get HEATED Over HOLLANDER!

HAYDEN PIKE: This is the stupidest fucking decision they could have ever made. It’s Shane.

J.J. BOIZIAU: Yeah, no shit. They did not say anything to us. 

GILBERT COMEAU: Over the stupidest shit in the world. I don’t give a shit what Coach thinks; Hollander was doing good work. Giving him to Quebec? Unforgivable.

SORREN MIITKA: Two Cups and they wanted us to think a concussion took him out. 

PATRICE DRAPEAU: Did he ever tell you what the deal was with all the room culture shit he was spewing in 2015? Y’all were pretty adamant that it was bullshit.

HAYDEN PIKE: Apparently it’s gay to have friends on other teams, and Coach didn’t like that, so he put it on Shane to shut it down.

DAN BERKES: Gay?! To have friends?!? He’s calling all of us gay at that point. He's saying you can't dap a guy up or else that's gay. That's the most normal shit in the world.

ISAAK STEDLUND: Even if he was gay, it’s still Shane Hollander. Our captain. He could have sucked a dick in the locker room and I’d still have wanted him here to win. He was ours.

J.J. BOIZIAU: They gave him away for nothing. I do not know if I can live with the things they said about him.

HAYDEN PIKE: Shit, J.J., I didn’t even think about that. Fuck. That really sucks.]

pierre @bonvoyageurs 

ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME

 

pierre @bonvoyageurs 

I’M GOING TO STRANGLE HENRI THERIAULT WITH MY BARE HANDS

 

vicky @voyswin

okay so its homophobia. and racism. like it always fucking is.

 

vicky @diqueswin

fuck it i’m changing allegiances. family history who.

 

ellie @hollfander

now why are they...💅🏼

 

ellie @hollfander

i'm just saying i wouldn't expect ostensibly straight hockey players to be like: i'm cool with sucking dick

 

Joey @Puckwizard456

bro it's shane hollander. he's too good at hockey. i don't give a fuck what he does in his free time.

 

Dave @davenpuck

that's the least convincing reasoning i've ever heard for sending your star player to an expansion draft

 

Dave @davenpuck

there has to be something deeper going on. maybe hollander did something.

 

ellie @hollfander

HOLLANDER did something???? You couldn't get me to release Shane Hollander if he KILLED SOMEONE

 

ellie @hollfander

This is STUPIDITY. FUCKING INSANITY.

 

ellie @hollfander

I'M MOVING OUT OF THIS GODDAMN CITY

 

claire @stclaire

henri theriault's decapitated head on a spike. that's what i want.

Quebec Nordiques - Meet the Captains!

[Video opens with the logo of the Quebec Nordiques on screen as the first 10 seconds of Let’s Go Les Nordiques plays.]

[The first shot, fading in from the logo, shows Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov sitting next to each other, wearing their blue Quebec Nordiques jerseys, which have the team logo in the center and fleur-de-lis around the bottom. Hollander’s jersey has the C while Rozanov’s has the A.]

HARRIS DROVER (OFF-SCREEN): Hello Nordiques fans! It’s time to meet the captains!

SHANE HOLLANDER: I’m Shane Hollander, #24, and I am the Captain of the Quebec Nordiques.

ILYA ROZANOV: I am #81, Ilya Rozanov, and I am the Alternate Captain of the Quebec Nordiques.

[Rozanov attempts to sloppily salute Hollander and Hollander slaps his hand down.]

HD (OS): We’re here to give a little introduction to you guys in our first couple days of training camp. Shane, can you tell us a little about yourself and some things you’ve done before coming to Quebec?

SH: Sure. Um. I was born and raised in Ottawa, started skating when I was three and playing hockey at four. Played a lot in Juniors before I was drafted by the Montreal Voyageurs. Won Rookie of the Year in 2011—

IR: (grumbling) Even though I scored same number of goals—

SH: And I had like 8 more assists than you did. It made a difference.

IR: Fine.

SH: Anyway. I’ve been to All-Stars a few times, and won the Stanley Cup with my team in 2015 and 2016.

IR: I still got it before you.

SH: By one year! I forgot to mention Olympic gold. And the Lady Byng.

IR: Yes, yes, we know you are nice. I was born and raised in Moscow, playing since I was five, and played in the junior leagues in Russia before I came here for the draft. Went first, by the way.

SH: Rude.

IR: Shh. I have also been to All-Stars a few times, and won the Stanley Cup in 2014, and the Hart the same year.

[Rozanov has a slightly strange expression on his face, like he is reminiscing on something. Hollander has a similar expression on.]

HD (OS): Of course, you both are incredibly well-decorated. You’ve been known as rivals for most of your careers, although more recently you’ve been known as close friends.

SH: We are. We’ve known each other for a very long time.

IR: Longer than some of these rookies have been alive.

SH: They’re not that young.

IR: (doubtful sound)

SH: And we’re not that old.

IR: That I will agree with.

HD (OS): There was a bit of a viral moment surrounding you two a couple of years ago regarding some leaked emails.

SH: Oh god.

HD (OS): Among other things, your fans might remember some bits about animals?

IR: (delighted) We are playing 2 questions?

HD (OS): Yes! Well, just question one, since you have yet to tell me what question two is about.

SH: (tiredly) And we never will.

HD (OS): Today, I’m going to have you guys play a round of 2 Questions with some of the new Nordiques roster. Sound good?

IR: Is there an order we have to use?

HD (OS): We’re doing top lines, probably, but you can go in whatever order you like.

IR: Okay. Pricey is still Flemish giant rabbit.

[Two images pop up on screen; one of Ryan Price, and the other of a Flemish giant rabbit.]

SH: Obviously. He's heard you say it before--do you think he remembers?

IR: We will have to ask him. 

SH: Okay. Hazy’s a capybara for sure.

[Two images pop up on screen; one of Wyatt Hayes, and the other of a capybara.]

IR: Yes. I like this for him. Good energy. Hm. Choui is like one of those big seals. The very big ones, not the little ones that bounce.

SH: Elephant seal?

[Two images pop up on screen; one of Nick Chouinard, and the other of an elephant seal.]

SH: I don’t see it. But I’ll put a pin in that. Dykstra…I’m going to go blackbird for him.

[Two images pop up on screen; one of Evan Dykstra, and the other of a blackbird.]

IR: Why?

SH: The music.

IR: Hmm. Maybe. He is too blonde. And big. Giraffe.

[Two images pop up on screen; one of Evan Dykstra, and the other of a giraffe.]

SH: You know it’s about the energy and not what they look like.

IR: Then tell me I’m wrong when I say Gilly is a golden retriever.

[Two images pop up on screen; one of Luke Gillis, and the other of a golden retriever. They look remarkably similar.]

SH: That’s an exception!

IR: Is not. He has golden retriever energy.

SH: Yeah, but you’re making the point—ugh. fine. I’ll let that be. But I’m arguing Choui. Moose.

[Two images pop up on screen; one of Nick Chouinard, and the other of a large moose.]

IR: Hm. Very Canadian of him. And of you.

SH: We’re both Canadians, Roz. I’m not arguing it with you. Choui is a moose.

IR: Fine. Bood is an armadillo.

[Two images pop up on screen; one of Zane Boodram, and the other of an armadillo.]

SH: Jesus Christ dude. Have you been saving that?

IR: Yes.

SH: Okay. Lundy’s a dolphin. Atlantic Bottlenose.

[Two images pop up on screen; one of Frank Lundin, and the other of an Atlantic Bottlenose dolphin.]

IR: I will agree with this. Very smooth. Like, ah, акула [shark]. Shark.

SH: No, a dolphin. Also, sharks aren’t smooth. It’s important to me that you know that.

IR: I have pet one. Sharks are smooth.

SH: No you have not! They have denticles! They cannot be smooth!

[The shot fades out as they keep arguing into a black screen with text that reads: We had to cut some of this because Roz kept insisting that sharks are smooth. The Captain is correct—sharks have small teeth-like scales all over the surface of their skin called denticles, that aid in hydrodynamics and protection.]

SH: Baldwin.

IR: Mm. Hippopotamus.

[Two images pop up on screen; one of Matthew Baldwin, and the other of a hippopotamus.]

SH: Oh. A lot of time staying still, terrifying if you get too close. Runs faster than you expect. That tracks.

IR: Harvey.

SH: I’m tempted to say a pitbull.

[Two images pop up on screen; one of Duncan Harvey, and the other of a smiling pitbull.]

IR: Pitbulls are very sweet, Shane. Komodo dragon.

[Two images pop up on screen; one of Duncan Harvey, and the other of a komodo dragon.]

SH: This is because we watched that documentary, isn’t it.

IR: Come on, it would make very good mascot.

SH: No.

[Rozanov somehow makes a pouty face audible, despite not speaking.]

IR: Please?

SH: No. Leier?

IR: Some kind of fox, I think.

SH: I can work with that.

HD (OS): To wrap up, can you give us yourselves?

SH & IR: (simultaneous) NO.

[The shot cuts to the Nordiques logo and text reading: Thanks for watching!]

@diquesdiques
this is why hollander is the captain. keeping them on track. tired dad energy.

@nordgirl
ok but whyyyy did no one tell me they're a literal comedic duo. who's out here calling shane hollander boring

@hollanova
god i love them so much. thank you admin for giving me my daily dose of hollanov

@puckedup
😍😍😍

@rozysgirl
he looks soooo happy

@8124ftw
roz the absolute troll. hollander just along for the ride.

@hockeyboyzzz
the way the admin made them list their accomplishments and they instantly started competing. you're not rivals anymore guys

@nordyke
I Will Pay Actual Money To See The Unedited Shark Argument (Shargument)

@mlhfur
ok can you imagine if any of them are furries and then get their mandated hollander-rozanov animalsona? would they change it? i have to know.

↳@mlhfur
for that matter its clear roz and hollzy aren’t furries. they’re in it for the love of the game. i need to know if they’re right tho.

~ read more comments ~

Chapter End Notes

I hope you liked it! Feel free to tell me what you think.

Quick Notes:

- I took a little bit of a different approach with this chapter in terms of focusing on mixed media. As such, it's a little bit shorter than some of the other chapters that have more traditional narrative structures.
- Tell me how it goes if you do the sudoku :)
- If you’re reading on mobile, you may want to change the orientation of your screen or turn Creator’s Style off in order to read the newspaper article.
- The Gazette refers to the Montreal Gazette.
- There are some things going on in the background of this that I'll touch on later. :D
- Yes, the group chat is a reference to We are African Americans...and Mark (Shane).
- The Voyageurs are actually quite pissed and blindsided by the whole thing, as you can tell. It's still a sad split.
- Shane isn't actually out yet; everyone is operating under the assumption that Theriault is being more racist than homophobic, though it is a combination of the two. But the rumors are there. And there are queer players out there who think he's a babe ;)
- Fair warning, the final Diques roster is going to be primarily composed of the GCU characters since that's who I'm most familiar with, as opposed to the real NHLers. They are mostly there to fill space.
- Shoutout to those of you who clocked that Harris would be coming along!
- Ilya the ragebait king is back 😈

The Sudoku Solution on page B7 for those of you who would like to see it:

Chapter 8: Fall 2017

Chapter Summary

Right before their first preseason game against New Jersey, Shane makes a very small mistake.

The whole team is in the locker room, music blasting, generally getting a little rowdy before they head for the ice. 

He’s proud of them, honestly.

Chapter Notes

The first thing Brandon Wiebe thinks when he meets Shane Hollander is holy shit he looks just like Davey. It’s all in the shape of his jaw and the straight line of his nose that has remained unbroken even through years of playing hockey.

He shakes away the memories of playing at McGill with David Hollander in goal in enough time to clock the slight hesitance on Shane’s face as he shakes Brandon’s hand.

“I’m excited to work with you, Shane,” he says as their hands drop to their sides. “I know Montreal was a little…turbulent, but I hope we can form a good working relationship and really get this team going.”

“Me too,” Shane says, but his shoulders are still a little stiff.

“We got the email from your team in the middle of the decision process—have you gotten to meet with the GM yet?”

“I haven’t met Michel in person yet, no.”

“We’ll go to the office in a bit, take some time for you to meet everyone. Everything is still a little chaotic, but until the draft decision goes out, your only responsibility is making your transition. I’ve heard good things about your captaincy in Montreal.”

“I did my best,” Shane says, looking down at his hands. “I did my best.”

“For now, do you want to take a little time on the ice?” Brandon can see the tension in Shane’s entire frame. He suggests the ice because that’s what’s always worked for him. “I’d like to see how you skate up close,” he jokes.

Shane’s shoulders drop. “Sure,” he says with a relief that’s palpable.

Brandon straps on his own skates and feels the creak of old injuries in his bones. They’re not gearing up all the way, just going out to skate.

But when he gets out to watch Hollander, it’s like magic. The kid flies, he’s so fast, turning on a dime and moving like he was born on the ice. He practically was, having known Yuna and David back then.

“Having fun without me, Hollander?” He hears as someone enters the rink.

Ilya Rozanov walks in, accompanied by the new Director of Hockey Analytics, Svetlana Vetrova. He’s carrying his skates in one hand.

“Just talking to Coach,” Shane says casually.

Ilya walks up to the bench to strap his skates on while Miss Vetrova splits off for the stands, getting herself a good vantage point. She already has an iPad in hand, flicking through as she calls out, “I want to see some footwork, Hollander! Show me what you did in the offseason!”

Shane instantly launches into a series of dizzying steps that look, bizarrely, like figure skating. Ilya comes clean off the bench and starts matching him pace for pace. Everything is a masterwork of clean edges and smooth transitions, the kind that would make people cry to see coming at them with a stick in hand.

Brandon thinks, Wow, they really are friends.

And then, I guess the figure skating relatives come in handy.

And then, If we could get the entire team to train like this…it could completely change how they play hockey.

Wyatt gets to the first day of training camp an hour before they’re even supposed to start arriving.

Somehow, he’s not the first one there. There is a bright orange sports car parked over two spots when he pulls in. 

It’s immediately identifiable, not just because the license plate reads R0ZAN0V. 

He walks past it, shaking his head a little bit at the parking job before he heads into the Centre Vidéotron.

Everything is shiny and new in a way that makes Wyatt feel a little nervous, if he’s being honest. It’s a little too perfect.

To his surprise, there are two stalls that already look like they’ve been disturbed when he gets into the locker room, right next to one another. 

One is pristinely laid out, everything in an order that maximizes efficiency of use. It speaks to longstanding routine. This is the kind of guy who puts his skates on the same way every time.

The other stall is what he could maybe, maybe call organized chaos. It’s all in there and everything is visible, but there’s just an edge of disorder to it that is fascinating.

He’s a little further away from them, where his stall is, but he thinks he can guess at whose they are pretty easily without looking at the nameplates.

Enough of being distracted. Wyatt starts laying out his own stall, looking through all his gear, taking out his well-thumbed comics and placing them exactly where they should go on the shelf. The knickknacks will come later. When serendipity finds him. For now, the comics will do.

Wyatt straps his practice gear on and goes out to the ice. He needs to introduce himself to the net.

Of course, the ice isn’t empty. He doesn’t technically need for it to be empty. It’s just nice if it is, the first time he’s out there. 

Hollander and Rozanov are out there, geared up and shooting pucks at the net. Hollander is doing this thing where he gets it to hit the exact same spot on the back of the net, every single time.

From multiple angles. He’s aiming five-hole right now, or where five-hole would be if someone was in the net. Rozanov is yelling commentary at him from the bench.

“This is why I tell you your backhand is weak!”

Hollander, without looking at him, skates up to the next puck, fakes a backhand shot and then full sends it.

The Rozanov.

“Get your own moves, Hollander!” Rozanov hops the boards with his stick in hand. “My turn.”

Well. No better time. 

Wyatt walks over to the bench and starts peeling his skate guards off just as Hollander gets back to the bench.

It’s quiet and a little awkward for a moment. But then Hollander looks at him a little closer and says, “Wyatt Hayes, #31. .909 save percentage over 31 games. 2 shutouts.” He then holds out a hand and says, “Shane Hollander.”

Embarrassingly, the first thing that comes out of Wyatt’s mouth is a squeaked, “I know who you are,” while he yanks his glove off to go shake Hollander’s hand.

“Ha! Of course he does. He spent one of those 31 facing you down. You scored more on Nilsson than you did on him. Toronto is garbage.” Rozanov is suddenly very close to the boards and leaning over. “Ilya Rozanov.”

It feels like a fever dream as Wyatt reaches out and shakes Rozanov’s hand. This whole thing feels crazy.

“It’s nice to meet you,” he says. “Do you need someone in goal? I was just going to say hi to the posts.”

Rozanov gets a wicked smile. “I would love someone in goal, Hazy.” He skates back from the boards to give Wyatt room to get out.

“I just need a minute to warm up,” he says.

“Take your time,” Rozanov waves a hand. “You are early anyway.”

Wyatt skates up to the goal and assesses it, running his gloves over the posts.

He says his hellos while he starts working his hips open. 

Hollander and Rozanov are just standing on the ice by the bench, chatting quietly.

It’s one thing to see them ‘put the rivalry aside’ on TV and social media. It’s another to see two of the greatest hockey players of a generation tapping their helmets together before they skate out to run a shootout drill. Against him.

Holy fuck.

Ryan Price isn’t anticipating much from Quebec. It’s closer to home than Buffalo, at least.

Being invited to the group chat before training camp is nice, at least. He’s been on enough teams to know that doesn’t usually happen. He doesn’t plan on using it much.

He’s not exactly a friend magnet.

When he walks into the locker room to get ready for first skate, he doesn’t get the silent moment of appraisal that he’s come to expect, the one where every entrenched member of the team looks him up and down and deems him nothing more than a pair of fists.

Instead, he gets a “Hey, man!” from Wyatt Hayes, as the former backup goalie bounds over. “Ready for hell? You look great!”

“Thanks,” Ryan says, uncertain. “I did a lot of offseason training.”

Wyatt laughs. “Well it looks like it’s working!” He gives him a light punch on the arm, reaching up to do so. “I’d say I was, but I really wasn’t expecting any of this. Good to have you, though.”

“Good to be here,” Ryan says mechanically. He starts gearing up.

“Ryan Price, right?” One of the other defensemen comes over. “Evan Dykstra. You came out of Buffalo, right? That must’ve sucked.” He’s holding out a hand to shake like it’s completely normal. Ryan takes it for what it is. “Still better than coming out of Winnipeg though. Choui’s pretty glad to be home, right?” He calls over to one of the other defensemen, Nick Chouinard.

“Oui,” Choui says in exaggerated French.

Wyatt whispers, “He’s just mad ‘cause he’s got media responsibilities. They want everything in French and English, and he and Hollander are really the only guys who are fully fluent in both.”

Ryan didn’t even think about that. “I can speak some,” he says, remembering years of playing in the youth leagues against Quebecois teams. 

“Good on you, dude,” Dykstra says. “My wife Caitlyn has me reading French vocab books.” He says it so fondly, like he actually likes her.

It’s certainly not what Ryan’s used to, so far. Maybe it’s just that everyone in the room is new to the team, and the good energy will fade after a couple of days of practice. 

But the roiling pit in his stomach that makes him need to hold himself tight is a little calmer. 

He changes his clothes and gets ready for fitness testing.

The whole team is a bit of an eclectic bunch. Mostly guys who’ve been back and forth from the MLH and AHL, but a few who’ve been warming the bench.

More enforcers than Ryan expected. Duncan Harvey is here, mouth in a flat line. 

There’s a compilation out there labeled HARVEY-PRICE BEST FIGHTS! And another called PRICE & HARVEY: BEASTS UNLEASHED. Needless to say, they’ve fought each other a lot.

Ryan is sort of hoping Harvey doesn’t have any hard feelings over it. Logically, he doesn’t. They can’t. It’s too much to get emotional every fight you get into like that. 

But he’s hoping anyway.

The new coach walks into the locker room. He seems relatively young, early forties or so, and still in shape, but not like he’s playing.

“You all ready?” Wiebe asks simply, not yelling to cut through the volume.

He gets a good cheer from some of the guys. Others are a little more stoic.

“Let’s get you out there, then.”

From there, it’s endless. They head to the weight room first and start taking metrics, and vertical jumps, and bench pressing and one rep maxes. Ryan does his best.

Ryan is on the 15 second break of their 30-15 interval when he ends up next to Shane Hollander.

That Shane Hollander. Captain of the team. Star center. The guy Ryan is probably going to be expected to protect.

And then Hollander opens his mouth and says, “You’re a lot faster than people give you credit for.”

What.

What.

Ryan’s brain very calmly goes through a couple of thought processes.

1. Shane Hollander, the Captain of his new team just complimented him on their first day of training camp.

1. It’s not about Ryan being a good enforcer.

1. It’s about the work he’s put in to train as a defenseman. the work he’s been putting in every summer for the last ten years, only for it to go ignored.

“You are scaring him, Hollander,” Ilya Rozanov says out of nowhere, drawing up on Ryan’s other side, as the signal goes again. They tear off towards the red line.

Rozanov’s a little easier. Ryan has played with him before. Won a Stanley Cup with him. Been called a Flemish Giant Rabbit by him.

“I’m just telling the truth,” Hollander says flatly when they make it to the other side. “A little more work on puck control and you’d be scoring more often.”

God, he has to be hallucinating. The signal goes again, and they’re off. 

“Price scoring? You’re outta your mind.” Fucking Tony DeAngelo, there to ruin it. He’s 21 and an asshole the size of Texas.

“This conversation does not involve you, DeAngelo,” Hollander says evenly. 

The signal goes. They tear off. Ryan is feeling the burn of it, but Hollander and Rozanov look fresh as daisies.

“Dump him on the taxi squad already,” DeAngelo scoffs as Ryan barely makes the end of the 30s interval.

“Not for you to think about,” Roz says to him. 

The signal goes. Ryan pushes himself on the next rep, needing to prove he can do it.

He can be here. He can play hockey and not just be a bag of meat.

“Like I’m going to listen to Ruski and the Chink,” DeAngelo says. “Your teams must have fucking hated you. So fucking uppity.”

DeAngelo makes a move forward like he’s trying to get in Hollander’s face.

Look. It’s not like Ryan thinks Hollander can’t take care of himself. He clearly can, to have had the career he’s had. 

But he’s the first captain Ryan’s had who has looked him in the eyes and seen something worthwhile.

Ryan is standing between them. He puts a hand on DeAngelo’s chest and shoves him away.

DeAngelo comes back swinging. Ryan is trying to focus, keep those swinging fists away. He can’t let something this stupid happen on the first day of training camp, not when they could cut him at any second. His elbow smacks into DeAngelo’s nose with a hard crunch.

The whistle blows and Wiebe is skating over. “What’s going on here?”

“DeAngelo has decided to spend his time acting like a child instead of playing hockey,” Roz says idly, resting an arm on Hollander’s shoulder. “Punching above his weight class.”

Ryan doesn’t know how to explain himself. He just shakes his head and looks down.

Wiebe’s face darkens. “All of you, with me.”

Ryan follows the captains off the ice with an alarming weight in his stomach and blood from DeAngelo’s nose on his hands.

The feeling persists as he calls them into his office one by one. Hollander and Rozanov first, just giving testimony. Then DeAngelo, and Ryan last.

When he gets into the room, Ryan folds himself into the chair in front of Wiebe’s desk and tries to make himself as small as possible.

“What happened out there, Price?” Wiebe says after a long moment of silence. “I need you to tell me the truth.”

The truth. “DeAngelo was saying things. Um. About me. Captains told him to stop. He started yelling slurs at them and skating towards Hollander. I was in front of him so I just shoved him away. Thought he would stop. He started swinging.”

Wiebe is silent for a long moment. “Were you, at any point, intentionally trying to harm him.”

“No,” Ryan says, even though there’s something in him that had a delightful satisfaction at seeing DeAngelo’s nose crunch.

“You moved him out of your space and he came back swinging.”

“Yes.”

Wiebe hums. 

Ryan sits there, starting to breathe a little faster.

“You’re not being cut for this,” Wiebe says, neatly intercepting Ryan’s next thought process. “We’re still evaluating lines, but you are not being cut for this.”

“Oh,” Ryan says. “Okay.”

“DeAngelo’s being put on waivers,” Wiebe says, like it’s not an insane thing to say on the first day of training camp. “I don’t need that kind of posturing in the room. I don’t need you beating up on each other like that if you’re not training. We do enough of that on the ice.”

“But I shoved him,” Ryan points out.

“Self-defense,” Wiebe retorts. “And you were protecting your fellow player, which is part of your job description. You didn’t let idiotic behavior stand.” He stands up from his desk. “I think we can call you done for the day. Come back fresh tomorrow, alright?”

Ryan stands up in a daze and heads back to the locker room to go grab his things.

He’s not going anywhere. He’s not being pushed out. 

The anxiety still roils in his stomach without having anywhere to go.

When he gets into the locker room, it’s mostly empty, but he still gets a whoop from Wyatt.

“Goddamn dude. I’ve been wanting to punch that guy all day. He’s a real asshole.”

Ryan doesn’t say anything, just starts peeling off his gear.

Wyatt continues, “I hope you don’t get in trouble. He was clearly bothering you. That’s instigation if I’ve ever seen it.”

“I’m not in trouble,” Ryan says quietly. “DeAngelo’s on waivers.”

That stops Wyatt in his tracks a little bit. “Holy shit. Wiebe works fast.”

“Yeah.” There’s a little bit of guilt in there that the guy is so young and already being traded so much, but Ryan’s gone through it himself. 

It couldn’t happen to a better person.

“Good on him. And good on you, for not taking his shit. I’m glad it’s not like Toronto here,” Wyatt says firmly. He slaps Ryan's arm and goes back to packing up.

So am I, Ryan thinks, So am I.

Right before their first preseason game against New Jersey, Shane makes a very small mistake.

The whole team is in the locker room, music blasting, generally getting a little rowdy before they head for the ice. 

He’s proud of them, honestly. A lot of them were bench warmers or just getting out of their ELCs when they were sent to Quebec. They’ve put in a lot of work to gel the way they have. 

He’s especially proud of Gilly and Bood coming up to first line even though they’re some of the younger guys on the team. Being able to keep up with his speed is no easy task. They’ve adapted remarkably well to his style.

Ilya has hit it off with his lineys as well—Lundy and Taylor are both outgoing and a little mean in a way that clicks well with Shane’s husband.

He’s proud of the D-men too. They got a lot of the rotating enforcers in the expansion, guys who were a little too heavy on the PIM. But after the first day of training camp, they’ve been a little more focused on the hockey than preparing to fight. Ryan especially.

It’s good. Shane wants to prove that they can do it clean, that they can go out and play brilliant hockey without having to get messy.

But when it gets messy, the guys are there to take care of it.

As for the goalies, Shane meant what he said to Wyatt Hayes. Super underutilized for how good he is. Baldwin’s getting up there in years, so he’s happy to let the younger goalie take the 70 of the 70-30.

In all, he can feel them shaping up. Practices sing with the kind of energy they did in Montreal in 2015. 

He’s having fun playing hockey alongside his husband and building up this team.

So when Ilya is pestering him before the game, he puts a hand over his mouth, drops a kiss on his forehead and says, “Just play a good game, okay?” not thinking about where they are. 

There’s a little moment of silence that extends.

And extends.

And extends.

Until Bood whoops, “Get into it, Cap!” and gets a few cheers.

Ilya’s smile grows wickedly wide as Shane’s face goes red and the cheers get louder, picked up by more and more of the guys.

"I will score hat trick just for you, Hollander," he says gleefully. "Thank you for being so gracious, Помидор. [tomato]  I will steal the C from you, mark my words."

"No way," Shane says reflexively, which gets the guys laughing like they usually do whenever they catch him and Ilya bickering. 

It still feels so strange to have that be something that can happen. That he can talk to and bicker with his husband every day, and play the best goddamn hockey of his life.

(translated from French)

 

“Coming into the third period, the Quebec Nordiques are up 5-1 against the New Jersey Demons.”

 

“The perks of having all of your top players on the ice tonight—this new team is testing some combinations and boy are they working.”

 

“I don’t know, it feels a little bit like an unfair advantage to have Shane Hollander as first line center and then follow him up with Ilya Rozanov. The whiplash of dealing with them both is doing a number on New Jersey’s goalies.”

 

“But dealing with them in practice seems to be helping their own goalies. Wyatt Hayes is a wall out there tonight, with 36 shots on goal and only a single point on the board for the Demons.”

 

“Looks like the Demons are getting a little frustrated out there as #23 Damon Severson goes for a hard check against Hollander, only to get bodied out of the way by Quebec’s #36, Ryan Price!”

 

“No illegal checks for Price there, and he’s not dropping gloves! The big guy has just set the Nordiques up for another power play.”

 

“Absolutely lethal combination of Hollander and Rozanov out there on the power play. It’s like they’re flying, without having to look for where the other is in space.”

 

“Taking full advantage of the penalty to get some solid shots on goal here—there’s Rozanov carrying it over on the left, tossed back to Hollander coming out of the neutral zone. He dekes out to the right and it’s over the left shoulder! GOAL, NORDIQUES!”

 

“Hollander’s second point of the night, after assisting on one of Rozanov’s second period goals. Now Rozanov is returning the favor. Captain and alternate captain having a quick hug there on the ice.”

 

“You can hear the crowd out there chanting. Packed house in the Centre Vidéotron for a preseason game. They’ve been waiting a long time for their team to come home, and they’ve done it with style."

 

"The best of Hollander's discipline and Rozanov's passion brought to bear."

The sound in the locker room after the game feels like it’s shaking the building’s foundation. Shane revels in the pure joy of it as the Nordiques clatter in, taking off their equipment and getting back into their game day suits.

“I told you I would get hat trick,” Ilya gloats to Shane, who also got three points, but off of two goals and an assist. The game ended 8-1.

“That’s not fair, though,” Gilly objects. “You got the Benediction.”

“The Benediction?” Shane asks. This is a mistake, because everyone looks a little too excited that he’s acknowledged it.

“Y’know, you gave Roz a forehead kiss, he said he’d score a hat trick and he did,” Bood says. “It’s the Benediction.”

“But it’s not fair if only Roz gets it,” Wyatt jumps in. “You gotta mix it up Cap. Bestow a hat trick on someone else.”

“I scored that hat trick! Not Shane!” Ilya protests to a chorus of shouts.

“Nah, it’s the Benediction,” Evan jumps in. “I wonder what happens if you give it to a goalie. Do we get a shutout? Or do you get something else?”

“We’ve played one preseason game,” Shane says reasonably. “Against New Jersey. You don’t have any other data points. He could have scored a hat trick perfectly well on his own.”

"What if it was Roz getting powered up? He said he was going to steal your C," Nick suggests. 

“That was a joke!”

“You’ll have to do it again,” Ryan says, adding fuel to the fire. “We have 7 preseason games left. You can test the variables.”

Everyone starts hooting and hollering, jockeying to be the next one to get the Benediction. Shane puts his head in his hands, consigned to his fate.

When Shane and Ilya get in the Range Rover to go home that night, Shane notices that Ilya is a little quiet.

“You okay?”

“I am good, любимый.” [beloved] Ilya rests his hand over Shane’s on the gear shift and rubs over Shane’s knuckles. 

"I'm sorry about the fuss over me kissing you."

Ilya goes still, but still like he's holding every muscle in tension. "Is okay."

They settle into a comfortable silence, still wired from the game. The drive is only a few minutes, since they bought it close to the arena for convenience. 

Shane wants to do a larger build a little outside the city once they’re more settled in, but that’s a long term project. 

Besides, they go to Montreal on free weekends to visit Nikolai and Katya and see the Pikes and J.J.. They’re busy as it is.

Shane parks the car in the garage, idly thinking about his real estate search as Ilya grabs his face and kisses him hard. He sinks into it, feeling his husband’s affection like water in a parched desert after spending the day acting as though they are just friends.

“I scored hat trick for you,” Ilya breathes into Shane’s mouth. “мой муж. [my husband] The team saw that I scored for you. They know it is you driving them forward.” His mouth travels down Shane’s neck. “Мой ангел. [my angel] I will steal your kisses before every game. They cannot hope to take the Benediction from me."

"Wasn't me," Shane pants, grasping at Ilya's shirt and bringing his face back up to kiss. "That was all you. God, it was fucking beautiful."

"I made it pretty for you, дорогой,” [dear/darling/treasure] Ilya croons. "Knew you were watching. Stretching out on the ice for me before the game."

"Inside," Shane gasps. "Get inside, now." The car doors open and he's scrambling with the keys as Ilya wraps around him from behind.

As soon as the door opens, Shane just surrenders to the overwhelming weight of his husband’s love.

Chapter End Notes

I hope you liked it! Feel free to tell me what you think.

Quick Notes:

- A lot of outsider POV for this one! Taking it back to where I started this series.
- In order to make Wiebe's intro true, I've changed a few things w.r.t. his backstory and the Hollanders' backstory
1. Shane was an oopsie baby who David and Yuna had just after they got married and out of college (David and Yuna graduated around 1990). He was their special little guy in his early years, so they didn't plan on other kids until later, but had fertility issues which prevented them from having more later down the line. Brandon was a freshman when David and Yuna were seniors.
2. This makes Wiebe a little bit older than he is in canon (about 5-6 years); after retiring from the MLH/AHL in the 2000s, he settled down and had kids with his wife. His triplet daughters are teenagers.
3. This puts him in his midforties when he comes to coach the Nordiques; younger than the average coach but still old enough to have coexisted in college with the Hollanders. Not too far off from his own career, enough time for him to coach in juniors and build up his coaching philosophy before coming to Quebec.
- Rose just got the role of Nancy Kerrigan in I, Tonya. I've delayed the release by about a year and a half specifically for this bit. Also, this was running through my head the entire time I was writing the text exchange: i'm on the airplane - Demi Adejuyigbe
- The 30-15 is an assessment of aerobic power--the players skate across a 40 m interval split by the red line. There are auditory signals given for when they should be crossing the red line, the far line and returning. They do this for 30 seconds and rest for 15, getting faster with each pass. Think the Fitnessgram Pacer Test™ but on ice.
- I have decided Shane Hollander is the Helen of Troy of hockey. The Ultimate motivational tool. Thus, the Benediction. it has the benefit of disguising Shane and Ilya as well.

Chapter 9: Winter 2018

Chapter Summary

Quebec Nordiques @quebecnordiques ☑️

We heard you had some questions about the Benediction… 👀😘🏒

Nous avons entendu dire que vous aviez des questions concernant la Bénédiction…👀😘🏒

Chapter Notes

WARNING:

- This chapter involves description of attempted suicide by overdose. No character death.
If you would like to skip the scene, go from They lose the game 1-0. to Ilya weeps silently in his husband's arms

January 2018

“Party at Hollander’s house!” Ilya yells into the locker room after they beat Philadelphia 4-2.

“Oh, you’re just volunteering me to host?” Shane jokes, knowing that it’s their house. They haven’t exactly told people, though. “And I don’t drink in-season.” That gets a lot of groans.

It's for good reason, though. Shane gets touchy. And chaotic. And very horny. Much like the rest of his mom's side of the family does when they drink.

“Ughhhhh, fine, boring game night at Hollander’s house,” Ilya says with an exaggerated moue. In truth, they’ve been planning to host for weeks. Shane would not have dealt well with Ilya actually springing it on him. He has a closet full of board games, Chel and MLH 17 and a ton of other video games, a catering order that Ilya has to go pick up, and a second fridge full of beer.

He’s prepared for all eventualities.

Shane gets a few taps on the back and “See you later!”s as he gets changed and heads out for media availability. 

He’s joined by Choui, like he usually is. Team ownership really wants everything in French and English, but when 90% of the team don’t understand a lick of Quebecois, it’s a little easier to just have the Francophones doing the talking.

Today’s game wasn’t very remarkable, so most of his answers are the same recycled quotes that he always uses.

That’s why it blindsides him when one of the reporters says, ”Un de vos coéquipiers, Luke Gillis, a lui aussi réalisé une excellente performance ce soir, avec un but et deux passes décisives. Micro en main, il a évoqué une « bénédiction » pour expliquer sa performance. Les Nordiques pourraient-ils s'inspirer de l'histoire catholique du Québec?” [One of your teammates, Luke Gillis, also had a very strong performance tonight, with a goal and two assists on your goals. As he was mic’ed up today, he mentioned a “Benediction” as the reason for his strong performance. Would you care to comment on if the Nordiques are embracing Quebec’s history of Catholicism?]

Shane bluescreens.

It’s a bad question for so many reasons. For one, now people know that the Benediction is a thing. 

For another, he’s not Catholic.

While he’s spiraling out, Choui mercifully takes the question.”Je suis catholique, et je peux vous dire que la bénédiction n'a rien à voir avec le catholicisme. C'est tout simplement une bénédiction du capitaine à nous, les joueurs.” [I am Catholic, and I can tell you the Benediction is not related to Catholicism. It is simply a blessing from the Captain to us players.]

Fuck.

Shane looks over at Choui, warning him not to say anything else.

Unfortunately, the reporter has an eye for weakness. ”Une bénédiction du capitaine?” [A blessing from the Captain?]

Shane can’t blame Choui for being sleep deprived. He has a toddler and an infant at home. He’s more than a little bit out of it by the end of games.

He can blame him for forging on and saying, ”Un bisou sur le front pour partager son talent.” [A kiss on the forehead to share his talent.] And he taps his fucking forehead, right where Shane kissed it before the game.

The camera flashes get a lot brighter after he says that.

Shane thinks Harris can see how pale he’s turning, as the admin says, “Media availability has concluded,” and ushers him and Choui out of the room.

Quebec Nordiques @quebecnordiques ☑️

We heard you had some questions about the Benediction… 👀😘🏒

Nous avons entendu dire que vous aviez des questions concernant la Bénédiction…👀😘🏒

[Video: The Quebec Nordiques filing out of the locker room. Captain Shane Hollander is stationed by the door. As each player comes past him, they get a kiss on the forehead and something said to them that isn’t picked up by the camera. It is especially comical when the players who are significantly taller than him, e.g. Ryan Price, have to stoop down for him to lay the Benediction. Alternate Captain Ilya Rozanov is last in the line, and he gives Hollander a tap on the ass as he heads out the door.]

elisa @elisachirps

omg he’s like their mom

 

Joey @Puckwizard456

dude he’s not their mom. it’s like the pope.

 

q @suckmydiques

he’s the priest kissing babies cept the babies are his teammates

 

mateo @iceday

bro they’re getting communion. a kiss that turns into hockey talent.

bella @whereyoubeenloca

okay but is it just a hollander thing? could any captain do this?

💋 @puckerup

scott hunter would do it. for another cup? hell yeah.

 

Pip @nordyke

how much you want to bet he did it one time and then all of them insisted on getting it after that

 

Helly @hockeymom398

okay but a lot of them are putting up really consistent numbers. is this the secret?

Brad @bradmercer

that’s some gay shit. take it out of the locker room.

vicky @diqueswin

how is it gay? it’s a superstition. hockey players do way more all the time

 

vicky @diqueswin

he’s more secure in his masculinity and sexuality than you dude

 

luca! @ilyuca81

who’s out here saying that they WOULDN’T want a forehead kissie from SHANE HOLLANDER

 

luca! @ilyuca81

look i will ALWAYS be an ilya main. you couldn’t pay me a million dollars not to get a kiss from SHANE HOLLANDER.

 

luca! @ilyuca81

in other news:

[Image: A digital drawing of Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov as kings, with a stylized C over Hollander's throne and an A over Rozanov's, with the Nordiques arrayed in front of them as armored knights.]

Gracie @hollanova

god bless diques admin for doing this. every hollander rpf writer is having a field day.

pierre @malvoyageurs

BRUH it’s just quebecois greetings. it’s a team thing.

 

pierre @malvoyageurs

chill the fuck out

🙏🏼💋🏒@hollysh!t

he rly is hockey jesus

[Image: A prayer candle emblazoned with the figure of Shane Hollander.]

🙏🏼💋🏒@hollysh!t

literally got martyred by the voyageurs and everything

[Image: Shane Hollander on the ice after being checked by Cliff Marlow. He is in the Family Guy death pose.]

When Shane gets home, the living room has been rearranged. Tables dragged over from other rooms, stacked with board and card games. Extra controllers for the Playstation pulled out from storage and plugged in.

There’s food on the table, warmers under metal trays, and alcohol stacked up in the fridge.

“любимый?” [beloved] He hears as Ilya comes downstairs. 

As soon as his husband is in view, Shane launches himself at him. Ilya catches him, rocking back slightly against the wall. He starts kissing Ilya, which turns into a couple minutes of just simply making out before they pull apart.

“What happened?” Ilya asks.

“Choui told the reporters about the Benediction.”

He’s expecting a little bit of sympathy. He gets none as Ilya cackles. “They have finally gotten the secret, huh? Now everyone will be doing it.”

Shane fumes. “It’s not funny, Ilya!”

“Is extremely funny, Shane. I love it. You have turned this team into your trained guard dogs.” He licks a stripe up the side of Shane's neck.

“And what does that make you?”

“Yours,” Ilya says. “ты мой, я твой.” [You’re mine, I’m yours.] He kisses Shane soft and slow.

“ты мой, я твой,” [You’re mine, I’m yours.] Shane says in return. He slowly begins to extricate himself. “I’m going to get changed. They’ll be here in 30 minutes.”

Ilya chases him up the stairs as he sheds his clothes, heading for their bedroom.

They make it back downstairs, neat and ready by the time the doorbell rings.

Wyatt’s there when Shane opens the door, his hand outstretched to ring the bell again. “Hey, Hazy. Come on in.”

“Hey, Cap! Nice place.” He steps in.

“Shoes off, please.” Maybe Shane should make a sign. That might be a good idea.

“Oh, sure.” Wyatt has his shoes and coat off and starts padding down the hall. “Is anyone else here yet?”

“Hello, Hazy,” Ilya says, standing up from where he’s been digging vodka out of the freezer.

“JESUS, Roz. Be a little louder, won’t you?” Wyatt jokes. “When did you get here?”

Ilya shrugs. “I have been here.”

“He’s been setting up,” Shane interjects. 

“You just walked into Hollzy’s house like that? Damn.”

Shane exchanges a glance with his husband. The mirth in Ilya’s eyes is almost worth letting him maintain the charade.

Okay, it’s worth it.

“I did not walk in,” Ilya says. “Came in through the window.”

“What?” Wyatt’s eyes flick back and forth between them. “You broke in?”

“He does this,” Shane says with a theatrical sigh. “Walks in like he owns the place.” He does. “Starts taking things out of the fridge like he pays for groceries.” He does. “I find him on the balcony lounging all the time.” On the chaise lounge that they picked out together. For its sturdiness.

Wyatt looks aghast for a second before he gets a suspicious glint in his eye. The enormous grin on Ilya’s face probably isn’t helping the impression.

Before Wyatt can start asking more questions, the doorbell rings again, and Shane excuses himself to go answer it. Bood is standing there, with a large Tupperware full of his smoked brisket in hand. Dykstra follows quickly after, a speaker braced on his shoulder.

From there, it's a flood. Their team members flood into the house, leaving a pile of shoes by the door once the shoe rack is filled up. 

Shane boots up MLH 17 and lets them go crazy. It’s funny to watch them fight over who gets to be him. He hustles Gilly at cards and yells about Uno rules. Sits on the couch while they play and waits for an available controller.

Towards the end of the night, there are only a few stragglers, and Shane feels safe enough to tug Ilya away for a little bit.

They kiss for a moment in the laundry room. Shane has just worked a hand into Ilya’s pants when the door creaks.

He whips around to see Ryan looking at them with wide eyes. Shane yanks his hand up and starts straightening them out.

“What’s up, Pricey?” Ilya asks, somehow effortlessly calm in the face of being found out by their teammate. His pants are unbuttoned and he's made no move to correct that fact.

“Um, Gilly spilled beer on the couch. They nominated me to find you.” He shrinks a little bit. 

“That’s okay,” Shane says mechanically. “It’s stain-resistant. Soap and water works.”

“I won’t tell anyone,” Ryan blurts. Shane still feels tense down to his bones.

Ilya rolls his eyes for a moment. “He will not tell anyone, Shane. Relax. We have talked, remember? Leaning yes.”

Shane knows the game, but Ryan clearly also remembers something about the phrasing, because he says, “Leaning yes?”

Shane has to breathe for a moment as he looks back at Ilya. Is it safe?

Ilya nods.

“It’s the second of 2 questions,” Shane says. “If we think someone is like us or not.”

“As in–”

“As in gay, yes,” Ilya says impatiently. 

“Oh,” Ryan says faintly. “Um, yeah. Most people don’t assume so.”

“Because you are big? That is dumb.”

“I think hockey players just don’t look for it.” Ryan scratches his nose a little bit.

Ilya snorts. “We know.” He gives Ryan a bit of a harder warning look. “Still, don’t tell anyone." 

“It’s not mine to tell,” Ryan says firmly. “I’ll, uh, leave you to it?” He steps back and closes the door.

Shane’s head tips forward into Ilya’s chest. “Oh my fucking god,” he says, mortified.

Ilya’s chest vibrates with the low rumble of his laughter. “At least it was Price.” Ryan, who's generally quiet and has the same secret as them. He's just as much on the down low.

“At least it was him,” Shane agrees as he grinds his hips forward.

February 2018

Not every day is that good, Ilya reflects.

They don’t win every game. It is not all sunshine and rainbows or whatever the fuck.

Most days are okay. 

But there are days when he only gets out of bed because Shane is getting up, only goes to practice because Shane chivvies them out the door, only sinks into the rhythm of playing because he can’t do anything else.

He should be content. He should be happy. He has Shane. He’s playing with his husband every day, and it feels like magic. His family is the closest to him that they have ever been since he left Russia the first time. His friends are close and secure and happy in their lives.

He can’t stop moving or else the emptiness creeps in.

If he does, it is infinitely harder to start again.

So he doesn’t. He goes to practice and yells more than he talks, then comes home to fuck his lovely husband in every position imaginable. He lets moments of quiet sit a little longer.

He knows Shane loves him. He says it in a thousand ways, every moment of every day.

Ilya can’t bear to be the reason Shane is unhappy.

So he keeps it locked down. Keeps moving. 

Shane will not find him wanting.

“It’s a one-goal game here in Chicago, and the Quebec Nordiques are struggling to keep it together.”

 

“Right at the tail end of two weeks on the road, you can tell these guys are getting tired.”

 

“Keeping the puck moving, at least, but fewer shots on goal and none have made it in. Not the kind of game you expect out of a team with both Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov, but even guys like that can have bad days.”

 

“On the same day? Oh--seems to be a little bit of tension there with Nordiques #28 Duncan Harvey and his old captain.”

 

“The Nordiques have played a pretty clean game thus far this season, despite their well-trained enforcer squad in Price, Harvey, and Reaves. Those guys get out on the ice and the threat of them takes care of issues more than anything else. Rozanov too, now that I think about it. But it looks like we’re seeing some dropped gloves–ouch, Harvey doing some impromptu dental work there on Claude. Peterson skates in as his Captain drops down, grabbing a hold of Harvey’s jersey there—okay, officials are containing the fight.”

 

“Refs calling the penalties now—at least a major to everyone involved, but Harvey might be getting a game misconduct—yep, there it is. Harvey going out with teeth in his knuckles.”

 

“Feels like the old days. I don’t know, putting all those enforcers on one team and getting them to play clean? Wiebe is working miracles in that room.”

 

“Well, not tonight.”

They lose the game 1-0. Everyone is disappointed.

But they have to keep moving. It's not the end of the world.

Shane and Choui are off doing media again. Ilya is thinking of suggesting that Choui be named as another A, for the amount of work he's had to do. Plus it would give them an alternate who isn't a forward. 

On the other hand, then Shane and Ilya can't sneak away during optional practices for captains' meetings. Well they're not sneaking away entirely. But if it takes them a little bit longer to get back to the locker room, and there are so many convenient storage closets along the way, it makes the day a little easier. He can hold his husband for a few moments before they face the world again. 

So maybe not. Shane is still mad about the Benediction getting out, anyway. People have started chirping him with kissy faces. It is very funny.

He's distracted by the thought as he finishes pulling his game day suit back on and walks out into the bowels of the arena, enough that he almost misses Harvey holding a large handful of pills up to his mouth.

"Мудак!" [idiot/asshole] he shouts, but not fast enough to stop Harvey from slamming the handful. "What the fuck are you doing?"

"Dealing with my problems," Harvey snarls. "They couldn't wait to fucking get rid of me, and you're probably waiting for it too. Go ahead. Leave me alone."

"What did you take?!"

"Why does it fucking matter to you? I'll be outta your hair."

"What did you fucking take, Harvey?" Ilya grabs him by the arm and starts tugging him back towards the locker room. Harvey resists with all of his weight. "I am trying to help you, damn it!"

"I don't need your fucking help!"

"Clearly, you do, or you would not be trying to kill yourself in an arena bathroom."

"It's for my fucking pain, you asshat! I know what I'm doing." 

"Yes, you know you're taking too many." With Harvey having dug his heels in, Ilya takes a different approach and sticks his fingers in Harvey's mouth to make him throw up.

The good news--he gags, and some of it starts to come up. The bad news? He bites down, trying to keep them in, while Ilya's fingers are in his mouth.

Ilya feels the skin split before the pain hits. "FUCK! STOP BITING!"

Harvey's words are muffled around Ilya's fingers. His arm comes around to clock Ilya across the face.

Ilya reels, but reorients quickly. He goes for the back of Harvey's knee to get him down enough to drag. It wouldn't work on any other day, but Harvey is already going pale from the drugs.

His hand drips blood as he gets an arm under Harvey's shoulder and starts pulling the man with him.

"What were you going to do, huh, Harvey? Do this and wait for us to find you? Leave us to find your fucking body, foaming at the mouth?" Vacant blue eyes and a dangling cross flash through Ilya's vision.

"I'm not leaving anybody behind," Harvey slurs. 

"You are leaving us behind, dumbass. Fucking idiot. You could have said anything and we would have helped you." They make it to the threshold of the door and Ilya shoves Harvey in, yelling, "Bring Narcan!"

At his word, the room starts moving. Bood sprints out to find the team doctor. Choui and Dykstra are already moving to help reposition Harvey on the floor.

Shane is pulling Ilya upright and away as the doctors swarm in.

One of them comes to look at him. "Rozanov. I need you to tell me exactly what happened."

"I was walking out. Saw Harvey take big handful of pills. I asked him he was doing. He yelled. Wanted me to leave him. I tried to make him throw them up. He bit me." Ilya holds up his bleeding hand as the words come out mechanically. "I brought him here. Called for Narcan."

He grabs Ilya's hand to start assessing it. "Good. You moved quick. You've probably saved his life." He probes at the bleeding wound with a gloved finger. "No amputation. Looks like some tendon damage, and these will need stitching. You got lucky it wasn't worse."

It was not luck, Ilya thinks. It is everything I wished I could have done before she died. He will hate me for doing this.

He follows the doctor into the exam room to get his wounds cleaned and stitched up.

The entire time, Shane is a solid presence at his back, speaking when Ilya can't, directing and deferring support staff to keep the situation contained.

They're left alone in the room for a moment as the doctor ducks out to go check with his colleagues.

As the door shuts, Shane wraps an arm around Ilya, brushing away the tear tracks on his face. "Ilya."

Ilya shudders. He cannot stop shaking.

"You saved him, baby," Shane says, soft and low, pulling Ilya tight to his chest.

"I should have known sooner," Ilya chokes out. "Was not paying attention."

"He was hiding it," Shane retorts. "We both know how it is. It feels like weakness to show it. You still caught him with enough time."

Ilya weeps silently in his husband's arms.

Hockey Analyst @hockeyanalyst

The Quebec Nordiques have taken some hits, with Alternate Captain Ilya Rozanov out on Injured Reserve with an undisclosed Upper Body Injury,

Hockey Analyst @hockeyanalyst

As well as Defenseman Duncan Harvey on Long-Term Injured Reserve. Both players are key to the Nordiques’ top lines and defensive pairings.

 

Hockey Analyst @hockeyanalyst

Defenseman #38 Jacob LaPointe has been called up from the Quebec Remparts in Harvey’s stead.

 

Hockey Analyst @hockeyanalyst

Whether this will affect the Nordiques’ trajectory for this season remains to be seen.

The nice thing about being on IR for three weeks in the middle of February is that Ilya is free to watch the Olympics instead of having to focus all of his attention on the game schedule.

He watches the Men's singles qualifying round from the couch while Shane is at practice, and does his best to remember who landed where so he can tell Shane when he gets home. Yuri and Yuuri are both at the top, of course.

Dr. Colleen, as the team's sports psychologist insists he call her, has him writing down observations about his mental state after the incident. It's annoying.

He doesn't want to think about the fact that he closes his eyes to see a vacant stare from Harvey, superimposed with his mother's eyes. It's very unsettling.

He alternates between bouncing off the walls and laying in bed the whole day. Shane let him eat McDonald's the day after without complaint, but he's drawn the line since then.

Ilya is bored out of his mind. He spent 4 hours drawing out plays the other day and handed them off to Shane to take to Wiebe.

He can't even jerk off normally. To get him to not reinjure his hand, Shane has taken to long, slow sessions where he carefully pins Ilya's arms down and grinds his pelvis into dust. They're nice to think on while Shane is away, but only happen when they have sufficient time. Shane won't sit on his face while he's injured. 'Safety concerns' or something.

By the end of the first week, he's deeply tempted to drive to Montreal to go see Dedushka and Katya, and then remembers he can't drive with his hand like this. 

The solution comes when Yuna calls to check in. 

"Hi, sweetie," she says, sounding a little harried.

"Hi, Yuna," he replies.

"How's the hand?"

"Lumpy." It is lumpy, for lack of a better word. The angle of the bite meant that they had to wrap his hand up and mummify it. Underneath, it's mostly not oozing, but he has to get it checked every few days to monitor for infection. The surface is raised.

"That's the same thing you said last time."

"It is still lumpy, Yuna. I cannot change this."

She chuckles a little bit. "Getting bored over there, aren't you."

"So bored, Yuna. You would not believe. Have you seen the sledding at the Olympics? There is one, doubles luge, I think it is. Shane and I would be very good at it."

"I think I know what you're talking about, but don't describe it to me just in case. How is Yuri doing?"

"Yuri is in first," Ilya says proudly. "Doing very well after the qualifiers. I wish I could be there, but instead I am here, languishing."

She's quiet for a moment. "How long is the rest of your leave?"

"I have another two weeks," Ilya says, "It has only been one. I do not know how I will make it through the rest."

"Theoretically, you could go and be back in time for your return," she says, setting the wheels in Ilya's brain turning.

"What about my hand, though," he says. "The team will want me to check in."

"How many check-ins have they actually done, Ilya?"

Not many, to be fair. He went to practice with his hand wrapped up and couldn't grip anything. He won't be holding a stick for a while. "I cannot just fly to Pyeongchang."

"Shane went to Helsinki when he was injured," she returns. "You need to get out of the house, Ilya. Shane is about to leave for the next road trip. I don't want you sitting alone. You'll go crazy. If the Olympics weren't going on, I'd say go stay with Nikolai and Katya. Or come to us."

She's probably right that he'll drive himself crazy.

"I could go see Yuri in the Olympics," he says, testing the idea out.

"You could."

"Thank you, Yuna. I have to go." He hangs up a little abruptly before he starts searching for plane tickets. He'll have to go to Montreal anyway to fly out--maybe he can get Dedushka and Katya to come with him.

Chapter End Notes

I hope you liked it! Feel free to tell me what you think.

Quick Notes:

- Ilya and Shane are now doing bits together. Inflicting chaos on their team.
- In every universe, Ryan walks in on Hollanov.
- The Duncan Harvey situation is actually happening a year earlier in this 'verse; after leaving Chicago, his situation is a lot more stable in Quebec. In stable situations, the body relaxes enough to let trauma come out and be processed. He's having a bit of a rough go of it, and gets violently triggered during the game against Chicago. When Ilya finds him, he's already taken a round of pills and is spiraling. But he isn't alone. He has a lot more active support and people who aren't afraid of him or getting him help.
- The Nordiques are doing a lot to make sure that everyone stays quiet about the situation. When Ilya comes out with the bite scar? The rabies rumors come back hard.
- Ilya is also having a time of it. That family history of depression is kicking in. And saving Duncan didn't really help with the 'processing trauma' that he's been doing.
- At least he's going to the Olympics? Shane is letting him go because 1) Ilya is a grown man 2) He's going to the west Coast for a roadie 3) he does want someone there supporting their family 4) he knows Ilya's going to go crazy trapped at home like he is.
- Ilya is saying flick the bean to be annoying, yes.

Chapter 10: Winter 2018 - Spring 2018

Chapter Summary

The Olympic Games @Olympics
There’s a lot to be said for fraternal bonds…

[Video: Olympic Silver Medalist Yuri Plisetsky’s Surprise Exhibition Gala Performance with brother Ilya Plisetsky-Rozanov]

Chapter Notes

February 2018

It’s very different to be at the Olympics as a spectator. Ilya is upset that he can’t compete because the MLH can’t get over themselves.

Granted, he’s also walking around with a healing bite in his hand, so it’s not like he would be playing anyway.

He doesn’t go to the hockey games. They conflict with figure skating anyway.

It’s nice to watch Yuri perform with Dedushka and Katya, at least. They’re carrying around a hundred Potya stuffies between them, since the cat herself is back in St. Petersburg. Some have been sent off to the Angels, but they’re still surrounded by the others.

“Dyadya?” Katya’s voice breaks him out of his reverie. “Why is he doing that with his hips?” She’s pointing down at the ice, where Christophe Giacometti is on his knees towards the end of his free skate.

“He is acting, Katyenka. His concept is always strange.” He’s not about to tell her that Giacometti has been cornering the market on sexy figure skating since he came out of Juniors. Even Yuuri’s Eros wasn’t enough to break his hold.

They applaud politely when he finishes, settling in to wait.

A couple of other skaters go, including Otabek.

Ilya has warmed to him. He seems to make Yuri happy, and he works hard to challenge him. He’s proven willing to protect Ilya’s little brother on multiple occasions.

And the DJ thing is pretty cool. He was training in Kazakhstan when Ilya got married to Shane—otherwise he would have been Yuri’s plus one.

“Dyadya Shane’s cousin Yuuri is on.” Katya makes him pay attention again.

Yuuri looks great out there, skating his routine. Original music again—his composer has a very good commission rate.

Ilya tries his best to focus on Yuuri, on the brilliant skating that he’s doing that Shane is sad to be missing. He tries to focus on Katya, hugging a Potya plushie in wait for Yuri, and Dedushka, solid and steady on Ilya’s other side.

He tries not to think of the throb of pain in his hand, the way he can feel his fingers spasming, red hot with it. 

He tries not to think of vacant eyes and limp bodies, bruised and broken even before the pills.

He breathes, in for four, hold for four, out for four, hold for four. Scrunches his toes in his shoes. Flexes the muscles in his legs, then core, then arms, trying to center himself in his body.

He fades back into awareness as the applause kicks up, getting the singular Vicchan plushie out of his bag and handing it to Katya to throw. 

She has a good arm on her, for a nine-year-old. It lands solidly near where Yuuri stands on the ice, arms raised over his head to bow.

Yuuri picks it up and squints in their direction. Ilya waves, knowing Yuuri can’t see six inches past his own face right now.

Viktor is waiting for him, practically hanging over the boards. As they move towards the Kiss-and-Cry, Ilya swears he sees Viktor kiss Yuuri’s wedding ring.

His combined score flashes up on the screen: 331.55.

Yuuri lands in first by a pretty solid margin—Yuri is going to have to work hard to make up the difference. 

He has the base value to manage it, but it’ll come down to pure performance. Yuuri is hard to beat in both aspects, but he’s on the wrong side of 25 now.

Yuri glides out onto the ice, edges crisp.

He flies, his signature quad salchow impeccable.

His hands are placed perfectly every time. He skates like a danseur, Lilia’s influence in his strong lines.

It’s about as technically perfect as Ilya has ever seen him skate.

He finishes with hands outstretched, a flood of Potyas falling onto the ice.

He steps off the ice, taking his skate guards from Yakov.

Ilya sort of wants to walk down to the Kiss-and-Cry, but this isn’t like Worlds, years ago. It isn’t Ilya surprising Yuri after his short program. This is one of the rarest opportunities for Yuri.

So Ilya stays in his seat and lets Katya grip his hand tight, lets Dedushka put an arm over his back.

Yuri’s combined score flashes on the screen: 330.97.

Ilya, Katya, and Nikolai are out of their seats, cheering for Yuri. 

Yuri’s signature scowl gives way to a faint smile as he hugs Yakov and makes his way out from the Kiss-and-Cry.

Yuri isn’t even thinking about the fact that he got second place at the Olympics when he steps up on the podium.

He’s more focused on Katsudon and Otabek to his left, and Ilya, Katya, and Dedushka cheering out in the audience.

It’s the first time all of his family has been present to see him compete. Ever.

The silver medal is laid over his head, he shakes the official’s hand and smiles, because he has sponsors jockeying for his image.

He doesn’t look at Viktor, or Yakov, or any of the fucking Moskvich coaches with their glowers on, even though their skaters didn’t even crack the top ten.

He doesn’t think about the fact that he came so close, but couldn’t cut it this time.

It’s not as though he hasn’t come second before. He and Katsudon have been trading places at Worlds and GPFs for the last few years. Occasionally, he gets outscored by Otabek. Or Leroy. He’s mad when that happens.

It’s whatever. Katsudon is going out on a good note. He won Olympic gold for his country. 27 is a good age to retire, before he destroys his body. He and Viktor will finish out the 2017-18 season before they go on a grand tour of the world, doing ice shows all over the place.

It won’t be the same, something whispers in Yuri’s mind. You’ll see them even less. It will just be you in that apartment in St. Petersburg, getting yelled at by Yakov day in and day out.

He can’t think about that right now.

“Congratulations, brátishka,” Ilya says to him after he comes out, giving him a hug. His right hand is heavily bandaged.

“Thanks. What the fuck happened to you?” Yuri asks.

“Got bit,” Ilya says casually.

“By whom?” Is Yuri offended that Ilya got bit by someone else, even though he’s 18 and well past biting his older brother?

A little bit, yeah.

“Teammate.” He doesn’t embellish or elaborate at all.

Whatever happened must have really fucked him up. “Are you okay?”

“It’s healing,” he says, because Dedushka made him swear not to lie about the state of his injuries after he came home with broken ribs one time. “Mostly superficial damage, but I cannot grip a stick until it heals.”

Meaning he probably tried to and hurt himself further.

“Let it heal,” Yuri demands.

“I am,” Ilya says. “What else am I going to do?”

Yuri just gives him a suspicious look.

“Come on, brátishka, we will go out. Celebrate your medal.” He’s deflecting. “Family dinner, and then you and I will go with the skaters, yes?”

Yuri lets himself be led over to Dedushka and Katya. She comes at him like a missile. Thankfully, he’s been well trained. “Dyadya Yuri!”

“Katya!” He will never admit to doing this, ever, but she’s his niece. More like a little sister anyway.

“Did you get your Potyas?” she asks him, gravely serious.

“Yes, sestrenka. I got my Potyas.” He holds the one in his hands out to her but she pushes it back and grabs his hand instead.

“Good,” she says firmly. “Come on, we’re getting hot pot.” She tugs on his hand and he follows, the giddiness of the day ending getting to him.

“We miss you in Canada,” Ilya slurs, after three hours of drinking with the figure skaters once Dedushka and Katya go back to the hotel.

He’s much bigger than most of the skaters, and they’ve been plying him with shots in Yuri’s stead, since Yuri’s just a little younger than the drinking age. Not that Yuri’s not drinking—they just hand them off to Ilya first. Ilya isn't drinking all of them either, but Phichit shoved a bottle of soju into his hands and it's gone downhill since.

“Katya likes her new school,” he continues. “And Dedushka is happy with Kolya’s. But we miss you, brátishka.”

There’s a little coil of resentment in Yuri about the fact that they moved. Still.

He’s an adult. He can manage for himself. He was living mostly independently in St. Petersburg as a teen, while Dedushka was still in Moscow.

But it still hurts a little to remember that he is the last of the family in Russia. 

He’s not particularly patriotic. Wanting to win has always been about proving himself the best, not Russia, despite how everyone around him has tried to interpret it.

But Viktor and Yuuri are in Japan. Ilya, Dedushka, and Katya are in Canada. Georgi has retired, practically, into ice dance. Mila has been spirited off to America by that actress, Rose Landry.

Yakov wants to retire, and Lilia is eternally busy with the Bolshoi.

And Otabek, much as they text and videocall practically every day, is in Kazakhstan. They alternate visits over breaks. 

He’s getting a little lonely, that’s all.

“What about you?” He tunes back into the conversation and prods Ilya. “How is your team?”

Ilya giggles a little bit. “The Diques are good. They love Shane so much. Hmmm. Shaaaane. He is so pretty.” He flushes a little red, talking about his husband. "I miss him."

Not that Yuri will blame him. Shane is competent and hot, a combination he doesn’t encounter very often these days. Otabek fits the bill to a T.

Then Ilya goes quiet for a moment. “But not everyone is good. Some people are unhappy.” He’s staring at his hand for a long moment.

They’re mostly alone by now, Katsudon having taken Viktor away to do old married men things, and the rest of the skaters are on the dance floor. Otabek is up by the DJ’s booth, inspecting the rig.

“Is it the same person who bit you?” Yuri asks quietly, a little bit of anger churning in his gut.

“Was not his fault, brátishka,” Ilya says.

“How was it not his fault? It was my fault when I bit you.”

“Put my fingers in his mouth,” Ilya says softly. “Needed him to throw up the pills.”

Yuri doesn’t know much about Ilya’s mother. He knows that she died before his deadbeats got married. That they lied about it being an accident.

That Ilya refuses medication most of the time, only taking it when he’s forced to by necessity.

“He’s alive?”

Ilya sighs. “He hates me, but he’s alive. I went to try and see him and I couldn’t do it.” he trails off, tapping the fingers of his good hand on the table. There’s something fractured about the way his face falls.

“Have you talked to anyone about it?” Anyone. Shane. Dedushka.

Ilya scoffs. “I am talking to you, brátishka. I write down the stupid mental state notes and send them and they tell me I need to take more time, that it was ‘traumatic event’. But my hand is healing and Harvey is still in the hospital. I need to get back on the ice and they won’t let me.”

He looks like he did when their deadbeat died, when he was managing everything by himself and dealing with Katya’s fucking deadbeat. Cycle of abuse or whatever.

Yuri makes a note to himself to talk to Dedushka. And maybe give Shane a call. His brother-in-law is busy, but if Ilya has been hiding this, like he always tries to do, then something has to be done.

“I get it,” Yuri says, even as the wheels in his head are turning. “Your hand is injured, but you can still skate, right?”

Ilya perks up. “I can skate.”

If he can skate, then he can get on the ice with Yuri.

Yuri has a week to figure out how to get Ilya out of this slump.

And maybe figure out what to do with himself, after this season.

“Good. I’m adding you to my exhibition.”

The Olympic Games @Olympics

There’s a lot to be said for fraternal bonds…

[Video: Olympic Silver Medalist Yuri Plisetsky’s Surprise Exhibition Gala Performance with brother Ilya Plisetsky-Rozanov]

Violet @sk4tingf4n

OH MY GODDDDDD

 

Violet @sk4tingf4n

HE CHANGED HIS NAME?!?!?!?!?!?

 

vicky @diqueswin

jesus christ leave some talent for the rest of us you greedy fucks

 

Nastya @nastycanastya

🥵🥵🥵 my angelsssss

 

Milly <3 @ilyaaaas

now how is he lifting a fully grown man with ONE HAND. YURI IS NOT A KID ANYMORE, ILYA.

 

selena @rozanovae

that’s a man who commits to a fucking bit that’s for sure

 

selena @rozanovae

he said i’m learning how to figure skate to annoy shane hollander and then KEPT UP WITH IT

 

bella @whereyoubeenloca

bro they went before yuuri and viktor bc yuuri got first

 

bella @whereyoubeenloca

full upstaging moment

 

bella @whereyoubeenloca

the rivalry persists i fear...

March 2018

PHONE CALL TRANSCRIPT: R. Crowell -> S. Hollander
Date: 17 March 2018
Duration: 02:56

CALL INITIATED* 

S. Hollander: Hello?

R. Crowell: Captain Hollander. This is Commissioner Roger Crowell with the MLH.

S. Hollander: Commissioner Crowell. How can I help you?

R. Crowell: Congratulations on your win against the Admirals last night.

S. Hollander: Thank you.

R. Crowell: You’ve really taken that expansion team a long way, haven’t you.

S. Hollander: I’ve done my best to be a good captain.

R. Crowell: Hm. Well, I wanted to discuss something with you, Shane. May I call you Shane?

S. Hollander: …sure.

R. Crowell: Well then, Shane, I’ve been getting a lot of reports about your team lately. Any idea why that is?

S. Hollander: Nothing that comes to mind.

R. Crowell: Our shareholders are starting to get concerned that your team is affecting the balance of play across the league.

S. Hollander: I can assure you we always play to the best of our ability, with fairness and integrity as key principles.

R. Crowell: (muffled) Fucking nitwit. The Nordiques were supposed to blow up. (clear) We’ve also had concerns that your ‘pre-game rituals’ are making other teams uncomfortable.

S. Hollander: Could you clarify what you mean? I am confident we have done nothing to offend. Our PR team is very thorough.

R. Crowell: The "Benediction", or whatever it’s called. You need to stop doing it.

S. Hollander: …Commissioner, I don’t see how that would affect other teams at all. It is entirely contained to our locker room.

R. Crowell: Clearly not, since it’s been in the media since January.

S. Hollander: …I can discuss with Coach Wiebe and our communications team--

R. Crowell: Or you could just stop, Shane. You could stop infecting other teams with your rampant homosexuality.

S. Hollander: …(quiet) I have done nothing of the sort. Being gay is not a disease, for that matter.

R. Crowell: What do you call last night’s game then?

S. Hollander: I would say the Admirals are invested in showing support for their Captain.

R. Crowell: And what about your own team?

S. Hollander: I would say we are aligned in purpose with the MLH’s partnership with You Can Play, and showing our support for inclusion in hockey.

R. Crowell: Fine. This is not the end of this conversation.

CALL TERMINATED

*Recorded for evidence purposes

By some awful coincidence, the Nordiques are matched up against Montreal in the first round of the playoffs.

Really it’s because they’ve won the Metropolitan Division, and Montreal just made the wildcard slot.

But still. Shane isn’t looking forward to facing down his old team. Most of the guys are still in contact, some of them having been traded over last summer like he was, but it’s very much not the same.

Nonetheless, he gears up with the team for their first game in the 2017-18 playoffs.

Ilya takes the overall pre-game speech; he’s better at them. Shane still does the Benediction on the way out of the locker room. It's become too much of a ritual to give it up. Harris is careful not to film just in case.

He’s gotten quicker with it—more procedural and routine. Each player gets a kiss on the forehead and a muttered reminder of something they worked on in practice. When it comes down to Ilya at the end of the line, he gets a tap or a squeeze back from his husband before they cross the threshold.

Today, the words to everyone are "For Duncan."

They skate out to deafening cheers in the Centre Vidéotron. Ilya races him in a few laps, a silent moment of getting him out of his head.

He sets up for his warm up stretches near the red line. 

Theriault is glaring at him. He doesn’t turn away.

Suddenly, there is something blocking his view. Hayden and J.J. with the C and the A, looking down at Shane on the ice.

“Hey Shane!” Hayden says just like he used to, when they wore the same blue. Like he’s done at all of their regular season match-ups. “We had a question for you.”

“What’s up,” Shane says warily.

“Do you like them better than us?” J.J. blurts out.

“Um—”

He keeps going, regardless of being interrupted. “Why did you start the Benediction for them? We could have been getting it all that time!”

“Montreal got two Cups without me doing it,” Shane says, truthfully.

“Maybe we would have had three, man,” Hayden suggests.

“It would have been so good, Shane.” J.J.’s voice has gone a little bit whiny. “Seriously. Hayden is so bad at it.”

“Hey!” Hayden squawks.

“He’s such a dad about it. Always with the jokes. He grabs your face so hard,” J.J. gripes. "Your stubble scrapes, man."

“The Voyageurs have joined Pike’s million children?” Ilya asks as he skates over.

“For the last time, I have four kids, all of whom you’ve met! That’s a reasonable number of kids!”

“In five years?” Ilya arches an eyebrow.

“We had twins—I’m not doing this with you, Rozanov. Get out of here. We’re talking to Shane.” Despite the put-upon tone, Hayden is suppressing laughter. Shane is glad they’ve become better friends. A standing dinner appointment whenever they go to Montreal is helpful in that regard.

“Anyway, Shane, you have to tell him how to fix it. It is not doing us any good.”

“You don’t have to do the Benediction,” Shane points out. “It was my thing in the first place. Our thing.” Casual affection for his husband turned into longstanding superstition, more like.

“No, we have to,” Hayden says gravely. “Everyone is. I need the secret, Shane. You have a +99 goal differential.” He's acting like Shane isn't surrounded by nearly two dozen players who have worked their asses off this season.

“I’m not telling you that,” Shane says, getting more defensive than he expects over something that utterly embarrassed him for months. “You have to figure it out on your own. Don’t grab their faces, for god’s sake. That’s not a Benediction. They have to come to you.”

“I told him this and he did not listen!” J.J. protests. “You have to be gentle with it.”

“Why don’t you do it, then?” Hayden snaps back.

“You are the captain, Hayden. It is not my job. I go at the end of the line.”

“Are you two going to keep arguing or are you going to let me warm up?” Shane asks.

They turn back to him. Hayden has a finger pointing in J.J.’s face. “We’ll let you go, man. It’s good to see you though. Come by and see the kids, alright? They miss their Uncle Shane.”

“I will,” he promises. “I will.”

Quebec Nordiques @quebecnordiques ☑️

The Nordiques ADVANCE to the second round of playoffs after sweeping the Montreal Voyageurs 4-0!

Les Nordiques ACCÉDENT au deuxième tour des séries éliminatoires après avoir balayé les Voyageurs de Montréal 4-0!

[Video: Ilya Rozanov scoring the series winning goal as the buzzer counts down to zero. The Nordiques come crashing in around him to celebrate.]

lily @lilybestbackhand

of course?!? who thought 🤮montreal🤮 was going to beat anyone?!?!

 

lily @lilybestbackhand

sorry let me correct this

 

lily @lilybestbackhand

who thought 🤮theriault🤮 could make a playoff run without shane hollander carrying the team on his shoulders

 

lily @lilybestbackhand

now he has diques on a leash and looks very pretty in better blue )))

[Image: Shane Hollander standing and speaking to the Quebec Nordiques, who are following his words very closely.]

 

vicky @diqueswin

lily's back and better than ever i see

Chapter End Notes

I hope you liked it! Feel free to tell me what you think.

Quick Notes:

- The Yuris' scores are pretty arbitrary--I checked their highest scores from the show for reference, and adjusted them to where I thought they would hit.
- Sestrenka means little sister, even though Katya is technically Yuri's niece. He calls her sestrenka because Ilya calls him brátishka :)
- It's important to me to note that I've made Ilya and Shane both 6'0" even, and Yuri is just under 5'10", having had a major growth spurt when he was 17. He still has a figure skater's build--comparable to Viktor. This is so he's canonically a little bit taller than Svetlana, who is 5'8" and 5'10" in her 'reasonable heels' that she wore for the wedding.
- Ilya is dissociating pretty hard at the moment—he’s trying to separate his mind from the trauma of the situation. Even while he’s drunk and admitting it to Yuri, he really isn’t processing it.
- Ilya does video calls for therapy with Galina, but is working with the team doctors on antidepressants, because a bunch of them are banned for anti-doping reasons.
- Shane thinks it's a good idea for Ilya to talk to someone because he went through a traumatic event. Will he ever consider therapy for himself? No.
- Ilya keeps running into situations where one of the queer Nordiques will seek him out for a conversation that ends up turning into them coming out to him. He's condensing them for his own sanity. Everyone in there is out in their personal life--he's not breaking down closet doors.
- There are many arguments as to whether Ilya knows the word bisexual. Here, he does because he's friends with gay figure skaters.
- The lawsuit just hit a big escalation point :) Shane has a script in mind when he's talking to the Commissioner and he Will. Not. Deviate.
- We're finally seeing the Voyageurs' reaction to the Benediction :D

Chapter 11: Spring 2018

Chapter Summary

The Nordiques make the playoff run of their lives as the world spins on...

Chapter Notes

For the newspaper article, if you are reading on mobile, you may want to change the orientation of the screen, since it sometimes gets cut off. Alternatively, you can choose to hide Creator’s Style.

April 2018

Scott Hunter’s face is especially well suited to screwing up in confusion. Or anger. Or mild disgust. 

Any one of the myriad of emotions Ilya can inspire with a little bit of well-aimed chirping.

Like asking him: “Eaten any gingko lately?”

That one is during a face-off in the middle of Game 3 in their second round series against the Admirals, after the Nordiques have won the first two.

Hunter’s face is utterly confused.

Shame on him for not knowing his paleobotany. Kip would know better. Ilya snaps the puck off to his left where Lundy is lying in wait.

He shoulders past Hunter, tracking the puck on Lindy’s stick, as Hunter opens his mouth to ask, “Gingko?”

“They are older than dinosaurs, just like you. Good for memory issues. Forgetting already, grandpa?”

There’s the outrage. Unfortunately, Ilya is too busy getting passed the puck and setting up to leave the neutral zone. He snaps it off to Taylor as Jalo comes careening over, a brick wall given human form.

He ducks out from Jalo’s path, cutting through as Taylor drops it back for him to take up, faster than the large defenseman can match.

Fake the backhand. Deke. Twist. Wrist shot.

The goal horn blares as Ilya gets the Rozanov past Eric Bennett.

Lundy and Taylor swarm him as they head back to the bench to change lines, bumping helmets and tapping sticks.

As his husband hops the boards, Ilya just says, “Gingko,” and Shane solemnly nods.

They’ve planned for this. The artful deployment of an arsenal of chirps. They vary in length and severity. Ilya delivers most of them and gives Shane the rundown of where he’s at on the list.

Next on the list is listing off his lucky smoothie ingredients one by one every time one of them is close to him.

Shane gets to be completely genuine in asking about it and rile Hunter up that way. It’s madness. It’s perfection.

Ilya loves it.

They go to the Kingfisher after the end of the series.

Baldy, Lundy, and Pricey make their way first, being less conspicuous. The team is scattered across various bars, separating and reuniting throughout the night as they take it to celebrate before gearing up for the Conference Finals. A few of the others tag along—Wyatt and Gilly with the first group and the rest coming along in drips.

It’s a risk, when Ilya has so recently associated himself with Yuri and Russia by proxy. When his brother is still in Russia, alone but for Lilia and Yakov.

It’s a risk, when Shane is getting weekly calls from the Commissioner, tamping down on everything that could put him further into the line of fire, listening silently and recording the vitriol coated in respectability.

It’s a risk, when they are on billboards and newsreels together across Canada, the story of a friendly rivalry turned true friendship turned unbeatable captains of an expansion team raging through the hockey community.

It’s a risk, when they’ve won the series against the Admirals in 6 games.

It’s a risk, when the case has built to a breaking point, more and more testimony coming out by the day.

But it’s worth it to sneak away and sit at the bar, watching Colorado beat San Francisco on the TV.

It’s worth it to be surrounded by their team, cloaked by the numbers.

It’s worth it to simply sit next to each other and observe.

May 2018

Katsuki Yuuri @y-katsuki ☑️

In this last season of mine, I brought home gold for you to kiss.

[Image: Katsuki Yuuri wearing his Olympic gold medal, in his free skate costume. Viktor Nikiforov is holding the medal up to his lips.]

[Image: Katsuki Yuuri from the back, holding his skates in one hand.]

Viktor Nikiforov @v-nikiforov ☑️

To a new future and beyond…

 

Phichit Chulanont @phichitchulanont ☑️

I’m going to miss you on the ice, Yuuri!

 

[Image: A selfie of Phichit and Yuuri, holding their faces together.]

 

Yuri Plisetsky @y-plisetsky ☑️

You’ll always be the second Yuri, Katsudon.

 

[Image: Katsuki Yuuri and Yuri Plisetsky posing with their Olympic medals]

[Image: Katsuki Yuuri and Yuri Plisetsky on the podium at the 2015 Grand Prix Final. JJ Leroy is deliberately cropped out of the photo.]

 

Katsuki Yuuri @y-katsuki ☑️

So sweet to me, Yurio.

 

Christophe Giacometti @giacumetti ☑️

I’m going to miss that 🍑 of yours :(

 

Minami Kenjirou @minamiken

You will always be Japan’s Ace, Yuuri-senpai!

 

[Image: A young Minami Kenjirou in a selfie with Katsuki Yuuri. Minami looks extremely excited while Katsuki smiles awkwardly.]

Moving countries is never an easy task.

But it’s easier than it’s made out to be.

Once the season is over, Yuri starts taking down his little apartment in St. Petersburg. He rents it anyway, given how much time he actually spends at Lilia’s house in the city. He packs up his most important things: his documents, his decor, his clothes, his trophies, his phone and laptop, and his skating equipment, but leaves most of it for the other Yubileyny skaters to pick through.

It’s not like he’s going to be living alone once he gets there.

It takes a little longer to manage Potya. She’s mellowed out a lot since she was a kitten, but getting her to the vet for all of her vaccines and documentation is a trial.

The day before he leaves, he looks at a few boxes, marked for shipping, and a couple of large suitcases filled to the brim. 

It feels awfully small to contain all of his life here.

But then again, most of that is already in Montreal anyway.

He has his visa kept neatly with his passport.

He takes the boxes to the post office and makes sure they’re marked carefully to be sent off.

He coaxes Potya into her carrier, stacks it on top of one of the suitcases, and drags the other behind him as he leaves. 

He leaves the key with the dorm manager.

He doesn’t look back.

Dedushka Nikolai meets him at the airport with Katya and a box of pirozhki, still warm.

"Yurachka," he says as Yuri hugs him, tucking his chin into Dedushka's shoulder. "Welcome home."

Yuri just sinks into the feeling of being around his grandfather. "Hi, Dedushka."

Katya clears her throat loudly as he steps back from Dedushka. "Dyadya."

"Sestrenka."

"I want to see Potya," she says as she hugs him tight around the middle, her skinny arms belying an unexpected strength. 

"Potya is sleeping," he says truthfully as he holds the carrier up for her to see.

"Я скучал по тебе, Кошка," [I missed you, kitty] she says softly.

"More than me?" Yuri teases.

She gives him a deadpan look. "Of course. Are you dumb, dyadya?"

He gives her his best offended gasp. Clearly, it's not very convincing, because she breaks the deadpan stare to laugh at him.

"Come along, children," Dedushka says, his English heavily accented. "Time to bring Yurachka home." With that, he takes the handle of a suitcase and starts walking.

Cliff only sees the bite scar on Roz’ hand one time before he thinks, oh no.

It’s common knowledge that Roz with out on IR in February and the Nordiques fought twice as hard while he was away.

The bite scar itself looks crazy. It’s raised and distinct, the marks trailing across his knuckles and down to his palm, the skin clearly stitched back into place. The fact that he’s using his hand normally and still has the stick handling skills of a demon is a miracle.

What the fuck bit him?

It doesn’t look like the other bite scar, the one the Roz got tattooed. That one, once he got to actually look at it, clearly has the shape of a five-year-old’s bite.

There has to be another explanation.

His texts go unanswered.

He doesn't get anything out of Roz asking outright either. The maniac just takes his glove off, looks at it, and chuckles a little bit. No clarification whatsoever.

He tries to ask some of the other Nordiques players, but they all clam up. Even Hayes, who's usually a chatterbox.

By the end of the series, Boston is trailing by two games, and Cliff has no idea whether his former captain got bit by a rabid animal or not.

But he does know that Roz is happy, playing with his husband. The Quebec Nordiques' incredible record doesn't hurt either. Seriously, it's like they've made a factory for turning bench warmers into super stars.

He can be happy for him and still pissed that Boston lost the Conference Finals. And wonder if somehow, some way, Ilya Rozanov will always end up surrounded by rabies rumors.

June 2018

Game 5.

Stanley Cup Finals.

Shane lets the sound of the crowd wash over him as he skates laps, observing the excitement and fervor before he lets his focus narrow down to the ice beneath his skates.

The Cup is in the building.

The Nordiques lost the last game in two overtimes. 

They have three wins on the Mudslides right now.

Ilya silently falls in step with him as they make their way around. He bumps Shane’s shoulder, just enough to send the sensation radiating through him. Resetting. Clearing his mind.

They don’t need to talk. Every conversation they could possibly need to have has already happened, between their bed at home and the locker room. 

Shane feels the weight of the rings hanging on his chain. His hand doesn’t come up to touch them. He just looks for the glint of Ilya’s out of the corner of his eye.

“Gearing up for Game 5 here in the Centre Vidéotron, Les Nordiques are looking at the potential to end it right here and now.”

 

“An absolutely dominant performance through this entire playoff run. Wiebe has taken a team with no blueprint to the Stanley Cup Finals in just one year. His first year as a head coach, as well.”

 

“You can’t give him all the credit there without mentioning the elephant in the room; he’s got the two best centers in the league on his top lines and together on the power play.”

 

“Hollander and Rozanov have turned what could have been an early flame out into a fairy tale for Quebec City.”

 

“Even scoring for the same team hasn’t kept them from competing, it seems. They’ve stayed neck and neck in the points race this entire year, although it’s Hollander gunning for the Rocket Richard, with 77 goals on the season.”

 

“Rozanov made one hell of an effort though, at 69, even with all that time off the ice for that hand injury, back in February. Their combined effort has led to some truly spectacular scores.”

 

“You can see them orbiting the ice down there right now, checking in with players and getting their warm-ups in.”

 

“Hollander has gotten a lot of the credit for taking this team to where they are, but you can’t deny Rozanov’s influence. Both of them have captained Stanley Cup-winning squads before, and that experience comes across.”

 

“It’s almost like they are co-captains, rather than captain and alternate.”

 

“I’d bet Hollander gets the C because he’s more polite with the refs.”

 

“I’ll take you up on that.”

 

“Tonight could be the night they take it home. The Nordiques have been pushing hard since April—if they can keep the momentum up tonight, they will take home the trophy in their own barn."

 

“Goaltender Wyatt Hayes is back in the net after that groin injury late in Game 3, taking over from Matthew Baldwin.”

 

“That’s another fairytale to come out of the Nordiques this year; Hayes went from playing backup to Nilsson, over in Toronto, to being considered for the Vezina this year.”

 

“We’ll see if he’s recovered enough to hold off the Mudslides, who have only gotten more fired up as time has gone on.”

 

“He won’t be alone out there. The Nordiques defensemen are a sight to behold, even battered as they are. Kudos to Jacob LaPointe, taking over for Duncan Harvey in February. Rookie from the Quebec Remparts, killing it in a pair with Ryan Price. He brings the speed and Price brings the heft.”

 

"You can't discount Dykstra and Chouinard, either. Both bigger and faster than they were last year, and it's made a difference for the Nordiques."

Everything fades, except for the stick in Shane’s hands, the weight of his pads and the feel of his gloves, the flexion of his muscles under his jersey.

There are little aches and pains everywhere; bruises from checks into the boards, a twinge in his knee, a tightness in his shoulder and neck.

None of those matter right now. 

The words of the Benediction today were, "Keep it simple."

Don't get cocky. Play hard and play well. Let them exhaust themselves trying to surmount the gap. Then seize opportunities when they are tired and muddled.

“A real exercise in measured effort from the Nordiques, coming out of the first period. One goal on the power play, Hollander, assisted by Rozanov, but they’re playing for time and keeping the puck moving.”

 

"Wyatt Hayes has been a superhero out there. 14 shots on goal already and none of them have made it through."

 

“They know they have 40 minutes left on the clock and they’re planning to use every second.”

Shane quietly holds his husband’s hand in the locker room as Wiebe gives them adjustments for the second period. 

When he lets go, he flexes them to remember the feeling before putting his gloves back on.

A stillness comes over him.

“A beautiful goal there by Boodram, assisted by Gillis. Credit where credit is due; these guys saw the defense gunning for Hollander, let their own D-men take care of their captain and put that puck right into the back of the net.”

 

“They’ve had to keep up with Hollander all year. Reminds me of Pike and Andropov back in 2015, asteroids speeding up to stay in Hollander’s orbit.”

 

“Goes to show that it’s not just the superstars who are making the magic on the Nordiques.”

In the third period, Shane watches his husband tear across the ice, a vision in blue and red, his trademark ferocity honed to a point. 

Ilya stiff-arms one of Colorado’s defensemen off of him, shooting the puck around the goal to Lundy. 

Lundy pings it off the post, but luckily rebounds it to Taylor, who sends it back to Ilya.

Colorado’s goalie sits like a mountain. 

Ilya doesn’t try for another pass.

He lifts the puck on his stick and sends it in with a Michigan.

"One hell of a funeral dirge there from Rozanov with that lacrosse style goal. 30 seconds left and Colorado have to make up two goals, or their Stanley Cup dreams are over."

 

"First line back out for the Nordiques, playing keep away for these last critical seconds. Hollander up against Matheson for the face off."

 

"Hollander gets it, snaps it to Boodram with a clean flick of the wrist."

 

"Boodram to Dykstra, and the D-man is plowing through to send it back to Hollander."

 

"Hollander to Gillis, the young left wing taking it up and out of the neutral zone to put Colorado on the back foot.

 

"Ouch, right into the boards, but he keeps his eye on it and Chouinard has it, and it's right back to Hollander, taking that powerful backhand and--"

 

"Not a backhand at all, that's the Rozanov if I've ever seen one. The Shane Train has reached the station, folks. Goal, Nordiques! With 20 to go in the third."

 

"There's Rozanov himself, standing on the bench, shouting over at Hollander. The Diques are having a real gigglefest as their captains shout back and forth."

The giddy joy builds like carbonation under a cork.

The third line plays it smart.

Shane watches the seconds tick down on the scoreboard.

[BUZZER SOUND]

 

"The final score is 4-1, and the Quebec Nordiques have won the Stanley Cup for the very first time in their history as a team!"

 

"An unbelievable moment for a team that's been built from the ground up over the course of this year."

 

"Through 82 regular season games and 21 playoff performances, the Quebec Nordiques have taken the league by storm."

 

"What a gift to the loyal fans who waited 22 years to see their team on the ice once again, defeating the city that stole it away."

Shane leaps the boards, leading the charge as the Nordiques swarm onto the ice.

It's his husband's arm that wraps around his back as the circle shrinks, the cheers deafening even beneath the noise of the crowd.

He can't help the smug grin on his face as he goes through the handshake line.

The Cup comes out onto the ice, along with Commissioner Crowell, who has just about the nastiest sour look Shane has ever seen on his face.

He shakes Shane's hand with a sweaty palm, and starts saying things that Shane tunes out. 

The lawsuit is already in progress. He can't get out of it. This is the last time he will award the Stanley Cup

"Hollander is lifting the Cup for the third time in four years."

 

"I think you'd call that a dynasty if he were still playing for Montreal."

 

"Hollander takes his turn around the rink as the fans reach out their hands for their Captain."

 

"Families coming out onto the ice now to celebrate. What a beautiful moment."

 

"Hollander going to hand the Cup to Rozanov there--and Rozanov lifts him clean off the ice, with the Cup! Hollander has a solid grip, at least, that Cup is going nowhere as Rozanov takes him in a circle."

 

"That's too smooth to not be practiced. Either he’s putting in a lot of work in the weight room, or this is a figure skating lift he’s been working on.”

 

“Why not both? Rozanov bracing his weight as Hollander leans down to--"

 

"THEY'RE--"

 

"ROZ--"

 

"HOLLAN--"

 

[Mic goes out from crowd noise as Hollander and Rozanov kiss on the ice.]

This is the happiest moment of Shane's life, bar none.

He keeps his arms up and stable, holding the Stanley Cup while his husband kisses him on the ice before setting him down and taking the Cup from him.

Half the team is screaming full force. The other half are laughing hysterically.

The crowd noise is so loud that he can’t parse if they’re cheering or booing.

It doesn’t matter which.

Crowell has already fled the ice. It’s probably good that he’s not going to be in any sort of proximity to Yuna Hollander.

He’s expecting questions.

Instead, he gets a loud yell of “Rozy’s been stealing the Benediction!” from Bood, which sets off another chorus of shouting from the team. 

Ilya passes the Cup off to Lundy so it can start making its rounds.

He drapes himself over Shane and presses another kiss to his cheek. “I do not steal the Benediction. Everyone gets equal parts. Democracy.”

“Does it count if it’s not in the ritual spot? I don’t think it does,” Wyatt says.

"Thank you, Wyatt,” Ilya says in an exaggerated tone. “It was mine in the first place. You all stole from me.”

“Cap did only kiss Roz, the first time,” Gilly says in sudden realization.

“Enough about the Benediction, guys,” Shane groans. “Can we celebrate the win?”

“Listen to the captain,” Ilya says. “Go kiss your wives and babies while I kiss my husband.”

"HUSBAND?!?!"

Chapter End Notes

I hope you liked it! Feel free to tell me what you think.

Quick Notes:

- Gingko trees, or Gingko biloba, are actually older than dinosaurs, and are considered a type of living fossil. They are known for their longevity (>1000 year lifespans).
- Yuuri's retiring with Olympic gold! I wonder what he's going to do next 👀.
- I haven't quite decided on what sport I want Katya to do. I was debating softball or field hockey. Or speed skating. Might go with that. Really fit the Plisetsky-Rozanov family theme.
- The Boston Bears had to do rabies seminars. Does that make them any less jocks with CTE? No.
- I did my best with the game play--it's mostly snippets of time since Shane is running in a bit of a flow state here. I interpret him as pretty sensory seeking as opposed to avoiding, so he's tuned into a lot of particular sensations.
- Is it a little unrealistic that the Nordiques win it all in in a single year? Maybe. But Vegas went to the SCF in their first year. Shane and Ilya could do it, especially with the roster I gave them.
- Shane is doing a little leg pop so he doesn’t kick Ilya with his skates.
- Why are they doing this now? Everyone that Ilya was worried about coming to harm in Russia is in the arena with him today. They’re out independently to their teammates and the Question 2 group chat. The Lawsuit is ongoing. This just adds a little cherry on top.
- I've decided Shane and Ilya kissing is my default emoji now:🧑🏻‍❤️‍💋‍🧑🏼

Sudoku Solution on page B7

I was smarter this time, and remembered to solve the Sudoku before I posted this.

Chapter 12: Summer 2018 I

Chapter Summary

The world reacts to the Stanley Cup Finals...

Chapter Notes

For the newspaper article, if you are reading on mobile, you may want to change the orientation of the screen, since it sometimes gets cut off. Alternatively, you can choose to hide Creator’s Style.

The second the word husband leaves Ilya’s lips, he knows he’s dropping a bomb on their team.

Shane’s quiet laughter vibrates against his chest as half of the team yells “HUSBAND?!?!” 

“I fucking knew it!” Wyatt yells. “I knew you were lying about him breaking into your house. He lives there, doesn’t he?”

“Yeah,” Shane says, and Wyatt makes a vindicated noise. “We drive to practice together every morning.” At that reminder, some of the guys get a little bit quieter. “Did you guys not notice?”

“When the fuck did you guys get married?” Dykstra asks.

“Last July,” Ilya says.

“Wait, the draft was last July. You guys got drafted to the same team and then got married?” Choui asks, incredulous.

“Other way around,” Shane says.

“You got married before? How long has this been going on?”

Ilya holds a finger up to his lips. “Secret.”

“Come onnnnn, just tell us,” Gilly whines.

Ilya just gives them a secretive smile, right up until Shane says, “We got engaged in front of the Stanley Cup.”

“Didn’t you just say you’re married?” Pricey pops in. “I knew you were something after game night, but how did you get engaged in front of the Stanley Cup?” 

“So the earliest you could have gotten engaged is 2014, then,” Baldy says.

“2014?” Gilly turns to him.

“Roz won with Boston in 2014. We saw them with the Cups on television. So it had to have been a Cup day—2014, 2015, or 2016.”

“You are a very smart man, Baldy,” Ilya says. Goalie intuition is something else.

“So which one was it?” 

Ilya turns his head to look at Shane. Shane kisses him in response, instead of answering.

“Which one was it???”

The sight of Dedushka, Yuri, and Katya coming out onto the ice alongside the Hollanders almost brings Ilya to tears. He’s barely left Shane’s side for all this time, so he knows Shane feels the little hitch in his breath.

The arm that’s around his waist squeezes a little bit tighter.

They’re walking closer, Katya sliding with a grin on her face and a confidence in her stride that she should probably be more careful about. Yuri comes with Dedushka, taking care for his hip.

“I should have brought my skates,” Yuri gripes as they finally get within earshot. 

“What, you want to do your free skate?” Ilya teases. “The ice is too hard for that, sorry.” 

“I know that—ugh. Congratulations on winning, Shenya,” he says to Shane, who is vibrating with laughter.

“Thank you, Yuri. We’re glad you could make it.”

He jabs a finger at Ilya. “If he could come to the Olympics, I can make time for this.” With that, he actually comes forward and hugs them both quickly before stepping back to let Katya in.

“Dyadya!”

“Katya!” She, even sliding on the ice as she is, crashes into him like a missile. “Did you like the game?”

“Yes! It was great!”

“Did you have a favorite part?”

She gets an unsettling gleam in her eye. “I liked the fighting. It looks silly when you’re on skates.”

“Katyenka, we talked about the violence,” Dedushka Nikolai says with a sigh.

“What, they can do it and I can’t? They’re grown men who get put in a timeout box.”

“It can be very cathartic,” Pricey speaks up. Katya narrows her eyes and turns to him. 

“You’re good at fighting,” She says slowly.

“Yes?”

“Will you teach me?”

“You ask him and not your dyadya?” Ilya asks, aghast.

“You don’t fight, dyadya,” she says, matter-of-fact. “You chirp people and let them chase you until they try to throw hands and get sent to time out.”

The fact that she’s not wrong is the rub. He has been trying to get fewer penalties, because he loses ice time to it, and he has to have every minute he can possibly get in order to still be competitive with Shane.

“And dyadya Shane doesn’t fight people anyway. So I am asking the guy who does fight.”

Shane has given up on suppressing his laughter. Yuri is also laughing like a maniac. 

“Betrayal, Katyusha. You are breaking my heart.” 

She ignores him and turns back to Pricey. “Anyway, will you teach me?”

He looks uncomfortable. “I’m not really a teacher.”

“You could figure it out,” She says, wheedling a little bit.

“You are coming to coach at the Foundation camps this summer,” Shane interjects. “You could do it.”

As Katya gives Pricey puppy eyes, and his husband and brother laugh, and Dedushka, Yuna, and David look on fondly, Ilya has never felt so incandescently happy.

And yet, there's still an absence.

He feels the weight of the cross and the rings hanging from his chain as he lets his gaze drift over the crowd.

Duncan Harvey is sitting in a wheelchair close to the boards. He looks thinner, but calmer. Less tense with rage and pain.

He's smiling, at least. The teeth that cut into Ilya's hand are no longer stained with blood.

Retirement suits him, for the moment, at least.

Ilya meets his gaze.

Harvey holds it, his eyes not bright, but certainly not vacant. He nods and mouths, thank you.

Ilya nods back with pressure behind his eyes, and lets his focus drift back to his family.

Quebec Nordiques @quebecnordiques ☑️

The Nordiques are your 2017-2018 MLH Champions! 🏆

Les Nordiques sont vos champions de la MLH 2017-2018! 🏆

[Image: Scoreboard graphic reading QUE 4 COL 1]

[Image: The Quebec Nordiques celebrating together on center ice.]

[Image: Alternate Captain Ilya Rozanov lifting Captain Shane Hollander into the air and kissing him on the lips. Hollander is solidly holding the Stanley Cup above their heads. The other Nordiques look shocked and excited in the background.]

[Image: Goaltender Wyatt Hayes receiving the Conn Smythe Trophy with an enormous smile on his face.]

Shane Hollander @shanehollanderhockeyplayer ☑️

Thank you, Quebec!

Merci, Québec!

 

Ilya Rozanov @rozanov81 ☑️

🏆💋

 

luca! @ilyuca81

OOFMFMYGOODD THYE;RE KSIISINGD

 

vicky @diqueswin

The Quebec Nordiques Won THE STANLEY CUP! What’s that? SHANE HOLLANDER AND ILYA ROZANOV KISSING?!?!?

 

Gracie @hollanova

THIS IS THE BEST DAY OF MY FUCKING LIFE

 

Gracie @hollanova

HOLLANOV KISS ON CENTER ICE. HE PICKED HIM UP LIKE A FAIRYTALE PRINCE. THE LEG POP

 

Gracie @hollanova

HOLY FUCK HE’S LIFTING LIKE 250+ BETWEEN SHANE AND THE CUP

 

ellie @hollfander

omg i'm so happy for him. took his team to the Finals and WON and with his BOO RIGHT THERE WITH HIM

 

Joey @Puckwizard456

...that shit's crazy, bro

 

pierre @malvoyageurs

guess we know why he left

 

Joey @Puckwizard456

ykw i kinda get it. like they're the best of the best. of course it was going to be roz for hollander

 

~ alice ~ @shanehollanderstick

literally the ultimate in saying fuck you to the MLH

 

~ alice ~ @shanehollanderstick

they went from rivals to best friends to lovers and i think that's beautiful

 

mark @hockeyboi

don't know what i expected but it wasn't this

 

Jake @bostonftw

IS THIS WHY ROZ FUCKING LEFT BOSTON???????

 

Jake @bostonftw

HOLY SHIT HIS "FAMILY" IN CANADA WAS SHANE FUCKING HOLLANDER

 

elisa @elisachirps

this is literally the sweetest thing i've ever seen happen in hockey

 

Captain Canada 🍁🫡@captcan

that is MY CAPTAIN CANADA RIGHT THERE 🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡

 

steve @habityourway

lowkey glad they waited bc now we've seen that they're still playing their hardest

 

steve @habityourway

and still trying to beat each other too. have you seen the points race this year??

 

Liz @hollanovtruther

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

 

Liz @hollanovtruther

I WAS RIGHT

 

Emma @shaydentruther

this is the worst timeline

 

Pip @nordyke

this is the best fucking timeline. DIQUES WIN!!!!!!!!

 

q @suckmydiques

everyone was saying they couldn't do it back in october. by november they were silent.

 

q @suckmydiques

yall are in the fucking ground now because the NORDIQUES WON THE STANLEY CUP!!!!!!!

 

mateo @iceday

is ROZANOV getting the extended version of the Benediction?? I feel like we're glossing over this too fast

 

Brad @bradmercer

disgusting

 

vicky @diqueswin

This you?

[Image: Brad @bradmercer's public Likes, including the following tweet:

luca! @ilyuca81

who’s out here saying that they WOULDN’T want a forehead kissie from SHANE HOLLANDER]

 

🙏🏼💋🏒@hollysh!t

if hollzy is hockey jesus what does that make Roz

 

🙏🏼💋🏒@hollysh!t

is ROZ the pope???

July 2018

@rozanov81 posted to Instagram!

[Image: Shane Hollander, Captain of the Canadian National Junior Hockey Squad, shaking hands with Ilya Rozanov, Captain of the Russian National Junior Hockey Squad, at the end of the 2009 International Prospect Cup.]

[Image: Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov facing off for their CCM Commercial in 2010.]

[Image: Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov on stage at the 2014 MLH Awards Ceremony, doing their reconciliation skit.]

[Image: Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov sitting together at the 2015 ISU World Figure Skating Championships.]

[Image: Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov in a Facetime photo, each flipping the other off. Both have their engagement rings on.]

[Image: Shane Hollander and Ilya Plisetsky-Rozanov at the 2017 All-Stars Tournament, Plisetsky-Rozanov pressing a kiss to Hollander's cheek.]

[Image: Ilya Plisetsky-Rozanov, accompanied by Lilia Baranovskaya and Nikolai Plisetsky, walking down the aisle towards Shane Hollander, Yuna and David Hollander standing at his side. The photo is tagged for photography by @jackipike]

[Image: Shane Hollander and Ilya Plisetsky-Rozanov standing beneath an altar of fairy lights, gripping each other's faces as they kiss. The wedding rings shine on their fingers. The photo is tagged for photography by @jackipike]

[Image: Alternate Captain Ilya Plisetsky-Rozanov lifting Captain Shane Hollander into the air and kissing him on the lips. Hollander is solidly holding the Stanley Cup above their heads. The other Nordiques look shocked and excited in the background.]

rozanov81 Я так сильно люблю тебя, мой Шейн. С годовщиной! [I love you so much, my Shane. Happy anniversary!] @shanehollanderhockeyplayer

Liked by shanehollanderhockeyplayer, vetrovas, whazy, boodzram, roselandry, marcliff, y-katsuki, v-nikiforov, yunakhollander, and 34678 others

shanehollanderhockeyplayer Я люблю тебя, мой муж. [I love you, my husband]

vetrovas Мой лучший друг -- женатый мужчина. [My best friend -- a married man.]

↳roselandry he better make my best friend the happiest man in the world

marcliff Congrats, Roz! 

y-plisetsky Ты молодец, Илюша. [You did good, Ilyusha.]

v-nikiforov Поздравляю! [Congratulations!]

y-katsuki おめでとう[Congrats!]

haydenpike35 happy for you, man. glad we can finally talk about it.

↳rozanov81 who are you again?

Figure Skaters vs. Hockey Players (Part 1) - irinafoundation

[Video opens on an ice rink. In the shot from left to right, with chyrons listing off their names: Mila Babicheva, Yuri Plisetsky, Katsuki Yuuri, Shane Hollander, Ilya Plisetsky-Rozanov, Leah Campbell]

SHANE HOLLANDER: Hi everyone. As part of our inaugural year of skating and hockey camp with the Irina Foundation, we thought it would be nice to take a little look into how we run—

ILYA PLISETSKY-ROZANOV: Oh my god Hollander you are so boring.

SH: You do the intro then.

IPR: Welcome to summer camp with Irina Foundation. We have figure skating coaches and hockey coaches–

SH: That’s not better. Some of our campers will be trading coaches today, as we see how well our figure skaters can learn to play hockey, and our hockey players can learn to figure skate.

IPR: [blows raspberry] You guys want to come out?

[4 kids skate on screen: two girls and two boys. One of each pair is wearing hockey pads and a jersey while the other is in a simple black compression shirt and leggings. All of the kids look around 7-8 years old.]

SH: These kids are some of our campers. You want to introduce yourselves?

[Last names redacted for privacy reasons.]

ELSIE: (figure skater) I’m Elsie! I’m a figure skater.

JESSICA: Jess. I play hockey.

TRAVIS: I’m Travis. Goalie.

LIAM: (figure skater) I’m Liam, and I figure skate.

IPR: We will split up into two groups and show you some skills. At the end, you will come back and show off. Sound good?

ALL KIDS: Yeah!

[Elsie and Liam go to the right of the screen, following Hollander, Plisetsky-Rozanov, and Campbell, while Jessica and Travis go towards Babicheva, Plisetsky, and Katsuki.]

[The shot changes to show Katsuki standing in front of Jess and Travis.]

KATSUKI YUURI: The fundamental skating skills are very similar. I know you know how to skate, so why don’t we get started by taking your pads off.

[Both kids start to take their pads and jerseys off—Jessica gets through hers much quicker and ends up helping Travis remove the last of his goalie gear.]

KY: You’ve seen that hockey skates are different from figure skates, right? You guys are going to change now, but everything we’re going through today can be done on hockey skates as well.

[The kids skate over to the benches and switch out their skates, before returning to center ice with Katsuki.]

KY: We’re going to run through some compulsory figures, we’ll teach you a few jumps and spins, we’ll do a little off-ice ballet training, and then come back for our demo, alright?

J: Okay.

T: What are they doing? 

[Travis points over at Babicheva, who is skating around in circles while holding Plisetsky over her head.]

T: Are we learning that? It looks cool.

KY: (laughs) Unfortunately, not today. We don’t want you getting hurt. Mila, can you put Yurio down please?

[Babicheva laughs and places Plisetsky back on the ground.]

T: Okay. 

KY: We’ll start with figures. Demo first.

[The shot switches to a dual camera view, showing Babicheva and Plisetsky skating in clean circles.]