Summary:

Shane Hollander is benched following the fanmail video that outed his relationship with his rival Ilya Rozanov. While walking alone in Montreal he passes by a sports bar showing the Metros losing without him and he meets two unlikely companions.

 

“Didn’t mean to interrupt,” says Shane in soft English, looking at the bartender only, “Uh, just saw the game was on when I walked by, wanted to know the score.” He swallows thickly, “Guess we’re losing?”

The man who’d called him a homo ducks and with considerable effort, puts the table back where it had been before. He mutters something that Shane thinks is an apology to the bartender. The other man shakes his hand and reaches for a nearby chair. 

In English, the man who’d called him the pride of Montréal says loudly, “A ginger ale for Monsieur Hollander, yes?”

Shane hesitates, then nods at the bartender, who wordlessly starts to pour. The two men finish righting the place and gesture for Shane to sit with them. Shane shouldn’t. But he does as the bartender comes over and sets a glass of ginger ale in front of him. 

“So,” says Shane as casually as he can, “Uh, I guess you’re both Metros fans?”