1 – 20 of 43 Works in Angst with a Hopeful Ending
- Angst with a Hopeful Ending ×
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This Kid is Going to Ruin My Life by Anonymous
Heated Rivalry (TV), Game Changers | Heated Rivalry - All Media Types, Game Changers Series - Rachel Reid
2026-10-25
Starting before then running concurrently with the events of Mr. Answer Man, this is Scott's perspective on the first three years of Shane and Ilya's growing relationship. You do not need to have read Mr. Answer Man to understand this (I hope!) but I recommend it.
Scott Hunter is 25 years old, Captain of the New York Admirals, and privately, achingly, gay. He meets Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov at the 2009 MLH draft day, and everyone involved immediately gets several wrong ideas. For the next three years, Scott has to navigate his place as a closeted gay man in the spotlight of major league hockey, while trying to protect an oblivious baby queer from an obviously straight Russian menace who can't seem to stay away.
- Language:
- English
- Words:
- 25,015
- Chapters:
- 6/8
- Files:
- 1
- AO3:
- #92861061
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Later, he’ll blame it all on a momentary lapse of judgement.
He’ll blame it on the loneliness maybe—on the fact that, despite never having been physically closer to Shane this consistently in his entire life—that despite regularly getting dinner with Shane’s parents—that despite finally having found what he’d spend his entire life searching for he’s also, somehow, never felt more alone.
He’ll blame it on Cliff not texting him back since he’d signed with Ottawa. He’ll blame it on Sveta, face pulled into a perpetual frown during every facetime call.
Or maybe he’ll blame it on Anya—sweet, beautiful Anya—who’d been just a little too cute not to share.
or: Ilya accidentally rehabilitates his image one puppy tiktok at a time
- Part 1 of my moon my man
- Language:
- English
- Words:
- 55,804
- Chapters:
- 15/15
- Files:
- 2 versions
- AO3:
- #77785331
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honey bees and other doomed creatures by Anonymous
Game Changers | Heated Rivalry - All Media Types
2026-10-14
The beginning starts with an ending: Shane Hollander dies when he is twelve years old. It is not permanent, but it does linger.
(Shane, Ilya, and the great game of being good enough to be worth something to someone.)
- Language:
- English
- Words:
- 21,651
- Chapters:
- 1/1
- Files:
- 1
- AO3:
- #94631736
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I already chose you, Ilya by Anonymous
Heated Rivalry (TV), Game Changers | Heated Rivalry - All Media Types, Game Changers Series - Rachel Reid
2026-08-25
“I might be busy having sex with Troy,” Ilya said tightly.
Ilya makes a joke about having sex with Troy. What he doesn't know is how deeply the joke hurt Shane. Two days and many unanswered calls later, they finally talk. And Ilya learns how much Shane has been silently carrying all these years.
"Would you even choose me, Shane?"
"I already chose you, Ilya."
Or: Shane crashes out after years of stupid jokes about his diet, homophobic slurs thrown at him, racist environment, and one unfortunate joke about Troy Barrett.
- Language:
- English
- Words:
- 3,333
- Chapters:
- 1/1
- Files:
- 1
- AO3:
- #91331431
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Ilya tries to kill himself. In the following weeks, they move forwards, as best as they can.
(12 glimpses at the never ending state of being in recovery.)
- Language:
- English
- Words:
- 18,622
- Chapters:
- 3/3
- Files:
- 1
- AO3:
- #89892336
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They love each other. They have a plan. Sometimes, things go wrong anyway
- Language:
- English
- Words:
- 6,882
- Chapters:
- 1/1
- Files:
- 1
- AO3:
- #90088471
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It’s Kind of a Funny Story by Anonymous
Heated Rivalry (TV), Game Changers Series - Rachel Reid
2026-07-17
His stomach takes a sharp, screeching left. His heart stalls and then shifts into gear, zero to 180, every tired tract of him seizing and squealing to go, run, leave.
“Hey, I found him,” Tony says, finishing a conversation Ilya wasn’t in, easy like all conversations without Ilya are. Easy like the world isn’t ending. Like Ilya isn’t standing there, wishing every time he tried to self-destruct or kill himself had worked.
Greasy black hair. Sallow freckled skin. A turned head and horror-widened eyes taking in the big bad monster who finally arrived onscreen.
“Shane, Ilya; Ilya, Shane,” Tony says, totally oblivious. “You both like hockey, right? So that’s something in common. I’ve got to take lunch, but I’ll check in on you both before my shift is over.”
Nobody knows if Ilya Rozanov tried to kill himself before the draft. Nobody sane goes first overall. And nobody knows if Shane Hollander is going to survive another mediocre season with the Boston Raiders.
Isn’t it funny how a single nick in the ice can change the entire game?
- Language:
- English
- Words:
- 31,604
- Chapters:
- 1/1
- Files:
- 1
- AO3:
- #88732591
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Diversion by Anonymous
Heated Rivalry (TV), Game Changers | Heated Rivalry - All Media Types
2026-06-18
Ilya is married. He is married to Shane and has Shane in their bed and their house every day. He has Shane as a part of his life more fully than he ever has. People know about them. He holds Shane's hand in the grocery store without Shane pulling away. They are on the same team, getting ready to share the ice for a whole season.
Ilya has everything he'd been longing for over the past four years. Maybe longer. Probably longer.
Ilya has a hole in his chest. The edges push aside his heart and lungs, digging up under his ribs so everything feels tight and cramped while the core of his being vacillates between aching and emptiness.
In which Ilya collects pills, distracts Shane, and has a great time doing it.
- Language:
- English
- Words:
- 17,377
- Chapters:
- 3/3
- Files:
- 1
- AO3:
- #86779701
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all that i lacked so long and loved so well by Anonymous
Heated Rivalry (TV), Game Changers | Heated Rivalry - All Media Types
2026-06-11
Because it's good news, right? That no one has told him that Ilya is— There probably would have been headlines. Or a press release. A photo of him in his jersey, smiling, two dates only twenty-eight years apart, a few lines about his career, and no listed survivors. Supportive tweets from a bunch of people in the league. Shane's team would put out a press release about the foundation and probably get a flood of donations. There would be something, if he were—
But there's nothing. There's just this void. Nothing, nothing, no sign of him. It's like Ilya has disappeared off the face of the earth.
***
Shane's point of view on the events of lonely i came, and i depart alone
- Part 2 of a strange door
- Language:
- English
- Words:
- 8,373
- Chapters:
- 1/1
- Files:
- 1
- AO3:
- #86550126
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“Well, I guess you got what you wanted from me already,” Hollander continued. “Whatever. Fuck you.”
“Wait, no, Hollander.” Ilya turned, throwing an arm into Hollander’s path. “That’s not—”
“No, it’s fine. Stupid of me to expect anything else.” Hollander shook his head, gaze downcast, the barest hint of angry pink tinging his freckled cheeks. “Thanks for making it good, at least.”
It. His first time.
Ilya was the worst sort of asshole.
---
In Sochi, Shane isn’t shy about calling out Ilya for ghosting after getting what he wanted. Once they’re safely away from Russia, Ilya forces himself to be honest with Shane about what that first time meant.
- Language:
- English
- Words:
- 4,416
- Chapters:
- 1/1
- Files:
- 1
- AO3:
- #86380681
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Scott Hunter wakes, screaming, In Montreal.
Or: Scott gets stuck in a time loop on the night of the St Thomas benefit. Cursed to relive Kip leaving him again and again, he desperately searches for a way out and back to the light.
- Language:
- English
- Words:
- 20,219
- Chapters:
- 1/1
- Files:
- 1
- AO3:
- #85912876
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Ruined Everything by Anonymous
Heated Rivalry (TV), Game Changers | Heated Rivalry - All Media Types, Game Changers Series - Rachel Reid
2026-05-22
It was supposed to be a good day. Ilya loves his boyfriend. He loves hanging out with David and Yuna. Scott and Kip were in Ottawa for a visit. And Ilya knows he’s supposed to be happy but… he can’t. He feels like he’s drowning in tar.
- Part 5 of Seasoned Gay to the Rescue
- Language:
- English
- Words:
- 7,636
- Chapters:
- 1/1
- Files:
- 1
- AO3:
- #85173556
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It Was Just An Accident by Anonymous
Heated Rivalry (TV), Game Changers | Heated Rivalry - All Media Types, Game Changers Series - Rachel Reid
2026-05-18
After stopping Ilya from jumping off a bridge, Scott and Kip take him in. Over the next couple of weeks, they learn about the horrors Ilya has had to endure and hopefully, they can give him the safety he needs.
*This fic is a standalone, and you don't need to read the other fics in this series
- Part 6 of Seasoned Gay to the Rescue
- Language:
- English
- Words:
- 15,363
- Chapters:
- 4/4
- Files:
- 1
- AO3:
- #84357696
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It is December, and Scott has been out for long enough to pretend to be used to it, and things are not perfect but they’re fucking good, and Ilya Rozanov is at his apartment for dinner—has been for over an hour—and he’s still waiting so stupidly hopefully to introduce a boyfriend who very, very clearly isn’t coming.
(Or: studies on coming out, learning patience, one-sided conversations, and other absurdist waiting games.)
- Language:
- English
- Words:
- 13,255
- Chapters:
- 1/1
- Files:
- 2 versions
- AO3:
- #84635891
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Grin and Bear It by Giveemhale
Game Changers | Heated Rivalry - All Media Types, Heated Rivalry (TV), Game Changers Series - Rachel Reid
2026-05-06
Ilya tries to get Shane to be friends with Troy. It goes horribly. AKA Shane crashes out at Troy Chap 2: Shane and Rose talk about fame and rage
- Part 1 of The Darker Side of Hockey
- Language:
- English
- Words:
- 9,176
- Chapters:
- 2/2
- Files:
- 2 versions
- AO3:
- #83891141
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When Shane Hollander was drafted, he thought he would retire in Montreal with a C on his chest. A decade later, he understands that dream was never possible. This is the story of everything that happens in between.
- Part 3 of After the Whistle
- Language:
- English
- Words:
- 13,535
- Chapters:
- 2/4
- Files:
- 1
- AO3:
- #82772456
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A Danger to Yourself or Others by Anonymous
Heated Rivalry (TV), Game Changers Series - Rachel Reid
2026-04-15
Galina stopped writing to look at Ilya. "Do you think he'd be willing to talk to you next time it happens, even if it's late?"
Ilya's stomach turned over. He didn't even want to consider it, but he knew the answer. "Yes. But he silences his phone at night."
"Most phones these days have an option to let certain numbers ring through, even on Do Not Disturb. Do you think he'd be open to setting that up for you?"
Imagining that conversation made Ilya nauseous. Yes, no fucking doubt, Shane would be open to it if Ilya explained the reason. "I'm not going to ask him to do that."
Set during The Long Game, an alternate version where the plane scene doesn't happen. Instead, there's this: a car crash, a therapist's duty to report, and an urgent reckoning with priorities.
- Language:
- English
- Words:
- 37,182
- Chapters:
- 6/6
- Files:
- 2 versions
- AO3:
- #81233801
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Moscow, 2007.
Ilya wasn’t expecting that along with a new assistant coach, he’d also be getting a new teammate for the summer. Shane Hollander turns out to be only one in the rink who can keep up with him. The tension between them builds fast, and it doesn’t just spill over the boards. It follows them home.
Or: The thing with Ilya's coach's son, but it's Shane.- Part 1 of Plexiglass Box
- Language:
- English
- Words:
- 109,385
- Chapters:
- 13/13
- Files:
- 1
- AO3:
- #78002516
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The elevator was full. Too many people were packed in like sardines, and their suitcases just made the squeeze even more unbearable. JJ didn’t feel the need to add to it. He was six-foot-five and as wide as a brick wall. He didn’t want to be packed in there any more than they wanted to share the space with him.
He decided to take the stairs.
OR
JJ takes the stairs at the exact wrong time and overhears The Phone Call™️ from Moscow. He, in canon typical fashion, does not take this well.
(Fuck AI)- Language:
- English
- Words:
- 4,906
- Chapters:
- 1/1
- Files:
- 1
- AO3:
- #81915426
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Ilya Rozanov has watched the gay soccer television show four times.
Every time he gets to the end of episode six, he loops right back around to the first episode again. Would you like to start from the beginning? His TV mocks him with the request. Every time he sees it, he tells himself he won't watch again. But he does.
Again, again, again, again.
It is not helping.
Shane and Ilya end their relationship during the 2017 All-Star Game. Years pass with no contact off the ice.
When a new TV show premieres, following two queer professional soccer players in a years-long secret relationship, the show's success creates a ripple effect through the sports world, leaving both Shane and Ilya wondering about what might have been.
Or: Is this f*cking play about us?
- Language:
- English
- Words:
- 11,312
- Chapters:
- 3/3
- Files:
- 1
- AO3:
- #79985511