Shane and Ilya learning about Scott and Kip’s divorce during a visit to the Kingfisher.
They go there after a very satisfying win against the Admirals, hoping to catch up with Kyle, and maybe Kip too if he’s around. They’ve grown quite fond of him, he’s kind and funny, and despite joking about him being too good for Scott, if Kip’s happy, that’s what matters to Ilya and Shane.
Instead they find an already hammered Scott Hunter. The game ended so little time ago Ilya has to wonder if he was sober on the ice. He doesn’t have time to dwell on it because Hunter hails Shane, pretty much ordering him to come closer.
Ilya sees his husband frown, salute Hunter in that polite but cold tone he uses for rude journalists. The drunk dinosaur doesn’t seem to get the hint and immediately goes on a rant.
“He’s asking for a fucking divorce, do you believe it ? Says I’m a pig for cheating on him but I never got to have fun before, it’s not my fault I wanna try things !” He points at Shane, who tenses even more. “You, you get me Hollander ! Your man had it easy, got aaaaall the fun all along but you couldn’t !”
So Hunter cheated on one of the greatest guys they know, and he’s now spewing biphobic shit and implying Shane isn’t fully satisfied with their relationship. Ilya’s pretty sure he’s never seen his husband so pissed off. His eyebrow is twitching, his jaw tense and his fists are balled up. He’s seconds away from committing violence on a geriatric citizen again, and Ilya is incredibly turned on at the sight.
Sadly, or thankfully maybe, Kyle steps in and pushes Hunter towards the back of the bar, telling him he’s too bad for business to stay around customers. When he comes back he says that he’s sent a text to Kip “He’ll be happy to see you both.”
Before Kip arrives a few Admiral players come into the bar. Ilya winces at first, they don’t need people defending Hunter’s wrinkly ass in here. But Carter Vaughn and the other guys go straight to the bar to order drinks and chat a little with Kyle, who smiles at them, stance relaxed. Maybe that particular bunch is okay.
Which is why, when they approach Shane and his table and ask if they can sit here, Ilya nods. They start to chat about the game, say to congratulate the whole Centaurs team on their behalf. No mention of their captain, like he retired, as he should have already.
When Kip joins them, he seems a little tense at first, but quickly relaxes when all the Admirals here offer their support to him. It ranges from “if you need help with the papers, my wife is a lawyer” to “that true crime podcast often talks about how to hide bodies”. Kip laughs at that one, a full belly laugh, eyes crinkling. Well done, Vaughn.
It turns out, Kip has listened to that podcast already. Maybe Ilya should too, he says out loud. Both Kip and Vaughn shake their heads, apparently it’s not a beginner friendly true crime piece. So there are levels to these things ? The two seem to think so, but disagree on what the best starting point is. Ilya gets completely forgotten, a few minutes into the debate.
Next to Ilya, Shane is strangely pensive. He’s often quiet in group gatherings, especially when he’s tired, but right now he’s focused, the way he is when he reads the ice. His eyes go from Kip to Vaughn more than one while he bites on his bottom lip.
When Vaughn gets up to order another round, Shane squeezes Ilya’s hand before joining him at the bar. They chat for a few minutes while their order is being prepared, Shane showing him something on his phone. Coming back to the table, Shane has that satisfied look, the one he gets after scoring an especially tricky goal. As for Vaughn he goes to sit next to Kip this time, and they start another conversation, about some new exhibit in town that Kip wants to visit.
The minute they’re alone outside, walking back to their hotel, Ilya has to ask his husband “At the bar, what were you talking to Carter about, sunshine ?” It’s pure curiosity and Shane knows it. He laughs. “Did you notice how they hit it off, about that podcast stuff ?” “They’re both nerds, yes.” Shane laughs again. That’s Ilya’s favorite sound. “They are. But it felt like a bit … more. And last weekend, Mom told me about that exhibit, and it seemed like Kip’s thing so I just..” He shrugs. “Passed along the info to Carter, I guess.”
Ilya stops dead in his tracks, his grip on Shane’s hand keeping him from walking further too. “Shane Hollander-Rozanov, were you trying to play matchmaker ?” Shane rolls his eyes. “It sounds devious when you put it that way, but yeah.” “My devious husband, hmmm.” Ilya kisses his cheek. “Wanting to spread the love around us. You think Carter is into guys ?” Shane shrugs, his face blushing from Ilya’s kisses. “I don’t know for sure but I have a hunch, I’d say. That he and Kip would be good for each other.”
“You having hunches about love is very cute, ‘Mister I dated an actress so badly she realized I’m gay before I did’.” Ilya grins devilishly. “Oh fuck off.” It means I love you and they both know it. Shane smiles, and continues “Besides, I ended up marrying you. So I think I’m pretty great at this love thing.” As an answer, Ilya kisses him in the middle of the street. They are great at love, the best even, if you ask him.
And when a few months later, Vaughn shows up to the Kingfisher with his hand in Kip’s, Shane looks way too proud of himself. Ilya can’t complain, he likes seeing his friends so happy. “Well done, Cupid” he whispers into Shane’s ear. This time Shane kisses him in the middle of the bar.
