First Skates
Summary: Ilya and Shane spend the morning teaching their young daughter, Irina, to skate. Ilya is confident in her and Shane is fucking losing his mind 💀💀
themes: sassy ilya, wholesome, germaphobe shane, dosmetic shane x ilya, husbands, authors note: hi i'm alive yes. i've been procrastinating posting this for quite literally months, so i'm finally forcing myself to post. enjoy, gulp.
these adorable heated rivalry themed dividers were created by the lovely @dividers-are-us
“I don’t know about this Ilya…” Shane bellowed anxiously behind his husband. His gaze was cast downwards, fixated on Ilya’s large hands as they carefully laced and tied their daughters ice skates, her first ever pair. Irina had just turned three as of a few weeks ago. Like any other three year-old, Irina was petite and unstable. She still walked with a slight wobble, occasionally needing to cling to one of her fathers legs or nearby furniture for support. Ilya argued that she was “behind”. “She’s a Rozanov. I was on the ice by age four.” “Well she is also a Hollander, and exactly! You were four, she just turned three.” Shane exhaled with a sigh, watching his breath come out as clouds into the brittle Montreal air. “I think it’s too soon.” Ilya rolled his eyes and rose to his feet, turning to look at Shane. Irina was still patiently seated on the nearby bench, eyeing around the outdoor rink. Her eyes were wide and curious, unsure of what she wanted to inspect first.
“Yes, I heard you. Are you done?” Ilya’s head snapped to face Shane, who did not look impressed. “Fine. We’ll try, and when she’s done? She’s done. No forcing her.” Ilya shot Shane a wink, which instantly caused the apples of his cheeks to turn an even darker shade of pink. “Fuck off.” Shane muttered quietly before approaching the bench Irina had been patiently waiting on. He knelt in front of her, admiring Ilya’s handiwork on the laces. He tied them the same way he ties his skates before a game. Double knotted, finish with a bow.
“You ready?” Shane asked softly, reaching out to tuck a few stray hairs behind one of her ears. Irina quickly nodded and extended her arms out towards him. Shane rose to his feet, scooping her up off of the bench and into his arms. “She’ll never learn if you’re constantly carrying her around, Shane.” Ilya said as the pair approached him on the ice. “Relax, I’m allowed to carry our daughter.” Shane rolled his eyes and pressed a quick kiss to Irina’s cheek before carefully lowering her until the blades of her skates met the surface of the ice.
Ilya skated across from Shane and Irina. He stayed low, encouraging Irina to skate towards him. “Hold your arms out for balance, moya lyubov. Watch Papa.” Ilya held his arms out, demonstrating for her. Shane stayed closely behind her as she slowly spread her arms out. She wobbled, planting one hand behind herself on Shane’s shin to steady herself. Shane squatted down, gently resting his hands on either side of her. Irina turned to look back at Shane all wide eyed. “Gonna’ fall.” She mumbled. He offered her a sympathetic smile. “Daddy’s going to be honest with you. Yes, you will probably fall at least once. But that’s okay, this is how we learn. Papa and I will be right here the entire time, I promise.” Irina stared at him for a moment as his reassuring words sank in. She offered him a small nod before turning back to Ilya, who was still crouching down with open arms and a goofy grin plastered on his face.
After over an hour of skating back and forth, Ilya was so bored. “I have a better idea.” He leaned down, extending his hand out for Irina. Irina quickly took his hand before they skated over to Shane. Shane immediately understood, reaching for Irina’s free hand. The three of them slowly skated hand-in-hand around the rink. Ilya and Shane kept exchanging loving glances, occasionally glancing down to check on Irina. “I’m tired.” She whined, dropping Shane’s hand so she could tiredly rub her eye. “We have been here a while. Come on, we should go.” Ilya nodded at Shane before reaching down to scoop Irina up off of the ice. “She’ll never learn if you’re constantly carrying her around.” Shane mimicked Ilya’s statement from earlier, smirking at him. “You’re lucky our daughter is present so I cannot curse.” A deep chuckle rumbled in his chest. “I’ll get our stuff.” Shane caressed the back of Ilya’s shoulder for a moment before disappearing to go get their shoes from the locker they had rented for a couple of quarters. Ilya set Irina down on one of the many benches. “You tired , malysh?” He smiled softly at her as he carefully unlaced each skate, sliding them off one by one. Her answer was a lazy nod as she struggled to keep her eyes open. She had dark brown, nearly black eyes, like Shane. A moment later Shane reappeared with their shoes and the rest of their belongings. He sat beside Irina on the bench and began untying the laces of his own skates. Shane stood and switched places with Ilya so he could take his own skates off. Shane carefully slipped each of Irina’s feet back into her plush winter boots. He slung a single strap of their black backpack over his shoulder before scooping up Irina.
She instantly turned her cheek against his shoulder and buried her face in the crook of his neck. Out of habit, Shane tilted his own head to rest against hers as they began walking in the direction of the parking lot.
Ilya couldn’t help but smile at the sight. He had everything he could ever ask for and more. A loving, devoted husband, And a beautiful, intelligent daughter to raise. Irina was already asleep by the time they reached the car. Ilya carefully took the backpack from Shane so he could seamlessly transfer her into her carseat. Ilya rounded the car and slipped into the driver's seat, setting the backpack on the floor on the passenger side. Shane took his time ensuring that Irina was properly buckled, while attempting not to wake her. “She’s a heavier sleeper than you think, Shane.” Ilya spoke up from the front seat. “I just don’t want to wake her..” He whisper-shouted back as he draped her favorite blanket across her lap. He triple-checked her buckles before softly shutting the door and slipping into the passenger seat. Shane adjusted his jacket before he buckled his seatbelt. He slowly glanced over at Ilya, who was staring at him. “What?” He asked softly. “You worry too much, it’s cute.” He softly chuckled, now buckling his own belt. “I do not.” He said defensively. “That wasn’t meant to be an insult, lyubov.” Shane smiled, playfully rolling his eyes. “Just drive Pops.” Ilya’s face contorted in disgust. “Papa.” He corrected. “Not Pops, never Pops.” Shane couldn’t help but chuckle. It was so easy to ruffle Ilya’s feathers. He turned to glance in the backseat as Ilya exited the parking lot. Irina was still sound asleep. Her head was hanging low as she slept, resting against the built in headrest of her carseat. “She’s perfect.” Shane muttered as he turned back to the windshield. “She is.” Ilya agreed. “Like you.” His glance switched between the road ahead and Shane (who was now blushing like an idiot) in the passenger seat. “Focus on the road lover boy.” Shane shifted in his seat, turning to glance out his window at the passing greenery.
They finally arrived back at the cottage. Regardless of the snow on the ground, the cottage was a great vacation spot- year round. Ilya and Shane both unbuckled their seatbelts and paused to smile at each other. Ilya couldn’t help but lean across the console and softly kiss Shane. “Can I get her?” Ilya asked innocently. “Of course, I’ll get our bags.” Shane gave him a quick peck before shoving the passenger door open.
Ilya stepped out of the vehicle and pocketed his keys. He eyed around before opening the rear door. He carefully unclipped her buckles and slid both of her arms out of the straps. Irina slightly stirred, blinking up at Ilya with tired eyes. “I’m sorry moya lyubov, go back to sleep.” He assured her softly. Irina said nothing, she only extended her arms for Ilya. Ilya melted, immediately scooping her up out of the carseat. When Ilya was young, he secretly always fantasized about having children of his own someday. He had his go to scenarios he’d escape to. Chasing his children on the beach, kissing his significant other while their children screamed in disgust, carrying them inside after they fell asleep in the car. Fear drove him away from the idea of having a family for a long time. For so long, he was terrified that he'd be angry and hateful like his father, or end up so indescribably sad and ill like his mother. He never even considered children again, until he met Shane. Ilya stood near the front door of the cottage, gently swaying with Irina in his arms. Shane smiled to himself as he approached the front door, keys in hand. “She’s got you wrapped around your finger.” He chuckled as he unlocked the door and pushed it open for Ilya. “Correction, she’s got both of us wrapped around her finger.” Ilya countered. Not a single, plausible argument came to Shane’s mind. “Touch'e” He huffed in defeat as he set his keys on one of the kitchen counters. Ilya slowly ascended a quick few steps to the upper level of the cottage, where the majority of the bedrooms are. Now that she was older, Irina always stayed in the guestroom closest to the master bedroom. When she was still an infant, they’d set up a travel bassinet in the corner of their room. He stepped into Irina’s room and flicked the floor lamp on. It sat in the corner of the room and illuminated a soft, warm glow. He carefully changed her out of her outside clothes and into a clean pair of pajamas. Shane was very particular about what clothes could and could not touch the bed. Outdoor clothing that has touched public benches? A carseat? Nope. Change. Ilya sometimes gave him a hard time about his little habits and preferences, but deep down- Ilya thought it was cute, and he always complied. He pressed his lips to her right temple and muttered some loving words in Russian before carefully laying her down in her bed. He pulled the covers up over her small frame, and kissed her goodnight. He stood up straight and stared down at her for a moment before flicking the light off and exiting the room to go find Shane. He was home.
