"What the fuck," Brian says, and Ilya immediately decides he hates his voice too.

"I was just gonna text you," Shane blurts. His face has gone pale. "I'm sorry, I - I didn't know he'd be here."

Brian turns to him. "What the fuck," he repeats. "Why are you apologizing to him?"

"Well, we had plans," Shane says, ever reasonable. Ilya wants to kiss him.

"That's not the point. Since when have you been fucking Ilya Rozanov?"

Ah, so he at least pays enough attention to hockey to know who Ilya is. This is good news, it means he's already aware of how poorly he measures up.

"What does it matter?"

"Since last June," Ilya helpfully supplies. "MHL awards, in Vegas."

Shane shoots him a murderous glare and Ilya shrugs, unable to even pretend to be sorry.

"Since June?" Brian repeats faintly.

Shane throws up his hands. "Again, what does it matter? You told me to find someone else to fuck. Don't tell me you're pissed that I did what you asked."

"I'm not pissed," Brian says, clearly lying. "This all just caught me off guard. You can't tell me you'd be fine with it if someone I was fucking came to my place on one of our rare nights together."

"I wouldn't show up at your apartment unannounced."

"I was trying to be romantic and surprise my boyfriend!"

"For fuck's sake, Brian, we've been dating for seven years, you know I don't like surprises."

He didn't know you like getting your ass eaten either, Ilya thinks but very bravely does not say.

Brian huffs. "Apparently I don't know you as well as I thought I did."

Shane looks struck at that and for the first time since he arrived, Ilya feels a twinge of worry. As much as he wants to watch this relationship implode, he doesn't want to see Shane hurt.

"Maybe you should be paying more attention, then," Ilya suggests lightly.

"Why are you still here?" Brian shoots back, lips twisted in an ugly sneer. "Obviously your services are not required tonight."

Anger rises in Ilya's chest, a swelling wave terrifying in its intensity. His services? How dare this asshole reduce everything he's shared with Shane in the past few months down to something so cheap and disposable?

"That was fucking uncalled for," Shane says before Ilya has a chance to respond, expression tight. "Don't be such an asshole."

Brian gapes at him. It's clear how unused he is to Shane talking to him this way. It settles Ilya's anger, replacing it with pride and smug vindication.

"Whatever," Brian finally mutters. "Just get him to leave, would you?"

And Shane.

Shane hesitates.

"Are you serious," Brian says flatly.

"We only see each other when our game schedules line up," Shane says, looking guilty. "I just - I don't like it when plans change suddenly. But obviously, Rozanov's leaving."

The flicker of hope in Ilya's chest dies abruptly. And fine, it's not like he actually expected Shane to throw out his boyfriend for him. It's just that for a moment, it really seemed like he would.

"I'm walking him out," Brian decides.

Shane doesn't protest. The fight seems to have left him. Ilya can only hope it will return once he's gone, but just in case it won't...

Brian walks him to the bottom of the stairs, which Ilya is sure is meant to be some kind of power move but really suits his purposes perfectly.

"Don't get it twisted," Brian says, once they're at the door. He's standing tall again, posed on the step above Ilya, a poor attempt at intimidation. "I'm surprised, not angry. This - you, your thing with Shane, it's not worth getting angry over."

Ilya quirks an eyebrow. "Oh?"

"You're not Shane's type," Brian says, giving Ilya a condescending smile. "No offense, I've just heard you're kind of an asshole."

Ilya shrugs. "And I've heard you're a creep who likes picking up drunk teenagers."

Brian flushes a bright red. It takes him a long moment to compose himself enough to respond and when he does, his voice is low and heated.

"I don't know what kind of bullshit Shane has been feeding you-"

"Shane has been lying to no one but himself," Ilya cuts him off, viciously satisfied when Brian's mouth snaps shut. "He thinks you are a good person. He doesn't see how badly you have treated him, because you have had him blinded since he was too young to know better."

"That is not-"

"You are a shitty, sorry excuse of a man," Ilya says, careful and slow so Brian can feel the weight behind every word. "You don't deserve Shane, and he won't be yours for much longer."

"You think you're gonna steal him away?" Brian asks, feinting indifference.

Ilya grins. "I already have been. That first time in Vegas, I fucked him so good he came hands free. Last month, at All Stars, I had him begging for my cock for three nights straight."

Brian's jaw is clenched so tight, it must be painful.

"I would ask if he's the same with you," Ilya continues, "but I already know he's not. He would not be this desperate for me if you were keeping him satisfied."

"You have no idea what the fuck you're talking about," Brian hisses. He looks wound tight, ready to punch Ilya.

Ilya would love for him to try.

"The only reason he stayed with you this long is because he didn't know he could do better." Ilya reaches down, wrapping his hand around the door handle. "Now he does, and you only have yourself to blame."

He swings the door open. The chilly evening breeze blows in, and it seems to snap Brian out of his stupor.

"Shane is loyal," he bites out. "He's not gonna throw our relationship away for some asshole who's kind of a good lay."

He'd sound more convincing, Ilya thinks, if he didn't look like he was on the verge of angry tears.

"Have a nice night," Ilya says pleasantly, stepping out. "Try not to think about how soon, you will be alone and I will be fucking Shane on every surface in that apartment."

The door slams shut behind him before he has to hear Brian's reply.

+

"Brian?"

Shane slams the door shut behind him, heart in his throat.

Because his boyfriend, who never comes to see him after games, is sitting there at the kitchen counter.

"Surprise," Brian says with a smile, standing to meet Shane halfway.

"What are you doing here?" Shane asks, leaning in automatically when Brian places a hand on his waist and kisses his cheek.

"I closed with a huge client today and felt like celebrating."

Shane blinks. "You didn't want to celebrate with your coworkers?"

Brian's smile dims. "I wanted to celebrate with my boyfriend, who I thought would be happy to see me."

"No, of course I'm happy," Shane argues. "You just surprised me. I had plans."

He's gonna have to cancel on Rozanov, he realizes. It's their last chance to meet during the season, and now it's out the window. The thought sinks Shane's stomach like a stone, so disappointing that for a moment he feels like crying.

"I'm sure your team won't mind if you ditch."

"Not with the team." Shane swallows, feeling awkward. "I'm, uh. Meeting someone here."

"Okay?" Brian says, raising an eyebrow. "Who, Hayden? Just tell him you've got a girl coming over, he'd be thrilled."

Shane draws in a deep breath. Why is this so difficult? This is something Brian's expecting him to do, he's not gonna feel shocked or betrayed when he finds out Shane invited someone over to fuck him.

Well, he might be shocked by that someone being Rozanov. Which is why Shane needs to finish this conversation and text Rozanov before he arrives.

"Not a friend," Shane says. "A guy." Then, clarifying, "A hookup."

Brian stares at him, face blank. "What."

"Our relationship is open," Shane reminds him, more defensive than he meant to. "It was your idea."

"I know," Brian says, snappish back. He steps back, hand dropping from Shane's waist. "Obviously. I'm just surprised, you didn't tell me you'd found someone."

"You haven't told me about your hookups, either."

Brian's jaw flexes. He looks - not angry, exactly, but something approaching it. Shane doesn't understand. This was his idea and he had to know Shane has been seeing someone, since he explicitly asked him to.

"Who is it?" Brian asks.

Shane frowns. "I don't - he's closeted. Why are you asking, that's not how we've been doing this."

"Maybe that should change."

"Okay." Shane crosses his arms. "Who else have you been fucking, then?"

Brian draws in a breath, but before he can respond the doors open with a soft click. Shane turns, heart dropping to the floor as Rozanov steps inside.

"Ah," he says, stopping on the doorstep. He at least has the presence of mind to close the door. His eyes dart between Shane and Brian, understanding dawning on his face. "Am I interrupting?"

"What the fuck," Brian says softly.

Shit.

+

gnaw by @catgrassplantdad

shane asks for what he wants, ilya provides; a little bit of fearplay, as a treat; shane gets held down and loves it so much

Butter soft in the moonlight by eatmyass (2.2k)

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i think i’m pretty much your boy by ruralsaint (4.8k)

another soft one, the cnc is mild; trans shane with dysphoria, and the sex is gender affirming; overstimulation and aftercare.

Sunday Blue by @rozzed (9.1k)

the intox fic to end all intox fics; drunk sex and roofies (or is it a placebo? we may never know); they trust the fuck out of one another and it’s so, so hot.

quantum mechanics series by prettyshadow (theaujasmine)

two fics, both popular for a reason; shane puts ilya in various saw traps; ilya is both mean and a good boy simultaneously; many potential warnings, heed the tags. I go back to these on a frequent basis.

these and other lucky witnesses by @creamsiclemelt (10.2k)

medfet, doctor/patient roleplay; please heed the tags as this one veers into full-on rape fantasy; slut-shaming and degradation; Ilya knows exactly what Shane wants; one of my favorite fics in this fandom. 🫶🏻

come as you are by grim_lupine (4.8k)

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blender in a blender by @garagepaperback (8.5k)

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roleplaying a redo of the shower scene; homophobic slurs in a horny way; ilya is mean as fuck and it’s super yummy.

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intox; checking in with the spotlight system; they’re so in love + ilya wants to make him feel good; shane hollander blissed out and crying on it.

between the pipes by SleepingPatterns (5k)