unorthodox, smart, special.

After a while of talking about how Anya acts the trainer says there’s nothing to worry about, Anya likes Shane just fine, it’s just that she sees him as the boss and is acting accordingly

And Ilya is like. But. I’m the one who adopted her? And raised her before Shane got here?? And the trainer is just like yeah well she sees you more like an equal. And Ilya is like WAIT she thinks Shane is in charge of both of us?? And the trainer is just like well do you interact in a way that would make her think that?

Ilya’s life flashes before his eyes as he thinks of all the times Shane has come over with a snack for Ilya and a treat for Anya, or all the times Shane has announced they’re all going for an after dinner walk, or pets Ilya’s hair and tells him he did a good job at practice, or the fact that he uses the same warning tone with Anya when she misbehaves as he does with Ilya when he’s causing problems on purpose

and ilya gets struck (again) about how time moves and leaves traces on the human body, how he got to grow up and now gets to grow old with shane, and be the person to notice the first trace of wrinkle on his face.

The very first year he played with this team, they made the playoffs for the first time in so many seasons.

And then again the next year. Because of him. He dragged them there.

The third year, he earns Captaincy.

The fourth year he played, they won the Stanley Cup for the first time in thirty(?) years.

Then they won again the next year.

The first time he gets smashed and can’t play for the playoffs, they immediately get beat out.

Then he carried them to another Cup win the moment he was back, just about.

Shane Hollander carried a whole damn team, and they benched him and iced him out and could not wait to get him out as soon as they could the moment he became a little complicated.

Shane should be so angry.

This one kid carried a whole team of professional players for almost a decade, and he dragged them with him to success after success. And in return, the moment his personal life got the slightest bit complicated for The Narrative, they ice him out. Like he wasn’t the factor that had them winning this whole time. Like he wasn’t the turning point to the whole game. Like he wasn’t the one who (politely) bullied a whole losing team culture into winning the heights of every hockey player’s dreams… multiple times.

The first year he’s gone, they don’t even make playoffs.

Shane should be so, so angry.

Instead, he’s consumed with his boyfriend, and that’s a much better use of his time and energy. He’s stressed about that.

He’s trying to figure out what’s wrong with the person he loves. He’s not burning and raging about how he’s been treated.

When they're about to leave the locker room for warm ups, Bood steps into the door with his arm stretched out.

"Woah, woah, woah, where do you two think you're going?"

They share a confused look.

"Uh, to warm up?" Shane asks. Bood instantly starts to shake his head as Troy joins him at the door.

"We need a kiss."

Shane leans back a little in disgust surprise, beside him Ilya lifts his eyebrows in disbelief.

"What, both of you?" with a chuckle, to which Shane adds "From whom?" before stepping closer to Ilya. Who was famous for goal celebration kisses to sweaty cheeks of his teammates but that was pretty much all Shane was okay sharing.

"Ew, no, no, no." Troy waves them off and Bood shakes his head laughing.

"Each other. Last time you did before warm ups and we won 6 to 2 against the Admirals."

And, oh. Because. Shane isn't against PDA now that they're both out when they are around their team after games or out for dinner with someone or walking Anya around their neighboor hood hand in hand.

But. He had a pretty clear rule that practices, games and everything at the rink was off limits. That was work. That was different.

The first few away games he didn't even want to sit beside Ilya on the bus or plane. Let alone be couple-y around the others. He told Ilya he did not want even the slightest chance of someone feeling uncomfortable because of him. Them.

Last week had been different, though. Ilya had been feeling down for a little while. Not much, not bad. Just- off. And when they were putting on their skates for warm ups he had cracked a stupid joke. And Shane had looked over and something in his chest had loosened because- there was that mischievous sparkle in his husbands eyes again. Leaning over and kissing Ilya hadn't really been a concious choice. It hadn't been anything wild either. A closed mouthed, lingering press of their lips.

A steady few seconds to convey 'Hey, I missed you.'

Ilya had smiled fondly at him after.

Apparently Bood or Troy or someone saw this. And when they won, they came to the logical conclusion that that was because of their pre warm up kiss.

Now Ilya rolls his eyes because- as dumb as it is, in hockey world this makes stupid sense. But Shane won't like it. So, he has to find a way to- suddenly there are two hands cupping his face before he is being dragged to meet Shane's lips for a quick, smacking kiss.

"Let's fucking kill these guys out there." Is all Shane says after, bonking his helmet with Barrett and Bood before vanishing through the door.

Ilya stares after him, stunned and slack jawed.