Waiting for the inevitable

Instead of storming away or yelling at him, Buck just sat in front him and said "Room for one more?" Before ordering his drink.

Tommy, tired and heart-broken too, surprisingly didn't leave and stayed and both of them talked.

___________

"I need you to stop looking at me like that." Tommy said sadly.

"Like what?"

"Like you see a future with me."

Buck set down his drink and look at him with such sincerity. "And what if I do? Because I really do, I want a future with you where we live together in a house, complaining to each other about our terrible rescues and support each other on our bad days, raising pets and maybe kids one day."

"I'm not anyone's happy ending Evan." He said softly, as if he's trying not to hurt his heart anymore. "You need someone whose less broken unlike me."

Buck scoffed. "That's just stupid. I don't want anyone else. You're my happy ending. I don't want to find any other ending if you're not in it."

-----------

"Wait a minute," buck pulled away from his drink, staring incredulously at him, "They didn't speak to you after the break up?! But I told them to check on you?!! I even asked Chim to drop off some cookies I made to you?!!" By now, Buck was feeling tipsy after their 6th beer together.

"You made me cookies even after our breakup?" Tommy said mournfully, starting to feel the effects of the alcohol too,

"They were your favourite triple chocolate cookies too."

Tears began pooling in Tommy's storm blue eyes. "You're too good for me, Evan."

“You’re in love with the idea of me being a perfect man,” Tommy explained kindly. “When I’m not nearly as self-assured or as confident as you think I am. You put me on a pedestal when really I’m just a stepping stone in your life.”

“That’s just stupid.” Buck mocked loudly, pointed the mini umbrella that came with his bramble cocktail at him. “So what, you’re telling me I imagined your weird mouth static? Or the fact you are never coherent before your morning coffee? Or did you forget I know about your stupid habit of sticking your socks under the couch while watching the tv, or how you kept buying that stupid everything but bagel seasoning even though you have like, what at this point, 10 unopened bottles at your place?”

“Did you think I don’t know how you never stack the dishwasher properly or how much you just hate laundry that you only do it when everything is dirty?” Buck snorted. “Newsflash Tommy, you might be cool like 90% of the time, but the other 10% you’re just a dork and I love you even more for that.” 

Tommy looked at him in such surprise at his face that he had to duck away to avoid his piercing stare. “What?!” He asked subconsciously.

“You said I love you.” Tommy said back in wonder. “Evan, that’s the first time I ever said you say that.”

Buck smiled softly. “I love you. I’m in love with you the moment you came to the hospital for my sister’s wedding even though you were so tired from fighting the fire just because you wanted to keep your promise to me when you didn’t have to. And ever since that day, you just keep on showing up in my life, with that dry humor and crinkly smile of yours, coloring my life so brightly.”

Title: it started with a whisper Writer: @gurlsrool Reader: @opalsong, amanitaceae, @semperfiona, greedydancer, @mistbornhero, nonplussed, @elany, @melancholymorningstar, @sunlightsymphony, nony, Synteis, @wjgravity, the_abster, TheLittleMixter, vexbatch pods, @xianvar, @freekyflob, daisydiversions, Dairaliz, @deepestbluesky, ChaosKiro, Meliager, klb, sisi_rambles, @hullomoon, @blackestglass, celli, Judy Fandom: Heated Rivalry Relationships: Shane/Ilya, Troy/Harris, Bennett/Kyle, Scott/Kip, Luca/OMC, Price/Fabian Rating: Teen Length: 00:57:40 Size: 38.8MB Music: Everybody Talks by Neon Trees Cover: Opalsong Summary:

Scott: I’ve been getting asked if it’s me. I considered denying but if we all deny and one person doesn’t, that sort of gives their identity away and I’m not sure they want that. Ilya: Everyone thinks is me. My agent asked if I want to comment too Scott: Wait, it's not you? Ilya: Maybe 🤔 Or maybe not 🤪 Eric: What?

Or: When Adrian Dela Cruz reveals he dated an NHL player, chaos and damage control ensue. A story told through texts, tweets, and one pretentious Variety article. Links: AO3 Link Dreamwidth Link

This is part 1 of the the secret society of stick handlers series.

Title: (never) meet your heroes Writer: @gurlsrool Reader: @opalsong, amanitaceae, @semperfiona, greedydancer, @mistbornhero, nonplussed, @elany, @melancholymorningstar, @sunlightsymphony, nony, Synteis, @wjgravity, the_abster, TheLittleMixter, vexbatch pods, @xianvar, @freekyflob, daisydiversions, Dairaliz, @deepestbluesky, ChaosKiro, Meliager, klb, sisi_rambles, @hullomoon, @blackestglass, celli, Judy Fandom: Heated Rivalry Relationships: Shane/Ilya, Troy/Harris, Bennett/Kyle, Scott/Kip, Luca/OMC, Price/Fabian Rating: Teen Length: 01:02:52 Size: 43.4MB Music: I like me better by Lauv Cover: Opalsong Summary:

Troy: How many women have you slept with anyways? Ilya: ♾️ Luca: That’s just an infinity symbol Ilya: Yes

In which internet discourse ensues, the gay players of the NHL bicker in the group chat, and Shane would just like to get through the weekend without his husband starting another twitter scandal. Links: AO3 Link Dreamwidth Link

This is part 2 of the the secret society of stick handlers series.

Title: friends in high places Writer: @gurlsrool Reader: @opalsong, amanitaceae, @semperfiona, greedydancer, @mistbornhero, nonplussed, @elany, @melancholymorningstar, @sunlightsymphony, nony, Synteis, the_abster, TheLittleMixter, vexbatch pods, @xianvar, @deepestbluesky, ChaosKiro, Meliager, klb, sisi_rambles, @hullomoon, @blackestglass, celli, Judy Fandom: Heated Rivalry Relationships: Shane/Ilya, Troy/Harris, Bennett/Kyle, Scott/Kip, Luca/OMC, Price/Fabian Rating: Teen Length: 01:03:55 Size: 44.1MB Music: Healing by Fletcher Cover: Opalsong Summary:

Kyle: Your sense of age is so weird. So Scott’s elderly and Luca’s a baby? Ilya: Yes Shane: Luca’s older than we were when we got together though Harris: He IS? Kyle: literally wtf is this timeline

In which Harris adds Ilya and Shane to a gay WAGs group chat

(Can be read as a standalone) Links: AO3 Link Dreamwidth Link

This is part 3 of the the secret society of stick handlers series.

Title: wishing you the best (in the worst way) Writer: @gurlsrool Reader: @opalsong, amanitaceae, @semperfiona, greedydancer, @mistbornhero, nonplussed, @elany, @melancholymorningstar, @sunlightsymphony, nony, Synteis, @wjgravity, the_abster, TheLittleMixter, vexbatch pods, @xianvar, @freekyflob, daisydiversions, Dairaliz, @deepestbluesky, ChaosKiro, Meliager, klb, sisi_rambles, @hullomoon, @blackestglass, celli, Judy Fandom: Heated Rivalry Relationships: Shane/Ilya, Troy/Harris, Bennett/Kyle, Scott/Kip, Luca/OMC, Price/Fabian Rating: Teen Length: 01:53:05 Size: 77.9MB Cover: Opalsong Summary:

Shane: I’ve never wanted to share it since our timeline is so…complicated Hayden: Is it? You were fucking, then you dated, then you got married. Normal progression! Shane: I don’t think the “fucking” part of that equation is usually 7 years

In which the Voyageurs’ secret homophobic group chat leaks, Shane decides it might be time to tell the world how long he’s been seeing Ilya, and said world loses their shit. Links: AO3 Link Dreamwidth Link

This is part 4 of the the secret society of stick handlers series.

Title: and three's a crowd Writer: @gurlsrool Reader: @opalsong, amanitaceae, @semperfiona, greedydancer, @mistbornhero, nonplussed, @elany, @melancholymorningstar, @sunlightsymphony, nony, Synteis, @wjgravity, the_abster, TheLittleMixter, vexbatch pods, @xianvar, @freekyflob, daisydiversions, Dairaliz, @deepestbluesky, ChaosKiro, Meliager, klb, sisi_rambles, @hullomoon, @blackestglass, celli, Judy Fandom: Heated Rivalry Relationships: Shane/Ilya, Troy/Harris, Bennett/Kyle, Scott/Kip, Luca/OMC, Price/Fabian Rating: Mature Length: 01:36:22 Size: 66.5MB Music: Truth or Dare by Marianas Trench Cover: Opalsong Summary:

Luca: Everyone should be celebrating right now, not worrying about me. I’m so sorry Ilya: You're giving us more to celebrate! What is the point of us all coming out if you can’t bottom for two hot men? Luca: I’m not sure how to answer that

In which Luca's Stanley Cup celebrations go viral thanks to TMZ and some poorly framed photos. Luckily (and at times mortifyingly), he has all the queer NHL stars who came before him in his corner. Links: AO3 Link Dreamwidth Link

This is part 5 of the the secret society of stick handlers series.

Title: flashback when you met me Writer: @gurlsrool Reader: @opalsong, amanitaceae, @semperfiona, greedydancer, @mistbornhero, nonplussed, @elany, @melancholymorningstar, @sunlightsymphony, nony, Synteis, @wjgravity, the_abster, TheLittleMixter, vexbatch pods, @xianvar, @freekyflob, Dairaliz, @deepestbluesky, ChaosKiro, Meliager, klb, sisi_rambles, @hullomoon, @blackestglass, Judy Fandom: Heated Rivalry Relationships: Shane/Ilya, Troy/Harris, Bennett/Kyle, Scott/Kip, Luca/OMC, Price/Fabian Rating: Mature Length: 01:40:04 Size: 69MB Music: Dress by Taylor Swift Cover: Opalsong Summary:

Ilya: You respect my opinion as your captain, yes? Luca: Of course Ilya: My opinion is you should let this man rail you Shane: You can’t use your status as captain to make Luca have gay sex Ilya: Then what is the point of being captain?!

Or: In their many, many group chats, the Centaurs guide (and embarrass) Luca through the crush he's hellbent on denying.

(This is a prequel of when Luca and Archie first met/started dating. It can be read as a standalone) Links: AO3 Link Dreamwidth Link

This is part 6 of the the secret society of stick handlers series.

"Yuna," he says, shifting his elbows on the table to point at it. "What is this on his hand? Was broken?"

Shane's head snaps up from across the table, where he's pretending that Photo Album Time is very boring to him and not worth paying attention to. He hasn't scrolled on the article he's pretending to read for over five minutes.

"I never broke a bone as a kid," he says, brows furrowed. "Not until U13, when that fucking kid from Guelph--"

Yuna and Shane both inhale quickly through their noses in what Ilya has learned to recognize as a moderative measure, lest they start yelling about something that everyone else on Earth has forgotten about.

"No," Yuna says, once her face looks a little less intense. "No, it wasn't broken. It was this...contraption that the dentist gave us to correct his thumb-sucking. He was so mad about it, we only put it on him a few times."

"Oh, Jesus," Shane mutters, eyes going back to his phone.

"Aw," Ilya says. "Poor baby Shane." He taps his finger against one little red cheek and laughs. "You really do look so mad, sweetheart. How did you make him stop?"

"Hmm...you know, I don't remember," Yuna sighs, tilting her head. "I guess he just stopped by himself eventually. Do you remember, Shane?"

"No," Shane says, shortly.

"Of course, that didn't get rid of the oral fixation," Yuna sighs, adjusting her reading glasses as she flips the page. "The things you used to chew on, Shane. Pens and straws and--"

"Mom," Shane snaps, while Ilya vibrates beside him. "Can we not?"

"I was afraid to give him popsicles because I thought he would gnaw on the sticks until he got a splinter in his stomach."

"Mom!"

"Well, honey, it's true! And you did outgrow it eventually, so it's not as if you have to be embarrassed."

"Oh, you did?" Ilya says, shoulders shaking. "You outgrew the, uh, oral fixation?"

"Stop," Shane hisses.

"Mm. Excuse me." Ilya stands from the table and sweeps out onto the back porch, though the sliding door does nothing to prevent the sound of his guffaws from floating back into the kitchen.

"You know," Yuna says, "I'm just going to assume that this is some kind of language barrier thing--"

I want you to know I had to look up what frisbee golf was and then I went and made up a bunch of things about it anyway. Also it got away from me and went in a more, hm, poetical direction.

--

1. Covid had shrunk his life down to the essentials: work, grocery store, socially distance runs, home, video calls. Even with the vaccine roll out, Buck was being cautious.; the last thing he wanted to do was catch Covid and put Maddie and his soon to be born niece at risk. He was lonely and restless—Albert was great company when he was there, but he was grabbing as many deliveries as possible as he needed the money—which was why he didn’t laugh when Ravi said, “I have a weekly frisbee golf game with friends. You doing anything on Sunday?”

“Uh, not to sound ungrateful,” Buck said, resisting the urge to look behind him to see who Ravi was actually talking to, “but why are you inviting me? You pretend not to know us outside of work.”

With the mask covering his face, Ravi’s eyebrows were putting in overtime in the judgmental department. “It’s called having a work-life balance and actual boundaries. You should try it.”

“You’re still a probie,” Buck reminded him.

Ravi had a trick of conveying an eye roll without actually rolling his eyes. It was as impressive as it was deeply irritating. “Tell me I’m wrong.”

“But why me?” Buck asked, refusing to take that bait. “I didn’t think you liked me.”

“I’m going to be honest,” Ravi said like he wasn’t that all of the time. “It seems like the pandemic has maybe sent you spiraling into madness.” He held up a hand when Buck went to protest. “You chased me with a saw last week.”

“Uh, I was trying to find you so I could demonstrate how to properly use and store the saw.”

“And the best way to do that was by pretending to be Michael Myers?” Ravi pulled out his phone. “I’m sending you the time and place. “Be there.”

His phone vibrated. “I appreciate this, but I don’t want to be your weird coworker who got a pity invite.” And, Buck added silently, he didn’t want to be the weird older guy pretending to be the same age as a bunch of twenty-somethings.

“You are my weird coworker,” Ravi said without a shred of pity, “but I’m inviting another weird coworker so you’ll have someone to be weird with.”

“Thanks?” Buck said. “Wait, what other coworker? Is it Eddie? Did you invite Eddie? Ravi!”

Ilya is in a depression low and the fact that his hockey persona is still “biggest asshole” no matter what he does has been getting to him even if he won’t admit it. So Shane posts a photo compilation titled “Every Reason Ilya Rozanov Is NHLs Biggest Asshole”

-“Bullies his teammates” with a picture of Ilya doing a celebratory fist pump next to Haas with his face in his hands, in front of a tv showing Ilya getting first in Mario Kart

-“Bullies his competitors” with a picture of Ilya laughing and Scott Hunter looking like he wants to set him on fire with his mind as he holds a birthday card labeled ‘Woah! You made it to 100!’

-“Bullies Hayden Pike” with a picture of Ilya and Jackie in the lake doing the Dirty Dancing lift while Hayden stands by with his hands on his hips and glaring

-“Stealing” with a group of pictures of Ilya wearing a Hollander 24 hoodie, wearing the Canadian Olympic fleece, and wearing one of Shane’s old jerseys

-“Dramatic” with a picture of Ilya in a feather boa at a karaoke night at a gay bar, eyes closed as he is clearly belting out some song

-“Takes jobs away from janitors” with a picture of Ilya in an arena post-game and picking up litter people dropped in the hallway

-“Bad role model to youth” with a picture of Ilya and a kid at one of the camps sticking their tongues out at each other

-“Child abuse” with a picture of Ilya playing paintball with a group of young boys

-“Animal abuse” with a picture of Ilya bathing an unhappy Anya in a kiddie pool in the backyard

-“Disturbing local wildlife” with a blurry picture of Ilya running away from a Canada goose

-“Encourages cavities” with a picture of Ilya letting trick or treaters take handfuls of candy from a bowl

-“Unfair sales tactics” with a picture of Ilya taking pictures with people at a Girl Scout cookie sale table, the table surrounded by a crowd of people waiting and holding cookie boxes

-“Trespassing” with a picture of Ilya shoveling a neighbors driveway

-“Fashion crimes” with a picture of Ilya in a pink baseball hat, a neon orange tank top, jorts, and neon green crocs

-“Not helpful at puzzles” with a picture of Ilya and David in front of a one thousand piece puzzle, both with their faces in their hands, pieces everywhere

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

hey all! I have been tagged quite a few times by different people over the past month in writing games but between getting ready for the launch of the Pride Zines I'm part of and getting ready for summer vacation I haven't been doing a whole lot of writing. But I'm finally back to writing so here is a little bit of a sneak peak of the next chapter of Not A Puck Bunny.

He blacks out his screen, not expecting a reply from Shane or anyone anytime soon which is why he jumps when his phone starts vibrating angrily against his chest. He definitely hadn't expected Rozy to call him.

"Allô?" Cliff said confusedly answering the phon, putting it on speaker. "Zdorovo." Ilya replied before continuing without missing a beat. "There are no truces in war or love." He does pause then. "Why do you even want one?" "Because were going to dinner with my mom, and unless you'd like to fill my mother in on current events—" "Ah. I understand." Ilya exclaimed interrupting Cliff. You do not want Mama Marley to know that we are the new Brangelina versus Brad and Jen, or that you have stolen my man?" Cliff scowled at his phone laying on his chest. "First of all asshole. I am clearly Jen in this clusterfuck of a love triangle. And second of all—" Cliff pauses trying to think of a second point. He can't think of one. Thankfully Rozy cuts him off before he actually has to come up with a follow up point. "This is a good point. You are boring hockey sweetheart and I am sexy and exciting bad boy. I am also the one who gets the guy and has his babies." Cliff knows he is being baited, he knows exactly how Rozy operates. Cliff knows how Rozy chirps, but that doesn't stop him from replying.  "Oh fuck off Rozy, if anyone is having Shane's babies it's me."  "Impossible!" Ilya protested, "You are ancient. A dinosaur, like Scott Hunter."  "Fuck you. Hunter and I are the same age!" Well that was a stupid fucking argument, Cliff thinks as soon as it comes out of his mouth. Maybe he's had one to many concussions if he thinks that is a good comeback. "Da." Rozy replied smugly. "You are both dinosaurs who belong in museum." Cliff narrowed his eyes glaring down at his phone.  "Keep calling me a dinosaur, asshole, and I'll tell my mom the truth about those pickles she makes you." Cliff threatened making Roz gasp dramatically, he can picture the way his best friend is glaring at him through the phone. "You wouldn't dare." This time it is Cliff grinning smugly. "Try me." He counters.

After one inconsequential game, a reporter asks about what Coach Theriault and Hayden think of the future of hockey with their former star player playing with his husband. Theriault says some shitty PR nothing answer laced with so much disdain that Hayden just. can't. take. anymore.

Obviously his team wants him to shit-talk his best friend and de facto brother-in-law who happen to be playing the best hockey of a generation (he will never let Ilya know he thinks this). The reporter obviously is chomping at the bit for a "dissension in the locker room" story that will make his life even more miserable. So, fuck the both of them.

"and how about you Hayden, what do you think about the future of hockey with Hollander and Rozanov?"

"Well, I think they should get on having kids, like surrogacy or adoption of something"

Dead silence, the reporter blinks in confusion. He can feel the glare coming off Theriault burning into the side of his face. He doesn’t turn his head and blithely goes on.

“Yeah, specifically 3 girls. I have 3 girls so if they have 3 girls, we’d have a whole hockey team to start in the pee-wees and get to the PWHL. My Ruby would obviously be a defender. She’d spend her whole life in the box, but she'd be such a good enforcer, especially if she was playing with her sisters.  Jade is sneaky fast, so forward for her. And I know Amber is a baby, but I swear she’s got goalie eyes. My son Arthur is already the peacemaker of the family, so Uncle Shane could start training him up on all the rules so he can be our ref. But Shane and Ilya would have to get themselves another defender and a right or left wing with a center. Yep, that’s the future in hockey I’d love to see with Hollander and Rozanov”