My Little Corner

-having a job

-not having a job

-applying for jobs

-the job market

but not realizing that shane is too far in the stratosphere to fully grasp what he's saying

OR REMEMBER THE DETAILS OF THE CONVERSATION LATER

so ilya is trying to do this gently because he doesn't want to hurt him, but unfortunately this means being SO gentle that what high!shane gets is "i can't come see you more before i leave because it would be too hard" and shane is "okay :( i understand :(" because yeah, their team prob leaves soon and it was already nice that he made it here once, so that's okay :)

but then shane gets out of the hospital AND DOESN'T RECALL THAT HE WAS BROKEN UP WITH, so he keeps texting ilya, and ilya thinks it's just him trying to hold on, so ilya just doesn't respond because he wants this to be as easy as possible and if he just doesn't respond-

and then there's a knock at the door.

and in a reversal of the tuna meltdown, he is now facing a shane hollander who WON'T leave his house without talking because shane thought it was still grief about his dad or something and got worried and came to see him. and look. ilya is only human. shane is in front of him and beautiful and worried and so of COURSE they fall into bed together again, and this time shane falls asleep there and stays all night and like. okay. if hollander is this determined to make this work, maybe ilya just has to get a little braver, too.

and all goes well until the day ilya SO affectionately goes

"i'm glad you didn't listen to me"

"what? when did i not listen to you? 🤨"

*still SO soft and affectionate and sweet because shane pushed back and it's thanks to that they got here <3* "when i said we should break up and stop seeing each-"

BEST DAY EVER ☀️🌸❤️🦋

based on this

Ao3 is first and foremost☝️our wife!!

Bonus:

the city of los angeles

the city of new york

sex

how drinking alcohol works

how getting high works

how a child of any age speaks

how nuclear physics work

how [my job] works

how debilitating being shot in the shoulder is

how hypothermia works

things I have never before seen someone fake their way through writing about, until today:

Ilya's heart is pounding hard, as though he's just smashed through a defense line. He can be brave, just like dinosaur Scott Hunter. He grips his phone tight to his ear, so tight his fingers are aching. "I am coming to the cottage," he declares.

There is silence on the other end. And then, "uh... how do you know about my cottage?" Shane asks.

Ilya pauses, thrown. He kneads his fist into his chest where it is starting to hurt. "You asked me," he says. "You said 'come to my cottage.' "

"No, I didn't."

Ilya stares at his phone. His fingers are trembling. He doesn't gasp, or cry or flinch but he feels almost light-headed and can't think of a single thing to say. He considers hanging up.

"I wanted to ask you," Shane clarifies. "But then I got knocked out."

Ilya closes his eyes, relief whooshing through him so fast he feels wobbly. A smile creeps over his face. "Hollander," he says. "You did ask. You were fucking high, at the hospital. You don't remember?"

"No? What did I say?"

“You said, ‘Come to my cottage this summer. Don't go to Russia. Come to my house. It will be fun. I will suck your cock every morning for two weeks.’ "

"I did not!"

"I'm pretty sure you did, actually. You promised. You said, 'we will do yoga outside with you in my mouth. You will get to see all my pretty arching up close.' "

"No way I said that," Shane scoffs.

"You're going to break your promises?"

"Ok, the first bit I can believe because that's pretty much what I wrote down to say but the rest... no."

"Shane! You were high. Clearly this is deepest desire of your heart, can only be revealed while on drugs. You said 'come to the cottage, make me tuna melts every day and I will let you fuck me in the lake.' "

"No, Ilya," Shane wheezes with laughter.

"Oh very nice, he invites me to his cottage then un-invites me! Famous American hosting not so good now, is it?"

"Asshole. I'm Canadian. And you're still invited. Please come."

"Oh, I will."

"Good," says Shane.

"Good," says Ilya.

"I'm looking forward to it. I'll make up the guest bedroom," Shane adds.

Ilya splutters.

"Oh," says Shane. "You want the couch instead? You want to camp in the garden?"

"No."

"Hmmm. Well, maybe I can share. I don't want you doubting Canadian hospitality."

"Ok, Hollander. I will sleep where you tell me."

"You will sleep where I sleep."

"Then we will not be sleeping."

"For two weeks?"

"You did not know? Russians do not sleep in summer."

"Sure. Russians do not sleep, do not blush, do not cuddle."

"This is what you think of me? Russians cuddle. We would win gold medal in cuddle."

"Prove it."

Ilya can hear Shane's breathlessness. "Hmm. Ok." He taps his finger against his lip. "I will prove this. Give me the time and the address. I'll come. Goodbye, Hollander. Don't ring any more bells. Clearly not much brain left, so the rest is precious."

"Shut up! I won't. Goodbye. See you soon."