Shane was actually not prepared for how different travelling with the centaurs are. Sure, he expected it to be nicer, having Ilya at his side. Basically he thought, he would just stick to watching movies, maybe read a few pages, and taking perfectly timed naps to prevent a jet lag, just that maybe now he could rest his head on Ilyas shoulder. Well. He might never know peace again.
He is now regular part of the little card playing group, playing one or two rounds of poker or asshole at the beginning of their flight. They are laughing and trashtalking and Shane's pleasently suprised he's not getting thrown out the group for ripping the others off with his stone hard poker face.
Shane accidentally started a book club that now semi-regularly holds meetings in their airplane to discuss hockey books, a tradtion that started when Luca asked Shane what he was reading and then proceeded to buy the books as well, which caused a handful more team members to follow suit.
But his favourite thing to do is talking shop with Ilya. Both off them sticking their heads together over their ipad, going though game tape, discussing strategies, examine plays with a level of perspicacity reserved just for them. Often they sit together with Bood and Troy, so they all can exchange their experiences with different opponents, examine weaknesses and strengths & Shane finds so much calm and joy in being part of a group of like-minded people, talking like equals, like a real team, not having to carry the burden of being the head of the team alone.
Shane doesn't get to watch as many movies alone and in peace anymore as before but he wouldn't change it for the world.
