Let's forget reality

Note: This masterlist is only for mid-length fanfiction (15k - 39k words). This list will be updated regularly with the last updated date noted above.

✸ - complete

⨳ - ongoing

✦ - 10/10 fanfic, please read

✸Dead in the water - 34k - Through the power of puppy eyes, Dick convinces Jason to help him on an undercover mission. When the situation goes south, it takes a combination of survival skills, quick thinking, and teamwork to keep them from becoming Titanic: The Sequel.

Or: Dick and Jason get stuck on a lifeboat together, and uh oh, Jason’s in love.

2. ✸All Roads - 35k - Goddamn Bats. First they drag him into an undercover job that he has no interest in, and then, somehow, he has to pretend Grayson is his boyfriend.

Fuck his life.

3. ✸there to see - 22k - "What do you fucking mean he talked? He just stood there in that ballroom all 'Hey! Richard Grayson? Went and got married to his wannabe mobster boyfriend 'cause Daddy doesn't approve!' That what he did?"

As far as cases go, one where Dick has to pretend to be married to Jason is still not the worst one he's had to take.

But it sure is freaking complicated.

4. ✸All soulmates final, no refunds - 39k - Mystic Waters Grande Hotel sells itself as a luxury soulmate retreat with all manner of couple’s activities. The cost is high, and all is not as it appears on the hotel’s grounds. Dick and Jason go undercover as newlywed soulmates to find out what’s behind the rash of missing persons. And dig up old feelings in the process.

5. ✸The past doesn't ever really die - 21k - Jason retired from the whole antagonist thing when Batman took down the Red Hood's criminal empire, but dating Dick Grayson is complicating that a little.

6. ✸Through the wire - 22k - …to your door, to your door.

When Jason finally works up the courage to get a tattoo he's wanted for years, he attempts to send a picture of it to Roy, who is out of Gotham on an emergency mission. Turns out, Harper and Grayson are awfully close together in his contact list.

7. ✸wishing that I had something you wore - 25k -

For the second week in a row, Jason’s laundry had been stolen off the line. He wasn’t quite sure what to do.

entirely self-indulgent ABO

8. ✸Royally fucked - 20k - Dick is on the run and trying to get home to Gotham. On the way he runs into a snag, said snag being a 6"ft tall prime alpha who's an absolute animal in bed.

9.✸ Dick Grayson torrid affair with Nightwing - 34k -

All it takes is one stupid comment at one society event for Gotham's news media to get the wrong idea and run with it. Of course, they might've let it drop if Dick hadn't proceeded to rent a proverbial back-hoe and keep digging himself deeper.

OR

Five times the Gotham Media thinks it knows what's going on with Dick's love life, and the one time they (mostly) get it right

10. ✸Til the sun dies - 30k - When Leslie is banished from Gotham following Stephanie Brown's "death", Dick comes home and takes over the clinic at her request. He doesn't know that his future is about to be taken down a path guided by the people of Twitter and page six of the local news outlets. All he wants to do is keep his head down and help the people of Gotham without all this drama.

But maybe the drama will be worth it...maybe.

11. ✸kocked me off the ground - 36k - "It's Jason Todd you'd be working with. You remember Jason, right?"

"He's probably hoping you remember him."

For his best friend's wedding, Dick's more than willing to double as best man and co-wedding planner, even if it means going back to the city he's been avoiding for years on end. Then he meets the other best man and co-wedding planner and falling so hard and so fast was so not part of the plan.

12. ✸The Awakening - 30k - It would go down in history as the single most devastating, society-altering act any villain has committed – at least on Earth.

A story of unintended consequences, love, and two men finally coming around.

13. ✸How do we begin ? - 29k - Jason was minding his own damn business when an injured omega Nightwing fell right into the middle of his patrol.

14. ✸Robins fall once - 29k - Reverse Robins AU. It was bad enough that Robin harboured an unfortunate crush on him and Red Hood had exactly zero (0) idea how to handle it. But no, the little menace disguised as a ray of sunshine had to up the stakes and proceed to drag the best out of him, while not shutting up about how kind and chivalrous Red Hood was. With his villainous reputation in shambles, Red Hood was not amused.

15. ✸on my desk by monday - 23k - Dick Grayson was tired of living hidden in his father's shadow. He desperately needs to find a space where he can thrive as just himself, and figures seeking out a simple job might be a good start; but being Jason Todd's assistant gives him so much more than he expected to gain. (No capes AU. Jason Todd is a lawyer and Dick is hired as his assistant)

16. ✸An Unexpected Find - 30k - Jason didn’t mean to adopt a Talon. It just sort of happened, after he found him hiding on the fire escape outside of his apartment and in clear need of help. Now the bar where he works has never had a better protector, plus it’s great to have the company at home. If only they didn’t have the looming threat of Batman finding out hanging over their heads, everything would be perfect.

17. ✸like a rubber band until you pull too hard - 22k -

“You don’t know pain, Nightwing,” Morgaine hisses. The portal howling into existence behind her is almost loud enough to drown her out, but not quite. “But you will. I swear, you will.”

---

Morgaine le Fey curses Dick Grayson to absorb the pain of everyone he loves.

18. ✸Have your faith in me instead - 35k -

Renegade would have kept the sport up behind Batman’s back. Like a cat chasing a mouse, he would let his target escape purposefully only to show him later on it was all planned. Jason never truly slipped out of his grasp, and there was no escape by the current Robin from the former. A game that Dick liked to play.

Except it all stopped being a game when Batman let his Robin slip from under his wings and fly into danger. It stopped being a game when the pup—now omega—was lying in a pool of his own blood whimpering from every strike of the crowbar, a madman standing over him.

And Renegade decided to take matters into his own hands.

19. ✸Two birds on a wire - 20k - Dick asks Jason for help on a case. Jason should have never agreed.

20. ✸Another perfect catastrophe - 20k - Dick goes undercover as himself in order to catch a gang of international thieves. Jason reluctantly tags along as his long suffering bodyguard. During the ensuing mayhem they get to know each other again and build a few bridges.

21. ✸Take an umbrella - 23k - In which Jason qualifies for a scholarship to Gotham Academy, where he catches the attention of one Dick Grayson.

22. ✸set fire to my lungs - 20k - The truth is, Jason is still in love with Dick. And Dick can never know, because if he does, he just might be enough of a martyr to love Jason back.

Too bad sick minds are prone to spilling secrets.

23. ✸loving you is habit forming - 20k -

Then Dick turned to him, and Jason knew that he would say yes to whatever he was about to ask. He had always been drawn to shiny, beautiful things he couldn’t afford. ... AKA soft boys falling in love

24. ✸With these ropes I tied, we can do no wrong - 31k -

In the darkness of Wayne Manor, two men will realize it’s love between them. Five miles away, a woman attempts to recover the love she lost.

Or, Jason gets pregnant. Dick has no idea. Jason also has no idea.

25. ✸Biological Imperative - 29k -

“The Pit affects many things.”

“Are you saying…”

Talia burst into bright laughter on the other end of the line. As a beta, her scent had always been delicate. It changed only slightly with her ovulation. Now Jason was discovering the difference between a beta and omega’s scents and cycles.

“What the fuck, Talia!?” he whisper-yelled into the phone.

The beginning, written second. I had an idea to flesh this series out. I hope there's more. There definitely could be...

26. ✸Flirt - 21k - Dick is flirting outrageously, Jay is refusing to believe it's intentional, and Tim…well, Tim is alternately laughing and two seconds away from physically shaking Jay by the shoulders in frustration.

Oh yes, and Dick and Jay also accidentally get stuck pantomiming marital bliss at a resort for a case.

27.✸ An appropriate language - 23k - Dick and Jason finally learn to communicate, and Tim gets an education.

28. ✸Jason Todd's guide to gardening - 22k -

“Dick invited you to a party with his coworkers. How is that a problem?”

“It’s a Valentine’s Day party.”

Tim paused his typing to give Jason a long, searching look. “How do you get yourself into these situations?”

-OR-

The stages of Dick and Jason’s blossoming relationship.

29. ✸Spitting up daisies...again - 20k -

So here Jason was: dying again. The only bastard in history lucky enough to catch Hanahaki twice for the same damn schmuck of a man.

Or: Fifteen-year-old Jason Todd catches Hanahaki Disease over the unattainable and older Dick Grayson, dies, comes back to life, and promptly falls flat on his face for Dick Grayson . . . again. There are some things you can't make up.

30. ✸It's not a secret, you just haven't noticed it yet - 23k -

Jason and Dick have been together for a while, and they haven't been hiding it either...well, maybe in the beginning when they were still feeling things out, sure, but it's been long since then and they have both been relatively open about their relationship. They keep things professional of course, never letting their private lives mix with their work or get in the way of family affairs but as far as they're aware, their exclusivity is no secret.

At least that's what they assumed.

Here's a few times Jason and Dick were open and obvious about their relationship and the Bats missed it, and the 1 time they couldn't

31. ✸I Think You're ______ - 19k - It wasn’t even until he was home and showered that he realized the word on his wrist had changed. It had been “Distant” for a few years now, and he’d been rather curious about who had made that opinion since he thought he acted quite friendly with most people he met, but had never been able to figure it out. Now Dick wasn’t sure that they didn’t mean literally far away, because the word “Annoying” was written in neat writing across his wrist where Distant had been.

32.✸ my place is not deliberate - 18k - “What’s it look like I’m doing? I’m watching TV,” he shrugged, tearing his eyes away from the screen only to flash Jason a lopsided smile full of chocolate-covered teeth.

“No,” Jason said irritably, narrowing his eyes at Dick’s wilful obtuseness, “I meant, why the fuck are you at the Manor? Shouldn’t you be out breakin’ some misguided girl’s heart or whatever it is that you normally do on Valentine’s Day?”

— or: five times Dick and Jason accidentally spend Valentine’s Day together, and one time they don’t.

33. ✸I'm a goddamn mess for you to clean up, but I like it - 15k -

Sometimes meet-cutes happen at hidden bookshops on a rainy day with coffee and oversized sweaters, and sometimes meet-cutes happen while you're breaking into your neighbor’s apartment after a drug deal gone wrong with 2 pints of blood less than you started the night off with.

OR

How Jason Todd, notorious crime boss of Gotham City, fell in love with Dick Grayson, AKA Nightwing, in one night.

34. ✸The undateable Jason Todd - 19k -

“So are you and Jason… together?” Dick had asked.

“Me? And Jason?” Artemis laughed lightly. “Anyone and Jason? Goddess, that is too funny.”

Dick had laughed it off then too, but after he had parted ways with the Outlaws, he couldn't get Artemis’ words out his mind.

It just didn't seem fair. Surely Jason Todd couldn't be completely undateable, could he? Dick wasn't sure why, but he wanted to find out. -- OR that fic in which Dick tries his hand at playing matchmaker who turns creepy stalker, misunderstandings happen because poor communication is a thing, and both Dick and Jason are more clueless than they should be.

35. ✸Future Nostalgia - 17k - A mysterious stranger suddenly appears in the midst of battle wearing a familiar Bat crest, but more importantly, a familiar face.

Dick is thrown off kilter, struggling to figure out what it means for him and Jason now that he is face to face with Jason's son.

36. ✸Guess who's coming to dinner - 17k - The holidays are an uneventful time for Jason Todd.

With nothing better to do, Jason makes an ad offering his "services" to any poor soul who wants to spend Thanksgiving with him. He can be that obnoxious boyfriend your parents hate, and his only payment? Food.

There's one catch: he never expected anyone to seriously answer back.

37. ✸Will you let me in? Please, come in - 16k -

Raising a hand, he beckoned Dick towards him and delectation filled his veins when his– the alpha smiled, took his hand and kissed it like a damn gentleman before going to him. Jason hid his flushing face so Dick wouldn't see his stupid, lovestruck smile. He didn't expect to be turned around, for Dick to cradle his face with both hands — now bare and warm — and gaze at it quietly, tenderly, even lovingly if Jason permitted himself to hope. He didn't.

Or, Jason unexpectedly goes into heat and has to accept Dick's help in getting somewhere safe. Dick tries to be supportive but can't resist the allure of the subject of his hidden desires. Meanwhile, Jason desperately fights against the hope of becoming something else with the only person he'll ever want.

38. ✸the echoes of angels who won't return - 15k -

Jason’s haunted by the Lazarus Pit. It wouldn’t be so bad, but it’s intent on making Jason take care of himself, acting judgey when he doesn’t.

But then he learns something that throws all his carefully plotted plans into turmoil, and Lazarus is having the time of his life.

39. ⨳ My future and all my dreams - 15k -

At twenty years old, Jason is certain that he is a beta. He has a mature adult scent that is neither alpha nor omega so he is obviously a beta. Nobody ever presents this late in life, so obviously, his body "settled" into a beta sometime during the period of time he can’t remember.

Jason has always been perfectly happy with this fact.

~◇~◇~◇~

All of the Bats know that Jason is a beta. Or at least that's what Dick thought.

When he hears the sounds of someone entering his apartment through the window, followed immediately by the unmistakable thump of a body hitting the floor, he rushes into his living room only to be hit by a tidal wave of scent. It's sweet, warm, and spicy the way hot cinnamon is but also fresh and earthy like a fragrant tree. Heightening that is the dark, heady scent of heat.The scent is so thick in the room, Dick would swear the pheromones hang in the air like a heavy mist.

40. ✸Alpha services at your service - 18k - "Hey," he offers a smile, "It's ok... I'm here to get you out." The Alpha glares at him, growling. His lips pull up, showing teeth. Yup... This one's almost totally gone. ---------- Jason works in Alpha rescue and finds what might just be his toughest case yet

41. ✸guess who's coming to dinner - 17k - The holidays are an uneventful time for Jason Todd.

With nothing better to do, Jason makes an ad offering his "services" to any poor soul who wants to spend Thanksgiving with him. He can be that obnoxious boyfriend your parents hate, and his only payment? Food.

Oh this is making me picture that during the year or so Ilya is tracking Shane (or at least having some of his men track him), he gets photos of Shane going out to dinner with some guy and he sees red. He hasn't been able to be with anyone since Shane left, but Shane is moving on like it's nothing? He stews on it for days, probably considers killing the guy, but after a few months there's no evidence that Shane is still seeing the guy, so Ilya eventually lets it go.

Day to day he's got the socially acceptable boxer briefs, dark and sleek, the kind with no digging, pinching band. But even still they grip his thighs too tight sometimes and he just doesn't always want all that fabric. So he has a couple pairs of briefs he'll slide into at home, maybe after a shower when he's tired and his head is buzzy from a long day or a tough game and he wants to feel extra comfy. They're high cut and tiny, they curve around his hips almost like jock strap; the hold is familiar, safe, comfortable. He throws on his softest tee shirt and he makes his tea and he settles in bed with a book, the cool sheets soft against his bare legs. And if he catches a glimpse of himself in the mirror -- long, thick legs and the fabric of his tee shirt pooled at his hips, just a sliver of the band of his underwear visible -- and he preens, well, that's no one's business but his own.

Ilya obviously doesn't know about the briefs. Shane never wore them when they met up, Ilya never stayed long enough to witness Shane's nighttime soothing -- he didn't needed it when he was getting fucking into blissful oblivion. He didn't bring any to the cottage, it felt like stacked vulnerability; here's my heart and also my compulsion. And after, there was so much to share, to indulge in, to lay bare that a pair of comfort panties just didn't make the cut. So instead one night Ilya is over at Shane's and it's late and Shane wants to clean up after, of course he does, and Ilya is in the kitchen making his boyfriend's tea when Shane pads downstairs barefoot, shower pink and hair damp, in tiny fucking underwear and Ilya's own tee shirt, a little longer than Shane's, the hem kissing the tops of his thighs. And Shane wanders towards the living room like it's nothing, but he doesn't make it far, Ilya is in front of him, fingers on Shane's hips, sliding under the band of his underwear.

"What the fuck is this?"

And Shane's a little nervous, a little embarrassed.

"I just like 'em sometimes..."

"Like girl, eh?" Ilya teases, because almost nothing gets Shane out of his head and into his rage faster than a chirp.

"Fuck you," he says, "it's basically a jock."

And Ilya can't anymore, his sinks to his knees in front of Shane and he tucks his nose into the crease of Shane's thigh and he trails soft fingers up and down the endless expanse of Shane's legs. Shane's breathing goes stuttery and he's staring down at Ilya half hopeful, half caged, his fingers in Ilya's hair as Ilya begins to mouth at his thickening cock through the cotton.

"I just showered," Shane says, but it's a weak, useless thing between them when Ilya is already dragging Shane's briefs down by the band and Shane is spreading his legs, a sturdier stance to keep him standing when Ilya really gets going, the briefs pulled taut and tucked just under his balls.

All this to say that there is a scene that lives in my head (which doesn’t feel likely to actually fit into the au bc it’s a bit melodramatic but it’s fun to think about) in which Shane has joined the centaurs with Ilya canon style and is having a drink with Hayden and JJ after a game in Montreal while the rest of the centaurs are at a different bar (Shane will be joining them later or meeting Ilya at the hotel, but the point of this is to catch up with his old friends and he’ll get distracted if his whole team is there so they’re at a separate place). Coincidentally, Brian is out at the same bar (it’s Montreal! He lives here!), spots Shane and approaches him because “he just wants to talk” and once Hayden and JJ realise who this guy is they’re actually pretty excited to talk to him because like. Yeah sure it’s not cool to make friends with your bro’s ex like that but they’re soooo curious because this is the guy he was with before Rozanov and, like, that’s Rozanov, they may kind of be friends now but they’ll always think of him a little bit like an ass, so any other guy must be better right? Even Shane’s ex?

So they start chatting Brian up and it takes like a minute because Shane needs to reboot a bit, and he’s been quiet for that whole minute, but eventually he goes “okay that’s it for me for tonight bye guys” and fully dips. Hayden and JJ go “??? what come back we were hanging dude” and follow him, which leads to Brian following them because he still wants words with Shane (unsure as to what purpose, potentially to make him feel bad for being out with another man, who was The Other Man, because he’s bitter about how their relationship ended and what his life has been like since then. He feels unaccomplished and unfulfilled now so there’s a gut pull instinct towards revenge prompting him to act foolish). Shane isn’t speaking to any of them and just heads to the bar where the rest of his team is because he simply doesn’t wanna deal with this shit. What he wants is to see his husband.

Eventually Brian catches up enough to grab Shane’s arm and stop him (“what do you want” “I want to talk to you, I don’t like how we left things” “Brian listen, we’ve said everything that can be said already, I’m not really interested in anything else you have to say” “oh so when your side piece-“ “ok bye”). Shane untangles himself easily (he’s a big strong hockey player) and continues walking. Brian continues following. Hayden and JJ follow behind them going “oh. uh. uh oh. we did a whoopsie probably”.

Eventually they reach the bar and either Brian wises up when he realises that it’s full of hockey players who will take Shane’s side, or he 😏 doesn’t 😏

Hence there’s a version of this scene in my head where Brian actually follows them all into the bar where the centaurs are and Ilya almost fistfights him and only doesn’t because “Ilya I want the fucking cup this year and our chances of that will be lowered if you’re suspended for fighting a fan”, but that’s if it gets really melodramatic.

Neither Shane nor Ilya really explains to anyone on the team or Hayden and JJ what just happened in detail beyond “that is Shane’s asshole ex” because neither of them are interested in compromising Shane’s privacy like that, but Hayden and JJ get scared straight about ragging on Ilya because no matter how many concussions you’ve had the tension in the air for the past half hour or so was Not missable. Something Happened Here. Legally they can’t make mean jokes about Ilya anymore because that was not the face of a man who is jealous of his husband’s ex, that’s a man who Knows What That Ex Did And It Was Bad.

Regardless, it takes like a full year before Ilya will let Hayden and JJ into their house again and that’s only because Shane has decided they’re okay now. Ilya will never forgive and never forget.

(Irrelevant addition but: this makes Shane and Troy (who had a rough start on the team due to Troy’s whole thing) finally bond over having bad exes.)

Sorry this is so long but ur au lights my brain on fire !! It’s really good!!

"Sorry this is so long" do you also apologize to your friends when you cook them a delicious five course meal??

This is perfect, actually. It's so so so tasty! A little bit of melodrama is more than fine with me, I think this fits really well with the rest of the story and I'm actually kind of jealous I didn't think of this scenario first!

I think this really makes sense with what Hayden and JJ would know about Shane's relationship with his ex (nothing) and their feelings towards Ilya (JJ is a lot more positive about him, I feel, but there's still a little bit of a "you couldn't have picked someone else?" vibe). They're curious! And they have no idea what kind of a hornet's nest they've stepped on because they never stopped to think just why Shane has so adamantly refused to tell them anything about his ex.

Also if we wanna make it extra melodramatic, have Brian be a little drunk and make a comment about how nice it is that they were able to sell their love story as something sweet and romantic and not as them fucking around behind his back.

"Scarily obsessed with Shane Hollander?" Cliff chimes in " Yeah, we're all a little worried he moved to Canada to stalk the man."

Everyone at the table gives a half hearted laugh at the "joke".

Ilya comes back, not even smelling like cigarettes smoke and the first thing he says is "Did you see the deke Hollander pulled against the Admirals goalie tonight." and no they had not seen it because they had all, Ilya included, been playing hockey at the time. Which means that from their perspective he had just been outside looking at Hollanders highlights for 30 minutes and suddenly everyone at the table is just a little less convinced. Like Cliff was just joking.

Probably.

Rozanov was almost definitely not stalking Shane Hollander.

he does! they have a big fight on their road trip from hell and Ilya snaps at Shane about choosing to leave, at which point Shane freezes and goes "...wait. do you think I left because I wanted to?" (this is one of the scenes I'm most excited to write in the full fic)

but one day one of the tougher kids actually starts picking a fight with shane at lunch over a soccer game. and just as things are starting to get nasty ilya comes barrelling in out of nowhere, telling the kid to back off and he's all up in his face and poking at his chest until the kid throws a punch. and to shane’s shock, ilya throws one too. and suddenly they're scrapping and shane is stunned because ilya rozanov just came into the middle of a fight because of HIM.

well, they have an everything kink so...yes they sure do (! the following contains feminization for pervert kink reasons!)

I think it would come up by accident and wouldn't be something either of them considered/were into before. but one night they have a social dinner with some of the brigadiers and other members of the bratva, it's meant to be more friendly and casual so many people bring their spouses and families. Ilya -- and everyone else in attendance -- quickly learns that Shane is great with kids. He'll hold a baby without complaint, but he's espeically good at listening to the older kids, engaging with their questions, making them feel valued and important. when the two of them finally get home, it's late and they're tired, but of course Ilya kisses the top of Shane's head and says "you were such a wonderful mother duck tonight" which makes Shane laugh. As they get into bed they have a semi-deep conversation on if Ilya would ever want children. He doesn't, he already has custody of his niece and that's enough for him, plus he would worry too much about keeping them safe. Shane nods and listens, and when Ilya is done he kisses him again and goes "it is too bad I cannot get you pregnant."

I think about Simone Biles dropping out of the Olympics due to struggles with performance, and the mythology created around elite performance athletes like Ilia Malinin, who had a very public fumble at the Olympics despite all the hype. This created a ton of dialogue. Where they had once been something to marvel at, now they are something to scrutinize. Scrutinized by people who know nothing about their sport, even!

Shane doesn’t disappoint though. He brings Montreal three cups. If you don’t know hockey, you know Shane Hollander. Just like you know Tom Brady, Serena Williams, LeBron James. Michelle Kwan, and Simone Biles. You’ve probably rooted for these people alongside diehard fans even when you yourself know nothing about the sport. That’s who Shane Hollander is. He can belong to everyone. He is everyone’s athlete.

And then he’s outed. And then he trips. Suddenly, this man who up until then has lived life mostly unscrutinized (besides the microaggressions of the insular hockey world), who had been unquestionably A Badass, someone to admire, someone to put on a pedestal, he’s suddenly human. He’s someone who passionately kisses his rival in the side yard of his best friend and teammate’s house. He’s someone who carried on a secret affair that has rocked the foundations of the sports world. And because he kissed his rival, because he has revealed himself to be human, he is now brought to the same level of scrutiny as anyone else. It is open season for opinions about Shane Hollander.

Not every opinion would bad. Many would be good. Many would love him for it. But the fact that people feel entitled to make the opinion means that the fabric of Shane’s fame has changed. He’s now up for interpretation. You don’t just sit back and marvel at him, you now have other things to say that cloud the myth. And that changes what he is allowed to do, even as an athlete.

Ilya doesn't expect to be loved.

He's coming in baby faced, barely speaking english, with no one really on his side advocating for him in early years. And a big part of how this sport is played is how you play the audience. So he plays into the stereotypes and expectations people already have of him. The NHL, his employers who control his ability to stay in this country that is his safe harbor, have cast him as Shane Hollander's rival. So he must play the part.

Professional athletics at the end of the day, are all about putting on a good performance to sell tickets. Although Ilya does not know the English word for narrative he can follow a thread to know what's expected of him. So when he needs a shield he simply picks up whatever has already been placed at his feet.

There's a compartmentalization that happens where he decides being good at hockey is enough. Being loved in Boston is enough. Being hated in New York doesn't matter, it's expected, but occasionally there's a surprise win of Florida (but specifically not because of him it's just full of Boston people).

He's a niche celebrity if you don't pay attention to Hockey. However sports networks give him equal coverage to Shane and I think his attitude on this is a bit revealing to his depression early in the story.

He doesn't expect a legacy in the way Shane does, and ruthlessly works towards. Ilya Rozanov believes he can only ever be destined to go out in a blaze of glory.

He's the most hockey player hockey player he can be. So long as it doesn't affect his game I think Ilya's philosophy is very "no press is bad press, so long as they're talking about me." He's deliberate in only letting people see what they're already expecting to see which I think is highlighted very well in the two times we see Ilya at home watching Shane win the cup. When he's alone he affords himself a quiet smile. However when there are people this becomes a dramatic performance of woe that would not have been the same had any other team won.

I think in the way Shane Hollander is known and adored by the public. Ilya Rozanov is seen and loved by the people. [Neither statement is actually true below the surface]

Everyone has an opinion on him, but no one can ever get close enough to see more than he wants them to see.