unjustly suspended from his job

condemned by one of his best friends

condemned by his teammates

dissected by the media

threatened by the commissioner

accused of cheating at the sport he has dedicated his whole life to; and

raked over the coals for a true accident

he STILL goes to watch ilya play

without question or concern, he sits in the audience to watch ilya in round 2 alongside the team that just kicked him out of the playoffs and caused tripgate

he spends tlg in debilitating fear over the possibility of someone figuring them out and goes to such extreme lengths to keep that from happening that he doesn't even have a photograph to show for an 11-year relationship

but still, ilya mentions he can get tickets for shane and his parents to come see him play and shane doesn't spend a second worrying it may fuel rumours, bring unwanted attention to his relationship, put him in a generally uncomfortable position - he actually brightens at the suggestion and then happily sits in the audience to cheer ilya on 😭