Early in Shane’s first year with Ottawa, he takes a bad hit on the ice and is knocked unconscious. When he wakes, he discovers he can hear everyone’s thoughts. His excitement is quickly dashed when he discovers that Ilya thinks primarily in Russian so even though he can hear his husband’s thoughts, he can’t understand most of them. Shane doubles his efforts in studying Russian. He hires a tutor and basically any free time he has, he’s studying Russian. He even asks Ilya to speak Russian to him when they’re at home so he can learn faster. Ilya is happy to oblige and by the end of the season, Shane can understand most of Ilya’s thoughts.
They’re warming up on the ice when Shane zeroes in on Ilya’s thoughts. They’re in Russian but he can pretty much understand everything: ‘God, my husband is so hot doing his little stretch. Everything he does is so fucking hot. I’m so fucking lucky. I need to focus, but I really want to kiss him. Would he get mad if I kissed him right now? Maybe just on the cheek? Or-oh shit, he’s looking at me! Why am I so nervous? Oh, he’s coming over here! Maybe to talk about the game? AH! He kissed me on the cheek! The way he’s looking at me, my heart is about to beat out of my chest. Yes, my love, I will calm down…wait, how does he know I’m flustered? Oh, Shane says my smile is goofy. For a second, I thought he could read my thoughts. That would be crazy…unless…Shane if you can hear my thoughts, kiss me on the lips. AH! HE KISSED ME ON THE LIPS! SHANE, MY LOVE YOU CAN HEAR ME, YES? I LOVE YOU! DO YOU HEAR ME, I LOVE YOU! COME BACK HERE! DON’T SKATE AWAY FROM ME!’
















