Social Media, Texting, Humour, Crack:

The Bear Was Just the Beginning [WIP, ~11.5k words, 6/?]

Hayes: But like I said, I won’t mention anything about the slide.

Roz: ugggggggggghhhhhhhhhhh see this is what i mean

Hayes: Wait, it wasn’t about the slide? What was it about then?

Roz: ???? were u not there for the bear? nm unsend delete siri help

Or: The Ottawa Centaurs' plane crashes into the Appalachians. Everyone walks away relatively unscathed. Unfortunately for Ilya Rozanov, this means a lot of witnesses to what he has come to understand was 'not his best work.' He is running out of time to do damage control before Shane learns what his soulmate prioritises in an emergency.

You Have Been Added To: Shane Hollander's Sorry Tour [~2.6k words, 1/1]

ilyarozanov81: if you have been personally contacted by my love and my responsibility, @shanehollanderhockey, please message so i can understand full extent of his path of destruction ok?

Or: After the events of The Podium's as High as the Gallows Are Low, Shane Hollander has decided to live full time as New Shane: unmasked, unfiltered and uncoachable. Ilya is determined to ensure everyone is adjusting okay. His first priority is checking in with anyone that has recently been allocated one of Shane's "special pride t-shirts." [You do not need to have read previous fic, this one can be read on its own!]

Humour, Crack:

Should've Made You Walk [~2.3k words, 1/1]

“Alright well I guess I’m going to head to you now, send me your location but please just stay safe and off the road until I get there. And call me if anything changes. Stay in the shade.” “Yes, yes. I will do all of that. I think it is possible for me to find ways to entertain myself for an hour, Shane.” “Yeah, that’s what I’m worried about.”

Or: Ilya is stranded halfway from the airport to the cottage. Shane is on his way. Ilya just needs to wait for him.

Romantic declaration, then epilogue with reactions:

We'll Fix It In Post [~6.3k words, 2/2]

Shane swivelled around, turning his attention to the staff spread around the studio, “You really don’t see it? Oh my god, how could anyone watch this and not immediately understand what’s going on.”

The room fell silent. Shane launched up and stood next to the editor at the controls, “Go back a few secs. Wait a second… There it is. There!” The footage paused on a wide shot of the ice, a ref had begun to skate towards Ilya, directing him back to his bench.

“Okay go forward just like, as slow as possible.” The editor did as instructed. “Shit, sorry, it’s so quick. Go back. Okay, forward. Stop! Look, right there.”

He heard someone from the crew murmur, “Oh my god.”

Shane’s voice broke as he ran his hands through his hair, “Yeah. So, now do you understand why I have to do this?”

Or: Shane makes sure the documentary finishes differently and it's the most romantic thing Ilya Rozanov has ever seen.

Emotional Hurt/Comfort, then narratively justified Humour/Crack:

The Podium's as High as the Gallows Are Low [~18k words, 8/8]

Shane wished that he and Ilya had woken up that morning in Saskatchewan in 2008. Before anyone knew who they were. Before they became numbers instead of men. Shane would have kissed him against the rusted sheet metal and the No Smoking sign. He wouldn't have wasted any moment in any timeline. He'd go back again and again, kiss him and beg for forgiveness. And when he had been through every possible iteration, he would find a way to go back, fall to Ilya's feet and beg for forgiveness one more time. Then he would look into a mirror and try to ask for his own. But he hadn’t. And they couldn’t. This was the hand they had been dealt.

Or: It's January, 2019 and Shane Hollander can see that the world's view of Rozanov is slowly killing the real Ilya. Roger Crowell orders them to be quiet and capitalise off the attention using Shane's golden image, which fans think is being ruined by association. Shane decides there is no better way to free Ilya now than to simply become the biggest PR nightmare the MLH has ever faced. Shane thinks it might even be fun.

Light Emotional Hurt/Comfort mixed with Humour and light Crack:

Ilya Gets Ilya'd [~2.3k words, 1/1]

“Shane! Where are you? Shane! I can explain, moy lyubimyy! It is not what you think. I would never.” Shane could hear Ilya’s speed had caused him to misjudge the first step on the staircase and the rest of the descent sounded like someone had rolled four basketballs down along with him. For a moment he was concerned, but then he remembered that he had been betrayed.

Or: Shane knows Ilya has been feeling depressed, he also knows Ilya is hiding something from him. Everybody knows Ilya can talk Shane out of a spiral, but how do you trick the most perceptive man alive into some self-care?

Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Validation:

Beyond My Wildest Dreams [~5k words, 1/1]

‘David, is Ilya. Have suddenly got upset stomach. Sorry.’ Too cliched. ‘David, have broken both legs. Do not send ambulance. Will walk it off. Regards, Ilya.’ Too melodramatic. ‘David, do not want to go. This is Ilya.’ Too cruel. ‘David, I cannot embarrass you. You mean too much to me. Love, Ilya.’ Too true. Fifth time’s a charm and Ilya sent ‘On my way!’ instead. David’s reply was immediate, ‘We’re gonna make a night of it, bud!’

Or: Ilya is David's plus one for a function and is utterly unprepared for how David has been talking about him at work.

Whump/MCD:

shut, shut up, I am dreaming of places where lovers have wings [3,333 words - this gets a specific mention, 1/1]

Shane plans. Why hadn’t he planned for this?

Or: Ilya calls Shane early and Shane needs to decide how to survive the conversation.

WIP I feel bad about not working on but I will finish one day:

We Hope You Enjoy Your Stay [~8.5k words, 3/?]

“Ilya, I honestly can’t believe I’m the one saying this, but it’s not a problem to be solved. Not everything will ‘awaken something in you.’ It doesn’t have to mean anything that some combinations work, and some don’t do it for you as much. We can keep trying until we find the best ones. And we keep those.”