stardust

5 minutes sober.

5 minutes sober.

"Bad news is, it's definitely a break," the doctor said with an empathetic frown, pausing to let Shane let out a huff of fury. "Good news is, there's no need for surgery."

"Well that is good, solnyshko!" Ilya, who was sitting next to Shane's hospital bed, said bracingly. "You will be back on skates in–what? Four weeks? Plenty of time for playoffs."

"Four to six," the doctor replied, smiling. "The goal is to use your right hand very minimally, Mister Hollander, so please make sure you have plenty of help at home."

Shane groaned again, looking angrily at his broken wrist. "I'm starting to think Boston just hates me."

Travers, the player from Boston who had been the one to collide with Shane and cause the injury, had already texted both Shane and Ilya to apologize. 

"Yes, yes, is because they are sad you stole me from them," Ilya agreed with a grin. "But listen, is not so bad! You have loving husband to take care of you!"

And Shane just nodded, because it was true: Ilya would take care of him, he didn't doubt that. But as the doctor went over the care instructions, he realized how much Ilya would need to help him, with his dominant hand out of commission.

"Oh my god," he muttered when the doctor left to send an order to someone to fit him with a brace. "I just realized...you might have to help me go to the bathroom and stuff." He blushed at the thought, considering simply disappearing into thin air.

But Ilya just shrugged, not looking up, taking a picture of a phrase on the paperwork the doctor had given him to translate one of the words. "Yes, will be very mortifying. I have never seen your asshole before," he muttered, rolling his eyes.

"Ilya!"

"Shane. Sweetheart," Ilya said placatingly, looking up and placing a hand on his shoulder. "Remember when we had wedding? We said, 'yes, I love you, when you are being asshole and when you are being nice. When you are being annoying and boring or when you are fun. And when you are sick or when you are healthy.' This is sick part. I am happy to help because I am happy to be married to you, moya lyubov."

Shane sat with that for a moment, digesting it, smiling a little at the way Ilya loved him so easily.

"Plus. Is not all terrible, Hollander," Ilya pointed out, sliding his phone into his pocket and putting the papers down, his grin turning a little suggestive. "You do not have right hand. You will not be able to jerk off. It is a tragic thing, but I...what do they say? I 'volunteer as tribute'?"

5 minutes sober.

5 minutes sober.