So I’ve been on a stress-induced fic-reading binge, and the Heated Rivalry fandom is large, intimidating and full of gold nuggets among rivers of slush. This fandom in particular seems to have a real skill with long fics, so I plucked out some of my favorites to share around.
into your earthly hands https://archiveofourown.org/works/77302971/chapters/202382261 : T, 79k, WIP: I did not start reading HR fanfic until my absolute favorite author in the Ted Lasso fandom started writing it, and this is my all-time favorite. After Ilya takes a slapshot to the skull, this meticulously medically-accurate fic follows his healing process and how Shane deals with supporting him while still in the closet. A lot of interesting stuff to say about brain injuries, recovery, and Shane’s feelings about how his own mind works. (Also, they wrote a Ted Lasso brain injury fic that is also very very good and I hope they finish some day. This author apparently works in the medical field and their knowledge shows.)
snapping birch https://archiveofourown.org/works/81167971/chapters/213329571: M, 72k, WIP: David Hollander gets his phone and email hacked, and suddenly the whole world knows everything about the Hollander and Rozanov family. Epistolary, and this author has a real knack for writing different social media/press release/news article tones, giving a rounded sense of every voice that would be in this very big, very messy conversation. Also, one of the few fics to adequately depict how fast the city of Montreal would catch on fire if it came out that the team and management iced out the golden boy captain who had just won them two cups.
The Tennis Club https://archiveofourown.org/works/83730551/chapters/220671106 : E, 35k WIP: Hockey players on the downlow. After the thin-walls incident, Scott Hunter invites Ilya and Shane both to join a group of closeted queer hockey players who coordinate both hookups whenever people are in the same city and friendship and community for each other. A lot of OC’s, but you will come to care so deeply about all of them. Just a really stirring depiction of the paranoia and confines of the closet, but also both very funny and very hot at times. And I just find it fascinating to see how Shane and Ilya’s dynamic changes when they both have options outside of each other. Hunter’s situation isn’t as bleak as it is in canon, with this small community, but there is still a real thread of fear that they are all living with.
The View From Halfway Down https://archiveofourown.org/works/79409701/chapters/208390271: E, 56k, WIP: Being named after an episode of Bojack Horseman is its own warning. A world with no Scott/Kip kiss means Ilya does not go to the cabin, means he and Shane break up, and in 2019 Ilya is papped kissing a man in a club. He spirals for a week, intentionally crashes his car, and then has to figure out where to go from there. A very dark fic, but very well-written and I’m intrigued to see where it goes.
good on my own accord https://archiveofourown.org/works/79091681/chapters/207488696: E, 149k, Complete but part of an ongoing series: This one is already fandom-famous, but in this very detailed AU Shane Hollander is a goalie, while Ilya is still the star center he’s always been. The reputation of goalies to be odd allows Shane to be a lot more openly autistic and changes the way he and Ilya view each other. It’s interesting seeing how this change ripples out into the rest of the world, and the author is really knowledgeable about hockey and goaltending in specific, so always fun to see someone enjoying the jargon.
i'll follow where your light goes https://archiveofourown.org/works/77098971: T, 5k, Oneshot. After Ilya makes an impulsive suicide-attempt during their hook-up years, Shane realizes how much Ilya means to him and how much he wants to be there for the man he loves.
without you, without them https://archiveofourown.org/works/85490801: 10k, M, One-shot. After the tunamelt, Shane kills himself. Epistolary, really well-written, and great for making you sob on the bus during your work commute (ask me how I know).
Captain Rozanov’s gay sex 101 https://archiveofourown.org/works/83233721: E, 6k, One-shot: Just one of the funniest things I’ve read in a while. Basically, after being outed, Ilya fields a ton of Well-Meaning Stupid Straight Guy Questions about gay sex.
far across the deep blue ocean https://archiveofourown.org/works/79775426: T, 5k, One-shot: Just a really sweet 5+1 about rookie Ilya being in a different country. Him getting to have Orthodox Christmas dinner at the house of a Ukrainian physio is one of the sweetest things you’ll ever read.
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