I'm probably not qualified to talk about this but I think that once they're on the same team Shane and Ilya should see each other as like, bonded warriors. Athletes in my experience are corny like that. Let them tape each other up and fasten each other's pads and tie each other's skates like they're going into battle. Ilya opens his mouth and Shane puts his mouth guard in. Let them like hype each other up with like "Let's go?" and then "Let's fucking go!" back forth while they shove each other around. And then there's the falling action after the strain of the game (battle). Taking off helmets, feeling each other up for injuries, checking each other's teeth. Applying icy-hot and compression garments. No one else is allowed to do these things for them. No one else is touching Shane Hollander's skates, but Ilya knows exactly how many superstitious knots Shane's wants his tied in. Bonded pair, do not separate.
