It's the beginning of the season after the cottage, Ilya's back in Boston for the rest of the season, Shane is getting back on the ice for the first time since his injury. He's playing fine but dealing with shoulder tightness occasionally. And he remembers watching the 2016 Rio summer Olympics and the crazy media hype over the giant bruises on Michael Phelps from a new muscle therapy called cupping.
Seemed to work for Michael because he won some ridiculous amount of medals, so Shane talks to the trainer and they get him set up with a few appointments at a local provider.
Fast forward a few weeks. The therapy is going fine and Shane thinks he is feeling the benefit, great. Boston and Montreal meet for the first time in the season. Ilya and Shane get to be together in person since the season started and god, they are so desperate for each other. Ilya's got Shane's shirt off in less than 30 seconds and they're kissing and hands are everywhere. And then things move to the bed and Ilya growls at Shane to get on his knees and HOLD THE FUCKING PHONE HOLLANDER, WHY are you COVERED in HICKEYS????
And these bruises are old news to Shane and they are perfect circles exactly the same size lined up perfectly down his back, Ilya, it's just a new physical therapy thing, didn't you watch the Olympics and why aren't we fucking yet??
Ilya is grumpy for a second because what do you MEAN some random physical therapist can give Shane hickeys but he can't, how is that fair?? He does move past it for a while but when they're catching their breath a little while later and he's spooned up around Shane, he can't help but suck a mark into his trap muscle.
"Don't do that" Shane scolds without malice, because he can always shrug it off as just another cupping bruise if he has to and really, it isn't fair that his boyfriend can't leave a mark.
