Archive of Our Own

carol @haroldtheyrelesbians

Ugh this game is so boring, I wish it was Montreal in the finals. I MISS SHAYDEN

shayden @shaydenwarrior

Replying to @haroldtheyrelesbians

I bet haydens literally taking care of shanes concussion rn theyre so goals

alice @landofsummers

Replying to @haroldtheyrelesbians @shaydenwarrior

Yes they are Shayden makes me believe in love again SOBS

shayden @shaydenwarrior

Replying to @haroldtheyrelesbians @shaydenwarrior @landofsummers

Shanes gonna reward hayden later iykyk 😜

hockey guy @metrosfan33

Replying to @haroldtheyrelesbians @shaydenwarrior @landofsummers

What the fuck these guys arent even gay. Pike has a WIFE and KIDS get outta here with this shit

shayden @shaydenwarrior

Replying to @haroldtheyrelesbians @shaydenwarriors and 2 others

Its called a beard look it up

ralph @navychariot1953

Oh wow good for scott hunter

dorothea @arnaultsongstress

Replying to @navychariot1953

This is huge hes literally changing the game

hockey guy @metrosfan33

Replying to @navychariot1953 @arnaultsongstress

This shit has no place in hockey. I miss when men were actually men. Not sissies.

ralph @navychariot1953

Replying to @navychariot1953 @arnaultsongstress @metrosfan33

Shut up homophobe

shayden @shaydenwarrior

Replying to @navychariot 1953 @arnaultsongstress @metrosfan33

Omg this is huge maybe this is the push shane and hayden needs to announce their love??? #lovewins #shaydenforever

MLH Official ✅️ @MLHOfficial

Congratulations to the New York Admirals for bringing the Stanley Cup home today, and to captain Scott Hunter for both of your achievements. Your courage is an inspiration to us all.

carol @haroldtheyrelesbians

New chapter of As Long As I’m With You up now! In celebration of Scott’s coming out the new chapter focuses on him giving our boys advice on their own coming out! Let me know if you want to see more of Scott!

shayden @shaydenwarrior

Replying to @haroldtheyrelesbians

Sobbing crying on the ground throwing up that was beautiful more scott hunter pls

darren @heartbreakingthebinary

Replying to @haroldtheyrelesbians @shaydenwarrior and 53 others

Everyone say thank you scott hunter

“Shane?” Ilya called out from the couch, where he had been lazily lounging on his phone since the morning started. Both of them were basking in the hazy glow of their coming out to Shane’s parents yesterday. It had been stressful – too stressful, because it wasn’t what Shane had planned, and Shane hated it when his plans were derailed. But his parents had been accepting of him, of Ilya, of them, and a night spent in Ilya’s arms had been enough for Shane to wrap his head around that.

He was making them breakfast. For two people. Shane had made sure to find a recipe that specified “for two,” because cutting recipes in half or quarters or whatever felt like sacrilege. “Yes, Ilya?” he called out. He was glad his cottage was open plan, that the kitchen and living room were in view of each other so he could watch as Ilya lounged while he fried up their eggs.

“What the fuck is a Shayden?” Ilya asked.

Shane nearly dropped his spatula into the eggs. “What?”

“Shayden,” Ilya said, “Why is internet so obsessed with this Shayden ship? Is it big luxury ship? For cruise? Why does cruise ship have such a fuckass name?”

Shane really did not want to have to explain what shipping was to his boyfriend of five days officially, eight years physically, on this gloriously warm summer morning. Not when there was breakfast to eat and a lake to enjoy and each other to relax into. But he knew that Ilya would not let this go until someone explained it to him, and Shane would prefer to be the one to hammer out the fuckery of the internet to Ilya over like, Marleau or something. He plated the eggs first so they wouldn’t burn. Then he sat down.

“Shayden is the ship name for me and Hayden,” Shane explained.

“Ship…like delivery?” Ilya asked, “Where are they shipping you and Pike? Sounds like torture. Do I have to be worried that you will be kidnapped and forced to be in container with Pike in foreign country? Should I hire bodyguards?”

Shane sighed. He counted to five, steeling himself for the inherent awkwardness of the conversation he was about to have with his boyfriend, and said, “No. Um…People think me and Hayden are a couple. Or that we should be a couple, or that we’re secretly a couple. That’s what shipping is. Shayden’s…our ship name. Like a couple's name.”

Shane still remembered the day Hayden showed him the tweets speculating about the things he did to Hayden with near manic glee. He remembered when the lines were crossed, when nasty messages were sent to Jackie because she dared to marry Hayden and have kids with him. He remembered how angry Hayden had been. He remembered the media training they both received before the damage control press tour. It had died down now, as most things did, because time had allowed the worst offenders to move on, but the whole shipping thing was a bit of a sore spot for both of them still.

Ilya stared at Shane, his jaws clenched in that same way Shane remembered when he was staring down Ilya in the strobing lights of that claustrophobic nightclub. Shane could name this emotion on Ilya. Jealousy.

“Why you and Pike?” Ilya demanded like a little kid being told he couldn’t take someone else’s shiny new toy home, “Did they not see big wet romantic kiss I planted on your face during All Stars game? Is internet fucking blind?”

Shane rubbed his temples. “Ilya…”

“What is our ship name?” Ilya asked, “Me and you. Hollander and Rozanov.”

“Ilya, I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Shane said.

“What. Is. Fucking. Ship. Name.”

“Hollanov,” Shane muttered. He really hoped Ilya wouldn’t ask him how he knew that, hoped he wouldn’t have to explain that sometimes Shane liked to look through what the internet was speculating about him and Ilya when he missed the other man a little too much to be normal. Not a lot of people shipped Hollanov, and the fanbase was uncharacteristically respectful and private, but there was some good stuff there. A lot of it was kinda hot. Yeah. Ilya really didn’t need to know that.

Ilya nodded. Then he began rapidly typing and scrolling on his phone. 

“Ilya,” Shane called out. No response. “Ilya, come on. The eggs are gonna get fucking cold.”

Ilya acquiesced. He dropped his phone, got up, and walked over to plant a kiss on Shane’s forehead. It was so achingly domestic that Shane could feel a familiar, embarrassing pressure sting at his eyes. He got to have this now. It was okay. It was allowed. “Thank you for food,” Ilya said.

“You’re welcome,” Shane replied.

“But this is not over,” Ilya said, attacking his eggs with gusto.

Shane coughed. “Uh. What?”

“Ship,” Ilya muttered darkly, “I must sink Shayden to bottom of ocean like Titanic.”

Oh no. Shane had created a monster, hadn’t he?

fig @shredthatbass

Check out my latest tumblr post for the official™️ hollanov bible. Im telling yall this is an EIGHT YEAR long con theyre playing on us. Shayden who?

alice @landofsummers

Replying to @shredthatbass

Too long didnt read

megan @imacheerleader

Replying to @shredthatbass @landofsummers

figgy ily but this is unhinged

shayden @shaydenwarrior

Replying to @shredthatbass @landofsummers @imacheerleader

Everyone point and laugh at the problematic hollanov

ivan @bearraiderkaminsky

Replying to @shredthatbass @landofsummers and 10 others

is pretty accurate good job

megan @imacheerleader

New hollanov oneshot up on ao3 now https://archiveofourown.org/works/2080878 

shayden @shaydenwarrior

Replying to @imacheerleader

Ew literally normalizing abuse get this shit outta here

ivan @bearraiderkaminsky

Replying to @imacheerleader @shaydenwarrior

just read very hot thank you for food

“This is unacceptable,” Ilya muttered darkly, holding up his phone to Shane’s face.

Shane blinked. He had just been fucked to an inch of his life a shower and a nap ago, and he was still mentally recovering from it. He reached over Ilya for his glasses, plopped them on, and blearily looked at the screen.

Archive of Our Own. 1-20 of 45,947 Works in Hayden Pike/Shane Hollander.

“Um. What am I looking at?” Shane asked. 

Ilya tapped his phone a few more times before showing Shane his screen again.

Archive of Our Own. 1-20 of 494 Works in Shane Hollander/Ilya Rozanov.

Shane felt his face heat up. “Ilya, what the fuck?”

“This is fucking unacceptable,” Ilya said, “Why does Hollanov only have one percent of Shayden fics?”

“I don’t know,” Shane grumbled, popping off his glasses and trying to burrow himself into Ilya. It was getting late. Shane wanted Ilya to cuddle with him before they fell asleep.

“Why do so many of them write about you pounding Pike into mattress?” Ilya asked, “And why do they write this so well?”

“Ilya, I swear to god, I will throw your fucking phone against the wall if you keep talking to me about the porn you’re reading about me and Hayden,” Shane said, “Cuddle. Now.”

“What do we say when we want something?” Ilya asked. Teased. 

“Please.”

Ilya put down his phone and kissed Shane, slow, unhurried, soft and sweet. It made Shane want to melt into Ilya. So he did just that, pressing himself against Ilya until he couldn’t anymore, and then pushing it just a little further. A part of Shane scolded himself for being so pathetically needy, but he ignored it. He got to have this now.

“Oh?” Ilya asked, “You want round two?”

“Please,” Shane whispered.

Ilya obliged.

Hayden Pike ✅️ @HaydenPikeMLH

Wonderful weekend with my amazing wife and kids. Can’t wait to be back on the ice, but I know I’ll really miss these guys!

joe @yusufalkaysani

Replying to @HaydenPikeMLH

Awww adorable. How many kids does pike have again

shayden @shaydenwarrior

Replying to @HaydenPikeMLH @yusufalkaysani

Omg hayden wheres shane? Hes been so quiet where are they holding him hostage?

alice @landofsummers

Replying to @HaydenPikeMLH @yusufalkaysani @shayden

Omg girl calm down. I know were all wondering it but calm down

hockey guy @metrosfan33

Replying to @HaydenPikeMLH @yusufalkaysani and 244 others

This is what a real hockey player looks like

beyoncé real @BeeyonceOfficial

Replying to @HaydenPikeMLH @yusufalkaysani and 244 others

Hello. This is Beyoncé. I’m on my second account. I really need your help. DM me for more information.

Yuna Hollander ✅@MamaHollander

Sometimes, you just need to take a moment to recontextualize and remember that everything’s going to be okay.

ralph @navychariot1953

Replying to @MamaHollander

This photo is gorgeous and this tweet is beautiful

shayden @shaydenwarrior

Replying to @MamaHollander @navychariot1953

Omg is this about shayden? Did shane and hayden come out to her? Im literally gonna throw up

beyoncé real @BeeyonceOfficial

Replying to  @MamaHollander @navychariot1953 and 52 others

Hello. This is Beyoncé. I’m on my second account. I really need your help. DM me for more information.

Shane Hollander ✅@ShaneHollander24 🔁 Yuna Hollander ✅@MamaHollander

shayden @shaydenwarrior

Replying to @ShaneHollander24

Omg shane where are you???

Two weeks at the cottage, without the heavy gaze of the outside world bearing down on them, passed by far too quickly. Shane wanted more time, more moments where Shane and Ilya could just be Shane and Ilya, where they could let the day stretch out before them without any pressure or expectations. But their time at the cottage was always going to end, and Ilya would always be taken away from Shane by the demands of their career. Shane knew that. It still sucked when it happened.

He missed Ilya. He missed Ilya so much. A part of him felt like it was always aching, like there was a fundamental piece of him that was missing and he was desperate to get it back.

God. Shane was fucked, wasn’t he?

He was thankful for the return to the rhythm of the hockey season. It was routine and familiar, exactly what Shane needed to take his mind off the fact that Ilya was not there. Get up, go for a run, eat, work out, go to practice. Occasionally do whatever interview or brand sponsorship or photoshoot his mom or his agent had booked for him. Go out with the guys every Friday. Call Ilya every night. Steady. Steady was good. Steady grounded Shane, even with Ilya a border away.

One day, while he was packing up his gear in the locker rooms and preparing to go home, Hayden stormed up to him. He looked livid.

“What happened?” Shane asked, just a beat late, and Hayden huffed out an angry breath beside him. 

“They fucking booked me one of those thirst tweet interviews,” Hayden grumbled.

Shane patted his friend on the shoulder apologetically. “Oh. I’m sorry, Hayden.”

“But then half the tweets were about you railing me,” Hayden added.

“Oh. Oh. Fuck, Hayden, I’m really sorry,” Shane said.

Hayden shrugged. “It’s…fine,” he said, “I’m not mad at people having fun or whatever. It’s just…those tweets didn’t even tag either of us. They dug them up to throw them in my face. It was super uncomfortable, and it was really unfair to those fans, too. I…I hated it.”

“Sorry,” Shane said again, “Is there…is there anything you want me to do?”

“Can we send Boston home crying next week?” Hayden asked.

Shane grinned. “Of course we can.”

They clapped their hands together. “Drinks on me tonight?” Shane added.

“Thanks Shane,” Hayden said gratefully, “You’re the best.”

Buzzfeed Buzz @BuzzfeedBuzz

Sit down with Montreal Metros’ Hayden Pike as we ask him to react to twitter’s thirstiest tweets. Stay until the end for a surprise you don’t want to miss.

carol @haroldtheyrelesbians

Replying to @BuzzfeedBuzz 

Anyone else a little icked out with how they sprung the Shayden tweets on Hayden at the last minute? He’d told people before that he doesn’t mind what fans get up to as long as they leave him and his wife alone.

darren @heartbreakingthebinary

Replying to @BuzzfeedBuzz @haroldtheyrelesbians

Yeah poor hayden looked soooooo uncomfortable. I agree

shayden @shaydenwarrior

Replying to @BuzzfeedBuzz @haroldtheyrelesbians @heartbreakingthebinary

Sameeeee but like do yall see how hard hayden blushed when he read the tweet about him and shane being soulmates? Theyre in love frfr

ivan @bearraiderkaminsky

Replying to @BuzzfeedBuzz @haroldtheyrelesbians and 782 others

people who thirst over hayden pike need to get job

ivan @bearraiderkaminsky

need more hollanov nsfw with dildos

fig @shredthatbass

Replying to @bearraiderkaminsky

https://archiveofourown.org/works/2080878

ivan @bearraiderkaminsky

Replying to @bearraiderkaminsky @shredthatbass

thank you love you

Ilya was acting differently at their game tonight. When they met in the middle for the face off, Ilya had blown him a kiss. When Ilya had crowded Shane against the boards to steal his puck, he had given him a wink. He had even offered Shane a fistbump when Shane scored a tricky slapshot during the third interval. It was a level of friendliness that was antithesis to the rivalry narrative the two of them had been running with for the last eight years. Shane ignored it. He had a game to win tonight. If this was Ilya’s new diversion tactic, then fine, but Shane refused to fall for it.

The game went into overtime, 3-3 for the Raiders and the Metros, with Shane and Ilya both scoring two. Shane had closed out the game with one final goal, the taste of victory sweeter with the knowledge that he would be celebrating with Ilya tonight. But he still had to address Ilya’s strange behavior. As they met each other on the ice for the final handshakes, Shane leaned in and whispered to Ilya, “What the fuck are you doing?”

“Giving Hollanov shippers more ammunition,” Ilya said.

Shane blinked at him, speechless.

“Do interview with me after game,” Ilya added, “Start getting people used to idea of us together. For foundation.”

Shane was already planning to. He had sat down with his mom and explained the timeline he wanted for himself and Ilya. She had ironed out the details with both of them, and this was to be one of several joint interviews they would have before they pitched the idea of the Irina Foundation. Shane was just a little concerned about the mood his boyfriend was in tonight. 

They were both ushered to the media area, and were instantly swarmed with reporters jostling each other to ask them questions. Ilya let Shane take the lead, like he usually did the few times they had interviewed together. 

Shane picked out a journalist at random. 

“Alec Scudder. Variety. Shane, how do you feel about the game tonight?”

Shane knew the media-trained script by heart now. He answered, “It was a close game. Both teams played their best tonight. The score reflects that, I think, but I’m glad that the Metros came out on top tonight.”

“Ilya. Same question.”

“Metros suck,” Ilya said, pausing for dramatic effect as the cameras began incessantly flashing. “Hollander is the only good player on their team. He is reason they won. Deserves more flowers.”

More flashes. More jostling. Shane thought about kicking Ilya under the table. This wasn’t the slow easing into public friendship that they had talked about. This was going from zero to ninety in thirty seconds, without their seatbelts on, right next to a retirement home. They were definitely going to have a talk about this later tonight.

He had to move on. Control the narrative. Shane picked another journalist at random.

“Nico Minoru. Sports Illustrated. Shane, how do you feel about the penalty incurred by Marleau during the second interval against your teammate, Hayden Pike?”

He knew the answer to this, too. “Hockey is a very fast-paced game. I think the referee made the right call, given the circumstances on the ice tonight. I’m just glad nobody was hurt.”

Ilya butted in. “Pike is shitty player. Should watch where he is going.”

“Rozanov,” Shane hissed through gritted teeth.

Ilya ignored him and picked a different reporter for the next question. Shane resisted the urge to roll his eyes when he realized that Ilya had picked the hottest one, all broad shoulders and bulging muscles underneath his tweed suit.

“Paul Baker. ESPN. Ilya, what was the most memorable moment of the game for you tonight?”

Ilya grinned. Shane recognized this grin. This was Ilya’s “I’m about to say something that will end up in headlines for a week” grin. Shane braced himself for impact.

“Hollander’s two goals. Very beautiful. Especially slapshot in third interval. Only two players in league can score goal like that. Me. And him.”

Clicks. Flashes. Reporters surging forward to get elaboration from Ilya, comments from Shane. Yeah. This was kickable behavior. So Shane kicked Ilya under the table.

Ilya hissed. “What was that for, Hollander?” he whispered through gritted teeth.

“For being a piece of shit,” Shane whisper-smiled back.

“Was very complimentary.”

“I’m locking you out tonight,” Shane threatened. He meant it, too, even though he would love nothing more than to be pressed into his mattress right now, Ilya’s weight on top of him.

The reaction was instant. “Sorry. Sorry. Will behave.”

Good. He better. Shane picked another reporter at random.

“Noxeema Jackson. Pink News. Any comment on Mr. Rozanov’s statement, Mr. Hollander?”

Shane smiled his media-perfect smile. “No comment.”

megan @imacheerleader

Is it just me or did rozanov spend that entire interview gassing up hollander

fig @shredthatbass

Replying to @imacheerleader

“Hollander is only good player on their team deserves more flowers” ILYA ROZANOV I AM IN YOUR WALLS

henry @blacksmithknight

Replying to @imacheerleader @shredthatbass

I was skeptical before but rozanov definitely winked at hollander during that steal im starting to get suspicious

hockey girlboss @rozywife2

Replying to @imacheerleader @shredthatbass @blacksmithknight

Keep that delusional shit to yourself my ilya is NOT GAY

shayden @shaydenwarrior

Replying to @imacheerleader @shredthatbass and 2 others

And shane is in love with HAYDEN

henry @blacksmithknight

Woah look at what i found. This is highkey super cute

fig @shredthatbass

Replying to @blacksmithknight

Ah yes the infamous All Stars Game Kiss. Wait till i show you the interview save shane loves ilya so much you dont even know

dorothea @arnaultsongstress

Replying to @blacksmithknight @shredthatbass

Wait im starting to be convinced too. Theres just something about them in their interviews. Like theyre super repressed or smth

shayden @shaydenwarrior

Replying to @blacksmithknight @shredthatbass @arnaultsongstress

Hockey players kiss all the time one kiss means NOTHING and hollanov is PROBLEMATIC. Get this shit off my tl

shayden @shaydenwarrior

If you ship hollanov or is considering shipping hollanov after those nothing interviews block me now. Rozanov is literally abusive to shane i have evidence of this. Fuck you if you think shipping them is okay leave shane alone

ivan @bearraiderkaminsky

Replying to @shaydenwarrior

okay i block you

Twelve more hours and Ilya would be on a plane back to Boston, and Shane would have to deal with sleeping in a cold bed for another month and a half, and that was only if their teams managed to make the playoffs. Shane was resolved to get their teams to the playoffs. He wanted more time with Ilya. Now that they had manifested what they felt for each other into words, Shane was allowed to feel that. To want that. And he was allowed to be annoying about it.

Especially when Ilya seemed more interested in his laptop than in Shane. Shane never thought he’d be jealous of a computer, but he supposed there was a first time for everything

“What are you doing?” Shane asked. He was not pouting. Hockey players did not pout. He was just a little lonely in his bed and maybe, actually wanted Ilya to give him a little bit of attention before he had to fly out.

“Writing porn,” Ilya joked.

Shane laughed.

“No. I’m serious,” Ilya said. Oh. So he wasn’t actually joking. “I am writing very sexy porn of me pounding you in every room of cottage. Will be very popular on archive, I know it. But I am scared my English is not good enough. Can you read and help with grammar? Spelling is easy with autocorrect, but grammar in writing app feels wrong sometimes.”

Shane stared at Ilya.

“Please?”

“Ilya, I love you. I love you so fucking much,” Shane started saying.

“Love you too,” Ilya replied.

Shane nodded, a small part of him pleased that they got to say stuff like this now, but he still needed to put his foot down. “But I refuse to proofread the fucking erotica you are writing, about us, that you’re planning to release into the internet.”

“But I must defend our honor,” Ilya insisted, “Win ship war. Prove that Hollanov has hotter, more frequent, and better written sex than Shayden. Help me. Please.”

“No,” Shane said, “I am not going to…god, I’m not going to coauthor porn about us with you, Ilya, fuck.”

Ilya pouted, but he dropped it. “Fine. I will look for beta reader on the internet. Because my stupid pretty motherfucker of a boyfriend does not support me or my hobbies.”

“I do support your hobbies. Just…not this one,” Shane said. He patted the empty space on the bed next to him and smiled. “Want me to suck your dick?”

“No,” Ilya said, “I must find beta reader so I can win fucking ship war.”

“You sure?” Shane asked, drawling out his vowels in a way he hoped was sexy.

Ilya slammed his laptop shut. “Fine. But we sixty-nine so it is faster. I am on very strict timeline.”

Shane could live with that compromise.

ivan @bearraiderkaminsky

need beta reader for hollanov nsfw have many good ideas but english is not real language

megan @imacheerleader

Replying to @bearraiderkaminsky

I can beta for you

fig @shredthatbass

Replying to @bearraiderkaminsky @imacheerleader

Me too

ivan @bearraiderkaminsky

Replying to @bearraiderkaminsky @imacheerleader @shredthatbass

ok i dm link

megan @imacheerleader

Replying to @bearraiderkaminsky @imacheerleader @shredthatbass

Oh My God yall are not ready we’re about to eat GOOD

anonymous loon @hairsobig

video2.mp3

fig @shredthatbass

Replying to @hairsobig

Not like this

henry @blacksmithknight

Replying to @hairsobig @shredthatbass

Take this down

ralph @navychariot1953

Replying to @hairsobig @shredthatbass @blacksmithknight

Isn’t this an invasion of privacy?

shayden @shaydenwarrior

Replying to @hairsobig @shredthatbass and 108423 others

LMAO yall will believe anythinggggg this is so obviously fake

It happened right when the playoffs started. Right before Montreal and Boston were set to play their rematch game. Right as Shane was cuddling on his couch with Ilya, going over the Raiders’ stats this season and figuring out the gaps in their armor he could take advantage of.

Hayden had called him. Ilya had glared at the caller ID.

“Hayden?”

“Shane. Shane, I’m so sorry.”

“What’s going on?”

“Oh fuck. You haven’t seen it yet, have you?”

“Seen what?”

Hayden didn’t answer.

There was a video. Grainy, zoomed in, but unmistakably Shane and Ilya. The cottage. Them kissing each other, stripping each other, leading each other up to the bedroom. Fully visible, because Shane loved the open windows that let in the summer light, the same ones Ilya had described as exhibitionist. Shane hadn’t thought about the fact that letting the light in meant letting other people see in, too. But they have seen. And recorded. And posted. And now Shane’s life was over.

The rest of the day passed by in a blur. There were calls. His parents. His agent. The press. JJ and Rose. Ilya fielded his own calls, his voice catching on his own anxiety, and Shane felt the guilt threaten to drown him. It was his fault that Ilya had been discovered. It was his fault that Ilya’s safety was being threatened. It was his fault. It was all his fault.

“Sorry,” Shane croaked out, somewhere between his tenth and twelfth phone call that day.

Ilya was quiet. Then he said, “They were going to find out eventually.”

“I know,” Shane said, “But…” But what? Shane had hoped it would have happened later? When their future was more concrete, when their plans had solidified into something real and tangible? But that wasn’t happening now, was it?

“Boston is keeping me, don’t worry,” Ilya said, “Work visa is still intact.”

“But your contract…” Shane mumbled, “Next year…”

“Ottawa is still interested,” Ilya said.

“Really?”

Ilya nodded. “Really. Agent confirmed.”

Shane felt himself relax for the first time that day.

“Anything from Montreal?” Ilya asked.

Shane shook his head.

“Stop worrying about it,” Ilya said, “Distract yourself. I’ll go find Canadian fries with cheese curds and gravy you pretend you don’t like and then we can have cheat day together before the game, da?”

Shane nodded. Ilya ruffled his hair and kissed his forehead before leaving. Shane glanced around the room, unsure of what to do to distract himself as his entire world felt like it was about to cave in. He glanced at Ilya’s open laptop. A familiar website with a red and white color scheme greeted him. Oh. This was Ilya’s account. A morbid part of Shane wondered what kind of things his boyfriend had been writing.

He pulled out his phone, typed in the account name, and clicked on the first story.

Boston Raiders ✅️ @BOSRaidersMLH

The Boston Raiders stand by our captain, Ilya Rozanov. What happened to Ilya and Shane Hollander is unacceptable, and we will be pushing the league to conduct a full investigation into this breach of privacy. To Ilya: you will always have our support. Be proud.

Montreal Metros ✅️ @MonMetsMLH

Our players remain committed to the game, despite any rumors that may be circulating the internet. Once on the ice, there is nothing but hockey. Our players understand that, and nothing will distract them from playing the best game they possibly could.

fig @shredthatbass

Damn those statements from the Raiders and the Metros need to be studied under a microscope. Framed and put in a museum. Preserved for future generations. The CONTRAST. @BOSRaidersMLH yall rock I love you @MonMetsMLH eat rocks

dorothea @arnaultsongstress

Replying to @shredthatbass

Get her jade

megan @imacheerleader

Replying to @shredthatbass @arnaultsongstress 

Damn id visit that exhibit

henry @blacksmithknight

Replying to @shredthatbass @arnaultsongstress @imacheerleader

Me too

Hayden Pike ✅️ @HaydenPikeMLH

Replying to @shredthatbass @arnaultsongstress and 208 others

Me too.

hockey guy @metrosfan33

Replying to @shredthatbass @arnaultsongstress and 208 others

The metros know what theyre doing theres no place for homos in hockey

Hayden Pike ✅️ @HaydenPikeMLH

Replying to @shredthatbass @arnaultsongstress and 208 others

Fuck off. We don’t want you here

shayden @shaydenwarrior

Replying to @shredthatbass @arnaultsongstress and 208 others

OMG hayden what are you doing here???

carol @haroldtheyrelesbians

Is anyone else feeling a little weird about Shayden? We basically know that Shane’s gay now but he’s not with Hayden, and the way him and Rozanov were outed was so gross…I don’t know, I don’t think I can be active in the Shayden fandom anymore. It feels…wrong

alice @landofsummers

Replying to @haroldtheyrelesbians

Nooooo dont go your fics are great. Theyre just for fun it doesnt have to be real or anything

vera @oberlingorgon

Replying to @haroldtheyrelesbians @landofsummers

Girl shane hollander is a millionaire sure he’s been outed but he can dry his tears with his hundred dollar bills while he sucks rozanov’s cock just keep writing shayden if it makes you happy

shayden @shaydenwarrior

Replying to @haroldtheyrelesbians @landofsummers @oberlingorgon

Yall trippinnnnn shane literally hasnt even put out a statement yet and like hes baby hes not gonna be with an abusive asshole like rozanov also like did you see theyre putting hayden in social media jail??? Why huh??? If not shayden???

carol @haroldtheyrelesbians

Replying to @haroldtheyrelesbians @landofsummers and 24 others

I think we should drop it @shaydenwarrior these are real actual people. Real human beings. With feelings. I can’t even imagine what Shane and Ilya are going through right now.

The Metros wanted Shane to make a statement. Deny everything. Claim that it was a hoax, or a deep fake, or altered footage, anything to pluck the rumors from the public’s memory and keep the Metros’ reputation for good, clean, traditional hockey intact. Shane refused. He had already drafted statements with Ilya, edited by both their agents and his mom, to be released right before the game. Management’s stone faced response told him all he needed to know about his chances of staying on the team next season.

The team was icy to him in the locker room. A couple refused to change unless he left. JJ and Hayden tried to glare down anyone who got too physical, or had chirped out something a little too close to home, but even they couldn’t do anything about Shane’s cold reception. Shane hated this. He hated that he was supposed to be their captain, yet they refused to rally behind him when it counted most. There was already talk of suspending him before the season ended, in the name of team unity or whatever bullshit management was trying to cook up to remove him from their roster, despite the two Stanley Cups he had already brought home to Montreal.

He was going to win them a third Stanley Cup. Out of spite.

Shane won them the game against Boston. Only JJ and Hayden assisted him, and no one defended him as he attacked, but Shane pushed. He skated faster. Slammed harder. Shot puck after puck with greater accuracy. The final score was 3-2. Close. But victory for Montreal.

It felt hollow. He wanted to see Ilya.

Both of them braved the media gauntlet, holding hands as they were interrogated on their relationship by the relentless press. Ilya and Shane stuck to their prepared answers, cobbled together that morning in a five-way zoom call with an exhausted Yuna Hollander and their agents. Shane was numb by the time he was allowed to leave. He counted his breaths, matching them to his steps. Five, in, five, out. Over and over again, Ilya by his side, until they could collapse into Shane’s bed together and let the day soak out of them.

“That fucking sucked,” Shane muttered.

“Yes. It did,” Ilya said. Then he propped himself up on the bed and looked at Shane, serious. “You played like madman today. But where was your team? No one defended you. No one supported you. You still won, fuck you, but what happened?”

“I’m probably not gonna be playing for the Metros next year,” Shane whispered. Then the familiar pressure rushed to his eyes, quick and powerful and all encompassing in a way that Shane wasn’t prepared for. He cried. Bawled. Big, fat, embarrassing tears rolled down his cheeks as Ilya pulled Shane into his arms and rocked both of them back and forth.

“I know,” Ilya said softly, “I know. I know.”

Shane had given nearly a decade of his life away to this team, and this was how they reacted to his true self being dragged out into the light. Shane hated this. Shane hated them. He couldn’t wait for this season to be over. He had meant it. He was going to win the Metros the Stanley Cup.

Shane Hollander ✅@ShaneHollander24

This wasn’t the way we wanted to come out, but it happened. I’m gay. I’m dating Ilya. Our relationship has not affected our play in any way at all, and you can see that in the game we played tonight. I love Ilya. And I’m going to keep playing the best damn hockey I possibly can.

Ilya Rozanov ✅@IlyaGRozanov 🔁 Shane Hollander ✅@ShaneHollander24

Ilya Rozanov ✅@IlyaGRozanov

The secret’s out. The video is real. I’m bisexual. And I’ve been in love with Shane for a long time. We both love hockey. We both love competition. That has always been true. You all saw that tonight. That’s all. And thank you Shane for helping me with the grammar for this, love you.

Shane Hollander ✅@ShaneHollander24 🔁 Ilya Rozanov ✅@IlyaGRozanov

ralph @navychariot1953

Damn that was beautiful. They love each other

fig @shredthatbass

@MLHOfficial you better protect these two with YOUR LIFE you soulless corporation

hockey guy @metrosfan33

Fire both of them, theres no place for homos in the MLH

dorothea @arnaultsongstress

Replying to @metrosfan33

Get ratiod, bitch

megan @imacheerleader

Does anyone know what happened to twitter user @shaydenwarrior are they okay should we do a welfare check

alice @landofsummers

Replying to @imacheerleader

She’s going through it right now please respect her privacy

ivan @bearraiderkaminsky

sorry for long absence here is new fic https://archiveofourown.org/works/2080878

fig @shredthatbass

Replying to @bearraiderkaminsky

Omg my favorite author is back yall are not ready for this one (i betad ofc 🤭)

henry @blacksmithknight

Replying to @bearraiderkaminsky @shredthatbass

Why is this so good. Why is this so hot

dorothea @arnaultsongstress

Replying to @bearraiderkaminsky @shredthatbass @blacksmithknight

I love bottom ilya

Shane Hollander had a little secret. It was embarrassing, maybe a little damning, and definitely guilty. Now, as he waited for Ottawa to make the final decision on him and Ilya, he was indulging in his new favorite pastime. Reading erotica written by his boyfriend about the two of them. 

Whoever was helping Ilya with the grammar was very good, but wow. Ilya was descriptive. Very descriptive. Maybe a little too descriptive.

They were back at the cottage for that summer, the lazy days stretched out before them, though not as relaxed and easy as last year. There was an edge of anxiety this year, the knowledge that their future was still uncertain looming over their head. Ilya hadn’t been confirmed for Ottawa either, but the rumors were in his favor. Shane had carried the Metros to the finals despite an apathetic team, but he had missed out on the cup. He still had no idea where he was going to be traded. Shane had bought curtains for the cottage. He closed them every night at exactly seven. They rarely kiss during the day anymore. But it was still nice to have this time with Ilya, to know that tomorrow, Shane would still fall asleep with Ilya’s steady weight by his side. It was indulgent, almost decadent.

Kind of like Ilya’s writing. But Shane had noticed something with Ilya’s recent stories. Something that nagged at the back of his mind,

“Hey, Ilya?”

“Yes?” Ilya replied.

“I’ve been reading your stories,” Shane said.

Ilya’s eyes went wide. Then he grinned, proud and smug and just a little shy, as he asked, “What do you think? Very hot, yes? Better than Shayden trash infecting rest of internet?”

“Yes. I noticed how much you like writing about me crying during sex,” Shane said.

“Because you do,” Ilya said, “Is very hot. I like that I can fuck both cum and tears out of you.”

“Fuck you,” Shane said, laughing.

“You wish,” Ilya replied, grinning.

Oh, perfect segue. “I wanted to ask about that, actually,” Shane said, “I’ve noticed recently that all your latest stories involved me fucking you.”

Ilya hummed noncommittally.

“This latest one was very descriptive about…” Shane popped on his reading glasses, cleared his throat, and read, “‘Ilya’s massive cock bouncing up and down uselessly as Shane forced thrust after thrust into his aching hole.’ What’s that all about, Ilya?”

Ilya licked his lips. He shrugged. “Is true. My cock is massive.”

Shane glared. “Ilya…”

“…I was thinking maybe we can switch sometimes? Keep it interesting?”

Shane nodded slowly. “Uh huh.”

“Doesn’t have to be permanent,” Ilya said, “Can just be on occasion. Like weekends and holidays. We can even do that thing. What’s the word, like footwear…Ah. Flip flop.”

Shane nodded again. “Uh huh.”

Ilya seemed to be growing more flustered. It was kind of cute. “We both have dicks. We both have asses. We should, you know, use all the tools in toolbox.”

Shane cracked. He giggled, pulled his boyfriend into his lap, and asked, “Ilya, did you just fucking use your porn to ask me that you want us to switch it up sometimes?”

“You cannot prove anything.”

“Ilya,” Shane said, in his best imitation of low and sultry, “What do you want from me?”

Ilya growled and pushed Shane back onto the bed. “No. No. Even if you are sticking your dick up my ass, I am never asking you for anything. You ask me.”

Shane could play this game. “Ilya?”

“Yes?” Ilya growled, loud and possessive as his eyes roamed Shane’s body.

“Can I fuck you? Please?” Shane asked.

Ilya grinned like he had won. Jokes on him, they were both going to be winners tonight.

MLH Draft Tracker @MLHDraftTracker

The Ottawa Centaurs have signed Ilya Rozanov.

sakura @clowmistress

Replying to @MLHDraftTracker

Noooo what, why couldn’t Boston keep him? We’re WASHED without Rozanov

harry @thethingaboutharry

Replying to @MLHDraftTracker @@clowmistress

Hell yeah welcome to ottawa ilya!!!

hockey girlboss @rozywife2

Replying to @MLHDraftTracker @@clowmistress @thethingaboutharry

Fuck him hes dead to me

MLH Draft Tracker @MLHDraftTracker

The Montreal Metros have traded Shane Hollander to the Ottawa Centaurs.

hockey guy @metrosfan33

Replying to @MLHDraftTracker

Good riddance

patrick @pattyrosebrewer

Replying to @MLHDraftTracker @metrosfan33

Hollander was carrying the Metros on his back and you know it. They’re not going to win another Stanley Cup in this generation

fig @shredthatbass

Replying to @MLHDraftTracker @metrosfan33 @pattyrosebrewer

Wait didnt Ilya get drafted by Ottawa? Theyre going to play together? IM GOING TO DIE

megan @imacheerleader

Replying to @MLHDraftTracker @metrosfan33 and 20313 others

They both took pay cuts to be together this is love

ivan @bearraiderkaminsky

Replying to @MLHDraftTracker @metrosfan33 and 20313 others

yes is true love

AO3 Ship Milestones @AO3Milestones

Shane Hollander/Ilya Rozanov (Hockey RPF) has reached 5,000 fics on AO3

ivan @bearraiderkaminsky

Replying to @AO3Milestones

5001 now https://archiveofourown.org/works/2080878 

henry @blacksmithknight

Replying to @AO3Milestones @bearraiderkaminsky

Thank you for another banger king we love you

shayden @shaydenwarrior

New shayden truther manifesto on my tumblr, with proof that ilya rozanov is MANIPULATING our baby shane we must save him

alice @landofsummers

Replying to @shaydenwarrior

Girl its not real hes probably gonna marry Rozanov just write fic and vibe with the rest of us

“And what’s in the future for the two of you?” their interviewer asked.

Shane tried to not think about the ring hidden in his Ottawa Centaurs locker, ready to claim its place on Ilya’s finger after their first home game victory this season.

“We’re thinking about starting a charity,” Shane said, “the Irina Foundation. With a focus on mental health. It’s something important to both of us.”

Ilya nodded. “We were already talking about this. Before…well, before. You know. But is still important to both me and Shane. So we will be working on that after we both get settled with the Centaurs.”

“Well, thank you for your time today.”

Yes. Shane couldn’t wait to go home and take off Ilya’s pants with his teeth. He’d been trying not to fidget this entire interview, feeling his heart try to beat its way out of his chest as Ilya used phrases like “love of my life” and “soulmate” to describe Shane. God he was going to marry this man. Then he was going to fuck him. Then the other way around. 

Maybe Shane was a little more keyed up than he usually was. It was probably Ilya’s pants. They were very tight.

“Before you go, one last question,” the interviewer said.

Boo. But Shane supposed he had celebrated a little too soon.

“I don’t know if you two are aware,” the interviewer began, and Shane could feel it in his bones that this was going to be a long one. He counted to five and focused on keeping his smile media-trained perfect. “But there is a subsection of fans that have been theorizing about your relationship since your rivalry started.”

Oh. Oh no.

“Do you have anything to say to these fans?”

Ilya grinned. No, beamed. Like he had been waiting for this moment for his entire life. Shane counted to five again, sat back, and resigned himself to the permanent shattering of his professional image by his troll of a boyfriend.

“Yes,” Ilya said. Then he looked straight into the camera. “Do better. Shayden has ten times the fanfiction on certain website I cannot legally name compared to Hollanov. What is going on, internet? Shayden is not real. Hollanov is real. And better. And hotter. We do things in bedroom that you have not even managed to imagine in all five thousand Hollanov fics combined. Use your imagination. It is embarrassment that there is more Shayden on internet than Hollanov. I cannot do heavy lifting by myself. Hockey takes up too much of my writing time. If Hollanov does not win ship war against Shayden by end of season, I am retiring. That is not threat. That is promise.”

A beat.

“He’s not actually going to retire,” Shane said.

Their interviewer laughed awkwardly. Someone finally called cut.

henry @blacksmithknight

Alright which one of you freaks is Ilya Rozanov

dorothea @arnaultsongstress

Replying to @blacksmithknight

Not me

megan @imacheerleader

Replying to @blacksmithknight @arnaultsongstress

Not me

fig @shredthatbass

Replying to @blacksmithknight @arnaultsongstress @imacheerleader

Oh my god i think i know

ivan @bearraiderkaminsky

Replying to @blacksmithknight @arnaultsongstress and 365 others

hi

shayden @shaydenwarrior

Um guys why did shane block me??? Whats going on??? Is my twitter glitched or something???

Ilya Rozanov ✅@IlyaGRozanov

Replying to @shaydenwarrior

Ilya Rozanov ✅@IlyaGRozanov 🔁 shayden @shaydenwarrior

If you ship hollanov or is considering shipping hollanov after those nothing interviews block me now. Rozanov is literally abusive to shane i have evidence of this. Fuck you if you think shipping them is okay leave shane alone

darren @heartbreakingthebinary

Replying to @shaydenwarrior @IlyaGRozanov

Did we just witness a murder

fig @shredthatbass

Alright @OttawaCentsMHL fans you heard the guy. If you wanna keep him you better start writing.

harry @thethingaboutharry

Replying to @shredthatbass

Already on it

ralph @navychariot1953

Replying to @shredthatbass @thethingaboutharry

I cant believe im finally doing this after avoiding it like the plague for ten years

alan @goldenagelantern

Replying to @shredthatbass @thethingaboutharry @navychariot1953

Can someone help me…What’s a tag…Where do I write this Hollanov…Ottawa needs Rosanov to win…Please I’ve been waiting so long to see the cup come home…

Ottawa Centaurs ✅@OttawaCentsMHL

Replying to @shredthatbass @thethingaboutharry and 822 others

We’re holding a writing crash course right now. Everyone’s here, including management and Shane. We all want to keep Ilya.

ivan @bearraiderkaminsky

Replying to @shredthatbass @thethingaboutharry and 822 others

long live hollanov