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They’d been on the phone for hours now, talking about anything and everything. They’d made their relationship official over the summer when Ilya came over to Shane’s cottage for two weeks, but now the new season had started, and they were both getting ready to compete in the playoffs. Ilya as captain of the Ottawa Centaurs’ team and Shane as the captain of the Montreal Metros.
“Hey, I wanted to talk to you about something.” Shane started, the conversation drifting but he had to get it out now while they were still early into the season.
“Oof, sounds serious. What? Injured already? I knew it was only a matter of time before you were kicked from the playoffs, but I didn’t think it would be before it even started.” Ilya teased.
“Shut up, god you’re an asshole!” he rolled his eyes causing a laugh from the other end of the line.
“Okay, fine, what is it?”
“Umm, I was thinking- “
“Oh no that’s dangerous.” Ilya interrupted chuckling at his own joke.
“Oh my god, you’re actually impossible.” Shane rolled his eyes so hard Iyla thought for a second they might get stuck at the back of his head.
“Okay, I’m sorry, I’ll be serious.” Ilya promised.
“I was thinking, during the season that, ummm, I know how you used to see and sleep with a lot of women-“
“Yes Shane, where is this going?” Ilya looked almost bored.
“I was thinking that if maybe during the season if you wanted to see other people, I wouldn’t mind. I mean it’s a long time to go between seeing each other and it’s not really fair to make you hold off.” Shane was looking everywhere but at Ilya’s face on the screen.
Ilya’s jaw was purely and utterly dropped from what was coming out of his boyfriends’ mouth “What? Shane? What? What are you saying that you want to see other people?” Ilya’s voice was raising now, frustration seeping through the screen making Shane’s anxiety even worse than it was before.
“No no, I don’t want to see anyone else but what I’m saying is, if you want to you can during the season. You know, to see you through” Shane hammers the emphasis of ‘you’ in that sentence to make it clear to Ilya that he won’t be participating in this.
Ilya runs a stressed hand through his hair. “I can’t believe I’m hearing this. My own boyfriend telling me he wants me to cheat on him. You’re talking to me like I’m some sort of addict with no restraint” Shane can see Ilya rubbing his eyes with the hand not holding the phone and damn he shouldn’t have brought this up tonight Ilya is obviously tired.
“It won’t be cheating necessarily because I gave you permission.” Shane explains as if it makes it any better in Ilya’s eyes.
“No. No I don’t want. I don’t even want you to think about me wanting that. How could you even ask me to do that?”
“Ugh, you’re not understanding, apart from maybe like 5 times, we won’t be seeing each other often this season and I didn’t want you to feel guilty or like you were missing out when your team all go out together.”
“MOST OF THE TEAM ARE MARRIED!” Ilya exhales a sharp breath. “Fine, you know what-“
Beep Beep Beep
The screen goes black.
Ilya’s hung up on him.
That DICK, he just couldn’t wait to get out there and find someone to see him through till the next time they see each other. He couldn’t even be bothered to finish the phone call. They haven’t been official for long, but Shane thought he meant at least a little more than that to him.
He threw his phone down on the bed and just laid there thinking about where Ilya is possibly going. Probably to a club, where he’ll pick up a nice girl and go back to his house and Shane doesn’t even want to think about what would happen next.
Instead, he turns on his side and closes his eyes praying that he’ll fall asleep quickly just to shut his brain up for once.
However, it’s the one thing his brain never does, no matter how wilful he is. It’s been two hours and he just tosses and turns, resentfully he decides to get out of bed and make himself a steaming mug of one of his soothing teas Ilya always makes fun of him for. God, everything he does always somehow leads back to him. He can’t escape the presence that is Ilya Rozanov and he doesn’t want to either, he just wishes Ilya felt the same.
Shane’s leaning against the kitchen counter in his matching set pyjamas his mum got him for his birthday when he hears a knock at the door. He quickly glances to the clock that’s hanging on the wall and notes the time. 11:51pm. He stands up straight, the hairs on the back of his neck standing too, he wasn’t expecting anyone at the house, especially not this late. He does a quick glance around the kitchen for something to carry just in case; he can’t be too careful being a famous hockey player. He glances at the knifes that are stored away in its casing- that seems dramatic Shane thinks- but there’s another knock at the door, sharper this time, more inpatient. Knives will have to do; he picks up one of the biggest one he can find and thanks himself that he sharpens them regularly.
He makes his way over to the door and moves the hand that’s holding the weapon behind his back out of direct eyeline for whoever’s on the other side. He takes a breath and carefully unlocks the door and starts to slowly pull it open “Ilya?” he opens the door fully now and lets out a breath he didn’t realise he had been holding “What are you doing here? I thought you were in Ottawa?”
“I was but after your stupid phone call I drove straight here- Is that a knife?” Ilya points to the weapon now lowered by Shane’s side.
“Yeah!” Shane carefully put the knife on the unit next to the door. “I thought a murderer was at the door. Do you know what time it is?”
Ilya walks through the door and shuts it behind him then looks at the watch placed securely on his wrist. “It’s 12am.”
“Exactly!” Shane says exasperated. “What are you doing here? Don’t you have a game tomorrow afternoon?”
“Yes, but I couldn’t let you get away with saying such stupid things to me on the phone.”
“What are you talking about?”
“The phone call? How you said you think I should sleep with other people to- oh how did you phrase it? ‘To see me through’ until we can be with each other again!” Ilya’s voice was rising with every word, and Shane had to take a step back.
He starts his retreat to the kitchen with a frustrated Ilya walking closely behind him. “It was a valid suggestion, I know what you at least used to be like, seeing someone new every night and I didn’t want you to have to suffer because we live two hours away from each other pretty much all year round.”
“Shane. Do you think I didn’t know that when I said that we should be exclusive? Huh? Did you think I asked you to be my boyfriend knowing that I would be unfaithful to you?"
“No.” Shane looked down to the floor, he at least had the decency to look a bit shameful for his prejudice misconceptions about Ilya. From everything Shane had heard about him in the media, he may have slept with a lot of women, but he never cheated.
“Then why? Why would you stupidly suggest me seeing other people when I am supposed to be with you?” Ilya places his hand gently against Shane’s cheek, running his thumb softly against the freckles that rested there, lifting his face so he can look into Shane’s dark brown eyes.
“I don’t know okay! I guess I felt guilty and just didn’t want you to feel tied down, it sucks being long distance and I wanted to give you an option to not feel so lonely. That and it’s easier than explaining to your team that you’re no longer sleeping around because you’re in a secret relationship with your long-time rival.”
Ilya sighed “Shane.” He lowered his face down to rest in Shane long dark locks. “ya tebya lyublyu. Eto menya ubivayet.”
Shane can feel the grin Ilya’s hiding in his hair. “I don’t know what that means” he mumbles into his neck.
“I know.” He leans back to be able to look at Shane again, face turning back serious. “What made you even think of telling me I could see other people?”
Shane started to blush, avoiding eye contact he mumbled “I saw it on a website. ‘10 different ways to make your long-distance relationship work’ to be fair though this was the only sane option.” Shane shook his head. “You do not want to know what else was on that list.” Ilya burst out laughing which made a smile creep onto Shane’s face for the first time all night. He was so relaxed and content with Ilya and he was so glad he didn’t want to see anyone else. He couldn’t bear the thought of having to share his boyfriend with anyone.
“I think you should find a new website. Or better yet, stay off the internet all together. It is the worst place to get advice from.” They both laughed, it felt like a weight had been lifted from both of them, they were just content to stay in each other’s company while they still could.
“What time do you have to go back?” Shane asked almost fearful of the answer.
“Not until mid-morning, and seeing as I’m already here and you have so many rooms available Mr. Real Estate I was wondering if I could check in for the night? You know it’s a long drive back, not very safe to do so when sleepy.” Ilya teased, adding an overly exaggerated yawn for extra effects causing Shane to whack him on the chest.
“I’ll have to check the booking schedule Mr. Rozanov but I think we might have room. If not, you may have to share with me.” Shane throws a wink over his shoulder, making his way to the stairs.
“Oh, I sure hope you are fully booked.”